Reborn into the Obsessive Love of a Dark and Twisted Shadow Queen - Chapter 5

How could she feel this way about the person before her? This is too strange!

Chu Xueyi felt a pang of annoyance, but she had to maintain her act. She took a few slightly quickened breaths, braced her hands on the stool, and began to feign the young mistress’s nonchalance. After a few minutes, Ji Qingshu’s slightly hardened fingernails scraped against her ankle.

Ji Qingshu’s nails were neatly trimmed and unadorned, unlike the flashy, brightly colored or crystal-clear white nails favored by other female students—both trendy styles. Chu Xueyi’s nails were equally plain.

The reason for this simplicity was obvious to those in the know.

Unfortunately, after graduating years ago, Chu Xueyi had been too busy with work, and Su Shiyu had kept her in the dark, leaving her no time to develop a normal relationship.

Perhaps her only real achievement was possessing acting skills in class second only to Ji Qingshu… well… perhaps on par with his.

The scraping of the nails didn’t actually hurt after all, it was just acting. It’s not like an actor playing a beheading scene would actually lose their head, right?

Despite this, Chu Xueyi pressed her lips together, a soft groan escaping her nostrils.

You wretched slave! Why are you being so careless? Do you even realize how much you’re hurting me?

Chu Xueyi wrenched her ankle free from the tingling grip of Ji Qingshu’s palm and kicked out, but her strength was limited.

Actors, whether performing fight scenes or action sequences, always had to hold back their full force.

Her heel struck Ji Qingshu’s chest, just as the script dictated.

But… men don’t have br3asts. As her foot landed, Chu Xueyi’s sole sank into something soft and yielding.

For a split second, Chu Xueyi’s leg froze. She was on the verge of losing her composure.

For some inexplicable reason, she felt an overwhelming wave of embarrassment. A blush betrayed her acting, creeping up her cheeks and ears.

If she hadn’t known the person before her harbored feelings for her, perhaps she could have continued the scene. But now that she knew, it was impossible to keep up the act!

Just as Chu Xueyi was about to call an end to the audition, Ji Qingshu reached out, her slender fingers gently cupping Chu Xueyi’s ankle.

Those hands were beautiful, like slender jade bamboo.

Her skin was delicate, resembling translucent jade, with faint veins visible beneath its surface.

Young Mistress… it’s my fault. Kick me again, right in the chest.

I’ll trim my nails later, so short they’ll never scratch you again.

Ji Qingshu’s acting was remarkably convincing, her portrayal of near-obsessive devotion utterly believable.

Chu Xueyi couldn’t shake the suspicion that genuine emotion was mixed into her performance.

Yet she dared not let her guard down. The moment the memory flashed through her mind, she seamlessly resumed her role.

Alright, you asked for it!

Chu Xueyi kicked forward with her toe again, this time with slightly more force, as if trying to escape that strange emotion.

But Ji Qingshu wasn’t the male lead.

The odd sensation felt like stepping on cotton.

Ji Qingshu stumbled and fell to the ground, just like in the movies.

She scrambled to her feet, looking disheveled.

This was just the dormitory floor, and some people would have been disgusted to roll around on it. But Ji Qingshu showed no such hesitation.

The scene concluded.

Chu Xueyi immediately crouched down, knowing she shouldn’t give Ji Qingshu excessive attention or hope, even though she was aware of his secret, even pathological, infatuation with her.

After all, it was Chu Xueyi who had personally kicked him.

Are you alright? she asked, her eyes filled with concern. I think I kicked you a bit too hard.

Chu Xueyi reached out to brush the dust from the hem of Ji Qingshu’s skirt, but her fingertips had barely touched the fabric when she realized how thin his nightgown was.

No wonder my foot made contact earlier…

In an instant, Chu Xueyi understood the situation.

I’m fine, Ji Qingshu replied. As an actor, faking falls is a basic skill. I’ve practiced it.

How to fall without getting hurt, how to make a fall look realistic—these were essential techniques for actors.

Good to hear… Chu Xueyi sighed in relief, unaware that Ji Qingshu’s gaze, like a clinging serpent, was fixed on her hand, which had unconsciously settled on his thigh.

A surge of heat flooded Ji Qingshu’s heart.

So this is what it feels like to be touched by Xueyi’s hand?

Ji Qingshu recalled her first encounter with Chu Xueyi. As a newly enrolled student, Chu Xueyi stood out from the others who were accompanied by their parents. She was alone, carrying her backpack.

Dragging a suitcase nearly as large and heavy as herself, she was drenched in sweat from the scorching sun, beads of perspiration dripping down her oval face.

Ji Qingshu wanted to help. Though also a freshman, she had arrived with a driver, and her luggage had already been taken to her dorm by her father’s chauffeur. With nothing else to do, she had planned to explore Qingcheng Drama Academy, but instead, she stumbled upon a classmate in distress.

Before she could approach, Su Shiyu appeared first and took over pulling Chu Xueyi’s suitcase.

Ji Qingshu could only stop, disappointed.

The next morning, Chu Xueyi woke up early, meticulously dressed, and headed to the school’s theater hall.

When she arrived, only a few people were there. Chu Xueyi hugged her phone and continued studying the script, even adding thoughtful annotations.

As an actress, she knew she couldn’t play a role without understanding it thoroughly. After returning home the previous night, she had stayed up late watching the original film.

It was then she realized that Ji Qingshu’s gaze toward her was even more obsessive and resentful than the male lead’s.

Why? she wondered. Was it because of personal experience? Because he had tasted the bitterness of unrequited love?

But Chu Xueyi had already resolved to seal her heart and lock away love for life.

Focusing solely on perfecting her acting skills was the most important thing in her life.

Why?

Because… everyone will betray you, everything will go wrong, and even the money you earn can vanish in an instant.

But if you master the skill of making money, you can keep the cash flowing endlessly.

Perhaps this was the principle of teaching a man to fish rather than giving him a fish.

Just as Chu Xueyi was engrossed in her reading, a large hand suddenly snatched her phone away.

She immediately looked up, a hint of annoyance in her eyes.

The man chuckled.

Chu Xueyi, weren’t you obsessed with money before? Why are you suddenly participating in school activities now?

Chu Xueyi’s head began to throb at the sight of him.

The man before her was far from handsome. His face was as plain as could be, round like a soybean, while his eyes were as small as mung beans.

And yet, his name was Zhao Chengjun.

What’s that supposed to mean?

Inheriting his father’s soybean face and mung bean eyes of ‘handsome’ lineage?

Chu Xueyi found the whole thing absurd.

Zhao Chengjun had been admitted to Qingcheng Drama Academy through family connections, but only to improve his chances of seducing girls.

Listen up, he sneered. Give up on that Female Lead role now. It’s going to Huang Zhenzhen.

Give it to my girlfriend, got it?