My Wealthy Ex-Girlfriend Knelt and Begged Me to Come Back [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 17

Qiu Miaoran turned her head to glance at Zhou Xianxian, lowered her lashes to the ground in thought for a moment.

Maybe… she really once had a female companion called “Xianxian.”

She did look familiar, but Qiu couldn’t remember clearly.

Qiu Miaoran didn’t deny Song Zheng’s words. Instead, she tilted her head, narrowed her eyes slightly, and looked back in his direction.

“President Song, what exactly do you want to play? Why not just say it straight…”

Why bother speaking in such a roundabout, sarcastic way?

Song Zheng’s lips curled into a smile, a trace of wickedness in it.

“What I mean is… it’s already my honor that President Qiu is willing to come join me at the racecourse today,”

“So this time, let’s make the most of it. Let’s not waste the chance—let’s play something big.”

Qiu Miaoran arched a brow, her gaze sweeping over him coolly.

“Fine. Since it was me who invited you to polo today, how about this: we bet five percent of the project’s investment returns. How about it?”

“President Qiu has brought that beauty with her again…” Song Zheng tightened his grip on Zhou Xianxian’s wrist, but his eyes locked onto Ji Jiayu.

His gaze slithered over Ji Jiayu like a venomous snake, scanning her inch by inch.

—This woman… really did look like the Lin family’s young miss.

President Qiu was truly amusing. Since she couldn’t get the real Lin heiress before marriage, she just found herself a substitute to warm her bed?

“President Qiu, you’re betting on five percent of the returns. But me—I want to bet on something else… If I win, then you and I switch companions. Let Xianxian keep you company for two days,

“And that little beauty in your arms comes to me for two days. A deal where I can’t lose. Surely President Qiu isn’t too scared to play?”

Song Zheng’s words were excessive—whether lust-fueled or just meant to provoke.

Qiu Miaoran lowered her eyes, her palm at Ji Jiayu’s waist damp with sweat, fingertips sliding faintly against her as if to soothe her.

The silence stretched for a full minute.

“All right. I’ll bet with you.” Qiu Miaoran’s voice came from beside her.

Ji Jiayu pressed her lips tightly, curling her fingers into her palm until her nails dug in and brought a faint sting.

Beside her ear, Qiu Miaoran’s warm breath brushed past, “Don’t worry. I’ll win.”

Ji Jiayu looked at her, brows curved, dimples shallow, smiling innocently. “Mm…”

“I trust you.”

But when her eyes lowered again, her gaze dimmed—Qiu Miaoran never once asked whether she was willing.

To be made a wager, to be treated as a thing to be exchanged… Was she only worth five percent of an investment return?

Ha. How laughable.

The sunlight today was especially glaring.

Too bright, stabbing at her eyes.

A humiliating, defeated feeling.

Thankfully she didn’t love her.

Otherwise, to be abandoned all over again…

How much more would it hurt?

…

That polo match, Qiu Miaoran and Song Zheng from Rentai Medical, plus their two project managers—four people in all.

In the end, Qiu Miaoran won.

But none of it mattered anymore.

“Seems my skills just weren’t enough.” Song Zheng pulled off his helmet, flinging the mallet in his hand. It hit the railing with a loud “clang.”

“President Qiu really is formidable.”

Qiu Miaoran held the reins in one hand, passed her mallet back to a staff member, then sat upright again, turning her head slightly to glance at Song Zheng.

“As long as President Song enjoyed himself, that’s enough.”

Song Zheng tugged his reins hard, steering his horse away.

“Click—President Qiu is magnanimous. I admit defeat.”

His dark-red horse suddenly reared up with a shrill neigh—

Startling Zhou Xianxian, who stood near the railing, making her stumble over something at her feet.

If Ji Jiayu hadn’t reached out and caught her, Zhou would’ve fallen flat on her face.

A pitch-black steed came pacing over,

Qiu Miaoran sat tall in the saddle, posture upright, her riding boots shining. Against the light, the setting sun outlined her with a faint halo of gold.

Her features were chiseled and noble, her face so striking it seemed unearthly, like a goddess descended, touched with a trace of sanctity.

Qiu Miaoran bent low, reaching her hand toward Ji Jiayu. “Come up.”

That hand—fingers long, joints distinct, skin pale and refined.

Ji Jiayu stared at it, her voice trembling at the end: “President Qiu…”

“I can’t get up.”

Not “can’t,” but “don’t want to.”

She was tired.

She hadn’t even done anything, yet she was so tired…

Maybe it was her heart that was tired.

Qiu Miaoran swung down from the horse, her boots crunching softly on the grass. She didn’t ask if Ji Jiayu wanted to or not. “I’ll lift you.”

Standing behind Ji Jiayu, taller by half a head, she made Ji Jiayu look especially small.

With ease, she wrapped her arms around her waist, lifted her up, and set her on the horse.

Ji Jiayu pressed her lips together, offering no resistance. The thin knit of her red vest lifted slightly in the motion, baring a sliver of narrow, pale waist.

So thin, her waistline sharply defined.

She could feel the callused fingers brushing against her skin, rough and tingling.

Afraid of falling, Ji Jiayu didn’t dare struggle.

Qiu Miaoran mounted behind her, reaching around Ji Jiayu’s arm to take the reins, enclosing the girl completely in her embrace.

Lowering her head, her breath fanned Ji Jiayu’s ear, stirring loose strands of hair. “Lean on me.”

Ji Jiayu leaned back, her whole being engulfed in Qiu Miaoran’s scent.

She had broken a sweat earlier.

The sandalwood fragrance on her, mixed with shampoo, was even more intense now.

—Once so intoxicating when they were entangled. But now, that scent pressed against Ji Jiayu’s chest like a weight.

“Hold tight.” Qiu Miaoran pulled the reins sharply.

“Da-da-da—” Hooves thundered across the turf, the black steed galloping with both of them astride.

In Ji Jiayu’s ears, the system’s familiar voice rang out—

【+3 Life Points. Congratulations, Host. Total Life Points have reached 70%. When Life Points reach 85%, the next stage will unlock: The Self-Cultivation of a Substitute.】

To hell with your “self-cultivation”…

“President Qiu…” Ji Jiayu bit her molars, her fingers clenching and loosening again.

“President Qiu, I don’t want to ride anymore.”

“You’re jostling me too much…” Her voice was soft and fragile.

At last, she said it.

Qiu Miaoran reined in the horse, slowing until it stopped.

She dismounted, lifting Ji Jiayu down into her arms.

Holding her, she couldn’t stop thinking about the sensation earlier—

The soft, sweet girl, so tiny in her embrace,

Breath hitching with every bounce of the horse, her exhalations honey-sweet.

She seemed made of sugar—whatever she did, she carried that tempting sweetness.

Qiu Miaoran lowered her gaze, her dark eyes reflecting the girl’s image:

Her delicate collarbones framed by the thin straps of her red top,

At this closeness, even each curled lash was visible, perfectly matched with subtle earth-toned eyeshadow.

“Red suits you… Don’t wear your makeup too heavy from now on.”

“…Okay,” Ji Jiayu answered softly.

It seemed Qiu Miaoran didn’t like heavy makeup on her—

She preferred her barefaced.

Preferred her barefaced when she kissed her forehead.

Qiu Miaoran murmured, her hand still resting on Ji Jiayu’s waist, fingertips caressing.

“Stay with me another day tomorrow, Jiayu.”

As if she had forgotten—she had already taken Ji Jiayu down from the horse,

Already held her far too long,

And really should have let go…

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