Chapter 33

Chapter 33

The call had ended at some point.

On the other end of the phone, the wind stopped, and the voices quieted.

In the silent room, only Pei Chuzhi’s thumping heartbeat remained, becoming especially clear under the warm yellow light filling the room.

Like a squirrel just awakened from hibernation, she moved slowly and uncertainly, feeling along the wall as she shuffled back to the living room. After standing blankly for a while, she collapsed onto the sofa.

A thin blanket lay draped over the armrest.

Pei Chuzhi pulled up a corner of the blanket and covered the lower half of her face.

The fabric was soft, and her warm breath dampened it with scorching moisture.

The light spilled down from the ceiling, leaving a faint, hazy halo in her vision.

After a long silence, Pei Chuzhi picked up the phone that had fallen to the floor and sent Qiao Na a message: [I think someone flirted with me.]

Qiao Na: [Which blind person dares pry at our Brother Ye’s wall?]

Pei Chuzhi replied: [It was Xing Ye himself.]

[…Friend, keep your PDA simple.]

[Isn’t it only natural for him to flirt with you?]

[I’ve got my snacks ready. Tell me in detail—how did my male god flirt with you?]

[Even a straight-man pretty girl like you felt it, he must have used his ultimate move, right?]

Qiao Na sent several messages in a row, the phone buzzing until Pei Chuzhi came back to her senses.

She blankly looked at what she had sent a few minutes ago, then looked at Qiao Na’s line “Isn’t it only natural for him to flirt with you?”, and seemed to find the root of all her confusion.

Right, a contract couple is still a couple.

Saying some ambiguous words and creating a bit of romance—wasn’t that only natural?

Qiao Na was still urging: [Where are you? Showing off affection and then running? Are we even friends!]

Pei Chuzhi now felt refreshed. She lowered her eyes and typed quickly: [Thank you, I figured it out.]

[???]

Pei Chuzhi’s confidence soared to an unprecedented level: [I’m going to flirt back.]

·

The opportunity to flirt back came in the blink of an eye.

The sports car brand endorsed by Xing Ye came knocking.

“From what they mean, they probably think your CP image with Xing Ye now has a public foundation, and the last advertisement had good results, so this time they want you to collaborate with Xing Ye again.”

Tang Dong handed the contract to Pei Chuzhi: “Take a look. I feel they’re quite sincere this time. Not only do they promise to increase your screen time in the ad, but they’ll also invite you to later commercial promotion events, and you can appear on promotional posters.”

Actually, this kind of cooperation wasn’t much different from projects Tang Dong had previously rejected—just giving a bit more exposure, not even considered a particularly formal long-term contract.

But this sports car brand was well known nationwide. Even just the poster placement along subway lines in first-tier cities would let Pei Chuzhi show her face enough times for everyone to remember her.

Pei Chuzhi flipped through a few pages of the contract: “When are they planning to shoot?”

“This month. The ad production cycle is short; it’ll be ready next month and can be launched to market,” Tang Dong said. “Mainly because Xing Ye’s schedule couldn’t be arranged earlier, that’s why it’s only being shot now.”

Tang Dong said this aloud, but inwardly he was very pleased.

He actually knew clearly that Xing Ye had previously taken the initiative to suggest filming another ad with Pei Chuzhi, but for several months the brand hadn’t extended an olive branch.

Now, not long after the first episode of Who Is the Murderer aired, a contract with favorable terms arrived. To put it plainly, they also wanted to use the CP popularity of Pei Chuzhi and Xing Ye to achieve a win-win effect.

Although among Xing Ye’s fans, there were certainly people unwilling to see him collaborate with Pei Chuzhi again.

But the brand didn’t care about that. They sold sports cars, not lipstick or face masks for young girls. Those little fans who might object weren’t their target customers at all.

Tang Dong was pleased that the brand had finally discovered Pei Chuzhi’s potential commercial value. He happily rubbed his hands and instructed, “The first advertisement was so successful, they also want to replicate the last case and get popular again. You must seize the opportunity, be bolder—just like filming the variety show this time. Work hard to hype it up for me!”

Pei Chuzhi signed the contract with a pen, her tone sincere: “Brother Tang, don’t worry. I have a very clear understanding in my heart now.”

She had thought things through very clearly these past two days.

Since Xing Ye could half-true, half-fake fall in love, she naturally couldn’t fall too far behind.

Isn’t it just acting?

She could do it.

·

On the night before the advertisement shoot, Yan City had a heavy rain.

The next morning, the sky cleared, and only the asphalt road spread a dark tone, showing traces of last night’s galloping wind and rain.

Pei Chuzhi changed clothes in the nanny van provided by the advertisement team.

The smoky pink mermaid dress narrowed tightly at the hem. After putting it on, it seemed like another layer of skin, clinging closely to her well-proportioned figure.

The lighting inside the van flickered, and when it swept across the skirt hem, it set off a bit of elegant refinement.

The nanny van was not spacious enough. When it was time to change into high heels, the stylist simply opened the door, letting Pei Chuzhi step her foot outside while she helped her put on the shoes.

When Xing Ye came out after changing, he happened to see a pair of glossy, straight long legs extending outside the vehicle. The toes were slightly tensed as if afraid of getting dirty, her pale toes glowing, only a light distance above the rain-wet ground.

Moving his gaze upward, the chest and waist lines wrapped in smoky pink rushed straight into his vision.

Pei Chuzhi was lowering her head. The spring breeze outdoors lifted the curled ends of her hair, dyeing them with a faint golden layer in the sunlight.

She seemed amused by something the stylist said. When she smiled, her brows curved slightly, bright spring light settling into her eyes, gorgeous and charming.

Assistant Xiao Zhou walked over from behind: “Brother Ye, they said…”

“Hm?” Xing Ye turned his head, his movement somewhat hurried.

Xiao Zhou froze, then noticed Pei Chuzhi not far away. He smiled knowingly, making an “I understand” expression: “Miss Pei looks very beautiful today. Brother Ye, aren’t you going over to compliment her?”

Xing Ye’s gaze softened slightly, his fingers unconsciously tugging at his tie.

This time the advertisement script set up a story of a young, wealthy noble son meeting an elegant lady. When he first got the script he didn’t think there was any problem, but now he suddenly felt somewhat irritated.

Whether it was the neatly fastened buttons or the patterned tie around his neck, everything felt a bit tight.

Even his voice turned slightly hoarse: “Compliment what?”

“Compliment her beauty,” Xiao Zhou said. “A boyfriend complimenting his girlfriend—what could be more natural.”

Xing Ye nodded as if enlightened, as though finding some powerful support. Only then did he turn and walk toward the nanny van.

The stylist was wrapping straps around Pei Chuzhi’s ankle.

The intricately designed high heels rested by her feet. As the smoky pink straps wound around her slender ankle, the tiny crystals on the shoes glittered dazzlingly.

Hearing footsteps, Pei Chuzhi looked up, her smile bright: “Good morning.”

“Morning.”

Xing Ye replied sparingly, then leaned against the vehicle without saying another word, looking extremely cool.

However, his gaze falling on the girl’s ankle betrayed his true thoughts.

He slowed his breathing, yet certain images still appeared uncontrollably in his mind.

For the first time in his life, Xing Ye realized that a gentle color like smoky pink could, on a particular person, produce such a stimulating effect.

His throat felt a bit dry, and he loosened his tie further.

The stylist finished tying the straps: “Alright, wait a moment. We should be able to shoot soon.” After speaking, she politely nodded to the two artists and withdrew.

Seeing this, Xu Lei also found an excuse to slip away.

Pei Chuzhi slowly stood up. The heels she wore today were very high, making her almost able to look straight at Xing Ye’s lips.

A voice in her heart kept reminding her: think about what lovers would say at a time like this.

It was her first time flirting with someone, and she wasn’t very skilled. She didn’t even know where to place her eyes, so she could only stare straight at the corner of Xing Ye’s lips, inexplicably recalling the time on the set of Quietly Falling in Love with You when Xing Ye taught her how to film a kissing scene.

A faint sense of probing drifted in the air.

Under her unmoving gaze, Xing Ye felt increasingly thirsty. He subconsciously licked his lips, and his Adam’s apple rolled unnaturally twice.

The protruding bone filled with masculine hormones outlined a sharp and alluring line along his slender neck.

Pei Chuzhi’s nerves trembled, and at the same time she noticed the loosened tie beneath his shirt collar.

Got it.

She had a sudden idea. With a hint of a smile at the corner of her lips, she spoke in a softly controlled, charming voice: “Your tie is crooked. I’ll fix it for you, okay?”

The ending note trembled slightly from nervousness, drifting like smoke, making one’s bones feel soft.

Xing Ye didn’t react for a moment and frowned: “What?”

The thin heels tapped lightly on the ground. Pei Chuzhi walked up to him, her fingers touching the edge of the tie and looping around near his neck: “What’s wrong? Don’t you want me to help you?”

All the muscles in Xing Ye’s body tightened in that instant.

All his thoughts were chaotic, as if falling into a pile of sweet cotton—white all around, and soft everywhere.

Pei Chuzhi’s movements were very gentle as she untied the half-loosened knot.

The sound of fabric rubbing lightly sounded between them, yet seemed deliberately amplified, instantly drowning out all other noise.

Xing Ye lowered his eyes, watching sunlight dance on her eyelashes.

They were so close—close enough that for the first time he noticed a faint, almost colorless small mole beneath her left eye.

Although he couldn’t figure out where her enthusiasm today came from,

Xing Ye willingly lowered his head slightly, adopting a cooperative posture.

Pei Chuzhi crossed the two ends of the tie, paused for half a beat, then repeated the action.

Then she blinked and realized that her grand flirting plan had encountered a very awkward obstacle.

Perhaps she took too long—long enough that the ripples in Xing Ye’s eyes gradually faded.

He clenched his back molars and asked in a low voice: “Have you ever tied a tie for a man?”

“…No.”

Pei Chuzhi’s voice grew softer, but her hands didn’t stop. “I remember it should be like this. Why isn’t it working?”

Xing Ye was silent for a few seconds before saying, “What exactly are you trying to do?”

Take his tie apart and play with it?

Pei Chuzhi felt deeply frustrated. She frowned her delicate brows and sighed: “I also want to flirt with you.”

Xing Ye: “…?”

Author’s note: Thanks to the little angels who threw overlord tickets or irrigated nutrient solution during 2019-12-12 20:55:28~2019-12-13 21:21:41~

Thanks to the little angels who irrigated nutrient solution: ameng 20 bottles; Titi dropped offline again 15 bottles; lisa 5 bottles; 40628068 1 bottle;

Thank you very much for everyone’s support, I will continue to work hard!