Never Forget - Chapter 16

As the dinner wound down, the photographers and others in the private room raised their glasses to toast Lu Buping. Then, they clinked glasses with Chen Ming and Xu Qingfeng. After several rounds, everyone was feeling a bit tipsy.

A drunken Chen Ming and Lu Buping started fighting over the bill. They tugged at each other, their words slurring. Zhou Wen couldn’t watch any longer. She covered her mouth and coughed, “Zhenzhen already left. You two can stop being so polite.”

Just as she spoke, the door swung open. Qin Zhizhen and Ye Zhuyi walked in, one after the other. A dozen pairs of eyes fixed on them.

Lu Buping let out a loud burp, breaking the awkward silence. She scratched her messy hair and turned to Qin Zhizhen. “Did you beat us to the bill again?”

Lu Buping had been in the industry for a long time and had seen all kinds of people. After becoming a director, she’d attended countless dinners like this. She’d met “bill-paying kings” before, but no one was like Qin Zhizhen. Qin either skipped the dinner entirely or, if she did attend, she’d always win the race to pay. No one could ever beat her to it.

“No,” Qin Zhizhen said as she pulled out a chair and sat back down. “Someone got there first this time.”

“Hahahaha!” Lu Buping slapped her thigh, laughing hysterically. “Finally, someone beat you to the punch! Who’s the badass who did it—”

Her voice trailed off as Ye Zhuyi walked into the room behind Qin Zhizhen. It was obvious who the “badass” was.

“Oh, how could I let a lady pay?” Chen Ming said, already fumbling for his phone. “Let me find my phone. How much was the bill? I’ll transfer the money to you.”

If Qin Zhizhen had paid, he wouldn’t have minded. Her family background was impressive, and she wasn’t one for polite pleasantries. But Ye Zhuyi, an unknown newcomer, had paid for it. Chen Ming, with his chauvinistic streak, suddenly felt his pride wounded.

Ye Zhuyi immediately guessed Chen Ming’s train of thought, having grown up listening to her mother rant about the industry’s dirty laundry after a few drinks. She sneered inwardly.

They’d be working together in the Jingque Troupe for the next six months. Even if she couldn’t stand him, she couldn’t show it, let alone offend him.

Ye Zhuyi forced a gentle smile and raised her glass. “Teacher Chen, this meal is on me. Consider it my tuition for learning from you. I’ve already gained so much just by listening to you and Director Lu talk.”

Qin Zhizhen frowned slightly and sneered inwardly. The mask is back on, she thought. She was too busy stuffing her face with salad to listen to a single word.

Chen Ming, flattered by the attention, laughed heartily. “This girl is quite something.”

“If she weren’t, would I have chosen her?” Lu Buping chimed in with a smile.

In an instant, Ye Zhuyi went from being a ghost to the center of attention. Even Xu Qingfeng, who hadn’t spared her a glance before, now stared at her intently over the rim of his glass.

It almost looked like she had paid the bill just to get their attention.

Ye Zhuyi turned her head to avoid Xu Qingfeng’s gaze, only to meet Qin Zhizhen’s eyes. The look was cold and distant, instantly rebuilding the wall between them.

Before Ye Zhuyi could read the emotion in Qin Zhizhen’s eyes, the other woman had already looked down, calmly scrolling through her phone.

Ye Zhuyi could guess why Qin Zhizhen’s mood had shifted.

Zhenzhen hated the fake smiles and sycophancy of business dinners. Ye Zhuyi stared down at the tiny bubbles rising in her glass, her expression darkening. She hated herself too, wearing a fake smile in a circle she despised.

She never regretted entering this circle, but she was terrified of Qin Zhizhen disliking her.

Ye Zhuyi downed the sour wine in one gulp. She cursed her stubborn habit. Why did she have to be so stupid and pay for a meal just to suffer?

The wall clock in the hotel lobby struck nine, and the dinner party came to an end. As the group rose from their chairs, Xu Qingfeng suddenly suggested they add each other on social media.

Lu Buping readily agreed. She already had everyone’s contact information, so she sat back down and immediately created a group chat called “Jingque Troupe Actors.” She added all the actors into the group and announced, “Just add each other from the group! It’s easier!”

The idea was perfect. Ye Zhuyi opened the member list and immediately spotted Qin Zhizhen. Her nickname was “Zz,” and her profile picture was a cute, hand-drawn panda.

Ye Zhuyi tapped on the profile picture and clicked “Add to Contacts.” A message instantly popped up on the screen.

[Due to the other person’s privacy settings, you cannot add them to your contacts through the group chat.]

Ye Zhuyi blinked several times to make sure she hadn’t misread it. She was completely stunned. She instinctively looked at Qin Zhizhen, who was putting her phone into her pocket.

Xu Qingfeng walked over and reminded Ye Zhuyi, “I added you, but you haven’t accepted yet.”

“Sorry,” Ye Zhuyi said, snapping back to reality. She accepted Xu Qingfeng’s friend request and then added Chen Ming as well.

“How are you getting home?” Xu Qingfeng asked.

The question felt strange. Ye Zhuyi glanced at him.

Xu Qingfeng smiled and explained, “I noticed you don’t have an assistant with you. And you’ve been drinking.” He paused before suggesting, “Let me give you a ride.”

“Thanks, but no need,” Ye Zhuyi replied without missing a beat. “My assistant is already on their way to pick me up.”

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Qin Zhizhen call out to Lian Rong, then say a quick goodbye to Lu Buping before heading out.

Xu Qingfeng looked disappointed. “Alright then. Be safe on your way back.”

Ye Zhuyi nodded dismissively, her eyes fixed on Qin Zhizhen’s retreating figure. Just as Qin Zhizhen was about to disappear from her sight, Ye Zhuyi’s heart quickened. She hurriedly said goodbye to Lu Buping and the others and rushed out after her.

But by the time she reached the hallway outside the private room, Qin Zhizhen was nowhere to be seen. Ye Zhuyi stood there, her gaze lost as servers hurried past her.

Even if she caught up, what good would it do?

Ye Zhuyi hadn’t eaten much but had been drinking. Her stomach felt unsettled. She took a deep breath and decided to walk for a bit to aid digestion before calling a ride home.

She pulled on her baseball cap and left the restaurant.

As she moved away from the establishment, the crowds thinned. The summer night remained sweltering and humid. The skyscrapers were ablaze with light, and the largest billboard at the very top featured an enlarged photo of Qin Zhizhen.

Ye Zhuyi stopped and looked up. The Qin Zhizhen on the billboard, carved from ice and jade, seemed to be gazing down at her from above. Ye Zhuyi clicked her tongue, lowered her head, and fixed her gaze on a small pebble by her feet.

Zhenzhen was so cute when we were little. Now, she’s just a stone…

She crouched down and poked the pebble gloomily with her fingertip. She did that on purpose, didn’t she? Blocking me from adding her through the group chat! That stupid stone! That mean stone! What a child! What a petty brat!

As the car stopped at a red light, Lian Rong spotted Ye Zhuyi from a distance. “Teacher Ye!” she exclaimed in surprise.

Qin Zhizhen turned her head to look out the window. She saw Ye Zhuyi crouching by the roadside, head down, doing something. Qin Zhizhen thought that if she put Ye Zhuyi in a cardboard box, the picture of her looking utterly abandoned would be perfect.

She had overheard Xu Qingfeng offer to give Ye Zhuyi a ride and also heard Ye Zhuyi lie about it. When paying the bill, Ye Zhuyi had called someone to tell them not to pick her up, yet she told Xu Qingfeng that someone was already on their way.

And that habit of rushing to pay the bill first—was it just a routine, or was she doing it on purpose to get attention?

This woman was truly unpredictable.

Qin Zhizhen couldn’t stand people like that. She decided to keep her distance, unless she was acting in a play. Pulling her phone from her pocket, Qin Zhizhen accidentally dragged out a candy wrapper, the one from the candy Ye Zhuyi had given her earlier.

Ye Zhuyi’s sincere smile flashed through her mind. Qin Zhizhen sighed. I guess I owe her for the candy.

“Lian Rong, pull over and give her a lift,” Qin Zhizhen said, picking up the wrapper.

Lian Rong was sure she had misheard. “Teacher Qin, do you mean… pick up Teacher Ye and give her a ride home?”

“Yes,” Qin Zhizhen replied calmly. She shifted over to make room and folded the candy wrapper back into her pocket.

Lian Rong’s mind screamed WTF a thousand times over. As the light turned green, she drove forward.

Ye Zhuyi, who had been poking at a stone, noticed a car pull up in front of her. She looked up and saw Lian Rong through the window, smiling excitedly. “Teacher Ye, get in! Teacher Qin says he’ll give you a ride home.”

“?!” Ye Zhuyi stayed crouched, her eyelashes fluttering in confusion. “Huh?”

Qin Zhizhen said coolly, “Get in or we’re leaving.”

“I’m coming!” Ye Zhuyi shot to her feet. She glanced at the empty passenger seat, then at the back.

Lian Rong gave her a meaningful look, gesturing for her to sit in the back.

Ye Zhuyi opened the door and climbed in. The air conditioning immediately chased away the heat. “Thank you, Teacher Qin.”

As she took off her hat and mask, Ye Zhuyi stole a glance at him. She noticed that his cold aura from the dinner had softened considerably.

The car was much smaller than the private room at the restaurant, yet the distance between them felt even greater now, with an empty seat separating them.

What should I say? Or should I say nothing at all? she wondered. Should I ask why he’s acting distant again? But what right do I have to ask? How would I even start?

Ye Zhuyi was lost in thought when Lian Rong asked, “Teacher Ye, what’s the name of your residential community? I need to set the GPS.”

“Siji Jinzhou,” Ye Zhuyi replied.

Lian Rong pulled up the map and couldn’t help but laugh. “Teacher Ye… you’re such a bad sense of direction.”

Ye Zhuyi coughed awkwardly.

Out of Ye Zhuyi’s sight, Qin Zhizhen curved her lips into a small smile. She knew the general direction of Siji Jinzhou. After leaving the restaurant, they should have turned right. Now, they were heading left.

Impressive. She can’t even find her own home.

The scenery outside the window blurred past. Ye Zhuyi stole a glance at Qin Zhizhen from the corner of her eye. Qin Zhizhen was looking down at her phone, playing a match-three game. Her thin lips were pressed together, and her profile looked tense, as if she had no intention of speaking.

Ye Zhuyi sighed inwardly.

The atmosphere in the car was heavy with silence.

Fortunately, Lian Rong was there. Not wanting the mood to get too cold, she tried to make conversation. “Teacher Ye, just out of curiosity, why did you insist on paying the bill today?”

Qin Zhizhen glanced at the rearview mirror, and Lian Rong stuck her tongue out at him.

Ye Zhuyi, who hadn’t noticed, stared out the window and feigned a calm tone. “In my previous film crew, settling the bill after every meal was always a struggle. I just got used to paying.”

She turned her head, a mischievous smile on her face. “Keep it a secret, okay?”

“Settling the bill was a struggle.” Lian Rong burst out laughing. Taking advantage of the red light, she turned around and promised earnestly, “Alright, I’ll definitely keep it a secret.”

Having run out of Hearts in her game, Qin Zhizhen exited the app. He shot a silent glance at the two women and reminded Lian Rong, “The light’s about to turn green.”

Lian Rong quickly turned back around.

Ye Zhuyi’s voice was like a clear spring, always cool and detached, betraying no emotion.

Her hands, resting on her lap, absentmindedly picked at the distressed design on her baseball cap.

Just as she thought the silence was about to settle in again, Qin Zhizhen suddenly asked, “Didn’t you say your assistant was coming to pick you up?”

Ye Zhuyi admitted, “They aren’t. I lied to Xu Qingfeng.”

Qin Zhizhen raised an eyebrow at her calling Xu Qingfeng by his full name. “Why did you lie to him?”

“I didn’t want him to drive me. I don’t like him,” Ye Zhuyi said. She wouldn’t lie to Qin Zhizhen.

Such a blunt answer caught Qin Zhizhen off guard. She froze for a moment before letting out a soft, “Oh.”

She couldn’t think of anything else to say.

Lian Rong, who was driving, strained to listen. Her mind was racing with commentary: So you want Teacher Qin to drive you! You must like Teacher Qin!! Who knew Teacher Qin was such a gossip? I’m actually eavesdropping on her!

The car pulled up in front of the Siji Jinzhou Residential Community. The roads inside the complex were winding and confusing, and Ye Zhuyi didn’t want to trouble Lian Rong to drive her all the way in. She asked her to stop by the roadside instead.

Once the car came to a complete stop, Ye Zhuyi said softly to Qin Zhizhen, “Goodbye, Teacher Qin.”

Qin Zhizhen nodded slightly and gave a faint, “Mm.”

Ye Zhuyi got out of the car, closed the door, and watched it drive away until it disappeared from sight. It felt as if she were watching the car that had carried Qin Zhizhen away years ago, and a sudden emptiness washed over her.

With a long sigh, she turned and walked into the residential community. She had just reached her front door and hadn’t even changed her shoes yet when the phone in her pocket vibrated.

Ye Zhuyi pulled it out to check and froze in her tracks.

A new friend request.

The profile picture was a silly-looking panda. The nickname was “Zz,” and the note simply read: “Qin Zhizhen.”

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