Transmigrated into the Villainous Scummy Alpha in a Talent Show Novel - Chapter 60

The moon set and the stars faded as the rising sun cast its faint light through the clouds, gently rousing those in light slumber.

A soft breeze drifted through the window, stirring the air in the room and brushing against the hair by Lin Qi’s ear. For once, she had woken up a little earlier than usual and caught sight of Jiang Ming’s sleeping face.

Pink strands of hair rebelliously covered her face, making her look sweet and endearing. A slight nudge against her shoulder sent a tingling sensation spreading all the way to the left side of her chest. Lin Qi cleared her throat softly and lifted the hand resting on Jiang Ming’s lower back.

The other hand, however, was in a trickier situation, pinned beneath the sleeping girl’s head. After a whole night, it had gone completely numb. Lin Qi tried to pull it out cautiously, only for Jiang Ming to wrap her arms around her waist, pressing down on her arm as if to say, “Don’t move, let me sleep a little longer.”

Glancing outside, the sky was still pale, the faint glow of dawn barely breaking through. It was only six in the morning, the sun just beginning to rise. Lin Qi shouldn’t have woken up this early, but in her dream, she had seen a little white rabbit with eyes red from crying, so pitiful that it jolted her awake in worry.

Lowering her gaze, her eyes lingered tenderly on the small face half-hidden beneath the pink hair. In sleep, Jiang Ming looked peaceful, nothing like the sorrowful figure from her dream.

With her free hand, Lin Qi gently smoothed the disheveled strands away, revealing delicate, picturesque features. For some reason, despite having the sharp, alluring eyes of a fox, Jiang Ming looked nothing but docile when asleep, more like the Ragdoll cat Lin Qi had raised in her past life: elegant, ethereal, and utterly adorable.

The pale forehead was right before her. Lin Qi leaned in and pressed a light kiss against it. Though not an intimate gesture, it filled her heart with bubbling contentment.

“Mmm…”

A kitten-like murmur. When Lin Qi pulled back, she met Jiang Ming’s slightly dazed gaze, still hazy with sleep. The corners of her lips curled up unconsciously as she spoke softly, “Awake? Want to sleep a little more?”

Opening her eyes to the sight of the person she loved, Jiang Ming pressed her lips together, unwilling to reveal the secret joy in her heart. She lifted herself from the arm that had served as her pillow all night, rubbing her eyes drowsily. “No, let’s go have breakfast. Our group is first for rehearsal.”

“Mm, let’s get up then.”

9 AM, the rehearsal site for the third performance.

When the stylist brought the outfits, Lin Qi was reluctant. Another shirt, this was the third performance, and the previous two had already featured shirts paired with suits. This time? Just the shirt alone.

Though in her past life, image consultants had analyzed that her broad shoulders and narrow waist were perfect for a “dominant” look with shirts, Lin Qi still sighed, waiting for the bottom half. Probably shorts, right?

Then, ha! seven bright yellow skirts were rolled out.

Her expression froze instantly. She wanted to take back her earlier thought shorts weren’t so bad after all.

Before debuting in her past life, she had preferred sporty styles. While she could wear skirts, she never particularly liked them. After debut, she was typecast as a cool, charismatic idol, effectively cutting skirts out of her wardrobe. Now, as she picked up her assigned skirt, she caught Wei Xuanyue’s amused smirk and grimaced even harder.

“Oh, Xiao Qi, wearing a skirt now?”

“Yeah, what’s wrong with that?”

Clutching the shirt, tie, and skirt, Lin Qi strode into the dressing room first. At least her height and proportions were decent otherwise, the long sleeves and short skirt combo would’ve made her legs look stubby.

The ivory-white shirt, with the top button undone, revealed an inverted V-shaped collarbone. Long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and instead of tucking the hem into her skirt, Lin Qi tied it around her waist, studying her reflection in the mirror.

Her shoulders formed smooth, well-defined right angles, her neck was slender, and her exposed waist was delicate yet etched with clear-cut abdominal lines. The skirt reached mid-thigh, showcasing her long, slender legs. Overall, she looked like a spirited upperclassman in a school uniform, exuding effortless confidence.

Stepping out the door, she feigned self-assurance after all, it had been years since she last wore a skirt. Lin Qi had no idea how others would perceive her.

To her surprise, everyone was stunned, especially Wei Xuanyue, whose shocked expression practically screamed, “Holy shit!” But mindful of the cameras, she swallowed the words and instead stammered, “I, wow, Lin Qi, how are you this cool even in a skirt?”

Shrugging, Lin Qi flashed a smug grin. “Born with it, what can I say?”

She raised an eyebrow at Jiang Ming, her confidence now genuine. Striding over, her peach-blossom eyes brimming with amusement, she asked, “So, how do I look? Weird?”

Even though he saw her every day, Jiang Ming found himself captivated all over again especially by the rare glimpse of her waist. He averted his slightly heated gaze, his words stumbling. “Y-You look, really good.”

“Alright, your turn to change.”

Settling onto the couch beside Jiang Ming, Lin Qi first untied the knotted shirt hem. No matter how slim someone was, sitting would inevitably create wrinkles around the waist. Mindful of appearances and not particularly keen on flaunting her abs, she buttoned up and crossed her legs, waiting for her girlfriend to change.

Earlier, she’d been too preoccupied with her own outfit to really take in Jiang Ming’s. If she recalled correctly, it was a cropped shirt.

Tightening the powder-blue tie until it covered even her collarbone, Lin Qi nodded in satisfaction before turning her attention to the dressing room door.

Soon, it swung open, revealing a girl in a short-sleeved, cropped shirt that ended just below her ribs. The slender curve of her waist flowed seamlessly into an S-shaped silhouette. True to her personality, every button was fastened to the top, a look that should have been demure and sweet, yet the waist chains draped across her midsection lent an alluring, seductive edge.

Two silver chains traced the lines of her abs, connecting from just above her navel to the soft yellow skirt hugging her hips. Under the lights, they shimmered, and though they were just two simple chains, Lin Qi’s throat went dry, an involuntary swallow betraying her.

The pink tie accentuated the curve of her chest, complementing the tousled pastel hair cascading freely over her shoulders. The shirt and skirt hugged the girl’s graceful figure, her hands fidgeting nervously as clear, fox-like eyes glistened with uncertainty.

That shimmering gaze, carried by the cool breeze of the air conditioning, swept into Lin Qi’s vision. In that moment, their locked eyes stretched time itself.

“Do I, look good like this?”

Heart pounding violently, Jiang Ming forced her voice steady as she asked the question, one that would almost certainly never be answered with a no.

She admitted that she simply wanted Lin Qi’s praise, whether heartfelt or not, at least she was reflected in those pitch-black pupils. That tiny glimpse of herself was enough to make her want to lose herself in it, as if willingly building her own prison.

Lin Qi didn’t answer immediately, savoring the perfect blend of sweetness and allure in the girl before her. She had never met someone like this, shy and delicate like a young girl, gentle yet resilient like a woman, and utterly captivating like a temptress.

Her heart pounding, Lin Qi averted her gaze. As Jiang Ming moved closer, she reached out and touched a silver waist chain on the right side of Jiang Ming’s waist. She didn’t know how it had been crafted, but the material was highly reflective. The back of her hand brushed against the rise and fall of Jiang Ming’s waist with each breath, and an inexplicable heat traveled from her fingertips straight to her heart.

“This waist chain suits you. You look beautiful like this.”

Though the compliment was brief, the infatuation in Lin Qi’s eyes was more than enough to please Jiang Ming. She smiled until her eyes curved into crescents. The short design of her outfit left much of her fair waist exposed to the air, and her originally snow-white skin flushed a soft pink from sheer delight. Like a sweet, pink-and-white kitten, she sat beside Lin Qi and said in a sugary voice, “As long as you think it looks good.”

Before Lin Qi could reply, the door was knocked open. It was the show’s producer, announcing that the stage was ready for rehearsal. But the moment he stepped in, he was met with the undeniably intimate atmosphere between the two. His gaze flickered over Lin Qi, who was wearing a skirt with her shirt untucked and her tie slightly loose looking effortlessly cool and handsome.

Smiling appreciatively, the producer nodded at Lin Qi. “Honestly, I’d love to draw you as my partner for the collaboration stage.”

“That’s up to luck,” Lin Qi replied.

“Right. Let’s see if fate agrees.”

With that, the producer left to notify the next team for rehearsal. Though it was just two talented individuals admiring each other’s skills, Lin Qi suddenly felt a hand pinch her waist. Turning her head, she met Jiang Ming’s displeased glare.

“What’s this about fate?”

Lin Qi couldn’t help but laugh. She had been about to tease Jiang Ming as a “little jealous cat,” but her survival instincts kicked in. Raising both hands in surrender, she said, “The only fate I have is with you. Next time there’s a collaboration stage, I’ll steer clear of the producer, okay?”

“Hmph. Seems like you really want to work with him.”

“Impossible. The only one I want to work with is you.”

Standing up, Lin Qi picked up a prop box from the table. Inside lay a ring. Tilting her head, she said, “I still have to put this ring on you today.”

“Hmph. It’s just part of the stage design.”

“I don’t care. Once I put this ring on you, you’re mine. My fiancée, right?”

Jiang Ming crossed her arms and turned her head away, though the tips of her ears burned red. Pressing her lips together to suppress a giddy smile, she retorted, “Who’s your fiancée?! Did I agree to that?”

“Hey, we’ve rehearsed this so many times. How many times have I put a ring on your finger?”

Wrapping an arm around the stubborn kitten’s slender waist soft and smooth to the touch, Lin Qi pulled her closer. As the distance between them shrank, she met Jiang Ming’s flustered gaze and lowered her voice deliberately.

“Or do you want me to actually propose to you for real? Not just because of the stage design?”

With her secret thoughts exposed, Jiang Ming felt her heartbeat grow louder in her chest. Her lower back tingled, warmth spreading under Lin Qi’s touch, while the cool metal of the waist chain added another layer of sensation. Overwhelmed, she let out a soft whimper, her face flushing completely red.

“You, what nonsense are you talking! I need to go to the restroom!”

Watching the little white rabbit flee in a flustered panic with an amused smile, Jiang Ming wasn’t just blushing at the hair and tie anymore, her entire body had turned a shade of pink. As she struggled free from his embrace, the two waist chains brushed against each other, producing a crisp, melodious sound. Though faint, it resonated in Lin Qi’s ears, setting his heart ablaze.