After a Contractual Romance with the Scumbag Movie Queen - Chapter 43

Perhaps those in the post-coital afterglow are filled with satiation and ease, their hearts overly generous.

Thus, after Qi Puzhi punished Jiang Tian with a bite, she didn’t dwell on the matter of their interrupted reckoning.

Especially since the look Jiang Tian gave her clearly said she wasn’t fully satisfied yet but had no choice but to obediently endure it.

This only made Qi Puzhi feel even more psychologically balanced.

In high spirits, she lightly nudged the other woman. “I’m going to shower.”

Jiang Tian asked knowingly, “Not together?”

Qi Puzhi knew she was just teasing, so she raised an eyebrow nonchalantly. “I suggest you quit while you’re ahead.”

Though the alluring flush of pleasure still lingered in her eyes, she effortlessly slipped back into her “big sister” demeanor.

Jiang Tian couldn’t help but smile, leaning down to kiss her chin, playing along obediently. “Got it.”

Qi Puzhi marveled inwardly at how effortlessly convincing Jiang Tian was at feigning innocence.

Yet, she found herself somewhat charmed by it. Poking the sweet dimple on Jiang Tian’s cheek, she finally got up from the couch.

Jiang Tian lay where Qi Puzhi had just been, propping her head up with one hand as she watched the other woman rummage through her suitcase for clothes.

Remembering something, she helpfully reminded, “Don’t forget your underwear, sister.”

Qi Puzhi paused, recalling the consequences of forgetting last night, her ears warming slightly.

She looked up, expressionless. “Thanks for the reminder.”

Jiang Tian blinked her beautiful eyes, smiling at her with an utterly harmless expression.

A cold snap had returned in recent days, making the weather even chillier.

Even down jackets struggled to hold up, and the fans waiting outside the filming location early in the morning were too frozen to speak.

During the lull before Qi Puzhi and Jiang Tian’s car arrived, a certain CP fan spotted someone nearby and brightened. “It’s you again.”

The Jiang Tian solo fan who had once been humiliated into wearing a CP-themed scarf.

This time, the solo fan had wisely brought her own scarf. Still, she nodded politely at the person who had, in a way, helped her before.

After a moment’s thought, though her face still carried a hint of disdain for the rival ship, she handed over a piece of candy. “Thanks for last time.”

The CP fan happily accepted it, then offered a pair of fuzzy gloves printed with cartoon versions of Qi Puzhi and Jiang Tian snuggling together.

The solo fan stared at the gloves, momentarily speechless, before looking up with a questioning gaze.

The CP fan’s eyes sparkled. “So… are your hands cold today?”

Solo fan: “…”

Soon after, Qi Puzhi and Jiang Tian arrived.

This time, Qi Puzhi stepped out of the car first.

Jiang Tian followed behind her, and from her slightly elevated angle, her gaze inadvertently caught the faint red mark at the junction of Qi Puzhi’s neck and shoulder.

Against the pale skin, it stood out starkly.

Knowing they had filming today, she had been careful last night, controlling her intensity to avoid leaving marks. But the woman’s skin was too delicate, easily marked.

And because it was slightly hidden, she only noticed it now.

Ahead of them were fans and media cameras. Jiang Tian casually adjusted Qi Puzhi’s clothes, trying to cover the mark.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, every move drew attention.

The moment she did this, the fans erupted: “Aww, she’s fixing her wife’s clothes!”

Jiang Tian’s hand hadn’t even left yet when her heart trembled slightly at the deafening shout. Keeping her expression neutral, she withdrew her hand naturally.

Mulling over that particular term of endearment, she couldn’t help but glance over, thinking, This CP fan really knows how to shout.

Yet, the fans suddenly fell silent.

The young woman’s stunningly beautiful face remained as aloof as ever, easily interpreted by fans as, Jiang Tian didn’t like them shoving the CP in her face.

The solo fans in the front row were visibly annoyed and turned to glare at the guilty-looking CP fan.

But as their gaze inadvertently shifted, they noticed the familiar solo fan beside the CP fan was wearing a pair of CP-themed fuzzy gloves.

Her expression: “…”

The gloved solo fan awkwardly explained, “Well… it’s just that they’re really warm.”

The CP fan stifled a quiet laugh.

Just after Qi Puzhi and Jiang Tian left, the hot drinks they had ordered for the fans arrived.

The early morning chill was chased away, and the tension between them seemed to ease slightly.

The CP fan whispered to the solo fan, “Will you come again next time?”

The moment Qi Puzhi stepped into her dressing room, she noticed Jiang Tian following her in and locking the door behind them.

Puzzled, she looked at Jiang Tian. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s a hickey here.” Jiang Tian reached out, her fingers brushing against the spot.

If she didn’t cover it up for Qi Puzhi now, the makeup artist would see it soon.

Qi Puzhi immediately understood why Jiang Tian had suddenly adjusted her clothes earlier.

She hummed in acknowledgment, rummaged through her makeup bag, and handed Jiang Tian the concealer.

“I’ll be more careful next time,” Jiang Tian murmured softly as she gently tugged Qi Puzhi’s collar aside, revealing the elegant curve of her shoulder and neck.

Qi Puzhi suppressed a shiver as the cool touch of the concealer tickled her skin.

Just as Jiang Tian finished, a knock sounded at the door, followed by the makeup artist’s voice: “Ms. Qi?”

Jiang Tian leaned over to place the concealer on the table in front of Qi Puzhi.

The familiar, intoxicating fragrance of the woman’s skin so close to her made Jiang Tian’s restraint waver. Unable to resist, she tilted her head and pressed a fleeting kiss to Qi Puzhi’s cheek.

The dressing room walls were thin. Qi Puzhi’s lashes fluttered slightly, her watery eyes silently meeting Jiang Tian’s after the bold gesture.

Jiang Tian’s heart itched with longing.

Her breath deepened as she carefully adjusted Qi Puzhi’s collar back into place before walking over to open the door.

The makeup artist waiting outside blinked in surprise at the sight of Jiang Tian emerging.

Given that the two were playing lovers in the short film, there was already an unspoken ambiguity between them. Being locked alone in the dressing room for so long only added to the subtle tension.

But the makeup artist was experienced, she kept her thoughts to herself.

Assistant Director: “Light and Shadow, Scene Five, Take One Action!”

Having navigated the treacherous waters of the opera house, where power and desire were often traded, Pei Ying had seen and heard plenty.

She’d even heard of men taking pleasure in other men.

But in this society that devoured women, where wealthy households were almost always ruled by men, she had never heard of any young mistress seeking pleasure with another woman.

Though “Young Master Li” was actually a woman, she stood in Wucheng under a man’s identity, sharing the secret of her true gender with Pei Ying.

When summoned to spend the night, Pei Ying had only been asked to sleep in a separate bed, a performance for outsiders.

So until now, she had never even considered the possibility between women.

But the hazy veil had been pierced by Ye Su’s kiss, leaving Pei Ying at a loss.

In this society, love between the same sex was taboo, shackling the hearts of most from birth.

Ye Su studied her expression, searching for whether it was confusion or reluctance.

“A-Ying.” Her voice was rough. “Do you have nothing to say?”

Pei Ying gazed into the young woman’s eyes, which had once been clear and sincere with docility but were now filled with undisguised adoration.

It was the look lovers gave each other.

Pei Ying’s lips trembled slightly as she helplessly averted her gaze, lowering her eyes as if to look at the cover of the script in her hands, though her focus was elsewhere.

After a long silence, she finally spoke, “When, did you.”

“If I say it was at first sight,” Ye Su asked slowly and earnestly, “would you kick me out, A-Ying?”

Pei Ying’s delicate fingers crumpled the script in her grip.

She avoided answering directly, “How can you be sure it’s that kind of feeling.”

She didn’t really need to ask.

The expression Ye Su had just given her was answer enough.

For the first time in her life, Pei Ying felt utterly flustered, unconsciously asking questions she already knew the answers to. Yet Ye Su patiently responded to each one with meticulous care.

Every word was laden with the deep affection accumulated over the years.

By the end, Pei Ying’s eyes were misty with unshed tears. Overwhelmed, she interrupted in a whisper, “Ye Su, I’m not worth your affection.”

She listed all her flaws. She spoke of their uncertain future. She reminded Ye Su of her existing betrothal, of how they were both fugitives, with every next moment hanging in the balance.

But she never said she didn’t like women, or that she didn’t like Ye Su.

And yet, that was the only answer that could truly reject Ye Su.

Ye Su pressed her lips together, silent. Her expression had been one of grim resignation, as if awaiting a death sentence, but as she listened to Pei Ying speak in that lost, pitiful tone, it gradually softened.

Eventually, even a glimmer of amusement flickered in her eyes.

When Pei Ying finally ran out of words, Ye Su gently lifted her chin, forcing their eyes to meet.

With her other hand, she brushed away the trembling tear at the corner of Pei Ying’s flushed eyes. Smiling tenderly, she murmured, “A-Ying, you’ve given me ten thousand reasons, but you didn’t dare say you don’t love me.”

Like a thunderclap, the words struck Pei Ying’s heart, leaving her stunned.

Some unconscious pretense had been laid bare, making her skin burn with embarrassment. Instinctively, she wanted to flee.

Her rosy lips parted, about to speak, but Ye Su cut in, “I bet your next words will be a lie.”

Cupping Pei Ying’s chin, she leaned in abruptly, sealing her lips and silencing the denial before it could escape.

When she finally pulled back, her lips still damp, she exposed Pei Ying’s last shred of pretense.

“You didn’t even push me away.”

“Ye Su.” Pei Ying’s breath hitched as she weakly called her name.

“As you said, every next moment is uncertain,” Ye Su murmured, her lips lingering against Pei Ying’s, her voice husky and persuasive. “But if we don’t seize the present. we won’t even have a next moment.”

“A-Ying, could you bear that?”

Pei Ying: I couldn’t. Not in this lifetime, nor the next.