After Becoming a Film Queen, She Dumped Her Financial Sponsor - Chapter 26

Chapter 26: “Miss Qiao, do you have a first love?”

After filming wrapped up for the day, the production team had arranged individual interviews for a special behind-the-scenes feature that would later be edited into the movie.

Each cast member had to record a personal reflection about the film—or answer some private, even provocative questions meant to help promote the movie.

This was standard practice in the entertainment industry, so Qiao Sijin wasn’t particularly surprised—until she saw a rather interesting question while flipping through the script the program team had prepared.

She rolled the script up and read it out loud, word for word:

“Miss Qiao, do you have a first love?”
“What kind of person were they?”

Still holding a handful of sunflower seeds, Qiao Sijin nearly choked from laughing too hard at the question.

“Boss, is it really that funny?”

“These are personal questions, Boss. You need to answer them seriously. Best if you stick to the pre-written answers—word for word.”

But disregarding expectations was practically Qiao Sijin’s trademark. Li Ke, her assistant, knew her warning was probably going to fall on deaf ears, so she didn’t get her hopes up.

“It’s hilarious. Absolutely hilarious.”

Still chuckling, Qiao Sijin casually popped another seed into her mouth, clearly not taking the matter seriously at all.

“Got it. I’ll behave and stick to the script later.”

The sun must be rising in the west.

Li Ke clasped her hands together and silently prayed that—for once—her boss would actually follow through and not just say that to get her off her back.

…

That evening, the director’s team had everything ready for the behind-the-scenes recording. Though labeled as “bonus footage,” it was actually set to be released before the movie itself.

It was all about creating buzz and building hype.

Li Ke cast worried glances toward her boss, silently begging the universe for mercy. Please, Boss, have some restraint—for both our sakes. Otherwise, Tao-jie (their agency manager) would definitely chew her out later.

“Miss Qiao, do you have a first love?”

The familiar line was asked on camera. Qiao Sijin gave a perfect, professional actress’s smile and responded politely:

“Yes, I did. It was when I was in college. The person was a few years older than me.”

Everyone froze.

That wasn’t what was written in the script!

Only Li Ke gave a bitter smile and sighed to the heavens. She knew this job wasn’t easy. Her boss’s unpredictable mouth had gone off-script again—but what could she do? It’s not like she wasn’t the boss.

The director’s team hadn’t expected Qiao Sijin to answer like that, but improvisation wasn’t unusual in showbiz. And since this was just a simple interview, they didn’t make a fuss.

Besides, a celebrity willingly sharing private details was great for marketing.

They’d just scored a bonus.

But more importantly, everyone’s gossip radar went off. At this point, there was nothing more important than the juicy tea about to spill.

So, the interviewer leaned in excitedly and asked:

“What kind of person were they?”

To their surprise, Qiao Sijin didn’t appear the least bit sorrowful. In fact, she looked cheerful, as if the relationship had ended without bitterness.

“They were a good person… Just kind of like an antique. A little dull. And sometimes incredibly stubborn—you couldn’t get through to them no matter what you said.”

She casually flipped her long hair, exposing her pale neck, and pointed at her own temple.

That answer made it very clear to the reporter that there was more story to dig into. So, they eagerly asked again:

“And how are they doing now?”

Qiao Sijin cleared her throat.

Suddenly, her expression shifted into one of tender sorrow. Drawing from years of acting experience, she effortlessly brought the entire crew into the emotional atmosphere.

“She passed away.”

That one sentence pulled everyone into a somber mood. Crew members found themselves thinking about their first loves, hearts heavy with old emotions and the painful reality of never seeing that person again.

“My condolences.”
“I shouldn’t have asked…”

The reporter quickly apologized, clearly feeling guilty for stirring up such emotions.

“It’s okay,” Qiao Sijin replied with grace. “It’s all in the past. Saying it out loud today was just a way of finally letting go.”

After the sorrow faded, she lifted her chin again with poise. She looked radiant—like a flower blooming again after surviving a storm.

Li Ke, who had been nervously watching from the side, was dumbstruck.

Did she hear that right?

That was some textbook-level acting. Everyone on set had been drawn in, fully convinced. They were probably all worried that their questions had hurt Qiao Sijin emotionally.

But ever since Li Ke had become Qiao Sijin’s assistant, she’d never heard of her boss having a tragic, dead first love.

Besides, back in college, hadn’t her boss been in a… rather complicated relationship with President Fu?

Wait.
Could it be that the “first love who passed away” she was talking about on camera… was Fu Qingyun?!

That was wild.

Li Ke was stunned by her own thought. How could she even think of her boss and Fu Qingyun that way?

The interview finally ended, and Li Ke—full of curiosity—waited until the crew had packed up. She walked over, pulled out the chair the reporter had just vacated, and sat down with a blink of curiosity in her eyes.

“Boss, that ‘first love’ you just mentioned… could it be—?”

Before she could finish her sentence, Qiao Sijin raised a finger to her lips, signaling her to hush.

Seeing that gesture, Li Ke was 100% sure.

The “first love” Qiao Sijin had so vividly described on camera was definitely Fu Qingyun.

“Not bad. You actually figured it out.”

Boss, please. You made it so obvious, even a fool could guess.

And Li Ke wasn’t just anyone—she was the assistant who’d been by her side through all of it. She’d seen more than enough of Qiao Sijin’s love-struck (and sometimes lovesick) moments to recognize the signs.

“I’m not an idiot, Boss. What kind of impression do you think I give?”

But for the sake of the recent raise she’d just received, Li Ke decided to let it slide—just this once.

“Back then, I really did like her,” Qiao Sijin said, her voice softer now. “We met while I was still in school. It’s fair to call her my first love.”

Li Ke couldn’t argue with that.

Because every word Qiao Sijin had just said was true. Back then, she had been like a sunflower reaching for the sun—bright, passionate, and completely captivated by her own light.