After Kissing the World-Weary Female Supporting Character [Transmigration] - Chapter 57

“The company is preparing to arrange another variety show for you. However, variety shows are popping up everywhere recently, so there are quite a few to choose from. Take a look and see which one you want to pick.”

Song Xingzi received the Excel spreadsheet sent by her manager, reviewed it carefully, and selected a lifestyle variety show she was more adept at. The second season had a tight schedule and was set to begin in about half a month.

“Uncle Lin, I’ve chosen one.”

“Mm, pay attention to the schedule. Also, don’t keep thinking about quitting, spending these next few days gorging yourself. You’ll cry when you see yourself on camera. You’ll be nothing but a small, chubby face in the lens.”

Song Xingzi obediently acknowledged her manager’s fatherly, comprehensive concern. “Mm-hmm.”

“And, you must attend the press conference, announcements, and so forth on time. Don’t run away.”

“Got it!”

“The matter with Li Yu is also finished. Remember to notify her to come to work. As for opening a store, you should definitely trouble CEO Ji about it—she has the connections. Once you’ve made your selection, remember to give me a heads-up when you’re ready to open so I can promote it for you.”

“Okay, okay, okay! Thank you, Uncle Lin~”

After Lin Shu finished his long, concerned, grandpa-sending-off-the-Calabash-Brothers-to-fight-monsters-style lecture, Song Xingzi could no longer contain her impatience. She stopped her manager, who was about to go offline, and asked him about the “fake fans.” “Uncle Lin, Uncle Lin, wait! Don’t go yet.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Well, when I returned from Paris today… [squeezing eye smile.jpg x3]”

Lin Shu was confused. According to American time differences, his wife should be available to answer the phone. He impatiently urged her, “What? Say what you have to say quickly. I’m busy looking for your auntie.”

Song Xingzi sent an “I understand” emoji. “Cough, cough, cough. It’s about the fake fans who met me at the airport. Tell me honestly, how much did you spend! Their acting was truly superb! I wanted to applaud them, but I was afraid of giving it away, so I didn’t praise them.”

Lin Shu: “…”

Lin Shu: “What fake fans? Are you high on fake wine?”

Song Xingzi had a look of “I’ve grasped the truth, you can’t deceive me.” “They were a group of young boys and girls who called themselves ‘Xing Yun’ (Star Clouds). They were so excited at the airport today, and some even cried. Didn’t you buy them because you were afraid I wouldn’t look popular?”

Song Xingzi: “I appreciate your kindness, Uncle Lin, but it’s not easy to earn money. I know I don’t care about these superficial displays, so there’s no need to spend that unnecessary money.”

Lin Shu: “…”

Lin Shu: “Absolutely not! Please have some self-awareness as an idol! Look at Weibo once in a while, okay? Occasionally, occasionally let go of your grip on your girlfriend’s leg and glance at the major happenings in the industry, okay? You’re already a tiny, tiny, tiny star with eight million followers! What’s so strange about having a tiny bit of a fanbase?”

Lin Shu’s repeated use of “tiny” and “tiny, tiny, tiny” modifiers made even the slow-witted Song Xingzi realize the truth: the fans who met her at the airport were her genuine followers, not bought-and-paid-for extras.

Being liked by so many people was a completely new experience. Even though Song Xingzi had no aspiration to be a star, she was deeply moved by the fans’ sincere emotions. Both happy and ashamed, she sheepishly replied to her manager:

“Alright, alright, Xingzi knows. I’ll check Weibo and keep up with entertainment news when I have time. Uncle Lin, go get busy now.”

With a docile tone, paired with a flying airplane “goodbye” emoji, Song Xingzi believed she had perfectly resolved the tiny crisis between the artist and her manager. She then confidently tossed her phone aside and skipped, laughing, toward the study.

“Ji Ji, are you done with work?”

Song Xingzi spoke from outside the door, her hands clasped behind her back, shuffling her feet back and forth. “Ji Ji, I’m telling you, I just asked Uncle Lin, guess what he said?”

Ji Ruyue hung up the phone and was working at her desk. Hearing Song Xingzi’s soft, sweet voice, she placed the half-written document into a file bag and carefully put it away.

“I’m finished. What did he say?”

Ji Ruyue got up and opened the door. Song Xingzi pounced into her arms, looking up to playfully complain, “Hehe, he told me those fans weren’t bought by him.”

A blush appeared on the tips of Ji Ruyue’s ears. Her hands lifted, then dropped, from Song Xingzi’s waist. The innocent supporting female lead was extremely conflicted and shy, but she didn’t show the slightest hint of it on her face, maintaining her pure-CEO-A demeanor. “Oh?”

Song Xingzi was anxious waiting for the embrace, so she simply took Ji Ruyue’s hands and wrapped them around her own waist, then declared clearly, “Ji Ji, just hug me if you want to! Don’t restrain yourself!”

“I didn’t!”

The innocent, domineering CEO was being stubborn, rebutting online, and immediately changing the subject.

“The fans weren’t bought by him?”

“Mm-hmm,” Song Xingzi nodded. The two embraced and fell onto the solid wood sofa in the study. Song Xingzi lay on top of Ji Ruyue, breathing into her ear, and slowly said, “They weren’t bought by Uncle Lin. They’re my own fans! They’re real, live fans! Turns out, being liked by people feels pretty good. No wonder so many people want to be huge stars; being liked by a huge crowd must feel even better.”

Song Xingzi deliberately drew out her words, blowing hot air into Ji Ruyue’s ear. Only after successfully seeing the cold, jade-white ear flush like a perfectly ripe little tomato did she let go and sit up properly.

Ji Ruyue covered the bright red little tomato and sat next to Song Xingzi, speaking with a calm and collected manner that didn’t match her flushed state. “That’s very good. Having fans is good.”

“A fan is just someone who likes you, right?”

Ji Ruyue nodded, wondering if she should tell Song Xingzi about meeting Li Yebai in a couple of days, and how she should bring it up.

“Hehe, then I’m Ji Ji’s fan—your Wife Fan! Hahahaha!”

Song Xingzi got what she wanted: Ji Ruyue’s earlobes, which had just lost their pink hue, turned a vibrant, fresh red again, like a fine ruby. She collapsed onto the sofa, roaring with uncontrollable laughter.

Was it that funny?

Ji Ruyue used her cool fingertips to pinch her own earlobe to cool it down, only to see Song Xingzi laughing even more wildly. A surge of anger rose in her heart. She grabbed the other’s chin and fiercely sealed her lips.

It was initially an act born of momentary frustration, hoping to make the person mocking her shut up. However, Ji Ruyue’s faint anger evaporated the moment they made intimate contact.

Song Xingzi’s lips were too soft, and she was so docile, so seductive, willingly parting her lips under the slightest pressure…

Their lips and teeth intertwined. The sweet, sticky sound of kissing and the cool scent of cedar wood drifted through the quiet study.

What was I just thinking of doing?

Ji Ruyue’s scalp tightened. The electric tingle of pleasure made her unable to think further. The thought flashed and was gone as she continued the gentle yet passionate assault.

Song Xingzi’s eyes were hazy and filled with a watery mist. She vaguely thought: Ji Ji’s skills are simply improving by leaps and bounds. This is just…

Too damn exciting! Too much for a demon to love!

The money had been saved. After rushing through two announcements, one press conference, and three gatherings, Song Xingzi finally found time to prepare her “World’s Best Fried Nut Shop.”

Ji Ruyue had Zhang Yuan find people to accompany Song Xingzi to choose a location and look at materials, and she also arranged for several tall, strong bodyguards to follow them before she felt relieved.

She had an appointment today—the time she had set with the male lead, Li Yebai, several days ago.

She hadn’t brought up this matter that day, and it was even harder to find a good time to mention it after their passionate moment. Moreover, Song Xingzi was genuinely busy, enthusiastically preparing for her fried nut shop. In the back and forth, Ji Ruyue never elaborated to Song Xingzi, only saying she had “work” today and couldn’t join her in choosing a storefront.

Song Xingzi didn’t insist. She cast a passive protective spell on Ji Ruyue’s ring and let them both get busy with their respective tasks.

“Zhang Yuan, do you think this place is good? I asked online, and they said this stretch has high foot traffic, which is suitable for buying things.”

Ha! Has the White Lotus’s Ascent to the Top perfectly ended? The title for this CEO’s assistant has actually changed from “Assistant Zhang” to being called “Zhang Yuan” directly! My sharp eyes have seen through everything long ago!

Although the CEO told me to just find two reliable people to accompany the White Lotus, I know she must be testing my loyalty and comprehension. Fortunately, Starlight and Li Corporation have no direct conflict, or else I wouldn’t have time to prove myself!

Zhang Yuan, whose thought process was unusual, expressionlessly agreed, “Miss Song is right. However, placing a fried nut shop here might be unsuitable. This area is an industrial park. The pedestrians are mostly office workers, and this entire street is filled with restaurants, covering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Therefore, a fried nut shop, which focuses on casual snacks, might not be suitable to open here.”

“Of course, this is just my personal suggestion, Miss Song should use her discretion.”

Seeing the White Lotus’s expression gradually turn to disappointment as he spoke, Zhang Yuan quickly added a corrective note.

“Zhang Yuan, you’re so professional. What you said makes a lot of sense, worthy of being Ji Ji’s assistant,” Song Xingzi praised the professional enthusiastically, then glumly said, “I listened to the suggestions online and even inquired about the prices nearby. I saved up according to the market price here. If we change locations, will it be much more expensive?”

“It won’t, Miss Song, please relax,” Zhang Yuan showed an all-knowing smile. “We have a professional team, and there’s absolutely no need to worry about funding.”

The CEO already said to let you do whatever you want, White Lotus! We have a negotiating team that charges tens of thousands per minute to haggle for you—what is there to worry about? Besides, this area is already Ji Corporation property! Please, be aware of what’s going on!

Upon hearing this, Song Xingzi relaxed and let Zhang Yuan take the lead. They arrived at another commercial street that had many coffee shops, bakeries, and milk tea shops. According to Zhang Yuan’s explanation, this was called “leveraging the situation.” Different areas had different customer groups, and they had to first identify the shop’s target market and customer base and select the location accordingly.

Song Xingzi listened in a daze, completely deferring to Zhang Yuan to choose the storefront.

“Then, thank you for your hard work with the price negotiation, Zhang Yuan,” Song Xingzi smacked her lips in satisfaction, gazing at the newly selected potential storefront. “Let me know when it’s done! Thank you, Assistant Zhang Yuan.”

Zhang Yuan was expressionless. “You’re too kind.”

It’s my honor to serve the future CEO’s wife! Yay~

“Then let’s go find Ji Ji!” Song Xingzi clapped her hands and said to Zhang Yuan, “Ji Ji went on a date with someone. It should be over now, and I think it’s somewhere around here. Let’s go catch the cheater.”

Zhang Yuan, who knew the CEO’s schedule, was instantly on high alert. “Miss Song, don’t you want to look around a bit more? There are many more shops we could see and study their renovation styles.”

Oh no! The White Lotus just got her position, and as the top candidate for CEO’s Wife, she’s already starting her routine of catching a cheater! This is a bad omen.

Song Xingzi suspiciously activated her mind-reading ability, but didn’t hear any useful information. One phrase, “CEO’s Wife,” did make her lips curl upward, improving her mood.

“No, we have to deal with one thing at a time. Let’s go find Ji Ji! It’s been a long time, so her work meeting should be over.”

Unable to stop her, Zhang Yuan could only slowly follow her to “catch the cheater.”

CEO, I really tried! You have to believe me.

Walking down the road to “catch the cheater,” Assistant Zhang Yuan hopelessly fantasized about the miserable life he’d have after being fired.