After a Contractual Romance with the Scumbag Movie Queen - Chapter 13

Qi Puzhi sent the message “Sweet?” thinking she had merely whispered a small interjection amidst the lively group discussion, expecting it to be quickly buried under the flood of messages.

After all, she had never proactively talked about work in the group chat before.

Unexpectedly, the team leader took her words seriously, pondered them deeply, and arrived at a conclusion that was poles apart from her intention.

Rubbing her temples, Qi Puzhi stared at the reply, [It will be sweeter], feeling a complicated mix of emotions.

She promptly called the team leader to clarify the misunderstanding.

This emotional turmoil lingered until the evening when Jiang Tian called.

At first, she didn’t want to answer.

Setting her phone aside, she lowered her head to focus on work on her tablet, but the other end of the line persisted relentlessly.

For a fleeting moment, she thought of how the kid had been cooped up inside for so long, cut off from the outside world. Then she recalled their last embrace and the way Jiang Tian had touched her chin while delivering her ranking speech.

Besides, this was just the show’s promotional tactic, Jiang Tian was innocent. In fact, Qi Puzhi could even tell that Jiang Tian had been trying to keep her distance.

Moreover, as an artist herself, she knew all too well how far fans’ interpretations could stray from reality.

In the end, she couldn’t help but soften.

So she answered the call.

“Jie jie,” Jiang Tian’s voice was low, carrying a hint of huskiness, almost like a whisper.

Yet, at that very moment, Qi Puzhi found herself inappropriately reminded of the moment during Jiang Tian’s duet with Xu Qinye, when Jiang Tian had stood behind Xu Qinye, her face close to the other’s ear.

The emotions she had just managed to soothe surged once more.

Suppressing her feelings, she responded gently, “Mm, have you been doing well lately?”

“I’m fine,” Jiang Tian said softly. “Are you tired from filming?”

“Not too bad,” Qi Puzhi replied.

“Jie jie, He Jing is my roommate now,” Jiang Tian offered a new topic.

“I know,” Qi Puzhi played along. “How are you two getting along?”

“Well.” Jiang Tian paused briefly. “It was fine until yesterday, when she bragged to me that you patted her head the first time you met and called her adorable.”

“…” Qi Puzhi chuckled. “Did I?”

She had always been casual with the younger girls and generous with compliments.

“Jie jie,” Jiang Tian’s voice carried a tinge of gloom. “Just how many good meimei do you have?”

Qi Puzhi raised an eyebrow. Was this little wolf cub really trying to turn the tables on her?

She snorted lightly. “You’re the one with plenty of good jie jie.”

Jiang Tian had no idea that her CP with someone else was trending, so she didn’t grasp Qi Puzhi’s implication and instead assumed she was deflecting.

Thus, she replied in a sorrowful and pitiful tone, “Jie jie, the agreement says you can have more than one good meimei anyway, so there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Qi Puzhi choked on her words.

Was this a veiled suggestion that if she had multiple jie jie, it was also within the bounds of their agreement and beyond reproach?

Though that was indeed the case, Qi Puzhi had been the one to jokingly include that clause in the agreement just to tease the kid, it was her own undoing.

But the truth was, she only had Jiang Tian, while the other might very well be surrounded by admirers.

With that thought, her tone turned haughty and prickly. “Too many meimei, not enough attention to go around. State your business or begone.”

Jiang Tian immediately sensed the irritation on the other end. Though unsure of the reason, she quickly softened her voice to coax, “Jie jie, I miss you every day. I only get to hear your voice for a little while each week. Can we talk a bit longer?”

That line was admittedly smooth.

Reluctantly, Qi Puzhi conceded. “Fine. Go on, then.”

Fifteen minutes later, Qi Puzhi hung up the phone, her ears still warm from the call.

Where did that little wolf cub dig up so many straightforward love lines? He had been spouting them endlessly without repeating a single one.

Yet paired with that voice, clear as pearls falling onto a jade plate, it didn’t feel greasy at all, just a refreshing sweetness.

Unwilling to admit how easily she had been charmed, Qi Puzhi buried her face in the blanket, as if that could hide the subtle delight in her heart.

After hanging up, Jiang Tian knew the woman had been teased into a shy state, and her heart melted at the thought, imagining how captivating Qi Puzhi must look right now.

A smile lingered on her lips, still there when she returned to the dormitory.

As soon as she stepped inside, she met Xu Qinye’s scrutinizing gaze.

Glancing around, she confirmed this was indeed her own dorm.

Xu Qinye watched as the young woman’s clear, enchanting smile faded, hesitating before speaking.

“Is something the matter?” Jiang Tian took off her coat and hung it on the hook. The designer shirt she wore underneath was a new release from a luxury brand, its avant-garde cut accentuating her slender waist and graceful posture.

Jiang Tian was likely well-off, this had somehow become an unspoken consensus among the contestants. Her wardrobe was filled with high-end pieces, and her skincare routine featured products most people wouldn’t dare dream of. Rumor had it the watch on her wrist was a limited-edition piece worth millions.

Moreover, her innate elegance and poise made it obvious she came from a wealthy, cultured family.

Xu Qinye studied her. “Do you know our CP is blowing up right now?”

“Huh?” Jiang Tian paused mid-motion, turning back in surprise. “What?”

“You were just on the phone with your family, they didn’t tell you?” Xu Qinye explained, “Our duo dance for the center position and our interactions during the last ranking announcement have been dissected by netizens. Our CP has been trending on Weibo for almost twenty-four hours now.”

Jiang Tian’s eyes narrowed. Suddenly, she understood why Qi Puzhi had been acting coy earlier, refusing to explain no matter how she coaxed.

She had been jealous.

A surge of joy rushed through Jiang Tian, mixed with regret for missing the moment and frustration at not being able to clarify things immediately. But recalling Qi Puzhi’s mood when she hung up, she probably wasn’t upset anymore.

Seeing Jiang Tian lost in thought, Xu Qinye slowly stated her purpose: “I wanted to ask if you’d like to collaborate.”

“You know how CPs are a major factor for popularity and votes in survival shows. If we temporarily pair up, it’s a win-win, it could also boost our chances of debuting together.”

With anyone else, Xu Qinye would’ve been confident they’d agree. After all, it was a mutually beneficial arrangement for debut.

But with Jiang Tian, she wasn’t so sure. Jiang Tian always seemed indifferent, and with her formidable skills and affluent background, she probably didn’t need CP tactics to navigate the entertainment industry, it would only complicate things later.

Sure enough, Jiang Tian responded without hesitation, “Sorry, no.”

Xu Qinye should’ve left it at that, but as a former idol, she knew the CP game too well. Among all the trainees in Star Journey, pairing with Jiang Tian was the most compatible and promising for hype.

So she couldn’t help feeling a bit unwilling and asked, “Why?”

Jiang Tian didn’t give an answer, only saying, “You’re very talented and popular. You could probably debut just by relying on your own efforts.”

Xu Qinye was well aware of this, but the quality of the candidates in this season of Stellar Journey was exceptionally high, and she couldn’t be certain she would rank highly enough to debut.

Moreover, she had greater ambitions when it came to gaining popularity.

But clearly, Jiang Tian was an impenetrable wall, no amount of pushing would help. In the end, she could only leave regretfully.

Just as the candidates were working hard to prepare for the second performance, the production team suddenly announced that the next day would be a recreational recording session.

They mentioned there would be a special surprise, along with a mini sports day and an outdoor barbecue.

Recreational recordings had become somewhat of a tradition in survival shows, they helped foster camaraderie among the girls while also showcasing their charm beyond the stage.

At first, Jiang Tian didn’t pay much attention to the “special surprise.”

On the sports field, the candidates changed into matching branded sportswear sponsored by a certain brand, radiating youthful energy and vitality.

The autumn sun was bright yet gentle, casting a warm glow.

When Qi Puzhi arrived, she saw Jiang Tian take off, leap, and soar through the air, clearing the high bar with flawless form.

The hem of her top fluttered, revealing her fair abdomen with well-defined abs.

Amid the cheers of the watching girls, she stood up composedly, aloof yet captivating.

It dawned on Qi Puzhi belatedly that Jiang Tian’s style was quite appealing to young girls these days.

As if sensing something, Jiang Tian turned her head slightly and locked eyes with the woman from afar.

Then came waves of excited screams

“Ahhh! Teacher Qi!”

“Help, my wife I mean, teacher.”

The sports day was nearing its end, and Qi Puzhi’s appearance had taken everyone by surprise.

She was an award-winning actress, her status in the entertainment industry practically unrivaled. And yet, here she was at a survival show?

Though her other identity was the founder of Puxing Entertainment, the company behind Stellar Journey, it was still unexpected for her to grace them with her presence at their little sports event.

The sports day was completely thrown into chaos by Qi Puzhi’s arrival. Some girls who might have performed well ended up making mistakes due to nervousness in her presence.

Except…

He Jing glanced at Jiang Tian. As the sun set, the girl only seemed to grow more vibrant, exuding charm freely on the field.

“Tsk tsk.”

He Jing knew Jiang Tian had a thing for Qi Puzhi, fellow fan and all. It made sense she’d put in extra effort in front of her idol.

After the sports day, there was a shower break followed by a discussion session.

Only then did everyone learn why Qi Puzhi had come

She wasn’t there specifically to watch their sports day but mainly to participate in the recording of the discussion.

Past survival shows had occasionally included segments like this, where industry veterans shared their experiences with the contestants.

But Stellar Journey was on another level this time, the veteran’s status was a little too high.

Qi Puzhi certainly didn’t have to come. Given how busy she was, there was no need for her to make the trip when there were plenty of suitable people in the industry.

But having struggled through her own early days in the business, she knew all too well how tough it was for women in the industry and the sheer amount of malice they faced.

So when the production team extended the invitation, she thought it over and agreed.

As for personal reasons… well, those existed too.

The 60 girls had already taken their seats on the steps, staring at her with eager eyes.

Qi Puzhi’s gaze swept over the youthful, spirited faces before her.

Her gaze lingered imperceptibly on someone for a moment longer, then she noticed the girl who had been on the trending list with Jiang Tian sitting on the steps directly above her. Though they weren’t touching, the distance between them seemed close.

A faint, inexplicable irritation welled up inside her, but her masterful control over her expressions ensured none of it showed.

At the lively panel discussion, the stunningly beautiful woman smiled warmly as she shared experiences and exchanged insights with the girls.

A seasoned veteran of the industry, the wisdom she shared sincerely was nothing short of priceless.

The girls could tell she held nothing back, every word was a hard-earned truth she had painstakingly discovered herself. Moved beyond words, the event practically turned into a fan meet by the end.

After the panel concluded and a short break, the barbecue dinner began. When they heard Qi Puzhi would be joining, the contestants erupted in excited cheers.

He Jing, sitting next to Jiang Tian, grabbed her wrist in excitement, then quickly let go upon remembering Jiang Tian disliked physical contact.

She glanced at Jiang Tian and asked, “Why do you seem unhappy?”

Their idol was sitting right across from them, ready to chat at any moment, what a waste of an opportunity to stay silent!

In the dressing room, Qi Puzhi touched up her makeup in front of the mirror.

The woman reflected in the glass was as radiant as a spring breeze, though her expression wasn’t quite as serene.

Knock, knock.

At the sound, Qi Puzhi casually called out, “Come in.”

But it wasn’t a staff member who entered.

Seeing the young woman’s striking face, Qi Puzhi was slightly surprised. “What brings you here?”

Jiang Tian didn’t answer. Nor did she greet her. Her gaze was fixed on Qi Puzhi, dark and unreadable.

The irritation Qi Puzhi had suppressed earlier resurfaced. Just as she was about to say something, Jiang Tian finally spoke:

“Jiejie, are you jealous?”

Qi Puzhi paused.

Then she scoffed, retorting stubbornly, “Why would I be jealous?”

But Jiang Tian quickly countered, “Then it’s me who’s jealous.”

Her words seemed to refer to Qi Puzhi’s earlier laughter and conversation with the girls. Her expression was unmistakably sour and pitiful, like a devoted lover wronged by a heartless partner.

Qi Puzhi was momentarily stunned. Before she could respond, Jiang Tian stepped closer, so close they were almost touching.

Instinctively, Qi Puzhi retreated until her back met the cool wall. “Jiang Tian.”

“Jiejie, I’m a little jealous.” Jiang Tian murmured, gazing down at her.

Despite being the one who had backed Qi Puzhi against the wall, her expression was fragile and innocent, as if baring her vulnerable side without reservation.

Qi Puzhi’s lashes fluttered faintly, her heart inexplicably flustered by the proximity.

She looked up into the young woman’s dark, ink-like eyes and whispered, “Then what do you want.?”

“Jiejie,” Jiang Tian’s voice was low and slightly hoarse. “Can we ignore the agreement for now?”

“Just for a few minutes.”

Her eyes seemed filled with longing and attachment, yet also flickered with a resentful flame that scorched Qi Puzhi.

So much so that Qi Puzhi, as if bewitched, met her gaze and softly replied, “Mm.”

The next moment, Jiang Tian’s warm, soft lips pressed against hers

With an intensity and possessiveness unlike anything before.

The Agreement: Should I leave, then?