Reborn into the Obsessive Love of a Dark and Twisted Shadow Queen - Chapter 48

Chu Xueyi wasn’t truly asleep. She had always been a light sleeper, likely due to her late nights and nervous exhaustion in her previous life.

Though she now inhabited a young and healthy body, her soul remained five or six years older.

As a result, Chu Xueyi maintained heightened alertness, especially since she wasn’t actually asleep.

When a faint tickling sensation brushed her lips, Chu Xueyi initially assumed it was a mosquito or some other insect.

During her acting days, she had encountered plenty of those irritating, itchy mosquitoes that plagued film and television studios.

But when she opened her eyes, she didn’t see the black-and-white striped venomous mosquito. Instead, she met a pair of clear, bright black eyes.

Ji Qingshu froze for a moment, then recoiled abruptly.

I saw… you hadn’t pulled the blanket up properly and thought I’d help you cover up. But my foot slipped, and I accidentally brushed your lips.

Ji Qingshu uttered the most awkward and clumsy sentence of her life. Despite being a future Best Actress, her first attempt at lying was this clumsy?

Really? But I remember there’s a carpet under this bed. It’s impossible to slip.

Chu Xueyi blinked twice, her tone teasing.

But Xueyi didn’t seem angry at all.

Ji Qingshu had expected Chu Xueyi to be furious upon discovering her secret kiss, but the reality was quite different.

Seeing the other woman’s flushed face and flustered demeanor, Chu Xueyi felt a sudden urge to tease her.

Exposed, Ji Qingshu froze, unsure how to react. Yet as an actress, her improvisational skills were sharp.

I was just rushing.

A simple sentence, laced with annoyance, would convince anyone that Ji Qingshu had genuinely tripped.

When Chu Xueyi saw that Ji Qingshu refused to admit the truth, she merely chuckled softly. It seemed she’d have to resort to more drastic measures.

She reached out and deliberately wrapped her arm around Ji Qingshu’s neck.

While most people’s skin tones are similar, Ji Qingshu’s porcelain complexion seemed innate, rarely exposed to sun or rain. Her skin felt like the finest silk, utterly delicate beneath Chu Xueyi’s fingertips.

So this is the body of a young lady?

Really? I thought you were so desperate for me that you couldn’t resist sneaking a kiss.

If that’s the case, thank you, Qingshu, for covering me with the blanket, Chu Xueyi said, releasing her hand. But just as her fingertips brushed Ji Qingshu’s cheek, her hand was caught.

What do you mean by that? Ji Qingshu asked, her expression tense. She wasn’t stupid she could sense the hidden meaning in Chu Xueyi’s words. What do you mean, if that’s the case? What did Xueyi originally think?

What I mean is… if you really want to kiss me, I can kiss you back.

Qingshu, our relationship has finally taken a step forward.

After all… countless novel protagonists’ romances began in bars, with a chaotic encounter serving as the story’s inciting incident.

The hormones surging between them in this impulsive moment must reflect their true feelings, right?

Ji Qingshu gripped the blanket tightly, clearly regretting missing her best opportunity.

Why would wanting to kiss you… mean we’ve taken a step forward?

This was the first time she had dared to voice her feelings—this timid, cowardly girl who had always been afraid to confront her emotions, who had always lurked in the shadows, observing with a dark, unhealthy fascination.

It’s simple, Chu Xueyi replied. Because you desire me.

When Chu Xueyi smiled, her eyes curved into crescents, truly resembling a fox, captivating hearts and minds.

I like it when both of us feel something, she said.

Chu Xueyi didn’t deny that her heart had raced when Ji Qingshu kissed her. She had always followed her heart. When she realized boys couldn’t hold her interest, she decisively pursued girls she liked.

Ji Qingshu hadn’t expected Chu Xueyi to say this. Her fingers nearly tore a hole in the bedsheet, frustrated by her own cowardice and the missed opportunity to deepen their connection.

However, Ji Qingshu keenly sensed a deeper meaning in Chu Xueyi’s words. She fixed her gaze on the other woman and asked, her voice soft and deliberate, Xueyi, are you saying you feel something for me too?

Mm-hmm, Chu Xueyi nodded.

But I don’t want to rush things. You understand… my last relationship was a disaster. It ended before it even became official.

So I don’t want to rush into another relationship. If… if it’s just going to end in heartbreak anyway, what’s the point of being together?

Having experienced a bit of heartbreak, Chu Xueyi now saw things with a clearer, more insightful perspective than when she hadn’t been in love.

Ji Qingshu understood perfectly what Chu Xueyi meant Su Shiyu had left Chu Xueyi with psychological scars.

But she wouldn’t.

Does this mean you’re giving me permission to kiss you? Ji Qingshu asked, stepping closer, her voice laced with subtle flirtation, stopping just short of whispering in Chu Xueyi’s ear.

I suppose so, Chu Xueyi replied. Even if I didn’t allow it, you’d just sneak kisses anyway.

Chu Xueyi didn’t bother scolding Ji Qingshu for stealing kisses, because… she wasn’t exactly a saint herself, having planned to use Ji Qingshu for her own gain.

Heh… maybe the two of us…

This is what they mean by a match made in heaven?

Do you think I’m a bad person? Ji Qingshu hesitated before asking.

Her mother had taught her to act according to principles and never do anything without permission. Yet here she was, stealing kisses and caresses, violating that deeply ingrained moral boundary.

But she couldn’t help it.

Like a smoker trying to quit, her fingers kept reaching for the cigarette pack despite her brain sounding alarm bells a thousand times over.

Ji Qingshu was the same.

A little, Chu Xueyi admitted.

Chu Xueyi couldn’t help but think to herself that they both seemed to be bad women.

Hmm, the really, really bad kind.

But as I said, I’m no saint either. I was planning to use you, to parachute straight into the film crew… I never imagined you’d actually be willing to play the sucker, Ji Qingshu.

Investing directly in the production.

Still, in a way, Ji Qingshu’s investment was a guaranteed win. After all, with her rebirth, Chu Xueyi had intimate knowledge of every blockbuster hit.

If Chu Xueyi got a bite of the meat, Ji Qingshu was sure to get a sip of the soup.

This method is the fastest, Ji Qingshu said, blinking innocently, her voice carrying a hint of naivety.

Xueyi, this amount of money means nothing to me… If it can help you, that’s all that matters.

Chu Xueyi reached out and pressed her finger against Ji Qingshu’s chest, feeling the rapid thumping of her heart beneath her touch. She smiled and said, See?

How could I stay mad at you when you treat me like this?

As Chu Xueyi finished speaking, Ji Qingshu leaned forward abruptly, bracing her hands on the soft mattress. The springs creaked softly as the mattress dipped under her weight.

Then… can I kiss you again?

Openly.

Not sneaking around.