Reborn into the Obsessive Love of a Dark and Twisted Shadow Queen - Chapter 26

She murmured to herself, her voice barely audible.

She had reached for her water glass, intending to take a sip and suppress the bitter, acidic sensation rising in her throat.

But as her fingers brushed the porcelain cup, her grip faltered. With a sharp clatter, the cup crashed to the floor.

The noise drew the attention of her roommates, who all turned to look.

They were unusually quiet today, mainly because everyone had heard about Ji Qingshu and Chu Xueyi’s public announcement.

And… the situation seemed even more absurd than they had imagined.

Chu Xueyi had indeed taken on several roles in web dramas and films during her time at school, all as villainous supporting characters—the kind who slapped the female lead without hesitation.

Yet, thanks to her naturally stunning looks, Chu Xueyi had still managed to attract some attention, though not much. This was why she needed a part-time job at a bubble tea shop when acting gigs were scarce.

But this public announcement, riding the momentum of Qingcheng Drama Academy’s buzz, quickly spread across the internet.

In an instant, it ignited Weibo’s trending topics.

Though it didn’t reach the top spot, for a student, this level of attention was utterly unprecedented.

Everyone’s fingers were now twitching frantically, as if afflicted with Parkinson’s, as they devoured the gossip and drama.

Hearing the cup shatter, the roommates exchanged glances, a hint of schadenfreude flickering in their eyes.

Ha ha!

What could be more satisfying than watching your smug roommate finally get her comeuppance?

Chu Xueyi treated her so well before, stringing her along time and again. She was such a gold digger, and now it’s all out in the open.

She’s completely out of the picture now.

A few of them sat on another girl’s bed, gossiping in hushed tones that still carried clearly across the room.

Couldn’t they whisper even quieter?

Su Shiyu pressed her lips together, a flicker of resentment in her eyes. She crouched down and began carefully piecing together the shattered teacup, shard by shard.

Perhaps it was her haste that caused her finger to slice open on a sharp piece of porcelain.

In that instant, Su Shiyu understood the true meaning of irreparable heartbreak.

Her relationship with Chu Xueyi was like this shattered white porcelain cup in her hands.

And this cup was… a gift from Chu Xueyi herself. How truly ominous.

Ignoring the pain in her hand and heart, Su Shiyu cleaned up the mess meticulously, wrapping the shards in layers of plastic bags and securing them with tape to ensure no one would be injured.

She had always been meticulous and thorough—a habit ingrained from her role as the eldest sister.

It was precisely this meticulousness that had naturally drawn Chu Xueyi to her.

The next day, the morning light pierced through the clouds, golden rays streaming down like ribbons of sunlight.

Chu Xueyi groggily opened her eyes. She had managed to maintain a habit of early rising and early bedtime during her school days, but since becoming a celebrity, her sleep schedule had become utterly erratic.

Working late meant waking up early.

As soon as Chu Xueyi unlocked her phone, she noticed a flood of new messages.

This time, however, it was her turn to be shocked.

Why?!

Chu Xueyi stared down at the notification from her best friend

Congratulations, Xueyi! You’re trending on Weibo!

While their class did have other celebrities, no one had expected Chu Xueyi and Ji Qingshu to generate such intense buzz.

As expected.

People can’t imagine what they haven’t experienced.

In her previous life, Chu Xueyi had been a frequent fixture on trending topics, but the headlines were always either about her diva-like behavior or accusations that her plastic surgery was suspiciously natural.

But…

Chu Xueyi was speechless. Every time I trend, it’s never good news.

Perhaps accustomed to trending on Weibo in her previous life, Chu Xueyi had already braced herself for the barrage of online criticism as she opened the app.

But this time, the reality diverged sharply from her expectations.

Wow, they look so perfect together!

Chu Xueyi… The name screams 18th-tier has-been, but if you call her the queen of web drama villainesses, I’d recognize her instantly.

Damn it… How did this villainess snag such a gorgeous woman?

Yeah, who’s that beside Chu Xueyi?

Since they’re the official pairing, I’ll take a bite of this ship!

The comments were a chaotic mix, and Chu Xueyi scrolled through them one by one, unsure how to feel.

Trending without being roasted felt… genuinely strange.

After scrolling through Weibo for a while, Chu Xueyi suddenly realized she’d missed class. She shot upright in bed.

Hurriedly getting ready, she rushed to get to the classroom.

As soon as she opened the door, she bumped into the residents of the dorm room across the hall. They seemed to have just finished getting ready, carrying books and chatting cheerfully as they strolled down the corridor.

Hearing the door open, they all looked up and saw the protagonist of the campus network and school gossip—Chu Xueyi.

Xueyi, good morning!

Typical college students, so full of energy, Chu Xueyi thought enviously. After starting work, she had become rather lifeless.

But since transmigrating back to her younger body, Chu Xueyi had regained some of that youthful vitality.

Good morning, she greeted them with a smile. However, the girls seemed to sense something was off, stroking their chins thoughtfully.

But… I thought I just saw Ji Qingshu coming out of her own room. Didn’t you two go public as a couple? Why are you sleeping in separate rooms?

Could it be fake?

Maybe it’s just to hype up your homework video…

I heard Ji Qingshu actually cross-dressed as the male lead! If you two are really going through with this, that’s quite a sacrifice. I admire your dedication!

Chu Xueyi had been smiling and greeting them politely, but when she heard this, her smile faltered. Though the speaker’s guess was wildly off the mark, it had accurately pinpointed that the two were only pretending to be a couple. A cold sweat broke out on her back.

How are people so perceptive these days? she wondered. Can they really see through a fake relationship like this?

Chu Xueyi was speechless.

But since the speaker lived right across the hall from their dorm room, if she didn’t improve her act, their public announcement would become the laughingstock of the entire school—and even the internet—by tomorrow.

Ugh…

Chu Xueyi scratched her head in frustration.

Just then, Ji Qingshu returned with a plastic bag in hand. She was wearing a light brown jacket, her long hair partially tied up, exuding an air of elegant sophistication.

Chu Xueyi followed Ji Qingshu’s slender arm down to the bag and finally saw what was inside breakfast.

So that’s why Ji Qingshu went out early—to buy me breakfast.

It was clear Ji Qingshu had overheard their conversation. A gentle smile played on her lips as she casually walked over and wrapped her arm around Chu Xueyi.

Her palm completely enveloped Chu Xueyi’s rounded shoulder.

We’ve only just gotten together, and we haven’t even finished moving in yet. Don’t jump to conclusions, she said lightly, effortlessly dismissing all speculation.

More importantly, the look in Ji Qingshu’s eyes as she gazed at Chu Xueyi seemed utterly genuine.

The affection was palpable.