After a Contractual Romance with the Scumbag Movie Queen - Chapter 25

Jiang Tian sat on the sofa, slightly dazed as she looked at Qi Puzhi, her rapid breathing gradually calming down.

She realized that this was the punishment Qi Puzhi had designed for her.

It had indeed gotten to her.

The triumphant gleam in the woman’s eyes was unmistakable. Jiang Tian paused, then helplessly laughed along.

If Qi Puzhi found amusement in this, she was more than willing to indulge her.

So even though the lingering desire still fluttered restlessly in her chest an uncomfortable, unresolved tension, she obediently averted her gaze from Qi Puzhi’s lips and stood up from the sofa. “Jiejie, should I go now?”

“Mm.”

In that moment, Qi Puzhi realized she didn’t actually want to let her leave. But if she kept Jiang Tian here, this carefully crafted punishment would collapse.

Watching her walk away, it belatedly dawned on her that this punishment had a bit of a “harm others by a thousand, harm yourself by eight hundred” effect.

She had wanted to kiss her too, after all.

After a month of traveling, Jiang Tian’s mother returned home to find her daughter and husband sitting in the living room, the atmosphere thick with tension.

Used to such scenes, she took a seat on the sofa. “What’s wrong this time?”

Jiang’s father couldn’t hide his anger. “She and Qi Puzhi are joining some dating show!”

Her mother blinked. “Dating?”

Jiang Tian explained succinctly, “That’s just the name of the show. It’s actually a program where guests experience each other’s professions.”

Her father scoffed. “Isn’t going to her company enough? Now you’re rushing to appear on a show together, as if the rumors about you two aren’t already rampant?”

Jiang Tian replied, “This is a high-budget production. It’ll benefit my career, why wouldn’t I go?”

“Bad company corrupts good morals,” her father said, brows furrowed. “How many times have I told you to stay away from her?”

“Speaking of which,” Jiang Tian countered smoothly, “that CEO you introduced me to last time, the one who indulges in all sorts of debauchery, is your close friend. Has that corrupted you?”

She paused, then added, “After all, you yourself said, ‘It’s normal for men to be promiscuous.'”

Her father hadn’t expected her to bring up their private conversation in front of her mother. He froze.

Jiang’s mother, who had been idly listening to their argument, immediately darkened. “You think that way?”

Flustered, her father stammered, “I, I was just trying to convince her not to join Puxing Entertainment. I misspoke. You know I’d never”

Her mother snorted. “Who knows? It’d be easy for you to sneak around.”

Jiang’s father had gone through great lengths to win her mother’s heart back in the day and had always been henpecked. Seeing his wife’s anger, he immediately abandoned his stance on Jiang Tian’s career, shooting his daughter a glare before meekly turning to placate his wife.

Jiang Tian didn’t rush to leave. Instead, she lowered her head, idly playing with the watch on her wrist.

Once her parents had somewhat calmed down, she looked up, her earlier casual demeanor replaced with solemnity.

“Dad, Mom, I hope you won’t let rumors cloud your judgment. Please try to have less prejudice against Qi Puzhi.”

Both her parents stilled.

Jiang Tian had never spoken to them in such a grave tone before, especially not about an outsider.

Seeing their expressions grow serious, she continued, “You, haven’t forgotten what happened when I was sixteen, have you?”

She left it at that, but her parents’ expressions shifted drastically at her words.

If earlier during the argument, Father Jiang had been more consumed by rage and scolding vehemently, now his face turned pale. His fingers trembled as he pointed at her, his eyes filled with shock and uncertainty. The words stuck in his throat for a long moment before he could finally speak: “Jiang Tian, you.”

The first episode of Cross-Border Date was filmed at a hot spring villa.

This episode wasn’t about diving into the main theme but rather focused on the guests getting to know each other before voting to select their final cross-border dating partners.

Jiang Tian was the first to arrive at the villa.

The production team had deep pockets, renting a spacious and luxurious villa. Jiang Tian sat quietly on the sofa, waiting and observing the cameras positioned around her.

They were set up from every angle, ensuring no potentially broadcast-worthy moment would be missed.

Filming had already begun. Worried that she might be bored alone, the crew asked off-camera, “Xiao Jiang, before we start, do you already have a preferred guest partner in mind?”

This was their way of setting up potential romantic pairings for the audience.

Jiang Tian gave a definitive answer: “Yes.”

The crew was surprised. “Can you tell us who it is?”

Jiang Tian played coy, her tone cool and detached. “It’s not convenient to say right now.”

The crew guessed she was worried about it being a one-sided attraction, which could lead to awkwardness, so they smoothly moved on to save the moment. “Then we’ll wait and see.”

The guests arrived one after another. Some were already acquainted before the show and chatted animatedly.

When Qi Puzhi entered and greeted everyone, she casually took a seat. Immediately, the conversation among the guests shifted to her.

“Teacher Qi, what profession would you like to try?”

“For me.” Qi Puzhi smiled nonchalantly, leaning back lazily. As she propped herself up, her hand pressed against something warm and soft.

It was Jiang Tian’s hand.

She paused, instinctively tempted to press down further and tease.

But the cameras scattered everywhere made her appear slightly uncomfortable as she withdrew her hand and politely said to the person beside her, “Sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Jiang Tian replied without changing her expression.

The other guests watching couldn’t help but think these two were practically strangers.

Even if they were just friends, they wouldn’t be this formal.

Once all the guests had gathered, the production team announced the first task of the day:

“Next, the guests will draw lots to divide tasks and work together to prepare tonight’s dinner.”

With six guests, cooking together was bound to be a bit chaotic, especially if they drew tasks they weren’t skilled at, but that was where the entertainment value came in.

Qi Puzhi drew the task of preparing dipping sauce.

She wasn’t good at cooking and had barely stepped into a kitchen before. Her approach to making the sauce was all instinct, no technique.

She simply mixed various condiments into a bowl by feel.

Meanwhile, Jiang Tian was chopping vegetables on the cutting board. The rhythmic, swift sound of the knife against the board suggested great skill, drawing admiration from the guests around her.

Qi Puzhi, however, stared thoughtfully at the dark red concoction in her bowl.

Jiang Tian, having finished chopping with practiced ease, seemed to pass by her station casually. She asked softly, “Teacher Qi, do you need help?”

Qi Puzhi glanced at her and said, “It’s fine. Let me try it first.”

She dipped the tip of her chopsticks into the sauce, hesitated, then brought it to her lips for a taste.

Jiang Tian observed the woman’s expression. Qi Puzhi pressed her lips together slightly, her face composed as if completely unruffled.

Yet… her fair cheeks gradually flushed red, and a faint mist rose in her eyes, betraying the formidable potency of that dipping sauce.

Before Qi Puzhi could speak, Jiang Tian tilted her head and fetched her a bottle of water, quickly unscrewing the cap and handing it over.

Qi Puzhi couldn’t keep up the act any longer. She took it and hastily gulped down a few mouthfuls.

She cleared her throat lightly and said tactfully, “I might need to start over.”

Jiang Tian looked at her, unable to suppress an amused curve of her lips. “Let me help you.”

The gentle smile that flickered across her usually cool and distant face was truly a rare sight.

One of the crew members happened to be Jiang Tian’s fan and was momentarily stunned. After a brief pause, she snapped back to reality and reminded them, “Guests can’t have others complete their assigned tasks for them.”

So, Jiang Tian could only guide while Qi Puzhi followed instructions.

“Just add a little salt,” Jiang Tian patiently coached her step by step.

Only then did Qi Puzhi remember she had completely forgotten to add salt earlier. Not understanding, she asked, “How much is a little?”

Jiang Tian replied, “Sprinkle it slowly, Ms. Qi. I’ll tell you when to stop.”

Qi Puzhi twisted open the salt shaker and sprinkled with extreme caution so cautious, in fact, that no salt came out at all.

Focused intently, she stared at the shaker and tentatively applied a bit more force

The salt, as if having piled up for ages and finally granted its long-awaited freedom, cascaded down in a dramatic flurry.

“…”

Qi Puzhi wasn’t clumsy. She had only increased the pressure slightly, yet the result made her seem utterly inept, with no way to defend herself.

She turned her head slightly toward Jiang Tian with an innocent look, and immediately, an excuse was handed to her: “Ms. Qi, this salt shaker seems a bit faulty.”

Jiang Tian took the shaker, examined it earnestly, and concluded, “The holes are clogged. No wonder it was hard to sprinkle. Should we start over?”

“Mm.” Qi Puzhi seized the opportunity to save face and began her third attempt.

Among the guests, few were skilled in cooking, and each was struggling in their own way, making Qi Puzhi’s repeated failures less conspicuous.

A singer nearby, wrestling with stir-frying, teased, “Xiao Jiang, you’re playing favorites. Everyone’s struggling, but you’re the only one standing by Ms. Qi’s side, helping and encouraging her.”

The question was tricky to answer, so Qi Puzhi stepped in for her: “If Xiao Jiang doesn’t help me now, everyone might end up poisoned later.”

Her remark drew laughter, and the group returned to their tasks.

After over an hour of effort, the guests with varying levels of skill, managed to cobble together a decent-looking dinner.

Under Jiang Tian’s guidance, the dipping sauce Qi Puzhi finally produced was quite tasty. Amid the praise, someone joked, “As expected, a dipping sauce made with love turns out exceptional.”

The phrase “dipping sauce made with love” referred to Jiang Tian’s charitable assistance, but to Qi Puzhi, who had ulterior motives, it carried a different connotation.

Her chopsticks paused mid-air as she turned to Jiang Tian with a composed smile. “Thank you for your kindness, Xiao Jiang.”

Beneath the tablecloth, her right leg silently brushed against Jiang Tian’s left.

Jiang Tian remained unfazed, allowing her to tease, and replied politely, “It was nothing.”

Seemingly unsatisfied, the woman pressed her leg against Jiang Tian’s again moments later, then hooked it firmly.

Qi Puzhi: The epitome of being terrible at something yet loving to flirt, all while relying on the contract and the cameras.