After Becoming a Film Queen, She Dumped Her Financial Sponsor - Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Recommend a Few Younger “Wolf Pups”

Qiu Zhirou exaggeratedly pinched her nose and scooted a little further from Qiao Sijin.

“You’ve been squatting in the trash bin for days, haven’t you? You stink. Go wash yourself.”

Knowing she was just joking, Xu You didn’t take it to heart. Instead, she grabbed the hotpot menu like a starving ghost reincarnated and began checking off dish after dish.

“Oh please, Xu You. I just saw our big movie queen taking a shower before she came here—don’t drag me into your mess.”

“I practically boiled myself clean. I’m whiter than anything now.”

“But you—shooting that anti-bandit film—are tanned like some gorilla from Africa.”

“You really should start taking care of yourself. Just look at Sijin—this is what a proper actress looks like. Self-discipline, people!”

That last line made Qiu Zhirou laugh out loud. Look at Xu You, all worn out and still daring to throw shade. Qiu stood up, playfully pretending to strangle her.

“Okay, okay, can we eat in peace for once?” Qiao Sijin said, checking her Weibo.

Her latest post was still the official announcement of her winning the Golden Palm Award, with fans flooding the comments with cheers, reposts, and tags—an online celebration.

But Sijin didn’t feel the same joy she once would’ve. Making the decision to part ways had taken tremendous courage.

If anyone needed anyone, it wasn’t that Fu Qingyun needed her ridiculous affection—it was that she had needed Fu Qingyun.

Fu might not have been gentle with her, but she had always been dependable, fulfilling her every request.

“Hey hey hey! You’ve officially said goodbye to that ice queen, no need to look so heartbroken.”

Xu You waved a hand in front of Qiao Sijin’s face. Both she and Qiu Zhirou had been goofing off to distract her.

They were longtime friends. They knew better than anyone how much Sijin had really let go.

On the surface, she claimed to have moved on. But who can truly sever all feelings from a past relationship so easily?

There’s always that period after a breakup where you miss your ex… followed immediately by the impulse to slap yourself for feeling that way.

“I’m not blind. Move your hand,” Sijin said coolly.

“I was just checking comments from fans, okay? It’s work.”

She dropped her phone back into her bag and rolled up her sleeves—most of the dishes were already on the table.

“Oh, I see. ‘Work,’ of course.” Xu You chuckled knowingly and sat back down.

Before being dragged out to eat, she had been sleeping in her bed, exhausted from stalking a celeb for three straight days with no results.

These young idols were guarded like military secrets. One whiff of trouble, and they’d vanish into their shells like hermit crabs.

“Starving. Let’s dig in.”

She picked up her chopsticks and dropped a slice of beef into the bubbling broth.

“Sijin, my dear, our shining queen… now that you’ve made it to the top, you can date whoever you want. That Fu Qingyun, cold as ice, is not worth the nostalgia. I’ll recommend a few younger wolf pups to you later—guaranteed satisfaction~”

What kind of wild talk was that?

Just as Qiao Sijin took a sip of her lemon water, she nearly spat it out. The sourness went down her throat in one painful gulp.

Covering her mouth with a napkin, she coughed a few times.

“Do I look that desperate?”

“I’m done with love. Being single is best—single forever.”

Though she said it, even she found it kind of laughable.

What were she and Fu Qingyun, really? Lovers?

No, it was a relationship that couldn’t see the light of day. Better to forget it.

“Come on, Sijin, with that pretty face of yours—it’d be a waste not to date a few more.”

Qiu Zhirou, who’d been quietly spectating, finally jumped in to take a jab at Xu You.

“She’s a career woman now, got it?”

“And anyway, even if Fu wasn’t exactly a saint, she was gorgeous. Xu You, if you don’t have any wolf pups that look like her, don’t bother showing them off.”

That hit a nerve.

“You two, why is it that the moment we mention Fu Qingyun, you can’t stop talking?”

Whose celebration dinner was this again? Hers or Fu Qingyun’s?

“Alright, alright, no more Fu talk. Let’s eat.”

….

Looking out the office window, the sky was clear and blue.

“Just say it. I’m not going to bite you.”

Fu Qingyun took off her glasses and massaged the bridge of her nose with long fingers.

These past few days had been swamped with company matters. And on top of that, her father’s old subordinates were stirring up trouble, clearly unhappy with her.

“President Fu… there’s news from Miss Qiao. Do you want to hear it?”

The assistant hesitated, but finally chose to speak the truth.

“I told you before—don’t report anything about Qiao Sijin to me.”

“She can do whatever she wants. There’s nothing between us anymore.”

What had started as a dull headache now spread to her temples.

“My apologies. It won’t happen again.”

The assistant bowed and turned toward the door, but was suddenly stopped.

Fu Qingyun couldn’t help herself. Was that ungrateful little wildcat in trouble again?

If she were being bullied, she’d probably just clench her teeth and swallow the pain without ever asking for help.

“Wait… did something happen to her?”

“No, President Fu.”

The assistant shook her head. Thank goodness she’d had the sense to double-check before leaving—if something had happened to Miss Qiao, they’d all be in serious trouble.

“Then what is it?”

Fu glanced at the clock. Another ten minutes and her next meeting would start—she didn’t want to waste time.

Picking up on her tone, the assistant quickly answered, “President Fu, Miss Qiao accepted Director Zheng Suyu’s new script. The other lead has also been confirmed—Gu Xin.”

That name was familiar.

Gu Xin had always had feelings for Qiao Sijin, but had never said so out loud.

Since it wasn’t out in the open, Fu Qingyun had never interfered with Sijin’s private affairs.

Now, it seemed that maybe she should have.