When I Woke Up, I Had Three Romantic Partners - Chapter 34

“Si Jiamo.”

“I’m here.”

Chi Jinqing turned her head to look at her, saying word by word, “Actually, I’m perfectly fine as long as you don’t provoke me.”

Si Jiamo’s breathing hitched, and the hand holding Chi Jinqing tightened slightly.

Her voice was dry as she said, “Ah Jin…”

“Many things cannot be settled with just an apology. I’m tired of hearing it, Si Jiamo.”

Chi Jinqing picked up her lunch box, which she had barely touched, and tossed it into the trash can. She rarely wasted food like this, but she genuinely could not eat anymore.

Seeing her about to leave, Si Jiamo, who was behind her, quickly stood up to follow.

“Don’t follow me.”

Chi Jinqing’s voice rose slightly. People nearby quickly focused their attention on them, their eyes filled with curiosity and gossip, but Chi Jinqing no longer cared. She did not want to continuously compromise herself just to save face for others.

If she could not receive constant respect, then there was no need to maintain that outward courtesy.

“Ah Jin…”

Si Jiamo stood rooted to the spot, looking at Chi Jinqing pitifully, wanting to follow but not daring to.

“Let’s keep our distance.”

After saying that, Chi Jinqing left. She did not want this senseless entanglement to continue; it did not align with her intentions.

After Chi Jinqing left, Si Jiamo frowned deeply. She paused for a long time, then took out her phone.

Why won’t Ah Jin forgive me, and why won’t she start over with me?

Qin Song, who received the message: “…”

What have you been doing?

Teaching someone how to pursue the person she herself liked was difficult for Qin Song, but since she had chosen to cooperate with Si Jiamo, she had to do her absolute best.

Sending food, visiting the set, talking about the past with her.

Qin Song: “…”

Talking about the past?

Did Si Jiamo not remember what their past was like?

The more she talked about the past, the more Chi Jinqing would come to dislike her.

Qin Song did not know if Si Jiamo was doing this intentionally or accidentally, but anyone with sense knew this was not the way to pursue someone.

If you genuinely still like her, then please take it seriously. Don’t be so perfunctory. The current Chi Jinqing is not the twenty-six-year-old Chi Jinqing; she is vibrant and full of different possibilities.

She typed out every word: No matter what you think, if you truly want to win her back, you must trade sincerity for sincerity, and you must seriously listen to her requests. Do not be self-righteously manipulative to control her.

Otherwise, you won’t even receive her last shred of sympathy.

This was the conclusion she had drawn from her many years by Chi Jinqing’s side. Chi Jinqing was not a particularly passionate person; in fact, her reserved exterior was the best signpost for her rejection of others.

Chi Jinqing disliked overly extravagant appearances and detested being stared at with strange looks by reporters and investors. Every time, she tried her best to refuse, and would rather exhaust herself to the point of illness than attend certain banquets.

She was a person of principle; if she said she would not touch certain things, she would not, even at the cost of her life. Therefore, if Si Jiamo wanted to use feigned affection to gain Chi Jinqing’s true feelings, it was impossible. She might even be completely blacklisted by Chi Jinqing mentally.

When she was not filming, she did not even want to make a single unnecessary expression.

How could Si Jiamo not know this? But for so many years, the two of them had faced each other coldly, and she had become accustomed to masking her true self and true emotions in front of Chi Jinqing. Now, to suddenly ask her to open up to Chi Jinqing, she genuinely could not do it right away.

She irritably ran her fingers through her hair, her expression dark.

Jian Huan, who had been eating gloomily nearby, was considering finding an opportunity to speak with Si Jiamo or ask for an autograph. However, catching a glimpse of Si Jiamo’s slightly gloomy expression, she instantly dismissed any thoughts of approaching her.

It was truly terrifying. She did not know what exactly had happened between Chi Jinqing and Si Jiamo, but Si Jiamo’s current demeanor was frightening. She could not believe her idol would make such an expression in private.

Shen Yirou, conversely, was much calmer. Ever since she saw Si Jiamo intentionally coming over to guest star and visit the set for Chi Jinqing, she had acutely sensed that the atmosphere between the two was off, and they likely had some unspeakable history.

Seeing Jian Huan preoccupied, as if troubled by something, she nudged her with her lunch box, urging, “What are you looking at? Hurry up and eat.”

Jian Huan looked at Shen Yirou pitifully, her chopsticks still motionless: “Aren’t you even curious?”

Shen Yirou was expressionless: “People who are too curious turn into butterflies.”

Jian Huan did not understand: “Huh?”

“Just eat.”

Shen Yirou did not want to say more, as she and Jian Huan were not that close.

By the time it was time to film, Chi Jinqing had already adjusted her mindset. She did not look at Si Jiamo once, treating her like a stranger.

Si Jiamo, also deep in thought because of Qin Song’s words, temporarily did not try to cling to Chi Jinqing in her usual shameless yet prideful manner. Instead, she sat properly on a small stool, watching them film.

This was the first time she had watched Chi Jinqing film from such a close distance. Before, she had only watched videos recorded by her assistant or seen Chi Jinqing’s completed TV shows and movies.

Being on the same set and filming the same drama felt rare.

Chi Jinqing quickly immersed herself in the role. Duan Rong’s feeling of being classmates with her benefactor, and the careful, furtive glances she cast, afraid of being caught—Si Jiamo understood these small actions perfectly.

Eighteen-year-old Chi Jinqing had behaved the same way when she was pursuing Si Jiamo.

As the plot progressed, it soon reached the point after the successful class assignment.

After being caught peeking once again by the object of her affection, Duan Rong’s panic and shyness prevented her from looking directly at the person. She could only hold up her book to conceal her embarrassment, a gesture that only made it more obvious.

Duan Rong listened, red-faced, to the violent pounding of her heart, the loud sound of which almost made her believe her heart was about to jump out of her chest.

Qingchen, who had only sensed someone staring at her: “?”

She looked suspiciously at Duan Rong’s guiltily raised book, thinking: Strange, why does this person keep looking at me?

To figure out the situation, and also slightly worried that Duan Rong might be bullied by others because of her interference, she deliberately approached Duan Rong and befriended her.

During their time together, Duan Rong’s fondness for Qingchen gradually grew, becoming so much that it was almost overflowing. It was then that Qingchen met Bai Qi, and the two quickly developed sparks of romance.

Duan Rong wanted to intervene, but she looked down at her faded pants, then looked at Bai Qi, who was dressed head-to-toe in designer brands and was also a top student who had many shared topics with Qingchen.

Friendships of three people were always crowded.

Gradually, Duan Rong realized she was drifting further and further away from Qingchen.

When she overcame her inferiority and wanted to restore their friendship, she heard someone say that Qingchen and Bai Qi were dating. She ran over to ask, and received an affirmative answer.

Duan Rong opened her mouth, seemingly in disbelief, yet also feeling it was only natural.

A princess, of course, belonged with a princess. How could she be with a Cinderella?

The two of them had different values and world views. Moreover, she could only listen awkwardly as Qingchen spoke and couldn’t offer opinions on many of the things Qingchen talked about, simply because she didn’t understand.

Duan Rong hung her head and held back for a long time before she could suppress the tears welling up in her eyes. She lifted her face, forcing a painfully brilliant smile: “As long as you’re happy, that’s all that matters.”

“Here, this is for you.”

She handed the mineral water she had bought to Qingchen, just like she always did.

How could Qingchen not know Duan Rong’s feelings for her? But precisely because she knew, she could not return them.

She could not be someone who dated two people at once; she had to be responsible for her own feelings.

It was probably better to make things clear today, otherwise, she would not have known how to bring it up.

“I’m sorry, Rongrong.”

She felt indebted to Duan Rong; after all, she had enjoyed Duan Rong’s affection and favors for so long.

“You don’t need to apologize to me.”

Duan Rong swallowed the bitterness and tears in her heart. She said softly, “I should be thanking you for saving me back then and for being willing to be my friend.”

“I hope you and her will be happy in the future. I will always wish you well.”

With that, Duan Rong showed a smile that was uglier than crying, a smile that was heartbreaking despite being a smile.

That smile even moved Qingchen.

Duan Rong placed the water in front of Qingchen, speaking as if she were talking about herself: “It’s okay if you don’t need it. As long as it can help you a little, that’s enough.”

Her voice was soft and almost like a form of self-consolation, making everyone present feel that extreme sense of inferiority. Even if her gift was unwanted, she still silently offered the only thing she had to the other person.

Chi Jinqing’s delivery was excellent, moving from a subtle choke to a quiet murmur, telling herself not to hope to get close to the moon, but only to be content with watching the moon shine.

Putting down the water, she turned and left, pretending to be strong. Her slight frame seemed to have lost its usual resilience, leaving behind only endless loneliness.

“Good, cut.”

This scene was filmed perfectly and passed on the first take.

Chi Jinqing was still somewhat unable to exit the role after leaving the camera’s view. The feeling she had just experienced was as if her body had returned to the first time Si Jiamo had hurt her.

That was the first time Si Jiamo had publicly engaged in a manufactured couple pairing (CP) in the industry. Although their relationship was fake, CP fans were everywhere. Those frames of CP comics, those pictures of the two of them appearing together for promotion, and the short videos edited by countless fans, which looked seamless—

Every single one was telling Chi Jinqing that Si Jiamo did not want her anymore.

Resentment and pain intertwined in her heart. Faint images flickered through her mind, accompanied by an uncontrollable sensation of dizziness. Chi Jinqing felt her vision blur, and her stomach began to convulse.

“Ugh—”

“Gag—”

Chi Jinqing clutched the wall, retching violently until she could not straighten her back.

“A-Jin!”

Si Jiamo, who had been watching nearby, immediately noticed something was wrong and rushed over to support Chi Jinqing. Feeling Chi Jinqing’s trembling, cold-sweating body, she became frantic: “Quick, call 911!”

Little He had gone to get hot water for Chi Jinqing, but seeing this, she disregarded the cup in her hand and rushed over: “Sister Chi!”

“What happened?”

Yu Zhi hurried over. They had filmed quite a bit; why was this happening so suddenly?

“Did she eat something bad?”

Si Jiamo worriedly pursed her lips: “She only ate a few bites at noon and nothing else. It shouldn’t be food poisoning.”

She had made sure to avoid all the ingredients Chi Jinqing was allergic to. Besides, the takeout she had ordered was from a high-end restaurant, so the food should have been fresh.

So where did the problem lie?