Reborn into the Obsessive Love of a Dark and Twisted Shadow Queen - Chapter 41

Chu Xueyi kept her word. While Ji Qingshu was contacting the film crew, she slipped out alone and met up with her best friend.

Xueyi… you can still walk! Huang Yi exclaimed, staring at Chu Xueyi as if she’d seen a ghost the moment they met at the school gate.

Why wouldn’t I be able to walk? Chu Xueyi asked, puzzled.

Your voice sounds so strange…

Chu Xueyi was confused. She had invited her friend out for two reasons first, to get Huang Yi’s valuable military advice while choosing a gift, and second, to sabotage her relationship with that heartless senior and hopefully end the romance altogether. That way, Huang Yi might just save her life.

Ji Qingshu’s arms are so muscular, you wouldn’t believe it… When she was changing in the theater, so many junior girls were sneaking peeks, their faces flushed and hearts pounding.

Chu Xueyi ……

The world is truly going downhill, she thought. How have all the junior girls turned into such perverts?

So I was thinking, after it rained that night, it must have been a total battlefield. Your back must have been aching for days, and you probably couldn’t recover for ages…

I never would have guessed.

Huang Yi deliberately circled Chu Xueyi a few times, only to find her walking perfectly steadily.

Was it because you were afraid the dorm beds weren’t sturdy enough, so you didn’t dare get too wild?

The gossip light in Huang Yi’s eyes was practically bursting.

Though Huang Yi was a die-hard straight woman, she didn’t react with horror or clutch her chest upon learning that Chu Xueyi liked girls. She didn’t make any of those stereotypical super straight reactions like, I’m warning you, you pervert! Don’t even think about liking me—I’d be disgusted!

Because Huang Yi had a clear-headed understanding someone as stunning as Chu Xueyi—with her curves and striking looks—would never be interested in her.

And the truth proved her right.

Chu Xueyi was so popular even within the lesbian community, it was truly enviable.

Chu Xueyi ……

She was speechless at her friend’s fantasies but didn’t bother explaining further. The more she tried to clarify, the more confusing it would become.

Besides, given the ambiguous nature of her relationship with Ji Qingshu, even if she confessed everything to Huang Yi, her friend likely wouldn’t believe her.

And… Chu Xueyi herself had begun to doubt it.

Could their relationship truly be innocent and platonic?

Impossible.

But Chu Xueyi wouldn’t recklessly jump into the fire again.

Ji Qingshu… can your love for me endure as long as it did in our past life?

Chu Xueyi wanted to test it. If this love proved fragile, if it vanished quickly after being obtained, then it would have been better if it had never existed in the first place.

What are you daydreaming about? Just because we’re dating doesn’t mean we’ll be like those trashy romance novels, having wild three-day-and-night orgies or something.

Chu Xueyi tapped her friend’s head, forcibly snapping her out of her wild fantasies.

Oh, right, the reason I asked you out today…

First, I wanted to talk about your boyfriend. Second, I need your help picking out a ring… I want to give one to Ji Qingshu.

Chu Xueyi seemed to feel that giving a ring was too intimate, almost like a love token.

In a flurry of panic, she quickly added other options.

A necklace would work too, or a bracelet.

Huang Yi simply blinked, her eyes instantly piercing through her friend’s clumsy disguise. She reached out to hug Chu Xueyi’s arm.

But after only a brief embrace, Huang Yi remembered the terrifying scene from that rainy day Ji Qingshu dragging Chu Xueyi away and the ruthless tone she used to threaten Su Shiyu.

Suddenly, Huang Yi didn’t dare hug her anymore.

Right, Chu Xueyi is someone else’s woman now. Absolutely no touching!

Huang Yi warned herself inwardly, even as she heard Chu Xueyi’s transparent attempts to cover up her true intentions. Huang Yi sighed helplessly.

If you want to give a ring, just say so.

Why beat around the bush? Everyone in the world knows you’re with Ji Qingshu now!

Chu Xueyi Oh, right. Our relationship is public. So why was I being so coy earlier? Was I just being a masochist?

Then a ring it is.

Chu Xueyi happily decided what she wanted to buy and took a taxi to the commercial district, where several luxury brand boutiques were located.

While she certainly couldn’t afford the high-end jewelry Ji Qingshu often wore, she could still afford a few mid-range luxury items.

After all, this was an investment in a potentially blockbuster drama.

Remember what you told me last time, Xueyi? I confronted Senior about it, but I didn’t say… who told me.

Yet he immediately guessed it was you.

Chu Xueyi !

Well, fine… fine. Who told me to complain to Huang Yi so often about her boyfriend being such a jerk?

Not particularly talented, but with a temper worse than mine.

He hurled a lot of nasty insults at you, claiming you made everything up. We argued, and we haven’t made up since.

Huang Yi lowered her head.

She couldn’t tolerate anyone slandering Chu Xueyi like that. They had known each other for years, from freshman year to junior year. How could she not know what kind of person Chu Xueyi was?

Except for liking girls.

Chu Xueyi was no different from her—equally beautiful and kind-hearted, equally eager to help others.

Hmm, why aren’t you prioritizing romance over friendship today?

Chu Xueyi hailed a taxi at the school gate. They got in and buckled their seatbelts with practiced ease.

I never prioritized romance over friendship before! I just never imagined Senior could be that kind of person. How could he talk badly about you? You’re such a good person, Xueyi!

Even though Senior said the rumors about him having a new lover were just rumors…

I still decided to temporarily separate from him.

How could he speak ill of you? I hope he realizes his mistake. Otherwise, I can’t be with someone so mean-spirited and prejudiced.

Chu Xueyi hadn’t expected her words to actually resonate with her friend.

Regardless, she had managed to save Huang Yi’s life. That was definitely worth celebrating with champagne, she thought to herself, feeling pleased.

I’m glad you understand, Chu Xueyi said, letting out a deep sigh of relief. In her previous life, Huang Yi had jumped from a building, her body nearly shattered beyond recognition. Even the mortician had spent days painstakingly piecing her remains back together.

Chu Xueyi had attended the funeral.

Because she had arrived early, Huang Yi’s ice coffin was still being prepared.

Chu Xueyi comforted Huang Yi’s mother while watching several people carefully place Huang Yi’s remains into the coffin.

It was then that Chu Xueyi saw Huang Yi’s face clearly—shattered like a spiderweb, or like the cracks in a watermelon crushed by a wheel.

This image was deeply etched into her mind.

No matter how hard she tried, Chu Xueyi couldn’t forget it. Only when she was exceptionally busy could she temporarily shake off these chaotic memories.

That’s why, in this lifetime, even if it meant becoming a cunning villain, Chu Xueyi would never let Huang Yi take another step into that fiery pit with Senior.

Let’s not dwell on that anymore. At least we can see through people’s true nature now, which is a good thing. Oh, right, you said you wanted to pick out rings…

We’ll get to that soon. First, let’s think about what style to get. I bet Ji Qingshu would love the cool, elegant kind.

Huang Yi chattered on endlessly, just like before.

This brought tears to Chu Xueyi’s eyes.

After Huang Yi’s death, she had never found another close confidante like her.