The Cold Heroine Turned Into a Yandere After Being - Chapter 7

Her Lips

The distance closed far too quickly; Ji Shubai’s warm breath was practically brushing against her cheek.

However, Mo Zhu’s body reacted faster than her brain.

The split second before Ji Shubai’s nose could touch hers, Mo Zhu’s upper body shifted aside by a mere inch. It was an imperceptible movement, so fast it felt like an illusion, as if a stray breeze had simply fluttered the hem of her clothes. Her face didn’t betray a hint of shock or panic; those smiling peach-blossom eyes remained steadily locked onto Ji Shubai.

Her avoidance was more of a graceful, effortless dodge.

Seeing that Ji Shubai was about to lunge into empty air, her body tilted forward due to the momentum of her charge.

Mo Zhu’s gaze swept over Ji Shubai’s close-up lashes—trembling with shame and fury—and those tightly pressed, bloodless lips.

The arm that had been hanging naturally at Mo Zhu’s side rose gracefully. With an extremely natural motion, she caught Ji Shubai by the waist as the other woman teetered off-balance.

The gesture wasn’t a romantic embrace; it was more like a distanced support. It was a perfectly timed catch that neutralized Ji Shubai’s momentum and prevented a potentially more embarrassing stumble.

Meanwhile, Mo Zhu’s fingers remained clamped around Ji Shubai’s wrist like a sturdy shackle, pinning her in place. She could neither move forward nor retreat.

This silent confinement was more oppressive than any words, clearly announcing that the balance of power between them had never shifted.

The moment she was caught, Ji Shubai felt her heart skip a beat. She allowed herself to be held for a long moment before finally offering a weak struggle. “What are you doing?”

She could feel the warmth and strength of the arm pressed against her. Her body was still leaning forward, and the memory of Mo Zhu’s calm dodge made her feel incredibly awkward and exposed.

The recklessness from a moment ago vanished like a popped balloon, leaving behind only the embarrassment and indignation of being seen through.

The distance between them was now ambiguous yet cold—like a deliberate game played by the one in control.

In a fit of anger, Ji Shubai tried to snap her head up. Her lips—almost without warning and carrying the heat of her earlier exertion—brushed lightly and quickly across the bare skin of Mo Zhu’s neck.

The contact was fleeting, like the tip of a feather sweeping by.

Mo Zhu felt the soft touch of those lips clearly. The sensation traveled along her nerve endings straight to her heart, leaving an indescribable, strange mark.

The arm wrapped around Ji Shubai’s waist stiffened imperceptibly for a heartbeat, but it relaxed just as quickly.

“I thought Miss Ji was feeling chilled by the wind and wanted a hug,” Mo Zhu’s voice returned to its usual lazy drawl, carrying a hint of playful surprise. “Or did I misunderstand? Is that not what you meant?”

Ji Shubai’s cheeks instantly flushed a deeper crimson, her ears turning red as if burned by her own actions.

Resting near Mo Zhu’s shoulder, Ji Shubai turned her face slightly. “Wasn’t it you who asked for compensation? Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?”

Both women tacitly chose to avoid mentioning the accidental brush of the lips.

“Is that really how you’ve always thought of me, Miss Ji?” Mo Zhu’s voice dropped lower, like a murmur between lovers. “Now I’m actually a little hurt.”

Ji Shubai kept her eyes down. “Is it not true?” After seeing the contract Mo Zhu offered knowing her desperate situation, what this woman wanted was as clear as day.

“If you put it that way… I suppose you’re right.” Mo Zhu’s thumb brushed lightly against the pulse point on the inside of Ji Shubai’s wrist. The subtle movement carried an irresistible intimacy and sense of possession.

Ji Shubai’s eyes flickered at the admission.

“After all, my intentions toward you, Miss Ji, are indeed far from pure.”

She spoke vaguely, making it impossible not to overthink her meaning.

Furthermore, she had no intention of explaining herself.

Ji Shubai finally pulled back, retreating until her back hit the railing. She looked down at their opposing shoes, which reflected the moonlight.

Then, she looked up at Mo Zhu, her pupils swimming with a light that bordered on confusion, though it was quickly filled by the silver glow of the moon.

Once she stood straight, Mo Zhu finally let go. The nonchalant smile returned to her face. She even considerately reached out to straighten Ji Shubai’s collar, which she had wrinkled earlier, her movements as gentle as if she were handling something precious.

“The wind is strong out here. Don’t catch a cold.” Mo Zhu’s tone held just the right amount of concern. “Let’s head back inside.”

She turned first and pushed open the glass door. The noisy chatter and warmth of the party rushed out to meet them, accompanied by dozens of curious, excited gazes that focused on them instantly.

Holding the door open, Mo Zhu glanced back at Ji Shubai, who was still standing at the railing, offering a silent invitation.

Ji Shubai’s fingertips curled slightly at her side. After steadying her emotions, she walked forward.

Once inside, Mo Zhu could feel the weight of the stares. Only a small group had known what happened earlier, but in this short time, the news seemed to have spread through the entire venue.

Ji Shubai wanted to mingle with others, and Mo Zhu didn’t stop her. She found a less crowded corner for herself.

She ignored the curious looks entirely.

Finally finding an opening, Xia Yitian walked over. “What were you two doing out there?”

Mo Zhu took two glasses of wine from a nearby table and handed one to her. “Talking to my assistant, obviously.”

“What kind of ‘assistant’? Stop trying to fool me.”

“No, seriously, when did you two get in touch? How did I not know about this?” Xia Yitian was dying of curiosity.

“My assistant says she’s an assistant, so she’s an assistant.” Mo Zhu took a shallow sip of her wine.

Xia Yitian hesitated. “Is this some new game you’re playing? The ‘Office Edition’?”

Mo Zhu watched Ji Shubai talking to people in the distance and gave a silent smile without answering.

As the party drew to a close, someone suggested moving to a second location. Xia Yitian, likely stimulated by her friend’s behavior, shouted that she hadn’t had enough to drink and wanted to go.

Mo Zhu declined the invitation and walked over to Ji Shubai, who was also preparing to leave.

A few nearby guests, emboldened by alcohol, began to cheer and catcall when they saw this.

Mo Zhu ignored the noise. “I’ll drive you back.”

Sensing Ji Shubai wanted to refuse, Mo Zhu leaned in and whispered, “You said it yourself—you’re my assistant. If you don’t leave with me, who are you planning to leave with?”

Ji Shubai reluctantly nodded.

By the time the driver pulled the car around, most of the people heading to the after-party had left. Only a few remained, waiting for their own rides.

Ji Shubai originally intended to sit in the front passenger seat, but Mo Zhu pulled her into the back.

“Tell the driver the address,” Mo Zhu said after getting in.

Ji Shubai gave the address of her university.

“Going back to school this late?”

“Yes. I’m going back to the dorm.”

Liar.

However, Mo Zhu didn’t call her out.

The car pulled away smoothly and merged into the main road.

“How were your conversations today?” Mo Zhu asked casually.

Ji Shubai glanced at her, seemingly choosing her words carefully. “I only came today to understand the current market. I wasn’t looking to jump ship to another patron.”

“I know.” Mo Zhu met her gaze. “After all, I am the highest branch you could climb.”

Ji Shubai was likely speechless at her audacity and silently turned to look out the window.

Perhaps due to the alcohol, Mo Zhu felt her nerves grow drowsy and relaxed. She closed her eyes to rest.

She realized that since leaving the office, she hadn’t experienced any more bad luck.

She had one final chance today to check the favorability level. After asking, she received a massive piece of good news.

Ji Shubai’s favorability toward her had surged to -5.

Mo Zhu had to try very hard to keep from laughing out loud.

This woman is certainly hard to please.

She only opened her eyes when they reached the school. She heard Ji Shubai ask her:

“When is convenient for you tomorrow?”

“Hmm?”

“I’ll move in whenever it’s convenient for you.”

Hearing this, Mo Zhu finally remembered the arrangement. “No rush. Whenever you’re ready, just contact Assistant Xiang. She’ll arrange everything and give you the key card and access code.”

Ji Shubai nodded. “Fine.”

She opened the door and stepped out, offering a polite goodbye before walking away.

“President Mo, where would you like to go now?” the driver asked.

“Back to the family estate.”

She had some things she needed to find.

It was late night when Mo Zhu arrived home. She didn’t disturb her sleeping family members. Instead, she asked the butler where her high school belongings were stored. She went straight to a storage room on the fourth floor and locked herself inside.

Host, what are you looking for?

“I remember there was a group photo of the Student Council taken during the high school sports meet.”

There was.

Upon receiving the confirmation, Mo Zhu tossed aside a half-new textbook and began digging through another box. “I’m looking for it.”

What do you need it for?

“To find a little ‘evidence’ of a scandal.”

A scandal? Whose scandal?

Mo Zhu pulled a stack of curled, old photos from a box and flipped through them one by one. “The scandal that I’ve been in love with Ji Shubai, obviously.”

But that wasn’t true.

“I know that. That’s why I have to manufacture some ‘evidence’.”

That group photo was perfect for a bit of forgery.

For instance, she could crop a photo of just her and Ji Shubai together and let the woman “accidentally” see it.

TV dramas loved that trope.

“I’ll let her discover for herself that I am actually a devoted soul who has buried my love deep in my heart for all these years. Everything I’m doing now is only because I love her—I’ve just been stubborn and used the wrong methods. Do you think she’ll go soft on me then?”

Xiao Ta remained silent for a while before speaking up. Host, isn’t that a bit dishonest?

Dishonest?

Mo Zhu smiled. What use did she have for honesty? Besides, the things she was made of weren’t exactly “noble qualities.”

But—

“If you have something else to say, say it all at once.” Mo Zhu was growing impatient.

But the original owner threw that photo in the trash the moment she got it back in high school. It’s long gone.

Mo Zhu looked at the contents of the box, her brow furrowing slightly. “Tch.”