Lie to Me Again - Chapter 13

“Songtang, do you have a fever?”

Qi Yuqiu reached out to touch Jiang Songtang’s forehead. Jiang Songtang didn’t dodge, sitting obediently and letting her check before repeating herself, “Let’s date. I want to try dating.”

She had never been in a relationship, she didn’t know what it felt like, and she didn’t even realize that dating usually required a formal confession.

Qi Yuqiu slowly withdrew her hand, staring blankly at her. Dating… dating her benefactor?

Heavens, she wouldn’t have dared to dream of it.

Is this really a good idea? she wondered. Does this count as having ulterior motives toward my boss?

If they actually dated and the benefactor suddenly pulled out a contract one day claiming she’d breached it, wouldn’t she be completely finished?

“Songtang, why the sudden change of heart? Last time, you told me not even to think about having ‘inappropriate thoughts,’ so why now…”

Qi Yuqiu hesitated, wondering what could have possibly triggered the big villain.

Jiang Songtang was so afraid of her having “ideas” that she had originally arranged for their rooms to be at opposite ends of the house. Every night, Qi Yuqiu’s legs would ache just from walking back to her own bed.

For someone so intent on staying “pure” for the original female lead, it was shocking that Jiang Songtang was now asking to date her.

Was this in the novel? Did the original Jiang Songtang do this too?

No wonder the female lead eventually got angry, the villain was literally dating the stand-in.

“That was then, this is now. Now, I want to date. Why? Do you not want to date me?”

By the time she reached the last sentence, Jiang Songtang’s gaze turned cold as she looked at her out of the corner of her eye. It was clear that a rejection would make her very unhappy, and when the boss was unhappy, everyone else suffered.

Qi Yuqiu pursed her lips. She was an actress. Although she was straight, they had become familiar enough over the past few weeks that she didn’t mind putting on a “dating” performance for her benefactor. After all, her acting career involved romance scenes anyway, so playing this role would be easy.

She was mostly just afraid of losing money.

Logic told her that Jiang Songtang was generous enough that she wouldn’t let her go bankrupt, but she still bit her lip, eventually speaking in a soft, hesitant voice, “If we’re going to date, our original contract probably needs an update.”

She lowered her gaze and said quietly, “After all, you once said you’d only give me resources. Now you want to date on a whim. What if you regret it later? Let’s sign a new contract.”

Even with a mind slightly clouded by alcohol, Jiang Songtang was sensitive enough to realize that Qi Yuqiu didn’t trust her.

A flash of irritation rose in her chest.

But she didn’t argue. She simply replied flatly, “Fine. He Xi will bring you a new contract tomorrow.”

Qi Yuqiu nodded. “Then I’ll start dating you tomorrow, Songtang.”

Jiang Songtang: “…”

Do you even like me a little bit?

“Suit yourself.”

Failing to get the answer she wanted immediately, Jiang Songtang’s expression darkened instantly. She stood up and walked away.

She had been drinking, and the rich scent of wine trailed after her. Fearing she might stumble, Qi Yuqiu hurried over to support her.

She received a stony-faced glare for her trouble.

Angry already? The boss really does have a short fuse.

“Songtang, let me help you. You’re wearing heels, the stairs aren’t safe.”

Qi Yuqiu held one of her arms while carefully placing her other hand on her shoulder. Since they weren’t “officially” dating yet, she didn’t even dare to put an arm around her waist.

Jiang Songtang didn’t reject the physical contact.

She knew that dating involved touching.

She wanted to date, she wanted that contact, she wanted the warmth of being held, and she wanted to move on.

After the long walk back to Jiang Songtang’s room, Qi Yuqiu had to drag her exhausted body all the way back to her own wing. By the time she finished washing up and checked her phone, her step counter showed five thousand steps, despite never leaving the house.

Originally, when Director Jiang told her not to hope for anything else, she thought the money was easy to earn. But now that the big boss herself was demanding a relationship, her mind was truly a puzzle.

Thinking about it, Qi Yuqiu drifted off to sleep.

Her routine was much more regular now.

Early the next morning, He Xi sent her the new contract for her review.

There weren’t many issues. It clearly stated she was a “stand-in girlfriend” and was expected to treat Director Jiang like a real partner. The contract duration: five months.

It seemed Jiang Songtang didn’t intend for this to last forever, only five months.

Qi Yuqiu continued reading until she saw the payout after those five months, and her eyes nearly popped out of her head.

Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands, millions…

Aside from the career resources promised during the contract, Jiang Songtang was giving her an additional eight-figure sum.

What “big villain”? This was clearly the best “Sugar Mommy” in the world!

Qi Yuqiu was moved to tears, but she didn’t forget to remind He Xi, “Remember to bring a lawyer when we sign.”

He Xi replied, “Of course, it’s my duty.”

Relieved, she happily headed downstairs.

Jiang Songtang was sitting at the table eating breakfast. Qi Yuqiu walked over to greet her, “Good morning, Songtang. Did you sleep well?”

Actually, she hadn’t. She had tossed and turned, wondering if her decision was right. Should someone who had never been in love start a relationship with a stand-in?

What did love even feel like? Would it make her feel worse than she did now?

She didn’t know the answers, so she had spent the whole night thinking.

But there was no need to tell anyone that.

Jiang Songtang simply nodded without saying a word.

Qi Yuqiu sat down beside her. Their breakfast was Chinese style: fluffy meat buns with thin skins, wontons, shrimp dumplings, and white congee with side dishes.

Seeing Jiang Songtang focus on her congee, Qi Yuqiu started on the wontons. She really wanted a meat bun, but she was joining a film crew in a few days and needed to watch her weight.

Also, Director Jiang’s threat to suspend her resources for a week had been dead serious. While Jiang Songtang was at the banquet yesterday, the production crew had bypassed her agency to contact her directly, informing her that filming had been delayed by a week. She just hoped the director wouldn’t hold a grudge against her when she arrived.

Who would have thought a “resource suspension” would be handled like that!

“Am I going to the office with you today?”

“You don’t want to go?”

Jiang Songtang swept an impatient glance over her, frowning. Is this what dating is like? If so, it’s quite boring.

“No, I have to sign the contract with He Xi anyway, of course I want to go. I’ll come with you.”

The big benefactor looked listless, as if she couldn’t summon interest in anything. She barely reacted to the news that they were going together.

She felt that dating wasn’t great at all, it felt no different from usual. So why did that person like it so much?

***

Qi Yuqiu followed the boss to the office. As soon as they saw He Xi, the assistant beckoned her over, bringing the Jiang Corporation’s legal team to sign the papers.

The lawyers looked at this woman who was about to become the boss’s girlfriend with great respect, not looking down on her at all because of the contract’s contents.

This was Jiang Songtang, after all. Since she took power, there had never been a single rumor about her love life. At thirty-five, her reputation was so clean it shocked everyone in her circle.

Now, someone had actually managed to get her to cave and sign a “couple’s agreement.” It was incredibly bizarre.

The first thought that entered the lawyers’ minds was that Director Jiang had been “captured.” To keep her young lover, she had even drafted such a lucrative agreement. It was clearly some sort of high-level romantic roleplay!

Dammit, they were now part of the “couple play.”

Qi Yuqiu read through every detail of the contract again, asking the lawyers about anything she didn’t understand before finally signing her name.

Once the name was signed, the contract was official.

From this day forward, she was Jiang Songtang’s girlfriend.

A real girlfriend, not just a stand-in who harbored a secret crush.

Qi Yuqiu blinked, and when she stood up, He Xi felt that something had changed.

“Alright, thank you for your hard work. You can get back to your tasks,” Qi Yuqiu said.

With that, she turned and walked into the Chairman’s office on her high heels.

Jiang Songtang was already buried in her work. Qi Yuqiu walked over of her own accord, leaned down beside her, and reached out to pinch Director Jiang’s firm, smooth cheek. “So hardworking! What do you want for lunch? I’ll go buy it. Do you want coffee? I’ll pour you a cup in a bit, okay?”

She finished with a light laugh and leaned in close, letting their beautiful faces brush against each other. Her actions were incredibly natural, showing no concern for the person she had just pinched, who was now frozen in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief.

She… she… what is she doing…

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