Lady By The Pillow - Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Forceful Kiss

“Let go of me.”

“My year is worth a million yuan. Teacher Shi Qing, how much is your year worth?”

When Shi Qing heard this, she was momentarily deafened. The sharp sound of a blade scraping against metal was not the sound that should have come from the little cat in her arms.

“Can we not talk about this?”

Her beautiful eyes fell into a deep pool. Shi Qing took a breath before speaking. She turned away from Wei Jiuyi’s gaze, but Wei Jiuyi grabbed her and pushed her against the wall by her shoulders.

“Do you not want to talk about this, or are you afraid to? Afraid to admit that you’re just like I was back then—helpless and inferior?”

The light from the ceiling in the foyer cast Wei Jiuyi’s shadow over Shi Qing. In that shadow, she raised her eyes. The hands gripping her shoulders were as hard as iron pincers. Her bones felt like they were about to be crushed, but there wasn’t a hint of pain on her face. She was just like the time Wei Jiuyi first saw her, soaked in the rain, looking so pathetic, yet she still wore a faint smile.

Yes, the first time they met, Shi Qing was the one who was drenched.

She looked at the familiar face in front of her. “Your career is going very well, but I’m not helpless.”

Wei Jiuyi let out a bitter laugh. The eyes that had been praised as the most soulful in the entertainment industry, the eyes that had been on the stage when she accepted her award, were now unrecognizable, fractured by the shadows of her eyelashes.

“So you’re not willing?”

“I don’t want to get involved in this kind of relationship with a colleague from the same production. It will affect my work.” Shi Qing tried to avoid talking about emotions, something she could never quite grasp.

“If it were Fei Ying, would you be willing?” Wei Jiuyi demanded.

Shi Qing didn’t answer. Her beautiful lips were pressed together, and her eyes were filled with caution.

Wei Jiuyi continued, “She just said she would wait for your answer, and you didn’t reject her. So you’re considering it, right?”

“Shouldn’t I consider it when someone is sincerely confessing to me?” Shi Qing countered.

“You still love her,” Wei Jiuyi said, her voice full of hurt.

“I did. And I can’t rule out the possibility of a comeback,” Shi Qing said honestly.

The iron grip on her shoulders loosened, and her chin was lifted. Wei Jiuyi forced her to look her in the eyes. “What about me? Did you ever love me? All those times we were in bed, when I made you climax and cry and your pupils were unfocused, did you ever love me for even a second?”

Shi Qing looked away. “We talked about this on the first day. We’re just in a casual relationship, and there’s no emotion involved.”

“You don’t even dare to look at me,” Wei Jiuyi laughed bitterly.

Shi Qing was forced to meet her gaze. “It makes no difference. Whether I look at you or not, my thoughts won’t change. Love is a terrifying thing. It makes everything so complicated.”

Wei Jiuyi nodded, feigning agreement, but there was no sincerity in her eyes. “You’re right. Because I never loved you. Not before, not now, and not ever.”

Shi Qing breathed a sigh of relief and pushed Wei Jiuyi’s hand away from her chin. “Good.”

The next moment, a lean body pressed her against the wall. Their bodies were almost touching. Wei Jiuyi’s hot breath was against her ear, and her voice was terrifyingly low. “So, Teacher Shi Qing, how much would it cost to keep you for a year, with no love involved?”

“I told you I don’t want to,” Shi Qing said, pushing her, but the difference in their strength meant she didn’t move an inch.

Wei Jiuyi forcefully held her wrists above her head, pressing them tightly together. She looked down at Shi Qing, who was finally showing some emotion. She let out a vicious laugh. “A million? Two million? Or five million?”

“Let go of me!” Shi Qing struggled, trying to pull her hands free. She tried to turn away, but Wei Jiuyi blocked her with her arm. She turned the other way, and Wei Jiuyi blocked her again. Finally, a flash of anger appeared on her beautiful face. “What do you want?”

Wei Jiuyi’s hands were on either side of her head. She leaned in, trying to kiss her lips, but Shi Qing turned her head away. Shi Qing usually had a lot of patience, but today, she had little left. “Do you know how childish you’re being?”

“Childish?” The word stung Wei Jiuyi. Her suppressed emotions burst out. She lost control of her hands, gripping Shi Qing’s chin and biting down on her. Her hot kiss spread from Shi Qing’s lips to her earlobe. Her long, bony hand reached in, and she bit Shi Qing’s collarbone in a fit of rage, the anger threatening to burn her to ashes. “The first time, I couldn’t find the spot, and you said I was cute. What’s wrong? Now that I don’t even have to look to find the right spot, you think I’m childish?”

Slap!

The incandescent light bulb burst, the glass of a vase shattered, and the jarring sound cut through the absurd play. Everything was frozen. Wei Jiuyi stood stunned directly under the foyer’s chandelier, a bright red handprint on her left cheek.

Shi Qing didn’t say a word or look at her. She just expressionlessly pulled her torn shirt together and wrapped the knit sweater around her. She knelt down, picking up the agate stones that had broken off her bracelet during their struggle, as well as the two buttons from her shirt.

Something else seemed to have broken as well. Shi Qing was very thin. When she knelt down, her body was a small, palm-sized bundle. It looked as if a needle could pierce her.

Wei Jiuyi felt as if she had been hit with a stick. Her heart ached fiercely, and a stone was lodged in her throat. If she tried to speak, the stone would tear her vocal cords to shreds.

What was she doing? Forcing herself on a colleague? If Shi Qing hadn’t slapped her, what would she have done next? Her hands trembled.

“A-Qing.”

Shi Qing didn’t respond. She picked out the last agate stone from the gap between the shoe cabinet and the wall. She stood up, and her eyes, when she looked at Wei Jiuyi, were cold and unfamiliar.

“Leave.”

Her voice was as gentle as before, but Wei Jiuyi felt an invisible hand push her out of the room and throw her into a distant, vast ocean. She wanted to slap herself. She took a small step forward, but Shi Qing took a big step back. The sudden distance cut off the words that Wei Jiuyi had been struggling to say. Her eyes fell on Shi Qing’s messy neckline, and she took a step back, ashamed.

“A-Qing, I’m sorry. I wasn’t…”

Wasn’t what? Was it an accident? Was it unintentional?

But you were the one who tore her clothes. How can you defend yourself?

They stood in silence. Outside the door, they heard Dong Ya and Zhang Yulan’s voices. They had just come back from getting some grilled food. Dong Ya was enthusiastically inviting Zhang Yulan in.

“Come to my room! Qing-jie won’t be back for a while!”

“Okay! Show me a few Vayne tricks. I’m going to master it.”

When they swiped their card and opened the door, they saw two figures standing in the foyer. One was the unmoving, mountain-like Wei Jiuyi. The other was Shi Qing, who was turning to go to the bathroom.

“Teacher Wei? Qing-jie? What are you doing here?” Dong Ya’s brain couldn’t keep up. Didn’t Qing-jie go to celebrate Fei-jie’s birthday?

Zhang Yulan was also surprised. Jie, didn’t you tell me you were going for a night run?

Wei Jiuyi quickly put on her acting face, forcing a look of composure. “I just ran into Teacher Shi Qing on my way back, so I gave her a ride. You guys came at a good time. I was just about to leave.”

From the bathroom, Shi Qing’s voice came out in a cooperative tone. “Thank you for the ride, Teacher Wei. I won’t see you out.” Her tone was gentle, emotionless, and even had a touch of polite gratitude. Every word was a knife in Wei Jiuyi’s heart.

If Shi Qing had exposed her hypocrisy, cursed her for being violent, and listed all her crimes, she would have felt better. But Shi Qing didn’t. She maintained Wei Jiuyi’s dignity better than anyone else, nonchalantly helping her cover up her lie, making her story seamless.

And Wei Jiuyi, what did you do?

Dong Ya was caught in the middle. She looked at the pair of high heels that had been knocked over in the foyer. She didn’t say anything, said goodbye to Wei Jiuyi, and quietly shared the grilled food with Zhang Yulan, as if nothing had happened.

The moment the security door closed, the room became so cold it could freeze. The sound of water running came from the bathroom. Dong Ya put the high heels back in the shoe cabinet, washed her hands in the kitchen, and boiled a cup of longan milk. She placed it on a warming coaster. Her mind felt like it had been paused, unable to think of anything else to do. She sat on the living room sofa, feeling like she was being tortured.

Twenty minutes later, Shi Qing came out of the bathroom. Her thin fleece pajamas reflected the warm yellow light. Her long hair was wrapped in a drying cap, revealing her long, slender neck. Her face was calm and distant, and even her features seemed to be softened. Everything was as it usually was. The only thing out of place was the white shirt in the trash can.

“Qing-jie, I made you some hot milk.” Dong Ya stood up from the sofa, her hands hanging obediently by her sides.

“Mmm, thank you.” Shi Qing gave her a faint, gentle smile.

“I put the hairdryer in your room.”

“Okay.”

“You have two days off next week, and the company scheduled an ad shoot for you.”

“What ad?”

“For a dessert brand. The brand sent me the details, and I’ve sent them to your work email.”

“Okay, thank you.”

Shi Qing walked to the dining table, picked up the longan milk, and drank half of it. Then, as if to release some tension, she let out a long sigh and went back to her bedroom with the glass.

“Qing-jie,” Dong Ya hesitated and took a step forward, a few words on the tip of her tongue. She clenched her fists several times before finally speaking. “Did 97 bully you?”

Shi Qing stopped walking and took another sip of milk before turning around. The light on her beautiful face was a soft yellow. “Why would you ask that? No.” The last syllable spun in the humid air from the humidifier and landed as a smooth pearl. Her fingers rubbed the smooth surface of the glass. The principles she had learned after graduating had seeped into her bones.

Dong Ya was furious that she was still trying to cover for Wei Jiuyi. She ran forward. “The shoes from the shoe cabinet were all over the place. And she had a handprint on her face.”

As she spoke, she watched Shi Qing’s expression, but her face was as calm as a placid lake. Since she wasn’t being stopped, Dong Ya continued tentatively. “I’ve been with you since you had no fame at all. In all these years, whether you were scolded or had a role taken from you, you’ve never lost your temper with anyone. Since you hit her, she must have done something awful.”

Shi Qing watched her quietly. The drying cap was twisted into a bun like an ancient concubine’s hairstyle. Her forehead was clean and smooth, without any blemishes, as holy as a fairy from the moon palace. She closed her eyes, and the sound of the slap that had severed their relationship echoed in her ears. The sharp sound created a crack on the ground, just like the boiling scream that was now submerged in her dark eyes.

“Xiao Ya, if something shouldn’t have happened, we’ll just pretend it didn’t happen, okay?” She ruffled Dong Ya’s hair and went back to her room.

Dong Ya could only choose to be complicit and never asked about it again.

On the other side, Wei Jiuyi returned to her room, looking dejected. The red handprint on her face didn’t go unnoticed by Zhang Yulan.

“Teacher Shi looks so gentle. Why would she hit someone?” Zhang Yulan took ice from the fridge and wrapped it in a towel for Wei Jiuyi.

Wei Jiuyi pressed it hard against her face. The burning pain was pressed deep into her bones. “She didn’t hit me.”

Zhang Yulan asked again, “Then who did? Tell me, Jie, and I’ll report it to our boss. We came here to act, not to get beaten up.”

Wei Jiuyi stared at the patterns carved on the coffee table, her eyes fixed. “I also hit her. Don’t tell the company. If it becomes a big deal, they’ll sue me for fighting.”

Zhang Yulan knew how important a celebrity’s reputation was. “I won’t tell. Don’t worry, I’ll keep it a secret.”

“Thank you,” Wei Jiuyi said.

Zhang Yulan saw that she was completely disheartened and started to feel sorry for her. “Was it… a man? Don’t get me wrong, Jie. I just want to know who it was so we can avoid them in the future.”

Wei Jiuyi lowered her eyes, her emotions completely hidden. “It’s not from the crew.”

Zhang Yulan was half-convinced. “Oh… so you fought back? Did you win?”

Wei Jiuyi closed her eyes, seeing only the image of Shi Qing bending down to pick up the agate stones from the gap in the shoe cabinet. The thorn that had pierced Shi Qing was now stabbing her.

“She’s more hurt than I am.”

Zhang Yulan finally felt relieved. “That’s good. As long as you didn’t get the worst of it.” She happily went to eat the grilled food she had gotten from Dong Ya. Even though it was a little overcooked, the charred flavor was delicious.

The bathroom was filled with steam, and the water from the shower was running. Water splashed as a fist hit the tiled wall, and the entire wall seemed to shake. The water washed away the marks on the wall and the muffled sobs.

The little cat was gentle, but she had claws. The owner always knew this, but what if one day the cat’s claws scratched her, and the owner didn’t want her anymore?

…

In the face of a career she truly loved, people and relationships were always a secondary option.

The next day, Shi Qing arrived at the makeup trailer on time to get her hair and makeup done. They had rented the palace hall set for a month and had to finish all the scenes related to it within that time. The day before, they had filmed “Jiang Ke’s” dance to win the emperor’s favor. Today, they would film her downfall after she was accused of poisoning the princess and was banished to the cold palace.

A wisp of hair was left loose from her dignified updo. Her jade hairpin was half pulled out and intertwined with the messy bun. The earring on her left ear was removed, and a trail of bl00d was drawn from the piercing. The first shot would be the emperor violently tearing off her earring. The makeup was light to emphasize her brokenness.

“Ugh, is this too much?” The stylist looked at herself in the mirror, doubting her skills. “It looks a little too broken.”

Shi Qing looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. “Is this better?” The beauty’s smile was the most important touch of rouge on the makeup. The frozen brokenness instantly melted away with a gentle smile.

The stylist nodded. “Much better. Haha, Teacher Shi, you were so heartbreaking when you didn’t smile.”

Shi Qing tilted her head politely. “I wish the audience had as much empathy as you.”

The stylist was very supportive. “Of course! When you stand in front of the camera, who wouldn’t feel empathy?”

After her styling was done, the actors took a bus to the set. The bus was small, with four seats in each row. Shi Qing found a window seat in the third row, and Dong Ya sat next to her in the aisle seat.

“Jie, lean toward me a bit. Your hair might get caught in the curtain.” Someone had added a layer of beaded curtains over the usual polyester ones, which was very inconvenient.

“Then I’ll sit on the outside,” Shi Qing said, looking at the beaded curtain. It was a bit of a hassle.

“Okay.” Dong Ya got up to let her.

Fang Fei was the second person to get on the bus. Her eyes lit up when she saw Shi Qing. “Wow, Teacher Shi, your look is so beautiful!”

Shi Qing gave a faint smile. “Thank you.”

Dong Ya immediately chimed in, “Right? I think so too. Our Qing-jie looks great with light makeup!”

Fang Fei agreed wholeheartedly. “Exactly! She looks like a lotus blooming out of the water! I’m not saying heavy makeup isn’t nice, but these are two completely different styles.”

Dong Ya gave back a compliment. “You look good in your outfit today, too. Very cool.”

Fang Fei giggled. “Really? Thanks. You guys are filming in the palace hall today, but I’m going to Group B to film the horse scenes. With Teacher Wei.”

Dong Ya’s smile faded. “Oh, Teacher Wei is also filming horse scenes today?”

“Yes, I’m playing her sidekick. Today, we’re filming the scene where she gets shot by an arrow and falls off her horse.”

“I see. You two should be careful then.”

“We will. Teacher Shi, can I sit with you guys?”

Shi Qing nodded. “Of course. Feel free.”

Just as she finished, Wei Jiuyi got on the bus from the front door. She was filming a scene where she would fall off a horse, so her long hair was tied in a high ponytail. A black cloth band was tied around her forehead. Her makeup emphasized the contours of her eyebrows and cheekbones, giving her a sharp, angular look. However, her eyes were not as sharp as usual. They looked a little pitiful. Anyone who didn’t know better would think she had been kicked this morning.

“Teacher Wei?” Fang Fei was halfway to her seat and quickly stood up again, her expression embarrassed and flustered. “Haha, you can sit here. It’s next to Teacher Shi.”

Wei Jiuyi glanced at Shi Qing. Shi Qing gave her a polite smile that didn’t reach her eyes. Wei Jiuyi said to Fang Fei, “No, it’s fine. I’ll sit anywhere.”

Fang Fei was overly hospitable. “No, no, no, you sit here. I can’t be so inconsiderate. There are so many seats in the back. Hahaha…” She then scurried to the seat behind Shi Qing. Since both of their companies were promoting the couple, even she, as clueless as she was, knew the basic rule of thumb in this industry. It was a good thing she hadn’t sat down, or it would have been no different from jumping into bed with Wei Jiuyi and Shi Qing.

Just then, a colleague who was in charge of filming behind-the-scenes videos got on the bus and looked at them. “Teachers, we’re going to film some footage on the bus. Is that okay with you?”

Fang Fei quickly took credit. “It’s fine, it’s fine! Look, I’ve already set up their seats!” After the last trending topic, the whole crew knew that the couple was a major focus of their promotion. Fang Fei was a loyal fan who had witnessed the birth of this couple.

Wei Jiuyi hesitated, and a rough sound came from her throat. When it passed her vocal cords, it became a calm and steady voice. “No problem.”

Next to her, Shi Qing smiled faintly at the crew member. “Thank you for your hard work.”

Soon, the cameraman got on the bus and set up his camera on the first row of seats. This angle could capture everyone in the bus. The effect of the camera was magical. A series of actions under the camera’s lens could all be interpreted as acting. It could be “acting like I love you” or “expressing my love for you under the guise of acting.”

About two minutes after the camera started rolling, Wei Jiuyi took a green-packaged carton of a dairy product from the bag Zhang Yulan had given her. She opened one for herself and then took out another one. She turned to Shi Qing, who was across the aisle. “Teacher Shi, would you like one?”

Shi Qing felt a sense of resistance inside her, but the sound was small, and when it came out of her throat, it was smooth and round. “Thank you. I’ve had breakfast.”

Wei Jiuyi held the carton out further. “Take one. This is good for your stomach. I drink it every day.”

Shi Qing had no choice but to take it. “Okay, thank you.”

Dong Ya took it from her. “Jie, I’ll hold on to it for you. You can drink it when we get to the set.”

Shi Qing nodded. “Okay.”

The crew member in charge of the video nodded in satisfaction. Perfect. A heartwarming scene of a younger puppy caring for an older sister. He made an OK gesture to signal for the camera to be turned off. Before he could press the button, Shi Qing’s phone rang.

Another scene? He secretly patted the cameraman’s shoulder, signaling him not to turn it off yet.

Shi Qing looked at her phone and hesitated. Thinking the video was over, she answered it. “Fei-jie.”

Fang Fei, who was sitting behind her, was confused. What’s the meaning of this? The airport announcement came through the phone before Fei Ying’s voice.

“Dear passengers, welcome to—”

“Xiao Qing, good morning,” Fei Ying said.

“Morning,” Shi Qing said in a gentle voice. “Are you on the plane?”

“Mmm, just got on. We haven’t taken off yet. I thought you might be filming and didn’t want to disturb you, but I suddenly missed you and wanted to hear your voice.”

“Then… happy birthday.”

“Haha…” Fei Ying laughed. “Are you sincere?”

“I am.”

“Then let me tell you, my feelings for you now are also sincere.”

Shi Qing was silent. This was what Fei Ying had expected. “Fei-jie, I can’t right now…” She couldn’t respond to her feelings. She swallowed the rest of her words in the bus full of people.

Fei Ying understood what she meant. She always had. “I get it. You’re focused on your career and don’t have the energy for this. But Xiao Qing, I told you I can wait. You can think of me as your admirer. You don’t have to respond to everything I say, but don’t try to hide from me, okay? After all, when it comes to feelings, no one can be sure. It’s not impossible for you to fall back in love with me, right?”

Shi Qing lowered her eyes, her neatly trimmed nails scratching the patterns on the seat cover. “Mmm.” In front of an older person, it seemed as if everything about her was completely transparent.

Fei Ying’s laugh was very understanding. “Okay, don’t feel pressured. I just felt that what I said yesterday might have put some pressure on you, so I called today to clarify. I don’t want this to affect your work today.”

Shi Qing relaxed a little. “Mmm, okay. Thank you, Fei-jie.”

“Mmm,” Fei Ying said. “Okay, go to work. I’m going home to get my birthday present.”

“Okay, bye.”

“Bye.”

The call ended, and the crew member clapped his hands, his face full of excitement. “Alright, teachers, we’ve got our video for today. I won’t bother you anymore!”

Fang Fei started to clap. “Great! Thank you for your hard work!” The others followed suit. Only Wei Jiuyi was shocked. Didn’t you signal to turn off the camera? But… it was probably fine. Shi Qing was the only one on the phone. She was just sitting there, drinking, and didn’t do anything.

That night, a new hashtag, #97Time#, appeared out of nowhere.

97—Jiuyi Time—Shi (a homonym for a word meaning ‘time’)

[@97TimeDaughter: Dinner’s served! Go check out the official blog’s behind-the-scenes video! I’m so obsessed I’m going crazy.]

[@BayAreaAgent10xMoneyBack: Did you see Leopard’s eyes? When Cat was on the phone, she had a clearly unhappy look on her face! @MistyGreenHillsMyWife, come help me decipher this expression.]

[@MistyGreenHills: The eyelid muscles are tense, the lips are a thin line, and the eyebrows are furrowed in the middle. It’s a clear expression of hatred. This expression only appeared when Shi Qing said ‘confusing,’ so it’s not directed at Shi Qing but at the person on the phone. Conclusion: she has a lot of hostility toward the person on the phone.]

[@Juliet’sDumplings: Class rep, a summary please: the puppy is jealous. The phone call was most likely from a love rival.]

[@ModernSherlockHolmes: And I’d like to ask, out of all the seats on that bus, why did the two of you have to sit next to each other? Puppy, don’t be so obvious.]

With the surge of discussion, the hashtag’s followers exceeded 3,000 overnight. Some fans were so excited that they edited a video of the couple using the two behind-the-scenes videos that had been released so far, screaming for Empress to be released immediately.

That night, there was a knock on Shi Qing’s door. Dong Ya was in the shower, so Shi Qing, who was doing Pilates in the living room, went to open it. Before she opened it, she looked through the peephole, and her eyes darkened. It was Wei Jiuyi.

Her hand was on the doorknob, but she didn’t move. She hesitated, and the knock came again. It was still just two knocks, loud enough for the person inside to hear but not loud enough to bother the neighbors.

She still didn’t open the door. The knocking stopped, and in its place, Wei Jiuyi’s low voice came through. “I won’t do anything. Can you please open the door?”

The muffled voice was shattered by the door. Shi Qing took a deep breath, letting the cold air circulate in her lungs. When she exhaled, her face was calm and composed again. When she opened the door, she gave a sweet, charming smile. “Teacher Wei, what brings you here?”

She smiled as she greeted her, but the door was only open wide enough for one person. Her voice was calm and generous. Anyone who saw them would think they were just having a polite conversation.

Wei Jiuyi was relieved that she was willing to open the door and smiled. “The brand sent me some clothes, and I can’t wear all of them, so I picked one out for you. I hope you like it.” She held out a paper bag to Shi Qing.

Shi Qing lowered her eyes. It was a white shirt. This wasn’t a gift; it was a form of compensation. In a flash, the fake mask was melted by the spotlight, and the real face was revealed, scarred and bruised.

The sudden change in emotion was a catalyst. Wei Jiuyi precisely sensed the change in Shi Qing’s mood. Her hand holding the paper bag tightened, but she didn’t pull it back. “It’s new. I haven’t worn it,” she said.

Shi Qing leaned against the doorframe and looked at Wei Jiuyi, the curve of her lips very distant. “Teacher Wei, you don’t have to be so polite.”

Wei Jiuyi’s body felt like it was encased in concrete. The paper bag was stuck between them, unable to move forward or back. “It’s not about being polite.” She tried to force a laugh, but it wouldn’t come out. “I’m just passing on a gift. The brand gave it to me, and I thought it suited your style, so I’m giving it to you. I also wanted to apologize.”

It wasn’t a gift from the brand. She had driven to a mall in the city after work to buy it. Celebrities are very sensitive to brands. Even if two white shirts are made of similar fabric, they can tell the brand by the cut of the collar, the pattern on the chest, and the design of the cuffs. She had bought one that was exactly the same as the one Shi Qing had worn yesterday. She kept the tag on, put it in a different, inconspicuous paper bag, and pretended she had just grabbed it from her closet.

Shi Qing looked down and recognized the logo on the cuff from the white fabric. It wasn’t the brand that Wei Jiuyi endorsed. She looked up and smiled faintly. “Teacher Wei, you’ve gone to a lot of trouble.”

“No, I just thought this shirt was very pretty. It would be a shame if it got ruined.”

“Okay, then I won’t refuse this time. But you don’t have to be so polite in the future,” Shi Qing said, taking the bag.

A lump formed in Wei Jiuyi’s throat. “I won’t… in the future.” She wouldn’t do something like what she did last night again.

The door closed again. Shi Qing leaned her back against the door. The paper bag in her hand fell to the floor with a soft thud. Her legs felt as heavy as lead. She looked up, her long neck outlined by the light. She stared at the light, and it felt as if the entire world was being scrutinized by it.

Honestly, she was a little flustered. Fei Ying’s confession from that morning was still ringing in her ears, and the cold air from the shirt Wei Jiuyi had just given her was at her feet. This was why she hated emotions. Fei Ying’s love for her was probably real, but she felt that was easier to handle. It was a natural progression. If their old feelings reignited, they could be together. If not, they could stop.

The complicated part was Wei Jiuyi. She and Wei Jiuyi had never been in love. Their relationship started with money and should have ended with money. From the beginning, it was just a physical relationship, but they had spent so much time together, sticking together all day, and were so familiar with each other’s bodies that they knew every bone. The seeds of this loveless relationship had taken root deep in their bodies, the roots burrowing into their flesh and bl00d. If cutting a romantic relationship was heartbreaking, cutting a physical one was like having your skin flayed and your tendons pulled out.

…

A week passed quickly. Shi Qing didn’t have any scenes scheduled for the next two days, so she flew to Jiangcheng to film an ad, as per the company’s arrangements.

Shi Qing’s fame was limited, and she had almost no endorsements. Her biggest title was the ambassador for a fashion brand. The current endorsement was for a dessert line of a major snack brand. Dou Qinwen had personally negotiated it for her. She got a good endorsement fee, and it was said that the brand saw the potential of her new show and believed she would become popular, so they were buying her stock early.

The opportunity was hard-won. Shi Qing rarely filmed video ads, so she wasn’t very familiar with this kind of work. She didn’t want to leave a bad impression on the brand, so she watched their previous ads, set up two phones at different angles, and tried to perform. She then watched the videos to adjust any unnatural movements.

“What do you call this? This is what happens when you work hard!” Dong Ya was overjoyed. “Right now, it’s just a sub-brand, but one step leads to another. When this ad is done and the brand sees how good you are, maybe they’ll upgrade you to a brand ambassador.”

Shi Qing was also happy. “Keep it down. People get jealous when they see you succeed.”

Dong Ya waved her hand. “I know, I know. I’ll be quiet when we’re outside. But right now, it’s just the two of us, so let me be happy.”

They finished getting ready and arrived at the studio 15 minutes early as per the brand’s instructions. The staff hadn’t expected them to be early, so they took her to the makeup room and poured her some hot water.

“Teacher Shi, here, have some hot water to warm up. It rained this morning, so it’s a bit cold. I thought you guys would be here a little later.”

Dong Ya seized the opportunity to praise her artist. “It is cold, but we’re used to being early.”

The staff member scratched his head. “Haha, yes. Well, the makeup artist and the director’s team aren’t here yet. Teacher Shi, you’ll have to wait a little.”

Shi Qing took a sip of hot water and smiled. “No problem. It’s a good chance to warm up.”

The staff member hurried to turn on the air conditioner. “Right, right. I’ll turn on the air conditioner first, so you can get warm. I’ll go set up the scene in the shooting area.”

“Mmm, thank you for your hard work.”

“No problem, no problem. It’s my job.”

The warm air from the vent blew on them, slowly dispelling the coldness from the morning rain. After a sip of hot water, her body finally started to feel alive again.

“Oh, this is great.” Dong Ya stretched thoroughly and went to look at the large makeup mirror, touching the small light bulbs around it. “Having your own makeup room and not having to share is so nice.”

She took out a small comb and redid her messy hair, tying it into a bun. Then she took two selfies in the light. She suddenly remembered something and turned to Shi Qing. “Qing-jie, have we posted anything this week?”

Shi Qing looked up from the ad video. “Huh? I don’t think so.”

To maintain their artists’ popularity, the management company set a quota for each person. Shi Qing’s requirement wasn’t high, just one post per week.

Dong Ya quickly turned her camera around. “Then let’s take one now. Taking a break from filming to shoot an ad and waiting for makeup is a normal part of our lives.” She took a side profile shot of Shi Qing sitting in the chair. The lighting and angle were good.

Shi Qing didn’t bother with filters and posted the original photo with the caption, “Waiting.”

Dong Ya liked it and complained, “Jie, next time, can you write a little more? With just these few words, only your old fans will reply.”

Shi Qing smiled. “Then next time, you can write the caption for me?”

“Deal!”

The feeling of being needed was great, especially by someone as indifferent as Shi Qing. Dong Ya was delighted. “The brand we’re shooting for today has some really good slogans for their dessert line. I still remember that line, ‘The world is bitter, and I’m willing to be your only sugar.'”

“Mmm, their ads are well-produced and very lively.”

“Yeah, the director for this shoot is named ‘Tang Bin.’ He’s an old friend of our company. He used to shoot ads for our top actress.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah, he’s in his thirties and has a lot of experience.”

Just as she was speaking, there was a knock on the door of the makeup room. Before Shi Qing could say “come in,” the person had already walked in. “You’re Shi Qing? I’m Tang Bin, the director for this shoot.”

Tang Bin was wearing a baseball cap and a windbreaker. His sneakers were clean and smooth, suggesting he had come directly from his car and hadn’t gotten wet from the rain. His dark skin was a wheat color, and he had a beard around his mouth, making him look more like a man in his forties.

Shi Qing respectfully stood up and walked to Tang Bin. “Yes, hello, Director Tang.”

Tang Bin got straight to the point. “You’re not in makeup yet?”

Shi Qing nodded. “No, the makeup artist should be here soon.”

“Hurry up. We’re starting at 9:30 sharp.” He turned and left without even looking at Shi Qing’s outstretched hand for a handshake.

The door closed again. Dong Ya couldn’t help but complain, “What’s his problem? It’s not our fault the makeup artist is late. Why is he taking it out on us?”

Shi Qing patted her. “He’s probably worried about delaying the shoot. Can you contact the makeup artist in the work group? Ask her where she is.”

…

Shi Qing returned to the set the next day. When Wei Jiuyi saw her graceful figure in the corner, her face, which had been glum for two days, lit up again. She waved her hand and treated everyone to morning tea.

“Wow, Teacher Wei, you’re so generous! Is there something to celebrate today?”

Wei Jiuyi said, “My RV arrived. I’m celebrating with everyone. The morning tea is over there. Go and grab some.”

“Okay, thank you, Teacher Wei!”

“An RV is a big deal! Now we can rest in the car, and it’s so much warmer than outside.”

“I know! I’ll get a hot cocoa, Teacher Wei. It’s been so cold these past two days.”

Dozens of people lined up to get morning tea, all of them happy. Only Shi Qing sat alone on a reclining chair, resting with her eyes closed.

Today, they were continuing to film the scene of her banishment. The heavy makeup covered her original complexion, making her already thin face look especially pale. Even her lips were the same color as her skin, with no trace of bl00d.

The makeup was a little overdone, Wei Jiuyi thought.

“Teacher Shi, did you have breakfast?” Wei Jiuyi sat on a stool next to her.

“Hmm?” Shi Qing opened her eyes. They were very tired. When she saw Wei Jiuyi, her gaze became unnatural, but she still pretended to be polite. “Teacher Wei, what’s wrong?”

“My RV arrived today, and I’m treating everyone to morning tea. I got you a cup of black tea.” She handed her the cup.

Shi Qing shook her head, causing the loose strand of hair on her forehead to sway and make her look even more fragmented. “I can’t drink it, Teacher Wei. Give it to someone else.”

Seeing how weak she looked, Wei Jiuyi felt a pang in her heart. “Are you not feeling well?”

“No, I just can’t drink it.”

“Did you not have breakfast?”

Shi Qing didn’t answer her. Her lips were pressed together as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t.

Whenever she was silent, Wei Jiuyi would feel helpless, especially with what happened that night. Her conscience was heavy, and she asked in a low voice that only the two of them could hear, “Are you… still mad at me and don’t want to eat anything from me?”

Shi Qing didn’t say a word. This time, she didn’t just sit there. She got up and ran out. Wei Jiuyi’s heart was torn to shreds. Shi Qing was a very dignified person. Even in the face of someone she disliked or hated, she would maintain a flawless composure and never resort to fighting. The fact that she had just left without a word, avoiding her like the plague, was a sign of how much she was hurting.

The tea in her hand felt hot. She had to put it down on a table. The moment she stood up, a light bulb went off in her head. A light bulb went off—Shi Qing wouldn’t act like this. Even after the crazy thing she did the other night, Shi Qing had maintained her dignity in front of Dong Ya. Why would she run out in front of everyone?

She ran to the door and grabbed a colleague who was eating a waffle. “Zhang, did you see Shi Qing?”

Zhang pointed to the end of the hallway. “Teacher Shi? I think she went to the bathroom.”

“Okay, thanks.”

She ran quickly and heard the sound of heart-wrenching vomiting from inside the stall. “Ugh—ugh—”

Shi Qing was leaning over the toilet, vomiting violently. But she hadn’t eaten all night, so there was nothing to throw up. The sensation of vomiting finally subsided, but her legs were so weak she could barely stand. She held on to the stall door, her weight on the handle, trying to get up with her hands and feet. The dizziness in front of her eyes was like a thick paste. Her ears felt like they were clogged, and she had to open her mouth wide to breathe. The more she tried to breathe, the dizzier she got.

Her legs gave out, and she slid down again, but a pair of strong arms caught her.

“A-Qing!”

Wei Jiuyi’s face was white with fear. She grabbed Shi Qing’s arm, but realized that wasn’t enough to hold her up, so she picked her up. “What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”

Shi Qing leaned against her shoulder weakly. The warmth of Wei Jiuyi’s body temporarily restored her sanity. Her vision cleared a little, and she had enough strength in her hands. “You… let go of me.”

Avoid, run, distance herself. Even when she was this sick.

Wei Jiuyi was so angry her ears were ringing. She gritted her back teeth and started walking out with her in her arms. “I’m taking you to the hospital.”

Shi Qing panicked. “No, don’t… people will see. You… first, put me down.” She pushed Wei Jiuyi’s shoulders and her legs started to kick.

Wei Jiuyi tightened her arms around her. She really wanted to threaten her, “Don’t move if you don’t want me to kiss you right here.” But the words died in her throat. “It’s fine if they see. I’m just taking you to the hospital. I won’t do anything else, okay?”