After We Broke Up, She Started Pursuing Me [Entertainment Industry] 60

Chapter 60

Choosing this scene was not just to highlight the difference between her and the previous two; Shi Qin also had her own selfish reasons.

Although they hadn’t met many times, Lu Xing had a deep impression of her. Perhaps it was because of her glamorous looks, or perhaps because of her face that resembled a certain someone…

At this moment, seeing her walk over, Lu Xing asked, “Are you ready?”

Shi Qin smiled and nodded, politely saying, “May I make a request?”

Lu Xing paused for a second, then nodded. “Go ahead.”

“I need another teacher to help me with this scene. What do you think, Director Lu?”

The scenes of the previous two were just a single shot. The female lead, Chen Jiaohua, had no lines; it was more like Jiang Han’s personal catharsis.

But in this scene with her father, Jiang Han’s emotions were constantly escalating during the argument, finally erupting. So, it was only natural that Shi Qin needed another actor to play against.

But the actor playing the father was not on set today, and they couldn’t just find someone random to fill in.

Lu Xing thought for a moment, then took the script from Shi Qin’s hand. “I’ll do it. You just stand in front. This scene is mainly about your emotional change.”

Shi Qin was waiting for him to say that.

She returned to the center of the empty space on the set, surrounded by many staff members. Lu Xing sat on a stool in the very front, his brow furrowed as he looked at the script, getting into character.

In the film, Jiang Han’s situation at this moment was extremely painful, her heart tormented by multiple things.

Not only had she been abandoned by her lover, but she was also being cursed by the neighbors, and her father didn’t understand her.

Shi Qin closed her eyes, took a few deep breaths, and imagined herself as Jiang Han, such a tragic person, now not only trying to get her father’s forgiveness but also defending herself.

Lu Xing looked at her and said in a muffled voice, “Jiang Han, do you know what shame is?”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I’m ashamed of what you’ve done!”

Lu Xing’s roar stunned everyone present.

He had been behind the scenes for many years, and some people might have forgotten that he was once an excellent actor.

Seeing her father’s fury, Jiang Han’s heart ached as if it were being twisted.

She could turn a deaf ear to everyone else’s misunderstandings, but this was her father, the closest person to her since she was a child.

His words were like a sharp blade, stabbing fiercely into her heart, more painful than the curses of thousands of people.

Jiang Han’s eyes were red. Her thin body stood there, as if a gust of wind could blow her away.

Her voice trembled as she asked with the same confusion, “What did I do? What on earth did I do?”

“I just want to help you get better. Am I wrong? Seeing you say you’re uncomfortable here and there every day, I’m uncomfortable too. What did I do wrong?”

“It’s fine if other people curse me, but you have to be like this too?”

Jiang Han looked at her father, her whole body trembling due to the emotional turmoil.

Her father looked at her coldly and said angrily, “I don’t need the money you got from selling yourself!”

“Even if I die, I don’t need you to do this! It’s a disgrace! Are you worthy of me? Are you worthy of your mother in heaven?”

Hearing this, Jiang Han’s heart felt as if it had been torn open. A look of disbelief appeared on her previously calm face.

“How am I not worthy? How am I not worthy? Is it wrong for me to want you to be well!”

Her father ignored her and snorted coldly. “And you sold yourself to a woman. Jiang Han, you really have no shame!”

In that era, homosexuality was still a very taboo subject. And Jiang Han’s father had received a traditional education since he was a child. For such a thing to happen in his own family, he felt as if the sky had fallen.

Jiang Han’s sore spot had been poked. Her whole body was instantly filled with rage. Her originally pale little face was now flushed red from the rush of blood.

“What’s wrong with a woman! At least she cared about me, made me feel that someone still cared about me, made me feel that life was meaningful!”

“What about you two? You gave birth to me and then ignored me. I work several part-time jobs every day, working myself to death to pay for your treatment. Have you ever asked me once? Have you ever asked me what I want, have you ever understood me?”

“You never have.”

The tears Jiang Han had been holding back finally fell. She took a breath, her entire chest trembling violently.

She looked at her father, disappointed and heartbroken. “Dad… if you think I’m a burden, then why did you give birth to me?”

At this moment, Shi Qin was already in character. It was hard to tell if these words were spoken by Jiang Han or by herself. Perhaps, at this moment, they had become one.

Everyone present was moved. They had originally thought that Shi Qin was just a “flower vase” here to put on a show, but they hadn’t expected her to have some real talent.

Lu Xing was also taken aback by her words.

He looked at the face of the person before him. When she had called out that address, his heart had suddenly clenched, and his expression became dazed.

And Shi Qin was the first to compose herself. She lowered her head, wiped the tears from her face, and walked up to Lu Xing.

“It’s over, Director Lu.”

Lu Xing’s thoughts returned. Realizing his momentary loss of composure, the corners of his straight lips curved into a very faint smile.

“You acted very well. Your understanding of the character is correct.”

Shi Qin forced a smile. Perhaps because she had resonated with the character, she didn’t really want to talk to Lu Xing anymore at this moment. That physiological revulsion welled up in her heart again.

She replied in a low voice, “Thank you, Director.”

Lu Xing stood up, sized her up, and then nodded. “Just go back and wait for the notice.”

Then, as if joking unintentionally, he added, “I feel like I’ve taken advantage of you, being your dad, having such a beautiful daughter.”

Hearing this, Shi Qin sneered inwardly and asked, “How so? Doesn’t Director Lu have a daughter?”

The smile on Lu Xing’s face froze for a moment. Then, he looked at her quietly and said with a faint smile, “No.”

No.

Heh…

Shi Qin couldn’t describe what she was feeling. She had thought that after so long, her heart was strong enough to be impenetrable.

She hadn’t expected that the moment she heard this person admit it with his own mouth, the tip of her heart would still be pierced with a sour, numb pain.

Lu Xing observed her expression. Seeing no change on her face, he didn’t say much more.

Shi Qin tried her best to remain polite. After a simple farewell, she walked straight back.

.

On the way back in the car, Mo Li tactfully gave the driver’s seat to Zhou Jinsi. She didn’t want to be a third wheel.

Halfway there, Zhou Jinsi glanced at the person beside her again. It seemed that since the audition, she had been in a gloomy mood.

Stopping at a red light, she took the initiative to hold Shi Qin’s hand and asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”

“Mhm?” Shi Qin came back to her senses and looked at her.

“Are you in a bad mood?” Zhou Jinsi leaned closer and asked cautiously.

Shi Qin forced a smile and shook her head.

Seeing this, Zhou Jinsi knew she didn’t want to talk much, so she didn’t ask anymore and drove back to the apartment in silence.

After parking the car, Zhou Jinsi unbuckled her seatbelt and looked at the person beside her again.

She had rarely seen Shi Qin so silent. Seeing her like this now, her own heart also felt uneasy.

“If there’s anything you’re unhappy about, if you want to talk, you can tell me anytime, okay?”

Shi Qin looked up at her clear eyes. The bitterness in her heart, which she had thought would pass if she just endured it, now surged up at her comforting words.

She wrapped her arms around Zhou Jinsi’s waist and leaned in, resting her head on her shoulder and neck, breathing in her cool scent, faint and pleasant.

“Just let me hug you.”

Hearing her soft, sweet voice, Zhou Jinsi’s heart felt like it had sunk into a marshmallow, incredibly soft.

She hugged the person in her arms back and kissed her ear.

“Are you in a bad mood?”

“Mhm,” Shi Qin replied with a long, lazy hum.

“I ran into someone who made me unhappy.”

Zhou Jinsi stroked her hair and asked patiently, “Who?”

“It’s not important. Anyway, just seeing him makes me unhappy.”

Hearing her intentionally evasive words, Zhou Jinsi couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

Since she had learned about the welfare institute, Zhou Jinsi understood that there was a part of Shi Qin’s heart that she kept hidden. Perhaps only the closest people could get near, and only then would she be willing to open up completely.

Zhou Jinsi knew that they hadn’t been together for long, and she didn’t expect Shi Qin to completely open up to her. But she still held a small expectation.

Unfortunately, that expectation was now dashed.

Zhou Jinsi’s eyes dimmed, and she finally closed them.

She held Shi Qin, kissing her forehead, forcing herself not to let her mind wander.

It’s enough that she’s by my side. One must be content.

.

These few days, due to school requirements, Zhou Jinsi couldn’t be idle even during her vacation. She was busy reviewing past gaokao (the national college entrance exam) questions and looking for related question types in the question bank so that she could prepare test papers as soon as school started.

And Shi Qin, having successfully landed the role, had joined the cast the next day to study and perfect her character.

It should have been a period of passionate love, but the two of them were each busy with their own things.

This afternoon, taking advantage of a break, Zhou Jinsi was at home, chatting on the phone.

“What are you doing?”

On the other end of the phone, Shi Qin said with a deliberately charming voice, “I’m taking a shower. How about we have a video call?”

Hearing this, Zhou Jinsi’s heart skipped a beat. Her mind wandered for a few seconds before she said, “Are you getting dressed? I don’t hear any water.”

Shi Qin chuckled lightly and chided, “I was lying to you. Why would I be taking a shower in the middle of the day?”

“You really wanted to have a video call, didn’t you? You’ve gone bad, you little rogue.”

She had said everything. Zhou Jinsi had no chance to argue and was left speechless.

She remembered that time at the hotel, the way Shi Qin had whimpered and begged for mercy beneath her, and now her aggressive demeanor. They were like two different people.

Unconvinced, Zhou Jinsi retorted, “Is that so roguish? It’s not like I haven’t seen it before.”

I’ve even done it.

Shi Qin was clearly surprised. “You’re even talking back now. You really have gone bad.”

Just as the two of them were being all lovey-dovey, a knock came on the door—

“Xiao Si, can Mommy come in?”

Zhou Jinsi was startled. Lin Qing rarely came to her bedroom suddenly. It must be something important.

She quickly hid her phone under the quilt and replied, “Oh, you can.”

Lin Qing came in and saw Zhou Jinsi sitting on the bed with a serious expression.

“What’s wrong?” Zhou Jinsi stared at her, afraid she would see the phone under the quilt.

Lin Qing sat down beside her, thought for a moment, and then asked, “Xiao Si, let me ask you, do you have someone you like now?”

“Huh?” Zhou Jinsi was completely surprised, not expecting her to ask this.

What followed was panic. She lowered her eyes and said no more.

Lin Qing thought she was just too shy to talk about this topic, so she went straight to the point. “It’s nothing. Mommy just wants to chat with you.”

“If you have someone you like, you can tell Dad and me. We’ll help you take a look. If not…”

Zhou Jinsi looked at her, waiting for her next words.

Lin Qing smiled and said, “If not, then in two days, at your Auntie Chen’s dinner party, her son will also be there. You two used to play together when you were little. you might have forgotten now.”

“He just came back from abroad and is preparing to take over his dad’s company. He’s also very good-looking, and most importantly, he’s tall, almost 1.9 meters. He’d be a good match for you. You two can get to know each other then.”

Fearing her daughter would be unwilling, Lin Qing added, “Of course, this matter is mainly up to you. You can only be happy if you like him.”

Zhou Jinsi looked at her with a troubled expression. After a moment of silence, she finally frowned and said, “Mom…”

“How about this? You can just be friends. It’s good to have more connections. I’ve already told Auntie Wang.”

Looking at the expectant look on Lin Qing’s face, Zhou Jinsi really couldn’t bear to refuse. Lin Qing had always doted on her since she was little.

After she agreed, Lin Qing left happily.

Zhou Jinsi’s heart was complicated. She picked up the phone under the quilt and saw that Shi Qin hadn’t hung up yet.

“Are you still there?”

She heard Shi Qin sigh softly and ask, “Is Auntie trying to set you up on a blind date?”

Zhou Jinsi explained anxiously, “No, it’s just a dinner party…”

“So you agreed?”

Zhou Jinsi was at a loss for words, stunned for two seconds.

“My mom has already made plans with someone else. It wouldn’t be right for me to refuse… and it’s just getting to know each other. I definitely won’t have any in-depth conversations.”

Seeing no response, Zhou Jinsi was afraid. She said weakly, “Don’t overthink it…”

“I’m not overthinking it.”

That voice held a hint of coldness. Zhou Jinsi could feel that she seemed to be angry.

But she was also in a difficult position with this matter. She couldn’t very well embarrass Lin Qing, especially if it involved some business cooperation. She couldn’t just follow her heart.

“I’m fine. I believe you.”

That tone was faint, with no discernible emotion.

Zhou Jinsi relaxed a little. “Mhm…”

“Then I’ll go get busy now. We’ll talk after I’m done. I’m hanging up first.”

Before Zhou Jinsi could say anything, the other party had already hung up.

Zhou Jinsi stared at her phone, stunned. They couldn’t see each other, so she didn’t know what state she was in right now.

.

An afternoon passed, and Shi Qin didn’t send her any more messages.

Zhou Jinsi waited and waited, afraid of disturbing her if she was busy, yet also hoping she would take the initiative to send a message.

After much hesitation, Zhou Jinsi finally sent a message.

: Have you eaten?

The other side replied in a second.

: Eaten. You?

: I’ve eaten too.

: Okay.

The messages stopped there.

Zhou Jinsi looked at this slightly awkward conversation, feeling more and more annoyed.

She felt as if something were stuck in her heart, so full it was uncomfortable, yet she couldn’t release it.

She spent several hours in this sullen mood. It was as if the two of them were in a silent standoff. If the other didn’t send a message, she wouldn’t either.

Finally, in the evening, Zhou Jinsi couldn’t take it anymore.

It had taken so much for the two of them to clear up their previous misunderstanding. She didn’t want a new misunderstanding to arise and affect their relationship.

She stood on the balcony, letting the wind blow, and directly called her.

The phone rang for a long time before it was finally answered.

Zhou Jinsi apologized anxiously, “I’m sorry. Don’t be unhappy, okay?”

The other party was silent. Zhou Jinsi asked again, “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you talking?”

“…She’s drunk. Are you coming?”

Zhou Jinsi froze on the spot. She felt as if her whole body had turned to stone.

The voice coming from the other end of the phone was Ji Chen’s.

Why did she answer the phone? Where’s Shi Qin?