Chapter 27

She certainly wasn’t willing.

One night wasn’t enough to change Leng Xiang’s mind.

If she had given in so easily, she wouldn’t have been sidelined for so many years.

With her stunningly cold beauty and her icy, unyielding personality, there were plenty of people in the industry who wanted a taste of something new with her.

Jiang Sisi smiled and let her go.

Jiang Sisi walked back and sat down on the sofa in the office.

Leng Xiang calmed down as well and sat beside her.

The coffee in the office had already brewed. Jiang Sisi poured her a cup and placed it in front of her.

The scene at that moment was exactly the same as that day in the office.

This was setting up for negotiations.

Hot steam rose gently from the scalding coffee. Jiang Sisi looked at Leng Xiang sitting across from her through the mist.

Leng Xiang’s reaction was about what she had expected.

Leng Xiang would never accept it—not before things became irreparable.

So what if she pushed a little further?

Jiang Sisi curved her lips and said, “Alright, if you’re not willing, I won’t force you. Let’s talk about how we’re going to settle this.”

Leng Xiang looked at her and said, “I can give you money, or something else, as long as I can afford it.”

Owing a debt meant paying it back—it was only right.

She hadn’t fulfilled their agreement, so she had to compensate Jiang Sisi for her losses.

Money?

From what Jiang Sisi knew, Leng Xiang had been forced to sell her properties a few years ago due to family issues, using up all her savings. And with being sidelined these past few years and no income, she was now almost at the end of her rope.

Leng Xiang knew it herself too—if Jiang Sisi really wanted money, she definitely couldn’t pay it.

But even if she had to scrape it together or borrow it, she absolutely didn’t want to go through another night like that one.

Jiang Sisi thought for a moment and said, “It’s not much, really. All told, around two million or so.”

The favors from the card game and dinner were just a small part.

The Weibo promotions and hype weren’t handled through her directly, but she had a rough idea of the cost. Add in some operating funds and the money to smooth things over with Excellence Media behind the scenes, and that was about the total.

When Leng Xiang heard the number, she clenched her fists.

In the past, she might have been able to come up with it, but now? Forget two million—she couldn’t even scrape together a fraction.

Leng Xiang said, “Can you give me a longer deadline? I’ll pay you back as soon as possible.”

Jiang Sisi looked at her and said, “I can calculate it like the lowest market interest loan.”

In other words, two million principal, plus compound interest.

In her current state, she might never pay it off in her lifetime.

Her only friend was Shen Cheng, and she couldn’t bring herself to ask Shen Cheng to pay it for her. Besides, this had nothing to do with Shen Cheng to begin with.

Jiang Sisi smiled and said, “Or, you could reconsider our previous agreement. Two million plus the female lead in my new film, all for just one night of your time.”

In this desperate situation, would she agree?

Leng Xiang didn’t say anything. She hadn’t touched the coffee on the table. She stood up and said, “Send me a detailed list. I’ll figure out a way to get the money to you as soon as possible, just like you said. I’m heading out first.”

Jiang Sisi was thoroughly surprised. She was stunned for a moment before reacting, and asked, “How exactly do you plan to pay me back?”

She was genuinely curious.

Leng Xiang said, “I’ve got hands and feet. I can do extras, stunts, modeling, or just get a regular job to earn money. Whatever it takes.”

Two million, and she said it so casually.

This woman really was unyielding to the bone, her spine taller than the heavens.

The industry’s evaluation of Leng Xiang was spot on.

Jiang Sisi’s conscience finally kicked in, and she was completely convinced.

Jiang Sisi grabbed Leng Xiang’s wrist and said, “You need to work on this habit of leaving whenever you feel like it.”

Leng Xiang had been about to leave. She turned back to look at her and asked, “What? Haven’t we settled it?”

Jiang Sisi said, “Two million—you’ll never pay that off if you go that route. It could take your whole life.”

Leng Xiang said, “So what do you want?”

Jiang Sisi said sincerely, “Actually, even if you hadn’t called me that night, I still would have helped you.”

Leng Xiang: “……”

Would Jiang Sisi really be that generous?

Jiang Sisi saw her pursing her lips in silence and laughed. “Looks like you don’t have a great impression of me.”

By the time Leng Xiang had called her that night, the card game had already started.

Even if Leng Xiang hadn’t called, she still would have sorted everything out for her.

She liked people like Leng Xiang.

Never owing anyone, never bowing to anyone. When sober, there wasn’t a trace of weakness in her.

What would someone like that become if she really blew up?

She really wanted to find out.

But before that, she ought to get a little something for herself.

“I’m not really expecting you to pay me back this money, but letting you off without paying a cent doesn’t feel right either.”

Jiang Sisi looked at her, smiled, and said, “Give me a kiss of your own accord, and we’ll call it even.”

She had never intended to make Leng Xiang pay her back anyway.

She was just teasing her.

Or rather, her mischievous side was acting up again—she wanted to see Leng Xiang’s reaction.

Sleeping together was a no-go, but what about a kiss?

Leng Xiang suddenly looked up at her, her face full of disbelief.

Jiang Sisi laughed. “What’s wrong?”

Two million for a kiss?

As an actress, Leng Xiang had done kissing scenes before.

For two million, she was the one coming out ahead.

Assuming she wasn’t just messing with her…

Leng Xiang even wondered if her kisses were really worth that much.

She had no idea what Jiang Sisi was thinking.

Jiang Sisi clearly didn’t need the money, so offering to waive the debt for a kiss—maybe it was just giving her a way out?

Leng Xiang said, “Just one kiss?”

Jiang Sisi laughed. “You can do two if you want.”

Leng Xiang: “……”

Leng Xiang was exasperated.

She pursed her lips and asked again, “Why?”

Jiang Sisi laughed. “Because I like you. I want you to get a little closer to me.”

Leng Xiang: “……”

What a ridiculous reason.

But since Jiang Sisi had put it that way, waiving two million in debt and giving her an out with just a kiss.

It was only a kiss. No big deal.

Leng Xiang walked over as instructed, took a deep breath, and leaned close to Jiang Sisi’s face.

Even now, she still didn’t like Jiang Sisi.

Though Jiang Sisi had helped her a lot, even saying she didn’t need the money repaid—and two million was an astronomical sum to her now.

Leng Xiang closed her eyes, intending to get it over with.

But Jiang Sisi’s mischievous streak flared up again; she didn’t want Leng Xiang to succeed so easily. She patted her own thigh and said, “Come on, sit here.”

A vein throbbed on Leng Xiang’s forehead. “Jiang Sisi, don’t push it!”

Jiang Sisi said, “Two million…”

There it was again.

Leng Xiang closed her eyes, steeled herself, and before Jiang Sisi could finish, she swung her leg over and sat directly on her lap.

Leng Xiang was really light. Jiang Sisi had noticed it clearly that night when she’d carried her upstairs.

And now, sitting on her lap, she felt even lighter—like a delicate butterfly that might flutter away at any moment.

Their breaths were mere inches apart, audible to each other.

The feeling was utterly strange.

Leng Xiang shifted uncomfortably on her thigh. She looked at Jiang Sisi’s face, at her deep eyes.

Leng Xiang felt heat rising behind her ears.

Too close. Way too close.

Too ambiguous.

Jiang Sisi could clearly see Leng Xiang’s lashes trembling, long and curled like butterfly wings fluttering.

So beautiful.

Jiang Sisi thought, Two million… not a bad deal at all.

Leng Xiang was just about to lean in with her eyes closed for the kiss when she heard a loud “bang” from behind—the office door being flung open.