After Kissing the World-Weary Female Supporting Character [Transmigration] - Chapter 90

The “trial” by three elders concluded, and Ji Ruyue was led back to Magpie Mountain by Meng Xiu. Why not by Fox Sister?

Tu Jiuyou stated: Seeing her immediately makes me angry! Little Pine Nut wanted to kiss me before, and it must have been because of her! It’s impossible to beat the legs of that human who seduced the child and lock her in the dungeon, let alone ask me to take care of her? Impossible, don’t even think about it!

“Youyou and Uncle Kui have short fuses and are fiercely protective of Pine Nut. You need to work on it slowly,” Meng Xiu stretched out his hand, and a five-colored, iridescent pearl appeared in his palm. “Since you’ve been registered with the Archives Bureau and are living in Qing Qiu, you are now considered one of the demons of our Qing Qiu. Take this as a welcome gift.”

Ji Ruyue stood in front of the pomegranate grove Meng Xiu had mentioned, turning her head to glance at it. “What is this?”

She could not hear Meng Xiu’s thoughts. His heart was like a calm sea or a desolate land, utterly silent.

“It’s a Dream Pearl, which will help restore Pine Nut’s memory,” Meng Xiu explained, unconcerned by Ji Ruyue’s defensiveness. “However, it requires you as the catalyst. Help her grow up quickly.”

Ji Ruyue asked, “Is it harmful?”

Meng Xiu replied, “Absolutely not.”

“Thank you,” Ji Ruyue accepted the Dream Pearl. Since it was good for Song Xingzi, she would take it—it didn’t matter whose hands it came from.

The Dream Pearl vanished into Ji Ruyue’s palm. The star-shaped ring on her ring finger flashed briefly, then dimmed.

Meng Xiu smiled. “You’re welcome. The faster you two grow up, the sooner Youyou can retire in peace.”

Ji Ruyue stared deeply at Meng Xiu, her gaze like an X-ray, scrutinizing him inside and out. Yet, no matter how much she speculated, she had to admit that the man before her held no ill will toward her or Song Xingzi.

“Oh? Pine Nut is coming out. I won’t linger.”

Having said that, Meng Xiu turned into a wisp of green smoke and vanished into thin air right before Ji Ruyue.

Following Meng Xiu’s hint, Ji Ruyue looked toward the wooden house but saw no one. Instead, a rustling sound came from the crimson pomegranate flowers. Little spirits were peeking out from between the leaves.

“Oh dear, it’s still Song Xingzi’s little wife!”

“We won the bet!”

“She’s really beautiful.”

“She looks like Fox Sister!”

“But not as enchanting as Sister Jiu. She looks so weak and delicate.”

“No, she’s misanthropic! She just looks like she could drop dead at any moment! ‘Delicate’ is for little lilies.”

Ji Ruyue looked up into the leaves. The timid ones hid behind the foliage, their translucent wings fluttering non-stop. The bolder ones were not scared; they even bared their tiny fangs at Ji Ruyue and gave her what they clearly considered a friendly smile.

The setting sun was like fire. Among the dense branches, small creatures with human faces and insect bodies exposed their tusks. This scene truly did not conform to the core values of socialism.

Ji Ruyue paused. Sensing no malice from them, she returned the smile, but the next second, her smile froze.

The little sprites continued their previous discussion, saying:

“I’ve always felt something was off with Song Xingzi, always sticking to Sister Jiu. Turns out she likes people like Sister Jiu.”

“I suspect this human little wife is a stand-in! I just learned this trope recently.”

“Wow! Then the little wife is so miserable! Utterly miserable!”

Ji Ruyue: A stand-in? Fox Sister? Song Xingzi, you really know how to play the field.

Song Xingzi, currently squatting in the kitchen stoking the fire: ??? Jijiji? Don’t listen to bad rumors!

Song Xingzi sneezed, rubbing the tip of her nose with a sooty hand. “One sneeze means someone is cursing you, two means someone is thinking of you. Some demon must be talking bad about me! Did Little Tail wake up?”

Little Tail, who was lying at the foot of Magpie Mountain, had not woken up, but Ji Ruyue was back first. Song Xingzi’s little wooden house was a three-entry courtyard, including an East Wing, a West Wing, and a proper small kitchen.

Smoke was rising from the kitchen chimney, carrying the sweet scent of malt and sugar. Ji Ruyue knew exactly where Song Xingzi was without having to guess.

“Xingxing,” Ji Ruyue looked through the open kitchen window and greeted the girl with ash on her nose. “What are you doing?”

“You’re back!” Song Xingzi looked up, a bright smile blossoming on her face. “Are you alright? Did Brother Meng Mo trouble you?”

“No,” Ji Ruyue shook her head, talking to Song Xingzi from the window. “What are you making?”

“I’m boiling malt sugar,” Song Xingzi scratched her head. Although she still had some in stock, she constantly felt the existing sugar wasn’t fresh enough and wouldn’t be comfortable until she boiled a new batch. “I don’t know what’s wrong, but I feel like I haven’t used the kitchen in ages, and I’m a little rusty. Do the tools feel primitive?”

Is it because you’re used to a million kinds of kitchen utensils?

Ji Ruyue thought, then changed the subject. “Will I be sleeping with you tonight?”

Song Xingzi’s face flushed. Her mind automatically flashed with strange, questionable scenarios from novels, and she refused stammering, “N-no, not really. I have two rooms. I—I’ll make you a bed later. No, I’ll conjure a bed for you.”

“But,” Ji Ruyue clung to the window ledge, showing a wronged expression. “I’m scared. I’m new here and only know you. What if something unexpected happens? I don’t dare sleep alone. Can’t you just keep me company?”

Song Xingzi was stunned. She suddenly remembered the scene where Ji Ruyue had shattered the Adamantine Jade, and her inner monologue involuntarily started a吐槽 (tǔcáo, a barrage of complaints): ??? Scared? Don’t dare? Boss, are you serious? You might as well say you’re afraid of sleepwalking and going out to kill monsters! That would be more believable.

The little sprites who had followed for gossip were unaware of Ji Ruyue’s true power, and even the Grass Demon by the wall started to accuse Song Xingzi.

“Song Xingzi is a heartless woman! How can she let her delicate little wife sleep alone?”

“How could she bear it! Look at how frail that human is. She’s not even enough for a little tiger to swallow in one bite.”

“Ying ying ying! Song Xingzi is so cruel!”

Song Xingzi: …I think the little tiger isn’t tough enough for one punch from Ji Ji.

Song Xingzi looked up at Ji Ruyue, torn between the crazy, undesirable thoughts flashing in her mind and the innate fear of the Great Demon King’s power.

This is so hard!

Song Xingzi stammered, trying to come up with an excuse. “Well, this, we are two isolated women, with no formal ties. It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to sleep together, would it?”

Ji Ruyue pouted and glared, clutching the window ledge in a wronged manner. Her expression was surprisingly practiced and somehow strangely familiar.

Song Xingzi’s eyebrow twitched instinctively. She realized the situation was not simple.

Wait a minute, isn’t that how I look when I act spoiled? The spoiled look of Song Xingzi, the cute little sweetheart that the entire demon realm cannot refuse.

Next should be…

Sure enough, Ji Ruyue clenched her fist, and her eyes shimmered with mist. “Hmph! We slept on the same bed at the inn! Did you come back to Qing Qiu and find another demon outside, and now you’re thinking of abandoning me?”

The expression, the tone, the action—she was an absolute replica of Song Xingzi, only the tears were insufficient, merely a symbolic moistening.

Song Xingzi was dumbfounded, greatly impressed by the opponent’s seamless performance.

How well does she know me! How many years must we have lived together for her to mimic me this closely?

The gossip-mongering sprites boiled over, automatically rushing to her defense—really, they were just too idle:

“Song Xingzi is an oath-breaker!”

“Song Xingzi is fickle!”

“Song Xingzi is irresponsible!” (Literally: Song Xingzi pulls up her skirt and ceases to be a demon!)

Song Xingzi: …

I’m so wronged! I truly haven’t done anything! They’re talking as if I took advantage of her! Although I’m tempted by her body, she was so sick she barely had a breath, lying sickly in bed. What could I do to her?

Besides spending energy and effort, taking care of her like an old mother…

“Do you like someone like Tu Jiuyou?” Ji Ruyue blew a puff of air, and her wavy black hair flew with it.

She looks kind of pretty? Song Xingzi thought, completely captivated.

I might be truly hopeless. I really want to know our story! I want to sleep with her! Sleep with her naturally and rightfully.

The mountain spirits and wild monsters who had followed along joined the commotion, wishing they could pour a barrel of oil, no, an oil field, onto the fire:

“Song Xingzi loves to stick to Sister Jiu!”

“Yes, when she first came to Qing Qiu, she made chicken soup for Sister Jiu every day!”

“Song Xingzi even wanted to kiss Sister Jiu when she first came back! I remember!”

“I remember too! And she even cried!”

Song Xingzi: …They want to see me dead, don’t they?

Little Sprites: Yes, we do~

“Song Xingzi also slept in Qingluan’s house when she went to Mount Weizhi!”

“Yes! I heard it from the Spirit Bird!”

“Aunt Qing is the No. 1 beauty in the demon realm! She’s so gentle, who wouldn’t love her?”

Although she hadn’t done anything, Song Xingzi felt inexplicably guilty: …Please let me off, everyone. Why must we torment each other so?

Ji Ruyue proved with her actions that letting her off was impossible!

“I’m just a stand-in, right? You’re so good at making chicken soup, is it because fox spirits like to eat chicken?” Ji Ruyue sounded both aggrieved and furious, the curve of her upturned lips carrying a chilling, cool air. “You’re willing to let me be alone, lonely, worried, and sleepless, and you won’t sleep with me—is it because of the fox spirit?”

Song Xingzi’s radar buzzed, and she immediately seized the main point: “Sleep! We’ll sleep together! We must sleep together! Fox Sister is family, Ji Ji, don’t be jealous. I don’t like sisters or aunties; I like my little sister. Taking care of my cute little sister is my favorite thing to do!”

Unless you sleep with me!

Ji Ruyue was satisfied. It seemed Song Xingzi truly had developed feelings for her from taking care of her, but it wasn’t enough yet.

Pretty sister, gentle auntie, Song Xingzi. Didn’t you say you couldn’t live a second without me? How come you look like you’ve been living quite comfortably?

Now that I’m here, you can forget about those single days forever!

Ji Ruyue gave the obedient and adorable little squirrel a satisfied smile, but Song Xingzi could only interpret the threat in the aforementioned words.

“Haha, hehe, I…” I never thought of having happy single days!

Song Xingzi forced an innocent smile, attempting to explain, but then her sensitive nose detected a burnt smell. Song Da-chef, who treasured food above all else, shrieked, frantically extinguishing the fire and scooping out the syrup.

“It’s burnt, it’s burnt! I shouldn’t have been chatting while cooking. What a waste of a good pot of ingredients! Wuwuwu!”

Oh no, Xingxing is going to be mad.

Ji Ruyue guiltily touched her earlobe and darted away. “Xingxing, I’m going to make the bed! I like it even if the sugar is burnt!”

Song Xingzi, busy scrambling to clean up the kitchen: “…”

Who cares if you like it or not? I’m heartbroken over my pot of sugar, not your stomach! Understood?