Chapter 21: Transmigrated as the Abusive Story’s Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character
Panic.
What do you do when you’re suddenly transported under the desk of a powerful CEO?
Panic.
There’s a meeting going on, people everywhere, no way out. What do you do?
Panic, panic, panic!
Xin Yao huddled at Pei Yu’s feet, clutching her knees, staring up at the CEO’s bewildered expression, on the verge of tears.
Her sudden teleportation was definitely related to the mating mark.
But last time, Pei Yu had been the one transported to her. Why was it the other way around this time? What was going on?!
She couldn’t leave, couldn’t move, stuck in this humiliating position. It was mortifying!
And it was almost 9 pm, and Pei Corp was still in a meeting. Pei Yu was a workaholic!
As Xin Yao’s embarrassment grew, her legs started to go numb.
She tried to shift her position, but the space was too cramped, and she was too close to Pei Yu. Her foot accidentally brushed against Pei Yu’s elegant high heel.
The contact was light, but it made Xin Yao’s heart leap into her throat. She froze, afraid of disturbing the meeting.
Her already awkward situation became even more unbearable.
She clutched her knees tighter, her lips pressing together, her head bowing in shame.
Had she caused trouble for Pei Yu?
Just as she was wallowing in embarrassment, she felt a shadow fall over her, and heard a faint rustling sound.
A warm hand gently stroked her hair.
The touch was light and comforting, making Xin Yao’s head bob slightly.
She looked up to see a slender, jade-like hand reaching down from above, its owner none other than President Pei, who had somehow managed to discreetly reach under the desk to comfort her.
Xin Yao instinctively reached up and touched her own hair, a small smile playing on her lips.
It felt like being comforted by a parent.
As Xin Yao touched her hair, Pei Yu was also looking down at her.
The small, soft figure huddled at her feet, dressed in a warm white sweater, resembled a little white rabbit.
Predators usually saw small, soft creatures as prey, but looking at Miss Xin, Pei Yu found her endearing.
She seemed to have been staring for a while, because the little rabbit at her feet looked up, tilting its head slightly, then smiled at her, her eyes bright and sparkling.
Miss Xin’s eyes were beautiful, their black and white contrast as clear as mercury, reflecting the light like tiny stars.
Pei Yu’s heart skipped a beat.
For a moment, the world seemed to fall silent, her gaze fixed on Xin Yao’s smiling eyes.
After a brief pause, Pei Yu regained her composure, looking up and continuing the meeting as if nothing had happened.
But even as she listened to the reports, Xin Yao’s smile lingered in her mind.
If everyone had their own world within their heart, then Pei Yu’s world was a barren wasteland shrouded in darkness.
But for a fleeting moment, that darkness had been illuminated by a ray of light.
If the sunlight continued to shine upon her, perhaps even this barren land would bloom one day.
As Pei Yu sat there, recalling Xin Yao’s radiant smile, her expression softened, her eyes warming.
A faint smile touched her lips.
It was a rare sight. She was usually so aloof and expressionless.
But now, her lips curved upwards, her eyes shining, like sunlight falling on a snow-capped mountain, illuminating a delicate snow lotus, making the entire world sparkle.
But she was always so serious, so self-conscious about her appearance, that no one dared to look at her directly during meetings.
Only her assistant, seated nearby, caught a glimpse of her smile, momentarily captivated.
But it was fleeting, and President Pei’s imposing aura quickly brought them back to reality.
Then, a wave of shock washed over them.
She smiled! President Pei smiled!
They had always thought she was a robot, devoid of emotions. So, she could smile!
As a long-time employee of Pei Corp, they were deeply moved.
It was like witnessing a miracle.
But why had President Pei suddenly smiled?
Pei Yu, of course, noticed her assistant’s reaction.
It was a trivial matter, not worth her attention.
What mattered was that Xin Yao was here, cramped and uncomfortable under her desk. She needed to end the meeting immediately.
Just as Pei Yu was about to adjourn the meeting, she felt a tug on her pants leg.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and she looked down.
In the warm light, Miss Xin, huddled at her feet, peeked out from beneath the desk, her finger pressed against her lips, her voice a soft whisper.
“President Pei, I’m a little thirsty. Do you have anything to drink?”
Pei Yu suddenly wanted to pat her head, but she was afraid that the little meerkat would retreat back into its hiding place.
So, she simply curled her fingers slightly, then, maintaining her composure, focused on fulfilling Xin Yao’s request.
Her coffee cup was within reach. She picked it up and, discreetly, without drawing attention, lowered it under the desk.
The weight in her hand vanished as the cup was carefully taken.
Pei Yu didn’t look down, retracting her hand and placing it elegantly on her lap, her gaze fixed on the presentation, seemingly listening attentively.
But her mind was elsewhere, her gaze drifting towards the colorful array of snacks on the table.
While Pei Yu was serious, Pei Corp wasn’t, and the atmosphere during meetings wasn’t overly strict.
There were always snacks on the table to keep everyone awake and focused.
The colorful assortment had never caught Pei Yu’s attention before.
But today, thinking of the person under her desk, she reached for a chocolate bar.
The movement was more noticeable, and her assistant, seeing it, stared at her in surprise.
Pei Yu didn’t turn her head, simply glancing at them sideways, her cold stare making the assistant quickly lower their gaze.
With no one else watching, Pei Yu held the chocolate bar in her hand, rubbing it gently.
Then, she reached under the desk and offered it to Xin Yao.
Would Miss Xin accept it?
The answer was yes.
The chocolate bar quickly disappeared from her hand, snatched by the little creature beneath the desk.
Along with the chocolate bar came a silent thank you.
A fingertip brushed against her palm, a light, ticklish touch.
Pei Yu’s fingers twitched before she slowly retracted her hand.
She leaned back in her chair, a faint smile playing on her lips.
She had unexpectedly discovered the joy of feeding a small creature.
She no longer had any interest in the meeting.
As her subordinate finished presenting the financial report, Pei Yu interrupted.
“That’s all for tonight. Everyone must be tired. Go home and rest. Leave the remaining reports on my desk tomorrow. Meeting adjourned.”
The sudden announcement surprised everyone.
President Pei always insisted on thoroughness, resolving every issue before adjourning a meeting.
What had happened today?
But no one dared to question her decision. They obediently filed out of the room.
As the last person left, closing the door behind them, Pei Yu was alone in the large conference room.
The bright lights illuminated the room, the silence almost deafening.
Pei Yu stood up and finally turned her attention to Xin Yao.
She knelt down beside the desk, her gaze softening as she looked at the small figure huddled in the corner.
“I apologize for the wait. It was difficult to interrupt the meeting.”
However, Miss Xin, who had been happily munching on snacks just moments ago, didn’t look up. She didn’t emerge from under the desk.
Instead, she curled up even tighter, burying her face in her knees, remaining silent.
“Xin Yao?” Pei Yu called softly.
Still no response.
Pei Yu leaned closer, trying to get a better look. She could almost see the fine hairs on Xin Yao’s face.
And she saw the tears welling up in Xin Yao’s eyes.
Was she crying?
Pei Yu was taken aback.
“What’s wrong? Did I take too long to end the meeting? Did you not like the snacks? Are you upset?”
She had seemed fine just moments ago.
Humans were so strange, their emotions so baffling.
And Miss Xin, with her unpredictable nature, was the most perplexing of all.
But Pei Yu wanted to understand her.
Xin Yao, oblivious to Pei Yu’s thoughts, continued to cry, her sobs growing louder as Pei Yu watched.
The close proximity and Pei Yu’s concerned gaze only intensified her embarrassment, making her cry even harder.
“I…wuwuwu… I…”
“My legs are numb! It hurts!”
Was that it?
Pei Yu instinctively reached out to massage Xin Yao’s legs.
But as her fingers brushed against Xin Yao’s ankle, she quickly pulled her legs away.
“Don’t… don’t touch me, hic.”
“It’s just… so embarrassing! wuuu”
“It’s bad enough that I’m hiding under your desk in the middle of the night, but I even asked you for food!”
“How could I? And I ate it all! All of it! wuwuwu! And now I’m crying! It’s so humiliating!”
Pei Yu looked down at the empty coffee cup and the discarded chocolate bar wrapper.
Then, she looked up at Xin Yao, her eyes softening.
She was truly embarrassed, crying her heart out.
Her eyelashes fluttered, tears streaming down her face, her cheeks flushed. She looked like a sweet, ripe peach.
Pei Yu leaned closer, kneeling down beside her.
She gently stroked Xin Yao’s cheek, then softly kissed her.
“Mmm?”
Xin Yao’s sobs subsided, her eyelashes fluttering in surprise.
Pei Yu kissed her again, and again.
It was a gentle, tender kiss, unlike her usual possessive, almost devouring kisses.
It was a slow, lingering exploration of each other’s lips, a shared moment of intimacy.
Xin Yao gradually relaxed, even returning the kiss.
When Pei Yu pulled away, she instinctively leaned forward, almost kissing her again before stopping abruptly, her mind clearing.
Pei Yu was so close that Xin Yao could see every detail of her face: her long, white eyelashes, the sparkle in her ruby-red eyes, the way the light reflected off her skin.
In the cramped space beneath the desk, the atmosphere thick with unspoken intimacy, Pei Yu gently wiped away Xin Yao’s tears, her gaze soft and warm.
“It’s not embarrassing.”
“It’s cute.”
Pei Yu drove Xin Yao home.
Sitting in the passenger seat, wrapped in Pei Yu’s coat, her eyes still slightly red from crying, Xin Yao was too embarrassed to look at Pei Yu, her cheeks burning.
The only consolation was that they had figured out how the mating mark worked.
Touching it, even through clothing, could activate it.
But last time, Xin Yao had touched the snake’s head.
This time, judging by her position under the desk, she must have touched its tail.
So, it was a two-way summoning.
Touching the head summoned Pei Yu to Xin Yao.
Touching the tail transported Xin Yao to Pei Yu.
And vice versa.
The discovery, however, had been a bit too startling.
The more Xin Yao thought about her embarrassing crying fit, the more embarrassed she became.
Fortunately, Pei Yu was considerate. Sensing Xin Yao’s discomfort, she simply dropped her off at her apartment and left without even coming inside.
She could be blunt and impulsive, but she could also be incredibly gentle and thoughtful.
Xin Yao, wrapped in Pei Yu’s coat, closed the door behind her, leaving the lights off as she leaned against the door, her hands covering her face.
In the quiet darkness, she replayed the events of the evening in her mind.
Pei Yu’s beautiful eyes, and that soft, tender kiss.
After that night, they somehow started contacting each other more often.
They had both been busy before.
Xin Yao with her mission and the company, and Pei Yu, naturally reserved, rarely initiated contact.
So, when Xin Yao received a message from Pei Yu inviting her to dinner that afternoon, she was surprised.
She had just finished a meeting and was sitting in her office.
She considered the invitation, then replied.
[Okay.]
Not long after she put down her phone, another surprise came.
With the end of the year approaching, the company was busy, and they were looking for a second secretary for Xin Yao.
The initial interviews had been completed, and only three candidates remained.
Two experienced women, and a recent university graduate.
Xin Yao was reviewing their resumes when she paused, her gaze fixed on the last candidate.
She set aside the other two resumes and focused on the last one.
The candidate’s name was Liu Yue, the recent graduate.
She was beautiful, with a pure, innocent look, her smile in the photo radiant and youthful, the kind of girl who would be someone’s secret crush in school.
Xin Yao’s interest in her, however, wasn’t solely based on her appearance.
Liu Yue was the woman who, in the original story, had married Xu Qing after Xin Wanyin’s death.
Xin Yao set down the resume, leaning back in her chair, lost in thought.
So, Liu Yue had applied to Xin Corp before. She must have been rejected.
Or perhaps it was just a plot device by the incompetent author. Liu Yue had been largely absent from the story until much later.
Xin Yao hadn’t expected to encounter her.
Now…
Her sudden appearance, while unexpected, gave Xin Yao an idea.
Perhaps this was an opportunity to drive a wedge between Xin Wanyin and Xu Qing.
After careful consideration, Xin Yao decided to meet Liu Yue.
So, the final interview for the secretary position was scheduled for that afternoon, in Xin Yao’s office, conducted by Xin Yao herself.
The first two candidates were excellent, their qualifications impressive.
But when the last candidate entered the room, Xin Yao couldn’t help but be impressed.
Not just by her beauty, but by her infectious, youthful energy.
It was Liu Yue.
Despite her nervousness, Liu Yue handled the interview well, her answers confident and articulate.
Unfortunately, as a recent graduate, her lack of experience was evident, putting her at a disadvantage compared to the other two candidates.
Perhaps that was why she had been rejected in her previous life.
But this time…
Her unexpected appearance disrupted Xin Yao’s plans, but it also presented a new opportunity.
However, Xin Yao knew nothing about Liu Yue. She was an unknown factor, and Xin Yao wasn’t sure if she could be manipulated.
Regardless of her role in the plan, understanding Liu Yue’s character was now crucial.
“President Xin? President Xin?”
Xin Yao looked up.
To observe Liu Yue more closely, she had conducted the interview alone, without any other staff present.
After the interview, she had become lost in thought, staring at Liu Yue.
Liu Yue’s voice brought her back to reality.
Her question seemed to put Liu Yue at ease. She smiled at Xin Yao, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
“You were staring at me, President Xin. Is there something on my face?”
Xin Yao shook her head politely. “I apologize. I was lost in thought.”
“I understand,” Liu Yue nodded eagerly. “You work so hard, President Xin. Have some tea.”
Then, whether out of a desire to please her potential boss or some other motive, Liu Yue stood up and poured Xin Yao a cup of tea.
It seemed impolite to refuse such a small gesture.
Xin Yao reached for the cup.
But the tea was scalding hot, burning her fingers as she touched the cup. She quickly pulled her hand back with a hiss, her fingertips red and stinging.
The incident seemed to alarm Liu Yue. She jumped up, her voice filled with concern.
“President Xin, are you alright?!”
She grabbed Xin Yao’s hand, her eyes wide with worry, on the verge of tears.
Was she overly clumsy, or simply naive?
Xin Yao, her hand captured in Liu Yue’s, raised an eyebrow.
The original story hadn’t provided much detail about Liu Yue’s personality. From this brief interaction, she seemed genuinely innocent and kind.
But something felt off.
Especially when Liu Yue, after her initial outburst of concern, lowered her head and started blowing on Xin Yao’s fingers.
The gesture, while seemingly caring, felt strangely deliberate.
Xin Yao’s eyes flickered, a realization dawning on her.
Ah.
Was this the true nature of the “first love”? Perhaps she wasn’t as innocent as she seemed.
In the original story, had Xu Qing chosen Liu Yue, or had Liu Yue chosen Xu Qing?
Regardless of what had happened in the past, what was Liu Yue’s motive now?
Did she simply want the job, or was there something else?
But she was a woman. Wouldn’t that be awkward, considering Xu Qing’s relationship with Xin Wanyin?
Or was she truly just a kind-hearted person, and Xin Yao was overthinking it?
As her mind raced, Xin Yao quickly pulled her hand away.
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
But Liu Yue, her eyes still filled with concern, grabbed her hand again.
“I’m so sorry, President Xin. It’s all my fault.”
As they tugged at each other’s hands, Xin Yao suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.
Goosebumps erupted on her arms, and she shivered.
She slowly turned her head towards the window.
Standing outside, her white hair and red eyes glowing in the dim light, her beautiful face impassive, was Pei Yu, watching Liu Yue holding Xin Yao’s hand.
The glass was one-way. Xin Yao could see out, but no one outside could see in.
But Pei Yu was a demon. A simple mirror couldn’t fool her.
She had been standing there silently, Xin Yao didn’t know for how long, observing them.
Xin Yao glanced at the clock and realized it was almost time for dinner with Pei Yu.
Pei Yu had said she would pick her up, so she must have arrived early.
Seeing that Xin Yao had finally noticed her, and having received a silent acknowledgment from Xin Yao’s gaze, Pei Yu opened the door and walked in.
The click of her heels on the floor echoed through the room, each step measured and precise, like a drumbeat against Xin Yao’s heart.
As Pei Yu approached, Xin Yao’s heart leaped into her throat.
Liu Yue, sensing the newcomer’s imposing aura, released Xin Yao’s hand and looked up.
The woman was so tall that Liu Yue had to crane her neck to see her face.
She was momentarily speechless, her mind struggling to process the other woman’s breathtaking beauty.
She felt a sudden urge to describe her with every beautiful word she knew, to do justice to her stunning appearance.
But the woman’s demeanor was unsettling.
Almost frightening.
Because of her height, she looked down at everyone.
Her gaze, cold and indifferent, made Liu Yue feel like she was being scrutinized like a piece of trash.
The look sent a shiver down her spine.
But Pei Yu only glanced at her before turning her attention to Xin Yao, her voice cool and calm, her aura commanding.
“And who is this, Miss Xin?”
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