After Transmigrating into a Redemption Novel as the Evil Stepmother - Chapter 14

Ji Shuangci’s voice was soft and gentle, her posture so full of apology that it left one with no outlet for their irritation.

Looking at the mission progress that had suddenly bounced back, Ming Jiayue pursed her lips. The waves in her eyes had long since settled, though her brow remained slightly furrowed.

She didn’t take the water Ji Shuangci offered; her tone was flat and slow.

“You certainly are dedicated.”

Ming Jiayue stared at Ji Shuangci expressionlessly for a moment, then stood up and walked out of the camera’s frame.

The staff members fell into a tactful silence, their gazes moving discreetly between the two. Ji Shuangci was smiling, while Ming Jiayue remained expressionless, exuding an aura of natural authority.

Another staff member brought a bottle of water over. Ming Jiayue wiped her lips with a wet wipe before taking a few sips.

Strictly speaking, this group’s filming task for the day was complete.

Meanwhile, the comment section was in a frenzy—some were shipping them, some were questioning the act, and others were starting fights.

“No way, no way. She just went in for the kiss? Did she ask the passerby lady? That’s so offensive.”

“Exactly! Ji Shuangci is an actress, but that lady isn’t. Can we have some basic manners?”

“I’ll ship anything; it helps me maintain a balanced diet of drama.”

“They’re so beautiful. Their eyes have so much chemistry; I really can’t believe she was paired with a random passerby.”

“The passerby lady doesn’t look like an ordinary person. Does Ji Shuangci know something?”

“Stop with the conspiracy theories, okay? Our Shuang-shuang is just focused on her acting. Pure professionalism!”

The Chief Director had a premonition that this episode would be a massive hit, but he wasn’t sure if the public sentiment would be good or bad. He simply let Ji Shuangci’s group finish early.

Testing the waters, Liu Cheng spoke directly to Ji Shuangci through her earpiece:

“Shuangci, you don’t need to broadcast for the rest of the day. Use the time to keep President Ming company; she came all this way specifically to find you today.”

Ji Shuangci’s heart stirred. She whispered a reply: “Okay.”

This was practically an admission of a relationship with Ming Jiayue.

Liu Cheng’s smile suddenly turned subtle. The assistant director beside him looked puzzled. “Director Liu, what’s up? Why the creepy smile?”

Liu Cheng continued to smile without a word.

At the same time, Ming Jiayue received the message that she was done. She politely said her goodbyes and turned toward her car.

Ji Shuangci resisted the urge to glue her eyes to Ming Jiayue. She greeted her assistant and hurriedly followed.

“President Ming.”

Ming Jiayue didn’t stop, acting as if she hadn’t heard.

Is she angry?

Ji Shuangci’s heart hung high, but without much hesitation, she tentatively reached out to tug at Ming Jiayue’s sleeve.

She didn’t use much force, but Ming Jiayue stopped and turned. She didn’t shake her off, but her gaze was deep and bottomless.

“Actress Ji, is there something?”

As long as she’s willing to talk to me. Ji Shuangci clenched her other hand into a fist and let out a smile.

“President Ming overpraises me. I’m also heading back to the city; since it’s on the way, perhaps I could catch a ride? Thank you.”

Ji Shuangci was currently a big name. Being signed to a Ming family subsidiary meant a professional driver and a luxury van were standard equipment.

Seemingly reading the look in Ming Jiayue’s eyes, Ji Shuangci lied through her teeth without missing a beat: “My car broke down; it was just towed for repairs.”

Pulling her sleeve out of Ji Shuangci’s hand, Ming Jiayue still said nothing.

Taking that as tacit consent, Ji Shuangci followed her with a beaming face, walking side-by-side.

When Ji Shuangci smiled, her expression was vivid and fresh. Her moist eyes narrowed slightly, showing a hint of her “tiger tooth.” The sunlight filtered through the leaves, trailing a soft halo around her.

Ji Shuangci’s usual posture and expressions were trained; seeing her smile so wantonly was rare.

The laughter was so infectious that Ming Jiayue discreetly looked away, glancing at her. Is getting a ride really that exciting?

Has the company been mistreating her for the last two years?

Ji Shuangci’s gaze seemed to be fixed forward, but her entire mind was focused on Ming Jiayue’s every move.

When Ming Jiayue turned her head slightly, Ji Shuangci sensed it instantly. Her heart skipped a beat, and then her blood surged, her heart pounding even more violently and frantically.

Behind her perfect mask, Ji Shuangci pretended to casually pull a small box from her pocket.

“President Ming, I prepared a small gift for you. I haven’t had the chance to give it to you, but since you’re here today, please don’t look down on it.”

She opened the box to reveal a gardenia brooch.

Emerald cabochons formed the leaves, while the petals were paved with diamonds. Most importantly, Ji Shuangci had designed this brooch herself.

She knew Ming Jiayue didn’t lack money; a million-dollar item wouldn’t stay on her mind. Compared to expensive jewelry, her deep sincerity was the only thing she could truly offer.

The design was unique and beautiful.

Ji Shuangci looked at Ming Jiayue with sparkling eyes, not hiding her anticipation at all.

This alternatingly dominant and humble enthusiasm broke Ming Jiayue’s usual social habits, making her feel a bit restless.

Remembering the mission progress was only 2% away from the system’s return, Ming Jiayue hummed and spoke softly.

“Thank you. It’s very beautiful.”

It felt as if a wind had blown through her body; Ji Shuangci felt as though she were floating. Her throat bobbed as she took the brooch out, emboldened.

“President Ming, let me pin it on for you to try.”

Ming Jiayue saw the mission progress add another 1%. She didn’t refuse, letting Ji Shuangci proceed.

Ming Jiayue was draped in a suit jacket with a thin, soft texture. Ji Shuangci held her breath, her movements careful. Even the slight contact between her fingertips and the fabric made her heart tighten.

The wind blew, tangling their long hair together.

Zhou An’an, having seen the livestream on a classmate’s phone, arrived in a frantic rush. Upon arriving, she saw this intimate and ambiguous scene between Ming Jiayue and Ji Shuangci.

!!!

Surprise, grievance, and a sense of fury that a loved one was being coveted and offended.

Ming Jiayue had indulged Zhou An’an so much that it had given her the illusion that Ming Jiayue belonged to her alone.

Zhou An’an got out of the car without hesitation and headed straight for Ming Jiayue.

Just as Ji Shuangci finished pinning the brooch, Zhou An’an appeared and squeezed between them with a dominant and intimate posture.

“Auntie Ming!”

Zhou An’an hugged Ming Jiayue tightly, her cheek rubbing against her shoulder. Her voice was soft and sweet, sounding both aggrieved and spoiled.

Ming Jiayue looked at her face, which was flushed from running, and instinctively patted her back.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in class? Why did you come here?”

“I don’t have class this afternoon. I missed you, so I came.”

Zhou An’an knew she wasn’t as beautiful as Ji Shuangci. Toward this friend she hadn’t seen in two years, Zhou An’an showed an intuitive wariness. She was already clingy, and now she refused to be separated for even a second, tightly linking her arm with Ming Jiayue’s as if staking a claim.

Ming Jiayue looked down at her. Zhou An’an wasn’t as steady as Ji Shuangci; her joys and sorrows were written all over her face. With her high ponytail and healthy complexion, she was full of youthful energy.

A hint of genuine laughter appeared in Ming Jiayue’s eyes as she soothingly rubbed the top of Zhou An’an’s head.

“I’m finished here. Let’s go back together.”

“Mhm.”

From the moment Zhou An’an appeared, all of Ming Jiayue’s attention seemed to be stolen by her.

Ji Shuangci watched them, a shadow falling over her eyes. But in an instant, she tucked away all the emotions that shouldn’t be there and curled her lips up.

“An’an, I was just about to hitch a ride in President Ming’s car.”

Ji Shuangci smiled politely. The boundaries that had begun to blur became distinct once again.

Zhou An’an gave a mopey response. With a quick turn of her thoughts, she used the excuse that she hadn’t brought a driver and had also driven there, asking Ji Shuangci to help drive her car back to the city.

In the end, Ming Jiayue and Zhou An’an were in one car, while Ji Shuangci and her assistant were in the other.

Zhou An’an clung to Ming Jiayue, refusing to let go. Ming Jiayue teased her by grazing her nose before getting into the driver’s seat; Zhou An’an decisively followed and sat in the passenger seat.

Ji Shuangci stood behind them, her gaze heavy as she watched them, before getting into her car without a word.

The little assistant kept her head down. This celebrity she worked for usually had no ego and was generous, appearing very socially adept, but on the rare occasions she turned cold, even Manager Huo didn’t dare cross her.

The assistant tried to minimize her presence, not making a single unnecessary sound.

Since the assistant didn’t have her license yet, Ji Shuangci drove, following closely behind Ming Jiayue’s car the entire way.

It wasn’t until they entered the city and Ji Shuangci’s expression calmed that the assistant mentioned the latest online rumors.

“President Ming’s identity has been dug up by netizens. Now many marketing accounts are starting to spread rumors saying President Ming is your ‘sugar daddy’ benefactor. Do we need the PR department to step in and control the comments?”

Ji Shuangci was silent for a long while, her voice sounding a bit airy.

“No need. If it’s necessary, President Ming’s side will handle it.”

At the same time, Huo Linxi sent several business collaboration offers from brands; one was a high-profile national brand.

After hearing the report, Ji Shuangci didn’t even twitch an eyebrow. Her face was as calm as if she had predicted this long ago.

The assistant let out a “ya” of realization, looking at Ji Shuangci with a mix of admiration and worry.

“Sister Shuang, did you know this would happen? But… won’t President Ming be angry?”

Even if she is angry, as long as I can cause her emotions to fluctuate because of me, I’m happy, Ji Shuangci thought. But she likely wouldn’t be.

The sky grew dark. Dark clouds gathered in the distance, and bean-sized raindrops smashed against the windshield. Outside, the sound of the wind whipping through the trees could be heard.

Ji Shuangci took a deep breath. Her face, half-submerged in shadows, quietly revealed a trace of ambitious determination. She whispered a sentence that seemed entirely unrelated:

“A good wind borrows strength to send me up to the azure clouds.”

She was very far from Ming Jiayue’s circle, but she excelled at waiting and enduring. As long as there was an opportunity, she would seize it by any means and at any cost.

Zhou An’an’s mind was currently no calmer than Ji Shuangci’s.

The dim yellow car lights were on. Throughout the drive, the image of Ji Shuangci pinning Ming Jiayue down and kissing her kept circling in Zhou An’an’s mind. She had so many questions, yet she didn’t know how to ask.

She fidgeted the entire way, unable to sit still.

Zhou An’an propped her chin on her hand, her gaze uncontrollably drifting to Ming Jiayue’s lips. She couldn’t tell if it was because of the rain, but Ming Jiayue’s lips looked more moist than usual.

It felt as if the rain wasn’t hitting the car window, but rolling onto those red lips.

Zhou An’an suddenly felt restless. Wild thoughts pushed into her mind, and her mouth felt dry.

Ming Jiayue’s marriage to her father was purely a formal arrangement; they saw each other at most three times a year, and their most intimate act was a handshake.

After they divorce, will I have a chance?

Ming Jiayue’s lips were beautifully shaped and pale in color. What would it feel like to kiss them?

Thinking of this, Zhou An’an felt panicked and confused, with a touch of resentment. How could Ji Shuangci kiss her?