The Scandalous Actress Needs to Strive GL - Chapter 9

At the filming set of the web series Grand Song Dynasty Historian, although it was just a web series, both the male and female leads were top-tier singers, and with Qiu Wan, an actress notorious for generating scandals with every move she made, there were always a few paparazzi staking out the set every day.

At eleven o’clock in the evening, the crew had wrapped up. Outside the brightly lit hotel, only a few extras were seen going in and out. The people the paparazzi were after were probably already asleep.

Within half an hour, before midnight, only one paparazzi agency remained outside the hotel. There were almost no people entering or leaving the hotel. Just as the photographer was about to pack up, seeing no gain for the day, he saw a low-key yet luxurious car slowly approach and stop.

As a paparazzo, he had a strong intuition that a car in this location at this time was definitely not simple. Sure enough, ten minutes later, a graceful beauty emerged from the hotel lobby.

The photographer’s eyes lit up. He completely ignored the half of her face covered by a mask, judging only by her eyes, hairstyle, and figure that this was Qiu Wan, who had just been off the hot search for two days.

He silently pressed the shutter, his lens following Qiu Wan’s steps until the car door closed and the car sped away.

The only pity was that he didn’t capture the face of the car’s owner, but he could vaguely tell it was a woman. However, a woman was even better. Although it was rumored that Qiu Wan was promiscuous, the outside world generally believed she was gay, as most of her rumored partners were women.

The photographer excitedly rushed into his car. Tomorrow’s headline was secured. No, it should be the pre-booked hot search for the early morning, and his bonus for the month was also in hand.

Meanwhile, in the car, Qiu Wan sat in the back and remained silent after getting in. She looked at the person in front who was focused on driving and keeping her eyes straight ahead, finding it amusing. She had agreed so readily with a ‘yes’ but was now silent after picking her up.

She looked out the window, feeling an unprecedented sense of relaxation in her heart. In her former life, although she was the Prime Minister’s eldest daughter, she barely spoke to her father, who was busy all day long and only cared about nurturing her younger brother. While her mother was very diligent in her education, it was only for the sake of the Prime Minister’s reputation and to increase her future marital value.

Qiu Wan gave a bitter smile. She considered herself to be living a clear-headed life, and it was this clarity that made her desire for familial affection increasingly faint. She maintained the decorum of the Prime Minister’s eldest daughter, living like a perfect Beijing belle, but without any sense of self.

Her current life, though unfamiliar, was interesting. Most importantly, she could live more authentically and casually, without caring about external reviews or having to pretend to be dignified and gentle.

A soft, bitter laugh suddenly broke the silence. Mu Qingchen’s hands, gripping the steering wheel, paused, her knuckles unconsciously tightening. She coldly asked, “What’s wrong?”

Qiu Wan snapped back to reality and replied cheerfully, “Nothing’s wrong, I just thought of that wonderful night last time.”

Mu Qingchen’s breathing hitched upon hearing this, clearly recalling the indulgence and teasing of that night. She pursed her lips, admitting to herself that she couldn’t continue this topic, and gaining a deeper understanding of this woman’s brazenness.

She had left in a hurry that day due to the contract, so Qiu Wan hadn’t carefully looked at Mu Qingchen’s room. She had a scene tomorrow night, after which her role in this web series would be wrapped up.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to sleep in, she slowly wandered around the room. It was a simple, two-story apartment, totaling about a hundred square meters. Upstairs, the two rooms were a bedroom and a study. Downstairs, besides the kitchen, there was the living room and an open small balcony.

Not bad. Suitable for one person living alone. For two people, it would be a bit cozy.

Mu Qingchen couldn’t figure out what Qiu Wan was observing. Seeing that the other party remained silent, she remembered her irrational behavior throughout the day and didn’t know what to say, wanting only quiet. “I’m going to take a shower.” With that, she went back to the bedroom.

When she came out after her shower, she saw Qiu Wan had voluntarily gone to the bathroom. She sat on the edge of the bed, listening to the sound of running water inside, and the silhouette reflected on the translucent glass, feeling even more flustered.

What should I do when I can’t stop thinking about one person?

Only knowing each other for a few days, yet always acting irrationally for the other person, inexplicably investing too much attention!

A question popped up on a search platform, and soon, a bunch of comments followed.

Does the poster dislike the other person?

No.

How many times a day does the poster think of the other person?

A lot.

Does the poster want to have a relationship with the other person?

Mu Qingchen paused. They had already had a relationship. She glanced in the direction of the bathroom and silently replied ‘Yes’.

Poster, you’re done for. Poster, you’ve fallen for the other person. Poster, this is love. Poster, you’ve been moved…

She carefully scrolled through the replies, her beautiful brows furrowing tighter and tighter, finally stopping at one response: If you have a very strong emotion in a very short period of time, it is likely the suspension bridge effect. The poster can judge whether this is the case for them.

Suspension bridge effect? She had some impression of it. Mu Qingchen quickly searched for the four words. After reading the explanation, she let out a long sigh of relief. It must be it. That was exactly how she felt.

Fortunately, it wasn’t feeling moved or liking someone. Her left index finger lightly tapped on her leg twice, and her suspended heart finally settled back. Luckily, she hadn’t developed feelings for this woman.

Facing her again with an answer in her heart, Mu Qingchen’s attitude relaxed a lot. She even thoughtfully walked over with a hairdryer. “I’ll help you.”

Qiu Wan was happy to be served, closing her eyes comfortably in the chair, feeling the other person’s fingers lightly stroking her hair.

When the sound of the hairdryer stopped, she opened her eyes and smiled sweetly, “Qingchen, do you still want to sign a contract with me? If you’re still willing, I think we can try, but the terms must be set by me.”

For a moment, Mu Qingchen thought the other party was talking about the company’s new contract, but it was only for a moment. In Qiu Wan’s meaningful gaze, she immediately realized it was that contract, the one about being bed partners from last time.

Before she could answer, Qiu Wan got up and took two pieces of paper from her bag, in duplicate. There was no mention of Party A or Party B. It was consistently written in the tone of an agreement between two parties, with only two signature spaces at the bottom.

So, she came prepared!

A sigh of admiration arose in her heart. Mu Qingchen said nothing and silently read the contract.

Both parties shall not arbitrarily disclose their relationship with the other party during the contract period. Both parties shall not indulge in promiscuity outside the relationship during the contract period. Neither party shall stay out all night without reason. Neither party shall actively spread rumors with others. The terms were familiar, but unlike last time where they were one-sided restrictions, this time they applied to both parties.

Crucially, the last two terms were also changed. They became: Both parties must strive to be a qualified bed partner. If one party falls in love with someone else, or has a relationship with a third person, the contract is automatically terminated.

As for the very last term, which originally stipulated that Mu Qingchen had to pay five million a year, it was changed to her long-term provision of the right to live in this apartment, and Qiu Wan would pay market-rate rent annually until the contract was terminated.

After reading it, Mu Qingchen looked puzzled, “You don’t want anything. What are you after?”

“I’m after you. Aren’t you also after nothing, Qingchen?” Qiu Wan smiled brightly and openly, then took out a pen and signed her name, seemingly confident that the other party would agree.

I’m after you

The lingering and moving voice speaking those three words made the now calm Mu Qingchen’s heart race again. She closed her eyes, silently chanting: It’s all the suspension bridge effect, it’s all the suspension bridge effect…

She took the pen, paused the tip, and then wrote her name. After signing, she felt she was too passive, so she added, “No need for rent. This apartment is yours.”

“No, we will act according to what is written here from now on. Come, let’s take a photo for the record, so you don’t deny it later.”

Qiu Wan opened her phone camera. They each held one copy of the contract against their chests and took their first photo together.

Mu Qingchen wore a cold expression, letting the other party maneuver her. After the photo was taken, and after the two lay down in bed, she looked at the conversation box on her phone and said expressionlessly, “Where’s my photo?”

“You don’t need it. I won’t violate the contract.” Qiu Wan put down her phone, the smile in her eyes firm and self-assured. Although she fundamentally didn’t want to be the Prime Minister’s daughter her mother demanded, some of her values were still very traditional, and she even had a strong sense of responsibility.

As long as the other person didn’t say goodbye, she wanted this for a lifetime, to be responsible for this woman. If they couldn’t be together forever in the end, then she would be beautiful on her own. A person’s life, giving it to one person is enough.

Her former rule for her future husband was: if she fell in love and gave herself to him, she would be responsible for him, and she would require him to always be responsible for her.

Now that the order was reversed giving herself first, then falling in love her rule became: since she already had her, she must be responsible for her, forever responsible. As for whether the other party was willing to be responsible, that was up to fate.

Mu Qingchen didn’t know where the other party’s confidence came from, nor did she dwell on it. Whether or not she had the photo didn’t matter. If something truly went wrong, she was confident she could resolve it.

After the light was turned off, the room fell into darkness. Mu Qingchen felt the gap under the blanket, the feeling of two people sleeping together but not touching closely.

She closed her eyes, trying to clear her mind, but was dismayed to find her heart beating faster and faster. Suddenly, the person next to her reached over, and the two pressed intimately together.

Qiu Wan reached down, her lips brushing against Mu Qingchen’s earlobe, “Is your heart pounding like a drum, feeling like you’re about to explode? Unfortunately, I feel the same way.”

The seductive words, accompanied by a light warmth, sprayed onto her ear, making Mu Qingchen’s breathing light and sporadic. Her fingers twitched, tightly gripping the edge of her pajamas, but the pajamas were yanked open the next second.

Crack. Qiu Wan leaned over, fumbled, and turned on the light, then whispered, “How can such beauty not be admired?”

She loved to see Mu Qingchen with red ears and a flushed face, like a pure lotus flower tinged with light pink by the mischievous sunset, beautiful and alluring.