My Wealthy Ex-Girlfriend Knelt and Begged Me to Come Back [Entertainment Industry] - Chapter 75

Qiu Miaoran sat on the bench with her long legs elegantly crossed, one arm draped lazily over the armrest. She looked noble, yet nonchalant.

This path was rather secluded, with hardly anyone passing by.

A young boy walking past stopped, trying to strike up a conversation:
“Jiejie, are you here alone?”

Through her sunglasses, Qiu Miaoran cast him a cool glance.
“I’m not alone…”

“I’m with my girlfriend.”

The boy gave an awkward smile. “Sorry, I was just going to ask if you knew where the restroom is.”

Qiu Miaoran’s voice was cold:
“You should ask the cleaning staff over there.”

Her tone was far too dismissive.

The boy left, embarrassed, muttering to himself—these days, why was it so hard to find a rich, pretty older girl to talk to?

A few minutes later, a slim figure appeared in her sight.

Ji Jiayu was walking over, holding an ice cream cone in each hand. Her steps were light, her figure graceful, the hem of her dress fluttering and revealing slender, pale ankles.

She waved toward Qiu Miaoran, her voice crisp and sweet as she called out.

When Ji Jiayu sat down beside her, Qiu Miaoran naturally extended her hand.

“What are you reaching for?” Ji Jiayu pouted.

Qiu Miaoran’s fingers hesitated slightly, curling back. “Ice cream.”

“I bought two—chocolate and strawberry. Which one do you want?”

“Chocolate.”

“Not giving it to you anymore.” Ji Jiayu pulled both cones closer, retreating her arms from Qiu Miaoran’s reach.

“I was going to give you one, but now… I don’t feel like it.”

Her lashes lowered, her tone prickly. “Weren’t you just chatting happily with that guy? Let him buy you one.”

“That guy? I don’t even know him, he just asked for directions.”

Qiu Miaoran’s brows eased as she caught on to what Ji Jiayu really meant—

—Ah, she’s jealous.

The corners of her eyes softened, amusement glimmering in her gaze.

“I told him I was here with my girlfriend.”

Ji Jiayu didn’t respond, only handed the chocolate cone over at last.

“Mm.” Qiu Miaoran accepted it. “Thanks.”

Their fingertips brushed by accident.

The cone was cold, but the girl’s skin was soft. That faint touch sent a subtle itch tingling up her hand.

Qiu Miaoran held the cone, suddenly at a loss.

It was nothing like the mindset she had back in Fengzu Mountain…

Now, she was dating Ji Jiayu.

Somehow, without realizing it, her heartbeat had quickened—stirred awake, racing faster with every step closer the girl came.

Ji Jiayu licked at her strawberry cone. Her bright lips parted slightly, the tip of her pink tongue curling up a bit of ice cream. The cool sweetness melted smoothly between her lips and teeth—

It was strawberry, tangy and sweet.

She casually reached out, her fingers groping in the air, as if searching for something…

Maybe on purpose, maybe not—like she wanted to hold hands.

Their fingers brushed, a spark of tingling heat.

Qiu Miaoran stiffened. Her hand tilted to the side.

With a soft plop—

The chocolate scoop slid right off the cone.

Qiu Miaoran lowered her gaze. The cone was nearly empty now. Her lips parted slightly, murmuring, “It fell.”

Ji Jiayu froze, lifting her gaze with trembling lashes. “Was that my fault?”

“No,” Qiu Miaoran shook her head. “I wasn’t careful.”

Ji Jiayu pointed toward the dessert shop. “I’ll buy you another?”

“No need… I don’t really like sweets anyway.”

“Mm, I remember.” Ji Jiayu lowered her lashes, her voice dim. “You prefer light flavors.”

After a pause, something seemed to strike her. She blinked, her hazel eyes turning toward Qiu Miaoran.
“Want to try mine? Just a bite… if not, forget it…”

Before she could finish, her pale fingers holding the cone were caught.

Qiu Miaoran leaned in, suddenly closing the distance between them.

Her head dipped down, lips parting to bite gently where Ji Jiayu had left teeth marks on the cone.

The woman’s lips, still wet with melted ice cream, glistened faintly pink.

Behind her sunglasses, her dark eyes locked onto Ji Jiayu. She whispered hoarsely, her smoky voice low and sensual:

“Sweet.”

Was she talking about the ice cream, or the girl?

Heat spread from their joined hands. Qiu Miaoran’s palm was larger, dry and warm, wrapping around Ji Jiayu’s slender fingers, an ambiguous warmth passing between them.

Too close—

Ji Jiayu felt her mind blur, like she was floating, unable to find the ground.

The cool, sharp scent of sandalwood from Qiu Miaoran’s body engulfed her.

Then Qiu Miaoran let go, fingertips brushing hers as she pulled back.

“Thanks for the treat.”

She retreated, restoring the space between them.

Only then did Ji Jiayu realize—she really was dating Qiu Miaoran now.

It felt completely different than before—like a feather trailing over her heart, tickling, stirring, making her breath catch.

And yes—she had been thoroughly teased.

Her lashes fluttered. A faint smile curved her lips. “There’s something at the corner of your mouth.”

She crooked a finger at Qiu Miaoran.

The woman shifted, long legs moving as she leaned closer again.

Ji Jiayu’s tongue flicked at her ice cream, her gaze fixed straight on Qiu Miaoran. Slowly, she reached out, brushing a fingertip against the corner of her lips.

It didn’t wipe clean. She pressed a little harder, rubbing softly.

Qiu Miaoran didn’t move away.

Her lips tingled under the light tracing touch, half her face numbing with the delicate itch.

Time seemed to stretch, like a slow-motion film reel.

Ji Jiayu’s hazel eyes grew hazy, smoldering with faint allure. She finally drew her hand back—

“All clean.”

But she didn’t really withdraw. Her finger slid along Qiu Miaoran’s slender neck, sticky with ice cream, smearing faint traces across smooth skin as if wiping her hand on her.

Using her as a “napkin.”

She didn’t realize how tempting that was—

How a single brush across the throat could make someone shiver.

Her breath, laced with strawberry sweetness, fanned against Qiu Miaoran’s skin—

Hot. Uncontrollable. Desire brimming.

Qiu Miaoran suddenly tilted forward, closing the distance.

Her long fingers gripped Ji Jiayu’s chin, pressing into her soft cheek, holding her still.

Ji Jiayu’s lips parted slightly, helpless beneath the pressure.

Her lips looked plump and sweet, flushed red, waiting to be tasted—waiting to be savored with their melted sweetness.

Qiu Miaoran’s head lowered further, their breaths mingling.

From the moment her face was held, Ji Jiayu’s lashes trembled. She forgot to react, lips parted, caught under the unwavering gaze behind those sunglasses.

Beneath the shade of trees, two figures leaned closer and closer, almost touching.

Desire clouded them both. They forgot—this was a public place.

Click— A camera shutter.

In an instant, Qiu Miaoran grabbed Ji Jiayu’s wrist, pulling her up.

“Your mask—put it on.” Her brows furrowed lightly as she hooked the mask over Ji Jiayu’s face, tugging sunglasses from her own face to cover Ji Jiayu’s.

“This too.”

Before Ji Jiayu could even react, she was already being dragged along in a rush.

It all happened so fast the paparazzi barely managed a blurred shot.

Strangely, the celebrity Ji Jiayu seemed calm—

But Qiu Miaoran… she was the one truly flustered.

So careful, afraid Ji Jiayu would get hurt again.

The sun spilled down, stretching their shadows long.

They had run fast. Ji Jiayu’s chest heaved as she caught her breath. She tilted her head up, lips curving.
“Running like that—afraid of being photographed?”

“Mm…” Qiu Miaoran guided her inside, slowly removing the sunglasses from her face.

She folded them carefully. “I don’t want to affect you.”

That was surprising.

Years ago, when they were together, Qiu Miaoran had tried to keep her home, like a little pet, stopping her from working.

But now—

She knew better than to interfere.

They walked along a corridor.

Ji Jiayu’s lips curled in a teasing smile.
“So now you understand—you can’t affect me anymore?”

Qiu Miaoran’s tone was calm, though her eyes flicked sideways to meet Ji Jiayu’s playful gaze.

“I’m not…” She hooked the girl’s finger with her own. “I’ve already changed, haven’t I?”

“Then you…” Qiu Miaoran hesitated, then asked softly,

“Is there… someone else in your heart?”

She asked as if casually, but inside, she tightened with a sharp ache.

Did Ji Jiayu still… hold Ji Chen in her heart?

Ji Jiayu nodded lightly. “Yes…”

The light dimmed instantly in Qiu Miaoran’s eyes, her smile fading.

“—You.” Ji Jiayu paused, then spoke the next word softly.

“Yes. You.”

My heart has you.

Qiu Miaoran’s phoenix eyes narrowed, a spark reigniting in their depths.

Her sweet voice lilted in Ji Jiayu’s ears:

“I sometimes think… life is so absurd, like some old cliché romance drama. Even you—why did you cling to me so stubbornly?”

“Because I’m… stubborn,” Qiu Miaoran said quietly.

“Fine…” Ji Jiayu’s lips curved, “then I’m stubborn too. That’s why I kept treating you that way before. Honestly… I’m a prideful woman.”

If she gave in first, she feared Qiu Miaoran would get her and then toss her aside again.

She was scared—terrified of being abandoned once more.

“That’s fine,” Qiu Miaoran answered simply.

“I feel like… if you hadn’t chased me so relentlessly, we’d never have ended up together.”

Qiu Miaoran sighed. “That was my fault before. But since you turned back, we have a chance.”

“Right… I only took a small step toward you.” Ji Jiayu’s lips curved in a silent smile, dimples forming at the corners like a young girl’s innocence.

“Who knew you’d cling to me this much?”

Qiu Miaoran’s gaze sank, lingering on her.

Ji Jiayu’s pale ankles in white shoes stepped lightly along the dappled corridor. Sunlight flickered over her skin, making it glow.

Qiu Miaoran suddenly stopped, her voice low but firm.

“One small step is enough. I’ll walk the rest.”

“I can wait—as long as it takes for you to come to me.”

She had already walked far, and waited years.

“What if… back then…” Ji Jiayu bit back the word substitute, choosing instead:
“During those two years together, I never really gave my heart. Doesn’t that bother you?”

“It does.” Qiu Miaoran’s reply was soft.

“I could be a substitute. I’m good at waiting. But… don’t make me wait too long.”

Ji Jiayu faltered, her hand clenching slightly at her side.

“Qiu Miaoran…”

“You and I… it’s ridiculous.”

She lowered her gaze, struggling for words.

“You were wrong, I was wrong. Now it’s impossible to say whose fault it really was… And you’re not a ‘substitute’ anymore. I don’t even know when it started, but…”

“I kind of… like you.”

Qiu Miaoran blinked, faint surprise softening into a subtle smile at the corner of her lips.
“Just kind of?”

“Mm.” Ji Jiayu nodded, holding up her fingers to show a tiny gap.

“Only this much.”

Qiu Miaoran chuckled. “So little?”

Ji Jiayu pouted. “What about you, then? When did you start… liking me?”

“What do you mean?” Qiu Miaoran feigned ignorance, tone teasing.

Ji Jiayu huffed, poking her shoulder. “You always do this. Pretend you don’t understand.”

“Do I? I really don’t get it.” Qiu Miaoran toyed with a lock of her hair, her voice smooth. “So?”

Ji Jiayu frowned. “I asked when you started liking me.”

“And—back at my graduation. Why did you come to my school?”

“You didn’t… start liking me all the way back when I was in college, did you?”

She pulled up a photo on her phone, flashing it at her.

“Don’t deny it—I still have proof.”

The curly-haired paparazzo from before—caught and flipped later—had once been hired to tail Song Tingyu. Among the files was a photo—

Outside the university gates, Ji Jiayu and Ji Chen sat eating in a café.

And in the corner—Qiu Miaoran, sitting alone. A lonely rose beside her, a pitcher of beer at hand.

Ji Jiayu had asked before. Qiu Miaoran brushed it off.

Now, she pressed again.

Qiu Miaoran’s fingers stilled against her hair.

Ji Jiayu seized them, gripping tight.
“Tell me?”

Qiu Miaoran’s lashes trembled, eyes lowering to their entwined fingers.
“You’re holding my hand… Aren’t you afraid of being seen?”

Ji Jiayu ignored the dodge, her voice insistent, syllable by syllable:

“Tell. Me. The. Truth. No changing the subject.”

She was asking—why did Qiu Miaoran show up on her graduation day?

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