Chapter 15: Taste

Around six in the evening, while Shen Zhansi was gathering information with Su Bao and the others, she suddenly heard footsteps that sounded like Yan Qingye’s. Without taking time to confirm, she quickly stuffed the papers filled with various notes into Su Bao’s bag, gave them a meaningful look, and immediately pretended to be engaged in casual conversation.

When Yan Qingye pushed the door open, she saw three women inside. Shen Zhansi sat obediently on the hospital bed, while Su Bao and another gentle-looking woman each pulled up a chair beside the bed, chatting happily.

Pausing briefly, Yan Qingye offered them a faint smile.

“What brings you here? Weren’t you supposed to be shooting material out of town?” she asked, directing her gaze at Su Bao.

Su Bao beamed at her. “We finished early. When I heard Shen Zhansi was injured, I rushed back to check on her.”

Yan Qingye chuckled lightly, then nodded slightly at the gentle woman. “Miss Yun, I didn’t expect you to come.”

The woman addressed as Miss Yun was Yun Shu, Su Bao’s beloved senior, now working at a television station.

Yun Shu stood up and shook hands with Yan Qingye, smiling softly. “I happened to be on leave today. When Su Bao mentioned she was here, I thought I’d drop by unannounced.”

Shen Zhansi watched them exchange pleasantries, observing Yan Qingye’s flawless demeanor, her heart filled with indescribable emotions.

After learning she was just a Substitute, her feelings toward Yan Qingye had become complicated. She had once believed Yan Qingye saw her as someone special, only to realize now that it had all been her own wishful thinking.

Because she secretly liked her, she had paid careful attention to her every move, unconsciously magnifying every gesture in search of proof that she was different. Had this led her to delude herself?

Now, every time she faced Yan Qingye, Shen Zhansi felt as though she was being seen through—as if Yan Qingye was looking at someone else.

Someone she could never measure up to or replace.

And she didn’t want to be anyone’s substitute.

She was herself—Shen Zhansi, not a reflection of someone else.

Su Bao cautiously chatted with Yan Qingye, afraid she might notice something amiss. Then, taking Yun Shu’s hand, she said, “Yan Yan, my senior and I made plans to check out that new French restaurant. We’ll be heading out now.”

Hearing this, Yun Shu also politely excused herself.

“Alright, have fun,” Yan Qingye replied with a smile.

Su Bao waved at Shen Zhansi. “We’ll get going now. We’ll visit again when we have time.”

Shen Zhansi smiled and waved goodbye.

Once they left the ward and were far enough away to avoid being overheard, Yun Shu chuckled and asked, “When did we agree to visit a French restaurant?”

Su Bao’s cheeks flushed slightly as she boldly looped her arm through Yun Shu’s, her voice lacking conviction. “Well, you know now, so it’s not too late. So, are we going or not?”

Yun Shu laughed softly, letting herself be led along. “Of course we are.”

…

Back in the ward, Yan Qingye watched Shen Zhansi silently reading with an indifferent gaze, her voice cool as she asked, “What were you talking about?”

Holding a book and trying to put on airs to divert attention, Shen Zhansi paused slightly at her fingertips when she heard her words. A stifled anger accumulated in her chest, and even after taking a deep breath, her tone remained somewhat cold. “What could we talk about? Just about the injuries, why I got beaten, and who did it.”

By the end, Shen Zhansi’s tone had also turned sullen, as if she really deserved to be beaten.

Her attitude and tone made Yan Qingye pause for a moment, as if finally taking a proper look at her, her gaze lingering deeply for a few seconds.

She didn’t press further, but Shen Zhansi found her reaction unusual. Raising her head to scrutinize her, she finally noticed something off about her expression.

Did she actually look even more exhausted than she had at noon?

Was work really that busy and tiring?

“If you’re busy, you don’t have to come to the hospital. Just rest properly at home,” Shen Zhansi said with a slight frown, genuinely unable to understand her logic. Was maintaining the facade of a harmonious relationship in the eyes of outsiders really more important than her own health?

“Don’t meddle in things you shouldn’t,” Yan Qingye replied indifferently.

Hiss—

A surge of anger rushed to Shen Zhansi’s head, but seeing Yan Qingye’s cold, weary expression, she couldn’t vent it, leaving her unbearably frustrated.

“Chu Zhi came by today too, but I don’t know why she was here. She left quickly,” Shen Zhansi said stiffly.

She hadn’t planned to hide Chu Zhi’s visit. She felt keeping it from Yan Qingye wouldn’t end well—if Yan Qingye found out later, it would likely cause trouble.

At the mention of Chu Zhi’s name, Yan Qingye’s eyes flickered slightly. She responded casually before walking straight to the window, opening it to let in some fresh air.

“Don’t—there are mosquitoes,” Shen Zhansi protested.

Without turning around, Yan Qingye pulled the screen across, eliminating any possibility of mosquitoes.

Shen Zhansi: “…”

Fine. She was being dumb.

Soon after, Yan Qingye’s phone buzzed. Glancing at it, she opened the door with an indifferent expression and took dinner from the bodyguard outside.

Watching her bring in the food and carefully arrange it on the table, Shen Zhansi felt a sudden daze as she observed Yan Qingye bending over, focused on the task.

If she really saw her as a substitute, why was she doing so much for her?

Sitting down at the table, Shen Zhansi’s eyes widened slightly at the dishes laid out.

They were all her favorites.

Her gaze unconsciously landed on the scrambled eggs with tomatoes before lifting to look at Yan Qingye again.

Yan Qingye’s expression remained unchanged as she sat down across from her, picking up a bite of stir-fried greens and eating slowly.

Shen Zhansi’s first bite went to the scrambled eggs with tomatoes. After tasting it, her eyes widened slightly.

It was salty.

Suddenly, her nose tingled, her eyes dry at first, then gradually moistening.

Salty—just how she liked it.

Staring at Yan Qingye’s indifferent features, Shen Zhansi gripped her chopsticks, emotions surging inside her.

She truly didn’t understand Yan Qingye anymore.

Scrambled eggs with tomatoes—Yan Qingye preferred them sweet, yet she had brought back the salty version. Wasn’t that just to accommodate her taste?

“Yan Qingye,” she called out.

Yan Qingye picked up a bite of egg with her chopsticks, showing no intention of responding to her, yet the aura around her clearly signaled that she should speak up quickly if she had something to say.

Shen Zhansi swallowed slowly, her voice slightly hoarse as she asked, “Do you like me?”

Ding—

The sound of chopsticks accidentally tapping the edge of the bowl amplified endlessly in Shen Zhansi’s ears.

She seemed startled, her body trembling involuntarily.

—