After Kissing the World-Weary Female Supporting Character [Transmigration] - Chapter 53

A masquerade ball, of course, required a good outfit. Ji Ruyue brought her star to a well-known niche cultural boutique, silently accompanying her to select clothing.

“Hehe, Ji Ji, let’s choose masks too,” Song Xingzi picked up a mask with a vampire motif and held it up to Ji Ruyue’s face. “Mhm, this suits Ji Ji very well. A cold and powerful eternal vampire who won’t easily be moved.”

Ji Ruyue shook her head, subtly turning her face away. “No. Vulgar. It’s completely unlike me!”

She disliked the word ‘eternal’, and by extension, disliked the unrelated word ‘vampire.’

“But it looks great,” Song Xingzi pouted her lips, looking pitiful and wronged. She even put the mask on her own face and gave Ji Ruyue a teeth-baring sneer.

However, Song Xingzi’s small canine teeth were dull, not sharp at all. Far from having the sinister and cunning look of a vampire, she looked more like a small pet animal being pampered by its owner.

Ji Ruyue watched the other person pouting and goofing off without changing her expression. Only when the light in Song Xingzi’s eyes dimmed and she sadly took off the mask did Ji Ruyue reach out, press Song Xingzi’s hand, deftly untie the mask’s string, and cover her own face with it. Through the well-shaped frame, she looked gently at Song Xingzi, then mimicked her action, also giving a teeth-baring sneer.

She said, “Don’t be unhappy.”

Hearing this, Song Xingzi smiled again, pushing her to stand in front of the mirror, and standing on her tiptoes to tie the ribbon for her. “See? How good it looks! Our Ji Ji is cold and powerful, definitely the most eye-catching one at the ball!”

It was indeed very suitable. The black-and-red patterned mask covered half her face, only revealing Ji Ruyue’s beautiful lips and jawline. Her equally ebony-black curled hair rested on her shoulders, making her look refined and cold, truly resembling an ancient creature of the night from a fleeting glance in a TV series.

“Mhm,” Ji Ruyue felt nothing particularly moving. Her gaze shifted from the mirror, scanned the nearby shelves, and pulled out an elf-themed mask, dark green with carved vines and white flowers.

“Oh? Is this for me?” Song Xingzi naturally draped her arm over Ji Ruyue’s shoulder, taking the mask from her hand. Ji Ruyue stiffened subconsciously.

What’s wrong with Ji Ji? She hasn’t liked hugging me (not really) for the past two days. Did she start regretting it? That won’t do!

Song Xingzi wrapped her arms around Ji Ruyue’s neck, the hand holding the mask circling her. She leaned her head closer. When putting on the mask, their cheeks brushed against each other inadvertently, and their soft hair intertwined. Feeling the person in her arms tense up as if facing a great enemy, Song Xingzi flashed a victorious smile, then sighed and took off the mask, releasing her.

“Sigh, why can’t I put it on properly? Ji Ji, you help me tie it!”

Song [Self-Taught] Xingzi [Flirting Master] wrapped her arm around Ji Ruyue’s arm, led her back to the mirror, then stepped in front of her, holding Ji Ruyue’s hand, and guided her to pinch the mask’s thin string.

“Don’t tie it too tightly.”

Song Xingzi had tied her hair into a low ponytail today. She lowered her head and tossed her hair to the right, revealing her delicate, pale nape. She was luminously pale, yet her skin was dewy, like a freshly washed tender lotus root. The only flaw was a small mole at the intersection of her shoulder and neck, like the mark on a lotus joint. Everything was beautiful just right.

Ji Ruyue inexplicably recalled the feel of holding Song Xingzi every night—the smooth and warm contact of their skin.

What a perfect nape for nibbling. It must feel very comfortable to bite. Ji Ruyue licked the corner of her lips, saw her reflection in the mirror, and flinched as if electrocuted. The mask in her hand knocked against Song Xingzi’s collarbone.

“Ji Ji, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Ji Ruyue said coolly, steadying herself. She delicately tucked Song Xingzi’s stray hair behind her ear, her fingers pinching the string, threading it through her hair, and tying a small, exquisite bow at the back of her head. “Done.”

Ji Ruyue backed away, her cool fingertips pressing against her lower lip, her expression unreadable.

I am truly dark. I was clearly trying to control myself, not to hurt her, yet I still have thoughts like that about her! I really am not suited for love.

“Wow, it’s a perfect fit! It’s just a bit big, making me look a little clumsy.”

Song Xingzi turned to Ji Ruyue, her eyes crinkling in a smile. Ji Ruyue pressed down on her frantically beating heart and silently took a smaller size for her.

No, I can’t be like this. She will get hurt, she will be scared, she will move away from me…

“Hey, Ji Ji, that cleric’s mask looks great too! We could be black and white.”

“Ji Ji, that witch’s cloak also suits you so well! So gloomy and powerful, living alone in an old castle, wanting to be isolated from the world.”

Ji Ruyue didn’t dare look directly at Song Xingzi’s smile. Like a puppet, she mechanically took masks, tried on clothes, following the whims of the person dearest to her heart.

After looking around, the two finally settled on their initial choices: Ji Ruyue in a black and red dress, the buttons primly fastened up to her neck, the attire of a creature of the night resisting the sun. Song Xingzi was in a white long dress, with two small braids woven near her ears, the rest of her black hair loose, wearing the elf mask, looking innocent as if she had just stepped out of the deep forest.

The ball was in the evening, starting around seven o’clock. By the time Song Xingzi arrived, hand-in-arm with Ji Ruyue, the opening music had already begun. Song Xingzi wrapped her arm around Ji Ruyue’s waist and glided into the dance floor. Warm orange light swept across the dance floor as the two danced gracefully to the music.

No, not really. That was just what they looked like from a distance.

“I thought you knew how to dance, running so fast.”

Ji Ruyue pursed her lips, switching hand positions with Song Xingzi, directly pulling the person who kept stepping on her foot into an embrace.

I’m afraid she’ll get hurt, but this is just an expedient measure.

Ji Ruyue comforted herself with this thought, but the sudden delight and satisfaction in her heart caused a faint pink blush to slowly creep up her ears.

“Wuwuwu, I thought I knew how,” Song Xingzi obediently wrapped her arms around Ji Ruyue’s waist, pressing her entire body against her, her soft-soled shoes stepping on Ji Ruyue’s black high heels. “There are so many vampires just like Ji Ji.”

“It’s popular here, just like ghost and deity legends are popular with us,” Ji Ruyue was practically carrying Song Xingzi as she danced. She held Song Xingzi’s hand and said, “Step back twice, follow my pace.”

“Mhm, mhm.”

Song Xingzi obediently nodded and followed by stepping back.

“Lift your hand, turn,” The music sped up. Ji Ruyue taught softly on the dance floor. “After turning, come back into my arms.”

Song Xingzi obediently listened and followed, her soft waist moving away and then closer.

“Look up at me,” Ji Ruyue was expressionless, like an emotionless dance-teaching machine.

“Wuwuwu, I stepped on Ji Ji again. Does it hurt?” Song Xingzi subconsciously looked down, nearly crying over her own clumsiness.

“It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt. Step on me to dance,” Ji Ruyue embraced Song Xingzi and whispered, “Look up, like everyone else.”

Song Xingzi looked up as instructed, smiling softly at Ji Ruyue. The warm light just happened to fall on her face, the light and shadows flickering, yet her eyes were clean and bold, like a fearless warrior, firmly focused on the person she loved.

Ji Ruyue was already taller than Song Xingzi, and wearing high heels, she towered over her by a head. She looked down at Song Xingzi, gazing into her dark eyes: Ji Ruyue was reflected there, looking deeply and devotedly.

Ji Ruyue suddenly felt a strange sense of shame, as if the barren land in her heart had suddenly been illuminated by light, fully exposed, nakedly displayed before Song Xingzi.

Ji Ruyue wanted to kiss her, yet felt her desire was despicable, her soul hideous.

Perhaps I should let go and try.

She thought despairingly.

Just then, the music quickened, signaling the time to change partners. The masked dancers giggled as they separated their hands and exchanged partners. The dance floor became lively. Someone squeezed past Ji Ruyue. She took the opportunity to release her hand and was pushed further and further away by the crowd.

Song Xingzi was still reeling when someone grabbed her hand: I thought Ji Ji was going to kiss me just now! Why did she suddenly let go of my hand?

Song Xingzi looked around, but there were too many people dressed as vampires. Ji Ruyue had deliberately retreated to a corner to escape. Song Xingzi scanned the area but couldn’t find her moon.

“Hello.”

A clear, resonant male voice rang in her ear. He spoke Chinese, which Song Xingzi understood.

Song Xingzi’s eyes anxiously darted through the crowd, but she couldn’t find Ji Ruyue. She simply activated her mind-reading ability to search for a quiet place—her moon must be there.

“Are you leaving? That’s against the rules.” The man held Song Xingzi’s hand with one hand and placed the other on her shoulder.

There weren’t many Chinese people in France, and most of them stuck together. The chances of seeing one at a ball like this were even slimmer. Having finally met one, how could he let her go before even speaking properly?

Song Xingzi frowned. Causing a scene here will bring trouble to Ji Ji, right?

“Hello,” Her mind was full of unintelligible chatter. Song Xingzi was extremely irritated, but she patiently greeted her compatriot.

“Are you also a Chinese person in Paris? It’s been a while since I met a compatriot in a white-majority place like this.” She looks like a very cute little girl. Maybe we can get acquainted? We could even go for a drink after the ball.

Acquaintance my foot! So noisy! Where’s Ji Ji? When will this segment end!

“No, I’m here for my honeymoon.” Song Xingzi replied absentmindedly while controlling herself not to step on him. After a few sentences, she hadn’t stepped on her partner, but she had stepped on her own feet several times and almost fell.

The man quickly reached out to support Song Xingzi, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her upright.

“Are you okay? Are you a beginner?”

But her waist is so slender, so soft. It’s a pity she’s married. Such a wonderful girl, like a budding lily. How could someone have gotten to her first?

“Thanks. I am a beginner,” Song Xingzi heard the man’s thoughts and was disgusted. She no longer restrained herself. Using the excuse of being a beginner, she viciously stomped on his high-quality leather shoes a few times, then smiled timidly at him. “I’m so sorry. Did I hurt you? I’m new at this and not very skilled.”

Pity your big head! What does my being married or not have to do with you? Lily? I think you’re a Pitcher Plant!

So annoying! Where did Ji Ji go? When will this round end!

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” Moved by Song Xingzi’s “pure and innocent lily-like” smile, the man was very easy to talk to.

“Perhaps I may be so lucky as to invite you for a drink after the ball, enchanting lady.”

Song Xingzi: …Where did this idiot come from?

Song Xingzi leaned forward, closing in on her partner’s body. Then, she viciously stomped down, covered his mouth, and whispered, “Don’t shout! It’s against the rules, and I’m married, you idiot.”

Ji Ruyue, who had been watching Song Xingzi from the corner, was consumed by rage. She finally couldn’t sit still. She downed the red wine in her glass, used the liquid courage to push through the crowd, and rushed over aggressively.

F**, let go of her f**ing hand! I’m an idiot!