“Woof!”
Chives, sent tumbling, rolled across the floor in a furry ball, then righted themselves, nudging its sleeping nest back into place. Its chubby dog body quivered with indignation as it barked furiously at Jiang Ci, “Woof!” clearly enraged that its sanctuary had been disturbed. After thoroughly expressing its displeasure, chives spun around, shook its little fat puppy self, and trotted off.
“It’s funny?” Jiang Ci raised his eyes, meeting Su Yue’s dark, star-like gaze. He arched a lazy eyebrow. “When are you going to throw it away? That ugly thing’s leg is already fine.”
Su Yue tightened her grip on Jiang Ci’s face, distorting his features. “I can’t throw it away,” she mumbled, her voice muffled.
“Su Yue!” Jiang Ci protested, his lips puckered.
Su Yue silenced him with a kiss. “Don’t throw away chives, okay?”
“You don’t fulfill what you say,” Jiang Ci countered, his gaze cool.
“Girls can break their promises,” Su Yue retorted, rolling her eyes and batting them sweetly at him.
Jiang Ci sneered, pushing aside the two small hands that held his face. He bit down on her soft lips. “Three days at most. Throw it away after three days.”
“Jiang…” The rest of her protest was swallowed as her gorgeous pink skirt brushed against his dark suit pants. Softness, hardness, and coldness collided in a silent argument.
That evening, Jiang Ci indeed made public the secret information about Song Nianyue. While netizens weren’t as fixated on the dance world as they were on celebrities, it didn’t stop them from indulging in the scandal, especially when it involved despicable tactics in competitions, shattering fairness. Everyone was quick to condemn.
“Damn! You look pretty, but your heart is black? Contestants who compete with you are really unlucky for eight lifetimes.”
“Who would use such a method to plot against an opponent? Although it’s a competition, if you want to win, you should do it with integrity, fair and square.”
“I can’t believe it. I’ve always liked Li Li, a dancer. She dances so well. When she lost the game, I knew her boyfriend must have affected her, but I never thought it was a calculated plot by someone with ill intentions.”
“This girl has an insane desire to win. To win, she plays dirty tricks. If you can’t handle losing, don’t participate!”
“You have such nerve. Before the game even started, you were already planning to deal with your opponent, shameless.”
“Such a beautiful girl wouldn’t do such a thing; she must be wronged.”
“Is that the water army upstairs? The evidence has been released; don’t pretend not to see it. She played dirty tricks in two games, and now the villain is being slammed. I hope this fake white lotus gets banned from competition as soon as possible. She doesn’t even look that good.”
Song Nianyue scrolled through the comments, trying to refute them one by one, but there were simply too many people cursing her. She couldn’t keep up. Tossing her phone aside, Song Nianyue gritted her teeth in hatred. Originally, a sliver of hope lingered that Jiang Ci merely wanted to warn and scare her. She never expected him to truly destroy her for Su Yue’s sake. Now that her manipulative designs against opponents had been exposed, how could she ever face people again?
Jiang Ci was truly ruthless! He had actually hurt her, the heroine for the cannon fodder female supporting role, Su Yue! Song Nianyue closed her eyes, trying to rein in her fury. Nothing felt right anymore. Su Yue was becoming more and more beautiful, and Jiang Ci’s relationship with her was growing increasingly intimate, completely contradicting the cannon fodder setting. Song Nianyue’s eyes narrowed, a faint conjecture forming in her mind. Could it be that Su Yue had transformed from cannon fodder into the heroine? This thought had barely arisen before Song Nianyue vehemently suppressed it. Impossible. If she had transmigrated, it meant she was the heroine!
After the Song Nianyue scandal broke, more and more people condemned her, and her father’s business was affected. He had no issue with his daughter’s tactics in the competition; he only blamed her for being exposed and bringing shame to the Song family. “What did the Song family say?” he fretted. Thanks to his daughter being favored by the Song family, his company had prospered under the protection of such a powerful household. Now that something had happened to his daughter, his greatest fear was the Song family’s disgust and the loss of their crucial backing.
“I don’t know.” Since the incident, she had been hiding at home, too ashamed to go to the Song family’s residence.
“Nianyue, you know what the Song family means to us,” Song’s father implored, his voice earnest. “You are Jiang Ci’s savior, so just pay attention to this, and the Song family won’t be too dissatisfied.”
“Dad, I know.” Of course, Song Nianyue didn’t want to lose the backing of the Song family and Jiang Ci. Regardless of how much she was valued by the Song family and the benefits she had gained, just the fact that Jiang Ci was the male lead meant she had to hold onto him tightly. Before, she had the wrong idea, wanting both a career and to capture Jiang Ci, which had changed the relationship between Jiang Ci and Su Yue. Now, what she needed to do was expedite Su Yue’s departure, or rather, as long as Su Yue left Jiang Ci, she would have the opportunity to develop feelings with him. Having reached this conclusion, Song Nianyue returned to her room. She immediately called Song Xiaoqing to explain the situation, certain that only Song Xiaoqing’s intervention could make Jiang Ci delete the message.
Jiang Ci had declared that the chives would be gone in three days, and today was the first. Su Yue knelt, gently stroking the chives’ wrinkled head. She had to coax Jiang Ci within these three days to make him abandon the idea of throwing the chives away. “Chives, you have to stay here obediently, don’t provoke Jiang Ci, you know?” she urged the chives seriously. She tapped its head lightly with her finger. “You also like Jiang Ci very much, don’t you?” She couldn’t understand why the chives seemed so drawn to Jiang Ci, even though he kicked it away and showed utter disdain each time. The next day, chives would invariably gravitate back towards him.
“Woof!” chives wrinkled its head and rubbed against Su Yue’s hand. Now plump and round, with short legs, it looked even more foolishly adorable. Su Yue, charmed, rubbed its head again.
After knocking on the study door, Su Yue twisted the handle and peered at the figure diligently working behind the desk. She walked towards him, holding a mango cake. “I made you a new flavor of mango cake.”
Two palm-sized cakes, delicate and beautiful, were topped with a thick layer of mangoes, exuding an enticing aroma. The bottom layer, made of fresh milk, was snow-white with a faint milky taste. Su Yue had adjusted the sugar proportion to maximize the mango’s natural sweetness. Even eating the whole small cake wouldn’t feel overly sweet or greasy, and its calories were lower than other cakes.
Jiang Ci glanced at her, his eyes falling on the cake. The document in his hand was set aside, and he naturally picked up the silver fork on the plate. With the first bite, the rich mango sweetness and delicate milky taste filled his mouth. Both mango and milk were flavors Jiang Ci enjoyed.
“Is it delicious?” Even without a verbal response from Jiang Ci, Su Yue knew he liked it. She tentatively spoke. “Jiang Ci, don’t throw away chives, okay?”
“So, you used mango cake to bribe me?” Jiang Ci shot her a cold glance, yet he didn’t stop eating the cake. He slowly forked a small piece of mango cake, displaying the same refined elegance he showed when dining in a high-class Western restaurant.
“Yeah,” Su Yue admitted honestly, looking at him pleadingly with her watery black eyes. “I don’t want to throw away the chives.”
However, Jiang Ci showed no sign of softening. He twitched the corners of his mouth, even reaching out to pinch Su Yue’s cheek. “No! There are still two days. You can think about where that ugly thing should go.” He and the dog could not coexist!
Su Yue: “…” She wanted to take back the half of the mango cake he had already eaten and deny him the rest.
At that moment, a knock sounded at the study door, and the housekeeper stood outside. Jiang Ci merely glanced up, then continued to eat his cake.
“Uncle Zhang, what’s the matter?” Su Yue asked.
The housekeeper, accustomed to his eldest young master’s temperament, walked in and spoke respectfully, “Madam asked me to tell you, Miss Song is here. Madam asked you to come over.” Su Yue knew that “Miss Song” referred to Song Nianyue. She had also read the news about Song Nianyue online and wasn’t surprised that Song Nianyue was playing dirty tricks. After all, from the first time she saw Song Nianyue, she had felt an instinctive aversion.
“No,” Jiang Ci said coldly, still eating his cake. It was obvious what she was going to say; it was undoubtedly about that woman, Song Nianyue.
“This…” The housekeeper looked embarrassed, wanting to persuade him, but he knew Jiang Ci’s character well. Once he decided something, no one could change it.
Jiang Ci finished the last bite of mango cake, licked the corner of his lips, and said lazily, “Tell her directly that I won’t go, and tell her not to bother me.” The housekeeper knew Jiang Ci had made up his mind, so he could only reply, “Yes, Young Master.”
After the housekeeper left, Su Yue looked at Jiang Ci’s lips, her brows unfurrowed, clearly satisfied. “If you don’t go, Mother will be angry.” Song Xiaoqing had always been indifferent towards Jiang Ci. Now that Jiang Ci wasn’t listening to her, it was likely she would like him even less.
“Hey, she can get angry if she likes. Anyway, it’s not the first time,” Jiang Ci dismissed, pulling Su Yue’s wrist, wanting to draw her into his arms. “I still want to eat.”
“No more,” Su Yue said, breaking free from his hand and walking out. He insisted on throwing away the chives, so he wouldn’t get any more cake.
On the other side of the villa, Song Xiaoqing’s expression was grim after hearing the housekeeper’s message. This son never followed her wishes. “Okay, I understand, you may leave,” Song Xiaoqing instructed the housekeeper.
“Auntie, Aci is still angry with me,” Song Nianyue said, her head lowered, looking forlorn.
Song Xiaoqing patted her hand soothingly. “He has always been accustomed to acting arbitrarily, and this is indeed what he did wrong.” She had heard Song Nianyue claim that Jiang Ci had spread the news online because she had inadvertently angered him. A girl’s reputation was paramount; Jiang Ci was truly going too far.
“Actually, I don’t mind what’s being said online. I’m sad that Azi misunderstood me. He thought I used tricks on other contestants to win the championship,” Song Nianyue said, a half-truth she was certain Song Xiaoqing wouldn’t ask Jiang Ci to confirm.
“I know you are a good child.” Song Xiaoqing had a very good impression of Song Nianyue. She was always quiet and composed. Although she came from a well-off family, her years spent in and out of the Song family, accompanying the old lady, had given Song Nianyue the demeanor of a refined daughter. She wouldn’t be so shallow as to resort to despicable tricks.
Hearing this, Song Nianyue’s eyes instantly reddened. She forced a reluctant smile at Song Xiaoqing, her strong, patient demeanor designed to evoke sympathy. “Auntie, it’s fine as long as you don’t misunderstand.”
“Silly child, I’ve watched you grow up. I know what kind of character you have. As for Jiang Ci, I will educate him,” Song Xiaoqing said, satisfied by Song Nianyue’s reliant expression.
With only one day left before chives were to be discarded by Jiang Ci, Su Yue was filled with anxiety. She had already delivered the mango cake and tried to coax him, but Jiang Ci remained steadfast in his decision.
“Will the chives be sent away tomorrow?” Jiang Haoyan asked in a milky voice, rubbing the chives’ wrinkled head. He, too, knew that Dad didn’t like the chives and was planning to throw it away. “Haohao likes chives.” Ever since the chives arrived, Little Haohao had a small, furry shadow following him.
Su Yue saw the little boy’s downturned mouth, a look of reluctance on his face. She lowered her eyes and watched the chives, obediently lying on the ground, enjoying the stroking. Today, it was remarkably quiet, not eating its dog food or even drinking its favorite milk. It was listless, simply clinging to Little Haohao and her side, as if it knew it was going to be sent away.
“Well, Jiang Ci doesn’t like dogs,” Su Yue replied softly. She couldn’t bear to lose this little creature.
Little Haohao blinked his big eyes and said in a milky voice, “Then you beg Dad not to throw away the chives.” His little head tilted as he considered it. “Dad likes you the most. Dad will be obedient and listen to you.” Little Haohao believed his father listened to her words.
It was clearly the innocent prattle of a child, but when the little boy said that Jiang Ci liked her the most, Su Yue couldn’t help but feel a blush creep up her neck.
“Then…” Su Yue glanced at the closed study door and said in a low voice, “Then I’ll go and beg him?”
“Good, go!” Little Haohao, hearing that Su Yue was willing to talk to his father, his fleshy little face was filled with joy. His father would definitely listen to her.
Su Yue felt she had no choice but to try once more. If Jiang Ci still didn’t change his mind, she could only send the chives away.
Walking into the study, she saw Jiang Ci looking at some documents. He had been very busy recently, likely catching up on everything he couldn’t see before. Su Yue closed the study door, breaking the silence in the room.
Jiang Ci looked up at her, then returned his gaze to his work.
“Jiang Ci.” Su Yue walked towards him. “Little Haohao asked me to beg you, don’t send the chives away.”
Jiang Ci looked up, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “So, you listen to him and come in and beg me?”
Su Yue approached him and, taking the initiative, sat on Jiang Ci’s lap. Her face was flushed. “Yes. Little Haohao said that you like me the most and will listen to me.”
A warm fragrance enveloped him. Jiang Ci raised his eyebrows, a large hand naturally wrapping around Su Yue’s waist. He casually said, “Su Yue, don’t be rude. We’ve already agreed.”
“Can’t you?” Su Yue wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning against him obediently and softly. “Aci, don’t throw away the chives, okay?”
The hand holding the document tightened, the white paper instantly crumpling. His chest abruptly jumped. Jiang Ci’s dark eyes stared at Su Yue. “What did you call me?”
“Aci.” Su Yue thought he didn’t like it. She raised her head, looking at him with dark, moist eyes. “I can use other words if you like.”
Gee. Jiang Ci found that Su Yue was a clever little girl, not only adept at reading faces but also skilled at coaxing people with her sweet words.
“The beauty trick is useless,” Jiang Ci stated, stabilizing his expression and tossing aside the documents in his hand.
Soft red lips descended upon his thin ones. “Is it really useless?”
“Su…” His word was blocked. In the next moment, Jiang Ci pushed the person clinging to him away slightly, his eyes deep. “No, be good. If I am here, that ugly thing cannot be.” After he finished speaking, he kissed her again.
Her beauty trick might work on him, but the dog still had to go!