After Kissing the World-Weary Female Supporting Character [Transmigration] - Chapter 48

Song Xingzi’s voice was as soft as Ji Ruyue’s, but compared to Ji Ruyue’s ethereal, wind-like tone, her reply was firm and powerful, like a cedar in the mountains, gripping the earth and refusing to let go.

Ji Ruyue stiffened. For her, revealing her inner thoughts was not an easy task: it meant exposing herself, placing her true self in a dangerous zone, awaiting the judgment of others. Yet, she was too insecure; the slightest disturbance could make Ji Ruyue quickly retract the head she had painstakingly managed to poke out of her shell.

Fortunately, Song Xingzi was meticulously observant and sensitively noticed Ji Ruyue’s stiffness. She gently patted Ji Ruyue’s slender and straight back, like soothing an infant to sleep, and softly said in a voice as delicate as premium cotton candy: “Star’s moon, hurry and sleep. The star is going to hide in the clouds now, too.”

I mustn’t rush her; I need to give Ji Ji time and love her forever. Song Xingzi thought this, then drifted into a deep sleep amidst the cool cedar fragrance, enjoying a restful night.

Perhaps the strong emotion had been draining, but the next day, both of them coincidentally slept until late morning.

Ji Ruyue was reluctantly drawn out of her slumber only when she felt suffocated. As soon as she opened her eyes, she confirmed it: Song Xingzi’s small head was pressing on her chest, her two hands were like a rogue’s—one wrapped around her neck, the other resting on her abdomen—and her two legs were even more unrestrained, one propped on her thigh, and the other tucked between her own legs.

Rounding it up, a whole living person was essentially draped over Ji Ruyue. How could she not feel heavy and constrained?

Ji Ruyue gently peeled the ‘sloth’ off her and sat up. Sunlight streamed into the bedroom through the partially drawn curtain. Ji Ruyue propped her head on one hand, calmly observing the hotel room she had lived in for three months: the pure white down comforter, the bedside table covered with a white pad, the grey carpet, the walnut wardrobe, and the unusually lavish chandelier… It was like any other hotel she had stayed in—nothing special.

“Mmm, Ji Ji, you’re awake already?” Ji Ruyue’s movement had woken Song Xingzi. She yawned deeply, then stretched slowly, moving her head leisurely towards Ji Ruyue’s leg. “Why didn’t you wake me up? What time is it?”

Still, there is something different. Ji Ruyue thought, picking up Song Xingzi’s tablet, which was encased in a large red protective shell, and handed it to her. “I don’t know; you check. It should still be early.”

“Aiya!” Song Xingzi cried out, instantly wide awake. “It’s already eleven o’clock! That’s so late!”

“Ji Ji, are you hungry? I’ll go cook for you. You lie down a little longer.” Song Xingzi rubbed her messy hair, jumped out of bed, put on her slippers, and hurried out of the room.

The filming of The Royal Chef had completely wrapped, with the entire cast and crew finished. Taking advantage of the main actors still being around, the crew organized a wrap party. Song Xingzi, who was also attending, didn’t want Ji Ruyue to stay alone in the hotel, so she linked arms with her moon and went together.

During the dinner, Zhao Yu drank too much and pulled the solemn-faced Ji Ruyue aside to praise her acting as unmatched in heaven and earth, while also loudly and softly praising Song Xingzi’s cooking skills. Wang Qiang and others were even more exaggerated, toasting Song Xingzi with teary eyes, explicitly stating how reluctant they were to part—though of course, it was Song Xingzi’s cooking they couldn’t bear to leave. However, with President Ji protecting her, Song Xingzi didn’t manage to drink a single farewell toast. Meanwhile, the CP-shipper Tao Le and Qi Nanchun watched the gradually shifting atmosphere between the two, smiling smugly…

“Hehe, Ji Ji, it’s over now!” Song Xingzi wrapped both arms around Ji Ruyue’s neck, clinging to her like a koala, and slowly walked forward.

“Mhm, it’s over.” Ji Ruyue allowed herself to be embraced, walking to the area where pedicabs were clustered, her gaze critically surveying the drivers and vehicles.

This cab is too dirty. What is that black stuff on the handrail? That one is too run-down. This driver’s voice is too loud…

“Hehehe, Ji Ji, this is great! I’m drunk! I’m going to collapse into Ji Ji’s arms!” Song Xingzi chuckled foolishly, her eyes like water, softly locked on Ji Ruyue.

“You didn’t drink any alcohol.” Ji Ruyue lightly patted Song Xingzi’s head, walking quickly forward, practically dragging Song Xingzi along.

This one looks decent. A large red cloak—she likes that. It’s still early, the sun has just set, and it’s not cold. It’s perfect for riding the pedicab through the small city, and later, I’ll take her to the night market.

Her lie about wanting to hug for a little longer was mercilessly exposed by Ji Ruyue. Song Xingzi shook her head, putting on the unreasonable air of a drunkard. “Well, people don’t need wine to get drunk, they get drunk on their own accord! I’m drunk on happiness.”

“Fine,” Ji Ruyue grabbed Song Xingzi’s collar and pulled her down. “Does this drunkard still want to ride in a cab and tour the film studio?”

“Yes, yes, yes! Ji Ji, hurry!” Song Xingzi instantly transformed from a boneless, soft clinger into a straight-standing white poplar. With one arm linked through Ji Ruyue’s, she pointed excitedly at the pedicab with the large red cloak. “We’ll take this one! Screenwriter Qi and Director Zhao rode in a cab together to tour before! We have to do it too!”

“Mhm.” Ji Ruyue uttered a noncommittal sound and sat down next to Song Xingzi. The assistant negotiated with the driver and hired an extra cab to follow. Song Xingzi and Ji Ruyue’s first date (not a date, though), their first tour, had officially begun.

Although night hadn’t fully arrived, entering through the tall, colourful archway revealed that the shops on both sides of the street were already lit up, doors open, preparing for the bustling and lively evening. The scattered tourists on the street included those running quickly, finding everything new; those holding up phones to take pictures; those dressed in Hanfu with elaborate hairstyles strolling slowly; and many others, like them, who had hired a cab for a tour…

Deeper inside, extras (filming locals) were setting up stages and pulling equipment; a little later, after dinner, they would start their self-directed and self-performed shows. There were also women in vibrant Qipaos of various styles doing a catwalk on a makeshift red carpet. Others, with multi-coloured permed hair, wearing black jackets or ripped jeans, were vigorously pounding on a drum kit, while nearby, someone wearing a baseball cap performed a cool dance on the ground…

All sorts of people made a living here. It was both lively and vibrant. Song Xingzi couldn’t help but think of the Demon Market, which took place once every three years in the Demon Realm; it was just as bustling, only the people walking through that market were demons of various shapes and forms.

If only I could take Ji Ji to the Demon Market. I must go to the far west side to retrieve the red silk I hung there, write Ji Ji’s name on the other end, tie it between us, and let the Marriage Tree bear witness. The thread of fate I hung hundreds of years ago should find its other owner now.

The sudden surge of longing made Song Xingzi feel a little down. She leaned her head on Ji Ruyue’s shoulder, her tone soft and gentle, “Ji Ji, this is so good. Life is always so lively.”

“Missing home?” Ji Ruyue had little interest in the bustling commercial street’s night view. While Song Xingzi looked around like a bumpkin who had never been to the city, Ji Ruyue quietly followed her gaze and looked twice.

The cheerfully energetic girl suddenly became low-spirited and said something so out of character; presumably, only missing home could explain it.

Ji Ruyue waved, summoning the two people following not too far away, took out her ‘life-prolonging elixir’ (candy), twisted open the lid, and pinched one piece into Song Xingzi’s mouth. “Eating candy will make you a little happier.”

“Hahahahaha,” Song Xingzi chewed the pine nut candy. The crisp fragrance of the roasted pine nuts mixed with the sweetness rushed straight to her brain. She laughed twice and then, like a clinging spirit, tightly hugged Ji Ruyue again.

“Hugging Ji Ji makes me a little happier.”

Whose little rascal is this? Ji Ruyue smiled faintly and let her hug her.

“Ji Ji, when we get to the other street, let’s get down and walk! There are lots of snack stalls and barbecue there. Da Qiangzi and the others all said it was good. I’ll take you to look around.”

Ji Ruyue never opposed Song Xingzi’s decisions. “Alright.”

While the two were talking, the driver took them through the busy commercial street and headed to the area crowded with snack vendors, which was exactly where Song Xingzi had wanted to go. Thus, Ji Ruyue was pulled by her star to squeeze into the crowd.

“Ji Ji, come quickly! This is the rice noodles Da Qiangzi mentioned. Their rice noodles are so delicious; Da Qiangzi said he can eat three bowls in one sitting,” Song Xingzi beckoned to Ji Ruyue, her smile blooming like a flower. Her brief homesickness had already been overshadowed by the lively night market.

“Does Ji Ji want to eat some? Let’s get a small box first. I don’t know if you’ll like it.”

Song Xingzi placed an order with the busy owner, paid, and as soon as she received it, she used disposable chopsticks to pick up a piece and delivered it to Ji Ruyue’s mouth. “Ji Ji, try it!”

The rice noodles were not stir-fried very dry, and they had a slight yellow colour from the soy sauce. They contained shrimp, shredded meat, dried scallops, eggs, and a few other ingredients—clearly savory.

Ji Ruyue’s brows furrowed slightly. She made a somewhat reluctant opening motion and still took a bite from Song Xingzi’s chopsticks.

Song Xingzi’s eyes glowed with anticipation. “How is it?”

“It’s not as good as what you make.” Ji Ruyue frowned and gave a detached reply. She had thought that upon hearing her answer, Song Xingzi would put down the box of savory snacks and move on to other stalls: children were all like that—eager for the new and bored with the old, with endless enthusiasm.

But unexpectedly, Song Xingzi merely nodded, and then used the very same pair of chopsticks that Ji Ruyue had just eaten from to pick up a piece for herself.

Song Xingzi nodded and handed the item to Bodyguard Li behind her. “It really is true; it’s not as delicious as what I make.”

But I successfully used the same pair of chopsticks as Ji Ji! Ji Ji used these chopsticks, and I used them too. Rounding it up, that’s another indirect kiss! Dates are great!

If Ji Ji asks why I only asked for one pair of chopsticks? Then I’ll tell her it’s to contribute to the motherland’s environmental protection efforts, so we don’t put too much burden on Mother Earth.

Hehe, I really am a little clever ghost!

Ji Ruyue was unaware of Song Xingzi’s little thoughts. She followed the person who acted as if she knew the place intimately, despite never having been there, looking left and right, tasting snacks from every stall along the way.

“The duck neck at this place seems especially delicious. Da Qiangzi said lots of celebrities come here to eat after filming night scenes, and you can even bargain! Ji Ji, watch me go bargain for you.”

“The barbecue here is also very famous. Lots of people order a huge table of barbecue here and drink beer. They say that eating it can eliminate the exhaustion of the whole day. I’ll go see if there’s any ready-to-eat and just buy two skewers to try.”

“Aiya, Ji Ji, and this milk tea shop. They say it’s Hong Kong-style milk tea that came into being because people from the mainland often came here to film. Tao Le said it’s especially authentic and told me I absolutely must try it. I’ll go buy one cup for each of us. But, Ji Ji, what flavour do you want?”

After all that, even though Ji Ruyue didn’t particularly like the food and only took a small bite of each item, she was surprisingly seven or eight parts full.

Song Xingzi was still queuing up at the stall selling sugar figures. She pointed at the various sugar figure samples stuck on the wooden rack, hesitating over which one to buy. Ji Ruyue stood beside her, listening to her monologue.

“This little rabbit is so cute! Will Ji Ji like it? That little phoenix is more suitable for Ji Ji; it’s proud yet cute. But I think a dragon would be good too, and it’s easier to chew. Do they have a little squirrel? I want a little squirrel one, but it doesn’t seem to be on the rack…”

It was quickly her turn. Song Xingzi smoothly chatted with the stall owner and stated her request. “Big brother, I want one little phoenix and then one little squirrel. Can you make it? The kind with a really big, fluffy tail.”

“Hey, alright, wait just a moment.” The stall owner was a very cheerful, tall man with a dark complexion. He smiled and agreed, his skillful hands moving back and forth on the sugar board. In a short while, he had created the little phoenix and the large-tailed squirrel that Song Xingzi had requested.

She seems to possess a kind of magic that can make every place and every day lively and gentle.

“Hey, Ji Ji, hurry! I bought you a little phoenix!”

Ji Ruyue took the sugar figure Song Xingzi offered. This time, without waiting for her to urge her, she took a gentle bite.

The sugar was very sweet, exceptionally sweet, but not cloying; the sweetness went straight to her heart.