A Max-Level Film Queen Takes on the Scumbag Alpha Script [Transmigration] - Chapter 26

The tender fish meat was carefully separated, every bone that could cause harm removed. The fresh aroma lingered beneath her nose, and the exquisite dish looked mouthwatering.

Yan Shu stared at the small plate of fish in front of her, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Others had called her “darling” before—most notably her eccentric doctor, Ai Ya. Every time she met with Ai Ya, she was bombarded with “darling” this and “darling” that. However, the feeling Jiang Baihe gave her was completely different.

If Ai Ya’s use of the term was more of a playful banter between friends, then coming from Jiang Baihe’s mouth, it felt more like an ambiguous flirtation between lovers. It made the listener’s face flush and their heart race, as if their whole body was catching fire.

Yan Shu lowered her eyes, trying her best to calm her emotions, and issued a soft warning to Jiang Baihe: “Just eat your dinner!”

She didn’t realize that such a soft, powerless warning sounded more like acting spoiled to others.

Jiang Baihe looked at Yan Shu—who was normally untouchable and regal in front of investors—behaving so softly toward her, and couldn’t help but let out a doting laugh. “Alright, alright. Let’s eat, let’s eat.”

She picked up a pair of tweezers and slowly began peeling the shell off a fresh shrimp.

After spending some time with Yan Shu, she had gradually figured out her dietary preferences. Yan Shu liked sweet and sour flavors; sweet and sour sauce and tomatoes were her favorites. As for things with many bones like fish, she wouldn’t touch them unless it was the kind with very few spines.

In Jiang Baihe’s view, Yan Shu didn’t simply hate eating fish; more accurately, she hated seeing the bones in the fish. Therefore, the small dish of tender fish Jiang Baihe had just handed over had been meticulously deboned, guaranteed not to have a single spine left.

As her hands continued peeling the shrimp, she tilted her head and asked softly, “Why don’t you like fish? Did you get a bone stuck in your throat when you were little?”

Yan Shu was chewing her food, so she only gave a slight nod as a response.

“Then you’re truly a case of ‘once bitten, twice shy,’” Jiang Baihe said, wiping her hands with a wet wipe and pushing the plate of freshly peeled shrimp toward Yan Shu. “Try these; the flavor is very fresh.”

Yan Shu glanced at Jiang Baihe and asked in a low voice, “Why aren’t you eating?”

Jiang Baihe kept putting food in her bowl, but had hardly tasted any herself. Yan Shu hadn’t forgotten her original intention: besides bringing Jiang Baihe here to vent her frustrations, she wanted her to eat something good so she wouldn’t have to eat set lunchboxes every day.

Jiang Baihe propped her chin on one hand and smiled slightly. “Mm, I don’t know why, but seeing you eat well makes me feel full too.”

It seemed that seeing Yan Shu eat happily provided her with a sense of internal satisfaction—perhaps this was what people meant by “beauty is a feast for the eyes.” She suddenly felt the joy of “raising a cub,” realizing that the forms of pampering a wife and raising a child were quite similar.

Not understanding Jiang Baihe’s inner thoughts, Yan Shu felt it was too strange to be the only one eating. She picked up the serving chopsticks and placed several dishes into Jiang Baihe’s bowl.

The two exchanged glances and whispered, flirting and laughing together. Meanwhile, poor Assistant Jin nearby helplessly let out a mental “burp.”

The food on the table was delicious, but she couldn’t eat a single bite. Not for any other reason than she was already stuffed full of “dog food” (witnessing public displays of affection). This was a total case of “tricking the dog in just to slaughter it”! She shouldn’t be here; she should be under the car.

Beside the helpless Assistant Jin, Lin Yi and Chen Sheng were also startled. They exchanged a look, seeing the same bewilderment in each other’s eyes. They had originally thought the relationship was a common “sugar baby” arrangement, but the scene of affection before them… with such inseparable attitudes and familiar movements, they looked like a young couple in the heat of a honeymoon phase.

This forced Lin Yi and Chen Sheng to re-evaluate Jiang Baihe’s status, and their attitude toward her became increasingly cordial.

The meal ended successfully in a harmonious atmosphere of toasted glasses.

Yan Shu and Jiang Baihe left first, but they didn’t choose to get in the car and go home immediately. Instead, they wanted to wander around outside to digest. The cool night breeze blew against their faces as Jiang Baihe led Yan Shu slowly across the pedestrian bridge by the river. They strolled and chatted aimlessly, as if time had slowed down.

Suddenly, a snack stall ahead caught Jiang Baihe’s attention. She tugged on Yan Shu’s sleeve and led her closer, lining up behind several children.

At the stall, the owner sprinkled a cluster of white sugar into the machine. Fine, cotton-like threads of sugar flew out, winding around a spinning bamboo stick. Before long, a fresh batch was ready. Jiang Baihe’s eyes lit up. She tilted her head and saw a hint of curiosity in Yan Shu’s eyes, so she ordered two.

After scanning the QR code to pay, they each held a giant marshmallow and continued their stroll.

“Mmm, it’s a bit too sweet.” Like a cat licking something, Yan Shu took a tiny bite. After tasting it, she couldn’t help but frown. Even for someone like her who loved sweets, it was a bit much. However, the texture was soft and melted instantly, which was quite nice. She could only manage a couple of bites for the experience; if she actually finished a marshmallow that big, she feared she’d be sick from the sweetness.

Jiang Baihe nodded in agreement, but then teased, “Mm, the marshmallow is sweet, but not as sweet as you.”

Yan Shu looked at the nonsense-talking Jiang Baihe with an unreadable expression. Just as she was about to say something, a strong gust of wind swept past, blowing her long, loose hair—and also blowing the precarious, about-to-fall marshmallow right off the stick.

Coincidentally, a large chunk of it stuck to her long hair as it danced in the wind.

Yan Shu: “…”

Looking at the dazed Yan Shu, caught off guard by the wind and the sugar, Jiang Baihe couldn’t help but burst into laughter. She had tied her hair up before coming out for convenience, which saved her from the same fate.

Jiang Baihe took the half-empty stick from Yan Shu’s hand, found a trash can, and threw both of their marshmallows inside. Then, she pulled Yan Shu down to sit on a bench along the riverbank.

Jiang Baihe took a tissue from her pocket and slowly leaned down in front of Yan Shu, meticulously cleaning the marshmallow stuck to her hair. The distance between them was very close. Jiang Baihe suddenly recalled the night of their first close contact; it felt like history repeating itself. But this time, there seemed to be far fewer barriers between them.

Yan Shu uncomfortably tilted her head, trying to find something to say. “Does my doing this tonight make you feel uncomfortable?”

She was more or less aware of Jiang Baihe’s desire to build her career on her own. She didn’t know if her act of standing up for her tonight would make Jiang Baihe feel she had overstepped.

But Jiang Baihe hadn’t thought that far. Having someone back her up—especially when that person was Little President Yan—made her so happy she didn’t have room for complaint.

So, Jiang Baihe smiled faintly and said, “Actually, I was very happy tonight.”

Yan Shu felt a sense of relief, and her expression relaxed. “That’s good.”

Looking at the Yan Shu before her, who had unconsciously let down her guard, and thinking about her actions tonight, Jiang Baihe felt an impulse stirring. She couldn’t help but lean in closer, her mouth opening, but no words came out. “I…”

“Mhm?” Yan Shu heard her trailing off and turned her head in confusion, not realizing Jiang Baihe was already so close.

The sudden movement caught Jiang Baihe off guard as well. The warmth of their breaths intertwined. From a certain angle, it looked as though they were about to kiss. Jiang Baihe saw the nervousness and surprise in Yan Shu’s eyes. Her eyelashes trembled slightly as she suppressed her inner impulse.

It’s not time yet.

Just as she was about to pull away, a loud “bang” exploded in the sky. Golden fireworks blossomed against the ink-black night, casting a golden rim on the bright moon. Both were startled and turned to look. The ambiguous atmosphere dissipated into the air along with the brilliant display.

In City A, fireworks were rare outside of major holidays. Perhaps there was a large event tonight that required them, and it just so happened that the two of them, wandering the riverbank on a whim, ran into it. This sudden change made Jiang Baihe completely retract her previous thoughts.

She looked at Yan Shu beside her, whose attention was entirely captured by the fireworks, and smiled.

The moonlight tonight is truly beautiful.