After Kissing the World-Weary Female Supporting Character [Transmigration] - Chapter 29

“What’s wrong? Does Ms. Song want some water?” Song Xingzi’s naive, questioning gaze swept over Li Yu. To her surprise, Li Yu discerned a sense of keen insight in Song Xingzi’s eyes. She held up her thermos cup, unscrewed the lid, and offered it to Song Xingzi.

No one said anything? Was I hearing things? Is the pressure too much?

Song Xingzi frowned and shook her head at Li Yu. “Thank you, Xiao Yu’er (Little Yu), I’m not thirsty. I don’t need water.”

Seeing Ji Ruyue’s pale lips after removing her lipstick, Song Xingzi thought Ji-Ji must be thirsty. The suspicion of hallucination was immediately thrown to the back of her mind. She tilted her head and asked Ji Ruyue, “Ji-Ji, would you like water? I’ll pour it for you.”

Li Yu watched her artist, who had just shaken her head, immediately take the thermos cup and wave to Assistant Lin in the corner. “Sister Lin (Lin Jiejie), could you please hand over Ji-Ji’s water cup?”

She’s learned to be biased at such a young age. This is incredible. Is this forcing me to write a sweet romance?

Li Yu rubbed her smooth chin, contemplating the future of a sweet romance novel.

Assistant Lin, who had been called out, glanced at Bodyguard Li, who stood in the corner and had even less presence than herself. A strange sense of pride flashed in her heart. She found the CEO’s thermos cup in the nanny bag, handed it to Song Xingzi, and then returned to her original spot with the bag without a word.

“Ji-Ji, here you are,” Song Xingzi unscrewed the cap and placed the two thermos cups side by side. One was a bright green with red flowers, exuding a strong sense of everyday life, and the other was pure black, simple, and elegant.

Undoubtedly, the red-and-green cup full of life was Song Xingzi’s.

“Your cup,” Ji Ruyue’s brow twitched.

Song Xingzi looked at Ji Ruyue blankly. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s really cute (Kě’ài),” Ji Ruyue closed her eyes again, suddenly realizing where that festive red jar in the kitchen had come from.

Why? It’s so mismatched with her image.

Ji Ruyue imagined the female lead—dressed in a simple white dress, unadorned, yet still charmingly attractive—wearing a pair of red embroidered shoes, holding a vivid green thermos cup in her hand, carrying a large red-and-green cloth bag on her back, and smiling at herself (Ji Ruyue) in a simple, earnest manner.

The image was too intense. Ji Ruyue shivered and couldn’t resist asking Song Xingzi, “You like bright red and bright green (Dà Hóng Dà Lǜ)?”

Song Xingzi immediately looked like a child caught doing something wrong, first shaking her head pitifully, then nodding.

Ji Ruyue’s expression was complex. This hobby of the female lead is so unfitting for her title!

“That red jar (Hóng Gāngzi) that holds the candy is yours, too?”

Song Xingzi’s eyes lit up. Thinking of Ji Ruyue’s good mood when eating the candy, she nodded again, this time with a little more confidence.

Song Xingzi grew up in the countryside and lived a poor life; it’s normal for her to like these festive items. Ji Ruyue found a plausible reason for Song Xingzi in her heart, but she still felt very complicated. She couldn’t help but continue to question her. “That pink thermos (Fěn Hóng Bǎo Wēn Tǒng) that glows green at night—did you buy that too? How much did it cost?”

These things are very cheap. It’s okay. She saved a little. She doesn’t know she’s rich now. I should change this mindset of hers and stifle the motivation to compromise with the male lead for Song Xuelin and money in the cradle.

Ji Ruyue pressed her hand to her forehead, feeling a headache over Li Yebai, that scum.

How much money? Song Xingzi looked up at the light, recalling the zeros on the back of the thermos. “I think it was five hundred and eighty-eight (Wǔ Bǎi Bā Shí Bā) yuan, and it came with a free Donald Duck (Táng Lǎo Yā)—the yellow, silly-looking one—worth one hundred and twenty (Yī Bǎi Èr) yuan! Isn’t that a great deal? The seller said it was purely natural and non-polluting, especially suitable for children.”

Only five hundred-plus yuan. It really is cheap. Song Xingzi is truly used to a hard life.

Ji Ruyue, who was unaware of the struggles of ordinary life and whose casual spending could wipe out hundreds of ‘ten-thousand-yuan households’ (Wàn Yuán Hù), did not know that Song Xingzi had purposely spent the last of the original owner’s savings to buy the children’s thermos, biting the bullet to do so. Objectively, she thought it was very inexpensive.

Therefore, she sighed with emotion, “That’s truly cheap (Zhēn Pián Yí). In fact, you don’t need to be this way. You’re already very rich, and you don’t have to cover your father’s surgery costs. Buy whatever you want; you don’t need to be so calculating.”

Song Xingzi didn’t hear a single word of Ji Ruyue’s later statements. Her mind was filled with “That’s truly cheap,” “That’s truly cheap,” “That’s truly cheap”…

Song Xingzi, the pauper, clutched her wallet and agreed against her will, “It is quite cheap.”

Ji-Ji is so rich. She actually says a thermos that cost six hundred yuan is cheap. Wuwuwu, I can’t handle this. I’m too poor!

“Ji-Ji, what are you going to do later?”

“Go back to the hotel and lie down.”

“Ah? I still have a scene tonight, and we haven’t had dinner yet.”

Ji Ruyue had finished removing her makeup. She got up to change clothes in the dressing room. Song Xingzi followed her, squatting outside the door and saying with a pitiful whine, “Ji-Ji, are you going back alone? I can’t go back to the hotel in my costume. Who will cook for you?”

Ji Ruyue put on a red dress. Her voice, muffled through the clothes and the door, sounded flat. “Then use the prop pot to cook.”

Song Xingzi was still unhappy, responding glumly, “Ji-Ji, are you really going back by yourself? Your room is so big; won’t it be lonely without people?”

Ji Ruyue put on her down jacket and pushed the door open to see Song Xingzi squatting on the ground like an abandoned small animal. She frowned and held out her (Ji Ruyue’s) hand to Song Xingzi. “Do you want me to stay with you? Why are you so clingy?”

Song Xingzi placed her hand in Ji Ruyue’s, stood up, and awkwardly fidgeted as she said, “No, no, no. I want to accompany Ji-Ji, but I can’t go back.”

Ji Ruyue raised an eyebrow, indicating she didn’t understand. What’s the difference between the two?

“Then I’ll wait for you here,” Ji Ruyue sat on the small sofa, looked at the silly-looking Song Xingzi, and said softly, “You go get busy.”

The night shoot will end early. It’s the same wherever I am. Since the female lead wants me to accompany her, I’ll rest here.

Song Xingzi nodded, her face breaking into a bright smile. She beckoned to Li Yu nearby. “Xiao Yu’er, come over quickly.”

Li Yu: “…” What is it? Are they showing affection? I’m telling you, writing tragic romance is the only way to succeed in this world.

The familiar seriousness reappeared on Li Yu’s small, apple-shaped face. “Ms. Song, what is it?”

Song Xingzi handed the room key to Li Yu. “Bring me the red porcelain jar (Hóng Cí Gāngzi) from my room. It’s right next to my bed. Inside is the candy I made for Ji-Ji. I’m going to cook. Bring it to Ji-Ji to eat.”

Alright, I understand now. I can try the sweet romance. Li Yu nodded vigorously and took the room key. “Yes, Ms. Song, you’ve worked hard.”

“Ji-Ji, I’m going to make you dinner. Should I make you some porridge?”

Why is she using that tone again, like she’s trying to coax a child? Ji Ruyue bent her knees, leaned on the sofa, and replied expressionlessly, “Oh.”

Song Xingzi nodded, humming a little tune as she pushed the door open and left.

Did I hear correctly just now? Was she humming a Southern ditty (Nán Fāng Xiǎo Diào)?

Ji Ruyue, who was about to close her eyes and rest, pulled out her phone and searched for the few lyrics she had just heard: “I hurriedly walked into the forest. The forest is in dense groves. I cannot find her (Tā’s) whereabouts…”

Alright. Song Xingzi is truly down-to-earth. I misjudged her.

Ji Ruyue finished reading the search results, put down her phone, and closed her eyes against the sofa cushion for a short nap.

Meanwhile, Song Xingzi ran to the “imperial kitchen” where her skilled fire-making, using the crew’s large earthen stove (Dà Dì Guō) to boil porridge, and simultaneously stir-frying dishes in a small iron pot (Xiǎo Tiě Guō) shocked everyone.

Especially the logistics staff. They looked at each other in astonishment, remaining speechless for a long time. Finally, they pushed one person forward, who stuttered to Song Xingzi, who was serving porridge into her pink thermos. “S-Song (Sòng), Ms. Song (Sòng Lǎo Shī), the production manager for daily life, h-has (Yǒu), has sent boxed meals (Sòng Hé Fàn Lái)…”

“Ah? I know that,” Song Xingzi closed the lid, fastened the clasp, and said gently, “But CEO Ji (Xiǎo Jǐ Zǒng) doesn’t like eating boxed meals. I can’t just watch her starve.”

The logistics team leader shivered. It’s the CEO (Zǒng Cāi) who wants to eat, he thought. Nevertheless, he mustered the courage to suggest, “There are restaurants nearby. They’re quite good. We can order food from there. I—I can help.”

Song Xingzi frowned, realizing something was wrong. She tentatively asked, “You don’t want me to cook, do you?”

“N-No, no, that’s not it. It’s just that the ingredients were all rationed props, and they’ve been used up. It’s difficult to purchase more right away.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Let her cook. The finance department will reimburse,” the directors’ team, attracted by the smell, rushed over. They had just finished their own boxed meals.

Qi Nanchun said gently to the team leader, “It’s alright. We are filming a gourmet drama (Měi Shí Jù), and it’s great that the lead actress is a master chef (Dà Chú). Just tell the finance department the ingredients were used to cook for CEO Ji (Xiǎo Jǐ Zǒng); they won’t make trouble for you.”

The team leader was relieved. “O-Okay. Thank you, Screenwriter Qi (Qí Biān Jù).”

Seeing that everything was fine, Song Xingzi politely greeted the directors’ team one by one, then carried the pink, luminous thermos toward the makeup room.

The porridge cooked in the earthen stove is so fragrant. Ji-Ji will definitely love it. I need to hurry. I wonder how many candies Ji-Ji has eaten. I hope she doesn’t eat too many; it’s bad for her teeth and can cause cavities.

Song Xingzi, who once again fell into the role of a “Mama Fan” (Mommy Fan) after cooking, selectively ignored the fact that Ji Ruyue was already over twenty years old and completely past the risk of childhood (Huàn Yá Qī) cavities.

Wang Qiang rubbed his hands and poked Qi Nanchun’s arm, but Qi Nanchun ignored him. So, he shamelessly asked for himself, “Xingzi (Starlet), what did you cook? Why does it smell so good?”

“It’s just rice porridge. I made quite a lot. There’s some left. If anyone wants to eat, you can serve yourselves directly.”

Wang Qiang hypocritically refused, “Oh, that’s too much trouble.”

Song Xingzi didn’t want to fuss. She nodded and said, “It’s no trouble at all. If you want to eat, just eat it. It’s already cooked, and it would be a shame to waste it. I’m going to take the food to CEO Ji now.”

Wang Qiang was satisfied. “Hey, good, good, good! Xingzi, take your time!”

Qi Nanchun watched Song Xingzi’s eager figure and became even more convinced of his idea: the adaptation of the Mu Miao (Mu Yu and Fang Miao) CP is definitely going to be a hit!

“You’re so undignified, Da Qiangzi (Big Qiang). Didn’t you just finish eating? Look how composed Xiao Yu (Little Yu) is.”

“Chun Chun (Little Chun), you’re mistaken,” Wang Qiang was already serving himself a bowl. “Xiao Yu is already eating.”

Zhao Yu blew on his spoon and confirmed with satisfaction, “Mmm, it’s very fragrant. It’s actually better than Chun Chun’s cooking.”

Qi Nanchun: “…”

“I don’t believe it! Give me a bowl too!”

“There’s not much left,” the daily life production manager said slowly, holding his own bowl.

…

“Ji-Ji,” Song Xingzi pushed the door open. “Ji-Ji, did you eat the candy?”

Ji Ruyue hadn’t slept well. The inescapable feeling of suffocation in her dreams rarely allowed her a good night’s rest. She looked up and saw Song Xingzi carefully sitting down in front of her. Song Xingzi’s hand, warm from the firewood, pressed against her forehead. Song Xingzi said worriedly, “No fever. Why do you look so listless?”

I’m not a child. Why does she always talk to me like this?

Song Xingzi’s behavior made Ji Ruyue feel a little amused. She sat up and explained to Song Xingzi, “I’m just tired. I was taking a short nap.”

“Oh, oh. Ji-Ji, are you going to eat?” Song Xingzi lowered her head a little dejectedly. Li Yu and the others had all gone to eat dinner, so she (Song Xingzi) began to serve the food herself. She opened the thermos lid, filled a small porcelain bowl, arranged the small stir-fry dish, and then brought over the red porcelain jar. The large jar of candy was already almost empty.

I should have let Ji-Ji go back. She said she wanted to lie down. The candy is almost gone too. Ji-Ji loves candy, so I need to find time to make another batch…

Ji Ruyue ate a piece of candy first, then began to drink the porridge and eat the side dishes. Seeing Song Xingzi still looking self-reproachful, she couldn’t help but ask, “Why are you unhappy again?”

“Ji-Ji, go back after you eat. Get some good rest. I’ll walk you back,” Song Xingzi looked up at the sound and said firmly.

“It’s the same everywhere; I can’t sleep,” Ji Ruyue explained. She narrowed her eyes, enjoying Song Xingzi’s assorted stir-fry. It was refreshing and delicious, with moderate saltiness. The carrot slices, in particular, carried a faint sweetness that greatly pleased her.

Song Xingzi immediately became highly alert, dropping her chopsticks nervously. “Can’t sleep? Why? Ji-Ji, do you have insomnia (Shī Mián)?”

Ji Ruyue, her appetite satisfied, was like a contented cat, easily showing her soft belly. She explained unhurriedly, “It’s not exactly insomnia; I just don’t sleep well. I have nightmares (È Mèng).”

“Ah! Then why does Ji-Ji have nightmares (È Mèng)? When did they start? Are they serious? Is the pressure of joining the crew too much? Do you need to go to the hospital?”

“I don’t know. A long time ago. Not serious. No. I’ve been there; it didn’t help,” Ji Ruyue saw Song Xingzi’s crestfallen look and actually felt a little urge to tease her. “What, after becoming a master chef (Dà Chú), is our Female Lead (Nǚ Zhǔ Jiǎo) going to change careers and become a doctor (Yī Shēng)?”

“Don’t joke about this! Not sleeping well is serious! If, if… Sigh.”

If only we were in Qingqiu (Green Hill), I could take Ji-Ji to find Brother Mengmo (Dream Tapir Brother) and ask him to see what’s causing the nightmares (Mèng Yǎn Zhe Le). Or I could go to another mountain to find Grandpa Bai (Bái Yé Yé), Grandpa Bai can cure any illness. Why can’t I enter dreams? Why can’t I treat illnesses? Why didn’t I follow him and learn back then?

Song Xingzi’s sincere and proactive concern brought a warmth to Ji Ruyue’s heart. It was a care completely different from the programmed love—it was an active, authentic warmth. Even the damp, cold climate of the South seemed to warm up. Ji Ruyue couldn’t help but curl her lips, as if the bad mood from the dream had been blown away.

“If you care about me more and don’t get involved with Li Yebai, I’ll be able to sleep well.”

Huh? I actually said that without any hindrance. It was only an internal thought! Did it change again?

Ji Ruyue’s pupils suddenly contracted. She grabbed Song Xingzi’s hand, her voice urgent. “Song Xingzi, don’t get involved with Li Yebai. I will lose sleep.”

Truly, truly I said it! Can I say anything to Song Xingzi? Can I even persuade her to change the plot?

Song Xingzi nodded dizzily. She (Song Xingzi) didn’t understand why Ji Ruyue suddenly brought up that scumbag, the Male Lead (Nán Zhǔ). Her confused mind subconsciously obeyed Ji Ruyue’s seemingly “spoiled” (Sā Jiāo Bān) request.

Ji Ruyue’s expression was serious. In her (Ji Ruyue’s) eyes, which were usually dull, fire seemed to burn. “Song Xingzi, you must love yourself properly. Don’t be foolishly deceived by people. Don’t compromise because of Song Xuelin. Don’t compromise for love, either.”

Song Xingzi nodded. “Okay.”

“Song Xingzi, you must be independent. You must hate dependence. You must hate people like Li Yebai who try to control and harm you!”

Song Xingzi continued to nod dazedly. “Okay!”

“Song Xingzi, you must—forget it. You eat first. The food is getting cold,” Ji Ruyue took a long breath, picked up a piece of candy and put it in her mouth. She collapsed onto the sofa, closing her eyes to calm down.

“Okay,” Song Xingzi replied reflexively. “Hey, Ji-Ji, are you done eating? We haven’t finished talking about your insomnia yet.”

Ji Ruyue, holding the candy in her mouth, said vaguely, “You eat first, then go act. I’ll wait for you here, and we’ll talk when you get back.”

Song Xingzi complied sweetly. “Okay.”

The two finished their meal quickly, one thinking about what could cure Ji-Ji’s illness in Qingqiu, and the other thinking about why the plot had changed and how to leverage the changes in the plot.

When the makeup artist and others arrived, Song Xingzi quickly touched up her makeup and went out to act with high spirits. Since she was essentially playing herself, and the directors’ team, feeling grateful for the food, was happy to guide her, the two night scenes passed very smoothly.

Song Xingzi and Ji Ruyue returned to the hotel. Song Xingzi rushed through a shower, put on a nightgown, and came to find the insomniac child (Shī Mián De Xiǎo Péng Yǒu). “Ji-Ji, Ji-Ji, are you here?”