Reborn into the Obsessive Love of a Dark and Twisted Shadow Queen - Chapter 21

The storage room was dimly lit. Ji Qingshu deliberately turned up the screen brightness a few notches before settling down on a nearby cushion.

The room was filled with cushions, but they were surprisingly clean, likely due to the constant stream of people sitting on them throughout the day. The cushions had long since been worn smooth and glossy.

Chu Xueyi carefully sat down close beside Ji Qingshu, pressing against his side. The woman exuded a delicate, refreshing fragrance.

How can she smell so good?! Chu Xueyi wondered inwardly, feeling herself being drawn in. But she had already suffered the consequences of women in her previous life.

Must I repeat the same mistakes in this life?

Chu Xueyi… no, you can’t! You mustn’t!

After mentally warning herself twice, Chu Xueyi steeled her resolve, relying on her formidable self-control to ignore the intoxicating scent.

Ji Qingshu pressed play, his fingers swiftly dragging the progress bar until they reached the scene they were rehearsing.

If you’re embarrassed, just tell me to stop playing.

No matter how you look at it, this was just a school video assignment. There was no need to put in too much effort.

I know, Chu Xueyi nodded, but her mind was racing.

What a joke! she thought. I’ve acted in countless idol dramas, even if… most of the intimate scenes were actually done by body doubles or through clever camera angles.

The reason for this…

Su Shiyu had once told her he didn’t want her having any overly intimate contact with her male co-stars.

Chu Xueyi had complied.

Besides, those male actors always had that predatory look in their eyes, making Chu Xueyi feel disgusted and nauseous.

They weren’t even focused on acting they’d just gotten lucky with their looks and landed the lead roles, and now they thought they could take advantage of the female leads.

Even with just a casual touch, Chu Xueyi could sense their transgressions. Through layers of heavy costumes, their hands would always find their way to her slender waist, whether intentionally or not.

And it didn’t matter if they were fresh-faced rookies or seasoned veterans—they all had this repulsive habit.

Whenever this happened, Chu Xueyi would hire a body double—specifically, one who was thin but had a scruffy beard.

Ha ha… Since they’re so eager to take advantage of female actors, let them have their fill!

Chu Xueyi had never found acting in idol dramas particularly challenging. If only she could be like Ji Qingshu, who won Best Actress solely through her breathtaking performance, without needing any intimate scenes.

The voice from the phone’s speaker drew Chu Xueyi’s unwavering gaze to the screen. She hadn’t seen this scene in the edited version of the film.

The male lead was pushed to the ground, his light gray, tattered servant’s uniform torn open.

Then came the sounds that made her face burn crimson.

The more Chu Xueyi watched, the redder her ears grew. How could they include something so explicit? she wondered.

Fortunately, the film remained focused on its plot. Finally, just as Chu Xueyi’s thumb was about to wear through the sole of her shoe, the scene ended.

The camera shifted to a dew-laden branch dripping into a water tank.

Xueyi?

Ji Qingshu was somewhat surprised that Chu Xueyi had managed to endure the entire clip. But when the video finished playing, she heard no sound from the person beside her.

Ji Qingshu turned her head and gently called out, Xueyi?

Chu Xueyi finally snapped out of her daze, but her face was flushed an unnatural red, as if she had been baking under the sun.

Chu Xueyi shouldn’t have been interested in such scenes. The reason was simple she liked women.

Yet here she was, analyzing the plot with someone who secretly harbored feelings for her—a rather awkward situation.

Did you understand it? Ji Qingshu asked, deliberately shifting the conversation to ease the tension.

Chu Xueyi nodded, barely daring to meet Ji Qingshu’s gaze. Y-yes, I understand.

Her toes curled slightly, almost digging through the soles of her shoes again.

Then let’s go outside and rehearse our scene. After that, we can grab dinner. Ji Qingshu guided Chu Xueyi, maintaining an air of casualness that belied her true intentions.

Deep down, Ji Qingshu knew exactly what she was doing seducing the person before her.

Okay, Chu Xueyi said, taking a deep breath.

What’s there to be afraid of?

I’m going to be Best Actress someday! A simple intimate scene is nothing to me!

Although Chu Xueyi had been a rising star, she had surprisingly few kissing scenes in her filmography. The only times she had kissed anyone were with Su Shiyu.

Even then, Chu Xueyi could sense something was off.

At first, she thought he was just shy, so their kisses were merely lip-to-lip pecks.

Later, she realized it wasn’t shyness at all.

He simply didn’t like her!

Ji Qingshu led Chu Xueyi out of the storage room. She had taken them there primarily to avoid being interrupted.

If anyone had found them watching such a film, even for just a few minutes, it would have been impossible to explain away.

This time, Ji Qingshu didn’t go to the front of the stage to perform. Instead, she hid behind the red curtain, glanced at the script, and placed her phone on the nearby table.

Then, she collapsed to the floor, mimicking the male lead in the film.

Chu Xueyi froze, momentarily stunned. Before she could react, she heard Ji Qingshu’s slightly embarrassed voice.

Xueyi, it’s your turn.

In the film, the young mistress straddled the male lead, her hands tugging wildly at his clothes—a scene brimming with sexual tension.

Chu Xueyi didn’t dare tear Ji Qingshu’s clothes, so she slowly shifted closer, kneeling beside his legs.

The position was undeniably intimate.

Chu Xueyi’s face flushed even deeper.

Ji Qingshu lay beneath her, savoring her expression.

Finally, unable to resist, she reached out and gently tugged Chu Xueyi’s slender wrist, pulling her down to press against his burning shoulder.

Tear my clothes, Ji Qingshu reminded her, referencing the script’s actions. Bite me.

Chu Xueyi’s ears burned crimson, but she knew that if they didn’t follow the script now, their earlier movie viewing would have been pointless.

So, taking a deep breath, Chu Xueyi looked at him with a hint of guilt.

I’m sorry.

Honestly, the Class Monitor is such a pain. She just leaves without taking her teacup from the performance area.

Just then, a faint female voice drifted through the red curtain.

And she expects me to fetch her teacup? Talk about throwing her weight around!

The girl’s curses grew fiercer, her disdain for the Class Monitor’s casual command of others palpable.

Chu Xueyi, still deeply immersed in her role, had only a dim awareness of the outside world. At that moment, she was delivering the final line of the young mistress’s monologue

You seduced me! How could I ever desire the body of a lowly servant?

It was a demon that possessed you and tempted me!

Suddenly, the red curtain was yanked open, and the theater’s bright light flooded in, momentarily blinding both of them.

Ah…

The girl’s face flushed crimson as she took in the scene before her. She clapped her hands over her cheeks and let out a startled shriek.

I… I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt.