The Vicious Supporting Character Must Flirt or Die [Transmigration into a Book] - Chapter 22

Jing Ying’s gaze burned like molten lava, on the verge of erupting.

Jiang Yuan felt a wave of pressure descend on her. It wrapped around her entire body until she could barely move.

The temperature inside the car seemed to be rising, though she couldn’t tell why. Her heart thudded wildly, her lips felt dry, and her cheeks were flushed with heat.

Unconsciously, she licked her lips, the tip of her pink tongue just barely visible. As it swept over her soft lips, a faint shimmer appeared.

The fire in Jing Ying’s eyes grew stronger. She reached over and unfastened her seatbelt, then slowly turned and leaned closer.

Jiang Yuan had no idea what to do with her hands. Her wide eyes locked onto Jing Ying’s face as she drew nearer and nearer.

Ten centimeters.

Eight centimeters.

Five centimeters.

Three centimeters.

One centimeter.

Jiang Yuan shut her eyes tightly.

But the kiss she was bracing for never came.

When she opened her eyes again, she saw Jing Ying leaning across her. She had unbuckled the seatbelt on Jiang Yuan’s side and re-fastened it.

Jiang Yuan blinked. ???

After securing the belt, Jing Ying sat back in her seat. As she passed by, her lips brushed lightly against a strand of Jiang Yuan’s hair.

Jiang Yuan’s face turned bright red.

It wasn’t until Jing Ying buckled herself in and started the engine that Jiang Yuan finally caught her breath.

She took a deep inhale, trying to steady her racing heart, but her face still burned hot.

Jing Ying’s expression remained calm. Without glancing at her, she explained casually, “Your seatbelt didn’t seem fastened properly just now, so I redid it.”

Jiang Yuan stared blankly for a second, then nodded. “Oh… oh.”

She tugged at the belt to make sure it was secure, then gave a nervous smile. “You really are thoughtful.”

Jing Ying’s eyes flicked to the side. She let out a quiet “mm” through her nose.

But Jiang Yuan didn’t see the way Jing Ying gripped the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles had turned white.

The car fell into an eerie silence, yet the air inside continued to grow hotter.

Jiang Yuan’s mind felt like a haze. She had no idea what she’d just been imagining. There had been a strange, fleeting tension. As if something was about to happen.

But in the end, nothing had.

It had come and gone so fast that she hadn’t been able to catch it.

She rubbed her nose awkwardly.

After a while, as the car drove on, Jiang Yuan finally regained her composure.

Then she suddenly remembered that she had promised Jing Ying a surprise.

She quickly said, “Wait, take the next left. We need to change course.”

“Hm?”

Jing Ying’s expression returned to its usual calm as she glanced over. “Is there something you need to do?”

“Yes. Didn’t I say earlier that I had a surprise for you? There’s still time, so let’s head there first.”

Jiang Yuan smiled, her face as radiant as a flower. Her pink lips stood out vividly.

The moment Jing Ying saw that smile, the look in her eyes deepened again. She nodded.

“Alright.”

At the next intersection, she turned as instructed and followed Jiang Yuan’s directions to a 4S dealership.

When Jing Ying saw where they were, she blinked. “Why are we here?”

Jiang Yuan gave her a cheeky wink. “You’ll find out soon enough. Come on.”

She leaned closer as if to take Jing Ying’s hand, but midway through, she hesitated and pulled back. Instead, she led the way into the showroom.

The staff hadn’t closed up for the night yet. When they saw Jiang Yuan, the manager greeted her respectfully. “Miss Jiang.”

“Is everything I asked for ready?”

“All set. Please come this way.”

Jiang Yuan smiled and turned back to glance at Jing Ying, then led her forward.

They walked into a spacious outdoor parking lot. Not a single car was in sight, except for one large object in the center, hidden beneath a bright red silk cloth.

At Jiang Yuan’s signal, the manager quietly stepped away, leaving the two women alone.

Jiang Yuan took Jing Ying’s hand and brought her closer.

She stood in front of the covered shape, grinned, and yanked the cloth off in one smooth motion.

The silk flew into the air.

Underneath it was a red Lotus sports car.

Its curves were sleek, its design striking.

It looked exactly like Jiang Yuan’s own car.

Not only that, the license plate was nearly identical, differing by only one letter. Jiang Yuan’s started with J, while Jing Ying’s began with Y.

Jiang Yuan turned and grinned sheepishly. “I mentioned in your contract that you’d be getting a car, remember? I forgot all about it until yesterday, so I rushed to have it ordered. I hope you like it.”

She beamed, looking more excited than someone receiving a gift, even though she was the one giving it.

Jing Ying pursed her lips.

After a long moment, she looked over at her and asked, “Why this model?”

Jiang Yuan flashed a mischievous smile. “Because I wanted you to have the same car as me. That way, when we go out together, the two of us can drive side by side. Super flashy, right? And…”

She crouched down and pointed at the license plate. “Did you notice? Mine starts with J and yours starts with Y. Together, that’s JY. It’s the abbreviation for both our names. It feels like we’re inseparable. Whether you drive mine or I drive yours, it won’t matter.”

She explained with such earnest enthusiasm, as if sharing a precious little secret that belonged only to the two of them.

But Jing Ying didn’t smile. Her expression shifted subtly, and Jiang Yuan froze.

She opened her mouth awkwardly. “You…”

Before she could finish, she was pulled into a tight embrace.

In one swift motion, Jing Ying pressed her back against the hood of the car and planted a kiss on the corner of her mouth.

Soft. Warm. Damp.

This was the second time.

But it felt nothing like the first.

That had been an accident.

This one was…

Jiang Yuan’s mind went completely blank. Her eyes widened. All thought vanished.

It felt like she had been lifted into the clouds. Her limbs were at a loss, her hands unsure where to go.

She could feel heat racing through her entire body. She didn’t even need a mirror to know her face must have turned red as a cherry.

She had no idea how long that kiss lasted.

It felt like an eternity.

Or maybe just a fleeting second.

When it ended, she was still in a daze.

She stared up at the woman in front of her.

Jing Ying had pulled back slightly, but her arms still formed a cage around her. Jiang Yuan leaned back against the red hood, her body held in place.

The crimson paint matched her flushed cheeks. The color, like her, was captivating.

Their faces were so close that their breaths tangled together.

Their eyes met.

After a long pause, Jing Ying finally said, “Thank you. I really like the gift.”

Like?

Like what?

Jiang Yuan touched her lips, trying to process the moment.

Oh.

She meant the gift. The car.

But the kiss just now…

Jiang Yuan’s cheeks turned pink again. “You… just now…”

“I got too excited,” Jing Ying said plainly. “I couldn’t help wanting to kiss and hug you.”

“But…”

Why kiss me on the hood of a car…

Jiang Yuan was confused, but she didn’t voice it.

Jing Ying remained composed. “Don’t friends and besties sometimes express joy with a little kiss? Haven’t you ever done that with your friends?”

Jiang Yuan blinked, caught off guard by her calm response. She nodded. “Ah… yeah, girlfriends do that…”

She stood there for a while, dazed, then suddenly caught on to something.

Wait.

Besties?

Was Jing Ying saying they were besties now?

Holy crap.

She had thought she would need to work forever to earn that title, that exclusive place in Jing Ying’s life. And now, it had just… happened?

But after the joy passed, something felt off.

She wasn’t… quite satisfied.

She rubbed the corner of her lips and stood up.

“Well, now that we’re officially besties, no need to be so formal. That kiss just now was just a friendly one, right? Just a peck. You got way too excited, haha… Gave me a shock and hit the corner of my mouth…”

She laughed it off awkwardly.

Jing Ying turned to her. “You’re my first friend. My only best friend. I got carried away earlier. If I didn’t express myself properly the first time, then I’ll do it again.”

With that, she reached out and, before Jiang Yuan could react, cupped the back of her head and kissed her again.

This time, it wasn’t the corner of her mouth.

Their lips met, fully and completely.

Soft and warm.

Even softer than jelly.

Jing Ying’s lips had a faint scent. Light and pleasant, completely intoxicating.

Realizing what she was thinking, Jiang Yuan’s entire face lit up.

Just as she thought about pushing Jing Ying away, the girl had already stepped back.

Jiang Yuan: …

Face crimson, she peeked up at Jing Ying, who looked perfectly calm, a faint smile on her lips. No other emotion showed, as if that kiss had been just another innocent expression of friendship.

And Jiang Yuan, who had clearly overthought it, now felt like her head was full of nonsense. Shame burned through her, and all she wanted was to bury her face.

She had picked up the car, but Jing Ying had no plans to drive it home just yet. She wanted to take Jiang Yuan along for the ride.

So Jiang Yuan had no choice but to ask the manager to deliver it to their villa the next day.

On the way back, Jiang Yuan glanced at the time. It was already ten in the evening.

She asked, a little concerned, “Are you still going to the hospital tonight?”

“No. My mom is probably asleep by now. Plus, I have work in the future, so I won’t be staying overnight at the hospital for a while. I’ve hired a live-in caretaker who sends me videos every day when I have time to check in.”

Jiang Yuan felt relieved when she heard that. Her heart fluttered just a little. “So that means you’re staying home tonight?”

Just the thought that the house wouldn’t be empty anymore and Jing Ying would be there too made her feel so much more at ease.

“Do you want me home that badly?”

Jing Ying smiled as she looked at her.

Jiang Yuan nodded. “Of course. You have no idea how lonely it was last night. That huge villa felt so hollow with just me in it. I couldn’t even sleep peacefully.”

Jing Ying paused for a moment when she heard that, then followed up, “Didn’t you say you weren’t going to sleep at home last night?”

“I didn’t want to disturb my third brother, that’s all.”

The truth was, she had wanted to come home, hoping to run into Jing Ying.

But she couldn’t bring herself to say that last part.

Still, Jing Ying laughed.

When they got home, Jing Ying parked the car while Jiang Yuan went ahead to open the door.

As Jing Ying stepped out of the garage and climbed a few steps, she saw Jiang Yuan struggling with the enormous vintage copper door. She was pulling at it while waving at her. “Come on, quick! Hurry up.”

Jing Ying couldn’t help but smile and walked up in a few strides. She reached out to push the door. “Why didn’t you go in? Just standing here tugging on it.”

“I wanted to go in with you.”

Jiang Yuan gave a sweet smile and blinked, full of mischief.

Jing Ying chuckled softly and couldn’t help but ruffle her hair.

Jiang Yuan shot her a glare. “Stop that. Don’t mess with the dog-head!”

Then she turned and went inside.

Jing Ying shook her head, sighing inwardly. Jiang Yuan, oh Jiang Yuan. Are you really trying to flirt me to death?

But not yet. She couldn’t let Jiang Yuan catch even a hint of what she was really feeling.

Once inside, the two chatted for a while, then went upstairs to shower and sleep.

The moment Jiang Yuan stepped into her room, she noticed the decorators had already finished remodeling it according to her instructions.

All those blindingly pink butterfly bows had been thrown out.

The pink wallpaper was gone too, replaced by sleek shades of black, white, and gray.

Every piece of pink furniture had been swapped out.

What met her eyes now was a consistent palette of muted tones.

Simple and elegant.

Jiang Yuan nodded with satisfaction.

“Didn’t expect them to be so fast. I called them this morning, and it was all changed by the afternoon.”

There were cameras in the house, and the renovation company was a high-end firm, so there was no need to worry about theft.

As for the old furniture, she hadn’t wasted it. It had all been sold second-hand to a furniture market and replaced with new pieces.

The dark wood bed was the one she had picked out with Jing Ying during their shopping trip.

Jiang Yuan ran her hand along it. Sure enough, it felt soft.

Feeling pleased, she headed to the bathroom for a shower.

When she came out, her hair was half-dry and hanging loosely over her shoulders. She had picked a sleeveless pink silk nightgown. It looked quite conservative, and the fabric was very comfortable.

She placed her allergy cream on the bedside table, turned on the TV, and sat down to apply it.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Jiang Yuan paused, put the cream down, and walked over to open it.

What she saw nearly made her eyeballs pop out.

She almost had a full-blown nosebleed on the spot.

Was that… Jing Ying?

Way too damn sexy!

A black silk camisole nightdress clung to her figure, exposing large swathes of flawless pale skin. Her collarbones were strikingly prominent, absolutely stunning.

Her face, bare of any makeup, was still slightly damp from the shower.

Long hair draped down over her shoulders. The contrast between the inky strands and her fair skin was dangerously seductive.

Her almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly, and a soft smile curved her lips.

“I came to check if you need help applying the ointment. It must be hard to do it yourself.”

“I…”

Jiang Yuan stood frozen, speechless.

Her wide eyes were locked on the woman in front of her, unable to look away.

“Not happy to see me?”

Jing Ying smiled at her.

That smile gave her already ethereal beauty a touch of something wicked.

Good grief!

Who would have thought that this cold, aloof, untouchable goddess could be so utterly alluring in a silk nightgown, smiling like that?

Jiang Yuan felt a rush of heat flood her brain.

She quickly stepped aside. “No, no. Come in.”

Jing Ying smiled, brushing past her with a graceful toss of her hair.

A light, enticing fragrance wafted past Jiang Yuan’s nose.

Her heart pounded in her chest.

She reached up and pressed a hand against it. This is going to be the death of me.

Jing Ying walked into the room and noticed the familiar dark wood bed. Her eyes lit up.

She pointed at it. “The bed arrived?”

Jiang Yuan snapped out of it and nodded like a fool. “Yes, it came this afternoon.”

“Mind if I sit?” Jing Ying asked with a smile.

Jiang Yuan nodded quickly. “Go ahead, please.”

She rushed over.

Jing Ying sat down and tested the mattress, remarking with subtle meaning, “It’s quite soft.”

Jiang Yuan agreed.

“Yes, very soft. And sturdy too. Doesn’t make a sound. I tested it earlier.”

“Oh? You tested it already?” Jing Ying replied, raising an eyebrow.

Under the warm lights, her face looked even more captivating.

Jiang Yuan couldn’t bring herself to look.

To her, Jing Ying had always been the epitome of cold detachment. But now, every move she made felt… well… breathtaking.

She nodded awkwardly.

“Yes, I tested it.”

“Good to know.”

Jing Ying seemed satisfied.

She picked up the ointment from the nightstand and patted the bed. “Come here. Let me check the rash on your neck.”

“…Okay.”

Jiang Yuan swallowed nervously and walked over slowly.

She sat down just barely, perching on the edge, keeping as much distance as she could. She didn’t dare sit any closer, afraid she might see something she shouldn’t.

“If you sit that far away, how am I supposed to help you apply this?”

Jing Ying frowned in mild frustration, then leaned in and sat beside Jiang Yuan, their thighs brushing together.

Their arms touched.

Where their skin met, it felt like fire.

Jiang Yuan couldn’t help but shiver.

She felt like she was losing her mind.

What was happening tonight?

Why did she keep having these strange thoughts?

And Jing Ying was a girl. Why was she thinking about her like this?

She took a deep breath and looked up. “I’m just not used to being this close to people. And… you’re wearing very little tonight.”

“It’s a nightgown. Isn’t it normal to wear less when you sleep? More comfortable this way. Better than sleeping in the nude, right?”

Jing Ying teased with a grin.

“………………”

Jiang Yuan’s face turned beet red.

Was this payback for her pestering Jing Ying about sleeping nude the other day?

Definitely!

Jing Ying glanced at her blushing face and decided she hadn’t teased her enough.

She added, ever so casually, “Besides, we’re both girls. What’s the big deal? I’ve already seen you naked, haven’t I?”

“!!! When?!”

Jiang Yuan froze.

Jing Ying raised an eyebrow. “Did you think you magically dressed yourself after falling asleep in my bathroom?”

Jiang Yuan: …

She wanted to drop dead on the spot.

“Alright, enough worrying. Come here.”

Jing Ying raised her hand and gently turned Jiang Yuan’s face toward her, angling it just right. She leaned in, holding a cotton swab, and squeezed a bit of the ointment onto it.

As soon as the cotton touched her neck, Jiang Yuan flinched instinctively, but Jing Ying’s other hand held her firmly in place.

Jing Ying applied the cream slowly, carefully.

The ointment spread evenly across the rash.

The two were sitting extremely close.

Especially Jing Ying.

Her breath fanned against Jiang Yuan’s neck, even drifting to her earlobes.

It made Jiang Yuan feel incredibly self-conscious.

To be honest, in her last life, Jiang Yuan had been a single woman for twenty-four years. No boyfriends, no girlfriends, and certainly no one this close.

For those twenty-four years, her entire focus had been on escaping poverty, making a life outside her backwater town, and becoming someone.

She had no time for love.

Even when she had suitors, she had turned them all down flat.

But now, with Jing Ying just applying cream, her heart was all over the place.

“Is… is it done yet?”

Jiang Yuan asked, visibly unsettled.

Jing Ying gave one last swipe with the cotton swab and nodded. “All done.”

Jiang Yuan turned her head at the sound and found herself looking straight into Jing Ying’s eyes.

Jing Ying was leaning in, her head tilted, sitting lower than her. From Jiang Yuan’s angle, she could clearly see the generous expanse of white skin on Jing Ying’s chest… and the full curves beneath.

Gulp.

Jiang Yuan swallowed hard.

Jing Ying seemed to notice her gaze.

Instead of acting embarrassed, she straightened up.

She smiled. “The cream’s applied. Get some sleep. I’ll head back now. Good night.”

“Good night.”

Jiang Yuan nodded slowly and got up to walk her to the door.

But just as they reached it, Jing Ying suddenly turned around and smiled at her.

“Don’t friends say goodnight with a goodnight kiss?”

Jiang Yuan: …