This Best Actress is a Bit Annoying - Chapter 20

A charming night, a beauty by her side, and two glasses of champagne in hand—by any standard, this was the perfect moment to win over a lady.

Xia Qingye could even feel the burning warmth of the other woman’s skin as she drew closer, a cautious advance mixed with a subtle, wordless testing. Just like the handshake earlier, where those fingertips had toyed with her, Zhong Ruanqin was broadcasting a clear message: How about a one-night stand?

Suddenly, Xia Qingye reached out, blocking Zhong Ruanqin’s closer approach. In that instant, she felt the air here was even more suffocating than inside the ballroom.

“Senior, does your lover know you’re like this?”

Zhong Ruanqin’s leaning body froze instantly. Even the leg that had been brushing against Xia Qingye withdrew, as if her interest had vanished in a heartbeat. Xia Qingye took the opportunity to step out of the corner and into the bright light. Looking at the distant city lights, she crossed her arms, rubbing her cold skin.

Zhong Ruanqin quickly reined in her emotions, but then, feeling her reaction had been too grand, she let out a self-deprecating snort. “Lover? What lover? I don’t have a lover.”

Xia Qingye’s movements paused. Her heart felt as if it had been pricked by a needle—a dull, aching throb. “Then… that’s a pity.”

For some reason, hearing the regret in the other’s tone made Zhong Ruanqin feel a sudden surge of irritability. She drained her champagne in one go and said displeasedly, “What’s so pitiful?”

Xia Qingye shook her head with a bitter smile. She felt she was being foolish. Perhaps the atmosphere just now had been too ambiguous, giving her the illusion that she could still hope for an emotion that shouldn’t exist from a woman who had left her to die. Those four years had been nothing more than her own unrequited wish.

Otherwise, Zhong Ruanqin wouldn’t be here, much less by Zong Cong’s side. Everyone in this circle knew that Zong Cong’s “dates” were essentially bedmates.

Xia Qingye gave a relieved smile; the heaviest burden in her heart suddenly felt empty. She raised her glass. “Thanks for the drink, Senior. It’s cold out here; don’t stay too long.”

Zhong Ruanqin found the interaction baffling. Watching the girl walk away with such a cool, effortless stride, she felt a sense of loss—as if something important was leaving her life.

“You haven’t said what’s so pitiful!” Zhong Ruanqin pressed.

“It’s not important anymore.”

Xia Qingye looked back once, a final farewell to her past feelings. She smiled at the woman whose hair was being tousled by the cold wind, standing at the intersection of shadow and light, her silhouette looking as if it might be swallowed by the darkness at any moment.

It’s a pity you’ll never meet someone who loves you as much as I did.

It’s a pity I’ve decided not to love you anymore.

“You—”

“Please give me your guidance in the future.”

Xia Qingye turned around and walked straight into an exceptionally warm embrace. That warmth instantly dissipated the chill she had gathered from the wind. She even felt a greedy urge to linger in that warmth a little longer.

However, the champagne in her hand splashed all over both of them. Their clothes were soaked through at the chest, dripping wet and bone-chilling.

“You woman!”

Xia Qingye was pushed away. Her high heels stumbled back two or three steps; she slipped and nearly fell. The injury on her hip and back flared with pain, snapping her attention back. Clutching her lower back, she looked up.

She met Nie Zhuying’s phoenix eyes, which looked ready to spit fire. She couldn’t ignore the faint red mark on Nie’s lower lip either. She could have sworn she heard the sound of teeth grinding.

Rivals truly meet on a narrow road.

Nie Zhuying glanced around, noticing that some people’s attention had been drawn to them. Fortunately, this part of the balcony was secluded. Her good upbringing told her that if she blew up now, the two of them would definitely be bundled onto the headlines together. She took a deep breath, trying to let her anger dissipate, but seeing Xia Qingye’s innocent expression only made the fire burn hotter.

“I’m sorry, you—” Why are you here?

“Is ‘sorry’ useful?”

Xia Qingye, cut off by Nie Zhuying’s snap, suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. Her gaze swept over the other woman’s proud chest, then down at her own ruined gown. Fine—mutually assured destruction.

“Yours… seems a bit see-through.”

Just as she offered the reminder, she received another icy glare from Nie Zhuying. Xia Qingye rubbed her nose guiltily. It was her fault for being distracted and not looking where she was going.

Nie Zhuying was wearing a hollow-out designer gown today, noble and dignified. The makeup and styling that had taken hours to prepare were ruined by a single glass of champagne. She gave Xia Qingye a look of pure disgust. “Nothing good ever happens when I run into you.”

Xia Qingye’s line was stolen again. The pain in her back was throbbing after that stumble, but knowing she was in the wrong, she didn’t say a word.

Nie Zhuying took two steps, then turned back to see Xia Qingye still standing there. She glared at her. “What are you dazing out for? Go find me a replacement gown.”

Xia Qingye’s eyes widened in disbelief. She pointed to herself. “Me?”

“Who else?”

“…”

So righteous in her demands.

Xia Qingye spent three seconds accepting that she was being ordered around like a “maid” by the Film Queen. But seeing that Nie was about to explode if she didn’t comply, she resignedly had a waiter open a room for them and called Xia Yanbo to explain.

“Two gowns. Find a long, hollow-out style. Yes, one size larger than mine. Sapphire blue would be good.”

“The gowns should be here in about an hour.”

Nie Zhuying let out a cynical snort. “Calling your Sugar Daddy?”

Xia Qingye froze. Beyond a flicker of annoyance, she mostly wanted to laugh. She rubbed her waist; seeing the other woman had monopolized the bed, she moved to the sofa and propped a pillow behind her back, lounging lazily. “I didn’t realize Senior Nie enjoyed gossip so much.”

Nie Zhuying played with her phone, tossing it into the air and catching it repeatedly. “A Film Queen is still a person. For an artist like me who doesn’t rely on scandals, fake couples, or casting couches, how boring would life be without gossip?”

Xia Qingye was amused by Nie Zhuying’s “matter-of-fact” attitude. She reflected on herself; ever since she was reborn into this body, her interest in gossip had faded. Her mind was full of revenge and finding out why the person she loved let her die.

But now that she had met Zhong Ruanqin, she couldn’t bring herself to ask.

Time is a curious thing. It can witness many truths. For instance, in five years, Zhong Ruanqin had become one of Zong Cong’s bedmates. Tianqing Studio was acquired by Siji Company, Zhong Ruanqin opened her own studio, and Qi Jiani was blacklisted…

Everything happened after her death. The beneficiaries were Zhong Ruanqin and Zong Cong.

So, why did I come back to life?

“Back then, you and Zhong Ruanqin were competing for—”

“Stop right there. Don’t mention that woman in front of me.” Nie Zhuying tilted her chin, interrupting Xia Qingye coldly. “You and her are both on my blacklist.”

Xia Qingye: “…”

When exactly did I offend this ancestor?

Just then, Nie Zhuying’s phone pinged. She looked down to check it. With the interruption, Xia Qingye lost the mood to continue the topic. She would investigate the past on her own.

“When is the gown coming?”

“Soon.”

Xia Qingye checked the time; nearly forty minutes had passed. She went to the restroom to call and check. “They’re on their way. I’m sorry about today.”

Nie Zhuying slanted a glance at her, eyes full of arrogance. “An apology is all I get?”

Xia Qingye said helplessly, “Ruining your gown was my fault. I’ll have a professional clean it before returning it to you. For today, we just have to make do; it’s the best we can do. Or, I can tell them not to bring the gown.”

Nie Zhuying’s eyes widened in anger. “Is this your attitude for an apology?”

Xia Qingye shrugged like a dead pig that doesn’t fear boiling water. She had just accidentally overheard Nie Zhuying sending a voice message—it seemed she was in a hurry to meet someone.

Nie Zhuying was nearly half-dead with rage at this nonchalance. Her urge to hit Xia Qingye was like a thousand cats scratching at her. “I have several scores to settle with you. While the gown isn’t here yet, let’s go through them one by one.”

Xia Qingye’s gaze instinctively drifted to the other woman’s lip. There was a very faint red mark there, like new skin after a scab has fallen off—pink, tender, and looking… delicious.

Nie Zhuying followed her gaze down and saw her loosened bathrobe. She snapped, “What are you looking at? Look again and I’ll gouge your eyes out!”

Xia Qingye: “…”

Do your fans know you’re this ferocious? She just wanted to confirm if she was the one who bit her. It’s better not to take the blame if you don’t have to.

“How do we settle the Weibo headline incident?”

“!!!”

Xia Qingye was blank. What did Nie Zhuying’s rumored boyfriends have to do with her?

Nie Zhuying pointed to the mark on her lower lip. “All this trouble was caused because of you. You tell me—how do we solve it?”

Xia Qingye pondered for a moment. Standing by the bed, she leaned down, drawing closer. She gave a shy smile. “I’ve thought of a solution, Senior Nie. See what you think of this.”

As she approached, Nie Zhuying instinctively leaned back. She didn’t like such close proximity. Her eyebrows knit into a line, her face stern as she tried to maintain her authority. “What?”

“How about I take the loss and let you bite me back?”