Transmigrating into the Rival's Fanfiction - Chapter 44

After finally allaying her parents’ concerns, Sheng Mingluo managed to end the call and slip away. She turned and entered the bedroom, where Qin Zhi had just finished washing up and was emerging from the bathroom.

“Finished with the call?” Qin Zhi asked.

“Mm-hmm. Teacher Qin, are you heading back?”

“Not in a hurry. I don’t have any engagements these next few days.”

“But Teacher Qin, you don’t have as many as I do.”

The situation felt strange. How could the Best Actress be less busy than a professional villainess actress like herself?

It just goes to show that some people are selective, while others take any job they can get. It’s pointless to compare oneself to others.

“Busy bee,” Qin Zhi murmured, her gaze lingering on Sheng Mingluo.

“Was that your parents calling earlier?”

“Did they… find out about us?”

The atmosphere grew silent, carrying an almost illicit air.

If only you knew, Sheng Mingluo thought to herself. Your mother and sister have already met me.

“I don’t think so.”

“Besides… is Teacher Qin afraid of being discovered?”

She took a few steps forward, closing the distance between them. Her hands were clasped behind her back, her eyes sparkling with teasing intent.

Unexpectedly, a faint smile curved Qin Zhi’s lips as she shook her head.

“If you’re not afraid, why should I be?”

“Why don’t you sleep a little longer? You must be exhausted from last night.”

As she got up, Qin Zhi casually folded the blanket, making the bed look cozy. She gathered her hair into a bun with a brown shark clip, the dark ends of her loose strands resting against the back of her neck, exuding a mature, feminine charm.

It was the same clip Sheng Mingluo usually used to style her hair.

“Alright then.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

“I’ll lie down and nap for a bit.”

Sinking back into the soft bed, Sheng Mingluo nuzzled her face against the blanket, sighing contentedly. So comfortable.

Meanwhile, Sheng Mingluo’s parents, who had been hung up on, began to ponder the situation with grave expressions.

“Old man, what do you think we should do? They’re already living together!”

Sheng Mingluo had always been a responsible and well-behaved child. She had never dated in school and consistently ranked at the top of her class, giving her parents no cause for concern.

This seemed to be the first sign of her being romantically involved, but she couldn’t just bring someone home without a proper assessment period.

“Mingluo… could she have been tricked by some scoundrel? She’s never acted like this before.”

“Sigh…”

Since entering the entertainment industry, Sheng Mingluo had only shared good news with her family, never mentioning her struggles. She hadn’t returned home for holidays or festivals due to her busy schedule, though she still sent a generous monthly allowance, even though her parents didn’t need it.

“Old woman, don’t worry too much. Mingluo has always been sensible and knows what she’s doing…”

“Still, we need to investigate this person’s background.”

“My old classmate’s son is going to S City in a couple of days. Let’s go with him.”

They would corner them like trapping a turtle in a jar.

They refused to believe Sheng Mingluo could keep this a secret much longer.

Yu Qiu nodded. This was the only course of action left. She knew her daughter’s stubbornness better than anyone—if Sheng Mingluo didn’t want to talk, she wouldn’t reveal a word, even under duress.

“Let’s just hope he’s from a good family.”

Seeing Sheng Mingluo soundly asleep, Qin Zhi tucked the blanket around her and gazed at her smooth forehead, sunlight glinting off the tips of her fine hair. Unable to resist, she leaned down and pressed a kiss to her skin, her red lips lingering against the warmth.

Just as Sheng Mingluo’s parents had called, Qin Zhi’s phone buzzed with a message from Qin Li:

My dear sister, did you pick her up last night?

Qin Zhi couldn’t decipher the meaning behind this message, but it immediately put her on guard against Qin Li. Already planning to leave Sheng Mingluo’s apartment, she pulled on her hat, sunglasses, and a mask, the straps hooked over her ears. The mask obscured nearly all of her facial features.

Send another message, and I’ll block you.

And… stay away from her.

Qin Zhi typed the message with one hand while carrying a black plastic trash bag in the other.

So protective, huh?

A-Zhi, why do you think your elder sister should listen to you?

With such disrespect for your elders, I wouldn’t be wrong to take what you cherish, would I?

Before Qin Li could send a fourth message, Qin Zhi had already blocked her. Qin Li propped her cheek against her hand, watching the blank chat window with amusement, a red exclamation mark marking the blocked contact.

It seemed A-Zhi cared about that girl even more than Qin Li had imagined.

Last night, she and Xue Jian had met Sheng Mingluo. The girl was poised and graceful, neither arrogant nor servile, with bright eyes and pearly teeth. Her eyes were like pools of autumn water, clear and captivating.

Her appearance was unique, but the entertainment industry was hardly lacking in beauties. Qin Li naturally believed that Sheng Mingluo couldn’t have won over Qin Zhi solely through her looks.

There must be other reasons Qin Li didn’t know about. But A-Zhi’s lips were as tight as a clam shell; trying to pry any information from her was harder than climbing to heaven.

Qin Li slipped her phone back into her pocket.

Qin Zhi’s eyes darkened. Another threat. This had been Qin Li’s communication style with her since childhood.

Peaceful moments between them were rare, usually filled with veiled insults or heated verbal sparring.

Qin Zhi tossed out her trash.

Standing before her car, she unlocked the door with the remote.

A seed had been planted in her heart, sprouting into a vine that grew wildly, its tendrils reaching upward without end.

She… seemed to be genuinely starting to care about Sheng Mingluo’s every move. In the past, when Qin Li threatened her resources or career, Qin Zhi had remained indifferent, even amused.

Would Qin Li actually go through with it?

Would she defy her mother’s orders and completely oppose her? Qin Zhi seemed able to detach herself from these trivial and complicated matters.

But when faced with Sheng Mingluo, Qin Zhi found herself unable to remain rational. The emotions she had suppressed throughout her life, including her entire adolescence, seemed to find an outlet here, surging forth like a tidal wave.

Uncontrollable madness, an insatiable possessiveness, and even her sister’s provocative words became unbearable.

She feared Sheng Mingluo would turn to Qin Li’s embrace. After all, compared to Qin Li, she possessed only the Qin Family’s bloodline, while Qin Li was the young President Qin of the Bai Ling Group.

Had she truly fallen for Sheng Mingluo?

Qin Zhi, always proud and arrogant, refused to admit her feelings first. Sheng Mingluo had been the one to orbit around her, to tease her first… and to desperately yearn to return to the real world.

Could it be that Qin Zhi had only developed feelings for Sheng Mingluo because of her eagerness to return? Qin Zhi refused to acknowledge such a shallow reason.

This affection felt like her childhood toys—something she might forget after a while.

There was nothing and no one she couldn’t forget.