Make Her Heart Flutter - Chapter 39

The basin in her hands overflowed with the fragrant aroma of zongzi. The director beckoned the staff in the control room to come and eat the sticky rice dumplings, then set aside the remaining ones for those who hadn’t gotten any yet.

On the way back, Jiang Qi pulled out her phone and sent a message to Lin Wei. A reply came not long after.

[Lin Wei]: Boss, I think I deserve a raise.

Jiang Qi raised an eyebrow but hadn’t replied yet when she immediately saw the next message.

[Lin Wei]: I feel like I’m practically a talent agent in the entertainment industry now, so I want more money.

[Jiang Qi]: Year-end bonus doubled.

[Lin Wei]: Got it, boss. Goodbye, boss. I’ll make sure the service satisfies you.

A slight smile tugged at Jiang Qi’s lips, her mood clearly lifting.

Earlier, she had borrowed the director’s phone to skim through a few comments, nothing but people saying her relationship with Chi Shuang was so fake it couldn’t be faker.

Because of her accidental “like,” in the eyes of Chi Shuang’s fans, Jiang Qi was the malicious CEO who, unable to attain love, sought to destroy it.

Meanwhile, in the eyes of Jiang Qi’s fans, Chi Shuang was the clingy star who forcibly attached herself to the CEO, only to have the original poster personally step in to tear down the CP.

The once-thriving CP fans, who had been riding high just days before, were now trembling in the cracks, caught in the crossfire.

“I delivered them to the director,” Jiang Qi said as she stepped into the courtyard, addressing Chi Shuang.

“Alright, this batch is just about done,” Chi Shuang replied, lifting the lid of the pot and scooping out the zongzi. “Take them to the dining table. I’ll cook another pot of the savory ones.”

Jiang Qi nodded, and as she took the enamel soup bowl, their fingers brushed lightly against each other.

It was just an accidental touch, but to Chi Shuang, it felt like a drop of water suddenly falling into a tranquil lake, sending ripples spreading through her heart.

The warmth of the fingertips lingered. On the surface, Jiang Qi remained calm as she carried the zongzi to the table. Then she returned to the kitchen and stopped the cameraman who was about to enter. “It’s a bit crowded in here. No need to come in.”

Facing the cameraman, Jiang Qi wore her usual cold, icy CEO expression. The cameraman quickly nodded obediently, afraid that a second’s delay might cost him his pay.

He stood outside for a long time before it finally dawned on him: his salary wasn’t actually paid by this CEO Jiang.

“It’s so hot in here, why did you come back?” Chi Shuang asked, tossing another log into the stove. As she turned to get something from the refrigerator, Jiang Qi pushed her into a corner.

“What are you doing?” Chi Shuang barely had time to react. She braced herself for the impact against her back, but instead, a pair of arms wrapped around her, pulling her into an embrace.

“Don’t move,” Jiang Qi whispered, her warm breath brushing against Chi Shuang’s ear.

She casually switched off both their microphones.

“Are you crazy? There are cameras!” Chi Shuang tried to push her away but was held tightly. She could only lower her voice to protest.

Jiang Qi pouted. “This is a blind spot.”

Chi Shuang relaxed slightly and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry,” Jiang Qi mumbled, her voice tinged with a hint of grievance.

Chi Shuang’s heart softened, and her voice followed suit. “What happened?”

“This morning, while scrolling through Weibo, I accidentally liked a video of our CP.”

That was indeed a bit troublesome. There was a fundamental difference between fans shipping a couple and the actual people involved stepping into the fray. But Chi Shuang didn’t really mind. If she and Jiang Qi ended up together for real, she would go public with it anyway.

What worried her more was Jiang Qi, she might get flamed by Chi Shuang’s fans.

“Oh… and then? What kind of video? It wasn’t… that kind of fanfiction, was it? Did you get hate?”

Jiang Qi shook her head. “It’s a tragic-ending video, not a steamy story. And it’s not just me who got criticized, both of us were targeted.”

Chi Shuang fell silent.

“That’s why I’m upset,” Jiang Qi said, lowering her eyes with an innocent expression.

For some reason, Chi Shuang felt a pang of heartache seeing her like this and agreed to whatever she said.

But by the time she remembered that Jiang Qi was the one at fault and that she was the one who had to be coaxed, she was already pinned against the wall.

A pair of red lips descended, and the only thought left in Chi Shuang’s mind was: Let me die in this kiss.

It had to be said… Jiang Qi was terrifyingly adept at this without ever having been taught. From the clumsy first time Chi Shuang was forcefully kissed, she had now become proactive and assertive, kissing her until she was utterly disoriented and lost in the moment.

When they finally parted, Jiang Qi mischievously nipped her lower lip.

Chi Shuang couldn’t hold back her frustration. “How come you start acting all spoiled and arrogant the moment you become a candidate? Be careful, or I’ll disqualify you.”

But her voice, still soft and alluring from the kiss, carried no threat at all.

A glimmer of amusement sparkled in Jiang Qi’s eyes, radiating satisfaction. “Alright, I’ll go dish up the zongzi. Otherwise, they’ll all come in asking what we were up to.”

Feeling “threatened,” Chi Shuang simmered with indignation but held her temper in check. Just as she was about to carry the zongzi out, Jiang Qi, holding a spatula in her left hand, brushed her right hand across Chi Shuang’s cheek and wiped the moisture from her lips with her thumb. “There.”

Chi Shuang felt as if she were on the verge of a heart attack. What is all this?

Wasn’t she the one who initially left the other utterly defenseless? How did the dynamics shift, as if someone had flipped a switch in that person?

Chi Shuang carried the zongzi out, while Jiang Qi stayed behind to wash the pot.

A short while later, Jiang Ran leaned against the glass door of the kitchen. “Sister Jiang Qi, the director said your mic isn’t working.”

Only then did Jiang Qi remember and casually acknowledged it, turning her mic on before ignoring it again.

She didn’t notice Jiang Ran sneaking into the kitchen, turning off her own mic, and reaching out to turn off Jiang Qi’s as well.

Tall and alert, Jiang Qi didn’t let Jiang Ran succeed and frowned. “What are you doing?”

Jiang Ran wasn’t bothered and beckoned for her to lower her head, wearing a sweet smile. After a moment’s hesitation, Jiang Qi turned off her mic and bent down.

The moment Jiang Ran made that expression, Jiang Qi knew she was “up to no good.”

Sure enough, Jiang Ran lowered her voice and asked, “What were you and Sister Chi Shuang doing in the kitchen earlier? I went to the studio just now, and the surveillance footage showed neither of you. Weren’t you both in the kitchen when I left?”

“Then the director told me your mics had no sound and asked me to check. When I came back, I still didn’t see either of you, and then you both emerged from the kitchen. Isn’t that strange?”

Jiang Ran spoke vividly, as if she had uncovered some great treasure. Jiang Qi, standing beside her, shot her a glance. “Oh? And then?”

Jiang Ran nudged her with an elbow. “So, what were you two doing?”

Jiang Qi calmly pointed at the pot. “Do you think the zongzi cooked themselves and jumped onto the table?”

“That wouldn’t take that long, and neither of you were near the pot!” Jiang Ran persisted, determined to make her ship admit they were real.

“Believe what you want. By the way, if you’re so free, why don’t you wash the pot lid in the sink?” Jiang Qi said coldly and mercilessly.

Jiang Ran pouted, rolled up her sleeves, and struggled with the pot lid in the sink, all the while thinking: Hmph! Just wait, I’ll make you admit that you two are really together!

“Bullying Ranran again?” Chi Shuang glanced at Jiang Qi with a half-smile.

Jiang Qi smoothly turned to an angle where the camera wouldn’t capture her face, then pitifully hooked Chi Shuang’s sleeve with her little finger.