Transmigrated as the Future Movie Queen's Arch-Nemesis - Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Although she was on the phone with Xiao Ai, Su Mi’s mind was still stuck on that kiss with Xin Keke.

Just a moment ago, she had only noticed that Xin Keke’s ears were a little red and wanted to tease her. Who knew she would hit a reef and lose control, letting things escalate into a deep kiss?

…It was her fault. She wouldn’t be like those irresponsible men who blame the woman by saying she ‘seduced’ them! But Xin Keke had just been so, so cute.

Inside Su Mi’s head, two little versions of herself began to argue. One stood with her arms crossed, completely indifferent, asking what was the big deal about a deep kiss; they were adults, it was just hormones taking over. The other poked Su Mi on the forehead, scolding her quietly: That’s Xin Keke! We aren’t at the beginning of the timeline anymore—how could you lose control and do something like that to her? It left Su Mi’s brain in a total mess. Well, she thought, the deed was done in a moment of heat; I have to deal with the consequences. How should she explain it to Xin Keke?

“Hello? Big Mimi, are you listening?” Xiao Ai asked, confused by Su Mi’s long silence.

Su Mi snapped back to reality. “Ah, yeah, I’m here. Let me ask Xin Keke, I’ll message you on WeChat in a bit.”

“Okay~ Hurry up! Ye Luo and I are about to leave!”

After hanging up, Su Mi leaned against the hallway wall, closing her eyes and pinching the bridge of her nose. She knew, of course, that her initial confession to Xin Keke had been a move born of desperation. Under those circumstances, if Su Mi hadn’t been so silver-tongued, Xin Keke might have never forgiven her.

But now?

As their relationship grew closer, even if she stopped using “I like you” as an excuse, Xin Keke likely wouldn’t be cruel enough to need to cut her off completely. So why did she provoke her just now? After accidentally kissing her, the best move would have been to pull away immediately and apologize, right? Instead, she hadn’t just kissed her once; she’d tasted the sweetness and gone for a second round.

Su Mi gripped her forehead, cursing herself internally.

It shouldn’t… it shouldn’t have a future with Xin Keke. If they weren’t going to be together, it was best not to start. She was destined to return to the real world. What would happen to Xin Keke then if she really fell in love with her? The original host’s soul would eventually reclaim this body—was she supposed to let Xin Keke continue to love a vicious cannon fodder like the original host? The original host would never treat Xin Keke with the same indulgence she did. Wouldn’t that be a tragic situation?

Argh, I shouldn’t be so invested. Since the original goal has been reached, wouldn’t it be better to keep some distance from her…?

Lost in a chaotic spiral of thoughts, Su Mi returned to the room. She let out a long sigh and headed toward the bathroom to wash her hands, but as she pushed open the outer door, she saw a girl’s slender, naked body through the glass shower door.

Xin Keke heard the movement and turned around in a hurry, her eyes locking with Su Mi’s through the glass.

Su Mi froze for half a second.

“Ahhhhh, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!! I didn’t mean to!!” she shrieked, bowing repeatedly with her hands pressed together before fleeing the room, remembering to shut the bathroom door behind her.

Su Mi felt like crying. What am I doing?! As if the awkward kiss earlier wasn’t embarrassing enough, she had to go and barge in while the girl was trying to calm herself down in the shower! If she were Xin Keke, she’d be grabbing her own collar and slapping herself twice.

Su Mi looked back at the bathroom with lingering fear, and when she confirmed Xin Keke wasn’t about to storm out and beat her up, she let out a quiet breath of relief. Alive is good. Being alive is good.

She took her phone out, but she couldn’t focus on it, spending the time mentally rehearsing what they would say once Xin Keke came out.

As the bathroom door opened, Su Mi chirped brightly: “Xiao Ai just called, she wants us to go out and play tonight~” Think of everything, just don’t bring that up again, she told herself. Avoid extra trouble.

Xin Keke, wrapped in a bathrobe, glanced at her. Seeing Su Mi wasn’t going to say anything else, she asked calmly: “Where are we going?”

“A bar. I told you I’d take you before,” Su Mi said. “Xiao Ai and Ye Luo are coming, too. It’ll be livelier with more people.”

“Mn…” Xin Keke pondered. Just as Su Mi thought she would refuse, Xin Keke looked up: “Fine, I’ll go.”

“I’ll message Xiao Ai, then?”

“Okay.”

Her tone was neither warm nor cold, but Xin Keke didn’t probe into what had happened earlier. Su Mi’s heart settled slightly. She sent the message to Xiao Ai and watched as Xin Keke went to her own bed to dry her hair. “You should blow-dry it properly; we’re leaving soon.”

Xin Keke tilted her head, her long, silky hair veiling her face. From Su Mi’s angle, she couldn’t see her expression. She just nodded. “Mn.”

Once ready, Su Mi and Xin Keke met up with Ye Luo and Xiao Ai for dinner, then headed toward the bar district as it came to life.

Throughout the meal, Xin Keke maintained her usual aloofness. She was always like that—never getting too close to anyone, or perhaps just not knowing how. Only Su Mi turned back occasionally to check if she was still behind her.

When the lanterns were first lit, the bar street began its busiest time of the day. Su Mi didn’t come to places like this often, but compared to Xin Keke, she was a veteran.

As they walked down the street, Xin Keke trailed at the back, quietly watching the scenery, lost in thought. Noisy music drifted from the street; some bars had live bands, their songs wafting through open windows.

Su Mi was just about to say something to Xin Keke when Xiao Ai interrupted. She led them to a familiar spot, winking at Su Mi. “You promised, you’re treating us to drinks tonight~”

“Calling me here today was really just to make me pick up the tab, wasn’t it?” Su Mi’s mouth twitched. “Fine, I’ll pay, but don’t forget what we agreed on.” Find the person who leaked my identity and spread rumors about Xin Keke.

Xiao Ai waved a hand. “Oh, relax, Boss Su~”

The bar Xiao Ai chose had a DJ and a dance floor. Being near the film studios, most of the men and women were exceptionally good-looking. Some could be pulled onto a set at a moment’s notice.

Su Mi had no heart for sightseeing. She turned back to the girl trailing behind. “Are you okay?”

The passionate music ignited the fervor of the young people in the bar. Xin Keke, clearly having never been to such a place, looked stunned. “…It’s fine.”

Su Mi instinctively wanted to reach out, but remembering that awkward kiss, she pulled her hand back. Fortunately, Xin Keke’s attention was occupied by her surroundings, and she didn’t notice Su Mi’s embarrassment.

“Follow me, don’t get lost.”

“Mn.”

They were lucky to arrive early and snag a booth. As they looked over the menu, Su Mi leaned in toward Xin Keke. “Do you have a preferred flavor?”

“No.” Xin Keke looked dizzy from the choices. She tossed the menu onto the marble table. “I’ve never had any of these, I don’t really understand them.” She looked up at Su Mi: “What are you drinking? I’ll have the same.”

“Eh?” Su Mi tilted her head. “Mine is a bit plain. Don’t you want to try something else?”

“It’s okay.”

“Alright, then we’ll both have a Gin and Tonic. I’ll order a pitcher of beer too, just in case you don’t like it.”

As she finished talking to Xin Keke, she looked up and saw the expressions on Ye Luo and Xiao Ai’s faces. Ye Luo was thoughtful, while Xiao Ai’s eyes were crinkling into a mischievous smirk as she watched the two of them.

Su Mi wanted to glare at her, but Xiao Ai struck first: “Has Keke never been to a bar before?” she asked, addressing Xin Keke directly. “Do you want to have what I’m having?”

Su Mi glanced at Xiao Ai’s choice. The smirk on Xiao Ai’s face was practically writing out her schemes. She looked at the drink Xiao Ai had chosen: “What are you having? A Negroni? You can drink something that bitter, and you want to trick Xin Keke into having one?”

Xin Keke shook her head quite seriously. “It’s fine, I’ll just have the same as Su Mi.”

“Oh, come on, it’s not bitter like a bitter melon, you just don’t know~~ How can you call it ‘tricking’?” Xiao Ai’s eyes darted slyly between Su Mi and Xin Keke, finally landing on Xin Keke’s face. “Baby, we’ve got plenty of time; tonight is more than just one drink~ Once you’re done with that G&T, you should try mine~”

“We’ll worry about that later.” Su Mi intervened firmly, shutting down Xiao Ai.

Also, who is her ‘baby’? How dare she call Xin Keke ‘baby’ right in front of me.

Xiao Ai stuck her tongue out at Su Mi, then clung to Ye Luo, intending to head to the dance floor. Before she left, she shot Su Mi a flirtatious wink.

Su Mi: “…” You brat, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?

Now, only Su Mi and Xin Keke were left in the booth.

“Wait here for me, I’m going to the restroom. If the drinks come, just tell him to put them on the table.” It wasn’t about avoiding suspicion; she’d drunk too much water during dinner and really needed to go. Xin Keke’s gaze followed Su Mi as she stood up. She bit her lip and nodded. “Mn.”

Su Mi had dyed her hair pink, making her quite eye-catching in the crowd. With the original host’s beauty buff, several men and women tried to ask for her WeChat on the way to the restroom.

She turned them all down, of course. I have Xin Keke as my only target, why would I develop feelings for anyone else, argh!

Su Mi made it quick. When she washed her hands and returned, she saw their four drinks and the pitcher of beer already on the table. But as her eyes drifted upward, she saw a guy with yellow hair standing by the sofa, saying something to Xin Keke.

Su Mi was confused. Did Xin Keke know him? She started searching her brain for any “yellow-haired” side characters.

Before she could place him, the yellow-haired guy reached out to grab Xin Keke’s arm. Xin Keke, looking disgusted, kept backing away.

Su Mi didn’t have the bandwidth to worry about plot points or complicated afternoon feelings anymore. She lunged forward, grabbing the thin, wiry arm of the yellow-haired guy. “Buddy, what are you doing?”

“Can’t you see? We’re just making friends.” The guy sounded impatient. But when he turned his head and saw Su Mi, his eyes lit up: “Yo! You’re beautiful too!”

Su Mi was speechless, ignoring the comment entirely. “She’s with someone. Stay away from her.”

Isn’t this kind of low-tier pickup scene something that only happens in novels?

But the yellow-haired guy seemed unable to understand basic language. He held up his glass, smirking as he leaned in toward Su Mi: “Beauty, let’s get to know each other too, yeah?”

Su Mi didn’t hold back. “Sorry, I’m not interested in men. If you keep bothering her, I’m calling security.”

D*mn it. I feel like vomiting whenever I see a man. Why do such greasy people have to exist in a novel world, too?!