Beauty Snake - Chapter 46

Chapter 46: “This is the Waltz of Love.”

“Feizi, the dance later…”

“I bet Xie Yin already approached you in advance, didn’t she?”

The banquet hall tonight was magnificent, bathed in gold. The everyday office workers had all traded their usual attire for evening gowns and suits. Chi Chang, wearing a pale lotus-pink gown, dragged Ji Yunfei into a corner with a mischievous smirk to gossip.

“Shh, shh, shh—lower your voice!”

“You can just keep that kind of thing to yourself.” Teased by Chi Chang, Ji Yunfei’s face instantly turned beet red, and she hurriedly covered Chi Chang’s mouth before she could blabber more.

“Mmm-ph!” Chi Chang pawed at the hand covering her mouth, whimpering as if she still had plenty to say. Ji Yunfei ignored her, right up until she felt a gentle stroke on the top of her head—then she understood exactly what Chi Chang had been trying to warn her about.

“If the Marketing Department staff knew Director Chi looked this ‘bullied’ right now…”

“I’m afraid their jaws would hit the floor.” Xie Yin’s nonchalant voice drifted over. Ji Yunfei looked up, crashing right into those ink-black pupils.

The person beside her had a smile in her eyes, her hand stroking Ji Yunfei’s head rhythmically. Feeling an inexplicable surge of guilt, Ji Yunfei quickly released her grip on Chi Chang.

“Cough, cough—Ji Yunfei, you rascal!!” Having finally escaped the “devil’s clutches,” Chi Chang didn’t even care that Xie Yin was standing right there; she raised a fist as if to punch Ji Yunfei.

“Director Chi, watch your image. Look, someone is waiting for you over there.” Xie Yin maintained a faint smile. She caught Chi Chang’s hand mid-air before it could land, pointing toward the distant crowd.

“Ah… right, right, CEO Xie is right. I’ll head over there then, haha…”

Being “pointed” at by Xie Yin, how could Chi Chang not understand? Just as a waiter passed by, she grabbed a glass of wine and toasted Xie Yin.

“CEO Xie, a toast to you!” With those words, the deep red liquid slid down the glass and into Chi Chang’s mouth.

“Mmm.” Xie Yin nodded, took a glass from the same waiter, and drained it in one go.

“I’m off!” Chi Chang didn’t linger. She refilled her glass and headed toward the Marketing staff.

Once Chi Chang left, the small corner returned to a state of just Ji Yunfei and Xie Yin. The air fell into an eerie silence.

“CEO Xie, you chased someone away again…” Ji Yunfei brushed off the restless hand still “clinging” to her head, “complaining” aloud.

“I didn’t say anything… she ran off on her own, didn’t she?”

“Fine, fine, you’re the boss, you’re always right.”

“Vinegar jar…” Ji Yunfei mumbled under her breath, but Xie Yin caught it anyway.

A sharp pinch landed on her waist, and Ji Yunfei nearly cried out. A hint of moisture gathered in the corners of her eyes. Xie Yin’s hot breath was in her ear, and that pleasant narcissus scent climbed up her nose once more.

“I am a vinegar jar. There’s nothing wrong with admitting it…”

“As for you, you should stop pouring so much ‘vinegar’ for me.”

“Bad A-Fei.”

With that, Xie Yin took a few steps back, creating distance between them. The warmth surrounding her suddenly withdrew, and Ji Yunfei found herself unexpectedly longing for it. Her hand moved faster than her thoughts, grabbing the departing Xie Yin.

“Hmm?” The person being pulled turned around, her free hand adjusting the black hair by her neck. Her eyes held a playful glint as she looked at Ji Yunfei.

“Ahem…” Realizing what she had done, Ji Yunfei’s expression became unnatural. She hurried to let go, but as soon as her fingers moved, Xie Yin flipped her hand and gripped Ji Yunfei’s palm tightly.

Her hand was enveloped in warmth, like being wrapped in a soft blanket. She looked at Xie Yin and fell into those eyes that were gentle enough to drown someone.

“Now it’s your turn to be unable to let me go?”

“I’ll come find you later… everyone is waiting for me now.”

Following Xie Yin’s gaze, Ji Yunfei noticed people looking around as if searching for someone. Looking at “Baldy” on the stage with the microphone, she realized they were looking for the CEO.

Because the two were in a well-hidden blind spot, they could see out, but others couldn’t see in. No matter how much they searched, they wouldn’t find Xie Yin.

“CEO Xie, are you there?” Baldy’s voice boomed through the speakers, vibrating painfully in their ears.

“Mm… go on then…” She didn’t hold Xie Yin back any longer. Only after Xie Yin stepped onto the stage and everyone’s attention was focused on the platform did Ji Yunfei dare to sneak back to Chi Chang’s side in the crowd.

“Good evening to everyone at San Shi Jewelry, I am Xie Yin.” Dressed in a black tube-top evening gown, Xie Yin stepped up. The moment her voice—clear as a mountain spring—rang out, she received thunderous applause.

Xie Yin had her hair specially styled, with slightly curled black locks cascading down her back. Seeing how supportive the crowd was, her phoenix eyes curved slightly, and she let out a light laugh.

“Holy crap, the Great Demoness is truly beautiful…”

“Right? Usually I’m too busy being scared. Seeing her smile like that, I feel like being scolded by her a few more times wouldn’t be so bad…”

For some reason, hearing the whispers around her, a secret sense of pride rose in Ji Yunfei’s heart.

This woman on stage, radiating charm and glowing with every gesture, liked her…

No matter how others fantasized, it wouldn’t change that fact. Xie Yin belonged to her—or more accurately, was about to.

Faster… just a little bit faster… let her belong to me…

“Hey, Feizi, don’t you think the dress Xie Yin is wearing…”

“Looks like a couple’s outfit with yours?”

Her thoughts were abruptly broken by Chi Chang. Only then did Ji Yunfei focus on Xie Yin’s gown—a solid black tube dress, but decorated with golden snake-scale patterns.

“It… actually does?”

The golden snake scales on Xie Yin’s dress were raised and very noticeable. Meanwhile, the white dress Ji Yunfei wore also had scale patterns, but they nearly blended into the fabric’s base color, making them invisible unless one looked closely.

“Xie Yin… a possessive, clingy puppy who loves to show off secretly…”

“No… she loves to cling like a little snake, so she’s a puppy-snake…”

“I like it… just be my personal puppy-snake…”

The dark thoughts that had just been interrupted began to claw their way out again. She looked up, staring intently at the confident speaker on stage, her eyes filled with a fanaticism she hadn’t even noticed herself.

Standing under the spotlight, Xie Yin was constantly monitoring Ji Yunfei’s movements. She glanced toward “Dummy Ji” multiple times as if by accident, but the other woman always had her head down, hiding her expression.

It wasn’t until her speech was nearing its end that her peripheral vision caught Ji Yunfei finally looking up. She eagerly turned her gaze that way, only to be caught off guard by a pair of dark eyes swirling with hidden currents.

Her pupils shrank slightly, but she maintained her outward composure and quickly wrapped up.

“I won’t say much else.”

“Finally, I declare—”

“The ball begins now! Please enjoy the night!”

As Xie Yin’s words fell, the spotlights suddenly cut out, plunging the hall into temporary darkness. Amidst the gasps of the crowd, the melody of “The Second Waltz” drifted out.

Ji Yunfei was still in a daze when her right palm was suddenly occupied by a familiar warmth. Subconsciously, her thumb lightly rubbed this “uninvited guest.” The long knuckles, the smooth feel… clearly, it was Xie Yin.

In the darkness, the loss of sight made her extremely sensitive to touch. When Xie Yin’s hot palm touched her left shoulder blade, Ji Yunfei’s entire body shivered uncontrollably. Sensing her reaction, that hand moved down a few inches, causing a slight itch.

Ji Yunfei placed her left hand on the other’s shoulder, and her right hand was lifted into the air.

“The Waltz… do you know how to dance it?”

“It’s okay if you don’t… I’ll lead you.”

She was suddenly pulled close, and two sets of hot breath intertwined at the tips of their noses. Even in the dark, Ji Yunfei could feel their distance was dangerously close.

“Then I shall trouble CEO Xie…” Ji Yunfei curled her lips and leaned into Xie Yin’s ear, pressing her lips lightly against the shell of the ear. Instantly, a scorching temperature transferred from the ear to her lips.

With the pride of a successful counterattack, Ji Yunfei pulled back slightly. At that moment, the hall lights suddenly brightened—the warm, dim glow adding to the romantic atmosphere between them.

With the light, Ji Yunfei finally saw the other’s face. Perhaps because the previous action was too sudden, or perhaps her ears were too sensitive, Xie Yin’s eyes were misty and her cheeks were flushed with a faint rose. When she saw Ji Yunfei looking at her, those moist eyes darted away—where was the confidence from a moment ago?

“Enchantress…”

“Mesmerizing enchantress…”

Before Ji Yunfei could admire her more, she was led into the dance.

Xie Yin’s left foot moved first, sliding back in an arc, leading Ji Yunfei’s left foot forward. Then, Xie Yin’s right foot stepped forward, her body rotating to the right. Ji Yunfei followed like her shadow, matching her rhythm.

With every step, the distance between them closed. That narcissus scent inevitably filled Ji Yunfei’s nose, making her feel slightly dazed. Her heartbeat gradually synchronized with the melody, spinning out of control.

“This is the Waltz of Love.” As the song ended, both women were flushed and breathing unevenly. Xie Yin was the first to recover, winking at Ji Yunfei and whispering softly.

“CEO Xie—” The romantic atmosphere was shattered by several out-of-place shouts. Ji Yunfei quickly scrambled out of Xie Yin’s arms, looking down to straighten her dress with a guilty air.

By the time the people calling out arrived, Ji Yunfei had already stepped back to the side, picking up a small buffet cake and taking tiny bites.

“These department heads… surrounding Xie Yin one by one…”

“And these employees… why are they all surrounding her too?!”

“I don’t want to see you people!!”

“Looking at you, is that possessiveness acting up?”

“Stop poking it… the cake is going to be ruined.” Chi Chang’s teasing voice rang out. Ji Yunfei looked down and realized her cake was already “riddled with holes,” looking quite pitiful.

“Ahem… what possessiveness? Don’t talk nonsense.”

“Still won’t admit it? If you wait until Xie Yin runs off with someone else, it’ll be too late for regrets.”

“Ow, ow, ow—have mercy!!” Chi Chang clutched her head after a sharp smack.

“Interacting with employees is normal.” Ji Yunfei said blankly, acting as if she didn’t care.

“Fine, fine, normal, totally normal…”

“Poor cake… suffering an undeserved disaster…” Chi Chang mumbled to herself while staying out of Ji Yunfei’s reach.

Ji Yunfei stared intently at the crowd, ignoring Chi Chang and missing her mumbles.

The crowd cheered. They raised their glasses in unison and drained them. The cheers grew louder wave after wave, and the glasses were raised higher and higher. Ji Yunfei began to worry about Xie Yin, who was tightly surrounded.

What if she gets drunk?

Thinking of this, Ji Yunfei couldn’t stay put any longer. She slammed the ruined little cake down and strode toward the crowd.

Inside the circle, Xie Yin was drinking glass after glass of red wine to the cheers, her cheeks inevitably stained with a crimson flush. Though it showed on her face, for someone with her legendary tolerance, this was only the beginning.

Just as she raised her glass again, the stemware hanging in the air was firmly caught by a slender hand. Ji Yunfei’s somewhat muffled voice rang out.

“It’s no fun for everyone to keep picking on CEO Xie alone.”

“Why don’t you try me instead?”

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