QKYJ - 16

Shen He said, “Long time no see. This is my wife, Shen Zhi.”

He extended his hand and briefly shook Zhang Qingyue’s. Her gaze naturally circled around Shen Zhi. Shen Zhi pretended not to notice, smiling like a delicate pair of scissors, and taking over from Shen He, gently shook hands with Zhang Qingyue.

Shen Zhi said, “You’re back, senior.”

Shen Zhi hadn’t interacted much with her in school. If you really thought about it, their last encounter was six years ago. Back then, Zhang Qingyue visited Shen He on set, and Shen Zhi watched from a distance, feeling that whatever they did had nothing to do with her, as she wasn’t involved.

Now, up close. Zhang Qingyue wasn’t the type of actress who put on airs, nor did she show signs of being a diva. On the contrary, her words and actions were as if she were strolling in a garden, making people relax unconsciously.

“I’ve seen you in Revisiting the Old Place,” Zhang Qingyue said with a light, smiling tone.

Shen Zhi also smiled: “Then I must have given you something to laugh at, senior.”

“Not at all, not at all,” suddenly, Zhang Qingyue’s fair face flushed, like a bright moon stained with pink ash, delicate and moving, “You acted exceptionally well.”

As she said this, her eyes sparkled, appearing very sincere.

Shen Zhi said nothing.

She wondered, Was it her acting well, or Shen He’s acting well?

Revisiting the Old Place featured not only Shen Zhi but also Shen He.

It was their first collaboration.

They didn’t chat much, and now, along with memories, they were all submerged by the surrounding atmosphere.

During university, Zhang Qingyue was once everyone’s “white moonlight.”

Looking at the contemporary entertainment industry in mainland China, she was definitely one of the top actresses to enter Hollywood. While still in school, she was already a mythical figure attracting widespread attention.

Especially during Shen Zhi’s graduating class, when they graduated, Zhang Qingyue just happened to return to complete her degree. Both within and outside the performance department, many people naturally transformed into devotees, regarding Senior Zhang as their unique “white moonlight.”

Besides gentleness, the white moonlight had another characteristic.

That was being aloof and out of reach.

Zhang Qingyue treated the junior students who admired her as fans, naturally without any other thoughts.

While studying, Shen Zhi often heard boys betting with Zhang Qingyue as their target, but unfortunately, they always came back empty-handed. Everyone was only fit to look up to Zhang Qingyue, to be her loyal sycophants.

However.

It didn’t seem to be that way after all.

Shen He might have been an exception.

Everyone said Shen He was the one most likely to win the bet.

But they soon graduated, and no one sought confirmation anymore.

Ouyang Sheng said Shen He didn’t seem to be unrequited.

But they never really developed anything.

Shen Zhi noticed the way Zhang Qingyue looked at Shen He.

She thought, No way.

However, what if it was true?

The one married to him now was her, not anyone else.

________________________________________

Zhang Qingyue didn’t return in a blaze of glory.

Not long after arriving in the U.S., after releasing her debut work, she fell into a passionate relationship with a famous Hollywood male star. Her public profile soared, and her film box office results were impressive, giving her an unparalleled momentum.

The only drawback was that her romance was too sincere, too intense.

There were clearly many cultural differences between a genuine Chinese girl and a young man from the free world.

Not long after their passionate relationship was exposed, conflicts followed. Zhang Qingyue was photographed wandering alone outside a villa area late at night with red eyes, got matching couple tattoos under public pressure only to spend a fortune removing them, and was ostracized by the male celebrity’s ex-girlfriend’s clique during red carpet photo opportunities.

They briefly became the protagonists of an 8 PM drama series—the kind co-starring Chinese and American actors.

Ultimately, Zhang Qingyue revealed she was suffering from depression.

Canceled auditions, turned down film offers, secluded herself, her image ruined.

By the time she recovered, the hype of the “Yellow Doll” had long worn out, becoming a Martian fairy tale from some unknown era.

The silver lining in her misfortune was that she could still make a living in the mainland industry.

She returned home dejectedly.

At her father’s birthday party, facing the guests carefully selected and invited by Zhang Jiangnan, Zhang Qingyue spoke some heartfelt words very sincerely: “Although everyone here is a friend, I truly feel quite embarrassed right now.”

Amidst everyone’s kind laughter, she couldn’t help but wipe away the glistening tears at the corners of her eyes, then smiled again. It must be said, Zhang Qingyue, by nature, was an endearing person.

She said, “I don’t ask for any other help... but if I’m ever in a bad mood and want to invite someone out for a meal to clear my head or something, I would be grateful if you’d be willing to give me the honor.”

Zhang Jiangnan’s aged wrinkles hid deep guilt for his daughter.

Everyone around readily responded.

________________________________________

That day, when Shen Zhi returned, she stayed up all night reading the script.

Ding Yaocai came to pick her up, repeating the usual注意事项. After the nanny van had driven some distance, she suddenly remembered something.

“Have you watched the video for your wedding anniversary?” Ding Yaocai asked.

Shen Zhi put the vitamin tablet into her mouth, then took the water from her assistant’s hand and unhurriedly took a sip.

“No,” she seemed not to care much, “Is it already out?”

“Your husband sent it to me in the early hours of the morning.”

Ding Yaocai lowered her head, fiddling with her tablet.

Before long, Shen Zhi received the video file.

“I often criticize this old man, but I have to say,” Ding Yaocai genuinely sighed, “when it comes to getting things done, he’s quite reliable.”

Shen Zhi only glanced at it, not in a hurry to click and watch.

She took another sip of water: “He only does what he’s interested in. When he loses interest, he turns his back on you.”

Ding Yaocai laughed heartily.

Then she added, “That’s not so bad, is it?”

Shen Zhi recalled that Shen He had indeed stayed in the study all night yesterday. It seemed both of them had pulled an all-nighter.

________________________________________

Today’s magazine shoot was on location.

She left in the afternoon and was busy until evening.

Shen Zhi thanked the staff. As she left, wrapped in a blanket, her head felt a little dizzy, probably from the wind.

She secretly took some medicine to quickly deal with it.

If Ding Yaocai saw her, she would surely exclaim “My dear” and offer advice again.

The assistant drove Shen Zhi back. Just as they were about to enter the building, Shen Zhi suddenly said, “You can stop here.”

“Is something wrong?” the assistant asked through the rearview mirror.

“Hmm, you can go back first,” Shen Zhi said, putting on her mask and pulling down her hat brim, then opened the car door herself. “Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”

She was usually very cautious in her actions, definitely the kind of artist who rarely caused trouble for her team.

The assistant didn’t think much of it, nodded, and left after reporting.

Shen Zhi waited in place for a while before turning around.

There was a coffee shop nearby, whose clientele were residents of the high-end residential area, with higher prices and attentive service. Shen Zhi entered, looked around, and then saw Lan Qiao stand up.

Lan Qiao didn’t wave; she just stood there, like a human standee marking the direction.

“Why so slow?” Lan Qiao crossed her arms, still with her usual bad temper.

Shen Zhi was already used to it, replying without anger or annoyance: “I had work.”

Neither of them intended to argue. Lan Qiao directly pulled out a check from her bag, pressed it onto the table, and said briskly, “Here, you’re paid back.”

Shen Zhi didn’t rush to take it.

Instead, Lan Qiao was anxious: “Just take it quickly. I don’t want to owe you any more money.”

Hearing that, Shen Zhi couldn’t help but smile faintly.

“Your aunt and uncle’s, you can’t pay that back. This little bit isn’t necessary either,” she said, lightly interlacing her fingers.

Faced with the facts, Lan Qiao couldn’t retort. She was choked with anger for a long time, and finally said, “You’re truly a lunatic.”

“Say what you like,” Shen Zhi genuinely didn’t care.

Lan Qiao considered herself not utterly bad, yet firmly believed she wasn’t a good cousin. She finally couldn’t hold back and asked, “You’re willing to support our family so much, is it really just to create an image of coming from a harmonious family? What’s the point?”

Shen Zhi slowly looked up, her smile rippling outwards.

“You wouldn’t understand,” she said.

Shen Zhi and Lan Qiao grew up together.

However, saying they were as different as heaven and earth wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

You wouldn’t understand. Shen Zhi thought silently, her smile utterly flawless. She subtly tightened her grip, her knuckles turning slightly white. You absolutely wouldn’t understand.

________________________________________

She was utterly exhausted by the time she got home.

She input her fingerprint, and as soon as she entered the door, she couldn’t help but collapse. The staircase was covered with a soft wool rug. Shen Zhi lay lazily, wishing she could fall asleep right there.

Her rationality, however, told her that she would catch a cold, needed to take care of her skin, and shouldn’t cause herself more trouble.

Shen Zhi turned over.

She had meant to get up, but her phone fell out of her pocket onto the floor. She picked it up. Ding Yaocai had just sent a confirmation message. After opening it, she scrolled up, and then saw the video from earlier today.

Shen He had put effort into studying it for a while.

Of course, he wasn’t a professional, but whenever he applied himself seriously, he always exceeded others’ expectations.

It looks pretty decent, Shen Zhi thought.

There were many newly shot materials specifically for this, and some were older footage. Shen He was ruthless, even including footage from their small wedding dinner—a detail that had never been publicly revealed.

At that time, Shen He stood up with a wine glass and said, “If I ever cause any trouble in the future, please remember my wife’s kindness and let me off the hook!”

His words elicited widespread laughter.

Then Shen Zhi also stood up, holding her own drink, her face full of smiles: “Don’t listen to his nonsense! I can’t control him!”

Another burst of laughter.

It actually looked like a wedding.

Even though it was all just acting.

Shen Zhi was still in a daze when the BGM stopped. Overly saccharine subtitles appeared on the screen, which she knew were for the desired effect after publication. Shen He had written: “Thank you for being willing to spend your life with me.” Shen Zhi was so repulsed that she felt like crawling into a hole, but then, in the next second, a new scene appeared.

She didn’t remember when this was.

The scene was very dark, continuously bumpy, and vaguely discernible as being in a car. Shen Zhi was not wearing makeup, which made her, outside the video, a little frantic. But the excess emotion was quickly pushed to the back of her mind. At that time, she was sleeping in the car, covered by an air-conditioning blanket, her long hair messy, eye sockets deep, lips thin, almost bloodless.

A voice came from behind the camera; it was Shen He.

He said, “Shen Zhi, Shen Zhi.”

In her sleep, she impatiently turned away. He was annoying enough, finally causing her to half-open her eyes.

Shen Zhi wasn’t actually awake; she was hazy and disoriented.

She tried to focus, wanting to see his face. “You,” she began, her words jumbled, her voice slurred, as if she were trying to scold him for bothering her, but at first listen, it sounded like she was asking, “Can you love me for a while—”

No matter what Shen Zhi actually said at that moment, Shen He reached out. He brushed away the stray hairs from her ear, and the camera was subsequently moved away; no one filmed anymore.

Then she heard him say, “Then it won’t just be for a while.”