After We Broke Up, She Started Pursuing Me [Entertainment Industry] 16

Chapter 16

The direct words had long since thrown Zhou Jinsi’s heart into chaos. She didn’t know how to respond; she had never been good at expressing her feelings.

So, Zhou Jinsi habitually chose silence, her gaze drifting to another spot, her lips pressed into a tight line.

Fortunately, Shi Qin didn’t say anything more. She just stared at her for a few seconds, the curve of her lips becoming even more pronounced, before she took her script and walked past Zhou Jinsi.

Zhou Jinsi’s gaze silently followed her figure until she disappeared into the dressing room. Only then did she retract her gaze, turning to look at the spot where Shi Qin had just stood, lost in a daze, a complicated mix of emotions appearing in her eyes.

For the rest of the time, Shi Qin was busy filming on set, while Zhou Jinsi returned to the dressing room and started looking at the lesson plans on her phone. The two of them were each busy with their own things and didn’t exchange many words.

This, however, was a relief for Zhou Jinsi. At least she hadn’t figured out how to respond to what Shi Qin had said that morning. Or perhaps, she hadn’t figured out what her own true feelings were.

The most difficult question in the world was not any of the ones found in books. No matter how hard an objective question was, an answer could always be found.

But feelings were different. In matters of the heart, what could be considered a standard answer?

Half the day passed just like that. It wasn’t until evening, after Shi Qin had removed her makeup, that she returned to the dressing room. Perhaps because she had woken up early, she was tired after a long day. She had Zhou Jinsi drive her back to the hotel she had booked nearby.

Just as she was about to get out of the car, Shi Qin didn’t forget to ask, “You have a date tonight?”

A thought stirred in Zhou Jinsi’s mind. She gave a faint “mhm” in response.

Shi Qin: “Oh… with Lin Qi?”

Zhou Jinsi was surprised that she still remembered Lin Qi was her friend, but she didn’t show it, only shaking her head.

“No, she’s been busy lately too…”

The air fell silent for a moment. Zhou Jinsi then added, “It’s not really a date… it’s work.”

Shi Qin still didn’t reply. Zhou Jinsi couldn’t help but turn to look at her. She saw her elegant profile and the smile lingering on her lips, though Zhou Jinsi didn’t know where that smile came from.

.

After dropping Shi Qin off, Zhou Jinsi went straight to Shi Hua’s home.

Shi Hua lived in a high-end residential complex with a nice environment. Zhou Jinsi took the elevator up and rang the doorbell. The person who opened the door was Shi Hua.

“Good evening, Teacher Zhou.” The girl was still in casual pajamas and greeted Zhou Jinsi a little shyly.

“Good evening.”

After changing into slippers, Zhou Jinsi followed Shi Hua to her room, her eyes constantly scanning the surroundings along the way.

It seemed… Shi Hua was here alone?

After sitting down in the room, Zhou Jinsi took out the study materials from her bag and handed them to Shi Hua, while asking with some curiosity, “Are you home alone?”

Shi Hua nodded. “My parents don’t usually come back this early.”

Zhou Jinsi acknowledged this and didn’t ask further. After all, it was normal for parents to work late. But Shi Hua seemed to have something to say, her eyes fixed on her.

Zhou Jinsi: “What is it?”

Shi Hua: “Teacher, do you and my sister know each other?”

Zhou Jinsi paused. How had the topic suddenly shifted to Shi Qin? But she still nodded.

Young children are always very curious. Shi Hua couldn’t help but ask again, “Are you her friend then?”

Zhou Jinsi didn’t answer directly. She glanced at the girl, whose eyes were filled with innocence.

“Mhm, we were… schoolmates before.”

Shi Hua nodded thoughtfully, looked at Zhou Jinsi, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

“Teacher, you and my sister must have a good relationship, right?”

Zhou Jinsi was at a loss for words again. She had never realized that beneath Shi Hua’s quiet exterior hid such a gossipy heart.

“Why do you ask?”

“My sister said she doesn’t have many friends… and that day, she was in a real hurry to find you. I’ve never seen her be so proactive before.”

Shi Hua’s words made Zhou Jinsi freeze.

Because this didn’t match her memory of Shi Qin at all.

In Zhou Jinsi’s memory, since high school, Shi Qin had never lacked for people around her. It was even more so in college. Back then, it was precisely because there were always so many people around her that Zhou Jinsi never dared to approach, feeling she didn’t fit in.

A faint doubt surfaced in her heart, but Zhou Jinsi didn’t pursue the topic. After taking out the materials, she first had Shi Hua do a practice test she had prepared herself.

After a while, there seemed to be a noise from the living room. Zhou Jinsi subconsciously looked up. Just then, there was a knock on the door.

“Hua Hua~”

The moment the door opened, both Zhou Jinsi and Shi Qin froze, a smile still lingering on Shi Qin’s face.

Zhou Jinsi glanced back at Shi Hua. As expected, the child was looking at them with curious eyes.

“Focus on your test. The teacher will come over to grade it in a bit. With your ability, you should be able to get a perfect score.”

After instructing Shi Hua, Zhou Jinsi closed the door. She knew Shi Qin had questions, and she was also afraid their conversation would disturb Shi Hua.

Zhou Jinsi parted her lips. “Weren’t you going back to the hotel?”

Shi Qin raised an eyebrow and retorted, “From your tone, it sounds like you don’t really want to see me here.”

There she goes again, deliberately twisting my words.

Zhou Jinsi explained helplessly, “Don’t misunderstand. I just didn’t expect you to come.”

Shi Qin leaned against the corner of the wall with her arms crossed, her gaze sweeping over Zhou Jinsi from head to toe. Indoors, Zhou Jinsi had taken off her coat. Not only was she tall, but her body proportions were also good, so even loose-fitting clothes didn’t make her legs look short.

Her figure is quite good, just a bit too thin. She needs to eat more to fill out…

Shi Qin mentally gave her figure a score. Zhou Jinsi watched her staring off into space, unsure of what she was thinking, so she had no choice but to turn back and prepare to open the door and go in.

“I’ll go in with you,” Shi Qin suddenly said from behind her.

Zhou Jinsi was confused. “I’m tutoring your sister.”

Shi Qin looked at her with a matter-of-fact expression. “So I’m concerned about my sister’s studies. Is that not allowed?”

With that, before Zhou Jinsi could react, Shi Qin opened the door and went in first. Zhou Jinsi sighed softly and followed.

“Big Sis!” Seeing Shi Qin, the smile on Shi Hua’s face was irrepressible.

Shi Qin raised her index finger in a “shush” gesture, signaling for her to be quiet. Then, she sat down on the bed to the side and watched Shi Hua silently.

Zhou Jinsi glanced at her. Shi Qin’s gaze remained on Shi Hua. She pursed her lips and sat down to grade the test paper Shi Hua had already finished.

“Very good. All correct.”

After grading it, Zhou Jinsi gave Shi Hua a gratified smile. Shi Hua smiled back and glanced at Shi Qin, who gave her a gentle, eye-crinkling smile in return.

Zhou Jinsi noticed this as well, and very unprofessionally, she zoned out for a moment.

This kind of gentleness felt different. It wasn’t that she hadn’t seen Shi Qin be gentle with others before, but Zhou Jinsi couldn’t quite describe where this difference came from.

The words Shi Hua had said suddenly echoed in her mind.

“My sister said she doesn’t have many friends…”

Which you is the real you…

She once thought she knew what kind of person Shi Qin was, but now she realized that, perhaps from the very beginning, she had never truly entered her heart to understand her.

…

“Alright, let’s stop here for today. By the way, the questions I left for you are a bit difficult. You can take your time to think about them, no rush. When you’re done, bring the answers and come find me in the office.”

Time flew by. Zhou Jinsi packed up the materials on the table as she spoke to Shi Hua.

This child was gifted and hardworking. If she continued to study well, her future would certainly be bright. It was just that her personality was completely different from her sister’s.

Thinking of Shi Qin, Zhou Jinsi glanced at the side of the bed. Shi Qin was gone. She didn’t know when she had quietly left, without making a sound.

Shi Hua obediently agreed, “Okay, goodbye, Teacher.”
“Mhm.”

Opening the door, Zhou Jinsi found the living room was completely dark. No one had turned on the lights. Only a faint glimmer from outside cast a weak light on the floor. She didn’t know where Shi Qin had gone. Zhou Jinsi couldn’t help but frown.

Looking at Shi Hua, who had followed her out, Zhou Jinsi asked, “It’s so late. Your parents aren’t back yet?”

Shi Hua explained in a low voice, “My dad just messaged me. He said they might be back very late…”

Zhou Jinsi’s frown deepened. Very late?

She looked at the sky outside, then at the time on her phone. It was past eight, long past dinnertime. Any later, and it would be the middle of the night.

Zhou Jinsi sighed softly. After Shi Hua went over and turned on the living room lights, she looked at the somewhat small and thin girl before her and asked with concern, “Have you eaten then?”

Shi Hua shook her head.
“I usually just order takeout.”

Hearing this, Zhou Jinsi’s heart softened even more. It was her first time being a teacher, and she saw her students as her own younger siblings. At this moment, her gaze toward Shi Hua was filled with a touch of pity.

After a moment of thought, she sighed inwardly and decided to stay. After all, cooking a bowl of noodles wouldn’t take too much time.

“You should have some noodles at home, right?”

Shi Hua didn’t know what she was planning to do and nodded blankly.

Zhou Jinsi: “Are there any other ingredients in the fridge?”
Shi Hua thought for a moment. “There should be some eggs… What’s wrong, Teacher…?”

Zhou Jinsi opened the fridge, took out a few eggs, and said as she walked, “Eating takeout all the time isn’t good for you. I’ll cook some egg noodles. It won’t take long.”

Shi Hua watched Zhou Jinsi busy herself, at a loss for words for a moment, not knowing how to express the gratitude in her heart. She could only say blankly, “Thank you, Teacher…”

As Zhou Jinsi cooked the noodles in the kitchen, Shi Hua stood beside her, watching. After a while, she couldn’t help but murmur, “Teacher, you’re so nice…”

Zhou Jinsi just smiled faintly and asked, “Do your parents always come home late?”

Shi Hua: “Mhm… they’re very busy with work.”

Zhou Jinsi didn’t speak. On a whim, she asked another question, “So… was it like this with you and your sister before?”

“Mhm… because my parents could rarely make it back in time to cook, sometimes my sister would buy me food from outside.”

Zhou Jinsi fell silent, a mix of emotions churning inside her, unable to describe the feeling. After a long moment, she asked, “Where is your sister’s room?”

…

The room was pitch black. No one had turned on the lights. Shi Qin didn’t like to turn on the lights either; it seemed that sometimes, being in the dark was more relaxing than being in the light.

Shi Qin’s gaze was scattered as she looked out the window, with no particular focus.

She exhaled, and smoke swirled before her eyes. The smell of nicotine brought a rare calm to her, allowing her to think about some things.

The room was very dark, making the light from her phone screen very harsh, but Shi Qin didn’t seem to mind.

She looked at the chat interface on her phone. The other person had sent her a message.

: Some things don’t yield results just because you persist. Besides, so many years have passed.

Shi Qin: But I’ve already come this far.

If I’m going to take this step, I have to see it through to the end…

: Then let’s find a time in the next few days to meet and talk.

The screen went dark. Shi Qin narrowed her eyes. The slender woman’s cigarette held between her long fingers was brought to her lips again, and she took a light drag.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. She turned her head to look.

“Who is it?”

The door opened. Against the light, Zhou Jinsi’s slightly stunned expression was vaguely visible. Shi Qin didn’t speak. The two of them just looked at each other for a while.

Zhou Jinsi lowered her eyes slightly, hesitating to speak. After a long moment, she said softly, “Come out and eat the noodles.”