After Marrying the Villain with Seven Personalities [Transmigration into a Book]) - Chapter 5

“I… I’m going out to get some air. You two have fun~”

Shi Ji held the glass of wine, which was still half full, and gently patted Xu Linqiu’s shoulder. Leaning on her shoulder, she lowered her head and whispered into Xu Linqiu’s ear: “Don’t be too conservative. Be bold. It’s best if you go straight to breaking the…”

“Hehe.” She laughed and stood up straight, walking two steps with exceptional steadiness. She raised her glass to signal. “I’m not drunk, you know. Have a good time.”

“I’m going out to find some fun~”

Xu Linqiu watched gently as Shi Ji’s back slowly disappeared into the crowd. Turning her head, she found the Hong Boss already standing in front of her. In her slightly hazy vision, the woman smiled, her eyes seemingly harboring threads of tender affection.

“May I?” The woman’s hand remained extended as she asked softly.

“Yes.” Xu Linqiu stood up, stepped forward, and smiled as she placed her hand in the woman’s.

The woman was very proactive, gently slipping her fingers between Xu Linqiu’s to interlock them. The gentle movement, accompanied by the warmth of her skin, was not unwelcome.

She led Xu Linqiu onto the dance floor, where couples embraced to the slow music and swayed slightly, taking delicate dance steps.

This felt like the most wonderful mental ballroom dance.

Couples in love held each other closely under the loud yet mellow music, sharing their thoughts, their eyes full of happiness.

The Hong Boss gently led her into the crowd, then stopped and released her hand to face her.

The corners of her eyes were slightly curved as she approached Xu Linqiu step by step. The specks of light falling from the ceiling landed in her eyes, making them dazzlingly bright.

Xu Linqiu was slightly taller than her, perhaps due to the small heels she was wearing. But as the woman approached inch by inch, her shadow covered Xu Linqiu’s body. Her soft hands slowly wrapped around Xu Linqiu’s waist, gradually tightening their grip, making her already tipsy mind feel even more dizzy.

She didn’t understand how her intention to simply ask for the woman’s contact information had turned into being the one who was pursued.

But she really liked this feeling.

Following the music, she slightly lowered her head, resting her chin on the woman’s shoulder, and casually draped her arms over her back.

The Hong Boss’s body was soft, her dark curly hair smelled fragrant, and she wore a simple cluster of small diamonds on her ear.

That fragrance, combined with the lingering scent of alcohol, was intoxicating. The soft, sensual music made them instinctively follow the rhythm, moving their feet slowly.

Everything about this was too comfortable.

A puff of warm air brushed against Xu Linqiu’s ear, and she heard a slightly soft, melting voice.

“My name is Xiao Hong (Little Red), the Hong as in the color red.”

So, it was the Red Boss, not the Rainbow Boss, after all~

Xu Linqiu laughed softly. The alcohol seemed to have unlocked her suppressed side; she felt relaxed, joyful, and only wanted to follow her instincts.

“My name is Xu Linqiu, the Lin as in neighbor, and the Qiu as in autumn.” She stopped smiling, slightly tilted her head, and blew a puff of air into the woman’s ear, only to see the deep red flush on the woman’s earlobe, which was extraordinarily alluring.

The lights dotted her smiling eyes with hazy colors. She slightly parted her lips, gently biting that patch of crimson, her tongue inadvertently brushing it.

The Red Boss’s body trembled, then she held Xu Linqiu tighter, her whole body stiff for a moment before relaxing.

“Sorry, I couldn’t resist.” Xu Linqiu looked up at her, smiling.

The woman also turned her head, meeting Xu Linqiu’s gaze.

She led Xu Linqiu to sway slowly with the music, her dark brown pupils holding a faint glow. She simply smiled and asked, “Do you like me?”

“Very much.” Xu Linqiu replied without hesitation, then pressed her cheek against the woman’s. The slight coolness made her close her eyes; it felt utterly comfortable.

The sudden surge of joy in the woman’s heart overwhelmed her. She had never imagined being this close to Xu Linqiu, or hearing such an answer.

“Is it love at first sight?” Her trembling voice was swallowed by the music.

After a long while, she heard Xu Linqiu’s gentle response.

“Probably.”

So, it only takes a single moment? She had tried so hard, desperately wanting to stand at the peak, even skipping grades and becoming the Student Council President, all just to get a little closer to Xu Linqiu, to attract her attention.

Yet, she seemed to have never registered in Xu Linqiu’s sight.

Now, a simple “probably” was enough to send her into ecstasy.

The two soft bodies embraced in the ambiguous dance floor, stepping in sync with the music, letting the time pass slowly in silence and tenderness.

When the song ended, the energetic DJ track returned. Xu Linqiu released her, still slightly dazed.

The Red Boss stepped back, took a card from the pocket of her maid outfit, and handed it to Xu Linqiu.

She gazed at her, the narrow corners of her eyes slightly upturned, carrying a hint of red and an unknown temptation. “I’ll wait for you in Room 6583.”

She seemed to have planned this all along; as she handed the card, her thumb pressed against one corner, her actions practiced and giving no opportunity for refusal.

Xu Linqiu shook her head, watched the woman’s receding back, and then looked at the card in her hand.

She put the card away, intending to go once she finished the rest of her drink.

“Boss, just as you said, the Cui CEO really showed up, and he looks very aggressive.”

“It doesn’t matter. Open the door.” The Red Boss stood in front of the conference room door, having been in a very good mood the entire way.

“Shouldn’t you change your clothes…”

She looked at the manager, who flinched and quickly pushed the door open.

The Cui CEO, waiting with a face full of fury, saw the door open. But when a woman in a maid uniform walked in, he could no longer contain himself and stood up.

“Your boss has quite an air about her! She causes trouble and doesn’t come out herself, instead sending some random prostitute to deal with me?”

“You’re just some woman who jumped into the business and acquired Hong Xun. Do you really think you’re important?”

“She beat my son to that extent and then dumped him on the street. Now he’s been hit by a car and is lying in the hospital.”

“I’m not done with you over this today!”

He roared, speaking sarcastically, the veins bulging on his forehead.

The Red Boss watched coldly. Then, just as he was ranting, she suddenly walked forward and delivered a hard kick to the corner of the table in front of him. The table slid across the polished floor with the force of the impact, instantly pinning the Cui CEO’s leg, which was angled near the sofa.

The hard table corner struck his bone with a sharp sound. The man, in his fifties or sixties, cried out and collapsed onto the sofa. His body was already weak, and now he felt immense pressure, as if his leg bone was being crushed.

Before he could utter another curse, he saw the woman in front of him swiftly remove the mask from her face, revealing an exceptionally stunning countenance.

“Yi Chenqing!”

Even with curled hair and heavy makeup, her style was completely different from the cold face she presented while dominating the business world.

But the Cui CEO would never mistake her.

The Yi Group was involved in too many sectors; she was definitely someone he couldn’t afford to provoke.

‘Yi Chenqing’ stepped on the corner of the table and forcefully pushed down. The Cui CEO’s fox-like eyes instantly narrowed as he yelled in pain on the sofa: “Quick! Someone pull me up! My leg!”

He dared not fight back or resist, only shouting for help. Who told him he’d been so angry moments ago that he’d used the term ‘prostitute’?

His aging bones seemed to emit a cracking sound, accompanied by intense pain that spread throughout his limbs.

Yi Chenqing, what a vicious woman!

Seeing that his subordinates on both sides dared not move, ‘Yi Chenqing’ scoffed, her voice cold, like an underworld executioner.

“There are surveillance cameras on the dance floor, and plenty of evidence regarding the good deeds your curdogson was doing at Hong Xun before I arrived.”

“If you want to sue, I’ll be happy to comply. At worst, all I’ll lose is one Hong Xun establishment. But you, I’m afraid, will lose more than just one son~”

The Cui CEO flinched, forgetting his pain for a moment. The woman smiling sideways looked even scarier than she did when she was strictly impartial in the business world.

‘Yi Chenqing’ released her foot, turned swiftly, and headed for the door.

“Quick, quick, quick! Take me to the hospital!”

The hurried shouts were shut behind the door. She then relaxed her expression and said to the manager behind her, “Send me the surveillance footage of me dancing in the ballroom separately.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“I need a good rest tonight. Don’t disturb me unless it’s necessary.”

“Understood, Boss~”

She glanced at the manager, curved her lips, and quickly headed for the elevator.

She was going to take a shower and wait for her.

She would definitely come, wouldn’t she…

“I’m going out for a smoke.”

Shi Ji gestured with a cigarette toward the staff at the door, then stumbled out with her glass of wine.

She was too happy today, a happiness that felt a bit stifling, so she wanted to step out for some air.

Walking across the red carpet, she stood at the entrance of Hong Xun. Her vision was hazy, but she could see the myriad lights of the city and the endless stream of traffic on the road in front of her.

She wanted to light a cigarette to celebrate. She had to squat down first to place her wine glass on the ground.

Just as she reached for her lighter, she realized she didn’t have one. Turning her head, she saw a familiar figure step out of a car across the street.

The two Yi sisters didn’t look alike at all. If they shared anything, it was that aura of coldness.

But Yi Chenqing’s coldness was in her demeanor, while Yi Yanbai’s was in her appearance.

Beneath her silver-rimmed glasses were a pair of phoenix eyes that often held a pool of cold water, completely unruffled. She had a high nose bridge and thin lips with a pale color.

She didn’t like makeup, often going without it, yet she looked healthy and very fair.

Her smooth black hair was tied back in a low ponytail, and her white coat was probably the only outerwear she ever wore.

Notably, she was over one meter seven, slightly taller than Xu Linqiu, and had very beautiful legs.

Shi Ji often thought she should be a model.

Watching Yi Yanbai walking with a brisk step across the street, Shi Ji steadied her wine glass, stood up, and happily shouted at her from afar, holding up the cigarette.

“Yi Yanbai~ Do you have a light?”

Her voice was soft and slurred from the alcohol. She stood boldly alone at the entrance of Hong Xun, her eyes curved like crescent moons in a smile.

Yi Yanbai’s expression changed almost imperceptibly. She stopped a few steps away from Shi Ji and expertly pulled a lighter from her trouser pocket.

“I didn’t expect you to actually have a light,” Shi Ji swayed unsteadily as she moved.

Yi Yanbai moved her hand, stepping forward, but ultimately suppressed her action.

However, Shi Ji held the wine glass, her eyes hazy and unclear. As she took two steps forward, she nearly missed the step.

Yi Yanbai could only swiftly step down the stairs, successfully blocking the drunk woman in front of her.

Shi Ji lowered her head, resting her forehead on Yi Yanbai’s collarbone, which barely helped her stabilize her posture.

She shoved the wine glass into Yi Yanbai’s hand, smiling as she snatched the lighter from the woman’s other hand.

Leaning against what felt like a comfortable cushion, she turned sideways, lit the cigarette, and held it up high, saying happily, “To celebrate Linqiu’s return!”

“Sister Linqiu is back?” Yi Yanbai was surprised for a moment. Then she saw Shi Ji nod, put the cigarette in her mouth, and take a sharp drag.

Shi Ji’s dark blue-black hair brushed around Yi Yanbai’s collarbone, making her feel stiff with ticklishness.

In an instant, a large cloud of warm smoke dispersed over Yi Yanbai’s chest, accompanied by violent coughing. Shi Ji’s face was obscured by the mist.

Yi Yanbai paused, her hesitant hands finally dropped, and she began patting Shi Ji’s back repeatedly.

“No, it’s too harsh. I can’t smoke it.” Shi Ji coughed. The gentle patting on her back eased her somewhat. Her brain, working in fits and starts, made her hand the cigarette to the person beside her, saying miserably, “You smoke it.”

“Ah, wait, you don’t smoke either.” She suddenly remembered, clumsily pulling the cigarette back, only to have it snatched away instantly.

She squinted her eyes and looked up, seeing a face slightly tilted upward in the hazy smoke.

“I do.”

Yi Yanbai curved a bitter smile, slowly drew on the cigarette, and then exhaled the smoke.

It was harsh, but this was a cigarette that Shi Ji had smoked.

This woman, who couldn’t live without wine, was never willing to put any thought into her. She wouldn’t wonder why someone who doesn’t smoke would carry a lighter.

All Shi Ji would do is stand at the door after drinking, waving a cigarette and greeting passing neighbors with a smile, asking for a light, and then forgetting everything when she woke up.

How ludicrous.

Even after Sister Linqiu left, Shi Ji always avoided her, constantly changing girlfriends.

How much she envied those women…

Especially now that Sister Linqiu was back.

Shi Ji couldn’t see her expression clearly. Her mouth was dry, so she took the wine glass from Yi Yanbai’s hand and took a sip.

The strong liquor went down her throat, but her head was too dizzy to stand steady. She could only use one hand to steady herself by holding Yi Yanbai’s waist, adjusting her posture.

“Just borrowing your waist to hold onto. I’ll give it back later.”

Her face was flushed crimson, and she stammered. Her hand felt the white lab coat, and she looked up, widening her eyes as she asked: “Did you come to Hong Xun to catch a mental patient?”

“Did a patient run away?”