This Best Actress is a Bit Annoying - Chapter 21

“What?”

“I bite you, then you bite me back. Wouldn’t that make us even?”

Xia Qingye deliberately took a step forward, kneeling on the mattress. She “kabedon-ed” Nie Zhuying against the headboard, smiling as she watched the other woman’s face tighten, staring back at her with a look of deep-seated resentment.

Being this close, she caught that exceptionally cool fragrance again—faint, like a rose rising from an icy lake, solitary and proud. The light floral scent carried a hint of frost that kept the world at arm’s length, perfectly matching Nie Zhuying’s public persona: a “High-Mountain Flower” meant to be admired from afar, never profaned.

Nie Zhuying’s eyes darkened. Staring at Xia Qingye’s perfectly shaped, slightly parted red lips, she reached out, cupped the back of Xia Qingye’s head, and crashed into them.

Xia Qingye’s misty “peach blossom” eyes snapped wide with shock. She felt a sudden warmth and softness on her lips, along with a sweet, milky scent. Before she could savor it, a sharp pain shot through the corner of her mouth, and she was pushed away with immense force. Fortunately, she grabbed onto Nie Zhuying’s bathrobe in time; with a tug and a pull, she fell back onto the bed, sparing her injured hip and back from another disaster.

“Hiss—” She couldn’t help but gasp, looking at the other in disbelief. “You actually bit me.”

“We’re even.”

Nie Zhuying gathered her bathrobe, which had loosened during the scuffle, with total indifference. Her face radiated the superiority of a child who had won back a toy. She pouted, asking, “Well? Does it hurt?”

Xia Qingye was utterly dazed. Her gaze fixed on Nie Zhuying’s slightly reddened, moving lips. She recalled the touch of softness from the heavy collision—sweet, soft, and… quite a nice taste.

She had touched them during her drunken stupor, but clearly, she didn’t remember that.

She instinctively licked the corner of her mouth, tasting a faint hint of blood followed by a stinging sensation. The skin was definitely broken.

Xia Qingye never expected that her attempt to play a “retreat to advance” trick would backfire so spectacularly. Her intention was to make Nie Zhuying back off; she hadn’t anticipated an accidental “kiss.” For someone who liked women, Nie Zhuying’s behavior was a total foul.

She tried to find a hint of shyness on the other’s face, or even just a bit of awkwardness.

Instead, she saw Nie Zhuying stick out her crimson tongue to lick her own lips. The triumphant expression from a moment ago instantly turned black as a pot. “You’ve been drinking again!!!”

Xia Qingye: “…”

She smacked her lips. Walking through the crowd with her brother earlier, she had indeed sampled quite a few drinks, though mostly just small sips. Hadn’t the only full glass been “fed” to their respective gowns?

Nie Zhuying bounced around on the bed like a fuming Persian cat, her gaze exceptionally fierce.

Xia Qingye couldn’t understand why her drinking habit was any of the other woman’s business.

Knock, knock, knock.

Fortunately, the timely knocking at the door broke the weird atmosphere. Xia Qingye got up, opened the door, and received the two new gowns. She laid the sapphire blue, long-sleeved hollow-out gown on the bed. “This one’s yours.”

Nie Zhuying picked up the gown with a look of disdain and headed to the restroom. When she emerged, she checked herself repeatedly in the mirror. Her proud figure was accentuated by the sapphire blue lace, making her look even taller. The fair skin exposed down to her waist and hips invited wild imagination. Her messy, layered curls cascaded behind her, adding an air of allure that made it impossible to look away.

Nie Zhuying was naturally stunning; her watery phoenix eyes slanted upward, and her chin was tilted with her unique brand of pride. With her beauty mark and flaming red lips, her sharp gaze swept the room like a high-and-mighty empress.

There had once been a poll online asking which contemporary actress was most suited to play the Empress Wu Zetian; Nie Zhuying had led the pack by over 20,000 votes.

Xia Qingye was mesmerized by this look. She admired the hollow-out back without blinking. That skin, smooth as silk, made her heart itch with the urge to reach out and touch it.

“I have to admit, your taste in people is trash, but your taste in clothes isn’t bad,” Nie Zhuying remarked with grand condescension.

Xia Qingye’s mouth twitched. The lingering romantic tension in her mind vanished instantly. If she had a club in her hand, she would have aimed it at Nie Zhuying without hesitation. She tidied her hair and smiled. “The biting is done, the gown has been compensated, and the scores are settled. Senior Nie, once we walk out this door, it’s best if we act like strangers.”

Nie Zhuying, who was about to leave, stopped abruptly. She looked back in confusion. “Who told you our scores were settled?”

Xia Qingye nearly choked on her own saliva.

Just as Nie Zhuying was about to speak, the phone in her bag vibrated. She checked it, opened the door, and stepped into the hallway corner to answer. “A small accident happened, it’s fine now. I’m coming over.”

When she turned back, Xia Qingye was nowhere to be found.

Usually, people flattered her and racked their brains for ways to get close to her. It was the first time she had seen someone treat her like a plague. Nie Zhuying was so angry she laughed, grinding her teeth. “Running pretty fast, aren’t you?”

On the other side, Xia Qingye clutched her waist. Only after seeing Nie Zhuying stomp away did she emerge from another corner. “I can’t afford to provoke her, but I can certainly hide from her.”

Little did she know, half an hour later, led by Xia Yanbo, she met an exceptionally affectionate middle-aged couple. According to her brother’s introduction, they were merchants returning from overseas, preparing to collaborate with the Xia Group.

Xia Qingye was entirely unfamiliar with the business side of her brother’s company, so she maintained a smile the whole time, listening to Xia Yanbo and Mr. Nie discuss things she didn’t quite understand. She sat beside Mrs. Nie, and the two women nibbled on desserts while chatting about skincare and beauty tips.

The conversation was going well when a crisp voice suddenly interrupted. “Daddy, Mommy.”

“Sorry, I’m late.”

“I presume this is Miss Nie?”

Xia Yanbo stood up and gallantly extended his hand.

Nie Zhuying extended hers superficially; their palms met briefly and released quickly.

Xia Qingye saw Nie Zhuying looking at her with a half-smile. A small piece of cake dropped directly from her mouth. She couldn’t help but groan in her heart—talk about bad luck. She had to stand up and reach out. “Ahem. Hello, Miss Nie.”

“Miss Xia, I’ve heard so much about you.”

Mrs. Nie looked pleasantly surprised. “Oh, so you and Qingye already know each other, Xiaoying!”

Nie Zhuying curled her lip. “Not well.”

Xia Qingye felt an awkwardness that defied description, terrified the other woman would “stab” her in the back.

Mrs. Nie shot Nie Zhuying an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, Xiaoying is a bit shy.” She dragged Nie Zhuying aside and gave her waist a hard pinch. “What’s wrong with you? Giving people attitude? Did you forget everything I told you? I told you to come early and you show up now? And this outfit—when did you change?”

Nie Zhuying winced, her expression contorting with pain. “Mommy, you and Daddy practically threatened me to come!”

Fearing she would cause more trouble, Mrs. Nie pulled her down to sit beside her, whispering a warning, “Don’t mess this up for me.”

Nie Zhuying agreed quickly, but the moment she turned around, her calculating gaze landed on Xia Qingye and Xia Yanbo.

Truthfully, Xia Yanbo was very handsome. His height and looks were exactly the “Prince Charming” image for young girls—a rare treasure in most women’s eyes.

As for Nie Zhuying, she had seen too many beautiful people since childhood; she was long since immune to this level of looks.

When she first saw Xia Yanbo’s photo, her first thought was not bad, her second…

#The Psychological Shadow of Discovering Your Fiancé is Xia Qingye’s Sugar Daddy#

Since she was a child, Nie Zhuying had been told one thing by her parents: she was “spoken for.”

Being “spoken for” meant she had been betrothed since childhood. As for who it was… she hadn’t a clue.

When she was little, she didn’t understand. When she got older and her romantic feelings started to bud, her parents would crush those sprouts with a club!

And after waiting thirty years, she finds out her other half is a scumbag!!!

“Ah, excuse me, Daddy, Mommy. You haven’t introduced me yet. This is—” Nie Zhuying’s playful gaze flickered between Xia Yanbo and Xia Qingye.

The smile on Xia Qingye’s face was about to freeze. She was now certain that she and Nie Zhuying were cosmically incompatible. Nie Zhuying’s smile was full of schemes; who knew what crazy idea she was hatching.

Mrs. Nie patted her arm. “You know Qingye. This is Qingye’s brother, Xia Yanbo. He’s already established several companies at such a young age. Truly a successful young man!”

“What!”

Nie Zhuying doubted her own ears. Her brow furrowed in disbelief. “They’re siblings?”

Shouldn’t it be a “Sugar Daddy and Kept Woman” relationship?

Mr. Nie let out a light snort. “What a fuss.” He then explained to Xia Yanbo, “Xiaoying is usually quite polite; she’s just curious. Yanbo, please don’t take offense!”

Xia Yanbo couldn’t help but glance at the blue gown on Nie Zhuying again. He smiled warmly. “Qingye combined the best traits of both our parents. I only inherited our mother’s, so we don’t look very alike. Strangers often doubt we’re siblings.”

A perfect graceful exit!

Mr. and Mrs. Nie exchanged a look, both very satisfied.

Nie Zhuying stared at Xia Yanbo and Xia Qingye sitting together—or rather, she stared at Xia Qingye.

Xia Qingye was baffled by the stare. Then, thinking of Nie Zhuying’s gossipy nature and looking at her brother… a subtle sense of amusement welled up in her heart.

The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed. She couldn’t help but cover her face, turning her head as her shoulders shook with suppressed laughter.