Transmigrated into the Villainous Scummy Alpha in a Talent Show Novel - Chapter 36

The girl was so close that she shut her eyes as if covering her ears to steal a bell, her trembling lashes like leaves swaying in the wind, almost brushing against her own eyelids.

It tickled a little, making Lin Qi take a slight step back.

Once the distance between them widened, Lin Qi could see Jiang Ming’s expression more clearly. Far from fear or discomfort, it seemed more like shyness and anticipation.

Growing increasingly puzzled by Jiang Ming’s thoughts, Lin Qi reined in her desire and loosened her grip slightly on the slender waist she held. “Aren’t you scared?”

Tentatively opening her quivering eyes, Jiang Ming bit her lower lip. “Why should I be scared?”

After the retort, her already flushed face turned even redder with shyness. Freed from the restraint around her waist, she seemed to lose a bit of her sense of security. Jiang Ming tightened her arms around Lin Qi’s neck, hastily adding, “I know you’re a good person, so I’m not scared.”

Lin Qi smiled wryly, was this the infamous “good person” card?

Feeling the slight pressure on the back of her neck from Jiang Ming’s tightening embrace, Lin Qi pretended to remain composed and coaxed, “So you think I’m such a good person that I wouldn’t actually kiss you, even if I teased you about it?”

“No”

It’s just that it wouldn’t matter if you did.

Jiang Ming couldn’t bring herself to say those words. She merely bit her delicate lips and gazed at Lin Qi with her dewy, misty fox-like eyes, her expression full of unspoken longing.

Mistaking her bashfulness for silent agreement, Lin Qi’s temper flared. Was Jiang Ming taking advantage of her feelings, thinking she wouldn’t dare to actually kiss her?

In a fit of frustration, Lin Qi, who had always resolved to keep her distance, wrapped an arm around Jiang Ming’s waist again. Seizing the moment when the unsuspecting girl was caught off guard, she leaned down and kissed her.

The collision was a little painful, but the joy of finally kissing Jiang Ming quickly overshadowed the discomfort. It was Lin Qi’s first kiss, and once their lips met, she froze, unsure of what to do next.

“Mmm”

A soft whimper escaped Jiang Ming’s throat part surprise, part embarrassment as she found herself impossibly close to Lin Qi.

Meeting Jiang Ming’s raised brows, widened eyes, and the faint tremble of her lips against hers, Lin Qi was overwhelmed with guilt. She felt like a big bad wolf forcibly abducting an innocent maiden.

Turning her head to end the kiss, one that had been too quick to even register as having a beginning or an end, Lin Qi’s face also flushed. She cleared her throat, trying to sound composed, but her voice came out husky, betraying the intimacy of the moment. “I just wanted to show you that you shouldn’t trust anyone too easily. Even someone you trust, like me, might kiss you out of nowhere.”

Jiang Ming clutched the soft fabric at the back of Lin Qi’s neck, unconsciously twisting it until the collar tightened. Whether it was fortunate or not, her face couldn’t possibly get any redder, so she had nothing left to hold back.

“N-not out of nowhere”

The air between them grew still. Lin Qi asked softly, “Then, what was the reason?”

Both of them seemed unbearably tense, an unspoken contest unfolding between them. Lin Qi was the wolf, launching the first attack, desperate for an answer. Jiang Ming, meanwhile, was the little white rabbit who already knew the answer but was too afraid and uncertain to voice even a fraction of her feelings.

” it’s… me…”

The words “I like you” burned on Jiang Ming’s tongue. She mumbled twice, her face twisted in distress, utterly unable to spit them out.

“Buzz, Buzz!”

The phone vibrated again, shattering the silence between them. Jiang Ming seemed startled, her whole body jerking before she turned to look at the noisy device on the desk. Head bowed, biting her lip, she slowly pulled away from Lin Qi.

As for Lin Qi, she sighed and got up to grab the phone it was her mom calling.

“Mom, what’s up?”

“Qiqi, I’ve taken care of everything for you. I found some unrelated marketing accounts to post about Jiang Ming’s past in staggered intervals. Her fan count has already surpassed a million, and her MV for the theme song topped the trending video charts no paid promotion involved.”

Genuinely happy for Jiang Ming, Lin Qi’s earlier disappointment at being interrupted melted away. She smiled, slender fingers tightening slightly around the phone. “Thanks, Mom.”

“What’s with the formalities? Hey, let me ask is Jiang Ming going to be my other daughter in the future?”

Lin Qi chuckled helplessly. The curiosity on the other end of the line didn’t sound like it belonged to someone in their forties. What could she do when her own mom was more lively and restless than she was?

Even though she knew Jiang Ming couldn’t hear, Lin Qi still guiltily lowered the volume a little and cleared her throat. “Most likely.”

“Got it. I’ll go negotiate with the Song family right away Jiang Jiang has to debut.”

“No, no, no need for that.”

“True, Jiang Jiang’s so talented she doesn’t need me rigging votes.”

“Mom, vote-rigging lands you in jail.”

Afraid her mom might spout more nonsense, Lin Qi covered the receiver. “Ah, I can’t hear you anymore. Gotta go, bye-bye!”

Without hesitation, she ended the call like some heartless scoundrel who ditched her mom after getting what she needed. “Mom” when convenient, “gotta go” when not.

“What did your mom say? Was it about me?”

Setting the phone down, Lin Qi arched a brow at Jiang Ming, whose porcelain face had regained its usual pallor. “Do you know what ‘auntie’ implies?”

Frowning slightly, Jiang Ming thought back it was a term she’d come across a long time ago. “Isn’t it an honorific for the mothers of close classmates, friends, or colleagues?”

Plugging her phone into the charger, Lin Qi smirked mischievously. “There’s another meaning once two people are in a relationship, you can call the other’s mother ‘auntie.’”

“Huh?”

Her jade-like cheeks flushed pink once more. Jiang Ming took two steps back and sat on her own bed, head lowered to reveal crimson-tipped ears. “I-I didn’t know it had that meaning.”

“Haha, I know. Just teasing you. I’m gonna go wash up.”

Nodding, Lin Qi decided not to push the already overwhelmed little rabbit any further. She slipped on her bear-print headband and headed to the sink. After all this fuss, she still hadn’t washed her face or brushed her teeth, who knew if she’d had dinner breath when she kissed Jiang Ming earlier?

Taking advantage of Jiang Ming’s position behind her, Lin Qi raised a hand to her mouth and sniffed. Thankfully, it was just the rosy scent of toothpaste. Pretty fragrant, actually.

But once her thoughts circled back to the kiss, the memory of that soft, delicate touch resurfaced on her lips. Lin Qi’s face secretly reddened. Looking back now, Jiang Ming had smelled so good.

Although it was just a brief touch of their lips, the feeling of being overwhelmed seemed etched into her heart. As Lin Qi splashed cold water on her face, her mind was filled with Jiang Ming’s shy yet expectant expression.

Help me!

She cupped water in her hands and submerged her entire face. By late April, the weather was already warming up, and the cool water brought some clarity to Lin Qi’s muddled thoughts. Seizing the moment, she quickly finished washing up while her mind was still blank.

But the moment she turned around, she found herself face to face with Jiang Ming. She had always thought the slow-motion effect in idol dramas when the leads got close was exaggerated now she realized it was real.

In that breathless moment, she could even see the fine down on Jiang Ming’s porcelain-like skin, clearly visible under the light.

Jiang Ming was clearly surprised, not expecting Lin Qi to turn around suddenly. She had pajamas draped over her arm, intending to change in the bathroom, but now she was cornered in the narrow hallway.

The girl before her looked startled, her beautiful fox-like eyes widening. Noticing Jiang Ming leaning against the wall, Lin Qi tugged at her upper arm. “The wall’s cold. You’re frail be careful.”

Jiang Ming lowered her head and murmured a soft “Okay.”

Shaking her head helplessly perhaps today had been too overwhelming, Lin Qi stepped aside to let her pass. “You were going to change, right? Go ahead.”

Returning to her seat, she noticed her phone screen was lit. A text from her mom read:

“I know your ‘bad signal’ act is fake, but your mom’s considerate, I won’t interrupt your alone time with Jiang Jiang. Just texting to let you know: tomorrow afternoon, you’re filming a sports variety show. They invited four popular contestants from the audition show and their hottest CP partners. Originally, you were paired with Wei Xuanyue, but since the director’s from our company, I had a little chat and switched it to you and Jiang Ming. Thank me later. Next time you pull the ‘bad signal’ act, I’ll donate millions to your CP with Xiao Wei.”

Smiling, Lin Qi replied, “Love you, Mom,” though she was both amused and exasperated by her mother’s antics.

A sports variety show, huh?

There was only one show their program collaborated with. Lin Qi skimmed the episode lineup good grief, acupressure mats, ejection chairs, mud pit pillow fights games that looked exhausting just by reading them.

As someone who exercised regularly, she’d manage, but what about Jiang Ming’s delicate frame? Could she handle it?

Speak of the devil.

Jiang Ming emerged from the bathroom in lightweight pajamas, meeting Lin Qi’s concerned gaze with confusion. “What’s wrong?”

“Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

Furrowing her delicate brows, Jiang Ming didn’t understand the question. Though she did feel a bit off, she shook her head. “I’m fine. Why?”

“How about a massage? I learned it properly in a hospital in my past life.”

“Huh?” Jiang Ming’s eyes widened in surprise. “Why the sudden offer?”

“My mom texted me. We’re filming a physically demanding variety show tomorrow. I’m worried you might cramp up.”

With clear and earnest eyes, Lin Qi was genuinely concerned about Jiang Ming’s health. After all, this tragic heroine had suffered for eighteen years. Apart from her improved appetite after meeting Lin Qi, she had been severely malnourished before standing nearly 1.7 meters tall yet weighing barely double digits.

There was absolutely no ulterior motive here, definitely not a desire to legitimately touch Jiang Ming’s slender waist.

Lin Qi swallowed hard, struggling to keep her gaze from wandering downward.

“I actually feel a little sore”

Jiang Ming lowered her head, her voice soft and carrying a faint tremble she didn’t even notice. The slight discomfort meant nothing to her, but this was Lin Qi offering to give her a massage.

Her peach-blossom eyes crinkling with barely contained delight, Lin Qi pressed her lips together, fighting to keep them from curving upward. “Then lie down on the bed.”

Moving almost hesitantly, Jiang Ming bit her lower lip, her hands clutching the hem of her top that draped over her thighs, as she slowly settled onto the bed.

Kneeling on one knee beside the bed, Lin Qi leaned down, intending to massage Jiang Ming’s shoulders, only to be met with the sight of smooth curves, a slender waist, and a subtly upturned rear. In an instant, the air grew thick with tension.