After a Contractual Romance with the Scumbag Movie Queen - Chapter 65

This was an unforeseen way to receive a ring.

In that moment, Qi Puzhi suddenly understood why Jiang Tian had looked at her with such wild joy in her eyes the moment she won the race.

It was through this that she could legitimately, quietly present the ring.

And the young woman, burning with fervent affection for someone, wished she could proclaim her love to the entire world, yet was constantly constrained by their public personas.

So on this day, she finally had the chance to sing a song she had written for her in front of a gathered crowd.

Yet, unwilling to pressure her choice amidst the clamor, she turned the final line of the proposal into a whisper shared only between the two of them.

Both lively and intimate.

In every way, it could not have been more considerate, more deeply moving.

Gazing into the woman’s eyes, soft as water, Jiang Tian seemed to know the answer.

Her fingertips gently brushed the dampness from Qi Puzhi’s cheeks, a faint smile curling her lips as she asked knowingly, “So, will you marry me, sister?”

Qi Puzhi’s lashes fluttered lightly. Under the young woman’s patient gaze, she reached out to caress the side of her neck and leaned in close.

Just as Jiang Tian had whispered the proposal into her ear moments before, her lips brushed against the skin of Jiang Tian’s ear, the slight friction igniting a faint, scorching itch as she spoke.

She said, “I will.”

Later, Jiang Tian clung to Qi Puzhi, coaxing her to repeat those two words again and again.

In the hotel bathroom, before the floor-to-ceiling window.

Between ragged breaths, Qi Puzhi had almost forgotten the meaning of those two words.

She wasn’t impatient, only half-indulgent as she chided softly, “The ring is already on my finger, how could I not marry you”

Jiang Tian’s kisses fell like a torrent, so intense and fervent that Qi Puzhi could barely catch her breath.

Thus, the words, “That’s right, sister has already given the dowry” sounded somewhat muffled to her ears.

Qi Puzhi instinctively retorted, “What dowry?”

Jiang Tian abruptly stilled, her eyes shimmering with tender amusement. “Think again?”

Struggling between emptiness and desire, Qi Puzhi managed to recall.

After her reputation had been restored and she had settled her family affairs, Jiang Tian’s father had accepted the gifts Qi Puzhi had previously offered, promising to give everything to Jiang Tian.

Qi Puzhi had sent the gifts and promptly forgotten about them.

At the time, she hadn’t thought of it as a dowry, it was merely a gesture of sincerity toward Jiang Tian’s parents.

But now, upon reflection, it seemed impossible to refute…

Seeing Qi Puzhi lightly bite her lower lip, as if slightly embarrassed, Jiang Tian couldn’t hold back a chuckle and kissed her. “Sister, you splurged without hesitation, how can you give so freely but not own up to it?”

She began to move again, filling the void of Qi Puzhi’s longing.

Qi Puzhi buried her face in the crook of Jiang Tian’s neck, trembling and content, saying nothing as she played the part of a turtle retreating into its shell.

She heard Jiang Tian say, “That day, when my dad told me about it, he was smiling”

“He said, ‘She really seems willing to give everything, to care deeply for you.’”

In the eyes of parents, perhaps expressions of love never seem as tangible as money and property, where the money is, the heart is.

Jiang Tian had only meant to tease Qi Puzhi with those words.

Qi Puzhi had always been a woman of few words, her actions speaking louder than anything she said.

But then she felt the woman tighten her arms around her neck and murmur softly, “I’ve always cared deeply for you”

Now it was Jiang Tian’s turn to fall silent.

Qi Puzhi, receiving no response, seemed to sense something and slightly pulled back, only to see the young woman pressing her lips together, her eyes glistening with emotion.

Her heart ached at the sight. She had only said she cared for her.

She admired Jiang Tian’s fervent and straightforward expressions of affection, yet she herself seemed somewhat lacking in that regard.

Qi Puzhi knelt astride Jiang Tian, her ring-adorned hand caressing the younger woman’s cheek as she leaned in to kiss her lips, her voice soft and alluring:

“I love you.”

Amidst uncontrollable tremors, through misty eyes, Qi Puzhi saw what appeared to be dazzling fireworks sparkling in Jiang Tian’s gaze.

After a groggy nap on the plane, Qi Puzhi still felt somewhat drowsy upon disembarking.

Last night had been too intense, leaving them almost entirely sleepless.

It was also last night that Qi Puzhi discovered the bathroom video that had once shocked her was actually child’s play in comparison.

Jiang Tian glanced sideways at the woman, whose eyes were lazily half-open and clouded with sleep, worried she might stumble.

But then she noticed the woman seemed to be thinking of something, her gaze gradually clearing while the tips of her ears flushed red.

“What is sister thinking about?” Jiang Tian raised an eyebrow curiously.

The next moment, Qi Puzhi demonstrated what it meant to trip on flat ground,

Though unsuccessfully.

Jiang Tian caught her in time.

Steadying herself with Jiang Tian’s arm, Qi Puzhi cleared her throat lightly, her eyes now alert: “I was thinking about the upcoming press questions.”

Jiang Tian nodded as if convinced.

Qi Puzhi felt slightly relieved and was about to continue walking when the younger woman said lightly, “Was it that unforgettable?”

“…”

Qi Puzhi bit her lip and shot a reproachful glance back at her.

It held little intimidation. Instead, her eyes shimmered with extreme beauty and charm, utterly captivating.

Jiang Tian felt a warmth in her chest, recalling some scenes from last night, and found herself momentarily distracted as well.

The reporters who had been waiting for half a day finally caught sight of the two.

Since being photographed traveling together in the United States, the already rampant rumors about Jiang and Qi had surged even more fiercely back home.

Consequently, among those waiting at the airport for their return, the number of media reporters was nearly equal to that of fans, forming a dense, dark crowd.

Several cameras were aimed in advance, ready to capture the sweet return of the couple from their trip.

However.

The two celebrities emerged from the gate one after the other, not walking side by side and chatting cheerfully as imagined.

Both also seemed somewhat uneasy.

The reporters exchanged doubtful glances: Could it be they’re on bad terms?

Microphones were thrust forward as a reporter loudly asked, “You two were photographed traveling together in the U.S. Can you tell us what your relationship is?”

Jiang Tian collected herself, her expression returning to its usual aloof composure. She said, “The relationship of traveling together.”

Reporter: “…”

He then turned to Qi Puzhi: “We noticed that Teacher Qi is suddenly wearing a ring. Could you explain the situation?”

Teacher Qi smiled amiably: “The situation of wearing a ring.”

Reporter: “…”

The two adhered strictly to the art of saying nothing, and after half a day of questioning, the reporters had gleaned no information.

Finally, one reporter asked, “You two didn’t interact at all when you came out just now, and you both seemed downcast. May I ask if there’s a conflict?”

This time, Jiang Tian didn’t deflect with a light touch.

Instead, she appeared to ponder briefly before saying profoundly, “Teacher Qi and I have had plenty of interactions.”

Anyone hearing this response would assume it was an appropriate diplomatic answer.

Except for Qi Puzhi. She lowered her gaze slightly, concealing the turmoil in her eyes, and mentally noted another mark against Jiang Tian.

What kind of “interactions” they were, only she and Jiang Tian knew full well.

That little wolf cub was truly audacious.

To make matters worse, Jiang Tian pushed her luck further by cueing her, looking over with an innocent expression as she said, “Right, Teacher Qi?”

Qi Puzhi smiled gracefully and nodded in agreement.

Very well, another mark against her.

After returning to China, Qi Puzhi immediately joined the crew to film her next movie.

Meanwhile, Jiang Tian had delayed a lot of work during the previous period to accompany Qi Puzhi.

As a result, she was now forced into an even more hectic schedule.

Fenghua’s lead single for their album had exploded in popularity, breaking into the mainstream and becoming a viral hit across the internet. The entire Fenghua group was riding this wave of momentum, with a packed schedule of appearances.

The two hadn’t seen each other for some time.

Ever since their return from the airport, where reporters had taken their words out of context and reported a supposed rift between them, rumors had been swirling online.

Some claimed that Qi Puzhi and Jiang Tian had once been in love but had already broken up.

Others insisted that they had always maintained a purely professional relationship as boss and artist, and their trip to the U.S. was merely a coincidence where they ended up traveling together.

In short, a flood of unverified gossip from unknown sources pointed in one general direction,

The CP had come to an end.

Compounding this, in the half-month since their return, there had been no sightings of them together, leaving many CP fans anxious and uneasy.

Until that day.

The entire Fenghua group appeared as guest stars on a live-streamed variety show.

As a penalty for losing a game, the show’s producers, well aware of Jiang Tian’s rumored relationship and eager to stir up drama, decided on the punishment: calling Qi Puzhi.

Jiang Tian didn’t think much of it at first.

She and Qi Puzhi had anticipated such situations and made arrangements in advance.

For instance, in this case, as soon as Qi Puzhi answered, Jiang Tian would first say, “Teacher Qi.”

This would let Qi Puzhi know it wasn’t just an ordinary call.

Unfortunately, Qi Puzhi was catching up on sleep, still drowsy and muddled, and missed the cue in the first sentence.

She had just woken from a sweet dream where she and Jiang Tian were having their wedding.

After exchanging rings, Jiang Tian smiled and asked her, “Sister, what should you call me now?”

In the dream, her lips trembled slightly, her cheeks flushed with heat, and she was about to overcome her shyness and utter those two words when the ringing phone woke her.

Teacher Qi believed that blushing shouldn’t be in vain, even if it happened in a dream.

So, having been practicing her expressions lately, she clutched the blanket in front of her and decided to seize the moment, offering the answer as a gift to Jiang Tian over the phone.

Thus, the other members of Fenghua, the four hosts of the variety show, the on-site staff, and countless fans watching the live stream, along with Jiang Tian all heard.

Teacher Qi’s distinct, clear voice, tinged with drowsiness, soft and dependent, calling out:

“Wife.”