stingy boss

What are you asking...?

Chu Yiqi blinked, the presence of the necklace around her neck becoming increasingly pronounced as she tried her best to sense the location of the two rings.

The other four were whispering amongst themselves, so Chu Yiqi's answer wasn't abrupt: "Back then... why did you choose this movie?"

As if she had expected it, Xi Ai raised the corners of her lips slightly and said, "Because... some movies are made to help people, and of course I have people I want to help, so... I have to give it a try."

Xi Ai looked at her, and in that instant, the longing and love in her eyes seemed to break through the disguise and overflow, but Chu Yiqi felt it was too dazzling, so she hurriedly lowered her eyes.

"Everyone has someone they want to help, right?"

"Perhaps."

"But I didn't."

Xi Ai stared intently at Chu Yiqi, her tone exceptionally firm: "You do."

Chu Yiqi finally raised her eyes and said, "Is that so?"

"Hey, what are you two discussing?"

Xi Ai pressed her lips together. The wall lamp wasn't very bright, but it was enough to see everyone's expression clearly.

Chu Yiqi said, "Let's discuss whether that osmanthus tea tastes good."

"Yes, and I also feel like eating osmanthus cake." Xi Ai's lie to Chu Yiqi was completely unscripted and didn't require any rehearsal.

"Really?"

"But actually, the food they made looks really appetizing..." Yu Nianxi was led astray, completely forgetting her earlier discussion about the storyline.

"Then you'd better not even think about it." Xi Ai frowned, her voice suddenly dropping. "Is this something I can just say?"

Chu Yiqi met Xi Ai's gaze and understood what Xi Ai meant. She also whispered, "You have to trust our post-production team and the reviewers."

"

Meng Yike heard it clearly, but had nothing to say.

So Xi Ai said, "That osmanthus cake was actually made by Qi Dao himself, and the taste... well, it's hard to describe."

"ah……"

"How can you whisper secrets behind someone's back?" Chu Yiqi teased her with a smile.

Xi Ai raised her eyes and said, "Actually, we talked about it in person."

Nie Chuiying, who had already overheard Xi Ai and Chu Yiqi's conversation and was whispering to Shi Yunshan while covering her mouth, didn't participate in the discussion about osmanthus cake. Instead, she continued to cover her mouth and whispered in Shi Yunshan's ear, "Actually, although I didn't see the whole thing, their lip movements just now didn't match up with the word 'osmanthus'..."

"You actually believe that?" Shi Yunshan's tone was always cold and indifferent. She looked up for a while and decided to take care of the silly girl who didn't know Xi Ai that well, so she added, "With Shiny's personality, I don't know how she's trying to trick Chu Yiqi into saying those things."

"Give me another spoiler?" Nie Chuiying propped her head up, biting her straw and glancing at her expectantly.

Shi Yunshan remained silent.

"You took the wrong milk tea."

“I can taste it. Only you would drink milk tea without added sugar.” Nie Chuiying took another sip and said, “It’s still Xing Shi Chun Shan.”

Shi Yunshan silently picked up Nie Chuiying's milk tea and said, "Now you're the only one drinking it."

"..."

Nie Chuiying belatedly realized the question she had just asked Shi Yunshan: "Don't change the subject."

"Am I a prophet?" Shi Yunshan almost laughed in exasperation. She ruffled Nie Chuiying's hair. "You care about others, but I've never seen you ask about us."

"Well... but everyone has a gossipy nature."

Nie Chuiying placed the two cups of milk tea together, then leaned against Shi Yunshan and said, "Look, look."

"What?"

"How can we not be considered a couple's item?"

Shi Yunshan choked, trying hard to convince herself not to attack Nie Chuiying. After convincing herself, she found it quite funny, so she smiled and asked Nie Chuiying, "Are you talking about names containing the character 'mountain' and high levels of tea polyphenols and caffeine..."

"...Okay, how can it not be a sign of tacit understanding if we can't sleep together?"

"That was forced."

"Then you have to come with me too."

"oh."

After they finished arguing, Nie Chuiying twirled Yunshan's hair a few times with her fingers, then looked up and exchanged glances with the others.

The movie somehow ended up playing a second time, and the others, for some reason, stopped talking and just stared at the two of them.

Nie Chuiying: "..."

She hid Shi Yunshan's hair in front of her face, deceiving herself.

Shi Yunshan pressed down on her hand and pulled it down to hold it tightly.

"Shiny, stop staring at me."

"Please stop calling me Shiny, okay..." Xi Ai really didn't want to talk.

The main reason is that she hasn't heard that title before.

Chu Yiqi blinked very, very slowly, as if he were on a speed bump.

The first time she heard someone call Xi Ai that was when she went out to sea with Xi Ai that year.

*

"shiny?"

Xi Ai was taken aback when she heard this address. Chu Yiqi also turned around when she heard the voice, but she wasn't as sensitive as Xi Ai.

I was stunned for a moment before I remembered that this was the name Xi Ai was called when she was a child abroad.

Xi Ai didn't give herself an English name, so everyone just called her by her first name.

But this was only "originally"—after a debate ended, Nadia hadn't finished packing up her materials, so she wanted to ask Sie to stop. But Sie was in a hurry, so Nadia called out faster, making the pronunciation sound unusually like "shine."

So later, many people who knew her called her "shiny".

Xi Ai turned around and looked at the person behind her with a smile. This blue-eyed lady had big, wavy hair and an off-the-shoulder short dress that accentuated her figure.

"Nadia, it's been a long time."

"Yes, it's because big stars insist on settling down in China."

Chu Yiqi knew this was a gathering of acquaintances, so he blinked and took half a step back, as if he was preparing to go and explore on his own first.

Xi Ai immediately noticed, glanced at Chu Yiqi, and then reached out to take her hand without hesitation.

Their fingertips touched, and Xi Ai adjusted them, interlocking their fingers.

After holding hands, Xi Ai naturally smoothed Chu Yiqi's hair, then tucked one side of her hair behind her ear and gathered the rest of her hair to one side.

Chu Yiqi was clearly stunned, and she looked at Xi Ai.

"I'm not bothering you by being here?"

Xi Ai looked at her with amusement and said, "What's wrong with saying hello?"

"Is this beautiful young lady your lover?" Nadia looked at Chu Yiqi and extended her hand.

Chu Yiqi smiled faintly, subconsciously glancing at Xi Ai to see her reaction.

Xi Ai answered naturally and without the slightest hesitation: "Of course."

Nadia's eyes widened slightly, as if she were the first to discover a great secret. Then she raised her hand to cover her mouth and whispered something to Chu Yiqi.

"Shiny has a really sharp tongue, doesn't she?"

Chu Yiqi smiled and nodded.

Xi Ai spoke softly, "I can hear you... If you're really free, I suggest you go to the third floor of the cruise ship. Maybe someone will want to chat with you."

Nadia almost rolled her eyes at Xi Ai. She continued to feed Chu Yiqi strange ideas: "When you're with Xi Ai, remember to keep your eyes open. She's no good. And kissing her can poison you."

Chu Yiqi couldn't help but chuckle, laughing as he aided and abetted the evildoer: "Is it that scary?"

"certainly."

Chu Yiqi immediately turned to look at Xi Ai: "So what's on the third floor?"

"Doctor." Xi Ai's expression remained unchanged, but a smile had already appeared in her eyes.

Chu Yiqi smiled with pursed lips, watching helplessly as Xi Ai drove the blonde lady away in anger.

"Alright, see you later, Miss. I'll be challenging you at the auction."

"Okay."

*

Chu Yiqi almost laughed after thinking about it for a moment. She smiled and nudged Xi Ai, changing the subject: "Shiny, are you still going to sleep tonight after drinking this milk tea?"

"..."

Desensitization training?

One or two of them, constantly using the word "shiny".

It was Shi Yunshan who started it all.

Xi Ai silently took a breath and said, "Teacher Chu, if you drink this, will you still need to get up tomorrow?"

"Hahaha, your attack power is incredibly strong." Yu Nianxi laughed while cracking open a bag of potato chips that she didn't even know she had opened at the time.

Chu Yiqi muttered to himself, "I knew Nadia was right."

"Hmm?" Xi Ai didn't hear clearly, so she subconsciously moved closer to Chu Yiqi as usual.

For a moment, the scent of mugwort mingled with the aroma of green plums, creating an unexpectedly pleasant fragrance.

Chu Yiqi didn't repeat it a second time, so she said vaguely, "It's nothing, but I suggest you touch up your lipstick when you have time?"

Xi Ai was taken aback, not quite understanding.

Chu Yiqi thought about it and found it funny herself. So, while laughing, she unconsciously moved a little closer to Xi Ai and said, "After you put on your lipstick, purse your lips. Maybe you'll poison yourself and make yourself mute."

Xi Ai was speechless for a while, and the more she thought about it, the angrier she became. In her anger, she laughed instead.

"Chu Yiqi!"

"Here I am."

No matter how loudly Xi Ai called for help, it was all bark and no bite; in the end, she just went over and snatched a handful of Chu Yiqi's potato chips.

snort.

Elementary school student behavior.

"Aren't you childish?!" Chu Yiqi snatched the two back.

Xi Ai protectively ate three of her spoils, then replied with a beaming smile and a drawn-out tone, "Of course, Teacher Chu is the most rational—"

Chu Yiqi: "..."

Honestly, why did I have to try again after never having confronted Xi Ai before?

My already limited win rate has been lowered once again.

Xi Ai laughed for a while, her voice not loud, but Chu Yiqi and Meng Yike next to her could hear it clearly.

Meng Yike remained silent, only glancing at the camera's position—okay, it can be recorded.

Then look at the brightness of the wall lamps—you can see them clearly.

Meng Yike really felt like she was worrying herself sick over other people.

Poor money-obsessed people.

They have to endure their partner's infidelity in their own relationship, and they also have to contribute to the love lives of others.

Oh well, there will always be some kid with an 8x scope who can read your lips.

It's because only those who actually discussed the plot and cinematography wore microphones on their collars.

Two minutes before the movie starts.

Xi Ai and Chu Yiqi started arguing about whether to watch TV or use a projector.

"No, the projector is much better."

Chu Yiqi felt that Xi Ai was just looking for trouble: "Can you even find it?"

“I forgot…” Xi Ai was clearly lacking in confidence.

"Oh. Then let's just look at it."

Nie Chuiying spoke up at the right moment, saying as she watched Shi Yunshan adjust the microphone position for her, "Actually, your Sister Shi has a new one in her room."

Chu Yiqi immediately fell silent, while Xi Ai smiled smugly.

Thus, in the first battle, Chu Yiqi scored zero points, while Xi Ai scored one point.

Next is round 2—

Chu Yiqi adjusted the lights, and Xi Ai, holding snacks, added to the chaos, turning the lights up to their brightest setting.

Chu Yiqi: "…………"

What a life full of twists and turns.

Xi Ai quickly ran away, laughing as she ran, and threw the snacks on the table.

Chu Yiqi could only attack Xi Ai: "As an actress, can't you maintain your weight? You still eat snacks!"

"I rarely take on acting roles." Xi Ai changed the subject, indiscriminately criticizing many people, "I lose weight very quickly, and I don't gain weight no matter what I eat!"

Is that a reason?

"To be honest, I lost a lot of weight while filming 'The South'. According to the law of conservation of matter, I need to gain some weight to come back."

Chu Yiqi almost laughed: "Is this how you maintain conservation?"

Chu Yiqi was tired, so he stood up and continued adjusting the lights.

She felt she could really develop a side hustle—as a lighting technician.

"Teacher Chu," Xi Ai said cheekily, leaning closer, "wasn't it particularly bright just now? So now that energy is conserved, we need to turn it off."

"..."

Chu Yiqi took a step back... drowning in the sea. Unable to bear it any longer, he pretended to be cold and indifferent: "If you really lock me up, I'll slap you away."

"Okay, boss." Xi Ai stood up obediently. "I'll adjust it."

"Okay, no overtime pay."

"Okay, stingy boss."

"..." Chu Yiqi handed a bag of preserved plums to Xi Ai, then thought for a moment and took it back, picking out one for Xi Ai.

Xi Ai remained silent.

"A good, normal boss."