Reborn! Entangled with the Obsessive Best Actress - Chapter 16

Xie Jingcheng wasn’t foolish. She could guess what was happening. She had many admirers, and Peng Zhi’en was undoubtedly one of them. However, she had absolutely no interest in men like him.

He didn’t love her for who she was; on the contrary, he loved everything about her except her soul: her family background, her looks, her fame, her status.

Such men were shallow and utterly boring.

She couldn’t understand why so many female celebrities were drawn to him like moths to a flame.

Yet, faced with Song Qingxing’s unreasonable request, Xie Jingcheng agreed. She set down her fork and fed Song Qingxing another glass of wine.

She had assumed that someone who dared to chug wine in front of everyone must have a decent tolerance. However, reality proved her wrong.

After just a few glasses of red wine—Song Qingxing hadn’t even chewed her beef properly—the alcohol had already spread from her stomach to her head.

Her cheeks flushed pink, like cherry blossoms accidentally fallen on her face in spring. Xie Jingcheng reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind Song Qingxing’s ear.

She sighed softly, a hint of resignation in her voice.

Fine, I’ll just take this drunk home first.

Xie Jingcheng had never intended to attend the wrap party. It wasn’t out of disrespect for the film, but rather because she had only taken on the role out of obligation.

Finishing the project was already a remarkable achievement.

Though, toward the end, Xie Jingcheng’s motives had become more personal, driven by her own desires rather than the original request.

Standing up, she wrapped an arm around Song Qingxing’s waist, her fingers clasping at her side. With a gentle lift, Xie Jingcheng hoisted Song Qingxing into her arms.

The jacket that had been draped over Song Qingxing was now carefully placed over the little drunkard to avoid any accidental paparazzi shots that might fuel tabloid gossip.

Song Qingxing swayed to her feet, leaning all her weight against Xie Jingcheng’s shoulder as she was led away. With a slight tilt of her head, the tip of her nose brushed against Xie Jingcheng’s slender, porcelain-white neck.

A cool, refreshing fragrance emanated from the hollow of her neck.

Perhaps trusting this scent implicitly, Song Qingxing instinctively followed Xie Jingcheng forward. The hotel wasn’t particularly tall, only about five stories high, but it still had elevators, including a VIP-exclusive one.

Xie Jingcheng stepped into the private elevator and quickly descended to the lobby. The brightly lit space was sparsely populated, primarily serving as a venue for entertainment industry professionals to conduct business.

It wasn’t designed to cater to the general public.

A typical business dining setting.

Yet even in this exclusive environment, many eyes silently followed Xie Jingcheng, their cameras itching to capture her image.

Ultimately, no one dared to take a photo.

After all, being a paparazzi was just a job, and no one was willing to risk their life for money—despite Xie Jingcheng’s repeated assurances to those around her.

Her family was clean, she insisted, untainted by any shady dealings.

But human nature being what it is, people prefer to believe the worst, and rumors, like wildfire, only grow more intense with each passing breeze.

A sleek black Porsche waited outside. The driver stepped out to open the door, and Xie Jingcheng helped Song Qingxing into the car.

“Where to, Miss?” the driver asked.

“To my hotel,” Song Qingxing replied.

She knew the paparazzi would likely be even more relentless outside her hotel. Some rogue reporters, even if they promised not to publish, might secretly leak information to their inner circles.

Even the most prestigious background couldn’t guarantee complete secrecy.

To be safe, Xie Jingcheng decided to head to her own hotel.

The car started, and Xie Jingcheng closed her eyes, preparing for a light nap. Just then, her phone buzzed in her pocket—a call was coming in.

Xie Jingcheng reached for it.

But as her fingers brushed against the phone’s case, Song Qingxing suddenly leaned over, her forehead pressing against Xie Jingcheng’s neck. Though restrained by the seatbelt, her proximity was incredibly distracting.

Xie Jingcheng gently straightened Song Qingxing, who blinked awake, her eyes hazy. Her figure was stunning, her collar slightly disheveled.

It was hard not to let one’s mind wander.

“Xie Jingcheng, didn’t you want to kiss me?”

“I can kiss you. But can you be my lover for ten years?”

Xie Jingcheng’s heart stopped.

Why would the one being exploited ask to continue being a lover?

This makes no sense.

Xie Jingcheng sighed, about to explain that such a request was unreasonable—that she had no right to claim the most beautiful decade of a woman’s life.

Then she heard something so outrageous it nearly made her eyeballs fall out.

“I want to find a ten-year meal ticket. I know it’s excessive, but since you’re after my looks and I’m after your resources, it’s a fair trade, right? I don’t want to fade away…”

She closed her eyes.

She saw her father, his face bloodied and teeth knocked out by debt collectors.

These people operated in the gray areas of the law, making it difficult to resolve even with police intervention.

There were also her mother’s exorbitant medical bills. Clinical trials for drugs treating rare diseases were incredibly expensive, driving up the cost of the medications themselves, especially those not available domestically and requiring import.

Eighty thousand for one bottle of medicine, ninety thousand for another—this was no joke.

Not all medications were covered by medical insurance or eligible for reimbursement.

Song Qingxing had to bear these costs.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have considered becoming an actress. Being an idol or pop star only earned so much, and most of the time, the agency squeezed her dry.

But being an idol was joyful.

She didn’t have to care about what others thought. She could dance when she wanted, sing when she wanted, only needing to consider her fans.

However, China’s idol system wasn’t as developed as those in Japan and South Korea. There weren’t even proper music show stages. Only by entering the entertainment industry could she sustain her career.

“I…” Xie Jingcheng hesitated.

She wouldn’t pity someone for no reason, but what about someone who made her heart race?

If that person simply said, “It’s raining today,” her heart would pound twice as fast.

Before she could finish speaking, her chin was suddenly pinched, and her lips were sealed by soft ones.

A gentle lick was followed by a more reckless, possessive kiss.

Song Qingxing didn’t know much, but she poured everything she had into Xie Jingcheng. The temperature in the car rose rapidly.

Xie Jingcheng glanced at the driver, who was focused on driving. Even if he heard noises from the back, he probably wouldn’t dare to look back.

She knew she should push Song Qingxing away.

Yet Xie Jingcheng hesitated, simply wrapping her arms around Song Qingxing and pressing closer. She returned the kiss for nearly three seconds before forcing them apart.

She pulled out a tissue to wipe the dampness from Song Qingxing’s lips.

“Ten years from now, Song Qingxing, you’ll be almost forty. Will you really not want to get married or have children by then? If you’re absolutely certain…”

Xie Jingcheng felt little inner conflict. Just as she had when she decided to become an actress, once she made a decision, she never regretted it.

“Then I’ll agree.”