Beauty Snake - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Su Yao Suddenly Blurred Out a Sentence, Her Eyes Filled with Emotions Ji Yunfei Couldn’t Quite Understand.

Morning sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, scattering threads of gold into the room and onto Ji Yunfei’s face.

Accompanied by the crisp chirping of birds, Ji Yunfei’s eyelashes fluttered a few times before she slowly opened her eyes, the lingering haze of sleep still clouding her gaze.

“Mmm—”

Lying in bed, Ji Yunfei stretched lazily. For a moment, her consciousness remained submerged in a blurry dreamscape, not yet fully awake. She blinked, her vision gradually clearing to reveal a somewhat unfamiliar ceiling.

She dazed for a moment before her stalled brain slowly rebooted. She had almost forgotten that she was currently “living under someone else’s roof.”

Remembering her agreement with Su Yao last night, Ji Yunfei shook her head, bounded out of bed, and wobbled over to her suitcase to rummage for clothes…

“Mmm… this is too flashy, no…”

“This is too plain… skip!”

Muttering to herself, she continued her search. Her brow furrowed as she picked and chose. Her mind was filled with the need to dress appropriately and fit the artistic atmosphere of the exhibition, but she couldn’t find the ideal outfit right away.

“Ah—this one is good!” Ji Yunfei finally looked at the light green short-sleeved shirt in her hand and nodded with satisfaction.

The fabric was thin and breathable, perfect for summer. It was adorned with a white floral pattern—fresh and elegant. The collar was a simple lapel design, slightly open to reveal a hint of her fair skin, exuding a sense of casual ease.

As for the bottom… after much indecision, she paired it with white wide-leg shorts. The length hit mid-thigh, capturing the refreshing feel of summer without being overly revealing or frivolous.

“Mmm… please call me the ‘Ordinary Genius of Coordination’~”

Satisfied, Ji Yunfei looked at her fair skin and tall figure in the mirror. She curled her lips into a “wicked” smirk and tied her hair into a perfect bun.

“Eh? What smells so good?” Just as she was indulging in self-admiration, the aroma of food drifted through the door crack, instantly snatching her attention.

Following the scent, she opened the guest room door and saw a plate of steaming toast on the table.

“You’re up? Hurry and wash up. Eat the toast while it’s hot; you’ll need energy to walk through the exhibition~” Hearing the door, Su Yao poked her head out from the kitchen and winked at Ji Yunfei with a smile.

Since the host had spoken, Ji Yunfei naturally obeyed. She rushed to the bathroom for a quick wash and then sat obediently at the table, ready to taste the toast that smelled faintly of butter.

Crunch—

Ji Yunfei took a bite. The crust was slightly crispy, making a soft “crack” between her teeth, followed by the soft interior releasing a rich wheat aroma. The buttery scent spread through her mouth, mixing with the unique fragrance of toasted bread to create a mellow, wonderful flavor.

Ji Yunfei’s eyes squinted slightly in pure enjoyment. Her cheeks puffed out like a hamster as she mumbled through her chewing: “So good, so good…”

“Look at that silly face. If it’s good, eat more. If there’s not enough, you can have mine—”

Su Yao sat opposite her, propping her chin on one hand, watching Ji Yunfei eat with an unwavering tenderness in her eyes.

“Sister Yao, you’re almost too good to me—”

“I’m going to be fed until I turn into Peppa Pig within half a month at this rate—”

Ji Yunfei felt a bit shy. Su Yao was even more attentive now than she had been in college, so she teased her back playfully.

“Oh, please, you and your smooth talk…”

“Who was the one in college who could eat anything without gaining weight, and purposely waved barbecue in front of me while I was dieting?”

“Besides, if it’s a Peppa as cute as you… I don’t think anyone would dislike it.”

Su Yao laughed softly into her hand, her tone carrying a hint of flirtatiousness.

“Hehe—those are all dark histories, dark histories. I can’t believe you remember them so clearly…”

At the mention of her embarrassing college past, Ji Yunfei felt even more sheepish.

“Anyway, let’s not talk about the ancient past. It’s getting late; we should get ready for the exhibition you’ve been dreaming of, Sister Yao~”

To prevent Su Yao from revealing any more shocking “dark histories,” Ji Yunfei finished her toast in a few bites and stood up to get her gear ready.

“Still as dorky as in college…” Su Yao thought to herself as she watched Ji Yunfei’s retreating back.

“We’re here! Shall we go in?” In front of the art museum, Su Yao suddenly stopped and turned back to smile at Ji Yunfei.

But before Ji Yunfei could answer, Su Yao took a step forward and directly linked her arm through Ji Yunfei’s.

Ji Yunfei wasn’t used to such physical contact. She lifted her arm, trying to break free, but Su Yao’s grip was surprisingly strong. She couldn’t budge.

“Su—”

“Since when did we become so distant that I can’t even hold your arm? Little A-Fei?” Sensing her discomfort, Su Yao pouted, looking at her with a hurt, pleading expression.

“No… it’s not that…” Looking at Su Yao’s pitiful face, Ji Yunfei sighed inwardly. She couldn’t bring herself to be heartless and refuse.

“Whatever. I’m staying at her place, and she’s taking such good care of me… If she wants to hold my arm, let her.”

“I knew A-Fei was the best—” Su Yao’s little scheme had succeeded. She couldn’t hide her joy as she clung tightly to Ji Yunfei and led her into the museum.

The two of them wove through the crowds and entered the main hall.

Stepping inside felt like entering another world—one filled with artistic atmosphere and fantastical colors. The bright, spacious gallery featured unique paintings arranged neatly on the walls. Soft lighting fell from every angle, highlighting every detail and color. People around them kept a respectful silence, whispering their thoughts.

Even an amateur like Ji Yunfei found herself moved by the atmosphere; her restless heart from the past few days began to settle.

“Look at this.” Su Yao gently tugged on Ji Yunfei’s sleeve. Her eyes were full of appreciation as she pulled Ji Yunfei toward an oil painting.

The background was a deep night sky. The ink-blue firmament was embedded with countless twinkling stars, emitting a mysterious and brilliant light. A bright, clear moon hung high in the center. Wherever the moonlight touched, the world seemed draped in silver silk—a blend of dream and mystery.

Moving closer into the scene, moonlight spilled over an open meadow where wildflowers glowed faintly, looking like stars that had fallen to earth. At the end of the meadow stood an old bell tower, its walls etched with the marks of time, its spire piercing the sky, casting a long shadow in the moonlight.

“The moonlight is beautiful tonight…” Su Yao suddenly blurred out, her eyes holding emotions that Ji Yunfei couldn’t quite decipher.

Ji Yunfei had heard those words before and naturally knew their deeper meaning (a classic Japanese literary way of saying “I love you”). However, she simply assumed Su Yao was like her—suffering from an unrequited, impossible love.

After a moment of thought, Ji Yunfei reached out and gently patted Su Yao’s shoulder to offer comfort and show that she empathized with her “melancholy.”

“Let’s go… look at the others…” Su Yao was silent for a moment before turning back with a smile, leading Ji Yunfei to other galleries.

For the next while, Ji Yunfei noticed that Su Yao’s interest had waned. Her mood was no longer high, and the excitement she had shown earlier was gone. Sensitive as she was, Ji Yunfei asked softly:

“Sister Yao, do you want to find a place to sit for a while?”

“Okay…”

They found a bench in a quiet corner of the rest area. Ji Yunfei volunteered to buy coffee. Su Yao wanted to go with her, but after Ji Yunfei’s repeated insistence, she stayed put.

“Iced Americano… no ice…”

“Wait, what?”

Ji Yunfei was walking with her head down, reciting Su Yao’s order. But when she looked up, she saw a familiar figure.

That blonde hair, that doll-like face that made it impossible to tell her age… who else could it be but Rika?

Ji Yunfei’s heart jolted. She quickly took a detour, choosing a hidden spot to observe Rika, who was standing in the coffee area seemingly waiting for someone.

The blonde woman was wearing a simple white T-shirt and denim shorts today, which accentuated her already fine figure. Observing from the shadows, Ji Yunfei couldn’t help but feel a pang of self-consciousness.

But before she could dive into self-pity, she saw Rika pick up her phone, appearing to reply to a message. A moment later, Rika’s tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and the slight impatience in her eyes turned into overflowing anticipation.

She turned and said something to the server. Ji Yunfei could only see Rika’s mouth moving but couldn’t hear the words.

However, she found out soon enough… because the server turned around and brought out two iced Americanos.

Rika took the coffees, her smile uncontrollable. Ji Yunfei’s heart began to pound like a drum.

“God bless me… please don’t let me be this unlucky…”

“Over here!” Rika called out excitedly to someone in the distance, waving the coffees high. Pink bubbles seemed to practically float around her.

Ji Yunfei followed Rika’s gaze into the distance. When she saw clearly who was coming, her whole body froze. It was as if her feet had been filled with lead; she couldn’t move an inch.

“It really is you…”

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