I'm a Professional at Being a Scumbag [Quick Wear] - Chapter 27.2

Le Yi had eagerly accepted a filming offer in the far north, only to be stranded when heavy snow blocked the roads, cutting off the entire crew from the outside world. Upon hearing the news, Chu Qiao abandoned a multi-billion-yuan project to rush to her rescue.

Chu Ji, the long-suffering partner, had been humiliated by his business associates. Vowing to resign the moment that ungrateful Chu Qiao returned, he stewed in resentment.

Le Yi and her assistant were trapped in a small village with no cell phone signal, unable to contact the director or other actors.

With the mountain sealed by heavy snow and the constant risk of avalanches, Le Yi and her assistant had no choice but to find a safe place. They never encountered the rest of the crew again.

Draped in thick cotton coats lent by a kind-hearted villager, they huddled together by a fire.

“Sis Le, when do you think this snow will stop?”

Le Yi glanced at the raging blizzard outside and pursed her lips. “Hard to say. At least three or four more days.”

Her assistant’s face fell, twisting into a bitter gourd.

“Be grateful we met these kind villagers. Otherwise, we might be corpses in the wilderness right now.”

The filming location was deep in the mountains, hours from the nearest village. Blinded by the snowstorm, they had lost their way. If not for the villagers who found them, they might already be in the next world.

Hearing this, the assistant quickly clasped his hands together and prayed devoutly, “Thank you, Heaven! This unworthy servant will eat vegetarian for a whole month when we return.”

Le Yi smiled, a sharp-featured face appearing before her eyes.

In truth, she felt surprisingly calm. Her only thought was that she must give Chu Qiao an answer as soon as she returned, to put an end to her anxiety.

The eldest sister returned from outside, shaking the snow from her clothes. “Aiyo, this weather is terrible! My ears nearly froze off just going out. And people are still running around looking for others—no sense of danger at all!”

She stepped aside and called to someone behind her, “Look, see if she’s one of them.”

The eldest sister was quite plump, her broad frame blocking the view. Combined with the snow in the air, Le Yi didn’t immediately notice the person behind her.

A face peeked out from behind the eldest sister, and when their eyes met, the stranger’s eyes curved into a smile.

“Yes.”

Chu Qiao’s voice, nasal and hoarse, carried through the wind and snow to reach Le Yi’s ears. In that instant, Le Yi felt a burning heat in her chest, as if something was about to burst out.

Le Yi stood up and walked toward her. Chu Qiao also approached, and they met in the courtyard.

“You still went out in this snow!” Le Yi pinched Chu Qiao’s frostbitten cheeks, feeling a warmth prickling her eyes.

Chu Qiao grabbed her hands, examining them carefully. Only after confirming she was unharmed did she let out a sigh of relief.

“I couldn’t rest until I found you.”

Le Yi smiled and draped her thick padded jacket over Chu Qiao.

“Feeling better now?”

Chu Qiao nodded, her nose, cheeks, and eyes all flushed red. Her hands were ice-cold, a clear sign of how long she had been walking in the snow. The villages in the area were clustered close together; she must have knocked on every door looking for her.

Da Jie insisted they go inside first and stop freezing outside. Le Yi led Chu Qiao inside, soaked her hands in warm water to restore their circulation, and only then let her warm herself by the fire.

Da Jie generously offered another padded jacket. Chu Qiao immediately transferred 10,000 yuan to her account.

Da Jie hastily refused, saying she didn’t expect any reward for saving someone. “If I took money, my intentions wouldn’t be pure.”

Chu Qiao insisted, saying, “You saved my sister. Any amount of money would be deserved.”

Da Jie smiled, remarking on their close sisterly bond. Chu Qiao chuckled along. Le Yi gazed at her profile, her heart swelling with warmth, and secretly clasped her hand.

That night, they slept on the heated kang bed. Chu Qiao clung tightly to Le Yi, burying her face in the crook of her neck, as if still haunted by fear.

“Before I came, I kept thinking that if something had happened to you, I might not have been able to go on. Thank heavens the heavens had mercy on me and didn’t take you from my side.”

Hearing her muffled voice, Le Yi’s heart trembled again. She could hear the ice cracking, and within it flowed a warm, tender affection.

Who could resist loving a puppy whose heart and eyes are filled with you, one who adores you with such intense devotion?

Le Yi had once thought she could resist, but now she realized she couldn’t.

“Qiaoqiao, aren’t you afraid?”

With such terrible weather, it was possible they might collapse before even finding anyone. Why was she so persistent?

Chu Qiao lifted her head from Le Yi’s neck, as if looking at her. In the darkness, Le Yi couldn’t see her expression, but she was certain that hidden within it was a deep love for her.

“I’m afraid. Very afraid,” Chu Qiao murmured, finding Le Yi’s lips and placing a kiss upon them. “But I’m even more afraid of something happening to you. I can’t lose you.”

Le Yi kissed her back, soothing her restless heart. The kiss lasted for a long, long time before finally ending.

“We’re almost finished filming here. When we get back to Xining, I have something to tell you.”

Le Yi nestled Chu Qiao’s fluffy head against her chest and gently patted her back.

Chu Qiao: “Can’t you tell me now?”

Le Yi considered for a moment and decided against it. Otherwise, she’d likely be pestered relentlessly.

“Go to sleep, sweetheart.”

“Sister~” Chu Qiao whined.

“Or would you rather sleep with Da Jie?”

Chu Qiao immediately settled down, clinging tightly to her, afraid of being abandoned.

Le Yi’s lips curved into a smile as she kissed her forehead.

“Goodnight.”

******

The third day brought clear skies. The three of them bid farewell to Da Jie. Before leaving, Chu Qiao tried to give her 10,000 yuan again, but this time Da Jie refused it, insisting on packing their bags with homemade treats instead.

After successfully reuniting with the main team, Le Yi sent Chu Qiao back. Reluctantly, Chu Qiao left, but not before teasing and bullying Le Yi mercilessly until she was too exhausted to protest.

The subsequent filming went smoothly, and they were back in Xining within a week.

Chu Qiao had reserved a table at a restaurant early and tried on over a dozen outfits, nearly missing the time to pick up Le Yi.

As Le Yi emerged from the airport, she spotted the most dazzling figure in the crowd and walked over with a smile.

Chu Qiao was dressed in a white coat over a white blouse and black trousers, accentuating her slender, perfectly proportioned figure. Her slightly long, gently curled hair was tucked behind one ear, drawing attention to her long, delicate neck.

She held a large bouquet of champagne roses, her smile radiant as she saw Le Yi, outshining even the flowers.

Le Yi stood before her, but before she could speak, she was enveloped in a hug. The sweet scent of roses filled the air, lifting her spirits.

“Sister, I’ve missed you so much.”

Le Yi’s heart softened, a smile spreading across her face.

“You’re dressed so maturely. Still acting so spoiled?”

Chu Qiao stiffened. “You don’t like it?”

Le Yi chuckled softly, her lips brushing against Chu Qiao’s ear. “I love it.”

She truly did. The mature attire softened Chu Qiao’s slightly sharp features, altering her demeanor in a delightful way.

Chu Qiao’s ears flushed crimson. “Let’s go home first,” she said awkwardly.

Le Yi released her, finding her arms filled with the bouquet of roses, her eyes lingering on Chu Qiao’s lovely smile.

Her heart felt sweet, like she’d eaten candy.

Le Yi thought to herself, Am I acting like a young girl experiencing her first crush? Thankfully, no one else knew.

After changing their clothes, the two went to enjoy a candlelit dinner.

A true candlelit dinner. Their corner of the restaurant was completely empty, the soothing music playing in the dimly lit ambiance.

Le Yi gazed at the flickering candle before her, sensing that Chu Qiao might be planning something.

Sure enough, after a few glasses of wine, Chu Qiao seized the moment and pulled out a ring.

“Sister, you…”

A loud burp escaped Chu Qiao’s lips. Whether from drinking too much or being too nervous, it was hard to tell.

Le Yi couldn’t suppress a chuckle, leaving Chu Qiao flustered and holding the ring awkwardly.

“Do you want to ask if I want to be with you?”

Chu Qiao had intended to propose outright, but Le Yi’s question made her realize they weren’t even girlfriends yet.

“Yes!”

Her voice was resolute, echoing Le Yi’s words.

Le Yi rested her chin in her hand, tilting her head with a languid, indifferent expression.

“But you don’t need a ring to confess your feelings.”

Chu Qiao’s heart pounded faster. Just as she was considering how to salvage the situation, Le Yi extended her hand.

“Here, put it on. I accept.”

The sudden happiness overwhelmed Chu Qiao, leaving her momentarily speechless. Le Yi, noticing her dazed expression, couldn’t help but tease, “What are you spacing out for? Having second thoughts?”

Chu Qiao quickly slipped the ring onto her finger, clasping her hand tightly. “Then you’re my girlfriend now.”

Le Yi gazed at her dazed expression, feeling something well up inside her. A rare blossom on an iron tree, and it’s fallen into a child’s hands.

Chu Qiao kept holding her hand, losing interest in food and drink. If they hadn’t been in public, she might have stuck herself to Le Yi.

Le Yi understood her intentions perfectly. She deliberately dragged out the evening, coaxing the little wolf cub into drinking quite a bit.

Chu Qiao had a better tolerance for alcohol, and the cool night air on the way home sobered her up quickly.

They entered the apartment one after the other, and Le Yi was slammed against the door. In the next instant, a pair of lips, still carrying the scent of wine, pressed against hers.

They kissed, neither yielding, until the air ran out and they parted, panting.

Chu Qiao’s eyes flickered as she spotted the box under the coffee table. “Sister, let’s try something different tonight.”

Before Le Yi could process the words, she was already being pulled onto the sofa.

Chu Qiao took out a box and retrieved something from it, her eyes widening with delight.

“You wouldn’t be…?”

Chu Qiao leaned closer, her gaze burning with passion as she stared at Le Yi. Le Yi’s heart skipped a beat, sensing something was off.

Chu Qiao’s blood raced, her eyes locked solely on her prey—Le Yi.

She pressed her body against Le Yi, trapping her against her arm, and kissed her forehead, nose, and lips.

After a lingering kiss, she began sucking kisses along Le Yi’s neck and collarbone, leaving a trail of red marks.

Her hand slid down from Le Yi’s shoulder blades to grasp her slender waist, pulling her deeper into her embrace.

“Sister, I love you so much.”

As Le Yi listened to her syrupy confession, her heart ached, and a slow anger began to simmer.

Just as her mind started to fog with daze, the cold air against her skin snapped her back to her senses.

Le Yi looked at the eager woman and thought, If I let her have her way, we’ll both be in the hospital tomorrow.

She swiftly grabbed Chu Qiao’s arm, twisted it behind her back, and pinned her to the sofa.

Chu Qiao turned to look at her, her eyes shining with unmistakable confusion.

Le Yi leaned closer. “I was too lenient with you before, letting you think you could push Sister around? Hm?”

Before Chu Qiao could respond, Le Yi captured her lips in a passionate kiss. After losing herself in the kiss, she smoothly took the toy from Chu Qiao’s hand and tossed it aside.

Sensing the toy had been taken, Chu Qiao tried to grab it back, but when Le Yi leaned down over her, she found herself speechless.

Feeling wronged, Chu Qiao whimpered, “Sister, how could you?”

Le Yi paused to retort, “How could I? You seem to be enjoying it just as much.”

Chu Qiao opened her mouth to protest, but Le Yi silenced her with a kiss. Her voice faded into fragmented gasps.

Knowing exactly how to tame her, Le Yi quickly left Chu Qiao without the strength to resist.

As they deepened their intimacy, Le Yi selected a toy from a box, her gaze darkening as she looked at Chu Qiao.

Chu Qiao stiffened. “No, you can’t.”

Le Yi lifted her onto the sofa, positioning her on her knees. Leaning against her back, she whispered, “Yes, I can. Will Qiaoqiao disobey her Sister?”

“Listen,” Chu Qiao replied, sounding aggrieved. “But this…”

Le Yi didn’t wait for her to finish before acting. Tears welled up in Chu Qiao’s eyes as she looked at Le Yi with pitiful vulnerability, her gaze tightening Le Yi’s chest and further eroding her self-control.

Chu Qiao’s legs were long and shapely, their muscular contours elegant. Her fair skin, luminous like polished jade, glimmered with an alluring radiance. As her calves swung in mid-air, swaying with the sofa’s bounce, Le Yi felt her throat go dry.

Chu Qiao turned to kiss her, the alcohol in her breath somewhat dissipated, but her lips and tongue remained feverishly hot. She murmured something, her expression utterly pitiful, but Le Yi seemed not to hear, consumed by a desire to burn through the night’s moments.

The sofa cushions, now damp, were discarded onto the floor. Le Yi clung to Chu Qiao, pinching her chin. “Do you like Sister?”

Chu Qiao nodded absently, tears still clinging to her lashes.

Le Yi gazed at the city lights outside the window, her hand pressed against the glass. “Do you like how Sister treats you?”

Chu Qiao didn’t answer immediately, only looking at her innocently. Le Yi knew she was deliberately trying to soften her heart. She tightened her embrace, and Chu Qiao bit her lip, the teetering tears finally falling.

“Qiaoqiao, answer me.”

Chu Qiao’s voice trembled. “Yes.”

The darkness in Le Yi’s eyes deepened, merging with the boundless night.

******

The water in the bathtub had grown cold, and the shock sobered Chu Qiao completely. She looked down at her hand resting on her waist, and memories from moments earlier flooded back.

She actually used that thing…

Le Yi was leaning against the bathtub edge, eyes closed, perhaps a little tired. She hadn’t even noticed the water had gone cold.

As Chu Qiao shifted, Le Yi’s eyes snapped open. “What is it?”

Chu Qiao pouted. “The water’s so cold.”

Le Yi quickly scooped her out of the tub, wrapped her in a large towel, dried her off, and helped her into bed.

Chu Qiao lay back, gazing at Le Yi’s slender ankles and delicate calves. Her throat tightened as the desire she had suppressed earlier reignited.

Le Yi tossed her bathrobe aside and climbed into bed, pulling Chu Qiao into her arms. “You must be tired. Go to sleep.”

Chu Qiao’s eyes sparkled, her voice husky. “I’m not tired at all, Sister.”

Le Yi looked down at her. “Hm?”

Chu Qiao grinned mischievously and sat up.

Le Yi blinked in confusion.

Chu Qiao raised an eyebrow. “Sister, listen.”

Le Yi strained her ears. From the next room over came indescribable noises.

In the two-per-stairwell layout, there were no actual neighbors next door, unless someone happened to be in the hallway…

Young people are so daring, Le Yi thought.

Chu Qiao leaned down and whispered in her ear.

“Did you hear that?”

Le Yi opened her mouth to speak, but Chu Qiao pressed a cool, slender finger to her lips.

“Sister, we can’t lose to them.”

Le Yi: ?

But Chu Qiao didn’t give her a chance to speak. Her fingers deftly slipped into her mouth, pinching her tongue.

While silencing her voice, she didn’t forget to fan the flames. Before long, Le Yi was locked in a shouting contest with the young woman next door, competing to see who could scream louder.

Chu Qiao was fiercely competitive. Whenever Le Yi’s voice faltered, Chu Qiao would unleash another brutal onslaught. Le Yi’s eyes welled with tears, her throat burning as if it were on fire.

The woman next door wasn’t about to back down either. The cacophony of voices rose and fell throughout the night, as if the two parties were locked in a stubborn standoff.

*****

The following afternoon, the four women—Le Yi, Lu Ning, Chu Qiao, and Du Yuan, ran into each other in the elevator. Le Yi and Lu Ning were mortified, while Chu Qiao and Du Yuan exchanged glances, neither willing to yield.

Le Yi’s film, released during the Spring Festival season, performed well, boosting her popularity. She was no longer just another faceless “18th-tier” actress.

Chu Qiao’s company continued to grow and prosper, her ranking on the global wealth list steadily rising, making her the hottest new star in the business world.

Qiao Sinian, coveting her wealth and status, relentlessly tried to matchmake her with Chen Shan. Chu Qiao remained unmoved, forcing him to turn his attention to Le Yi instead.

On the way home from the celebratory banquet, Le Yi was kidnapped. Chu Qiao was furious, nearly turning the city of Xining upside down in her search.

When she finally discovered it was her uncle’s doing, her patience for this relative ran out completely. She kicked him out of the country and cut off all financial and business support.

Qiao Sinian’s foreign companies had always been poorly managed, which was why he had set his sights on Chu Qiao. Now that he had lost her support, he was forced to declare bankruptcy. During the liquidation, he nearly lost everything, down to the clothes on his back.

Le Yi asked her, “Doesn’t it hurt to care so much about family?”

Chu Qiao hugged her, her voice gentle. “Nothing is more important than you. She can use me however she wants, but she shouldn’t have targeted you.”

Le Yi returned the embrace, feeling a profound sense of security.

The little girl who once needed her care had grown up, becoming capable and independent, now standing as her strongest and most reliable support.

In June of the following year, Le Yi was nominated for an award at a prestigious domestic film festival, albeit in the category of Best Supporting Actress. This was a bitter slap in the face to the company that had once shelved her career.

In September, she received another nomination, again for Best Supporting Actress. Yet her rising profile meant she could now be considered a second-tier actress.

More scripts came her way, and she carefully selected a few that she liked.

After all, she still had decades to live in this world. She needed something to pass the time.

But with Chu Qiao by her side, even decades didn’t seem so long.

During the New Year celebrations, Le Yi finally received a nomination for Best Actress, though it was for a television drama. Still, she was overjoyed.

At the banquet, she dazzled. People who had once sat in the back, looking up at her from afar, now came to toast her, offering their congratulations.

Le Yi accepted each toast with her brightest smile.

Zhu Qiong pulled her into a corner to escape the crowd, recounting their decade-plus of shared history with deep emotion.

After the banquet, as they walked out together, Zhu Qiong finally couldn’t hold back. “You and Chu Qiao…”

Le Yi shook the ring on her finger. “Just bless me.”

Zhu Qiong’s face paled, words failing her.

A little wolf cub suddenly darted out, eagerly being scooped into Chu Qiao’s arms.

Chu Qiao turned to look at Zhu Qiong, her eyes brimming with wariness.

“Don’t bother my sister. She’s already with me.”

As she finished speaking, she didn’t forget to take Le Yi’s hand. The two rings on their fingers emitted a dazzling light, and she wore a smug expression.

Le Yi couldn’t help but chuckle. I thought I’d grown up, but I guess I’m still childish at heart.

Before Zhu Qiong could say anything, Chu Qiao led Le Yi away. Le Yi didn’t turn back, waving with her ring-adorned hand.

Zhu Qiong straightened her cloak and muttered under her breath, “This place is fucking freezing.”

A coat, still warm from another’s body heat, was draped over her shoulders. She turned to see an actor she’d recently filmed with—a young woman full of vitality.

“Sister Qiong, you’re not wearing enough.”

Noticing the actress was only dressed in a formal gown, Zhu Qiong tried to return the coat, but her hand was stopped.

“If you give it back, I’ll cry.”

Zhu Qiong: “……”

“Does your home live nearby? I’ll take you home, and then you can give the coat back to me.”

After a moment’s thought, Zhu Qiong nodded.

She’d been drinking and couldn’t drive, so she let the young woman drive her home and return the coat.

Lost in her melancholy, she failed to notice the fleeting glint of malice in the girl’s eyes.

Chu Qiao pressed Le Yi into the car and draped a thick blanket over her.

“Are you cold?”

Le Yi shook her head. “Stop eating your heart out. Nothing’s going on between Zhu Qiong and me.”

Chu Qiao pouted. “How did you know I was jealous, Sister?”

Le Yi chuckled softly. “I raised you. I know what you’re thinking just by the look in your eyes.”

Chu Qiao wrapped her arms around her and whispered, “Does raising me mean you don’t care about me anymore, Sister?”

Le Yi, unsure what game Chu Qiao was playing, was about to ask when Chu Qiao cut in, “Sister, I don’t feel safe just being girlfriends. Let’s get married.”

Le Yi froze, then pinched her ear. “Aren’t we already married? We exchanged rings, had our honeymoon phase… Do I even have a proper status?”

Chu Qiao’s eyes lit up with amusement. “Sister, I want to kiss you.”

Le Yi hesitated. “This is a parking lot. People are coming and going…”

Chu Qiao silenced her with a kiss. Who cared? She had to act now; she couldn’t hold back any longer.

The moment their lips met, the System’s voice echoed in Le Yi’s mind:

[Warning: Host, due to prolonged neglect of System calls, this Small World will collapse in five seconds.]

Le Yi was stunned. She hadn’t even chosen to enter the next world, so who made this decision?!

The newly serviced System stood proudly, hands on hips:

Didn’t expect that, did you?

[I’m Hu Hansan, back from the dead, and I’m kicking you to the next world!]