When I Woke Up, I Had Three Romantic Partners - Chapter 48  

Si Jiamo: “…”

She let out a slight sigh and handed the food in her hand to Xiao He: “Since that’s the case, then I’ll trouble you to take the food to her. Don’t let her go hungry.”

Seeing that Si Jiamo didn’t intend to press the issue, Xiao He breathed a sigh of relief: “Okay.”

“Mhm.”

Si Jiamo turned and was about to leave, but then turned back to ask: “Is Ah Jin’s condition better?”

Xiao He quickly replied: “Much better. She can already distinguish directions. It’s estimated that she can resume filming in another day or two.”

Si Jiamo: “Mhm, tell her not to rush, take it slow.”

After getting an update, Si Jiamo went to film. During a break, she inquired about the situation on WeChat again, but kept it very restrained, making Xiao He feel a bit like Si Jiamo was pursuing Chi Jinqing.

Si Jiamo’s sudden change to being so strategic and composed, completely different from the previous days, left Xiao He baffled, unable to tell if Si Jiamo was acting or being sincere.

“Sis, what do you think she’s trying to do?”

“I don’t know.”

Chi Jinqing’s eyes could make out figures again; she could use them to judge the position and movement of people nearby. Just as the doctor said, the after-effects of her illness came quickly and left quickly. All she needed was to rest assured.

She took a bite of a reheated bun. The taste was somewhat similar to the ones she used to eat in college. That store’s buns had a special seasoning, tasting different from others. It was said that the family had relied on making these buns for four generations, which was why the taste was so unique.

Rarely eating something she liked, she casually asked, “The bun tastes good. Are they sold nearby?”

Xiao He shook her head: “I don’t know.”

“It seems there aren’t any nearby. I haven’t seen any like this.”

There were places selling buns nearby, but judging from the quality and the speed at which Chi Jinqing was eating, they didn’t seem to be from around here. The nearby buns weren’t very tasty and were expensive. Chi Jinqing had only eaten them once and refused to eat them again.

“These should be buns from somewhere else.”

Chi Jinqing: “Oh.”

After eating two, Chi Jinqing stopped. Although the buns were delicious, she couldn’t afford to eat until full anymore. Having chosen to be an actress, she had to make some sacrifices in her personal preferences for the profession.

Xiao He put the remaining buns aside and asked carefully: “Sis, how do you feel today? Better?”

Chi Jinqing: “Mhm, at this rate, I should be able to see by tomorrow.”

It might just be a bit uncomfortable with strong light.

“That’s good.”

Xiao He cleaned up. Chi Jinqing sat on the bed, reached out for her phone, and called up the AI to play music.

At noon, Si Jiamo had lunch delivered. The lunch was also something Chi Jinqing liked in college, including a dish of braised pork belly. The pork belly was stewed until tender and flavorful. The fat almost couldn’t hold its shape when picked up and melted in the mouth without a greasy feel—exactly how Chi Jinqing liked it. The braised pork was savory, with a sweetness so faint it was almost negligible.

Chi Jinqing didn’t like sweet braised pork, so whenever she ordered it, she would specifically ask the chef not to use too much sugar for caramelization, and to use something else if possible.

Chi Jinqing fell silent. The dish certainly matched her taste, identical to the flavor of the food she took Si Jiamo to eat in college. The preparation method might be different, and the flavor slightly varied, but the texture was the same.

“Si Jiamo sent this, didn’t she?”

Although she didn’t need to ask, she still wanted confirmation.

Xiao He was surprised: “Sister Si sent it.”

“Sis, how did you know? It’s not like she made it. Usually, one can’t tell, right?” Can sending food make such a difference?

“Some things are different.”

Chi Jinqing ate two more pieces: “Some things won’t change.”

“If she sends more tonight, tell her not to.”

Xiao He felt awkward, slightly confused: “Sis, did you argue with Sister Si?”

“I feel like Sister Si treats you differently from others. She has never cared for anyone this much. Is she pursuing you?”

Chi Jinqing put down her chopsticks and said calmly: “You can’t just look at the surface.”

Xiao He: “Did she do something wrong to you?!”

Saying this, she rolled up her sleeves, ready to avenge Chi Jinqing.

Chi Jinqing held her back: “What are you doing?”

Xiao He said defensively: “She bullied you, Sis! I can’t stand it!”

Chi Jinqing: “She didn’t bully me, and I won’t let her bully me. Don’t worry, it’s not like that.”

“But Sis, you seem very upset.”

Xiao He sat back down, resentfully saying: “Sis, even though her status is higher than ours, we are not afraid of her. Once you pay off your debt, we’ll start our own studio and never take her attitude again!”

Chi Jinqing gave a wry smile: “It won’t be that fast. I only paid off over 600 million in seven years. I still have about 400 million left. Clearing it is not an easy task.”

Furthermore, her fame and ability to break through haven’t fully matured yet. If she rashly opens a studio, it could easily backfire. Her fame is not yet enough for her to leave the company and secure good resources on her own.

Xiao He still felt indignant for Chi Jinqing. But this is how the industry works. You can’t just leave the company once you become famous, nor can you just open a studio and thrive here. Without a strong background, you might be popular once, but wanting to stay popular in the long term is extremely difficult.

Xiao He: “Sis, I really can’t stand it. What does she mean by being nice to you on one hand and making you unhappy on the other!”

Chi Jinqing shook her head: “Maybe that’s just how she thinks. Everyone is different. If she wants to do this, let her. Just ignore it.”

“Don’t get angry over people who aren’t worth it.”

She’s let it go; it’s already like this anyway. If Si Jiamo wants to continue, so be it. She has already moved on, and she can’t stop the other person from trying, but she can choose not to accept. If she keeps giving the cold shoulder long enough, given Si Jiamo’s temperament, it’s unlikely she’ll keep up the effort forever.

Xiao He grabbed Chi Jinqing’s hand and looked at her with a wronged expression: “Sis, I just feel bad for you.”

“What she’s doing is too much, it’s unfair.”

Chi Jinqing: “There’s no such thing as fair or unfair. It’s all the same.”

In the late afternoon, Si Jiamo sent someone to deliver afternoon tea again. The dessert was Black Forest cream cake, Chi Jinqing’s favorite sweet treat, but she rarely ate it after becoming an actress, as it’s fattening.

“Cousin, I’m sorry, my sister said we can’t accept it anymore. She asked you to take it back.”

Xiao He looked at He Ming’s struggling hand holding the afternoon tea. This was Chi Jinqing’s order, and she couldn’t disobey. Besides, her cousin clearly knew what kind of person Si Jiamo was yet was still delivering it for her. Xiao He pouted. Her cousin wasn’t a bad person, just completing a task, but she was also completing a task. Her cousin would surely understand.

He Ming was indeed conflicted, but looking at Xiao He’s expression, she knew her cousin wasn’t trying to make things difficult for her. It was just that when the two bosses above were arguing and throwing tantrums, they, the subordinates, couldn’t exactly get along peacefully.

“Oh well, I’ll take it back then.”

She had no choice but to retreat.

Si Jiamo looked at the returned dessert without surprise. Chi Jinqing wouldn’t accept her things a third time.

“Then you eat it.”

He Ming was even more troubled: “Sister Si, I can’t eat this.”

Si Jiamo: “Why not? We can’t let it go to waste.”

He Ming: “…Alright.”

In the evening, He Ming looked at the dinner in her hands, then at the closed door, feeling utterly miserable. With a pained face, she knocked on the door and looked at her cousin who opened it, giving a strained smile: “Sis, please take pity on me and let me see Sister Chi.”

“Look, I was sent on a mission. You understand.”

Xiao He: “…”

“She’s too much!”

She was furious. Sister Chi said she wouldn’t accept it, yet this person keeps sending things. Isn’t this clearly taking advantage of the fact that He Ming is her older sister, thinking she would relent, which is why she sent her to deliver it! Unbelievable!

“I’m going to go argue with her!”

Xiao He rolled up her sleeves, ready to go out. He Ming quickly stopped her. She couldn’t let her go! If she did, her job would be over.

Chi Jinqing’s voice came clearly: “Let her in.”

He Ming sighed in relief: “Thank you, Sis.”

“Come in, come in, don’t let anyone see.”

Xiao He reluctantly opened the door for He Ming, grumbling as she walked: “That Si Jiamo is too much of a bully! How can she be like this!”

He Ming closed the door and pulled Xiao He aside, whispering in persuasion: “Oh my dear sister, quiet down, quiet down. Don’t let anyone hear.”

“It’s just how it is in our line of work.”

She placed the dinner on the table and looked at Chi Jinqing, opening the containers solicitously: “Sis, have some dinner?”

Chi Jinqing: “What dishes are they?”

He Ming quickly pulled them out: “It’s Di San Xian Stir-fried potato, eggplant, and green pepper, deep-fried small yellow croaker, plus a seaweed and tofu soup.”

These two dishes and one soup were something Chi Jinqing specially made for Si Jiamo in college when she was nervous during a competition and had no appetite. The small yellow croaker was marinated for three hours beforehand, deep-fried until crispy and tender, and exceptionally fragrant. She stocked up on seaweed because Chi Jinqing liked it. Di San Xian was a dish Si Jiamo liked; she preferred oilier dishes.

It was evident that the other person was trying hard to get closer to her 18-year-old self. Everything seemed to be gravitating towards the past. But she had already moved on, so the past wasn’t that important anymore.

“Take it. Tell her, there will be no next time.”

He Ming: “I understand.”

Si Jiamo returned to the hotel after dark. Although the area was always well-lit, she didn’t like playing outside at night. Seeing He Ming waiting at the door, she asked in confusion: “What are you doing here?”

He Ming yawned: “You’re back.”

She handed the letter to Si Jiamo: “I was going to leave it in your room, but I was afraid you wouldn’t see it, so I waited here specifically.”

Si Jiamo took it: “What is this?”

He Ming: “It’s from Sister Chi.”