Make Her Heart Flutter - Chapter 8

As dusk gradually fell, the warm yellow lighting cast a particularly cozy glow inside the house.

Everyone was exhausted from the day and didn’t linger long. After chatting for a while, they each headed home, leaving only Jiang Qi and Chi Shuang behind.

Adhering to the golden rule of “cherishing life and staying away from the female lead,” Jiang Qi coldly tossed out a remark: “Good night, you should get some rest early too.”

“Wait a moment.”

Chi Shuang looked up at Jiang Qi on the stairs, her voice gentle. “What time should we leave tomorrow?”

It took Jiang Qi a moment to recall what Chi Shuang was referring to.

“Any time is fine, you decide,” Jiang Qi replied. Though inwardly flustered, her expression remained aloof.

“Alright then, shall we leave at 5:30? If we go later, we might not be able to buy fresh groceries.” Chi Shuang’s voice was soft, and as she finished speaking, the corners of her eyes crinkled slightly.

Once the time was settled, Jiang Qi returned to her room to grab clothes for a shower. Opening the wardrobe and finding it empty, she suddenly remembered that she was on a reality show, not at home.

Resigned, she went to the window to retrieve her clothes and coincidentally caught sight of Chi Shuang.

When they had first chosen rooms, Jiang Qi had left the master bedroom with the balcony and private bathroom for Chi Shuang, while she herself took the room with a small bay window.

Only now did she realize that sitting by the bay window gave her a clear view of Chi Shuang’s protruding balcony.

Chi Shuang, having just finished her shower, had her soft, long hair cascading loosely and was wearing a nightgown. Jiang Qi glanced briefly before averting her gaze and drawing the curtains.

See no evil.

That night, Jiang Qi didn’t sleep well. Unaccustomed to early nights and early mornings, she had woken up early for two consecutive days. The next morning, she yawned repeatedly, splashing cold water on her face twice to shake off the drowsiness.

Summer days dawned early, and by a little past five, it was already bright outside.

After washing up, Jiang Qi stood by the door for a while but heard no sound from Chi Shuang’s room. Hesitating whether to knock, she recalled Chi Shuang from the previous morning, how weary she had looked.

In the end, she couldn’t bring herself to knock. The moment that thought crossed her mind, Jiang Qi mentally crossed out the words “couldn’t bring herself.” How could she feel reluctant to disturb an Omega she had just met? Clearly, she just didn’t want any further contact with the female lead.

Getting through these three months smoothly was what mattered most. After that, the world would be her oyster.

Jiang Qi’s thoughts began to drift, but just then, a voice sounded beside her. Hmm… it sounded familiar.

“Waiting for me? I’ll just go change my clothes and be right out.” Seeing Jiang Qi standing silently at her door, Chi Shuang tilted her head.

Startled out of her reverie, Jiang Qi stiffly moved aside to let Chi Shuang pass. “After you.”

Chi Shuang: “???”

Seeing the subtle, almost teasing expression on Chi Shuang’s face as she entered her room, Jiang Qi nearly slapped herself in frustration.

What’s wrong with me? Standing outside someone’s door for no reason and getting caught. How embarrassing, does my face even hurt?

After mentally berating herself, Jiang Qi saw no way to salvage the situation and simply leaned against her own doorframe, waiting for Chi Shuang in resigned defeat.

Chi Shuang emerged wearing long pants and sleeves, clearly having changed in a hurry. As she stepped out, she tugged the hem of her shirt free from her waistband.

For a moment, a glimpse of her fair, slender abdomen was visible, delicate yet with well-defined contours.

Jiang Qi happened to catch sight of it and quickly averted her gaze. “Shall we go then?”

Chi Shuang glanced at her watch, 5:15. She smiled, “I didn’t expect you to be this early.”

Her smile was as refreshingly sweet as a gentle morning breeze on a summer day.

Jiang Qi was momentarily dazed, a sudden, inexplicable sense of nostalgia welling up inside her. It was an abrupt, unfamiliar emotion that left her feeling flustered and disoriented.

Tang Qiluo and Yan Xu had left a small electric scooter for them in the yard, a pink one, no less.

Jiang Qi inwardly cringed at the color and glanced at Chi Shuang. Chi Shuang raised an eyebrow quickly, “Do you know how to ride it?”

Miss Jiang, with her passion for all kinds of vehicles, had dabbled in sports cars and motorcycles during her time studying abroad. But a small electric scooter? Not so much.

Still, she figured it couldn’t be too different from a motorcycle. With that thought, Jiang Qi said, “I’ll give it a try.”

Though not phrased as a question, her tone was laced with uncertainty. Chi Shuang blinked and sighed helplessly, “I’ll do it. The scooter is borrowed from a neighbor.”

Clearly, Jiang Qi felt underestimated. Her competitive spirit flared up, and she completely forgot her resolution to keep her distance from the female lead. She swung her leg over the scooter and turned to Chi Shuang, “I can handle it. Get on.”

Chi Shuang hesitated for a moment before gripping the rear storage box and climbing on behind her.

As she felt the warmth of another body press against her back, Jiang Qi stiffened momentarily. But in an instant, as Chi Shuang adjusted her position, a small gap opened up between them.

Jiang Qi relaxed, her rigid posture gradually softening. Now came the challenge of actually riding the scooter. Miss Jiang, a natural, managed to master it quickly, though she wobbled a bit at first, by the time they reached the end of the narrow path, she was already riding with ease.

Outwardly, she maintained her usual cool and aloof demeanor, but inwardly, her peacock feathers were on full display. It was only after this internal preening that she noticed Chi Shuang had, at some point, grabbed the hem of her clothes.

Through the small mirror on the handlebar, she saw Chi Shuang’s hair tousled by the wind, her eyes half-lowered, long lashes casting delicate shadows beneath them.

Unconsciously swallowing, Jiang Qi shifted her gaze back to the road just as the scooter jolted over what might have been a small stone or something else.

Her heart raced.

The market wasn’t far, and it wasn’t large, just a street about three to four hundred meters long. But as the saying goes, “small but complete,” it had everything from large appliances and furniture to pots, pans, and bowls, with a dedicated section for fresh produce.

“Let’s buy groceries first, and then see what else we need on the way out,” Chi Shuang suggested.

Unlike city markets, rural ones usually close shortly after the morning rush. So, the place was bustling with people.

Jiang Qi and Chi Shuang, both strikingly attractive, along with the trailing cameraman and assistant, drew many sidelong glances. Yet, it felt as though an unspoken boundary had formed around them.

Miss Jiang’s farthest venture from the city had been to farm stays, and she was accustomed to having everything done for her. Watching Chi Shuang skillfully haggle over prices and select vegetables, she suddenly felt that this was what life should be like.

As the bags in Jiang Qi’s hands grew heavier, Chi Shuang finally stopped, wiping the sweat from her forehead. “That should be enough. It’ll last us two or three days.”

Jiang Qi nodded, “Ready to head back?”

Probably genuinely afraid they might starve, the production crew finally did something decent, their seasonings were already prepared, so there was no need to buy more.

Chi Shuang shook her head: “No rush, they’re most likely still asleep. Are you hungry?”

As she spoke the last sentence, Chi Shuang looked up at Jiang Qi, as if anticipating her response.