The Scandalous Actress Needs to Strive GL - Chapter 28

Mu Qingchen, All she got in return for saying so much was “A pleasant cooperation”? This woman was truly… truly made it impossible to be a little bit happier.

A minute later, her phone vibrated slightly. The CEO Mu looked at the message the other person sent and fell into deep thought.

Qiu Wan: Are you thinking of me?

Thinking of her? Mu Qingchen looked out the window, the image of Qiu Wan flashing in her mind. So, it was longing? How should she reply? If a person repeatedly fails to cross a suspension bridge, is it just an ordinary physical effect, or has liking developed?

Mu Qingchen: I’m not thinking of you.

“Heh”

Qiu Wan couldn’t help but chuckle. The proud CEO Mu was quite endearing. She played with her hair, and then, feeling it wasn’t enough, she went to the mirror to carefully tidy herself up before starting a video call.

The moment the video connected, she looked at the tight-lipped, expressionless CEO Mu, a slight smile curving her lips as she said gently, “If you’re thinking of me, then come find me.”

“I’m not thinking of you.” Mu Qingchen frowned. Why was this woman so narcissistic? She had already said she wasn’t.

“But I’m thinking of you. I want you to come and give me a hug.” Qiu Wan blinked, murmuring softly. Looking up, her eyes seemed to hold captivating scenery.

What to do if you encounter someone who is being deliberately contradictory? This was a question she knew the answer to. She’d express it for them and play along with their pretense until they couldn’t pretend anymore.

Mu Qingchen’s lips slightly curved, but instantly returned to a state of indifference, as if that fleeting moment of good mood was just an illusion. She moved her gaze from her phone to the computer on her desk.

After a moment of silence, she replied with what sounded like reluctance, “Fine. Remember, this is just a transaction where we both get what we need.”

“Alright, just a transaction where we both get what we need. I need you, so… come early.” Qiu Wan didn’t expose the other’s clumsy act, because she seemed to have discovered CEO Mu’s unique way of expressing herself. Being deliberately contradictory? How cute.

After the video call ended, Mu Qingchen’s lips unconsciously curved upwards. She raised her hand to touch her inexplicably flushed cheek, thinking that this woman could sometimes make people happy. Although she really didn’t want to admit it, she was genuinely happy at this moment.

Late at night, Yu Baishu routinely checked her phone before going to sleep to see if there was any urgent work. Then she saw a message from the CEO.

CEO Mu: Arrange it. Going to B City tomorrow.

B City! Booking the flight, adjusting the schedule, all done in one go. She didn’t forget to quietly ask, “Is the CEO going alone?”

CEO Mu: Yes.

Yu Baishu: Alright, the flight is at 8 AM tomorrow morning. I’ll pick you up at the airport at 7.

CEO Mu: Earlier.

Yu Baishu: Okay, there’s a 6 AM flight tomorrow morning. I’ll pick you up at 5.

CEO Mu: That works.

Yu Baishu held her phone, desperately wanting to ask if this counted as overtime and if she’d get a raise. Their CEO was truly addicted to that Qiu Wan, an incurable addiction.

But why was she a little excited? Was she too lonely? She was actually getting a kick out of shipping a couple (CP). No, she had to share this news with that woman Jin Wen. This joy must be shared.

So, Qiu Wan saw a message of excitement from her manager.

Jin Wen: Ah! Qiu Wan, you’re the best. Sis didn’t misjudge you after all.

Qiu Wan: ?? What do you mean?

Jin Wen: CEO Mu is going to B City tomorrow morning. Is she coming to visit you on set? It must be.

Qiu Wan: If Sister Jin says so, then it definitely is.

She put down her phone, remembering the always serious Mu Qingchen in the video, and silently chuckled. So, she was an impatient one after all. It was truly something to look forward to.

During the live stream the next day, the audience noticed that Qiu Wan seemed to be in an unusually good mood. A soft, gentle smile always hung on her face. Even towards Brother Wang, who was constantly provoking her with words, she just smiled without a word, a stark contrast to her previous attitude of ignoring him.

At this time, in the bullet screen comments:

/Ah, I’m a fan, just for this beauty/

/Who doesn’t love a beautiful and talented young woman/

/Don’t forget this vase is a player, she’s probably about to target someone/

/The person above, did you just get internet access? Who still calls Qiu Wan a vase? Her acting on the trending topics list beats a lot of popular stars/

/She’s still a vase, but a talented one. Smiling so beautifully means she’s about to target someone. I won’t accept any counterarguments/

The Production Team: To be honest, we have that same feeling too.

Brother Wang: I suspect this woman wants to use her beauty to confuse my rationality, to make me defect. I won’t compromise. Vases forever blacklisted.

If Qiu Wan could hear his voice, she would definitely say: “I sincerely thank you.”

After filming this scene, Qiu Wan, mindful of CEO Mu’s message, immediately excused herself and returned to her room. Sure enough, she saw a message from Mu Qingchen.

XX Hotel, the same hotel as last time, the same luxury suite.

After reading it, she felt a slight disappointment that she hadn’t come to the filming location. But considering how quickly the other person had rushed over, she would reluctantly forgive her.

At lunchtime, Lai Su looked at the beautifully dressed Qiu Wan and exclaimed with surprise, “I was just thinking of asking you to go shopping this afternoon during the break! We truly are soulmates. Wait for me, I’ll be ready in a minute.”

She finally got the chance to go out with her little sister-friend. Sure enough, Heaven did not fail her. The next second, Lai Su was speechless: “Heaven, you failed me!”

“I’m going to see a friend. Next time we’ll go together.” Qiu Wan smiled apologetically and left without hesitation. She wanted to go early so they could have lunch together, to avoid making CEO Mu wait too long.

The reunion was not the relief of longing Qiu Wan had imagined. Instead, the two ate lunch in silence, adhering to the principle of ‘no talking while eating.’

She couldn’t get enough of watching the person who ate so meticulously, like a well-behaved student. Mu Qingchen, constantly under the invasion of her gaze, managed to eat her lunch while maintaining a strong composure.

Then, with a cold face, she asked sternly, “Why do you keep staring at me?”

Qiu Wan stood up, walked behind CEO Mu, reached out to wrap her arms around her shoulders, and said in a drawn-out tone, “Because… I missed you.”

Mu Qingchen didn’t move. Only when Qiu Wan’s hand slowly massaged her earlobe did she speak, her voice tight, “You seem very casual about saying such direct words.”

“Because I want to live more earnestly and more unrestrainedly.” Before she finished speaking, Qiu Wan’s hand had moved to CEO Mu’s collar and slowly unbuttoned a shirt button.

She wasn’t a hedonist, but she lived a free and easy life. Why should a person be constantly bound by unnecessary rules and regulations? Like CEO Mu, always so rigid, had she ever thought about allowing herself pure joy?

Mu Qingchen didn’t stop the hand that continued to unbutton her shirt, but she subconsciously frowned, “Are you implying that I don’t live earnestly? Or freely?”

“No, not at all. Qingchen is the most earnest and unrestrained person I’ve ever met.” Qiu Wan chuckled, her eyes filled with fervent desire. The movement of her hands subtly sped up. Of course, she was implying it, and of course, she couldn’t admit it. Otherwise, the proud CEO Mu would probably hide herself in a shell, which would be a headache.

Mu Qingchen: She felt like she was being complimented, but why wasn’t there any joy from being praised? She always felt that this woman was using reverse psychology to mock her, but she had no evidence.

The moment the shirt was thrown by the bed, she grabbed the hand that was causing mischief around her waist and emphasized, word by word, “I came to visit the set because you said you missed me.” So it wasn’t because I missed you. Don’t get the cause and effect confused.

Qiu Wan didn’t speak and continued her actions. She half-pushed and half-coaxed Mu Qingchen onto the bed, and considerately indulged CEO Mu’s pretense of seriousness by pulling up the blanket.

Without light, the two quietly looked at each other under the blanket, their breaths intertwining. She reached downwards, finding the edge of the last piece of clothing, then lightly caressed it through the thin fabric, whispering, “I know. Qingchen might not have missed me, but little Qingchen missed me.”

“Little… Qingchen?” Mu Qingchen’s voice was low and hoarse, with confusion. What in the world was “little Qingchen”?

Qiu Wan meaningfully tugged away that last layer of clothing, pressing lightly with her fingertip, and said softly, “Yes. Qingchen might not have missed me, but I’m certain that this part of her missed me, didn’t it?”

Mu Qingchen finally understood Qiu Wan’s meaning, and her throat uncontrollably swallowed. Her vocal cords were also trembling slightly. She turned her head away, and a scorching kiss landed on her chin, heating her heart. Her usually cool face was also burning with fire beneath the blanket, where her expression couldn’t be clearly seen.

After the chaos, it was already twilight.

Mu Qingchen calmed her heartbeat and found her voice, which had lost its composure for a long time: “It’s a transaction where we both get what we need.” It’s a transaction where we both get what we need, right.

Qiu Wan sighed silently in her heart, not rushing to dwell on this issue. She turned her head and gently kissed Mu Qingchen on the temple, then closed her eyes and smiled.

Sometimes, the body is more honest than any answer. She could probably understand Mu Qingchen’s avoidance and insecurity, but she couldn’t agree with it. If one bravely confirms their feelings, how can one know if the other person has also given their sincere heart?

In this vast world, the difficulty of meeting is immense. Should one unilaterally choose to give up because of those uncertainties? What if both parties have given their sincere hearts? Would they be willing to miss out because of these unimportant rules and regulations?

After all, the books often say: You will never understand that many times, one turn could very well be missing out on this entire lifetime. So she wanted to confirm. She had to confirm, for this one life she had.

“Are you leaving today or tomorrow?”

Mu Qingchen’s heart was in turmoil. She didn’t know how to answer. The decision to come only took a moment, but until now, she hadn’t thought about when she would leave. She had actually forgotten to think about this matter.

It must be because Assistant Yu forgot to book the return ticket, so she forgot too, that she needed to rush back.

“Tomorrow.” The word “today” hovered on her lips several times, but what came out was “tomorrow.” She covered her eyes. So, she also had this kind of direct reluctance.

Qiu Wan smiled, “Then I won’t go back tonight either. I’ll trouble Qingchen to send me off tomorrow morning.”

“Mmm.”

I like “this one life only” because it makes the encounter feel rare and precious.

I also like “this one time in a lifetime” because it makes the liking feel invaluable.