When I Woke Up, I Had Three Romantic Partners - Chapter 33

Si Jiamo looked over and saw the person from the paparazzi photos, who had previously been quite intimate with Chi Jinqing. She adopted the demeanor of the “official partner,” giving a reserved nod, “Yes, hello.”

She simultaneously scrutinized the other person. Hmm, she doesn’t look as pretty as me, nor as mature. Chi Jinqing probably wouldn’t like someone like this.

She nodded secretly, satisfied, and her attitude, which had been that of a peacock dominating another’s line of sight, slowly reverted to a more composed posture.

“You-you-you-you-hello!”

Jian Huan excitedly gripped Shen Yirou’s hand, stammering slightly.

Si Jiamo in real life was many times more beautiful than on TV or posters, and she even had a certain vivacity that was absent on screen. Especially the air about her when she spoke was different from how she appeared on TV.

As expected of the person I’ve idolized for so many years. She looks unique. Sob, sob, sob, my idol is great.

“Sister Si, you actually came to visit our set. This is truly a blessing.”

Just as Jian Huan was about to inch closer, Shen Yirou grabbed her. Jian Huan looked at her questioningly, wondering what she was doing, but Shen Yirou was much more perceptive.

She clearly noticed the fleeting hostility and scrutiny in Si Jiamo’s eyes when Jian Huan appeared. This person was wary of them, but why?

Her gaze swept over Chi Jinqing’s lunchbox, then observed Chi Jinqing, who was not excited at all, but instead subtly conveyed a sense of annoyance. She also noticed Si Jiamo’s slightly ingratiating yet not entirely giving-in, awkward little gestures, and she understood.

Si Jiamo’s objective was not to make a guest appearance, nor to reminisce, but to see Chi Jinqing.

After just a few exchanges with Jian Huan, Si Jiamo already seemed unwilling to engage further, likely feeling that their presence interfered with her conversation with Chi Jinqing.

Shen Yirou, understanding the situation, wisely said to Jian Huan, “I’m a bit unsure about how to block and move for the scene. I’ve always been a bit lost on how to act opposite you. Talk to me about it while we eat.”

“Huh?”

Jian Huan was bewildered, “But…”

The two major established actresses in the entertainment industry were sitting right there. Wouldn’t it be better to ask them?

Shen Yirou’s aim was simply to get her to leave, and the rest was just an excuse. She pulled Jian Huan, urging her to leave quickly and not say too much.

“Excuse us, both teachers, we’ll go over to the side for now.”

Shen Yirou nodded to the two of them, then dragged away Jian Huan, who still hadn’t figured out the situation.

Chi Jinqing: “…”

Once the bothersome people were gone, Si Jiamo took it upon herself to open the lunchbox and put the dishes Chi Jinqing liked from her own lunchbox into Chi Jinqing’s.

Chi Jinqing raised her chopsticks to block her, her expression somewhat cold: “No need. I have enough.”

“Ah Jin…”

Si Jiamo’s chopsticks, holding the food, paused mid-air. She pursed her lips, trying to sound conciliatory: “I know everything before was my fault. I’m trying to change now, Ah Jin, can you give me a chance to make amends?”

“We’ve been together for so many years, we know each other well. I know I’m special to you, Ah Jin…”

Si Jiamo used the nickname repeatedly, trying to make Chi Jinqing recall the beautiful memories of their past.

She rarely used Chi Jinqing’s nickname over the years, often calling her by her full name, Chi Jinqing. Now, using the nickname so frequently made their relationship sound particularly close.

Thinking of this, Chi Jinqing chuckled lightly: “Si Jiamo, what are you doing now?”

“You only crave what you can’t have?”

Si Jiamo: “…”

She wanted to explain, “That’s not what I meant, Ah Jin.”

“Then what do you mean?”

Chi Jinqing put down her chopsticks, feeling that her appetite was gone.

“When I loved you, you questioned my feelings. When I endured all those admirers for you, you said I wasn’t worthy of mentioning love to you, nor worthy of declaring any relationship publicly. Now that I’m not planning to talk about anything with you anymore, and I don’t want to be this exhausted, what are you doing?”

Chi Jinqing felt weary. She had never been this tired. In her emotional world, if things didn’t work out, they should break up, not drag each other down into a mutually disliked state.

Wouldn’t it be better if we preserved our initial feelings for each other?

Why did it have to become like this?

“I’m tired. I don’t want to continue anymore. Did you understand?”

Si Jiamo stubbornly placed the dish into Chi Jinqing’s lunchbox, as if she hadn’t understood Chi Jinqing’s meaning, and said softly, “It’s okay, I can wait. There’s no need to rush your answer.”

Chi Jinqing blew up: “Si Jiamo, are you incapable of understanding human language?”

She wasn’t joking, and she didn’t want to humiliate Si Jiamo in front of others, so she had endured many things that the old her would never tolerate. She knew the entertainment industry was tough, and one mistake could lead to a lifetime of abuse.

She had always followed her manager’s arrangements, whether it was for a dating show, filming, or taking endorsements; she worked diligently step by step to do her best.

She didn’t understand acting techniques, so she followed her natural physical reactions, using the most sincere emotions to complete her work.

Yet, even so, she walked on thin ice.

She had to perform her role and also perform herself. She hated this.

“Ah Jin…”

Si Jiamo cautiously tugged at Chi Jinqing’s sleeve: “If you really don’t like acting, then let me take you out of the industry. We can go live the life you want together, okay?”

Her expression was very serious, as if she genuinely wanted to live an ordinary life with her forever, but how was that possible?

She was Si Jiamo, a double Movie Queen. Even if she truly wanted an ordinary life, she still had her family. Would her family want someone like her?

An indescribable emotion spread in her chest. She was actually a bit angry. She felt she should be angry. She couldn’t trust Si Jiamo, nor should she have any more entanglement with her.

But looking into those earnest eyes, for a moment, it felt like she was transported back to college, where Si Jiamo looked at her just like this, seemingly planning her future life with her in it.

But later…

She lowered her eyes and forcefully pulled her hand away. Before Si Jiamo could grab it again, she calmly said, “Although I don’t like acting, I will pay off the debts my family owes. Don’t worry, you don’t need to keep an eye on me.”

“Also, thank you for your house.”

Previously, she had been tracked by a jealous sasaeng fan of her rival. Her front door was splashed with paint, she was deliberately sent disgusting dead mice as packages, and they would prank-knock on her door.

Although she reported it to the police, the offender was a minor, so the police educated them and had to let them go.

She couldn’t sleep that entire night. Later, Si Jiamo, who was filming out of town, took a leave, rushed back overnight, and moved her out.

For Chi Jinqing’s safety, Si Jiamo immediately hid her in her own villa. That villa community was high-end, home to many veteran celebrities and some directors who had filmed many classics, but most were still wealthy bosses.

In the diary, Chi Jinqing wrote about this part with a heavy heart, and the handwriting was still a bit shaky, suggesting her inner turmoil was not yet settled.

Although a villa was more expensive than an apartment, it was indeed much more private. Even the housekeeper who helped her with her goose and cleaning was someone Chi Jinqing trusted.

Although Si Jiamo left the next day, acting as if she had only come to watch the filming, Chi Jinqing knew she had returned for her.

The rent she paid later was actually never collected; instead, Si Jiamo secretly transferred it to Chi Jinqing’s debt repayment account, which Chi Jinqing only found out about later.

But this kind of ambiguous situation, leaving things unresolved, made Chi Jinqing simultaneously tormented and sweet.

Si Jiamo cared about her; she was certain of this, but the other party didn’t trust her, and she couldn’t explain herself, so she remained caught in a loop of indecision.

Furthermore, she was afraid Si Jiamo would discover her relationship with Su Yunhui. Although it was just for money, it was still a betrayal of Si Jiamo.

This invisible internal drain made Chi Jinqing very uncomfortable, which is why her poor state led to the accident on set.

Si Jiamo was filming on location at the time, and due to the closed-set nature of the shoot, she didn’t know Chi Jinqing was hospitalized until halfway through.

By the time she found out, Chi Jinqing was already awake.

And then things turned out like this.

Si Jiamo didn’t want Chi Jinqing to misunderstand due to this opportunity. She quietly held Chi Jinqing’s hand. Chi Jinqing didn’t shake her off, but simply sat calmly, as if she hadn’t noticed.

Her casual attitude made it seem like the only person who cared about this matter was herself, and Si Jiamo didn’t like that.

Si Jiamo was frustrated: “Ah Jin, you don’t have to thank me for something like this. After all, it’s what I should do. I just regret not preparing everything for you beforehand.”

She had deliberately neglected Chi Jinqing before. Therefore, although she chose a relatively safer apartment for her, she hadn’t specially done anything extra, all to prevent Chi Jinqing from being targeted by other artists in the company and failing to integrate.

But no one knew that person’s fan was so crazy and would commit such an act in disregard of the law. Although the authorities later publicly criticized the fan, saying idols should manage their fans and constantly caution them against using vague language to incite minors.

The shadow of this incident, however, had already been cast. Later, Chi Jinqing rarely held fan meetings, and she even asked fans not to follow her on flights.

Because of this incident, people in the entertainment industry became vigilant.

Although Si Jiamo later took action to suppress all of her rival’s resources as revenge for Chi Jinqing, the experience itself had already occurred…

Chi Jinqing now brought up the matter only with lingering fear, because she hadn’t truly experienced it, but her body’s conditioned reflex still made her tremble slightly.

Si Jiamo held Chi Jinqing’s hand a little tighter, heartbroken, wanting to warm her with her own temperature, but Chi Jinqing had already become resigned. Although she still didn’t understand the survival guide of the industry, maybe just living step-by-step was enough.

Seeing Chi Jinqing’s numbness, Si Jiamo didn’t want her to sink into despair like this. Her Ah Jin shouldn’t wither just as she began to blossom.

“Ah Jin, this time, let me pursue you. Give me a chance, okay?”

Si Jiamo’s eyes were filled with deep affection: “Ah Jin, I can’t live without you.”