When I Woke Up, I Had Three Romantic Partners - Chapter 26

While Chi Jinqing had just gotten the role, Si Jiamo had already returned home.

It wasn’t her villa, but the Si family’s old residence.

As soon as the car drove into the Si family’s old residence, the butler came out to greet her.

“Second Miss.”

“Mm.”

Si Jiamo was dressed casually in sportswear with light, bare-faced makeup. She walked into the villa’s main hall, where, predictably, the entire family was seated.

She calmly greeted them: “Mother, Father, Elder Sister, Sister-in-law.”

Si Mother glanced at her: “You still remember to come back?”

Su Lin, Si family’s eldest daughter-in-law, held Si Mother’s arm and soothed her: “Mom, little sister just got back.”

“I don’t think she has me, her mother, in her eyes. I originally sent her to the entertainment industry to treat her illness, but what happened? Not only did she leave and never look back, she also couldn’t forget that person surnamed Chi and got herself involved with them again.”

Si Mother became angry as she spoke: “If I weren’t dying, would she come back to see me and listen to me even once?”

“Mom, don’t always say things like that.”

Si Zhongkui gave Si Jiamo a look, telling her to quickly say something nice, not be so stubborn, and remember that Mom was still ill.

Si Mother had been strong her whole life, and her temperament was always firm; she expected everyone to listen to her.

When Si Zhongkui came out in high school, she rebelliously married her partner right after graduation. However, because the two families already had a good relationship, and Su Lin knew how to please people, had a gentle temper, and had taken very good care of Si Zhongkui over the years, with their feelings running deep, Si Mother eventually accepted it.

Si Zhongkui and Su Lin’s relationship was a match made in heaven and had never had any issues. Si Mother approved and doted on Su Lin as if she were her own daughter.

It was only later that the originally obedient and well-behaved Si Jiamo got sick after breaking up with her college first love. That’s why Si Mother had always been unhappy with Chi Jinqing.

When she heard the news that her youngest daughter hadn’t just fallen for her once, but was preparing to keep her caged, keeping her by her side for a lifetime of romance, her heart nearly stopped from anger.

She told Si Jiamo to be sensible and not to dwell on that unworthy person again, but who knew Si Jiamo would be as rebellious as her sister, and simply stay in the entertainment industry and refuse to come home?

She even increased her output of dating rumors, which almost made the unrestrained Si Mother rush over and break her legs.

Now seeing Si Jiamo lower her eyes with an expression that suggested she wasn’t listening, Si Mother clutched her fluctuating chest, almost fainting.

Seeing her condition worsen, everyone rushed over to support her.

“Mom!”

Si Jiamo finally wavered. She edged closer to her mother, her eyes slightly red: “Mom…”

“You… you still remember I’m your mother…”

Si Mother gasped for air, taking the pill handed to her by her husband. Not only did she have terminal breast cancer, but she also had heart disease. It hadn’t been particularly serious when she was young; taking medicine on time was enough.

Now, the late-stage breast cancer symptoms had increased the burden on her heart, and the frequency of her heart disease attacks had started to increase.

Si Father held his wife, his gaze disapproving as he looked at his usually favored youngest daughter, speaking sternly to her for the first time: ” Jiamo, you’re not a child anymore. You should understand what’s good for you. Your mother is this sick, and you still want to upset her?”

“I…”

Si Jiamo held her mother’s trembling hand and pleaded softly: “Mom, please don’t push me, okay? Let’s not talk about this; let’s treat your illness first, alright?”

Si Mother was angered into a laugh: “I’m pushing you? You still think I’m pushing you?”

“Which thing I’ve done wasn’t for your own good?”

Si Jiamo: “I know…”

“You don’t know.”

Si Mother’s voice was hoarse as she worked hard to calm her breathing, stating word by word: “You want so-called love, you want so-called freedom. You were the most obedient since childhood, you were never rebellious. But for that Chi Jinqing, tell me, how many times have you spoken to us like this?”

“You want your love, you don’t want your family, is that it?”

Si Jiamo knelt by her mother’s feet, her voice husky: “Mom…”

Si Mother’s grip on Si Jiamo’s hand tightened, and her gaze became sharper: “I don’t ask you to do anything, but that kind of girl really isn’t worth it, Jiamo. How long are you going to throw this tantrum?”

Si Jiamo’s lips parted slightly. She wanted to explain for Chi Jinqing, that the other person wasn’t like that.

Just as she was about to speak, Si Zhongkui pinched her arm, stopping her from opening her mouth.

Si Zhongkui leaned beside her and whispered: “I don’t care what you’re thinking. Right now, you’d better listen to Mom. Do you really want to see her die from being angry by you?”

Si Jiamo bit her lower lip, struggling internally.

Si Father: ” Jiamo.”

Facing the nearly pleading eyes of her father and sister, Si Jiamo ultimately didn’t speak again. She merely knelt by her mother’s feet, allowing them to arrange her future matters.

Seeing Si Jiamo remain silent, Si Mother also knew she had been too impatient. Matters of the heart couldn’t be rushed, so she softened her voice: “Mom has arranged a blind date for you. Mom doesn’t have much time left, and I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

Si Jiamo knelt on the floor as if all her strength had left her, submitting: “Whatever Mom… says.”

Si Mother gently stroked her head, satisfied.

Si Mother gave Si Jiamo a day to adjust her mindset. The next morning, the girl arrived. She wore a long, blue and white floral dress, which nicely accentuated her attractive figure. Her demeanor was gentle with a hint of sweetness.

It was said that she was a relatively famous young painter abroad.

She smiled sweetly at Si Jiamo, extended her hand generously, and softly said: “Hello, nice to meet you. You can call me Zang Qian. I’m your fan.”

Her voice was light and soft, like a cool breeze by the sea—comfortable yet maintaining a suitable distance.

If the other party hadn’t been a blind date forced upon her by her mother, Si Jiamo thought she might have been able to become friends with her.

She extended her hand and shook it politely: “Hello, I’m Si Jiamo.”

Si Jiamo had been forced to wake up early and get dressed, so she was very presentable, looking less like someone at home and more like a peacock forced to display its feathers.

Zang Qian looked at her, her eyes curving into crescent moons as she smiled: “Would you like to have afternoon tea together?”

“Mm.”

Si Jiamo’s attitude towards Zang Qian was quite cold, but she was like this in the industry, so Zang Qian, as a fan, was used to it and followed behind Si Jiamo without minding.

Their afternoon tea was held in the courtyard.

The butler had already prepared desserts and coffee, and even made an extra scoop of ice cream according to Zang Qian’s preference.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

After the butler retreated, Si Jiamo held her coffee cup, her gaze sweeping towards the window. Inside sat her mother, who was watching them. Seeing Si Jiamo look over, she signaled with her eyes for her not to be so cold and to talk properly with the girl. If it really didn’t work out, they could change people.

Si Jiamo withdrew her gaze, and her voice was faint: “Miss Zang knows what today is about, right?”

Zang Qian gently nodded: “I know.”

“I’m your fan, so this matter won’t be leaked, don’t worry.”

“Mm.”

Si Jiamo took a sip of the pure, bitter coffee and openly blackened her own image: “I’m in the industry, so I have a lot of ‘relationship history,’ and I don’t plan to tone it down. Even if I get married, I won’t settle down, and I won’t fall in love with anyone else.”

Zang Qian nodded, understanding her meaning.

She scooped a small bite of ice cream into her mouth. The sugared and iced ice cream tasted exactly to her liking, just like Si Jiamo —she liked this person very much too.

However, the other party clearly had someone in their heart, and their family knew about that person but didn’t accept them.

Zang Qian: “I understand what you mean.”

“But I think your family might prefer someone like me.”

“Yes.”

Si Jiamo didn’t hide the fact that her family’s acceptance level for her was high, but she didn’t like her. Even if they forced themselves to be together, they wouldn’t have any outcome.

“But that’s useless.”

If she didn’t like them, it didn’t matter how much others liked them.

Zang Qian smiled meaningfully: “Not necessarily.”

The coldness in Si Jiamo’s eyes deepened: “You won’t get my heart or my person. Aside from a title, you’ll have nothing, and there will be no responsibilities. Does that not bother you either?”

Zang Qian smiled indulgently: “If the person is you, I don’t mind.”

Si Jiamo: “I think you do mind.”

She leaned back against the chair, her gaze seemingly looking past her at someone else: “Even if you don’t mind, she will mind.”

“I hope that what we’ve talked about today won’t be known by a third person. If anyone asks, just say we didn’t feel anything for each other, okay?”

Zang Qian finished the last bite of ice cream: “If you can give me an autograph photo of Chi Jinqing.”

Si Jiamo breathed a sigh of relief: “I can.”

Although she didn’t know why the other party wanted Chi Jinqing’s autograph photo, she had as many of those as she wanted, so she readily agreed.

Zang Qian suddenly said: “Actually, you didn’t have to be so clear.”

Si Jiamo: “?”

Zang Qian: “If you hadn’t said anything, I could pretend not to know anything. You could continue whatever you want. I could be a superficial shield for you, protecting you from your family’s difficulties and the comments of others outside. I don’t care if your body and heart don’t love me.”

Si Jiamo didn’t understand: “Why go to such lengths?”

Zang Qian smiled kindly: “Perhaps because I genuinely like you too much?”

“Alright, I’m leaving. Let’s end the conversation here today.”

Zang Qian stood up, her smile unchanged. She handed her a slip of paper with writing on it: “If one day you change your mind and feel you need me, I can cooperate with you anytime.

This is my phone number and WeChat. You can think about it again.”

Si Jiamo took the paper, not quite understanding what this person was thinking.

Zang Qian bowed to her, then waved to the people inside the house, bidding a polite farewell.

Only after Zang Qian left did Si Mother come out and ask Si Jiamo: “What do you think of her?”

Her gaze fixed on the paper in Si Jiamo’s hand: “What’s that?”

Si Jiamo lowered her eyes: “Her contact information.”

Si Mother was relieved: “It seems she’s very satisfied with you.”

Si Jiamo asked hoarsely: “Mother, does it really have to be like this?”