Chapter 54: Let’s Not Bring Up the Past

As Su Jinshi entered, Du Jinze looked behind her and asked with a teasing smile, “Jinshi, you really didn’t bring your boyfriend?”

“Spring Festival tickets are hard to get. He took leave early to go home,” Su Jinshi explained with a faint smile.

“What kind of job allows him such a long leave?” Kang Youwen asked curiously.

Su Jinshi hesitated. Shen Shilang… was he still considered a student? He’d only become a civil servant after passing the imperial examination next year, right? Although she was certain he would pass, he hadn’t taken the exam yet.

After some thought, Su Jinshi replied, “He’s still a student.”

“A student? Jinshi, are you dating a younger man?” Lu Jiaying asked with interest.

Though such relationships weren’t uncommon these days, Su Jinshi was only 24. Having a boyfriend who was younger and still a student seemed somewhat immature.

Su Jinshi shook her head. “He’s the same age as me.”

“Oh, so he’s in graduate school,” Kang Youwen deduced.

Su Jinshi nodded vaguely. That was close enough.

“He’s in grad school, not working yet, no income. You’re not supporting him, are you?” Du Jinze probed. “I know you earn well from your screenplays, but supporting a boyfriend isn’t quite right.”

“Yeah, be careful not to get taken advantage of,” Kang Youwen added. “If you give too much, he might just walk away when he’s had enough.”

Su Jinshi smiled. “We handle our own finances separately.”

Though she did spend money on Shen Shilang, it was mostly for necessities. Since changing stewards, his meals had improved; she no longer needed to buy him food. Mostly, she bought props for tasks and communication boxes to stay in touch with him.

Reflecting on this, Su Jinshi felt she hadn’t been caring enough for Shen Shilang. She should buy him more things he needed.

Kang Youwen shook his head. “Regardless, him being a student makes him seem unreliable. How many more years of study? If he keeps going indefinitely, are you planning to support him forever?”

Su Jinshi raised an eyebrow. “I believe I just said we handle our own finances. I’m not supporting him.”

“Besides,” Su Jinshi added with a smile, “didn’t you date in college? Back then, neither you nor your girlfriend had money, but you got along fine, didn’t you?”

“Jinshi!” Kang Youwen’s face changed as he nervously glanced at his girlfriend beside him. His college girlfriend had broken up with him before graduation; this one he met after starting work.

Sure enough, Kang Youwen’s girlfriend looked displeased.

Kang Youwen pleaded with Su Jinshi, rubbing his hands together, “Let’s not bring up past matters, shall we?”

Su Jinshi chuckled. “Alright, if you don’t mention it, I won’t either.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll drop it,” Kang Youwen said helplessly. He had originally intended to help Mo Jizong probe into Su Jinshi’s feelings, but ended up digging himself into a hole instead.

Su Jinshi, who used to seem quiet and reserved, had suddenly become so sharp and quick-witted.

Su Jinshi mused that in the past, she wouldn’t have reacted so quickly with a comeback. She really had learned to be quick-witted from spending time with Shen Shilang.

“Jinshi, everyone’s just concerned about you, afraid you might be deceived,” Mo Jizong said.

“Exactly,” Du Jinze added. “I’ve noticed your personality has changed lately. You weren’t this assertive before.”

Su Jinshi smiled and replied, “If I remember correctly, the purpose of today’s gathering was because we’re all going home for the New Year, so we wanted to meet up. It wasn’t to scrutinize my love life, was it?”

“My relationship with my boyfriend is great. He’s never cheated me out of money, nor does he need me to support him,” Su Jinshi stated firmly. “You don’t need to worry.”

“Why don’t you worry about me instead?” Xiaomai chimed in. “I’m single. Don’t you coupled-up folks love to tease singles the most?”

Lu Jiaying pursed her lips and said, “Several of us are struggling in the capital. Except for Jinshi and Jizong whose families are here, the rest of us are far from home. Over the years, we’ve kept in touch and looked out for each other. Jinshi especially has helped us a lot, and our friendships have deepened. But no matter how close we are, we shouldn’t meddle in others’ relationships.”

“People are like water—they know for themselves whether it’s warm or cold.” Lu Jiaying said, glancing at Mo Jizong.

She knew Du Jinze and Kang Youwen were acting on Mo Jizong’s order. Otherwise, no one would have bothered to interfere in Su Jinshi’s love life. But Mo Jizong’s behavior was undoubtedly affecting the friendship they had built over the years.

Lu Jiaying didn’t appreciate Mo Jizong’s approach. If he liked Su Jinshi, he should pursue her himself. If unsuccessful, he should gracefully step back instead of being overly persistent. It was no wonder Su Jinshi disliked it.

Su Jinshi gratefully looked at Xiaomai and Lu Jiaying. She had expected Lu Jiaying to side with Mo Jizong but was pleasantly surprised by her words.

Su Jinshi smiled at Lu Jiaying, silently mouthing “thank you”.

Lu Jiaying smiled back and shook her head.

“Alright, we’ve overstepped,” Du Jinze said. “Let’s drop this topic. Jinshi, don’t be upset. We won’t ask about it anymore.”

“Sorry about that,” Kang Youwen added, clasping his hands together apologetically toward Su Jinshi.

Du Jinze privately messaged Mo Jizong: “Jizong, sorry, but I can’t help any further.”

Kang Youwen sent a similar message.

Mo Jizong replied: “It’s fine.”

“Okay, let’s not talk about this anymore,” Mo Jizong said aloud. “But everyone is curious. Jinshi, you don’t need to be so secretive about your boyfriend. Sooner or later, you’ll have to introduce him to us.”

Su Jinshi rested her chin on her hand, her elbow propped on the round table, thinking idly that whether Shen Shilang needed to meet people was none of his business, but Mo Jizong was really acting like a nuisance.

Throughout the meal, Mo Jizong kept steering the conversation towards Su Jinshi’s boyfriend, trying to glean more specific information about Shen Shilang, but Su Jinshi deflected every attempt.

What Su Jinshi didn’t realise was that her evasiveness made Mo Jizong believe she didn’t actually have a boyfriend and was just using it as an excuse. Even if she did have one, he thought, he must be unremarkable since she couldn’t provide clear answers about him.

This gathering was pure torture for Su Jinshi.

Eventually, unable to bear it any longer and wanting to check on Shen Shilang, she stood up, saying she needed to use the restroom.

Xiaomai and Lu Jiaying also stood up, saying, “We’ll go with you.”

Even after graduating and starting work, they couldn’t break the habit of going to the restroom together.