After A Secret Marriage Agreement With A Rival Omega - Chapter 43

Chapter 43

◎ In the thick, dull night, Jian Jixing’s face was a star that fell into her eyes. ◎

As soon as Chu Wu’s comment appeared, it immediately stole the audience’s attention.

[?]

[I knew something felt weird! So you guys have been doing stuff under the table all this time.]

[I’ve already paid. Don’t let me down.]

[This “wu” sister, you must be a researcher, your eyes are so sharp! You can see all this!!! You have microscope-like eyes, hahaha.]

[Huh? Did I miss a class? When did Director Jian and Xixi’s relationship progress to where they can play with each other’s hands under the table?]

[Has no one seen the behind-the-scenes footage from the studio? Director Jian and Sheng Ruxi’s relationship has improved a lot!]

After that comment came out, many people, following the firework effect of the “wu” user, started to spam the screen with gifts.

[I’ve paid, too! Hold it up! I want to see too!]

[Xiao Zou, please move aside and let Director Jian and Ruxi come to the front to show us. / dog head]

This live stream was a charity event, and all the gifts from the fans would be donated. Therefore, the people participating in the live stream naturally had to try their best to satisfy the fans’ requests.

Xie Ruizhang had no idea it would unfold this way. She was watching from the side, dumbfounded, and forgot all about managing the situation.

Zou Xinjie tried to speak several times, but she was interrupted by the gift effects on the screen.

Are they crazy??

Zou Xinjie was hoping that her and Sheng Ruxi’s CP fans would be more supportive, but the next comments made her truly black out.

Not a single person was accusing Jian Jixing of stealing the show!

Zou Xinjie took a deep breath: “Director Jian, why don’t you explain?”

Jian Jixing: “I have nothing to explain.”

[Xiao Zou, don’t mess around! You can doubt anyone, but don’t doubt our Director Jian. She’s the one who’s going to sit at the main table at your wedding!]

Jian Jixing gritted her teeth, knowing that Chu Wu was deliberately teasing her and Sheng Ruxi.

Had she really gone crazy from all the research? She had so much time and was so free. Why didn’t she do more experiments instead of spending time in a live stream?

“Everyone, calm down. I didn’t do anything. Don’t misunderstand.” Jian Jixing parted her legs as she spoke, so Sheng Ruxi could take her hand away.

But Sheng Ruxi seemed to know that Jian Jixing would let her go in this situation. She had clearly seen Chu Wu’s teasing, but she still kept her hand on Jian Jixing’s thigh, not moving an inch.

Jian Jixing: “?” This is going too far.

Don’t tarnish my reputation in front of so many people.

Sheng Ruxi also laughed: “What kind of tricks could we be doing? Don’t worry, my relationship with Director Jian is actually very good. It’s not what you think.”

Okay, now she’s acting.

Jian Jixing felt a shiver run through her. Sheng Ruxi didn’t need to use this self-damaging method to mess with her. She warned Sheng Ruxi with her eyes to take her hand away and behave herself.

At the same time, she put both of her hands on the table, showing that she was truly innocent right now.

“I didn’t do anything,” Jian Jixing said with a smile, but soon, her smile froze for a moment.

Sheng Ruxi had actually pinched the soft flesh on her thigh.

Hold it in. Jian Jixing regained her smile. Did Sheng Ruxi really need to be disciplined? How could she be so bold in front of her?

Chu Wu, who had started all this teasing, was now happily invisible and didn’t say anything else.

“Everyone, please don’t joke like this. Director Jian probably doesn’t like being talked about this way,” Zou Xinjie quickly said, trying to save the situation. “Ruxi, why don’t you sit in the middle?”

Sheng Ruxi wasn’t having it: “I don’t like sitting between two alphas. Why don’t you go to the back?”

Zou Xinjie: “…”

Zou Xinjie said with suppressed patience: “Director Jian, do you mind?”

“As long as Sheng Ruxi doesn’t mind, I don’t have a problem,” Jian Jixing said faintly. Sheng Ruxi finally took her hand off her thigh, but when her hand was on the table, her leg started acting up again, and she was stepping on Jian Jixing’s toes.

Other people would make teasing movements under the table, but Sheng Ruxi was just stepping on her, and she was doing it with her tiptoes.

She was really being disobedient.

[Why has the relationship between Sheng Ruxi and Director Jian changed so much after this collaboration? Is it just me?]

[Sheng Ruxi, if you’ve been kidnapped, blink twice.]

[Once Jian Jixing came on screen, the CP feeling between Zou Xinjie and Sheng Ruxi instantly dropped. Why is that?]

[…Maybe that’s the power of the head CP shipper?]

[If you guys don’t want such a great alpha like Director Jian, can I have her, please!!! I love Director Jian’s type the most.]

[Then why don’t you try filming a new script, one that’s suitable for Zou Xinjie and Sheng Ruxi to collaborate on? That way you can ship them at the company’s expense!]

The comments from the audience were coming in too fast, and many were difficult to answer. Jian Jixing could only choose a few to respond to. When she saw this outrageous comment, Jian Jixing chuckled.

“I have no plans for that, and I don’t ship CPs on a regular basis.”

Sheng Ruxi also smiled: “No collaboration means no collaboration. Everyone, please stop asking in the future, so it won’t be awkward for any of us.”

As soon as she said that, Jian Jixing felt that Sheng Ruxi was angry. She had no idea what Sheng Ruxi was so angry about. Was she really expecting her to film a movie with Zou Xinjie to make her behave? Did she also want a kissing scene for them?

She pushed Sheng Ruxi’s leg aside under the table and saw another familiar ID in the comments:

[Our Jian Jixing and Sheng Ruxi are the best match! If you can’t ship them, it’s because you haven’t tasted a good one yet!!]

The whole night was a mess. Jian Jixing tried to eliminate distractions and faced the camera to introduce the wild Ganoderma lucidum in her hand: “This is not easy to pick, and it’s hard to buy. You have to walk a long way to find two or three plants on a steep cliff. In the past, when the picking conditions weren’t good, some people paid with their lives…”

Sheng Ruxi was listening distractedly. She wasn’t interested in any of that. She just wanted to tease Jian Jixing.

The wild Ganoderma lucidum from Dong Village was a very precious medicinal herb, and it was difficult to obtain. Especially since the one here grew on a cliff face and could only be picked at night, even Jian Jixing only had one plant on display.

Noticing that Sheng Ruxi’s leg was nudging her, Jian Jixing’s expression didn’t change, but she turned her head in a gap between sentences, pressing the microphone as she said to Sheng Ruxi: “Are you that playful? Finish the live stream properly. Do you want to rest more later?”

Sheng Ruxi tilted her head and looked at her: “No. It’s no fun to just rest after we’re done. You’re the one who said I’m playful.”

“Then what do you want?”

Maybe she could tell an extra bedtime story?

Sheng Ruxi looked at Jian Jixing’s serious appearance in front of the camera and couldn’t help but say something less serious: “A bedtime story won’t cut it. Since I’m playful, I want to play something big.”

“What’s ‘big’?”

Sheng Ruxi just curled her lips and didn’t say anything, but Jian Jixing suddenly understood what Sheng Ruxi meant.

This person didn’t want to play with a toy; she wanted to play with a person.

Jian Jixing’s fingers tightened. She wanted to slap Sheng Ruxi but held back: “I’m afraid you won’t know how to play.”

“How will we know if we don’t try? What, are you scared of me?” Sheng Ruxi sneered. “I’ve learned a few things from you.”

Jian Jixing didn’t say anything. She thought Sheng Ruxi was strange. Sometimes she would say things that were completely baffling.

And her words were always so bold before they went to bed, but once they were in bed, she would often back down.

Jian Jixing laughed softly: “Then I’ll come to your room tonight.” She wanted to see how far Sheng Ruxi would go.

Yu Miaolan was still filming behind-the-scenes footage. As she watched this scene through the camera, her heart was going wild.

Although she didn’t know what Jian Jixing and Sheng Ruxi were whispering about, the atmosphere between them was so ambiguous that bubbles of fan fiction were practically floating around.

This was so much more of a CP feeling than with Zou Xinjie.

As the live stream was nearing its end, Jian Jixing’s phone vibrated. A call coming in during work was usually a sign of a real issue.

She vacated her spot in the middle to take the call.

It was Yan Yaojin, but as soon as the call connected, Yan Huaixi’s cheerful voice came through.

“Jiejie! I’m watching your live stream,” Yan Huaixi said happily. “I’m watching with my mom. I sent you so many gifts. Did you see them?”

Jian Jixing was in a good mood: “I did. Did you finish your homework?”

“…Jiejie, why would you say something so unpleasant? We don’t talk about homework at home.” Yan Huaixi was uninterested in that topic, but she was very interested in gossip. “Why did Zou Xinjie keep interrupting you when you were talking? I don’t like her. Why don’t you have Mom pull all her movies?”

Jian Jixing: “Alright, stop it. Is there anything else?”

Yan Huaixi: “We have an outdoor homework assignment for our practical class… We have to find a plant to take to school and film a video. I want Ganoderma lucidum. Please, Jiejie.”

Jian Jixing said, “You want Ganoderma lucidum? Then come get it yourself. It’s not easy to get.”

“Jiejie, my good Jiejie, everyone else’s stuff is just from their homes. I’ve seen those so many times. I want you to get me something. That’s what will make it special,” Yan Huaixi said with a proud tone. “What about those gems and mushrooms… oh, are there a lot of mushrooms there too? I want some of those as well!”

Jian Jixing said, “There are only poisonous mushrooms. Do you want to kill your teacher?”

Yan Huaixi must have been on speakerphone. When Yan Yaojin heard that, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud and lightly coughed twice: “Jixing, what are you saying? Don’t teach your sister things like that.”

Jian Jixing curled her lips: “When do you need it?”

“I have to turn it in the day after tomorrow. Jiejie, I love you! You’re the best!” As soon as Yan Huaixi heard that, she knew Jian Jixing had agreed. She excitedly kissed her phone twice.

This excitement of hers reminded Jian Jixing of the light in Sheng Ruxi’s eyes when she got new clothes and jewelry, and her cheerful tone when she won an argument with her.

There was a contagious vitality to her. Jian Jixing thought that she actually liked this kind of vibrancy very much.

Yan Yaojin then took the phone and chatted with Jian Jixing for a bit. Jian Jixing said she still had some wrapping-up work to do here and hung up.

After she finished her call, she went back just as the live stream was saying goodbye to everyone. Sheng Ruxi waved her over, still wanting Jian Jixing to stand in the middle.

Zou Xinjie’s fingers were tightly gripping the edge of the table.

Clearly, when Jian Jixing had left, Sheng Ruxi and she were still presenting well in front of the camera. But as soon as Jian Jixing was there, her presence was like a light bulb that could suck away all of Sheng Ruxi’s attention.

Why Jian Jixing? Zou Xinjie couldn’t understand at all.

Shouldn’t they always be sworn enemies? She still remembered when she was collaborating with Sheng Ruxi. Sheng Ruxi had said more than once that she really didn’t like Jian Jixing and would get a cold face even when she heard Jian Jixing’s name on set.

It hadn’t even been two years, so how could things have changed so much?

What made her even more upset was that she had been saying goodbye to everyone with a smile, but as soon as Jian Jixing came over and the camera was turned off, Sheng Ruxi immediately moved away from her and went to Jian Jixing’s side.

“Where did you go?”

“To check on Huaixi’s homework,” Jian Jixing said with a moment of hesitation. As they packed up and walked to the door of the room, and no one else was around, she said, “I have something to do tonight, so I can’t come over.”

“?” Sheng Ruxi was so mad she laughed. “So you’re admitting that you can’t do it?”

Jian Jixing rubbed her brow in frustration: “I need to help Huaixi with her homework.”

This reason was a little too valid, so even Sheng Ruxi, who was about to scold her, was momentarily speechless and couldn’t say anything.

But Sheng Ruxi, in front of Jian Jixing, would find a reason to argue even if there wasn’t one.

Sheng Ruxi: “I think you just don’t want to sleep on the same pillow as me.”

Jian Jixing closed her eyes: “My liege, what was I sleeping with you on before? Besides, I’ll be busy until very late.”

Sheng Ruxi: “Excuses. I can’t believe you’re busy with filming and reviewing during the day, and then you’re still busy reviewing homework at night. Didn’t you come here for a vacation?”

Jian Jixing didn’t say a word. Sheng Ruxi was right. She was indeed busier on vacation than she was at work. Ever since she took on this job, she hadn’t stopped.

Sheng Ruxi saw that Jian Jixing was silent and felt she had won. She raised her chin and said, “…Anyway, come to my room when you’re done.”

Jian Jixing asked with a half-smile: “Are you so reluctant to part with me?”

“Don’t think too much,” Sheng Ruxi said. “I’m just reluctant to part with your pheromones, okay?”

“Besides my pheromones, I have no other use for you, do I?” Jian Jixing said. She placed her hand on the back of Sheng Ruxi’s neck, and with a gentle touch, she found that Sheng Ruxi’s gland was fine.

Without waiting for Sheng Ruxi to speak, Jian Jixing pulled her hand back and said, “You go to sleep first. I’ll come over.”

After leaving Sheng Ruxi, Jian Jixing went back to her room to pack up and received a message from Yan Huaixi.

It had some instructions and reminded her to record the video.

Jian Jixing chuckled to herself, thinking that the school’s homework was quite outrageous, with such a rigid requirement.

She packed her equipment and contacted the village chief to arrange for her to go out with the Ganoderma lucidum pickers tonight.

The wild Ganoderma lucidum in Dong Village was very expensive and even more difficult to obtain because it had to be picked at night. Many professional pickers didn’t need any safety equipment, but Jian Jixing wasn’t that reckless. The Ganoderma lucidum grew on a steep cliff face. It was easy to go up but difficult to come down, and a single mistake could result in a fall.

So Jian Jixing said that this job was a bit tiring. If Yan Huaixi hadn’t pestered her, she wouldn’t have bothered.

Jian Jixing used to be a good rock climber, so she had a foundation. She was also someone the Little Pigeons were familiar with, so the team was willing to take her along. After an hour of walking, around 11 p.m., Jian Jixing arrived at the picking spot.

She took out her phone, ready to climb.

…

Sheng Ruxi tossed and turned in bed several times, unable to sleep. She didn’t know if it was because she hadn’t heard Jian Jixing tell her a story tonight, or if she was still thinking about the problem that was bothering her.

She was never a person who worried so easily.

Only when it came to Jian Jixing could she not figure things out. She had imagined many scenarios in her head, even placing Jian Jixing and Chu Wu on opposite ends of a scale.

But she found that as soon as she let go, the scale would automatically tip towards Jian Jixing, without her adding any extra weight or conditions.

Perhaps she hadn’t seen Chu Wu in too long. Sheng Ruxi was a little confused about what she was thinking.

She had called Yan Fuzheng tonight, and Yan Fuzheng said, “If you like Jian Jixing, isn’t that a good thing? You two are a good match, it’s just that the beginning was wrong.”

Sheng Ruxi said, “No way, how is that a good thing? She doesn’t like me.”

“She didn’t say she doesn’t like you. You’re the one who’s always saying you don’t like her,” Yan Fuzheng laughed. “And liking Jian Jixing is a good thing. It’s just you who doesn’t like it. Go and look outside. Who doesn’t think it’s a great thing to be in a relationship with Jian Jixing?”

That sounded right, too.

If it weren’t for the constant confrontation that started in middle school, the arguments here and there with Jian Jixing…

And that absurd one-night stand.

If her and Jian Jixing’s relationship had started normally, maybe liking Jian Jixing would indeed be a good thing.

After all… Jian Jixing was very gentle when she took care of her.

She would always remember the way Jian Jixing told her stories, even though Jian Jixing named every protagonist “Little Xi.”

At this point, Sheng Ruxi knew why she couldn’t sleep tonight. It wasn’t just because there was no pheromone exchange with Jian Jixing, but also because there was no Jian Jixing’s lame story!

She thought she was so strange. She clearly didn’t like Jian Jixing’s nonsensical stories, but when Jian Jixing’s voice wasn’t by her ear, she really couldn’t fall asleep.

After another toss and turn, Sheng Ruxi got up.

She felt a little restless tonight. She looked down at her phone, and it was almost midnight.

No way, Jian Jixing, do you have to work so hard to grade a child’s homework? Sheng Ruxi turned on the light and sent a message to Jian Jixing, asking if she was back. There was no reply.

Was she being too serious, or did Jian Jixing forget that she promised to come over? A fire immediately rose in Sheng Ruxi’s heart. This vague anger finally overcame the unease Sheng Ruxi had been feeling.

She had thought that when she got to Jian Jixing’s room, she would at least see a light on, but the light was off. Sheng Ruxi knew that Jian Jixing was staying with Gu Shengci, so she had to give up the idea of knocking on the door.

That stupid Jian Jixing. I’m not going to talk to her anymore. She broke her promise. Sheng Ruxi looked at the dark window, pouted a little with a sense of grievance, but she was still ready to go back.

“It’s just a story. I can tell it myself…” Sheng Ruxi had just lowered her head and mumbled when she heard a group of people hurrying towards her from not too far away. There were about twenty of them, with two police officers on horseback leading the way.

Sheng Ruxi was stunned. She stood there. The people weren’t very clean. A few were even covered in dust. Vaguely, she heard them talking—

“Something happened. I told them not to go to that place. The rope wasn’t tied…”

“Sheng Ruxi! Sheng Ruxi!”

At the end of the group, Gu Shengci was holding an oxygen tank but was still out of breath as she ran over: “Jian Jixing, she…”

Sheng Ruxi’s heart was pounding. The restlessness she felt all night had now turned into reality. The sounds in her ears were blurred. She only heard a few words from Gu Shengci: “a little injured” and “when she went to pick Ganoderma lucidum…”

“She’s not in her room? Not in her room?” Sheng Ruxi suddenly grabbed Gu Shengci’s shoulder tightly. “Where is she?!”

Gu Shengci was startled. She stammered, “No, she’s not. She went out with the Ganoderma lucidum team tonight…” Did Sheng Ruxi hear anything she just said? It was the first time Gu Shengci had ever seen such an expression on Sheng Ruxi’s face.

Sheng Ruxi’s breathing became rapid. Gu Shengci held her back as she was about to run forward: “Calm down!”

More people were coming over. Their faces swayed in Sheng Ruxi’s eyes, but none of them were Jian Jixing’s.

It wasn’t until a few people carrying a stretcher came from the back.

In the thick, dull night, Jian Jixing’s face was a star that fell into her eyes.

Sheng Ruxi saw her in the crowd at first glance, even though Jian Jixing’s face was dirty. With a sudden burst of strength, Sheng Ruxi broke free from Gu Shengci and ran towards Jian Jixing.

As she ran, her heart beat faster and faster. Panic and a sense of relief mixed together. By the time she stood in front of Jian Jixing, these complex emotions had melded together, leaving only a throbbing sense of fear.

There was a large tear in Jian Jixing’s clothes, and the part of her pants below the knee was rolled up, wrapped in a layer of gauze. Her face and exposed arms had scattered small scrapes.

“Why are you still awake?” This was the first thing Jian Jixing said, with a hint of surprise in her tone. She subconsciously wanted to hide her injuries, but then she saw Sheng Ruxi’s hand rising.

Sheng Ruxi wanted to give Jian Jixing a hard slap.

Who told her to go out at night? Who told her to get herself into this state? In her anger and anxiety, Sheng Ruxi couldn’t say a single word. Slapping Jian Jixing was her first reaction. If she didn’t vent, she wouldn’t be able to let go of her emotions.

But seeing Jian Jixing like this, her slap felt like it landed on her own face, and all that fear turned into tears that streamed down her face.

Sheng Ruxi turned and walked away. After two steps, she stopped again.

Jian Jixing instantly understood what Sheng Ruxi meant. She said to Gu Shengci in a low voice, “Make sure the injured villager is taken care of,” and immediately followed Sheng Ruxi.