After Kissing the World-Weary Female Supporting Character [Transmigration] - Chapter 20

“Where to go? How about to your grave to mourn you?”

Ji Ruyue was annoyed and exhausted. She walked non-stop through the crowd, reaching the old estate’s garden. She paused by the musical fountain, looking up at the sky.

Today was the Major Cold solar term, coinciding with the fifteenth day of the lunar month, making the moon above large and round. The musical fountain lights around her were soft, and the air was filled with water vapor. The Male Lead and the bustling banquet were left far behind.

Why am I entangled in these matters? Why am I the only ‘vicious Female Lead’ who is conscious?

Ji Ruyue blinked. Remembering Song Xingzi saying she would wait for her to come home, her troubled heart suddenly calmed down.

Actually, there’s still room for change. At the very least, the Female Lead doesn’t know the Male Lead yet; instead, she’s obsessively clinging to me.

She sneered and sat down on a nearby wooden chair, waiting for the Male Lead to chase her out, fresh from a scolding by his grandfather, to apologize.

“Ji Ruyue! Stop making a scene.”

Li Yebai finally caught up. His face showed a false, lingering affection, but his eyes held icy loathing. Arrogant and self-proclaimed to be extraordinarily talented, he would never tolerate being dominated by a woman, not even his fiancée!

“If this is your way of trying to get my attention, then let me tell you, Xiaoyue, you succeeded!”

Ji Ruyue sat calmly with her back to the foolish Male Lead. Hearing his words, her shoulders began to twitch. Li Yebai noticed her movement and broke into a smug, triumphant smile.

I knew it. Ji Ruyue is brainless. All she does is cause trouble out of jealousy, act domineering, and cling to me. She doesn’t realize that if it weren’t for the Ji Corporation as her dowry, how could I ever look at her? No man would like a woman like her!

“Xiaoyue, I know you aren’t that unreasonable. You’re just angry with me. You exasperating little thing, you’re still the only woman in the world who dares to be rough with me. But what can I do? I just happen to like you when you’re jealous.” Li Yebai put his hand on Ji Ruyue’s shoulder. His voice carried an innate, cold dominance—deep and full of false emotion.

Truly idiotic. No matter how many times I hear this kind of foolishness, I can’t stand it. Ji Ruyue’s eyes reddened, and tears streamed down. Yet, her heart was utterly calm; she even wanted to press the Male Lead’s head into the fountain water to make him snap out of it.

Sensing Ji Ruyue’s trembling and soft sobbing, Li Yebai leaned in closer and began his performance over her head. “My heart is yours, so why bother with these trivial matters? I was late for the cocktail party, so I couldn’t dance with you. The opening dance was half over; I couldn’t very well pull you back out to restart it.”

I don’t want your heart. It’s bouncing around happily in a dog’s belly.

Ji Ruyue turned around, her eyes red, but her gaze was hollow and full of disgust.

She pushed the Male Lead away and retorted in an almost spoiled tone, “Then what about that little starlet? You actually slept with another woman at Starlight’s annual meeting! Brother Li, you have no heart!”

Li Yebai clenched his fist, as if deeply insulted. He said in a pained voice, “Damn it, can’t you feel whether I like you or not?”

So tired. Why hasn’t it ended yet? Ji Ruyue pretended to be shaken, lightly hitting Li Yebai with her small fist, and said coyly, “Brother Li is lying! You didn’t even pick me up today and you arrived so late!”

If only I could smash him to death. But if the Male Lead dies, this world will be reassembled again. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever successfully killed a main character myself. I wonder if my self-awareness would be completely erased?

Ji Ruyue considered the feasibility, pulled back her hand, covered her mouth, and offered a shy smile.

Seeing Ji Ruyue’s bashful, maidenly look, Li Yebai dropped his suspicion. I was worried I couldn’t control Ji Ruyue a few days ago, but now I see she’s still that brainless, love-struck girl. I must have been overthinking it.

“It really was traffic. The city center was jammed today, and even my ‘eight-eights’ license plate didn’t get any deference,” Li Yebai explained irritably, thinking of the inexplicable traffic jam today. Damn it! How dare those commoners’ trashy cars block me!

“Since Brother Li says so, I’ll reluctantly believe you just this once.”

“Oh, and Brother Li, Starlight is preparing a new drama. Didn’t Brother Li mention wanting to enter the entertainment industry to Xiaoyue before? Interested in trying to invest?”

With Starlight’s strength, there was no need to seek external investors. Ultimately, the puppet Ji liked Li Yebai and felt the need to help him with everything.

“No need to invest. I just acquired Huasheng a couple of days ago and am getting ready to test the waters,” Li Yebai paused. Seeing Ji Ruyue’s innocent and admiring expression, he continued, “I do have an artist under me who wants to go to Starlight to learn.”

Finally, it’s coming. The scene where he secures a role for the Female Lead. But this time, the Female Lead has already signed with Starlight and is playing the Female Lead. How will Fate revise the plot? Will it replace her? And will she still play the Imperial Consort?

“That’s fine. Brother Li, just name it. It would be wonderful to be able to help Brother Li,” Ji Ruyue’s eyes were calm. Having finished the required dialogue, she quietly waited for the Male Lead’s next line.

“Her image is quite close to a simple and kind character. She wants to play the Imperial Consort in your novel adaptation. Would that be too difficult for Xiaoyue?”

The role of Mu Yu (Imperial Consort) was requested by He Ya. This role is very special to everyone in the play and is close to He Ya’s image. It would be perfect for seducing Song Xingzi and destroying her relationship with Ji Ruyue.

So, although Li Yebai didn’t know the exact situation of the production team, he found He Ya’s analysis quite reasonable.

Hehehe, is it really going to be like this? The plot correction is even dumber than the original. Fate just shoehorns it in regardless of the actual situation.

Thinking of her upcoming reply, Ji Ruyue laughed out loud. What am I supposed to say? It should be this line: “Of course, you can. I’ll tell them to reserve that role for her. Just tell her to come and play it. But Brother Li, remember to come and find Xiaoyue; I hardly ever see you.”

But I’ve already promised the Female Lead I’ll play Mu Yu. How will Fate correct this?

Ji Ruyue frowned, still using the deliberately sweet, girlish voice. “Can, can we change it? That role is already taken. I’ll instruct them to find her a similar role and reserve it for her. Just tell her to come and play it. But Brother Li, remember to come and find Xiaoyue; I hardly ever see you.”

From the initial stutter to the conversation that was almost identical to the original script, Ji Ruyue actually finished speaking smoothly! There was no coughing up blood, no sense of soul-tearing. She had stated the change point so easily!

It was like a lone traveler in a barren night suddenly finding light, food, and companionship. She almost wanted to laugh heartily, to immediately run ten laps around the musical fountain, and then jump into a hot spring, drenched in sweat, to loudly proclaim her excitement to the heavens.

But she couldn’t. The plot was still ongoing, and the scene was still being played out. She couldn’t break character and definitely couldn’t deviate from the script.

“Then Brother Li thanks Xiaoyue first,” Li Yebai completely missed the implication of Ji Ruyue’s change in dialogue and continued on his own, only realizing afterward that Ji Ruyue seemed to have refused him!

“Brother Li is too polite!” Ji Ruyue linked her arm through Li Yebai’s. “Let’s go back to the banquet. We’ve been out here long enough.”

The music and strings continued. The events that followed were insignificant, only given a brief mention in The Tyrannical CEO’s Loving Shadow Queen. Although Ji Ruyue didn’t know this, the greatly reduced sense of constraint allowed her to stay only until ten o’clock, after which she excused herself.

Escaping the tedious and dull birthday banquet, Ji Ruyue rushed toward Jinghongfang with Bodyguard Li.

“Drive faster. It’s getting late.” Ji Ruyue sat in the passenger seat, looking at the bustling traffic under the orange streetlights, meticulously thinking about the change today.

Why was I able to say a different answer so smoothly today? No blood, no injury. How was this different from signing the contract before? Both involved changing a crucial plot point, so why was this time so easy? Come to think of it, when the story first started, taking the Female Lead away was also very smooth! But what is the connection between them?

The Female Lead, the Female Lead! It’s Song Xingzi! Ji Ruyue shot up, only to be pulled back into her seat by the seatbelt. Li Biao silently slowed the car to prevent her from getting hurt.

Ji Ruyue carefully recalled what Song Xingzi was doing or saying before every plot point was changed:

She wanted me to save her: “Ji-Ji, save me, save me…” She tearfully tore up Li Yebai’s contract… She said: “I want to play that chef, and then Ji-Ji plays the Imperial Consort. The Imperial Consort is the only person who is nice to the chef, and Ji-Ji is the only person who is nice to me. Ji-Ji is as kind as the Imperial Consort.” Lin Shu said she wanted to persuade me to play the Imperial Consort, but I didn’t reply to her. I promised her I’d play Mu Yu: “Didn’t you want me to play the Imperial Consort? Stop crying. I’ll play that role then.” …

It’s her! It’s Song Xingzi! The difference lies in her will! She wanted me to save her, so I could easily take her away. She wanted me to play Mu Yu and discussed it with me multiple times, so I could smoothly change the plot. But she never mentioned the contract; my prepared contract clashed with the Male Lead’s, which is why I was injured and coughed up blood when I tried to change that part!!!

Is the Female Lead’s will determining all of this? Whatever Song Xingzi wishes for, the world’s direction will lean toward it? Everything is happening centered around the protagonist’s will! Li Yebai is the Male Lead, she is the Female Lead, and both are simultaneously influencing this world in different directions!!!

Then, if Song Xingzi wishes for me to break off the engagement with Li Yebai and cut all ties with him, can it happen? Can I succeed? To be free from all of this!!

Ji Ruyue was stunned by her own conjecture. Thinking of the freedom she had dreamed of, her heart couldn’t help but pound, her breathing quickened, and her fingers clenched the armrest. She wished she had wings to fly back to the villa in Jinghongfang this very second to test her theory.

“Li Biao, drive faster. Take a detour if there’s traffic. Get back to Jinghongfang quickly!”

Li Biao was startled by Ji Ruyue’s low, urgent voice. He thought: Is the CEO thinking about Miss Song?

He indulged his rare moment of gossip, then obediently shifted gears and sped up, driving quickly and steadily back to Jinghongfang. As soon as he parked the car in front of the villa’s gate, Ji Ruyue flung open the car door and bolted out, running straight towards the brightly lit entrance.

The CEO really likes Miss Song! Zhang Yuan’s gossip was right for once.

The silent Bodyguard Li thought to himself as he drove the car to the underground garage before quietly heading home.

“Song Xingzi!” Ji Ruyue, clutching her long skirt, sprinted all the way. She pushed open the door and saw the woman sprawled on the sofa reading a book. She called out her name in a sharp, urgent voice. Only after the woman looked over did Ji Ruyue abruptly stop to catch her breath.

“Song Xingzi! Song Xingzi! Song Xingzi!” Ji Ruyue closed the door, calling her name. She walked toward her step by step, her eyes burning with fervor, like a devout pilgrim, traveling tens of thousands of miles over mountains and rivers, finally witnessing a divine presence, overflowing with joy.

Song Xingzi had already eaten dinner and, worried that the ‘little one’ might have been forced to drink and skip meals, had simmered hangover soup and white rice porridge, keeping them warm on the stove. She sat in the living room waiting for Ji Ruyue while studying the Deep Palace Chef Queen novel.

Hearing Ji Ruyue call her name for the first time, Song Xingzi put down her book, sat up, and asked softly, “What’s wrong, Ji-Ji?”

Ji Ruyue seemed not to hear her, urgently and frantically calling her name, walking toward her step by step. Song Xingzi was a little flustered; her intuition told her that the current Ji-Ji was dangerous and she should run, yet she was worried the ‘little one’ had been bullied at the banquet. Her mouth opened and closed, unable to utter a word. She watched as Ji Ruyue, red-eyed, walked right up to her and stared down at her.

Song Xingzi was stunned, asking blankly, “Ji-Ji, did someone bully you?”

Ji Ruyue didn’t speak. She squatted down, meeting her gaze. The longing in her eyes was like a net, locking Song Xingzi firmly within it.

“Ji-Ji, don’t stay silent! I’m scared. Are you okay?” Song Xingzi held Ji Ruyue’s hand and scrutinized her from top to bottom, still unable to find the reason for Ji Ruyue’s abnormal behavior.

“No, I’m fine,” The moment Ji Ruyue spoke, her low, hoarse voice tossed Song Xingzi’s ‘mother’s heart’ into a deep fryer, where it was tossed and turned dozens of times.

“Don’t say you’re fine! Your voice is all hoarse! Did someone bully you?” It must have been that dead scumbag Li Yebai! Ji-Ji is so good, how could he bear to hurt her? Did Ji-Ji cry? Her eyes are so red, and her voice is hoarse.

Song Xingzi was both angry and frustrated, hating herself for not having her spiritual power to avenge Ji Ruyue. She grit her teeth and said, “Did Li Yebai make you angry! I, I’ll go help you hit him!”

After being thoroughly and meticulously cared for by Song Xingzi, Ji Ruyue was strangely able to calm down. She shook her head and said to the Female Lead, whose eyes were full of concern, “No, I wasn’t bullied.”

Song Xingzi didn’t believe her. If she wasn’t bullied, how could she be like this for no reason? “Did Ji-Ji drink alcohol? Did you eat?”

“I didn’t drink,” Ji Ruyue shook her head. She desperately wanted to pin Song Xingzi down and make her say a hundred times that she hoped Ji Ruyue would stay away from Li Yebai, Liu Bai, and Song Xingzi, and that she hoped Ji Ruyue would live happily forever. Yet, she felt a rare sense of fear and wanted to retreat.

The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. It was like the shyness of approaching home. The closer one gets to something longed for and dreamed of, the more one fears that obtaining it will be anticlimactic and completely different from their imagination.

This undeniable truth held true even for the young, brilliant, and elegant CEO Ji.

What if, what if my guess is just a guess?

Ji Ruyue sighed. Song Xingzi immediately reacted, saying anxiously, “Ji-Ji, did you not eat? I’ll go get you some porridge.”

“I ate,” said Ji Ruyue, who hadn’t had a single grain of rice all night. She tugged at Song Xingzi’s clothes, sighed with her lips slightly parted, and said, “Song Xingzi, sit down. I have something to tell you.”

Forget it. It’s only one sword stroke whether I stick my neck out or pull it back. At worst, I’ll just continue living like this—I’m already used to it. Besides, even if this isn’t the case, life is already changing for the better, isn’t it?

Song Xingzi obediently sat down, staring at Ji Ruyue with her beautiful eyes, and asked sweetly, “What does Ji-Ji want to say?”

Ji Ruyue took a deep breath, slowly let it out, and said in the calmest tone possible, “Song Xingzi, do you hope I break off my engagement with Li Yebai? You always say I’m a good person, so do you hope I live a free and happy life?”

Song Xingzi didn’t understand why, but she still answered seriously, “Of course! I’ve always hoped Ji-Ji could be happy and joyful, and, ideally, that you eat well and take good care of yourself.”

Ji Ruyue paused. The Female Lead’s expression was serious, her tone sincere. Ji Ruyue felt a pang of shame for her own dark motives. I’m using such a pure and genuine person, from beginning to end.

“Then, can you, can you bless me?” Ji Ruyue hardened her heart and finished the sentence in one breath, “Say you hope Ji Ruyue breaks off the engagement with Li Yebai and lives a free and happy life!”

Song Xingzi didn’t know what grievance the ‘little one’ had suffered outside to be acting so crazy upon returning home. But just as Ji Ruyue said, Song Xingzi genuinely believed Ji Ruyue was a good person—kind, generous, and morally upright. She truly hoped Ji Ruyue could live happily, freely, and successfully. Whether it was a small matter like eating on time and not being picky, or a major life event like marriage in the future, she wished Ji Ruyue well, just as good as she was as a person.

So Song Xingzi straightened her body, held Ji Ruyue’s hands, composed her expression, and seriously and solemnly repeated her words, syllable by syllable: “I hope Ji Ruyue breaks off the engagement with Li Yebai and lives a free and happy life!”

Ji Ruyue’s strength gave way, and she nearly fell to the floor. Song Xingzi helped her sit on the sofa. Ji Ruyue pulled the cord of the landline, dragging the entire phone into her lap. With a trembling hand, she pressed the numbers one by one.

“Moon descends, crows caw, always the millennium’s wind and frost; the sound of the waves remains, yet the night of the past is gone…”

“The number you dialed is currently busy. Please try again later. Beep—”

How can it be busy?!

Ji Ruyue dialed again, with the same result. She put down the phone, her gaze intensely fixed on Song Xingzi, who was sitting quietly beside her. She said hoarsely, “Song Xingzi, can, can you say that again? Say those words one more time.”

Song Xingzi didn’t know what Ji Ruyue was trying to do, but since the ‘little one’ needed it, how could she refuse? She repeated the blessing even more earnestly than the last time: “I hope Ji Ruyue breaks off the engagement with Li Yebai and lives a free and happy life!”

Ji Ruyue listened quietly. Just as she was about to dial the number again, the telephone rang. Ding, ding, ding. She immediately picked up the phone and heard the tired voice of the man on the other end call her, “Xiaoyue, why are you suddenly calling? Is something wrong?”

Ji Ruyue gripped the phone, a hint of nervousness arising from her expectation. “Dad, it’s me.”

Ji Hongguang was still handling official duties. Hearing his daughter, he put down his documents and patiently asked, “What is it? What do you want to say, Xiaoyue? You don’t need to worry about what happened yesterday. My daughter, Ji Hongguang’s daughter, can do whatever she wants. If you want to join the cast and act, then act. Don’t worry about the opinions of those old fogeys.”

It changed, sure enough! Ji Hongguang also agreed to let me join the cast and act! Ji Ruyue calmed down and spoke her true purpose. “Dad, it’s not about that. I, I want to break off the engagement with Li…”