After a Contractual Romance with the Scumbag Movie Queen - Chapter 3

The man on the bed was likely arranged by someone from the brand acting on their own initiative.

Qi Puzhi had a rough idea of the situation but didn’t show it on her face. Her reputation as a charming and flirtatious figure in front of the young girl remained unshaken.

Tilting her chin slightly, Qi Puzhi looked at Jiang Tian with composed amusement. “What’s the matter? Do you have any objections?”

Jiang Tian’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, as if she had no choice but to concede. “I wouldn’t dare object.”

Qi Puzhi thought that was the end of it, but then Jiang Tian continued, “But I do have a small suggestion.”

“Oh?” Qi Puzhi was intrigued and waited for her to elaborate.

Inside the room, the muscular Western man saw Qi Puzhi walk in, only to notice another woman following behind her.

The two of them ignored him completely, conversing in Chinese.

He stroked his chin, could it be that they both wanted to enjoy him together?

While the man on the bed was lost in his wild fantasies, the young woman at the doorway frowned slightly and said with earnest seriousness, “Sister, it’ll hurt. Most men only care about their own pleasure and won’t consider the other person’s feelings.”

Qi Puzhi hadn’t expected Jiang Tian to say something like that.

With the air of someone who had tasted all kinds of pleasures and seen it all, she smirked and retorted, “Do you think I don’t know that?”

How old was this kid, daring to give her a famously flirtatious figure advice in this area?

But then she saw Jiang Tian wearing an expression of pure innocence and obedience, tinged with a willingness to be tainted for her sake, as she whispered, “What I meant was, it’s safer and more comfortable between women. If sister has needs.”

She left the rest unsaid before adding with deep melancholy, “Didn’t sister feel very comfortable that night?”

For once, Qi Puzhi was so stunned she was momentarily speechless.

She began to deeply reflect on whether she was some kind of corrupting influence, if this little white flower beside her would be tainted beyond recognition with just the slightest brush against her.

If this conversation continued, things might spiral out of control. Suppressing the memories of that night, Qi Puzhi cleared her throat lightly. “You’re overthinking it. This is the brand’s doing I’m not so desperate.”

Jiang Tian let out an “Oh,” as if surprised, but Qi Puzhi, with her sharp instincts, suspected that Jiang Tian had deliberately led her into that conversation.

Yet, looking at the shadows cast by Jiang Tian’s thick lashes under her eyes, Qi Puzhi felt she might be overanalyzing.

She shouldn’t be so quick to assume ill intentions of such a well-behaved girl.

Seeing Jiang Tian’s mood visibly brighten from the earlier mix of helplessness and slight sadness to obvious delight, Qi Puzhi also relaxed.

After a moment’s thought, she said to her little girlfriend, “How about you help me kick him out?”

Jiang Tian nodded cheerfully.

After a brief pause, Jiang Tian turned to the man on the bed and spoke in flawless, fluent American English: “We don’t need acupuncture here. Take your needle and get out.”

She delivered the profanity with a calm, composed, even elegant tone.

Leaning against the door, Qi Puzhi laughed softly, her shoulders shaking.

Tsk. Even when cursing, she still looked so well-behaved.

Jiang Tian turned back to look at her, her expression utterly innocent.

The muscular Western man was bewildered, taking a moment to realize what she meant by “needle.”

His face flushed with anger, but knowing Qi Puzhi was someone he couldn’t afford to offend, he didn’t dare say a word. He hastily dressed and scrambled out.

Still feeling uneasy and worried the man might have left something behind in the room, Qi Puzhi booked another room right next door.

The atmosphere grew quiet as the two stood close, gazing at each other. Having once been intimate, there was now a faint, ambiguous tension lingering between them.

Recalling how Jiang Tian’s sudden remarks had momentarily left her speechless, Qi Puzhi felt a twinge of irritation.

This contractual relationship was supposed to be under her control. Just because they had shared a passionate night didn’t mean she would let this younger woman tease her so freely as if she were the shy one.

So Qi Puzhi took a few steps closer, closing the distance until Jiang Tian’s back was pressed against the wall.

“Jiejie,” Jiang Tian called softly, looking at her with slight confusion.

“Jiang Tian,” Qi Puzhi murmured, leaning in even closer, her voice slow and deliberate. “You didn’t think this relationship would be purely platonic, did you?”

Jiang Tian pursed her lips, seemingly surprised and a little flustered.

Qi Puzhi was somewhat satisfied with this reaction. “Close your eyes,” she whispered.

Before Jiang Tian could comply, a soft palm covered her eyes, the woman didn’t want her peeking.

In the sudden darkness, Jiang Tian instinctively blinked a few times, her lashes fluttering lightly against Qi Puzhi’s palm.

“Don’t move,” the woman murmured, her voice low, as if unable to bear the sensation.

Jiang Tian obediently stilled.

She waited quietly, sensing the woman’s pleasant fragrance drawing nearer, their breaths gradually mingling, warm against each other’s skin.

The moment stretched on, yet no further action came.

Just as Jiang Tian began to think nothing would happen, she felt a slight sting on her lower lip, followed by a faint numbness.

She froze, then realized belatedly.

Qi Puzhi had made a show of being about to take things further, dragging it out with deliberate slowness, only to end up merely biting her lower lip.

Amused, Jiang Tian sighed inwardly.

If she were truly an innocent, inexperienced girl, she might have been fooled. But…

The hand over her eyes withdrew, and light flooded back in.

Qi Puzhi lifted her gaze to Jiang Tian, who now wore the innocent expression of someone who had just been lightly taken advantage of.

Her eyes lingered on Jiang Tian’s slightly reddened lower lip, an inexplicable restlessness stirring within her.

But outwardly, she remained composed, exuding an air of nonchalance as she casually found an excuse to usher Jiang Tian back to her room.

“Goodnight, jiejie,” Jiang Tian said softly, her fingers on the doorknob, her tone reluctant.

“Goodnight.”

Jiang Tian stared at the closed door for a moment before lightly touching her lower lip.

As she walked toward her own room, the corners of her lips curved slightly.

Rushing her away so hastily had revealed far too much.

After showering, Jiang Tian habitually checked Qi Puzhi’s fan community.

She was a level-12 VIP in the supertopic, having written numerous analyses of Qi Puzhi’s films, some of which had gained significant traction back in the day.

Now, she mostly just reposted photos.

The top post today featured airport shots of Qi Puzhi, whose flawless beauty made even casual fan-taken photos look like masterpieces. The post had tens of thousands of likes and comments, trending on the platform.

Among the praises for her beauty, some discussions stood out.

[Is that woman who shielded Puzhi from the crowd her new assistant?]

[Puzhi herself said no.]

[Maybe a friend? Her figure is amazing, and her style is impeccable. Too bad her face was covered.]

Someone else commented: [What’s the big deal? Probably the film queen’s latest fling, taking her abroad for some fun.]

This comment was bombarded with dozens of replies from fans before the original poster personally deleted and blocked the user.

Jiang Tian scrolled for a while, about to turn off her phone and sleep, when a new email notification popped up at the top of her screen.

【Puxing Entertainment: Congratulations on passing the initial screening for the talent show “Stellar Journey.” The first round of auditions will begin on September 1st. Please keep an eye out for further email notifications.】

Her gaze lingered on the email for a long time.

Although she had brought Jiang Tian along on this business trip, intending to tease and play with her whenever she had the chance, Qi Puzhi had been too busy to spare her any attention.

It wasn’t until a break during one of the shoots that Qi Puzhi noticed the person who had always been watching her intently on set was nowhere to be found. After searching for a while, she finally spotted her in a corner.

Jiang Tian stood at the edge of a corridor, next to a blonde mixed-race woman.

Qi Puzhi knew this woman was a high-ranking executive from the brand.

The woman said to Jiang Tian, “You’re very beautiful. I’ve noticed you for a while now. The set is so boring, why don’t you skip following Qi tomorrow and go on a date with me instead?”

Then, with a low laugh, she added, “I’ll show you something wild.”

She drew out the word “wild” slowly and deliberately.

Before Jiang Tian could respond, Qi Puzhi turned and walked away, returning to the shoot.

One clause in their relationship agreement stated neither was limited to just the other.

The shoot ran late that night. On the way back to the hotel, Qi Puzhi leaned against the car seat, eyes closed, resting.

Jiang Tian sat quietly beside her, never disturbing her.

After a while, Qi Puzhi suddenly said, “Tomorrow’s shoot is at the edge of the desert. The wind and sand will be harsh, and the conditions will be tough. You don’t need to come with me.”

Jiang Tian glanced at her. “Okay.”

Qi Puzhi kept her eyes closed, though her pupils shifted slightly.

All these days, Jiang Tian had refused to stay alone at the hotel, choosing instead to accompany her through the grueling schedule.

Now, she agreed so readily, she must have accepted that woman’s invitation.

Qi Puzhi pressed her lips together and said nothing more.

The next morning, the person who usually waited for her early was indeed nowhere to be seen.

Jiang Tian really wasn’t coming.

She boarded the crew’s car alone.

A staff member asked curiously, “Where’s that pretty girl who’s always with you?”

Qi Puzhi replied nonchalantly, “Off doing her own thing, I guess.”

Normally, she spoke with warmth and charm, her every move bright and captivating. But now, there was a hint of somberness in her tone.

The staff sensed her mood and didn’t press further.

When they arrived at the windswept desert outskirts, the crew had already set up the shooting location.

Qi Puzhi spotted the blonde mixed-race woman at a glance.

She paused. Jiang Tian was at the hotel, and the woman was here alone, had the two not gone off to “play wild” together?

The wind was so strong it knocked over a nearby canopy, delaying the shoot significantly.

The air was dry, the heat oppressive being here was pure suffering.

For some reason, seeing the mixed-race woman alone eased Qi Puzhi’s mood slightly. She even thought, Good thing Jiang Tian didn’t come.

In the distance, off-road vehicles occasionally sped past, kicking up clouds of yellow sand.

Halfway through the shoot, one of the off-road vehicles stopped nearby.

A person got out before it drove off again.

Qi Puzhi was having her eye makeup touched up, a pouch of cooling drink between her lips. When she glanced up and saw the familiar figure, she froze.

“Jiejie.”

The young woman’s long black hair whipped wildly in the wind, her cheeks flushed from the heat, her delicate skin marked with noticeable red streaks likely from the sand and wind.

She looked as though she had rushed here in a hurry, enduring hardship along the way. Yet her eyes were bright as they met Qi Puzhi’s.

Qi Puzhi let go of the drink pouch, staring intently at Jiang Tian. “You, how did you get here?”

Jiang Tian said nonchalantly, “I had an online interview this morning. After it ended, I hitched a ride on the way here.”

Before Qi Puzhi could ask why she came, Jiang Tian continued directly, “I wanted to see you.”

Qi Puzhi blinked, then after a moment, said softly, “Mm.”

Having finished touching up her makeup, she stood up and walked over to Jiang Tian, reaching out to gently touch the marks on her face. “Does it hurt?”

Qi Puzhi’s filming makeup happened to shield her from the wind and sand, so she hadn’t suffered much from scratches on her face.

Jiang Tian let her touch freely.

Actually, on the way here, the kind driver who gave her a ride had offered some ointment, saying it would make the marks fade quickly.

The ointment was in her pocket she just hadn’t applied it yet.

Besides, the scratches from the wind and sand only stung slightly when they first happened.

It was true that she had endured quite a bit of hardship on the journey, but it was also true that she felt little discomfort now.

Yet, seeing the concern in Qi Puzhi’s eyes, she lowered her gaze and whispered, “A little.”

She looked like a pitiful puppy who had crossed mountains and rivers, endured countless hardships, just to catch a glimpse of its owner.

Qi Puzhi: Want this Best Actress award?