After Transmigrating As The Female Lead Of A Cruel Novel, I Raised a Big Shot Cat - Chapter 2

16:40

Ji Qingyue pulled out her navigation. Seeing the traffic congestion on the screen eased her mind slightly, yet an underlying unease remained. She pulled her hat down to cover her face, allowing herself to collapse into her seat to relax.

She couldn’t help but recall the events of the past three months.

When she first arrived here, Ji Qingyue felt only resistance and loathing toward Ye Sishen. The day after confirming her identity, she prepared to leave, only to be caught by him.

She was subsequently imprisoned. Even then, she didn’t panic, she went straight to the police. To an ordinary person, law enforcement is the strongest shield.

However, when the police arrived, Ye Sishen turned the tables. He claimed it was just a lovers’ spat and produced fabricated evidence of their relationship. Seeing the impatience in the officers’ eyes, Ji Qingyue’s dread intensified.

The police believed him.

Despite her desperate explanations, she was only met with dismissive advice: “Couples shouldn’t hold grudges,” and “He loves you so much, you should be grateful.”

Ji Qingyue fell silent. After the police left, Ye Sishen locked her in a dark room for three days no food, no water, and not a single ray of light. Those three days of hazy misery forced her to face reality.

She had to run, and the plan had to be flawless.

Slumped in her seat, Ji Qingyue massaged her aching head, unwilling to face those memories further. She remained sprawled out, devoid of any poise.

She thought no one would notice her, but a beauty with long legs and a slender waist even one shrouded in exhaustion, inevitably attracted attention. A few “proxy photographers” (people paid by fans to photograph celebrities) were nearby. Their flight seemed delayed, so they were chatting to pass the time. One of them, a “fansite master,” spotted Ji Qingyue. She froze for a moment, then quickly raised her camera, capturing several shots in rapid succession.

Her actions alerted the others. Everyone loves a beauty; the rest of the group quickly joined in. Since Ji Qingyue’s face was completely covered, they didn’t feel they were violating her portrait rights, excitedly discussing their compositions instead.

Ji Qingyue didn’t notice them. Just as she was drifting off, a commotion erupted at the airport entrance.

A group of men in various outfits burst into the terminal, marching rapidly toward the waiting lounge. Being a major airport during the National Day peak, a few dozen people shouldn’t have caused a stir, yet a disturbance broke out nonetheless.

The chaos peaked when a middle-aged man violently ripped the hat off a young girl’s head.

Ji Qingyue jolted awake, instinctively looking toward the noise. The man’s apology and the girl’s angry shouts drifted over. Ji Qingyue caught several keywords: “deliberately pulling off hats,” and “tearing off masks just now.”

These words were like a thunderclap. Ji Qingyue snapped into full alertness. After observing for a moment, she was 80% certain they were looking for her. Although she was confident they couldn’t legally take her away, the trauma of Ye Sishen’s prior imprisonment made her jumpy.

After a moment’s thought, she removed her hat and mask, kept her head low, and pulled her suitcase toward the restroom.

Boarding was scheduled for 30 minutes early. She checked the time: 17:40. If she could just wait another 50 minutes, she could leave Kyoto.

Watching the men surround the middle-aged man, Ji Qingyue changed her clothes again in the restroom. This time, she didn’t choose “plain.” Instead, she dressed vibrantly.

A soft gold silk camisole dress traced her elegant curves, topped with a black blazer to add a touch of professional sharp edge to the glamour. With sunglasses and red lips, she emerged as a dazzling, high-powered business woman.

It was now 18:20. Ten minutes to go.

Ji Qingyue’s palms were sweating against her suitcase handle. Yet, as she passed the group searching for her, she remained unhurried, even casting them a look of slight confusion. With only ten minutes left, she walked toward the gate with a composed stride.

A crowd had already gathered at the gate, but Ji Qingyue realized a problem. She had an economy class ticket. If she were dressed normally, it wouldn’t matter but now, she was far too eye-catching.

Her expression soured. Just as she prepared to push through quickly, a familiar voice rang out.

“Nuannuan, why is such a beautifully dressed woman sitting in economy?”

Ji Qingyue’s body went rigid. Standing behind her, Ye Sishen’s face was grim.

Upon discovering she wasn’t home, he had turned back immediately. He had been stuck in traffic, but fortunately, he had his own means of transport. By rushing, he had managed to corner her before she boarded.

Ji Qingyue looked at the countdown on her phone. Eight minutes until boarding. Just eight minutes and she could leave this place.

Surrender? Not an option.

Suppressing her anxiety, she turned around calmly. She tilted her head, her sunglasses sliding down slightly as if inspecting him, before pushing them back up a few seconds later.

The bored bystanders were instantly drawn to the scene. A beautiful woman and a man in designer clothes, those sensing a “melodrama” even took out their phones to record.

Sensing the crowd’s reaction, Ji Qingyue struck first.

“What? You look down on people in economy class?” Her voice was sultry but laced with mockery. “Right. A wealthy man draped in designer brands like you would naturally look down on those in economy.”

As she spoke, she took two steps back. Behind her were all economy passengers, resentment toward the wealthy was common enough. Sure enough, the eyes of the onlookers turned cold as they looked at Ye Sishen.

Ye Sishen noticed. His face was recognizable, and it wasn’t long before someone identified him as the head of the Ye family. If word got out that he looked down on economy passengers, the Ye family stocks would plunge tomorrow, and his rivals wouldn’t miss the chance to strike.

Realizing the stakes, Ye Sishen gave Ji Qingyue a deep look and bypassed the topic. He adopted a gentle expression, like a parent dealing with a throwing a tantrum.

“I’m sorry, Nuannuan. I’ve been too busy lately and really didn’t have time to travel with you. It’s my fault. Please, stop being angry.”

The crowd’s gaze shifted again. High-society gossip was far more interesting than classism.

Seeing it work, Ye Sishen acted out the part of a helpless, doting partner. “If you want to go on vacation, can we go after I finish the company’s charity project? Even if you couldn’t wait, you should have told me. You shouldn’t have run away. I came home with flowers to find you gone. I was almost moved to tears from worry.”

His “doting” tone and the “moved to tears” comment immediately won back the crowd’s sympathy. Seeing young girls nearby squealing at his “devotion,” Ji Qingyue felt only disgust. She checked the time: 5 minutes left.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and acted innocent. “Ye Sishen? I’ve noted your name. But I’m curious, do you always enjoy acting so deeply in love with a complete stranger?”

Before he could argue, she continued: “First, my name isn’t ‘Nuannuan.’ Second, I’m here for work and have never met CEO Ye. Your acting is impressive, though. If I weren’t certain I didn’t have amnesia, I’d actually think I had some sort of messy relationship with you.”

She squeezed toward the gate agent and placed her ID on the counter.

“Miss, this man keeps calling me ‘Nuannuan.’ But look at my name, it has absolutely nothing to do with that name, does it?”

Ye Sishen’s expression flickered. He suddenly remembered his driver saying Ji Qingyue had gone to the police station a month ago. He had assumed she was trying to report him again, he never imagined she went to change her legal name.

Since the gloves were off, Ji Qingyue wasn’t going to save his reputation.

“You say I’m your girlfriend, but does CEO Ye even know my name? Or perhaps you want to accuse me of being a scammer who stole your money? CEO Ye, the most valuable thing I own is this outfit. My total savings don’t even exceed 10,000. Think carefully before you frame me. You can call me a fraud, but I can sue you for libel.”

Her eyes were cold. Seeing that it was finally time to board, she turned decisively toward the gate.

Ye Sishen couldn’t let her go. He lunged forward and grabbed her wrist. When he looked up, his eyes were actually red.

“Nuannuan, I was really wrong. Stop being stubborn. If you must go, I’ll drop the company project and go with you, okay?”

The crowd gasped. His acting and his excuses were flawless. People tend to be incredibly forgiving of wealthy, “devoted” men, even if they pose a threat to a woman’s safety.

Ji Qingyue hadn’t expected him to be this shameless. Looking at her wrist, which was turning bruised under his grip, she steeled herself. If she didn’t leave today, she would be imprisoned for three years just like in the book.

If he wanted a scene, she would give him one, even if it meant mutual destruction.

Just as she was about to shout that Ye Sishen was trying to force himself on her, a slender figure suddenly pulled her into a hug.

Ji Qingyue’s wrist was freed. Before she could say thank you, her face was pressed against a chest. Sensing the softness against her cheek, she was stunned, the person holding her was a woman.

The woman wore a black shirt and smelled faintly of mint.

Ji Qingyue, who was about to struggle, suddenly went still as she felt the vibration of the woman’s voice.

She heard the woman say: “What exactly do you think you’re doing to my subordinate?”