Reborn! Entangled with the Obsessive Best Actress - Chapter 45

The sensation of her chin being pinched was deeply unsettling, as if she were completely at someone else’s mercy. Song Qingxing tilted her head back, a flicker of defiance in her eyes.

She finally understood why even Cinderella in fairy tales might refuse to marry the prince. That towering, manic gaze was truly terrifying.

If I want any freedom in my future, she thought, I’d better stay far away from people like this. It was her brain’s warning, a desperate attempt to protect her soul’s autonomy.

But…

Song Qingxing found herself torn. She knew this was wrong, yet freedom wasn’t always the most important thing in life.

Her family, her parents, mattered more.

If she were one of those children from unhappy homes, perhaps she could easily ignore the suffering her parents endured.

But she couldn’t.

When she wanted to attend art school, her parents had sold everything they had to support her. Now that she could earn money, she owed them a debt of gratitude.

Otherwise, wouldn’t she be worse than an animal?

Song Qingxing had always looked down on the dirty dealings in the industry because, despite her fiery temper and difficult personality, she genuinely considered herself a person of high moral character.

But without status or wealth, maintaining one’s integrity and remaining morally upright becomes impossible.

Mom and Dad, I’m sorry. Your daughter might have to bow her head to others out there.

Having steeled herself mentally, Song Qingxing finally lowered her phoenix-like noble head, carefully cradling Xie Jingcheng’s injured wrist.

Her lips, as vibrant as ripe cherries, pressed against the knuckles. Xie Jingcheng could only hear the soft sound of her lips parting from her skin and feel the ambiguous breath brushing against the fine hairs on the back of her hand.

“Lying isn’t ideal, but I’ll say whatever you want to hear…”

At that moment, Xie Jingcheng finally understood: the little rabbit was willing to do anything, except truly love her. Yet that was the only thing she wanted.

In this regard, the two were truly at odds, moving in opposite directions.

Xie Jingcheng withdrew her hand.

“Why are you running away?”

“What do I lack compared to others? If you think I’m not as good as a man…”

Xie Jingcheng’s next words were cut off as Song Qingxing covered her lips.

“No, I hate those stinky men. I like you better, but I can’t just fall in love with you for no reason, can I? It’s better if our relationship remains purely platonic.”

Purely platonic, Xie Jingcheng thought, feeling a pang of frustration. A purely platonic lover relationship.

At that moment, she finally understood the feeling of those domineering CEOs in novels, the ones who sipped whiskey with tight-lipped bitterness.

Bitter resentment.

And why hasn’t this woman fallen for me yet?!

But our Best Actress only dared to think these things in her heart, unlike those CEOs who would grab the heroine by the collar and demand answers.

I almost spat on her face, Xie Jingcheng thought, inwardly seething.

She reasoned that since today’s incident had been caused by her, it might have left Song Qingxing with a negative impression. If she were to pressure her into a real romantic relationship now, things would likely spiral into an even worse direction.

So, for now, she had to swallow her pride.

“You don’t have to overdo it,” she said. “Just show me a little affection.”

Xie Jingcheng stood up. With her injured hand, she couldn’t wash Song Qingxing’s hair. She’d probably have to ask Song Qingxing to wash her own hair, which would be a hassle—washing, conditioning, and applying hair oil all by herself.

A white mist clouded the transparent glass. Xie Jingcheng lay with her eyes closed, the bathwater now yellow and murky from the bath salts.

She was completely submerged in the tub, the water reaching just above her chest, leaving her collarbones exposed. Her long hair had been carefully coiled up. Song Qingxing patiently washed Xie Jingcheng’s hair. Though she had washed her own hair countless times, this was her first time washing someone else’s. She moved with extreme caution, terrified of pulling Xie Jingcheng’s hair or scratching her scalp—either would be a grave offense.

Xie Jingcheng’s eyes were half-closed, as if she were about to fall asleep. This gave Song Qingxing a chance to study her features. Xie Jingcheng’s features were strikingly defined, unlike those of typical East Asian women. Her appearance suggested mixed heritage, perhaps from a minority ethnic group or a foreign ancestor. That sharp, prominent nose was certainly rare.

Xie Jingcheng’s bandaged hand rested on the edge of the tub, completely dry.

Remembering her disastrous performance earlier that day, Song Qingxing knew any Gold Sponsor would be dissatisfied. Her mind raced, desperately searching for ways to make amends. She hadn’t even managed to utter a single flattering word. The more she thought about it, the worse it seemed.

After washing for several minutes, the hair should be clean. Continuing any longer would risk damaging the strands and scalp.

Song Qingxing reached for the showerhead, preparing to turn on the hot water to rinse off the bubbles, when she saw Xie Jingcheng, who had been resting with her eyes closed, suddenly open them.

“You were using just the right amount of pressure when washing my hair earlier, but now you’ve slowed down.”

“Are you preoccupied?”

Water droplets clung to Xie Jingcheng’s beautiful eyebrows and eyes, making her resemble a mermaid emerging from the sea—a mermaid queen, no less, especially when those eyes fixed their gaze on you.

Song Qingxing felt the overwhelming pressure of someone in a position of power.

Unable to resist, her fingers pressed the showerhead’s button, drenching Xie Jingcheng’s face with hot water. White foam slid from the ends of her eyebrows down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry…”

Song Qingxing frantically grabbed a towel and began wiping the foam from Xie Jingcheng’s face, her heart racing with panic and self-reproach.

How can I still be so clumsy at my age? she thought. If you count my age from when I was reborn, I’m actually a few years older than Xie Jingcheng—I should be her older sister!

Though Xie Jingcheng appeared older on the surface, only Song Qingxing knew the truth: she had been reborn, carrying seven or eight years of memories that no one else possessed.

If only I hadn’t been so busy acting back then and paid attention to who won the lottery and where they bought the ticket, I could have made a fortune!

At that moment, Xie Jingcheng resembled a noble white cat, drenched from head to tail. Though now a soggy mess, she showed no anger, merely lifting her gaze to fix Song Qingxing with a steady stare.

Then, with a splash, she sat up in the bathtub, the cascading water drawing attention to her enviably sculpted physique.

Years of disciplined fitness training, guided by a nutritionist, had honed her body to perfect symmetry.

Unlike some actors who slouch on set, their eyelids drooping and eyes dull, Xie Jingcheng maintained peak physical condition at all times to ensure she was always in her best acting form. Her figure was alluring, boasting the classic S-curve that many women covet.

Her long black hair cascaded over her collarbones, framing her face.

Her water-slicked nose pressed against Song Qingxing’s.

“Tell me what’s on your mind,” she murmured.

“If it’s because I pressured you earlier… I’m sorry…”

“This is the first time I’ve ever liked someone. Sometimes, when I can’t have what I want, I just want to take it.”

Xie Jingcheng knew this possessive streak was a flaw.

She had been trying to control it, but sometimes, even when a volcano doesn’t want to erupt, the earth’s tectonic shifts force its hand.