Lady By The Pillow - Chapter 70
Chapter 70:Once More (Part 1)
◎ Insane XXX ◎
After Zhang Yulan’s “guidance,” Wei Jiuyi got the idea that “A Qing seems to want to be with me.”
But as soon as this thought popped up, it was suppressed by her sense of righteousness—
How could she, just because she had such thoughts, fantasize that Shi Qing had the same? How was this different from a man who molested someone on the subway and then turned around and said, “You actually wanted me to touch you”?
Wei Jiuyi, stop your filth. What you need to do now is find a chance to properly apologize to Shi Qing, not wishfully indulge in a fantasy that she, like you, can’t bear her physical desires.
In the other bedroom, a triumphant Zhang Yulan pulled out her phone and opened her chat with Dong Ya.
【Ya Jie: Did you make it clear to her? What did she say?】 【Lan: Don’t worry, you can always count on me. She already knows what Ms. Shi meant.】 【Ya Jie: I wouldn’t have guessed. You stutter when you talk normally, but you’re so useful in a crucial moment.】 【Lan: Of course. No one in my Zhang family is a coward!】 【Ya Jie: But I have something to tell you, and it doesn’t feel good.】 【Lan: What is it?】 【Ya Jie: A new assistant is coming from the company tomorrow, and they’ll be living with us.】 【Lan: Isn’t that a good thing? You’ll have an easier time.】 【Ya Jie: It’s not that simple. If they really wanted to hire an assistant for Sister Qing, why didn’t they do it when she was in the hospital? That’s when we needed the most help, right?】
This statement made Zhang Yulan think. She recalled that when Shi Qing was hospitalized, it was indeed just Dong Ya running around doing everything. Sometimes she had to go help out, and the company only sent Dou Qinwen to visit and said nothing else.
【Lan: That makes some sense. So why do you think they suddenly hired an assistant now?】 【Ya Jie: It’s hard to say. I just have a bad feeling about this person. It seems they announced the new assistant right after that Polaroid photo was posted.】 【Lan: Holy sh*t! Could it be that they found something out and are trying to break them up?!】 【Ya Jie: That’s what I’m worried about. Anyway, she’ll be reporting for duty tomorrow. When you see us, don’t be as enthusiastic as you usually are. It’s best to be distant and polite.】 【Lan: Okay, okay, I’ll do exactly what you say.】
Wan Xin arrived the next day at noon. Her luggage was sent to the community’s package station, and she took a taxi from the high-speed rail station to the set.
“Ms. Shi, hello, I’m the new assistant, Wan Xin.”
Wan Xin greeted Shi Qing. With her hair tied in a high ponytail, a black windbreaker, jeans, and practical sneakers, she looked young and sharp.
Shi Qing had just come out of the performance area, still wearing her black, phoenix-patterned robe. Her eyes looked at Wan Xin with a gentle expression, just as they had the first time she met Dong Ya.
“Hello. Welcome to my team. You and Xiao Ya will have a lot of work to do from now on.”
As she spoke, the golden hairpin dangling from her temple gently swayed, its shimmering light reflecting in her eyes, scattering a field of stars.
Wan Xin’s gaze lingered for a moment, then she recovered the introductory speech she had rehearsed on the train for meeting an artist for the first time.
“It’s what I should be doing. Ms. Shi, Ms. Dong, please take care of me from now on.”
Shi Qing smiled faintly, “Don’t be so formal. Just like Xiao Ya, you can call me Sister Qing.”
Dong Ya also said, “Exactly. Don’t call me Ms. Dong; I don’t deserve it. If you respect me, just call me Sister Ya!”
Wan Xin was straightforward, “Okay, Sister Qing, Sister Ya. You can just call me Xiao Wan.”
Shi Qing nodded, “Okay, Xiao Wan. We’re about to go to lunch. You can join us.”
Wan Xin hesitated, clutching her backpack strap, “I asked the crew yesterday, and they said they’ll start preparing my lunchbox tomorrow.”
Shi Qing had already thought of that. “The crew has a cafeteria. I already ordered food for you.”
Dong Ya immediately praised her artist, “See? Sister Qing would never let her people go hungry. You can rest assured!”
Wan Xin let go of her backpack strap and smiled as she followed along.
“Got it.”
The sudden addition of a new person pressed the pause button on the fermenting brew.
At lunchtime, Wei Jiuyi saw the three of them from a distance. Her feet froze in place. The tray in her hands felt heavy, and her heart sank.
The meal Shi Qing ordered for Wan Xin was a 25-yuan set, with two meat dishes, one vegetable, and a soup.
There was an empty spot at the four-person table, and Fang Fei enthusiastically squeezed in.
“Ms. Shi, you have a new assistant?”
Shi Qing introduced the two sides. After they had greeted each other, she subtly shifted the conversation to the afternoon’s scenes.
Shi Qing ate the nutritious meal Dong Ya made for her every day, while the other three ate from the crew’s cafeteria. After eating, they needed to place their trays at a designated spot and dump the remaining food.
There were many people when they were throwing away their food, so their guard was down. Wan Xin, who had been chatting for most of the meal, naturally asked, “Why didn’t I see Ms. Wei Jiuyi?”
Dong Ya replied, “Ms. Wei has a trailer. She usually eats there.”
Wan Xin then said, “Oh… I see. I thought artists were all pretty close and would eat together.”
If the first question was just a casual remark, the second was a roundabout way of fishing for information.
Shi Qing was chatting with an older actor from the same crew, Lu Zhen, and didn’t hear Wan Xin. Dong Ya became alert and laughed, “Haha, not at all. We’re all exhausted after work, so we don’t really get together.”
Fang Fei, who was less guarded and acting as Steven, chimed in, “It depends on the person. Ms. Shi and Ms. Wei are a bit closer, while I’m a bit closer to Li Shushu.”
Wan Xin’s eyelid twitched. “Oh—no wonder the five of you went back to the hotel together that day.”
Fang Fei didn’t know the new assistant’s true intentions and just assumed that since she was Shi Qing’s assistant, she must be an insider like Dong Ya.
“Yeah. Ms. Wei dropped the three of us off first, then Ms. Shi. Ms. Shi lives farther away now, so she doesn’t stay with us.”
Wan Xin nodded subtly, following Fang Fei’s words.
“Right. My luggage was also sent to the community. I’ll go back and sort it out tonight after we wrap up.”
Two days prior, in Dou Qinwen’s office, Wan Xin zoomed in on the five-person Polaroid, focusing on Shi Qing.
“Ms. Dou, I took a course in behavioral psychology. In this photo, Ms. Shi’s body is leaning toward Wei Jiuyi, and her face is also turned in her direction. So, I think your worries aren’t unfounded.”
The noise of the cafeteria and Fang Fei’s words reached her ears simultaneously. In the chaos, one wire became exceptionally clear, transmitting a current that lit up a light bulb.
After they wrapped up that day, Shi Qing didn’t take the trailer anymore. She rode the crew bus all the way to the hotel, then asked the driver to take the three of them to her apartment complex.
Everyone in the big crew knew not to meddle in other people’s business. Seeing Shi Qing, for the first time, take the crew bus, no one asked any questions. They just kindly reminded her to stretch her back after sitting for so long.
Two days passed routinely. Whenever Wan Xin was present, the topic of conversation was always filming and the script, with no talk of their private lives. Even Fang Fei noticed their caution and didn’t come to join them for meals for several days.
【Ms. Dou, I’ve been here for two days. Ms. Shi has had no contact with Wei Jiuyi after work, and they rarely talk on set. They only cooperate when the promotions team comes to film behind-the-scenes footage. On the surface, they look like regular colleagues. But I feel like something is strange, so I can’t draw any conclusions yet. Please give me a few more days.】
Dou Qinwen replied quickly:
【Okay. Be careful not to be discovered by Shi Qing. Just do your assistant work as you normally would.】
【Okay, Ms. Dou.】
Wan Xin read Dou Qinwen’s reply twice, then deleted the chat history.
“Xiao Wan, are you asleep?”
Before she could put her phone down, a knock came from the door. Wan Xin immediately ran to open it. It was Shi Qing, who had just showered and was holding a cup of milk.
“Sister Qing, what’s up?”
Wan Xin smiled genuinely, her eyes bright and innocent.
Shi Qing handed her the milk.
“You forgot your milk.”
Wan Xin apologized, “Sister Qing, did you order milk for me again?”
Shi Qing smiled faintly, “I ordered a liter for the day. It’s just right for the three of us.”
Wan Xin took it. “Thank you, Sister Qing.”
Shi Qing whispered, “Don’t be so polite.”
It was already 10:30 PM. According to the daily schedule Shi Qing had set, she should be in her room studying English and preparing for bed.
But Shi Qing had come to her room just to “deliver milk.” It was obvious there was something else on her mind.
Wan Xin guessed a little and started the conversation.
“Sister Qing, Director Fan’s birthday party is the day after tomorrow. Should I wear something a bit more formal?”
Shi Qing leaned against the doorframe, her eyes slightly narrowed as she looked at Wan Xin. Then her smile deepened, and she said, “Just wear your regular clothes. Director Fan is very easygoing. It’s just a party in the evening where everyone hangs out. We’ll have a half-day off the next day. Just have fun.”
Wan Xin nodded. “Oh, that’s good. Hehe, I was worried I’d mess up and embarrass you.”
Shi Qing shook her head. “How could you? Everyone in the crew is very nice. I just told Xiao Ya that if you’re not comfortable hanging out with the artists, she has an assistant group chat, and you can hang out with them that day. You’re all young people.”
Wan Xin scratched her ear. “Yeah, that’s good. I wish I was as clever as Sister Ya. I always feel so clumsy.”
Shi Qing, however, said, “Truly clumsy people don’t say they’re clumsy.”
Wan Xin was stunned for a moment. “Sister Qing?”
Shi Qing’s smile deepened. Her gentle face remained as unreadable as a calm lake.
“Xiao Wan, you’re actually very smart. Don’t always put yourself down. Maybe you’re new to being an assistant and don’t have much experience, so I’ll add one more thing.”
“Please, Sister Qing, tell me.”
“Wei Jiuyi and I, our companies have signed a contract to operate as a CP. So, at the party that day, we’ll act a bit closer, and we’ll have the promotions team film more behind-the-scenes footage. But we haven’t revealed the contract details publicly, so the rest of the crew doesn’t know. They’ll just think Ms. Wei and I have a good relationship. I hope you can keep this a secret for me, just like Xiao Ya, okay?”
I have a private relationship with Wei Jiuyi—it’s because we signed a contract and have to play the part.
The rest of the crew ships us—that’s because they don’t know we’re just playing the part.
By saying this, even if she and Wei Jiuyi did have something, or if Wan Xin discovered any clues, it could all be covered up with the excuse of a contract.
Wan Xin understood the subtext immediately and agreed.
“Sister Qing, you can rest assured. I won’t mention a word about the contract.”
Shi Qing nodded.
“Good. After all, if I get caught in a scandal or get blacklisted, you’ll be unemployed along with me. So, I don’t want to drag you down because of me.”
Don’t try to use control over my private life as a way to prove your loyalty for your career.
When the nest is destroyed, how can the eggs remain intact?
Wan Xin didn’t speak immediately. The fingers resting on the armrest tightened, her nails digging into the stainless steel doorknob until they turned white.
She wasn’t a fool, and neither was Shi Qing.
When they needed help the most, the company was indifferent, only promising to “train you to be the next top star.” But after she was discharged from the hospital, they hired a new assistant. Anyone would feel that this person had bad intentions. As the person with “bad intentions,” Wan Xin’s path was bound to be a difficult one.
“Sister Qing, I understand what you mean.”
She raised her bright, dark eyes to look at Shi Qing.
“This is my first job. I need this salary to support my mom and me. So, I value this job more than anyone. As you said, if something happens to you, I’ll be unemployed. So, all the more reason for me to watch you, to make sure nothing happens to you, and to make sure you don’t get involved in any scandals, right?”
It was rare for someone so new to their job to have such a strong sense of personal agency, and even rarer for someone to be able to quickly refute Shi Qing’s flawless rhetoric.
Wan Xin’s goal was very clear—to work and make money.
Therefore, she couldn’t let anything happen to Shi Qing. At the very least, if Shi Qing had signed that contract, she shouldn’t have any private feelings for Wei Jiuyi.
Wan Xin thought this, unaware that the next day at Fan Erhua’s birthday party, an event would unfold that she couldn’t stop.
That night, she slipped away from Dong Ya, walking step by step toward Shi Qing’s bedroom.
Behind that tightly closed door, the two of them were kissing each other with abandon.