[Aider]: Teacher Lemon, I saw your stage play! I hadn’t seen any new work from you all month—so it turns out you were busy working on a stage play!
This Aider was precisely that well-known photographer UP.
Ever since they exchanged contact information and each sent a greeting… there was nothing more.
Neither of them had sent another message.
Song Qiuyu was a little surprised by Aider’s sudden message, and even more startled by its contents.
So the stage play video had already passed review.
She quickly and politely exchanged a few words with him.
[Aider]: Haha, the reason I reached out today is because there’s a Collaboration Deal. I wanted to ask if you’d be interested in considering it.
A Collaboration Deal?
Song Qiuyu pondered this, and as she turned her head inadvertently, her lips landed right on Jiang Xiao’s cheek.
Instantly, her eyes widened, and she sat there dazed.
Her heart skipped a beat, and a bashful red crept up her neck, ears, and half her face in an instant.
Such an accidental kiss was surprisingly embarrassing.
Their eyes met unexpectedly, and hers grew slightly moist.
Her body reacted honestly, and she nearly forgot to breathe.
She hurriedly tried to scoot back, but remembering what she’d just said, she simply pressed her lips together and, biting the bullet, continued sitting right where she was.
It felt like sitting on the scorching sands of the Sahara at noon—an unbearable sensation.
And also…
Seeing this, Jiang Xiao’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he struggled to keep his composure.
At that moment, both he and little Jiang Xiao felt immeasurably happy, though the latter was clearly still dissatisfied.
He wouldn’t push for more—he simply endured.
“Since my boyfriend is so close, I might as well steal a kiss!”
Song Qiuyu sighed lightly.
Jiang Xiao could barely suppress his laughter. Remembering he’d once had moments that were pure sincerity, not just acting, he laughed even more freely.
The soft, low laughter made her ears tingle.
Song Qiuyu rubbed her ear, refusing to look at his grinning face beside her, as always pretending it was penance.
She believed that everything she was doing now was simply what a girlfriend ought to do.
If Jiang Xiao ever found another girl to be his girlfriend, she’d have to at least reach this level!
In crucial moments, that so-called sense of shame and girlish reserve meant nothing.
With that thought, she endured her heated skin, held her phone tightly, and typed a message to ask about the collaboration.
After some inquiry, she learned it was a Collaboration Deal between a Hot Spring Hotel and a nearby Ski Resort.
To be precise, both the Hot Spring Hotel and the Ski Resort had contacted Aider for help filming a promotional video, so Aider had recommended her as a Short Video producer.
However, what truly won over the Hot Spring Hotel and Ski Resort was the stage play video they’d performed in.
They were quite taken with the performance of the Blind Prince and the Demon Princess.
As someone who had only been a Short Video producer for less than half a year, Song Qiuyu didn’t have a firm grasp on the concept of commercial deals, but even so, she could tell—this was a big one.
[No need to reply right away. You’re probably still in the middle of finals, right? The promotional filming will be during your winter break, so there’s plenty of time!] Aider sent another cheerful message.
I really look forward to meeting you.
Upon receiving the message, Song Qiuyu made an effort to reply calmly with an “Okay,” then squeezed her phone and shut her eyes, taking two deep breaths.
“Jiang Xiao, this is the power of connections!”
“Yeah, looks like a big deal this time. But if we’re going to work together, we should be even more careful.” Jiang Xiao smiled, turning to look at her.
She smiled with her lovely almond-shaped eyes curved like crescent moons, her cherry-pink lips pressed together, the corners of her mouth high and dimpled, cheeks glowing adorably.
The joy and anticipation on her face were so strong that anyone could see it at a glance.
Jiang Xiao was just as full of anticipation for the future of this collaboration, his grin radiant.
But still, he felt a hint of helplessness.
He was excited because they were one step closer to their dreams, yet helpless because this collaboration had disrupted his original plans.
He wondered if he’d still have the chance to take her home.
He also wanted to go back and spend good time with his family.
“You’re right, we have to be careful. Aside from everything else, we both have our own plans for winter break, so we’ll need to discuss the timing.”
Song Qiuyu stretched her back like a cat.
As for Xie Zhuran and Lin An, she’d worry about them later.
Just speaking of Jiang Xiao, she felt that since he’d already walked out of the shadows of his past, he’d probably feel guilty for neglecting family and friends all those years, and want to spend the winter break with them.
So no matter what, she had to make sure Jiang Xiao had enough time to go home.
She also wanted to go home and package up those study materials to send to him.
Thinking about this, she suddenly felt nervous, but these were all plans beyond her current situation!
Right now, she was like a criminal atoning for her sins, her fate tightly held by Jiang Xiao.
If he regretted it a week later—or even less—what would become of their futures…
She didn’t dare imagine it.
“It’s already late. Let’s discuss this with Xie Zhuran and the others tomorrow.”
Jiang Xiao pointed at the time on his phone—it was already past two in the morning.
“But tomorrow, you have to dress up beautifully and go to the amusement park with us.”
“Since we’re already up late, what’s a bit more? Let me first check out the stage play video link Aider sent.”
Song Qiuyu glanced at the time, opened the link, and never once considered refusing to go to the amusement park with Jiang Xiao and his younger siblings as his girlfriend.
During this week, she would do her utmost to fulfill Jiang Xiao’s every wish.
As long as he didn’t go overboard.
But thinking about it, she’d never been to an amusement park before.
Ever since she was little, she envied other kids going with their families, brothers, and sisters.
Now, she was about to go as Jiang Xiao’s girlfriend, accompanying him and his family.
It almost felt like a real family outing.
Even if it was just for a week.
She opened the link.
The video startled her with its opening sound, so she quickly turned the volume down, then breathed a sigh of relief and went straight to the comment section.
Sure enough, the comments were bustling with old fans, some even mistaking the creator.
The comment section was lively.
“It’s already been half an hour—why hasn’t it updated? Stabstabstabstab (hundreds more stabs omitted)!”
“I’ll always support you, Lemon Wife!”
“I’m going to report this video for being addictive. I can’t wait for the next episode, it’s driving me mad, I’m rolling on the floor!”
“The Blind Prince is so handsome, I just want to kiss his face!”
“@Sugar-Dipped Lemon where’s your update? How is this creator posting faster than you?”
After a month, seeing the comments packed full again, Song Qiuyu was especially moved.
Even though it was actually on the Drama Club’s account, being remembered and acknowledged felt wonderful!
She’d have to work hard on the next piece, too!
Still, as she read through the comments, what stuck with her most was the one saying they wanted to kiss Jiang Xiao’s face.
A flush of discomfort, like being scorched by fire, swept through her, making it hard to calm down.
She knew very well that Jiang Xiao’s face truly had that kind of appeal.
“Xi’er, this person says they want to kiss my face.”
Jiang Xiao’s low, husky voice sounded right beside her ear, like a devil’s whisper, sending her heartbeat racing.
With complicated feelings, Song Qiuyu hesitated for a long while, then turned to look at Jiang Xiao’s left cheek, now so close. She stared intently.
The mark she’d left had already faded.
Staring.
Jiang Xiao only glanced down at her phone screen.
As for that stranger, he was grateful—thankful for giving him a chance to probe, curious about how his girlfriend Xi’er would react and what she would do.
Song Qiuyu, unsure of what to think, simply kept gazing at him, her eyes burning, not making any move.
Jiang Xiao couldn’t bear it anymore; he suddenly wanted to laugh.
He squeezed his palm, took a deep breath, and turned to lean right up close to her face.
But just then, she seemed to snap back to reality.
With a few swift movements, she slid off his lap, nimbly slipped on his slippers, and in a flustered hurry, dashed to her own bedroom.
With a soft click, she closed the door.
Jiang Xiao was unwilling to accept this outcome.
Creak—the bedroom door opened again.
Naturally, it was Song Qiuyu’s room. Song Qiuyu trotted back out.