After Becoming a Film Queen, She Dumped Her Financial Sponsor - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: The Person I Went to See… Isn’t My Partner

That sentence meant one thing—she wouldn’t be staying the night. All the hope in Qiao Sijin’s eyes quietly faded away.

But she knew she shouldn’t disturb her sister’s work. That would be wrong.

“Sister, do you have something urgent to do?”
In the end, it was Qiao Sijin who voiced the answer for the night. Fu Qingyun continued to keep a careful distance between them and nodded.

“A red-eye flight. I’ll be back in about a week.”
“If I’m free, I’ll come pick you up.”

And if you’re not free?
Then… would you not come at all?

Even though she was disappointed, Qiao Sijin kept her emotions tightly under wraps. But even the best actress would slip up in front of someone she truly cared about—tiny traces always leaked through.

“I understand, Sister.”
“Next time… I won’t bother you so abruptly.”

She’d gone out today in high spirits, even put on light makeup and perfume. But all that anticipation amounted to nothing.

When her roommates saw her return, they were surprised. Some things didn’t need to be said out loud—they could be sensed.

At school, unless she had outside engagements, Qiao Sijin was usually bare-faced.
And even then, she still outshone the other students.

She only wore makeup for work.
So today’s look—carefully made-up, dressed up—clearly meant she was going to meet someone special.

There were rumors about Qiao Sijin. Her roommates had heard a few.
But most of them just envied her.

After all, who didn’t want to live a life of luxury at a young age, without needing to work for it?

And now, Qiao Sijin seemed to have it all—career and love, smooth sailing.

“Sijin, why did you come back so soon?”
“And that coat you’re wearing… that’s not cheap, is it?”

A thick designer down jacket. Just the logo alone showed it cost tens of thousands—more than their monthly expenses.

Qiao Sijin stayed silent. The coat had been placed on her shoulders by Fu Qingyun before she left.

She had wanted to refuse but didn’t know how to say it.
She’d already asked too much of her sister tonight. Pushing further might truly upset her.

“What’s wrong? You look so down.”
“Didn’t you go out to see your partner?”

That last sentence struck a nerve. Qiao Sijin’s brows tightened like a knot. She walked into the dorm room without replying.

Maybe soon she wouldn’t need to live in the dorm anymore. Her schedule was becoming busier, and her workload heavier.

“The person I went to see… isn’t my partner.”
“She’s…”

The words caught in her throat. Qiao Sijin didn’t know how to describe Fu Qingyun.
A lover? But she didn’t have Fu Qingyun’s permission to call her that.

Their relationship couldn’t see the light of day. And who was she to stand beside her sister?
Even the resources she had… were merely part of a transaction between them.

“Oh, come on. We know exactly what you’re thinking.”
“We get it.”

“You really like her, don’t you?”

It was obvious from the makeup.
Only someone you cared deeply about could hurt you this way.
She had gone out excitedly and returned crestfallen within an hour.

They must’ve talked about something upsetting—ended on a sour note.

“But what’s the point of liking someone?”

Qiao Sijin murmured to herself.

She always felt that there was a deep chasm between her and Fu Qingyun.
Those cold eyes would occasionally show a tenderness she couldn’t help but crave.

She didn’t know how to put it into words.

Maybe their relationship had been doomed from the start.
But what’s done is done. It’s too late to go back.

Qiao Sijin knew that every day she spent with Fu Qingyun only fed her growing desire.
Every minute, every second of that day, she wanted more.

“Sijin, I know you’re hurting.”
“But for now, let’s set this aside, okay?”

Someone knocked at the dorm room door again.
The slightly ajar door opened, and Tao Yi stepped in, holding a contract.

“This is Troy’s new collection. They want you as the spokesperson.”

Everyone in the room instantly recognized the brand name—Troy.
That was the label of the coat Qiao Sijin was wearing.
To represent a luxury brand of that caliber was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, even for a top-tier celebrity.

For a rising star like Qiao Sijin, it was like manna from heaven.

This was Fu Qingyun’s way of compensating for turning down Qiao Sijin’s request.
Coincidentally, Troy was in negotiations with her company.

Fu Qingyun didn’t know much about the complex games in the entertainment industry.
She had only briefly asked Assistant Zhou for some suggestions and then gave Qiao Sijin everything she thought was good.

She never asked whether Qiao Sijin actually wanted—or could handle—this sudden kindness.

“Tro… Troy?”

Everyone in the dorm rubbed their eyes in disbelief.

“Did your sister ask you to bring this?”

Tears welled up in Qiao Sijin’s eyes. But strangely, she felt a sense of release.
She wasn’t sure whether she was crying or laughing as she took the contract.

Tears dripped onto her palm, tracing down the lines of her skin.

“President Fu, you probably don’t know—there was a time when you completely owned all of Sijin’s heart.”

“I’ve never seen her cry that hard before. It was like… she’d just lost her first love.”

“Don’t you… feel even a twinge of guilt?”

The Qiao Sijin now was completely different from the one three years ago.
Only three years—and she’d changed so much.

“I… really didn’t know about any of this.”
“There were too many formalities between us.”

Fu Qingyun had always lived her life by the book.
Only in rare moments did she allow herself to slip.
Even now, all she could offer were these pale excuses.

“So what are you trying to get from her now, President Fu?”
“Something you once had completely… and then threw away?”

“This constant pressure will only push her further away.”

“Please slow down a little… if you truly still care about Sijin.”

This was probably the first time since her childhood that someone other than an elder had scolded Fu Qingyun like this.

For a moment, she stood frozen, not knowing how to respond.

Tao Yi knew she was being harsh—especially toward her own boss.

So she swallowed the even sharper words she’d been about to say.

Whether Fu Qingyun could change or not, she didn’t care anymore.
She only hoped Fu Qingyun would stop entangling herself with Qiao Sijin, who had worked so hard to move on.

Otherwise, who knew how many more problems this impulsive woman might cause.