Make Her Heart Flutter - Chapter 5

Tang Qiluo followed the rules and had ten gold coins.

Next was Jiang Qi, who waved the gold coins in her hand: “Twenty.”

Shang Chumu snatched them in disbelief and counted them himself, his expression stiffening: “How is Sister Jiang so good at finding things too? I have the least.”

Chi Shuang silently stared at the single gold coin in her hand, lost in thought.

The director then announced: [One gold coin can be exchanged for one hundred yuan here. This will be your living expenses for the next three months.]

Chi Shuang: “…”

She fell silent once again. Jiang Ran blinked at Chi Shuang: “Don’t worry, Goddess, I’ll take care of you!”

Chi Shuang looked at the playful and adorable Jiang Ran, smiled, and reached out to ruffle the stray hairs on her forehead: “Really?”

The director spoke again: [Everyone will form pairs. You can now split into groups.]

Shang Chumu pitifully raised his hand and looked at Jiang Qi: “Sister Jiang, please take care of me!”

Jiang Qi thought for a moment. Teaming up with Shang Chumu wouldn’t be a bad idea, it could also help her avoid the possibility of pairing with Chi Shuang, so she agreed.

The six quickly formed their groups: Chi Shuang and Jiang Ran as one pair, Jiang Qi and Shang Chumu as another, and Tang Qiluo and Yan Xu as the third.

The production team quietly watched everyone form their teams before continuing: [Everyone will draw lots to determine the pairs. Please come over one by one to draw.]

Confusion was written all over their faces. Tang Qiluo asked, puzzled: “Didn’t you say we could form our own groups?”

A voice came through the loudspeaker: [That’s right. I said you’d be grouped, not that you could choose your own groups.]

Shang Chumu widened his eyes and jokingly rolled up his sleeves: “Look at this! Is that even human language? Playing word games with us!”

The production team burst into laughter off-camera, and even Jiang Qi was left speechless. The book only mentioned Jiang Qi using tricks to team up with Chi Shuang, it never said the production team would be this mischievous. Still, for the sake of the show’s entertainment value, she could understand.

Resigned, everyone went to draw lots. Jiang Qi, noticing a pink mark at the bottom of her stick, asked curiously: “What does this mean? Do the same colors form a team?”

Tang Qiluo looked at the blue mark on her stick and smiled at Yan Xu: “We’re still together.”

Yan Xu nodded: “I’m happy to be teamed up with you.”

“What? The two of us are a team?”

Shang Chumu and Jiang Ran stared at each other in disbelief. Even the usually stoic Jiang Qi couldn’t help but crack a smile, thinking to herself that these two together could probably tear the roof off.

As she watched the lively scene, Jiang Qi suddenly realized something and stiffly turned to look at Chi Shuang.

“So, it’s just the two of us, Xiao Qi.” Chi Shuang waved her lot with the pink tip and smiled.

Xiao Qi!

Jiang Qi repeated the nickname in horror internally, but when she saw the smile on Chi Shuang’s lips, her words came out as: “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of you.”

After saying this, she silently shed two lines of tears in her heart. This is the end, wasn’t the plan to stay away from the female lead? Now, not only are we teamed up, but I even promised to take care of her. What is this, a wedding vow?

Yan Xu blinked and whispered to Tang Qiluo: “I think I’m shipping them.”

Jiang Qi grumbled inwardly: Do you think your voice is so soft? Everyone heard you!

The director spoke again: [Everyone can go to the corresponding house based on the color you drew. From now on, the production team will no longer manage your daily lives. Please make sure to use every cent in your possession wisely.]

Jiang Qi understood, this was essentially leaving them to fend for themselves.

Behind the large courtyard stood three smaller ones, each marked with a pink, blue, or yellow flag.

Chi Shuang pointed to the middle courtyard. “Here. Our home is here.”

Jiang Qi blinked, repeating the words in her mind… our home?

Each courtyard contained a two-story Western-style house with two bedrooms, a private bathroom, and its own kitchen. However, the kitchen was equipped with a wood-burning stove.

Everyone had already returned to their respective houses, leaving only Chi Shuang and Jiang Qi alone together.

“The production team must have done this on purpose, but at least we’ve got lunch sorted,” Chi Shuang muttered, pouting as she lifted the lid of a brand-new cast iron pot.

Jiang Qi asked curiously, “How did you know?”

Chi Shuang smiled. “The bathroom. It has a water heater and a toilet, so there’s no way there wouldn’t be an induction cooker. Even if there isn’t, there should at least be a gas stove. Look, you can even see traces of one here on the countertop.”

Jiang Qi suddenly understood and praised sincerely, “You’re really impressive.”

Meanwhile, backstage, the production team glanced silently at the several large gas canisters and induction cookers they had gathered.

“It’s nothing impressive, just common sense,” Chi Shuang replied with a light laugh, a hint of appropriate shyness coloring her expression at the compliment.

Jiang Qi felt as though the words “lacking common sense” had been stamped heavily on her back, stinging her deeply.

After touring the house from top to bottom, the two returned to their respective rooms to unpack.

Once in her room, Jiang Qi’s face clouded with worry. On the very first day, things had already gone awry, not only was she paired with Chi Shuang, but they were even living together.

How was she supposed to carry out her plan to stay away from the female lead now? No matter how much she tried to distance herself, they were still roommates.

In her own room, Chi Shuang hummed a tune as she neatly arranged her clothes in the wardrobe before changing into casual wear. She opened the window to let in fresh air, and as sunlight poured in, it seemed to chase away all the gloom.

Sunshine, a gentle breeze, mountains surrounding them, the air was surprisingly fresh. Chi Shuang’s ever-present smile faded, and a deep gloom settled in her eyes.

Just as Jiang Qi finished unpacking, she heard Shang Chumu’s voice from the courtyard: “Sister Jiang! Sister Chi! Are you ready yet?”

Hearing the call, Jiang Qi stepped out of her room just as Chi Shuang emerged from across the hall.

Chi Shuang’s dimples appeared as she smiled. “Shall we go down together?”

Jiang Qi nodded without a word and walked ahead of Chi Shuang. Though she appeared aloof on the outside, her mind was in turmoil, and a faint blush crept up the back of her neck.

Snap out of it! Don’t be bewitched by her smile! Jiang Qi screamed internally.

But she smiles like an angel!

It felt as though two little figures had emerged inside her, each arguing their own point.

Chi Shuang also noticed the faint blush coloring Jiang Qi’s slender neck. Avoiding the cameras, a flicker of confusion crossed her eyes.

After a few steps, Jiang Qi suddenly turned back, her voice cool and composed, maintaining her usual aristocratic tone. “Um… for our team, why don’t you handle the funds? I’m not very good with accounting and such. If I were in charge, we probably wouldn’t make it through the month.”

Chi Shuang didn’t respond immediately, studying Jiang Qi’s expression as a growing sense of strangeness stirred within her.

Was this the Jiang Qi she knew?

Seeing Chi Shuang remain silent, Jiang Qi lowered her gaze, fiddling with the hem of her clothes. Just as she was about to speak again, Chi Shuang responded, her tone carrying a hint of coquettishness: “I’m holding you back, I only found one gold coin.”

Jiang Qi swiftly turned her head and tossed out two words: “You’re not.” Yet, despite her calm and aloof tone, she walked down the stairs with an awkward, uncoordinated gait.