After a Contractual Romance with the Scumbag Movie Queen - Chapter 31

Early the next morning, Jiang Tian was already preparing to catch a flight.

She had a team event in another city.

Half-asleep, Qi Puzhi felt something soft press against her cheek. Jiang Tian’s usually cool and detached voice carried a rare tenderness as she whispered, “Sister, I’m heading out first.”

“Mmm.” Still tangled in drowsiness, Qi Puzhi responded instinctively, unable to open her eyes.

Both of them had busy schedules. Once the variety show filming wrapped up, they had to go their separate ways.

Jiang Tian pushed open the practice room door, and her teammates turned at the sound, greeting her.

He Jing sidled up, her tone a mix of envy and curiosity. “How was it filming the show with Teacher Qi?”

As a long-time fan, He Jing had been stunned when she first heard Qi Puzhi was joining a variety show. She never expected Jiang Tian would be part of it too.

Both of them had debuted through survival shows, yet while one was already appearing on a “dating show” with her idol, the other could only reminisce about the few times she’d met hers.

Jiang Tian replied, “Teacher Qi is very kind.”

“Of course I know she’s kind,” He Jing sighed in exasperation. “You finally got to meet your idol, didn’t you take the chance to talk to her more? Don’t tell me you kept your distance again, like last time!”

Jiang Tian recalled the previous night, her brow lifting slightly. She answered succinctly, “Not too far.”

Which probably meant not too close either. Reading between the lines, He Jing let out a small, frustrated sigh.

How could someone be so indifferent about meeting their idol?

They had a performance that evening, so they had to practice all afternoon.

As the music played and they danced, the hems of their clothes fluttered.

During a break, Xu Qinye tapped Jiang Tian’s shoulder, signaling she wanted to talk.

The two stepped into the hallway, and Jiang Tian asked, “What’s up?”

Xu Qinye’s gaze was complicated as she looked at her. “While we were dancing earlier, I noticed marks on your lower back.”

Jiang Tian immediately knew what she was referring to and replied calmly, “Probably an allergic reaction.”

Xu Qinye’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. Her tone was pointed. “Back when I suggested we form a CP, you turned me down. I always thought you were some untouchable prodigy. Never imagined you’d end up sharing the same fate as me.”

Jiang Tian was puzzled until Xu Qinye let out a derisive laugh and continued, “Funny coincidence, I heard Qi Hui and Qi Puzhi are from the same family. They’re rich and powerful, and they love to play around in private. People like us are just toys to them.”

Now Jiang Tian understood.

Xu Qinye must have gotten involved with Qi Hui. It was likely around the time of the third performance evaluation, when Qi Hui had approached Jiang Tian for fun, been rejected, and then turned to Xu Qinye instead.

“Those marks on your lower back…” Xu Qinye’s eyes held mockery and sorrow, directed at both Jiang Tian and herself. “Seems like Qi Puzhi isn’t too gentle with her playthings either.”

Jiang Tian’s gaze sharpened slightly.

Last night, the woman had been overwhelmed, gripping her waist in discomfort, her fingers unconsciously pressing down with some force. To Jiang Tian, it had felt no more intense than a kitten’s playful scratch.

But her skin was prone to marking easily, so the aftermath probably looked more alarming than it was. Still, the marks would fade soon enough.

Jiang Tian’s expression remained coolly detached as always. She said evenly, “Xu Qinye, you’ve misunderstood.”

Her tone was utterly indifferent. With that, she turned and walked away without another word.

Xu Qinye watched her retreating figure, biting her lip.

She had thought Jiang Tian was someone pure and untouchable.

With her seemingly luxurious lifestyle and a background that remained a mystery online, Xu Qinye had once assumed Jiang Tian came from an unattainably elite family.

Turns out she was just another kept woman.

At this thought, she smiled self-deprecatingly. Wasn’t she also taking a shortcut this way?

Jiang Tian lifted her clothes in the bathroom and examined the marks. They were clearly fingerprints, no wonder Xu Qinye didn’t think it was an allergic reaction at all, convinced it was something she and Qi Puzhi had done during the variety show recording.

She lightly touched the marks, her eyes darkening slightly.

The memories from last night had been swirling in her mind, replayed over and over again.

It was truly addictive.

The stadium was alive with the roaring cheers of fans. With excellent management from Puxing Entertainment and the undeniable talent of Fenghua as a whole, their popularity had skyrocketed since debut.

Just as Jiang Tian and her teammates were captivating the stage, Qi Puzhi encountered Jiang’s father at a business dinner.

That wasn’t unusual. What was odd was that Jiang’s mother was also there, and the couple kept giving her strange, scrutinizing looks.

By the fourth time Jiang’s father shot her a gaze laced with disapproval, curiosity, irritation, and restraint, Qi Puzhi’s fingers lightly traced the rim of her wine glass.

If it were just because she and Jiang Tian had appeared together on a variety show and sparked rumors, it shouldn’t have escalated to this level, right?

Puxing and the Jiang family’s company had numerous collaborations. Jiang’s father was known in business circles as a smiling tiger, hardly the type to let emotions slip like this.

Jiang’s mother’s gaze was gentler, but it also seemed like she had something to say.

Qi Puzhi remained composed under their combined scrutiny, though her mind was racing with speculation.

After several rounds of drinks and the business discussions winding down, one of the executives, emboldened by alcohol, grew chatty.

“Everyone here is married except for President Qi. Don’t you plan to give it a try?” the CEO of a well-known entertainment company asked with a smile.

Qi Puzhi noticed Jiang’s father and mother’s expressions darken slightly at his words.

She raised an eyebrow and leisurely replied, “What do you mean, President Li?”

President Li said, “You could marry someone outside the industry, less scheming, more stable and reliable. My nephew just returned from abroad. He’s thirty-five this year.”

He seemed quite proud of his nephew, launching into a lengthy introduction.

Qi Puzhi immediately understood his angle. Recently, President Li had been pushing for a collaboration, but she had declined twice, unimpressed by the project. Now, he was trying to use his nephew as leverage.

With a faint smile, Qi Puzhi was about to politely decline when Jiang’s mother interjected, “I know your nephew. Didn’t he get divorced twice?”

Qi Puzhi was taken aback. Jiang’s mother was actually helping her.

President Li looked slightly embarrassed. “Yes, twice, but it’s because he’s too naive and trusting. He’s genuinely kind-hearted.”

Qi Puzhi nodded. “Ah, so he’s been divorced twice but still has the innocence of a first love. Is that it?”

Her tone was matter-of-fact, but the words dripped with sarcasm, drawing laughter from the others.

President Li fell silent.

After the dinner, Qi Puzhi deliberately lingered, expecting Jiang’s parents to stay behind and speak to her privately.

Instead, they left without hesitation, casting her a look as they went, as if they had much to say but couldn’t bear to say a word to her.

It was eerily reminiscent of a mother-in-law sizing up a son-in-law, dissatisfied yet resigned.

Failed to translate content with standard model. Please boost the chapter to continue.

Under the cover of a burner account, she couldn’t resist commenting amidst the flood of vulgar cheers like “Call her sister by day, hear sister moan by night” I don’t believe it.

The blogger spotted this comment, clicked into the profile, and noticed it was a small account that had liked numerous posts related to Jiang Tian. With a cold smirk, they replied: Jiang Tian stans, stop lying here.

Then promptly blocked her without mercy.