Tonight's embarrassment wasn't actually aimed at the female lead—it was purely because Ji Qiuge had gone up to Fu Yunjing herself and gotten humiliated by him.
The class bell rang, and the Plot began.
Ji Qiuge felt an irresistible force controlling her as she stood up and walked over to Su Xiaoxiao, who was currently being teased and mocked by the crowd.
"What are you all doing, ganging up on the new classmate like this!" Ji Qiuge blurted out against her will.
Even though her mind had been liberated, it was useless.
She could only listen to herself say: "Classmate Su Xiaoxiao, there happens to be a banquet tonight—would you like to come? Everyone can get to know you."
The noble scions nearby exchanged knowing glances, understanding Ji Qiuge's intent.
The Soul-Shard Atomic Bomb Squad went online immediately.
"Yeah, we're not familiar with you. After all, we're of different standings—we should interact more." Chen Yunmei said with sarcasm dripping from her voice.
Su Xiaoxiao pressed her lips together, feeling deeply uncomfortable, but still nodded.
The Main Plot segment came to an end, and Ji Qiuge regained control of her body, yet her mood was even worse.
So the mission had to be done.
But the problem was…
Those lines and actions were way too embarrassing!
Ji Qiuge went straight home—her part wouldn't start again until tonight anyway.
Back home, Ji Qiuge pulled out that video with immense difficulty.
Death by humiliation, or death by atomic bomb?
As things stood, if she didn't change the Plot, she'd end up making a fool of herself like some brainless idiot.
Either way, she'd be humiliated—might as well take control of the humiliation herself!
Having thought it through, Ji Qiuge began to study.
But her pupils dilated in shock when she discovered the second problem.
"The actions in the video have matching lines too—do I have to shout those as well?"
[You may choose not to, but based on experience, that counts as insufficient conviction, and the mission will likely fail.]
Ji Qiuge: "…"
Just say there's no choice and be done with it.
"If I follow the actions in the video, can I transform like her?" Ji Qiuge asked after watching it, still finding it utterly mortifying.
[What are you thinking? This isn't a world of magic.]
Exactly—only in a world of magic would someone celebrate a birthday with an atomic bomb!!
Ji Qiuge practiced for nearly half a day.
She'd actually mastered it by now, able to overcome the sense of shame in the privacy of her own room.
When she heard someone calling for her, she realized it was almost her turn to take the stage.
Tonight's banquet was the perfect opportunity—there would be just over 200 people attending.
And tonight was destined to be a public humiliation.
Ji Qiuge closed her eyes in anguish, then steeled herself and decided to get a look that would stun everyone to death.
"Wait ten minutes for me!" She replied in the group chat, then changed the group name from [The Best of Us] to [Soul Bullet].
Xiao Lin'er: "?"
Chen Yunmei: "??"
Sun Ruoruo: "??"
Ji Qiuge: "How do you like the new name?"
The three: "…"
Xiao Lin'er: "Who pissed you off?"
Chen Yunmei: "Miss Ji, we haven't offended you, have we?"
Sun Ruoruo: "Who exactly is this insulting?"
Ji Qiuge: "It's not you guys. Anyway, this is the name and it stays! I'm getting on the helicopter now—talk later!"
Turning off her phone, Ji Qiuge walked out, satisfied.
The reason they had to take a helicopter to go out was because this world could be said to have only one country—it was vast, though there were still a few scattered small nations, insignificant ones.
Anyway, this world belonged to the male and female leads. What could be more absurd than that?
The Soul-Bullet Sisters were already waiting for her at their agreed meeting spot.
This was their usual haunt. A week ago, they had already selected their haute couture gowns for tonight's banquet.
Ji Qiuge wore a strapless mermaid gown in a shade of red, adorned with flecks of gilded gold that swayed and shimmered with every step.
As a vicious female supporting character, Ji Qiuge seemed naturally endowed with a hint of seductive charm. Her fox-like apricot eyes seemed to brim with spring water when she looked at people. It was only because she was still nineteen this year that this allure remained somewhat green, yet it carried an extra touch of liveliness.
But she often held her chin high with arrogance, like a haughty rose whose thorns could prick anyone around her at any moment—yet no one could deny her beauty.
Especially with today's look she had put together.
Ji Qiuge's hair was swept up, with a rose hairpin tucked into it. Her necklace and bracelet formed a matching set styled as entwined gilded roses.
A flicker of envy and jealousy passed through the eyes of the Soul-Bullet Sisterhood.
Ji Qiuge was quite pleased with herself too.
Even if she was about to die of embarrassment, she would die looking good!
…
The banquet began.
Standing before the banquet hall, Ji Qiuge took a deep breath and strode forward with the tragic grandeur of a warrior heading into certain doom.
The Soul-Bullet Sisterhood was deeply shaken and hurried to keep pace.
Ji Qiuge swept her gaze quickly across the room.
She always preferred to make a grand entrance last, and by now, nearly everyone had arrived.
As she entered, many eyes held admiration.
"No wonder she's the eldest miss of the Ji family—she's truly stunning!"
Ji Qiuge heard them. She thought to herself, I hope everyone can still praise me like this after tonight.
The classmate hosting the banquet had already spoken up.
"Since everyone's here now, we can get started."
"Are we sure?" Chen Yunmei spoke up. "Isn't there one more? How come we haven't seen the new classmate?"
Ji Qiuge: "…"
Oh, right, there was still a bit of Plot to get through here.
After Chen Yunmei's words fell, snickers broke out all around.
"She wouldn't dare!"
"What right does she have? Getting into the school at all was already the luckiest stroke of fortune imaginable!"
Ji Qiuge's eyes flickered. She remembered that the female lead had arrived after the dance had begun.
Back then, she had just finished a dance, basking in the spotlight of everyone's attention. When she saw the female lead, she told her to come to the center and dance one too, successfully humiliating her.
After that came the male lead's entrance.
The Plot didn't explain why the male lead had suddenly shown up at the banquet that day. In any case, she was about to have her face slapped.
Thinking of this, the Plot took control of her voice just then: "Forget about her. Let's just start. How about I do the opening dance?"
Everyone naturally agreed.
The force of the Plot dissipated. She knew that at this point in the Plot, it was describing the female lead rushing over—so… this might be her best chance!
With complicated feelings, Ji Qiuge walked to the front of the stage.
The host asked her, "Are you dancing a solo?"
Ji Qiuge paused in thought for a moment, then finally spoke with solemn gravity.
"Yes. I'll perform something new you've never seen before—I just learned it."
The crowd suddenly perked up with interest.
"Sister Ji, whatever you dance is the most beautiful!" one of her fans had already spoken up.
Ji Qiuge was beautiful and highly popular, both online and on campus—she had her fans.
Of course, all of this was also in service of the final humiliation—how else could everyone witness the overbearing CEO defending the pure white lotus and slapping the face of the vicious female supporting character?
Right now, these fans were still supporting her.
"That's right, Sister Ji standing there is a painting in itself!"
Ji Qiuge smiled gracefully at him.
"You, very good!"
She hoped that after this incident, he would maintain this attitude and continue being her fan.
That young man probably hadn't expected Ji Qiuge to speak to him, and immediately flushed red with excitement, saying, "Sister Ji, don't worry! In my heart, you'll always be the most beautiful!"
Ji Qiuge didn't pay him any more attention. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
When she opened them again, her expression had turned exceptionally serious, and the aura around her had deepened.
The crowd was stunned and subconsciously grew solemn along with her.
What was Ji Qiuge going to perform today? Why did she look so different?
As everyone held their breath in rapt attention, Ji Qiuge's hand lightly swept across her abdomen.
Her crisp, melodious voice—carrying a maiden's coy innocence and a hint of unique charm—resounded throughout the venue.
"Huo Daxiong, let me dulcify you! Shimmering Dance Art, Dulcify Celestial Maiden, transform!"