The night grew deeper, the moon bright and the stars few.
On this night when only Jiang Mian and Song Qichen were truly happy, the group led by Song Xiguang stood at a distance, staring at the two debt-collecting devils at the front gate who were raking in money until their hands went numb. The tangle of emotions filling their hearts was something they simply could not put into words.
Why were their hands so damn itchy?
Ever since Song Qichen had been acknowledged and brought back into the Song family, had he ever made a losing deal?
No.
Had he ever done anything without being absolutely sure?
Still no!
Maybe from beginning to end, the two of them had been deliberately putting on a show for everyone, and only idiots like them, one after another, had gotten more invested than anyone else.
Damn itchy hands, damn itchy hands, damn itchy hands!
Just as Song Xiguang and the others were conducting nonstop self-criticism in their minds, Song Qichen’s side finally finished confiscating the very last bank card.
With so much free money falling into their laps, even someone as outwardly unreadable as Song Qichen could not help the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
Staring at the thick stack of bank cards, Jiang Mian subconsciously exclaimed, “That’s a lot…”
Hearing this, Song Qichen turned his head. When he caught sight of the faint delight on Jiang Mian’s face, it was as if something occurred to him. A slow struggle rose in his eyes, and his fingers tightened their grip on the bank cards.
In the end, he still forced himself, with great difficulty, to hand the cards to Jiang Mian. “This money is something you won. I only bore part of the risk for you, so… according to industry rules, you should take the larger share. I can only get twenty percent of it.”
Song Qichen spoke each word clearly and deliberately.
Hearing this, Jiang Mian looked up in surprise. “Huh? Is that how it works?”
You really could not tell. For all his love of money, Song Qichen loved it with quite a bit of principle.
And it just so happened that she was broke.
Jiang Mian reached out to take the cards from Song Qichen’s hand.
She tugged once. They did not budge.
Jiang Mian thought it was because her palms were sweaty, too damp.
She tugged again, yet she still could not pull the cards free from between Song Qichen’s fingers.
Pinching one corner of the bank cards, Jiang Mian started to exert force. Real force.
One minute later, that stack of bank cards was still firmly clenched in Song Qichen’s hand.
Song Qichen: “……”
Jiang Mian: “……”
‘If you do not want to give it to me, just say it outright.’
Those words were written plainly and brightly in Jiang Mian’s eyes.
“No, it’s not that I don’t want to give it to you…” Song Qichen’s gaze grew slightly flustered. “It’s my hand. It seems to be a bit disobedient.”
Jiang Mian: “……”
‘Do you even believe that nonsense yourself?’
She refused to believe it.
Jiang Mian’s short temper flared up.
One minute later, doubt crept into Jiang Mian’s eyes.
Three minutes later, Jiang Mian’s fingers began to twitch.
Five minutes later, Jiang Mian’s facial expression management completely collapsed.
“Ah, Song Qichen, you’re so annoying! If you don’t want to give it to me, then don’t. Why pretend to be generous? It’s not like I absolutely need this money. Fine, take it, take it. I’ll give it all to you, okay?”
Jiang Mian looked angrily at Song Qichen’s face, which she did not know when had turned red from holding it in, and at his eyes filled with guilt.
“You, this man… you’re really something! Seriously, hehe, hahaha…”
Jiang Mian had just raised her thumb when she could not hold it in anymore and burst out laughing in exasperation.
She really could not contain herself. She truly had never seen anything like this before.
After finally laughing enough, Jiang Mian took a deep breath and said slowly, “As for this money, let it stay with you for now. Aren’t you a CEO? You should be doing investments and the like. Whether my money turns from one into two, from two into four, will all be up to you. And also… I had a falling-out with my family. If nothing unexpected happens, they probably will not be sending me living expenses anymore. So if I run out of money later, you know what you should do.”
“If you don’t give me money when that happens…”
Jiang Mian lifted her fist.
Thinking about it carefully, in a city as big as Yanjing City, ten or twenty million would probably be gone just buying a single apartment, not to mention that she might end up making her way in the entertainment industry in the future. Relying on just this bit of money definitely would not be enough. Giving it to Song Qichen was different. It would directly turn into a hen that laid golden eggs, hehe.
Entering the entertainment industry was not Jiang Mian’s own idea, but a wish she had experienced from the original host.
Back in high school, the original host’s grades were very good. Good as they were, she had no real direction in life and no idea what she should do in the future. Her entire adolescence was spent being suppressed by her aunt, leaving her insecure, timid, and weak.
When it came time to fill out her university applications, even though her grades were good enough for her to attend well-known Project 211[1]Project 211 was a national higher-education initiative launched by the Chinese government in the 1990s to prioritize the development of approximately 100 top universities for the 21st century. … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_1735254_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_1735254_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); universities, she still chose Yanjing Film Academy for the sake of that sliver of light in her heart, Xu Xingming.
If, when she first filled out her application, her choice was mainly because of Xu Xingming, then later, after she started taking professional courses and studying acting, the original host truly fell in love with the stage from the bottom of her heart, and with the feeling of being able to fully express herself.
Otherwise, with her introverted personality, it would have been impossible for her to muster the courage to participate in the auditions for 《Heart-Pounding Idol》.
It was genuine love that gave her endless confidence.
She always said that joining a talent show was for a way out after graduation, for finding a job to make a living in the entertainment industry, and she kept deceiving herself like this.
But only Jiang Mian, who had transmigrated into her body, could feel clearly that the original host really wanted to act, truly yearned for the stage, and deeply hoped to be liked by many, many people.
Jiang Mian herself did not have any particularly grand ambitions. Other than eating well, drinking well, and living happily, since the original host had such wishes and Jiang Mian had taken over her body, she was naturally willing to help her fulfill them.
Just as she thought this, Jiang Mian suddenly felt a sharp lightness in the center of her chest, as if something that had long been lingering there, unwilling to leave, abruptly slipped away from her heart at that very moment.
The sensation made Jiang Mian instinctively raise a hand to cover her chest, and she unconsciously turned her head to look to the side.
In a daze, she seemed to see a girl in a white dress smiling gently at her…
With just a blink of her eyes, that scene, like an illusion, vanished without a trace, as if it had merely been a momentary misperception.
Jiang Mian…
She could not help calling that name softly in her heart.
“Jiang Mian, Jiang Mian, Jiang Mian…”
Song Qichen’s voice sounded by her ear again and again.
Jiang Mian slowly turned her head, her brows knitting slightly. “Why are you calling me? Song Qichen, what’s wrong with you? Instead of learning something good, you’re copying Yao Qi and doing soul-calling nonsense!”
Yao Qi, who had just walked up to the two of them: “……” Getting shot while lying down.
Seeing that Jiang Mian’s gaze had finally lost that vacant, unfocused look from earlier, Song Qichen did not know why, but his heart loosened for no apparent reason as well. “Ah, it’s nothing…”
“You’re fine, but I’m not. Did you hear what I just said? You’re covering all my living expenses from now on.”
“……”
“Is staying silent enough? Song Qichen, a man like you is truly a once-in-a-century specimen. Is there anyone in this world more stingy than you?”
“……”
“Spit it out. Spit out my money right now!”
Watching the two people bickering noisily right in front of him, single dog Yao Qi felt genuine envy from the bottom of his heart. If he also had a girlfriend like that, how great would it be to fool around and roughhouse with her every day. Of course, the other party absolutely could not grab his neck until his tongue was about to stick out!
And also… President Song’s vitality was really impressive!
After sincerely sighing like that, Yao Qi followed behind Jiang Mian and the others as he walked out together with the silent Song Xiguang beside him.
They had just stepped out of the club when a gust of cool wind rushed toward them.
On a late summer night, the temperature was still a bit low.
With just that one blow of wind, Jiang Mian, dressed in an evening gown with her shoulders and arms completely exposed, could not help sneezing. Tiny goosebumps popped up one by one along her arms.
“Ah, it’s so cold…”
Hugging her arms, Jiang Mian shivered.
Seeing this, Song Qichen hurriedly moved to take off his jacket.
Thinking they were about to witness a heartwarming scene of a man draping his coat over a woman, even Song Xiguang, who disliked Song Qichen, stopped his steps together with Yao Qi, unwilling to interrupt.
“Tsk tsk tsk, from a distance it really looks like an idol drama…”
Looking at the scene by the entrance, Yao Qi murmured softly.
He wanted that too. He wanted to take off his clothes and drape them over his girlfriend, stick close to his girlfriend~
That was what Yao Qi was thinking.
But who would have thought that when Song Qichen had only taken his jacket halfway off, a fair, delicate hand hurriedly pressed down on his movement. “No, it’s this cold and you’re taking off your clothes, Song Qichen, are you stupid? Can’t you feel that the temperature outside has dropped? Why are you taking off your jacket?”
Jiang Mian frowned.
Song Qichen: “……”
Yao Qi, Song Xiguang: “……”
“Damn it’s really cold, I’m freezing to death!”
Losing her supernatural abilities had this one downside. Her constitution was too weak. Even a little cold could freeze her into a total mess.
‘Wait, I’ve got it!’
Just as Song Qichen saw Jiang Mian shivering from the cold and hurriedly broke free of her grip, about to drape his jacket over her regardless of anything else, before he could even lift his hand, Jiang Mian suddenly darted off like a rabbit in one swift motion.
“Song Qichen, quick, follow me! Let’s run. If we run faster, it won’t be cold anymore. Hurry, hurry!”
After sprinting nearly ten meters in one go, Jiang Mian turned her head back and cheerfully called out to Song Qichen behind her.
Yao Qi, Song Xiguang: “……” ‘Pfft.’
Song Qichen: “……” ‘Couldn’t you act a bit more like a woman?’
With a splitting headache, Song Qichen looked at Jiang Mian’s figure growing farther and farther away. His expression hardened, and he suddenly broke into long strides to chase after her.
Jiang Mian was running fast enough, but with the double handicap of the cold and her high heels, she was grabbed by the arm by Song Qichen as she stepped down the stairs.
Immediately after, without giving her any chance to refuse, the man draped his suit jacket over her shoulders, pressed it tightly in place, and lowered his head to look at her.
Feeling the warmth on her shoulders, Jiang Mian froze slightly, then reacted and lifted her head to look at Song Qichen beside her.
Her moist, almond-shaped eyes seemed to shimmer with broken light inside, as if stars had fallen into them.
It was too dreamlike.
Yao Qi had seen the same kind of scene countless times in romance novels. According to his experience, next the woman would blush shyly and say thank you, and maybe even tiptoe up to give the male lead a gentle kiss.
Yao Qi, who had always loved sneaking under the covers to read those romance novels, found himself inexplicably excited as he looked at the profiles of Jiang Mian and Song Qichen.
Holding his breath, he stared unblinkingly at Jiang Mian, and very quickly he saw—
The woman gathered the jacket around herself, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly, then suddenly raised her hand and hooked it forcefully around Song Qichen’s neck. “Didn’t expect you to be pretty good at taking care of people, huh? Looks like picking you as my sugar daddy wasn’t a bad deal after all—hahahahaha!”
Yao Qi: “……”
Song Xiguang: “……”
Song Qichen: “……” ‘Ugh.’
Yao Qi swore that in his entire life, he had never heard a woman laugh so boldly. And President Song was really too miserable. His neck was practically being hooked until he could not breathe.
Sigh, sigh.
Song Xiguang: “……” Why does it suddenly feel like he is not that jealous of Song Qichen anymore?
*
Song Qichen and Jiang Mian, who had just been inexplicably drenched in “tender warmth” because of something as small as draping a jacket, now found themselves standing in front of Assistant Xiao Yan’s motorcycle, falling into a brand-new dispute.
“What’s going on? What’s going on? I ride the motorcycle really well. I was the one who brought you here. Why can’t I take you back when we’re leaving?”
Jiang Mian was indignant.
Song Qichen: “…No.” ‘I am not done living yet.’
“What’s wrong with you? Am I still not your most beloved little treasure anymore?”
Jiang Mian huffed.
Song Qichen: “……” ‘Sorry, never was.’
When soft tactics and hard tactics both failed, Jiang Mian decided to play her trump card. “You won’t let me ride, huh? Fine then, give me back the money I won earlier!”
Song Qichen: “Here.” Money was more important than life. He still understood that much basic logic.
Jiang Mian: “……”
Do not think she did not know. He agreed so readily with his mouth, but if she really reached out to take it, his fingers would definitely start disobeying him again and refuse to let go.
She had seen right through him.
“This won’t do, that won’t do. Then you tell me, what are we supposed to do?”
Jiang Mian’s eyes were practically shooting fire.
“Beep beep—”
Just then, the sound of a car horn rang out behind the two of them.
Yao Qi, who was happily watching the spectacle from inside the car, felt his heart jolt uncontrollably when Jiang Mian and Song Qichen both turned to look at him with completely blank expressions.
“N-no, sorry, I pressed it by mistake just now. You guys… you guys carry on!”
Yao Qi hurriedly stuck his head out of the window and explained like this.
Looking at Yao Qi, then glancing at his black car, the gloom on Jiang Mian’s face lifted slightly as she subconsciously raised an eyebrow. She turned her head and exchanged a look with Song Qichen beside her, only to see his eyes plainly saying, ‘yes, that’s exactly what I mean too.’
Three minutes later, Yao Qi stared through the rearview mirror at Jiang Mian and Song Qichen, who were sitting calmly in the back seat, his face full of bewilderment.
‘What the heck?’
Just a moment ago, those two had been standing right in front of his car, arguing fiercely. He had been watching with great enjoyment!
How did they suddenly end up in his car?
“Yanjing Film Academy, East Gate, please.”
Jiang Mian gave the instruction very politely.
Yao Qi: “……”
“Drive.”
The moment Song Qichen’s two icy words fell, Yao Qi reflexively started the car.
One minute later.
Song Xiguang, who had gone back to the Banshan Club to grab something and then returned: “……”
‘Wait, where’s the car? Where’s Yao Qi?’
‘Did something supernatural just happen?’
‘How am I supposed to get back?’
*
On this end, as he drove, Yao Qi was silently reflecting on himself.
How had he ended up like this?
He, Yao Qi, the dignified second young master of the Yao family, a troublemaking little devil feared by people and detested by ghosts alike, how had he fallen to the point of being someone else’s driver?
No, this would not do. He had to resist. He had to refuse. He had to—
“Yao Qi!”
Jiang Mian’s voice suddenly rang out.
“Yes, yes, go ahead.”
Yao Qi’s neck shrank instinctively as he hurriedly responded.
“Drive a bit faster. The dorm turns off the lights at ten thirty at night. It’ll be inconvenient if we get back late.”
“Got it, got it, faster, right? Sit tight!”
Yao Qi stepped on the accelerator.
After picking up speed, gripping the steering wheel, Yao Qi started thinking again.
Where had he been in his thoughts just now?
Oh right, refusing and resisting. That’s it. He was going to coldly and ruthlessly refuse these two people’s unreasonable demands. Where there is oppression, there is resistance. He, Yao Qi, was exactly the kind of person with a rebellious spirit!
The more the man thought about it, the more excited and fired up he became. As for the Song Xiguang he had left behind…
Who was that?
With his attention overly focused on driving just now, and with the car being genuinely warm, a wave of drowsiness quickly washed over Jiang Mian.
Before long, Song Qichen felt a sudden weight settle on his shoulder. He lowered his head, and what he met was Jiang Mian’s obedient, well-behaved sleeping face.
Song Qichen: “……” ‘Falling asleep right after eating. Is this really not a pig?’
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