Chapter 22

Even Li Yuwei didn’t know that after Sheng Qingli and Pei Qingci broke up for a while, Pei Qingci had sought her out.

This matter was known only to Sheng Qingli and Lin Lin, who was present at the time.

Recalling it was too painful, so she was unwilling to think about it, let alone mention it.

It happened a few months after their breakup when they ran into each other at a hotel.

Sheng Qingli was there for an event nearby, while Pei Qingci seemed to be just passing by, or perhaps, he had come specifically to find her.

At that time, he was terminating his contract with the company and had no work.

When Pei Qingci came to find her, Sheng Qingli had just finished the event and was preparing to return to her room.

They met in the elevator. At that moment, she wasn’t very good at hiding her emotions; she slightly pressed her lips together, trying to pretend she hadn’t seen him. But what she didn’t know was that the metal reflective doors of the elevator betrayed her careful facade countless times.

The elevator went straight to the floor where Sheng Qingli’s room was.

She didn’t realize it at first until the elevator doors opened, and only then did she belatedly look toward the person diagonally in front of her, “You… live on this floor?”

Pei Qingci paused for a moment, lowered his eyes, and replied, “No.”

He stepped out of the elevator first, his gaze directly fixed on her. His voice was very soft, yet seemed heavy, “I came to find you.”

“……”

There were quite a few artists staying at the hotel.

Sheng Qingli was momentarily stunned, wanting to say that there was nothing left to discuss between them.

But the elevator wasn’t a place for conversation. After struggling for a long time, she finally let him into her room.

At that time, Sheng Qingli hadn’t learned to hide her emotions, nor had she learned how to speak properly.

Her words were extreme and hurtful; they knew each other best, so they could easily hurt one another with the calmest and sharpest language.

After that day, Pei Qingci never sought her out again.

And she and he became two lines that could never intersect. As long as there were no accidents, they wouldn’t run into each other at the same event.

……

It was for this reason that Sheng Qingli found Pei Qingci’s recent behavior strange.

She thought he despised her, even hated her. She never considered that he would seek her out again.

She wasn’t a particularly dull person and could naturally see Pei Qingci’s recent oddities.

If the Sheng Qingli from a few years ago hadn’t said those hurtful things, hadn’t uttered phrases like “I feel like being with you is hindering my development,” she would indeed think in another direction.

But she had said it, and she knew that Pei Qingci cared about that statement.

“I don’t mean to pressure you.” Lin Lin, noticing her annoyance, spoke at the right moment, “Considering your current statuses, whether you date or not, I won’t stop you.”

She looked down at Sheng Qingli and spoke softly, “But I hope you will think carefully before making any decisions.”

Her status gave Sheng Qingli more choices, but it also restricted her in certain matters.

Pulling her thoughts back, Sheng Qingli hugged a pillow and gently responded, “I know.”

She lifted her face to look at Lin Lin, forcing a smile, “Thank you, Sister Lin.”

Lin Lin glanced at her, “You are my cash cow, and I don’t want your personal matters to affect your work.”

“……” Sheng Qingli was speechless and replied helplessly, “I won’t. I’m not that willful.”

Lin Lin said, “I know you’re not willful.”

If Sheng Qingli were willful enough, she wouldn’t have broken up with Pei Qingci back then.

Thinking of this, she paused, “Li Li.”

Sheng Qingli replied, “Ah?”

“I don’t want you to be too willful, but I also know that you’ve been working hard these past few years for a reason.” Lin Lin looked at her, temporarily setting aside her professional persona to communicate, “None of the endorsement contracts we signed restrict you from dating.”

Sheng Qingli blinked lightly.

Lin Lin continued, “If you still like him and want to get back together, I’ll stand by you.”

After hearing Lin Lin’s words, Sheng Qingli was stunned for a long time, then reached out to hug her, “Sister Lin.”

She felt very touched, “I know, don’t worry. I know what I’m doing.”

Lin Lin responded, ruffling her hair, “Got it, don’t get sentimental.”

She pushed her away, “Go wash up.”

Sheng Qingli was surprised by her quick change of attitude, “I still want to—”

Before she could finish saying she wanted to lie down for a while, Lin Lin, looking slightly displeased, said, “You have a lot of hair gel in your hair; it smells a bit unpleasant.”

“What?” The beauty-conscious Sheng Qingli immediately jumped from the sofa to the carpet, “Is that true?”

She tugged at her hair and sniffed, frowning, “…… it does have a strong smell.”

It wasn’t unpleasant; it was just too overwhelming.

Lin Lin said, “Go take a shower; I’ll head back to my room.”

She would be going to Taolin County with Sheng Qingli the next day.

Thinking of this, Lin Lin asked, “…… Is Pei Qingci still taking your car back to Taolin County tomorrow?”

Sheng Qingli looked at her and shook her head, “I don’t know.”

Lin Lin glanced at her, “Why not ask?”

Sheng Qingli nodded.

---

After Lin Lin left, Sheng Qingli went into the bathroom to wash up.

She took quite a long shower, and when she came out, it was already past eleven.

Li Yuwei had sent several messages to Sheng Qingli, who picked up her phone to take a look. This person was just looking for gossip.

She replied with a meme saying “no gossiping.”

Li Yuwei: “What were you doing just now?”

Sheng Qingli: “Taking a shower.”

Li Yuwei: “…… oh.”

Sheng Qingli: “What do you think I was doing?”

Li Yuwei: “I didn’t think anything; don’t accuse me.”

Sheng Qingli ignored her.

After chatting idly for a while, Sheng Qingli recalled Lin Lin’s earlier reminder and pondered for a moment before asking, “When are you coming to visit the set?”

Li Yuwei: “Miss me?”

Sheng Qingli: “Half and half. I’ll tell you something when you come.”

Li Yuwei: “Can’t you say it on WeChat?”

Sheng Qingli: “I can’t.”

Li Yuwei: “I deeply suspect you’re trying to tease me.”

Sheng Qingli smiled slightly, “You could say that.”

Li Yuwei: “Ahhh, I’m going to urge the director to wrap up tomorrow.”

Sheng Qingli was amused by her words, her lips curling into a smile, “It’s not that urgent.”

Li Yuwei: “You’re just doing this on purpose.”

Sheng Qingli didn’t deny it.

Ending the conversation with Li Yuwei, Sheng Qingli still felt wide awake.

She exited WeChat and decided to browse Weibo to pass the time.

As soon as she logged onto Weibo, she saw news about a “familiar person,” Yin Miaojing, being reported for traveling in Europe with an unfamiliar man, suspected to be a new romance.

Sheng Qingli lingered on this topic for about three seconds before nonchalantly scrolling away.

After browsing entertainment gossip for a while, she received a text message.

At this hour, the only person who would text Sheng Qingli was Pei Qingci.

She opened it and, as expected, saw his message: “Ms. Sheng.”

Sheng Qingli looked at those three words, speechless, and replied with a question mark.

Pei Qingci: “Why are you still awake?”

Sheng Qingli replied with annoyance, “You woke me up.”

Pei Qingci: “……”

Seeing the message from Sheng Qingli, he raised his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose: “Sorry.”

Sheng Qingli: “…… What’s the matter, Pei laoshi, looking for me this late?”

Pei Qingci: “I’ll be taking Ying Zheng’s car tomorrow.”

He wanted to tell her about this; tomorrow happened to be the weekend, and Ying Zheng wasn’t in a hurry to return to the company. Since Taolin County was so close, he wanted to take a look.

Sheng Qingli was taken aback, clutching her phone and muttering, “Just what I wanted.”

Muttering to herself, Sheng Qingli expressionlessly typed three words: “Got it.”

After replying to Pei Qingci’s message, Sheng Qingli put down her phone.

She rubbed her sore eyes, forcing herself to sleep.

That night, she didn’t sleep very well.

Sheng Qingli had many chaotic dreams; she always did when stressed.

The next morning, Lin Lin noticed her poor complexion and had Tong Tong buy her a cup of American coffee.

“Didn’t sleep well?” She handed the coffee to Sheng Qingli.

Sheng Qingli took it, her curled eyelashes fluttering, “I had so many dreams.

Feeling more tired than before sleeping.

Lin Lin sighed softly, “Let’s clean up first, grab some breakfast, and sleep a bit on the way.”

Sheng Qingli nodded.

As the three of them left the room for the dining hall, Pei Qingci and Ying Zheng happened to be there as well.

Seeing them, Ying Zheng warmly waved to Sheng Qingli, “Ms. Sheng, sit over here?”

“…”

The endorsement fee hasn’t been fully received yet; they can’t afford to offend the boss.

Sheng Qingli hesitated for a moment and then walked over with Lin Lin.

“What do you want to eat?” Lin Lin asked. “I’ll get it for you.”

“Anything,” Sheng Qingli replied.

After Lin Lin left, Ying Zheng coughed into his hand. “I’ll go pick some breakfast too.”

In an instant, the long rectangular table was left with only Sheng Qingli and Pei Qingci.

Sheng Qingli: “…”

She really wanted to tell Ying Zheng that he was being too obvious.

Silently, Sheng Qingli received a cup of warm water pushed toward her. “Just poured.”

Hearing the man’s cool voice, she looked up. “…Thank you.”

Pei Qingci nodded and unexpectedly asked, “Didn’t sleep well?”

“…”

When one person asked that question, Sheng Qingli didn’t think much of it.

But when two people asked, she couldn’t help but wonder, “Is it that obvious?”

Pei Qingci paused, his deep gaze resting on her face. “Actually, it’s not too bad.”

Sheng Qingli: “?”

If it wasn’t that bad, then how come Lin Lin noticed it, and he did too?

What Sheng Qingli didn’t know was that those familiar with her were well aware of her state after waking up. When she slept well, her complexion was good, and she was quite talkative.

When she didn’t sleep well, she exuded a wilted vibe both inside and out, and spoke very little.

Meeting Sheng Qingli’s confused gaze, Pei Qingci didn’t elaborate. “Insomnia?”

Sheng Qingli: “…No.”

She tersely uttered two words, looking up for Lin Lin and Tong Tong, wanting to avoid further conversation with Pei Qingci.

Seemingly sensing her anticipation, Tong Tong soon returned with the breakfast she wanted.

Sheng Qingli didn’t eat much for breakfast, just light foods.

Pei Qingci glanced over: one boiled egg, half an ear of corn, and a bowl of millet porridge.

Tong Tong set the food down and quietly asked, “Sister Li Li, do you want anything else?”

Sheng Qingli: “Not for now.”

Tong Tong: “Okay.”

Soon, Lin Lin returned as well.

With more people around, Sheng Qingli felt the atmosphere was a bit more pleasant.

After leisurely finishing breakfast, the group prepared to leave.

Knowing that Ying Zheng was also heading to Taolin County, Lin Lin joked, “So when I come back, can I hitch a ride with Mr. Ying?”

Ying Zheng readily replied, “As long as Sister Lin is willing, I can drive you anywhere.”

“Then I’m not willing.” Lin Lin was straightforward, smiling as she said, “I like being a passenger, not driving.”

—

The two cars left the center of Ancheng and headed onto the highway.

Not long after getting into the car, Sheng Qingli put on an eye mask, ready to sleep.

Twenty minutes later, she took off the eye mask in defeat and took a sip of water.

Lin Lin, who was looking at the scripts sent by the planning team, turned her head. “Can’t sleep?”

“Yeah,” Sheng Qingli responded dejectedly, propping her chin up as she looked at the tablet in Lin Lin’s hand. “What are you looking at?”

“Checking the scripts sent by the planning team. Want to take a look?” Lin Lin asked.

In recent years, many scripts had been sent to Sheng Qingli.

However, due to the volume, the studio had arranged for multiple levels of screening. Generally, the planning team would first do a rough pass before compiling them for Lin Lin.

After reviewing, Lin Lin would select the ones she liked and send them to Sheng Qingli, who would make the final choice.

“Sure,” Sheng Qingli nodded.

After all, she couldn’t sleep anyway.

Taking the tablet, Sheng Qingli lowered her eyes and slowly browsed through the scripts.

After a while, she looked up. “They all seem pretty similar.”

Lin Lin raised an eyebrow. “What’s similar?”

Sheng Qingli frowned. “I can’t quite explain it, but they don’t seem very interesting.”

Lin Lin understood. “Then let’s keep looking. Director Zhong’s movie is supposed to take four to five months to shoot; we can take our time.”

Sheng Qingli nodded and handed the tablet back to Lin Lin.

She turned her gaze out the window, watching the lush scenery rush by, and felt a bit better.

Two hours later, the car stopped in the parking lot of the highest-rated hotel in Taolin County.

After a long journey, Sheng Qingli first took Lin Lin to the room to rest before heading out for dinner later.

After checking into the hotel, Lin Lin first wandered around her room.

“Not bad; there are no snacks in the fridge.”

Sheng Qingli was at a loss for words. “I’m not that much of a snacker.”

Lin Lin glanced at her, about to say something when she suddenly spotted a cat teaser on the sofa.

Knowing she sometimes borrowed Pei Qingci’s cat to play was one thing; seeing the “evidence” with her own eyes was another.

Lin Lin stared at the cat teaser for a few seconds, her tone ominous. “You’re borrowing a cat now. What if next time I come to visit, there are men’s clothes in your room?”

Sheng Qingli was choked by her words, coughing for a while. “Sister Lin.”

Her face turned red from coughing, feeling quite helpless. “It’s not that exaggerated.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the doorbell rang.

The two exchanged glances.

Lin Lin signaled, “If I’m not mistaken, it’s probably for you. Go answer the door.”

Sheng Qingli: “…”

Facing Lin Lin’s concerned gaze, Sheng Qingli resignedly opened the door. “Can’t you—”

Before she could finish her sentence, Sheng Qingli quickly stopped, “Brother Xu.”

She was a bit surprised, “You didn’t go to the training base today?”

Sheng Qingli didn’t expect it to be Xu Xingyue at the door.

Xu Xingyue replied, “I just got back.”

He told Sheng Qingli, “I’m a bit tired; I only practiced in the morning.”

Sheng Qingli nodded in understanding, “That’s fine.”

“That’s what I planned,” Xu Xingyue smiled at her, “I heard Sister Lin came over, so I came to say hello.”

Although Xu Xingyue and Sheng Qingli were not from the same agency, Lin Lin was a manager that many in the industry wanted to connect with; she was a senior figure.

Xu Xingyue’s manager had advised him to be polite to Lin Lin.

He had met Lin Lin a few times when he was in the same crew as Sheng Qingli.

As the two were chatting at the door, the door across the hall opened.

Seeing the two standing together, Pei Qingci, holding a trophy, slightly narrowed his eyes, “Mr. Xu didn’t go to training today?”

Xu Xingyue awkwardly smiled and repeated what he had just said to Sheng Qingli.

After hearing this, Pei Qingci nodded slightly and said slowly, “I see.”

For some reason, even though Pei Qingci’s tone sounded normal, it gave Xu Xingyue and Sheng Qingli a feeling that he was being sarcastic.

Of course, it might just be their misunderstanding.

The three stood in silence for a moment in the corridor.

Inside, Lin Lin, confused, walked out, “Li Li, open the door—”

Upon seeing the two tall figures at the door, Lin Lin paused, “Mr. Pei, Mr. Xu.”

She shot a questioning glance at Sheng Qingli—why were these two looking for her?

Sheng Qingli: “…”

How could she explain that neither of them seemed to be looking for her?

After a moment of silence, just as Sheng Qingli was about to say something to break the awkwardness, the trophy in Pei Qingci’s arms called out.

It was directed at Sheng Qingli.

Before Sheng Qingli could react, Pei Qingci shoved the cat into her arms in front of the other two, saying lightly, “It missed you.”