After Becoming a Film Queen, She Dumped Her Financial Sponsor - Chapter 58

Chapter 58: Do You Think… I’m Pathetic?

There’s an old saying—when you’re tired, you’ll fall asleep as soon as you lie down.
But Qiao Sijin found herself unable to sleep, tossing and turning on the soft pillow.

With her eyes closed, she began counting sheep.
And just as she got into the rhythm, she lost count and had to start over.

The bedroom was completely quiet.
Qiao Sijin could hear Fu Qingyun’s gentle, steady breathing—soft and long.

She tightened her grip on the blanket and pulled it up, covering her ears.
Why had she never noticed how present Fu Qingyun felt when beside her?

In the past, the moment she opened her eyes, Fu Qingyun would already be gone.
Well, maybe it made sense—for someone born to inherit a fortune, being busy was part of the deal.

Forget it.

Might as well stop trying to sleep.

Qiao Sijin turned over and looked at Fu Qingyun’s face in the dark.
Her eyes had adjusted, and even the moonlight falling on the floor through the partly open curtains was clear to her now.

Long lashes rested gently against Fu Qingyun’s cheeks.
She always looked like she carried so much on her mind—how could she fall asleep so quickly?

Qiao Sijin suddenly felt a little unfairness rise in her chest.
But after a moment, it faded, and she wondered if she was just being mean for no reason.

…Whatever.
Why waste emotions and thoughts on someone like that? In the end, she’d just be the one stressing and losing hair.

With a mischievous thought, she reached out her finger.
Why was this woman’s nose so perfect? So enviably sharp…

Would pressing it make it flatter?

Before she knew it, Qiao Sijin was doing exactly that.

She gently rubbed the tip of Fu Qingyun’s nose with her finger, confirming that the woman didn’t wake up.
Then her courage grew, and she slowly moved up along the bridge of her nose. Still no reaction.

So annoying.

Qiao Sijin kept gently touching Fu Qingyun’s smooth skin, her movements careful, trying not to wake her.
This was her tiny little act of revenge.

But suddenly—“Why aren’t you sleeping yet?”

“Is my nose really that fun to touch?”

Fu Qingyun’s eyes opened out of nowhere.
Caught off guard, Qiao Sijin jumped back in shock—too quickly.

With a loud thud, she fell right off the bed and landed on the floor with a sharp pain that made her bare her teeth.

Just great. What a string of unlucky events.

“Are you okay, Sijin?”

Fu Qingyun immediately sat up, lifting the blanket and reaching out her hand to Qiao Sijin without hesitation.

“I’m fine… just hit my butt a little hard.”

Right after she said it, Qiao Sijin realized something was off.
Why was she even explaining all this to this block of wood?

Looking into Fu Qingyun’s sincere eyes and the hand extended in front of her, Qiao Sijin’s words got stuck in her throat.

Was she being too cold?

From the perspective of a stranger—or even just a decent person—if someone fell beside you, your instinct would be to help.

Fine, she’d give her a break.

She was under someone else’s roof now, after all. No reason to pick a fight.
If things escalated and she had nowhere to go tonight, that would be way more dangerous.

You’ve got this, Qiao Sijin.
To accomplish great things, one must endure what others can’t!

She placed her hand in Fu Qingyun’s and immediately noticed how much thinner the woman felt—her hand was bony and cold, but the skin was silky, like fine silk.

Fu Qingyun gave a gentle pull, easily lifting Qiao Sijin off the floor.

Perhaps because of all the tossing and turning, Qiao Sijin’s shoulder was slightly exposed, revealing her collarbone that rose and fell with each breath.

Fu Qingyun was momentarily stunned.

“Hey… hey…” Qiao Sijin teased, seeing her chance to turn the tables.
“I know I’m charming, but President Fu, you don’t have to stare that hard.”

She finally had the upper hand and wasn’t about to let it go.
Life was about seizing moments—and this one was hers.

She stood by the bed, looking down at Fu Qingyun, her eyes shimmering with meaning.

Suddenly hearing that comment, Fu Qingyun jerked like she’d been shocked, quickly pulling her hand away.
She looked down to avoid Qiao Sijin’s playful eyes, clearly flustered.

Her long fingers fidgeted with the blanket. Her hair was messy from sleep.
For some reason, when Qiao Sijin was nearby, the insomnia that usually plagued her seemed to vanish.

She’d thought it was just her old condition acting up.

But more and more, the signs were clear.

Fu Qingyun wasn’t oblivious. She’d always been slow when it came to emotions, yes—
But now, she had no choice but to face the truth.

She had always liked Qiao Sijin.

She had never forgotten her.

She saw her and couldn’t look away. She missed her and lost her mind.

“What’s wrong? Why so quiet?”

“Shouldn’t you be snapping back at me right now?”

Qiao Sijin leaned in, noticing Fu Qingyun’s silence.
It made her uneasy. Maybe she had taken the joke too far?

But thinking back, she didn’t say anything that bad…

“What if I said yes?” Fu Qingyun replied softly.
“Sijin, I really can’t forget you… and I’ve only just realized—you’re still incredibly attractive to me. Tempting.”

Her eyes lowered, avoiding Qiao Sijin’s gaze, forcing herself to say what was truly on her mind.

It was the only way to face her.

“Do you think… I’m pathetic?”

“I went against everything we agreed upon in that contract. I’ve been trying to make you stay… and I think I’ve really fallen for you.”

The sudden confession hit Qiao Sijin like a lightning bolt—completely off-script.
She had come in ready to give Fu Qingyun a taste of her own medicine.

Make her suffer a little. Wait, just like Qiao Sijin had waited before.

But now…

Fu Qingyun, someone who had never looked weak even in Qiao Sijin’s memory of a past life, was standing here, eyes full of vulnerability.

And suddenly—Qiao Sijin felt like she was the bad guy.

…No! No, no, no! Why would she think that?!

She couldn’t let herself be fooled by Fu Qingyun’s fragile expression.

Or she really would end up giving everything away—all over again.