The Sickly Fake Daughter, But a Beloved Darling of All - Chapter 39

After sending that message, Xu Chengjin had to go on stage for the performance, so she didn’t wait for a reply. She put her phone in the locker, locked it, and then stood behind the curtain, waiting for her entrance.

The host said, “Next up is the School of Economics and Management! Let’s welcome them with a round of applause!”

As soon as the words fell, the lights dimmed, and the host left the stage. Xu Chengjin found her spot and sat down at a table, her long hair naturally draped as she lay with her head on the surface.

“Clap—”

The lights came on, illuminating Xu Chengjin so brightly she seemed to glow. She slowly sat up, her eyes filled with sorrow. Just as she was about to speak, she heard gasps from the audience: “Wow, who is that? She’s so beautiful!”

“You don’t know her? She’s the daughter of the Xu family! She’s beautiful and very easy to talk to. I ran into her before, and she spoke so gently.”

“She’s really gorgeous, that face is too perfect. I wonder if I can ask for a photo later.”

“…”

Xu Chengjin couldn’t clearly hear the murmurs from the audience. She followed the script, delivered her lines, and then glanced down at the audience, only seeing Wu Boran, who had rushed over…

She didn’t come?

Xu Chengjin dismissed the thought, retreating backstage to wait for her next appearance. Jin xi, playing the knight, was engaged in a fierce battle on stage. It would soon be the scene where she rescued the princess. The lights dimmed again, and Xu Chengjin lay on the bed, awaiting the final act.

Jin xi turned around and said, “My princess, I have finally found you.”

She walked over slowly and knelt on one knee before Xu Chengjin. Xu Chengjin’s eyes were closed, giving off an air of nobility, yet appearing so fragile as if the person before her might shatter at the next moment. Jin xi’s movements were extremely cautious. She reached out and gently brushed away Xu Chengjin’s hair, her gaze utterly focused, as if nothing else existed in the world but the two of them.

“My princess…”

Jin xi murmured. She slowly leaned in, inching closer to Xu Chengjin’s lips. Just a little closer, and they would kiss, kiss in front of countless people… a declaration…

“Jin xi.”

Xu Chengjin suddenly opened her eyes. There was no blame in her gaze, but rather a sense of tolerance. She mouthed the name Jin xi silently.

Jin xi seemed to snap back to reality. She was breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling dramatically. This reaction was even more intense than during the last rehearsal; she was completely immersed.

Xu Chengjin sat up. She raised a hand to caress Jin xi’s face and said, “Thank you for saving me, my knight.”

Then she stood up and took Jin xi’s hand, preparing to walk out for the curtain call.

Hand in hand, the two, along with the other performers, walked out and bowed together to the audience. A thunderous applause erupted. Their acting was good, and they were beautiful; it was clearly a visual feast.

After Xu Chengjin exited the stage, Huilan ran over and told her, “Someone is looking for you. Go see.”

“Ah,” she said, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, “Okay, I’ll go now.”

Who would be looking for her?

Xu Jing?

The venue provided by the school was large and included a dedicated lounge. Xu Chengjin pushed open the lounge door and stepped inside. It was very dark. Just as she was about to turn on the light, someone grabbed her wrist and forcibly pulled her in.

“Mmm.”

Xu Chengjin let out a muffled sound. Her hands were held together in front of her, and the other person’s breathing was very rapid, as if they had been holding back for a long time.

“You just got here?”

Xu Chengjin’s waist was supported. She took two steps forward, completely giving her body over to the other person, who thankfully was able to hold her completely.

“No, I was hiding and watching you.”

The person buried their head in Xu Chengjin’s neck, holding her tightly. “Did you kiss?”

“Do you think we kissed?” Xu Chengjin raised her hands to loop around the other’s neck. She was lifted up and sat directly onto the nearby counter, the other person wedging themselves between her legs. She looked down at them. “Speak, Si Yu.”

Si Yu rested her hands on either side of Xu Chengjin. She looked up. “I don’t know, I need to ask you.”

“But I don’t want to answer you.”

Xu Chengjin struggled a bit, but she couldn’t move Si Yu at all. She lowered her head. “What do you want to do? Did you just come to ask if I kissed someone? Even if I did, it’s none of your business.”

Si Yu seemed to be angered into laughter. “None of my business?”

“Then what counts as being involved?”

Si Yu cupped Xu Chengjin’s face, her tone no longer patient, but full of aggression. “You and Jinxi are involved, is that it?”

“Did you make me come all this way just to see that?”

Si Yu had originally planned to give Xu Chengjin a surprise, but after seeing that scene, she couldn’t calm down. Her breathing was ragged. “Why aren’t you speaking?”

“Why are you angry?”

Xu Chengjin fumbled to turn on the light, but her wrist was grabbed again. Si Yu picked her up and placed her on the sofa. “Si Yu, you answer me first.”

“I’m not happy.”

Si Yu lay loosely on top of Xu Chengjin, her thumb gently tracing Xu Chengjin’s neck. She whispered, “You are incredibly beautiful today, truly gorgeous.”

“Am I gorgeous?”

Xu Chengjin cupped Si Yu’s face. She chuckled softly. “It was a trick of perspective, we didn’t kiss.”

“Is that so…”

Si Yu propped up her upper body, trying to etch Xu Chengjin’s features into her memory in the dark. She took a deep breath and grit her teeth. “…I spoke a little sharply just now, please don’t be angry.”

“I’m not angry.” Xu Chengjin’s arms rested naturally at her sides. She tilted her head. “Actually, the only person I’ve kissed in my life is you, Si Yu. My first kiss was for you.”

After saying that, she couldn’t hear Si Yu’s voice anymore. Xu Chengjin narrowed her eyes, and the next moment, accurately blocked the other person’s face. “You want to kiss me.”

“Did I give you permission to kiss me?”

Xu Chengjin let go of her hands. Her breathing was fast, and her eyelids were trembling from nervousness. “By what right do you kiss me?”

“Xu Chengjin.”

Si Yu took Xu Chengjin’s hand and kissed the wrist of the person in front of her. “Is it not allowed?”

“Not allowed.”

Xu Chengjin hummed, grabbing Si Yu’s roaming hand. “No.”

“You aren’t resisting me.”

Si Yu could actually sense Xu Chengjin’s thoughts. She lowered her head and kissed Xu Chengjin’s neck, her warm breath completely washing over the other person. “Don’t get too close to them.”

“You can’t control me. I don’t like that.”

Xu Chengjin tugged on Si Yu’s hair. The corners of her eyes were red, and her voice began to waver. “You…”

Before she could finish her sentence, footsteps sounded outside the door. Xu Chengjin sharply turned her head, her whole body instantly tensing up. The next moment, she heard a knock and… Jin xi’s voice: “Xiaojin.”

“Are you inside? If you are… then I’m opening the door.”