Got a Happy Ending With My Ex’s Sister? (GL) - Chapter 3: Cold

Chapter 3: Cold

Shi Huan stared at the closed door, rubbing her nose. Without an answer, she’d have to figure it out herself.

The drama’s title was two words: Prejudice.

It’s a dual-female-lead story, a well-known lesbian drama. The two protagonists, Qin Zhiyan and Ji Yuan, grew up together, studying side by side, but their personalities couldn’t be more different.

Qin Zhiyan was the model child adults praised—studious, obedient, calm, and universally liked. Ji Yuan was the opposite, a little terror everyone dreaded. Their first meeting sparked conflict, and Ji Yuan formed a prejudice against Qin Zhiyan.

As a kid, Ji Yuan didn’t understand prejudice, clumsily thinking it was dislike. She teased Qin Zhiyan constantly, scribbling on her homework, adding doodles to her art. Only when pushed too far would Qin Zhiyan frown and scold her, which made Ji Yuan gleeful for days.

Even as an adult, she didn’t rein it in.

At twenty-seven, Qin Zhiyan became a renowned painter, universally admired. Ji Yuan, in contrast, fell out with her family, was kicked out, and became a model, judged by strange looks.

Homeless, Ji Yuan was taken in by Qin Zhiyan, and they began living together. The young model, full of fiery desire, recklessly tempted the restrained painter she’d always prejudiced against, determined to make her burn.

Qin Zhiyan remained cold, giving her the cold shoulder. Friends warned Ji Yuan she’d burn herself like a moth to a flame, but she didn’t care. While teasing, she worked hard, eventually winning a modeling competition, becoming a fashion darling and the entertainment world’s sexy goddess.

But a prophecy came true. Their cohabitation was exposed, photographed, and they were slammed as lesbians. Overnight, Ji Yuan fell from grace, dragging Qin Zhiyan down with her. All her paintings were boycotted, some even filmed being burned.

Before they could even be together, they were in shambles. Under everyone’s prejudice, love became a weapon. Qin Zhiyan avoided Ji Yuan, saying she didn’t like women and telling her not to flatter herself.

In the end, Ji Yuan asked Qin Zhiyan if she should keep trying, but before an answer, she turned away.

It seemed like a sequel was coming, but this was the ending.

They never got together.

Shi Huan’s script had little about Qin Zhiyan. She only saw Ji Yuan’s struggles and breakdown. The director told her not to guess or understand Qin Zhiyan. What Ji Yuan couldn’t see, Shi Huan would only grasp through acting.

She thought Qin Zhiyan must have felt something.

The next day, Shi Huan arrived early at the set, got her makeup done, and waited by the door. Wen Jing came over, stuffing two hand warmers into her hands. “It’s freezing. Don’t catch a cold. I heard Tang Yiqiu’s got one.”

Shi Huan jolted. “She’s sick? Is it bad?”

“Why’re you freaking out?” Wen Jing grabbed her. “She’s in her dressing room with her assistant. Why so panicked?”

Her crush was sick—how could she not be?

Shi Huan calmed down, sitting back, distracted. “I’m worried Teacher Tang won’t be up for filming.”

“Relax a hundred and twenty percent. Even with a cold, Tang Yiqiu’s acting will outshine you by miles. But you should check on her later. You’re in the same crew. If word gets out, the media will trash you again.”

Shi Huan was already planning to. She grabbed some things from the lounge and headed to Tang Yiqiu’s dressing room, a one-minute walk.

Tang Yiqiu sat in her dressing room, wrapped in a simple, oversized black down jacket that could engulf her. Head lowered, only her eyes showed.

It was Shi Huan’s first time seeing her like this. She wanted to go in but didn’t want to disturb her rest.

After a while, Tang Yiqiu opened her eyes, maybe seeing Shi Huan, maybe not, and quickly closed them again.

It was just six a.m., dawn barely breaking. Shi Huan pulled her scarf up against the cold wind, glancing at the dressing room now and then.

When Tang Yiqiu opened her eyes again and looked outside, Shi Huan was still crouched by the door, cheeks red from the cold.

“Shi Huan’s been out there for half an hour. We told her to come in, but she’s too shy,” Tang Yiqiu’s assistant said. “She’s so timid.”

“Timid?” Tang Yiqiu frowned, glancing at Shi Huan. Shi Huan flashed a grin. Tang Yiqiu rubbed her brow and told the assistant, “Go get me some medicine. My head hurts.”

Chang Qing, who’d been with Tang Yiqiu for three years, was sharp. She tidied the table, nudged the AC up a degree, and smiled at Shi Huan as she left.

“Is Teacher Tang’s cold bad?” Shi Huan asked quickly.

Chang Qing nodded, grumbling, “It’s that彼此. The staff didn’t turn up the heat for yesterday’s livestream. Yiqiu wore so little, she couldn’t handle it. She’s so reserved, didn’t say she was cold, just toughed it out. Last night, she got a fever.”

Shi Huan noted it mentally. “Has she taken medicine?”

Chang Qing said, “Yes, the fever’s down, but she’s got no appetite. Didn’t eat a bite this morning. I wanted to ask for a day off to reschedule, but she refused.”

“Teacher Tang’s so dedicated.” Shi Huan’s heart sank again. “Can I go see her now?”

“You could’ve anytime,” Chang Qing laughed. “Yiqiu probably didn’t notice you earlier.”

Shi Huan didn’t mind, staying back since she was chilly from standing outside. She stood quietly.

After a bit, Tang Yiqiu looked up through the mirror. Shi Huan spoke, “Teacher Tang, feeling better?”

Tang Yiqiu hummed, her voice raspy.

Shi Huan waited until she warmed up, then pulled something from her pocket and offered it. “It’s still warm. Drink this.”

Tang Yiqiu glanced down—a milk carton.

She shook her head. “No need.”

Shi Huan ignored her, popping in the straw. “Chang Qing said you haven’t eaten. A cold on an empty stomach will feel worse.”

“Leave it there. I’ll drink it later.”

“It’ll be cold by then.” Shi Huan pushed the milk toward her. Tang Yiqiu froze, then turned her head.

“Strawberry flavor. Try it.”

Shi Huan moved to the other side, back and forth a few times. Annoyed, Tang Yiqiu frowned at her. Shi Huan’s grip slipped, and milk squirted out, landing on Tang Yiqiu’s lips.

Caught off guard, Tang Yiqiu’s throat moved. The creamy milk slid from her dry lips to her chin before vanishing.

Shi Huan stared, entranced.

Tang Yiqiu reacted first, grabbing a tissue to wipe her lips, pulling her clothes tighter, and saying coldly, “Stop staring.”

“Oh, uh…” Shi Huan’s hand stiffened, unsure whether to hand over the milk or toss it later.

Tang Yiqiu nodded at the table. “Put it there.”

Shi Huan set it down, ready to leave her be, but turned back. Tang Yiqiu asked, “Something else?”

“If you want more milk, drink it warm. It’s no good cold.” Then, noticing Tang Yiqiu’s flushed face, Shi Huan gasped, “Teacher Tang, you’re blushing! Shy?”

“Get out!”

Tang Yiqiu’s face turned ice-cold.

She was really mad now.

Shi Huan left the dressing room, grinning, but didn’t go far, lingering by the door in case Tang Yiqiu needed help.

When Chang Qing returned, Shi Huan’s brows were still raised, her face bright. Chang Qing asked curiously, “Why so happy?”

“Is it that obvious?” Shi Huan’s lips curved, fingers pressing her cheek.

Chang Qing laughed too. “Oh, Director Chen was looking for you about the next scene. Go check.”

Director Chen, Chen Ling, was a legend in the industry, his films all classics, though his temper was rough. Shi Huan had been chewed out plenty in the past two days.

She jogged a few steps, then remembered something, doubling back. “Check Teacher Tang’s temperature later. Her face looks worse. Call a doctor if she’s unwell.”

“Got it.” Chang Qing agreed, heading inside with a thermometer. As she handed it over, Tang Yiqiu’s face changed.

More accurately, it reddened. Shi Huan, at the door, saw this and grinned wider, still beaming when she reached Chen Ling.

Chen Ling glanced at her, rare praise in his voice. “Keep that look for the scene—happy, excited, but not too loud.”

The upcoming scene was Ji Yuan winning the modeling competition, rushing back from abroad to confess to Qin Zhiyan, the emotional turning point of the drama.

Shi Huan nodded knowingly. “Got it.” She thought of yesterday’s tongue question, started to ask, then held back, feeling it wasn’t right.

Chen Ling noticed. “Any questions, spit them out now, not on set.”

“It’s just…” Shi Huan chose a safer phrasing. “I don’t know who falls first when I act with Teacher Tang.”

Chen Ling said, “You can only handle one character now. Don’t peek at Tang Yiqiu’s script. Just control yourself. Who falls first is for the audience to figure out, got it?”

Shi Huan pondered, still unclear, wanting to know who fell first. Her script only showed Ji Yuan’s efforts; Qin Zhiyan never said she liked her.

Chen Ling frowned. “Your job is to get into character. You’re Ji Yuan now, not Shi Huan reading a script.”

“Understood.” Shi Huan nodded. “Thanks, Director Chen.”

Chen Ling added, “One more thing. This scene, don’t be too flirty. Hold back. You’ve won the award, you feel equal to Qin Zhiyan. No need to seduce her. Wait for her to come to you.”

In earlier scenes, Chen Ling pushed her to be bold, even demoing when she wasn’t bold enough. This shift was tricky.

Shi Huan nodded again. “I’ll keep it in check.”

Chen Ling glanced at Tang Yiqiu’s dressing room, pointing. “Who’s she?”

“Tang…” Shi Huan bit her tongue. “Qin Zhiyan.”

Chen Ling nodded, satisfied.

Shi Huan took a deep breath, grabbed her script from the dressing room, savoring Tang Yiqiu’s blush while mulling over emotions.

Once the makeup artist touched her up, the assistant director called her and Tang Yiqiu to rehearse blocking and find the vibe.

Though it was an indoor scene with heaters, the melting snow made it colder than before. Chen Ling had the crew prep before they changed.

Shi Huan wore a sexy bikini under a black down jacket, similar to Tang Yiqiu’s.

It felt like she’d stolen Tang Yiqiu’s coat to do something with her. Shi Huan closed her eyes, chanting inwardly.

She was Ji Yuan. Don’t be flirty, don’t seduce. Wait for Tang… no, Qin Zhiyan to act, for her love, her kiss.

Pushing the door open, she heard water from the bathroom. Looking up, she saw a figure, shadowy, long hair loosely tied, about to fall, as they began undressing.