Chapter 5: Transmigrated as the Abused Cannon Fodder Female Supporting Character
Xin Yao sat stiffly, her slender fingers intertwined and gripping the fabric of her skirt.
Her knuckles were white from the force of her grip, the silk wrinkling beneath her fingers like a delicate, crushed flower.
As the illusory snake tail, persistently climbing her thigh, neared her fingertips, she recoiled as if burned.
The memories of that night were too vivid, the timing too inappropriate, the current situation too terrifying.
Xin Yao felt disoriented, unsure if she had even heard Pei Yu’s question.
It took a moment for her to collect herself.
“No, I just…” She glanced at Pei Yu, still the picture of cool elegance, then quickly averted her gaze, her voice dry. “I have a stomachache. I need to use the restroom.”
It was a lie, of course.
Not only was her stomach fine, her eyesight was impeccable. She could see every scale on the snow-white snake tail currently coiled around her thigh, its head tilted inquisitively.
She needed an excuse to leave.
As for why? No reason. Just…run.
She hoped that if she got far enough away, Pei Yu’s tail would loosen its grip and release her.
The question was, would President Pei let her go so easily?
Xin Yao looked at Pei Yu, her fingers nervously fidgeting with her skirt, hoping she wouldn’t object.
Her pleading gaze was so obvious that Pei Yu paused, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. “Do you need me to accompany you?”
Ah, the tail’s wrapped too tight. She’s subconsciously treating me like her possession.
In reality, we’re strangers who just met today. I don’t need her permission.
Xin Yao relaxed slightly, relieved, but still worried that Pei Yu might actually follow her. She quickly stood up.
“No, no, thank you.”
Her abrupt movement startled the snake tail, which lost its grip and fell with a thud against the armrest. It sounded painful.
Xin Yao winced but didn’t look back, hurrying away.
After a few steps, she felt a twinge of regret. Her reaction had been too stiff. Had Pei Yu noticed anything?
Fortunately, as she moved further away, the snake tail around her leg slowly loosened its grip.
The disoriented tail, which had been clinging to her so tightly, gradually uncoiled, sliding down her leg.
As the distance increased, it continued to slide down, barely holding on to her ankle.
Soon, it lost its grip on her ankle, only the very tip of its tail still clinging to her.
Even then, it refused to give up, stretching taut as the distance between them grew.
Finally, as Xin Yao continued to walk away, it lost its hold and fell to the floor with a slap, thrashing in frustration.
Xin Yao breathed a sigh of relief. President Pei wasn’t going to follow her to the restroom after all.
Though the tail had released her, the lingering sensation of its cold, smooth scales against her skin sent shivers down her spine.
It was a stark reminder of the other woman’s cold-blooded nature.
Xin Yao felt a sudden urge to look back.
She glanced over her shoulder. Pei Yu sat in the soft light filtering from the stage, her figure cloaked in an aura of mystery and aloofness.
With Xin Yao gone, she seemed to have relaxed her rigid posture, leaning back slightly.
One arm was draped elegantly over the back of the chair, her hand supporting her chin, half her face bathed in light, the other half in shadow.
Her massive white snake tail swayed languidly, its movements betraying a hint of impatience.
Amidst the opulent atmosphere of the auction, the interplay of light and shadow, the stark white tail and the beautiful woman’s face created a strangely captivating, almost surreal image.
Then, as the stage lights shifted, the tail that had been entwined around Xin Yao vanished, replaced by Pei Yu’s long, elegant legs.
As if the whole thing had been a figment of Xin Yao’s imagination.
But Xin Yao knew better.
Just then, the stage lights brightened, and Xin Yao saw that Pei Yu was watching her.
Had she been watching her all along? Or had she simply noticed Xin Yao’s gaze?
Their eyes met, their gazes locking in a silent exchange that seemed to stretch on forever.
It lasted only a second, but Xin Yao, caught staring once again, quickly averted her gaze and turned away, her back burning under the other woman’s scrutiny.
She clenched her hands, ignoring the lingering warmth, and quickened her pace.
Half an hour later, Xin Yao stood in the spacious, elegantly decorated restroom, washing her hands with cold water.
The icy water chilled her fingertips, but her mind was clear.
She looked at her reflection in the mirror, her beautiful face pale and composed, and thought.
She might have forgotten that night, but Pei Yu hadn’t.
Would Pei Yu think she was pretending not to recognize her? What would she be feeling – anger, annoyance, or indifference?
But Pei Yu had been the one to leave first. Hadn’t that implied she didn’t care?
Even if she did, Xin Yao had left a note.
Why was Pei Yu here tonight?
Surely not to…capture her?
Or did snakes have a strong possessive instinct towards those they had…claimed?
The more she thought about it, the less she wanted to leave the restroom.
She didn’t know how to face Miss Pei, not as the woman she had shared a night with, nor as the lamia she truly was.
But now, calmer, she realized that Pei Yu hadn’t shown any hostility, any intention to harm her.
In fact, for someone so aloof, Pei Yu had been remarkably kind.
Except for the…tail incident.
Xin Yao’s initial reaction had been pure fear. It was understandable. Waking up after a one-night stand to discover your partner was a snake, who was now sitting beside you, entwining herself around you… anyone would be terrified.
But she still didn’t want to go back.
She stalled, hoping to stay in the restroom until the gala ended. Then she could just say a quick goodbye and leave.
As she stood there, lost in thought, the unthinkable happened.
Click, click.
The distinct sound of high heels on the polished floor echoed from the previously silent hallway outside. The sound was crisp, elegant, and aloof.
Each step was evenly spaced, half a second apart, slow and deliberate, a clear indication of the person’s cold, methodical nature.
Xin Yao knew only one person who walked like that.
She looked towards the door, and, as expected, it was the very person she had been thinking about.
Pei Yu, in her flowing gown, entered the restroom.
The warm lighting illuminated her pale skin, making it seem almost translucent.
Her long, slender legs, visible through the high slit of her dress, were breathtakingly beautiful, her black high heels clicking softly against the floor.
As she looked up, her white eyelashes, tipped with gold in the soft light, softened the intensity of her captivating red eyes, giving her an ethereal, almost otherworldly appearance.
She was stunning, yet Xin Yao froze at the sight of her, her breath catching in her throat.
Miss Pei.
It’s Miss Pei.
She’s come for me.
The thought sent a shiver down her spine. Instinctively, she took a step back as Pei Yu approached.
But she was already standing close to the sink. Her back bumped against the cool porcelain, leaving her nowhere to retreat.
Perhaps it was Xin Yao’s wide-eyed expression, or perhaps her obvious attempt to escape, but Pei Yu paused, her eyes flickering.
Then, instead of stopping, she continued walking towards Xin Yao.
Step by step.
The click of her heels echoed in the quiet restroom.
Like a predator slowly closing in.
Xin Yao felt a surge of panic, but the cold porcelain against her back reminded her that there was nowhere to run.
She could only watch as the imposing President Pei approached, stopping mere inches away.
Pei Yu’s presence was overwhelming, her height adding to the sense of intimidation. She towered over Xin Yao.
Even without speaking, her gaze was enough to make Xin Yao’s knees weak.
Her hands, pressed against the sink behind her, turned white. She leaned back, wishing she could melt into the wall.
Pei Yu observed her reaction, her expression unreadable, her fingers toying with the hem of her dress.
Then, she slowly lowered her head, her face inches from Xin Yao’s, their eyes locking.
The distance between them was no longer just intimate; it was invasive.
Xin Yao could smell her faint, cool fragrance, see the captivating red of her eyes, feel the warmth of her breath against her skin.
She thought Pei Yu was going to kiss her.
But she didn’t.
“Miss Xin,” Pei Yu murmured, her voice low and husky, “you seem rather afraid of me.”
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