Transmigrating into the Rival's Fanfiction - Chapter 33

Sheng Mingluo was taken aback by Xu Yun’s attitude, freezing in place. She gave Xu Yun a meaningful look but said nothing, turning and walking away.

For some reason, a flicker of worry stirred within her. Perhaps it was because Qin Zhi hadn’t replied to her messages.

Their accommodations were close, both staying at the same hotel. Qin Zhi’s room was just one floor below hers. Sheng Mingluo pressed the elevator button for the lower floor, her anxiety growing with each descending level.

By the time she reached Qin Zhi’s door, Sheng Mingluo was fidgeting nervously, digging her fingernails into her palm. Should I have been more direct earlier? she wondered. Instead of letting Qin Zhi get her hopes up?

After pondering for a long while, Sheng Mingluo grew increasingly agitated. Finally, she decided to stop overthinking it and raised her hand to knock on the door.

“Teacher Qin… are you there?”

The knocks echoed in the silence. Sheng Mingluo felt like someone awaiting judgment. Just as she was about to give up and leave, the door creaked open a crack.

Qin Zhi’s face, shadowed and unreadable, appeared in the gap. Her expression was neutral as she stepped back, creating enough space for Sheng Mingluo to enter.

“I… I’m sorry, Teacher Qin. Are you disappointed?”

With a lingering unease in her heart, Sheng Mingluo closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and finally voiced her thoughts. She didn’t want a rift to form between them, clinging to the hope that they could still be good friends after leaving the fanfic world.

She clung to this fragile hope.

“Disappointed? You just want to go home. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Qin Zhi walked to the marble counter, poured a glass of plain water, and slid it across the coffee table toward Sheng Mingluo.

Though her words were calm, the disappointment on her face remained unmasked, as if deliberately meant for Sheng Mingluo to see.

Stung into silence, Sheng Mingluo wanted to defend herself, but she realized Qin Zhi was right. Compared to that tiny sliver of selfish concern, her overwhelming desire was to return to the real world.

“Since you’re so eager to go home, then don’t leave tonight.”

Her fingertips still warm from the water, Qin Zhi pinned Sheng Mingluo to the sofa with one hand, pressing down with enough force to make Sheng Mingluo’s collarbone ache.

Sheng Mingluo let out a soft groan and looked up at Qin Zhi, her red lips parting slightly as she tried to explain.

But Qin Zhi couldn’t bear to see her in such a pleading state. She had been the one to provoke him first, she had insisted on completing the mission. How dare she act wronged now?

Before Sheng Mingluo could utter a word, her defense was swallowed back down. Qin Zhi, seemingly dissatisfied with the kiss, wanted to punish her further. He bit down on her lip, his hands pressing firmly on her shoulders, pinning her against the soft sofa.

“Qin… Teacher Qin… Zhi, I’m… sorry.”

Only after the kiss ended, both of them breathless, did Sheng Mingluo manage to stammer out her apologetic explanation.

A strong woman knows when to yield.

Though her body felt weak from the kiss, Sheng Mingluo’s eyes glistened with physiological tears, wetting her lashes in delicate strands.

Qin Zhi acted as if he hadn’t heard her. His fingers pressed against Sheng Mingluo’s exposed shoulder, her long hair draped across her cheek, as he continued his actions without pause.

Sheng Mingluo’s hand pressed against the sofa back, her palm supporting Qin Zhi’s back. Qin Zhi pulled her forward, and Sheng Mingluo’s body instinctively resisted… but her mind clearly remembered the plot of this world.

If I want to go back, I have to accept all of this.

Feeling Sheng Mingluo’s trembling, Qin Zhi found a perverse pleasure in it.

Maybe Mother and Sister were right. I really am a complete pervert.

But what was wrong with that? This was what Sheng Mingluo wanted, what they both wanted.

Back in the real world, they had no contact, parting ways for good.

I’m the one who should be ashamed, yet I still harbor this possessive desire. Sheng Mingluo was a living, breathing person, not someone’s property.

Qin Zhi felt like she was going mad, half of her mind warning her to stop, the other half screaming for her to indulge.

But she couldn’t pull herself away.

Even the slightest emotional shift could send her into a panic, making her so easily manipulated.

So Qin Zhi deliberately tightened her grip, relishing the muffled moans she drew from Sheng Mingluo.

Sheng Mingluo crawled out of bed, her body aching all over. Her mind was still hazy. No matter how much she begged Qin Zhi last night, he wouldn’t listen. She felt a pang of fear, Qin Zhi’s moods were so unpredictable.

Even her shoulder bore a massive bite mark, the broken skin stinging to the touch.

I’ll have to cover it with a hydrocolloid bandage and concealer later. That should barely pass muster.

Sheng Mingluo wiped away the tears welling up in her eyes. What a miserable job. Why do I have to play the delicate flower? Sure, there were a few moments of pleasure, but this constant exhaustion isn’t worth it.

I’m going to protest.

“Good morning! Congratulations, Host! Your clearance value has increased by +5!”

“You only give me 5 points after all this suffering? Are you being stingy?”

“Even the protagonist of a fanfic has the right to protest, right?!”

Sheng Mingluo griped, tugging weakly at her pillow. Enough is enough! I can’t take this anymore. I need to give this System a piece of my mind to vent my anger.

It’s not like you were the one pinned to the bed, you bastard!

“Host, you’ve read the original text. Are you seriously trying to haggle with me? How was it described in the original? You know better than I do, System. Heh.”

“Adding 5 points is already an act of generosity from this System.”

With a final sneer, the System coldly disconnected. Sheng Mingluo was left speechless, choked by its retort.

Well… the original description was even more twisted.

Sheng Mingluo began fumbling for her phone, wondering if Xu Yun would be worried about her after she hadn’t returned home all night.

Sure enough, she found a message from Xu Yun, sent about half an hour after she had gone to see Qin Zhi.

Sister Mingluo, remember not to overdo it! We have filming tomorrow!

Well, how could this not be considered concern?

She set an alarm on her phone.

Sheng Mingluo’s hand slipped under the covers, massaging her aching body. She sighed. Even though she didn’t want to get up, she had to. Fortunately, today’s filming was scheduled for the afternoon, giving her a little more time to sleep.

Where did Qin Zhi go? This was her hotel room, yet Qin Zhi wasn’t here. Sheng Mingluo’s eyes were heavy with sleep, and she lacked the energy to get out of bed and draw the curtains.

Sleep first, then worry later.

Pulling the blanket over herself, Sheng Mingluo couldn’t help but wonder how she should face Qin Zhi. To be honest, she did have a slight fondness for her.

Even before they had met.

Qin Zhi was so radiant, her acting skills impeccable, and she never accepted mediocre or cliché roles. Within the company, she was someone everyone looked up to.

Though… her temper was undeniably terrible.