Rebirth: Pampered by My Children and Husband

Chapter 44: Chapter 44 I Don’t Know Him

After the finalized makeup photos were published a few days ago, Ji Zeqiu was about to start filming.

No sooner had Ji Zeqiu arrived on set than other actors and artists warmly greeted him. Through the crowd, he caught sight of Shen Qingtang in the distance.

She stood alone in a corner, her head bowed as she diligently read the script in her hands. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Her character, a pitifully minor maidservant with not many lines, was still endearing and appeared from the beginning to the end of the story, which was considered decent.

When the director had approached him for a discussion about the script and was short of this character, Ji Zeqiu had recommended her.

This was also one of the conditions of their agreement.

As a substitute, she had to be on call at all times, while Ji Zeqiu would pay her a sum of money and occasionally provide her with a few resources.

A few staff members passed by Shen Qingtang, glanced at her, and muttered under their breath.

“She’s been looking at the script for half a day for just a couple of lines, if you didn’t know better, you’d think she was playing the lead.”

She had heard these kinds of comments far too many times, Shen Qingtang ignored them and was about to continue reading the script when she felt a gaze land on her.

She looked up and locked eyes with Ji Zeqiu.

In a flash, she remembered the kiss in the trailer from a few days ago, which had been interrupted and carried a hint of ambiguity, and a flush of embarrassment swept over her face.

When Shen Qingtang had agreed to be a substitute, she had prepared herself mentally for close contact with Ji Zeqiu.

Yet, contrary to her expectations, Ji Zeqiu more often than not asked her to dress like that girl and simply keep him company, talking, eating…

It was more like… pampering someone?

That ambivalent atmosphere seemed to be a first.

She bit her lip, pondering how to face Ji Zeqiu, only to see him withdraw his gaze indifferently as if she were a stranger, and then turn and walk away.

Shen Qingtang felt as if her heart was tightly grasped by a hand, an uncomfortable feeling suffocating her.

…

Ji Zeqiu had been busy on set for a week, and even moved into a hotel nearby the set booked by the production due to the distance from his home.

It wasn’t until he had a day off today with no scenes to film that he drove away from the set and found himself, unwittingly, at Wen Li’s school.

He had been sending messages to Wen Li these past few days, and her replies had always been sporadic. Yesterday, when he messaged her proposing they meet up, she had yet to respond.

Ji Zeqiu watched the stream of students entering and leaving the school gates, scoffed at himself.

The school was so big, even if he waited at the gate for a day, he probably wouldn’t run into Wen Li.

He sat in the car, lit a cigarette, and a moment later exhaled a ring of white smoke. His eyes were blurred by the smoke as he stared blankly at the entrance, his thoughts drifting aimlessly.

“Xu Wei, wait for me!”

Xu Wei hurried to the school gate as soon as class ended, with Wen Li quickly following.

“Have you found members for today’s group assignment? How about we team up?” Wen Li asked.

“Oh, about that, I’ve already promised Xiaoyu and the others to be in their group,” Xu Wei said apologetically, without a trace of remorse on her face.

In the past, Xu Wei would only wait for his invitation to the group, but now she had taken the initiative to join another.

Wen Li paused for a moment, then quickly said, “No problem, then I’ll just join you all.”

“Our group is already full, you should go find someone else,” Xu Wei said indifferently, her gaze scanning the school entrance. Upon spotting a red sports car, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she rushed over.

“I’ve got something to do, I need to go,” she said, not lingering over conversation with Wen Li, and without turning back, she got into the sports car.

Wen Li bit her lower lip, her expression turning somewhat unsightly.

She didn’t know if it was her own misconception, but Xu Wei seemed to have grown much colder toward her.

She no longer waited for her to go to class together, nor did she ask her out to go shopping, and even the messages she sent received few responses.

“Wen Li,”

Wen Li was feeling down, just about to turn around to head back to school when she heard a familiar voice.

She turned around and saw a man wearing a black mask leaning against a car, his eyes conveying a hint of joy.

“Ji Zeqiu?!” Wen Li exclaimed softly.

Even though his face was obscured, Wen Li recognized him immediately; after all, he often wore a mask to meet her.

In a blink, Ji Zeqiu had walked up to her and asked gently, “Are you going out? Where to? Let me give you a ride.”

Ji Zeqiu was always very gentle facing her, a stark contrast to Ji Tingyang’s explosive temper.

Wen Li was momentarily stunned, then quickly said, “No need, I’m heading back to the dorm now. You should leave quickly too, to avoid being recognized.”

“Then I’ll take you back to the dorm. It just so happens that I’ve never been to your school before.” Previously, when Wen Li was confined in the Ji Family home by Ji Tingyang, Ji Zeqiu’s attempts to see her were always hindered. Now that she had finally left the Ji Family, he wanted to spend more time with Wen Li.

“Better not, what if someone recognizes you?” Wen Li discouraged him.

Hearing her concern, Ji Zeqiu felt a bit pleased and said it was no problem before continuing to walk inside.

Wen Li, in her urgency, grabbed his arm, then immediately heard him take a sharp intake of breath, followed by a sudden hiss.

“What’s wrong?” Wen Li was startled.

“It’s nothing, just hurt my arm while filming, a minor injury.”

Filming fight scenes inevitably led to bumps and scrapes, and the occasional bruises or cuts on his body were nothing new to Ji Zeqiu.

He smoothed out the contorted expression on his face, quickly returning to a normal appearance.

Wen Li parted her lips, about to say something, when she heard someone calling her.

She turned her head and, upon seeing Xiao Yu, her expression suddenly became tense, and she stepped back to put a distance between herself and Ji Zeqiu.

“Who’s this?” Xiao Yu, returning from outside of the school, spotted Wen Li standing with another man.

“I don’t know him, he was just asking for directions.” Wen Li took Xiao Yu’s hand and walked towards the school, “Let’s hurry back.”

Ji Zeqiu had long known about Wen Li having a boyfriend, but seeing her disassociate herself from him now and leave with another man still caused a sharp pain in his heart.

He watched their retreating figures for a long time before driving back to the apartment.

Upon entering, Ji Zeqiu was startled by Lin Xu sitting on the floor, half of her body draped over the couch.

Lin Xu’s cheeks were buried in the sofa, her dark long hair scattered alongside her body, hiding her side face and petite figure, making it hard to discern the rise and fall of her breathing.

She couldn’t possibly be dead, could she?!

Ji Zeqiu’s pupils trembled slightly as he hurried forward. He was about to reach out a finger towards her nose when he met her eyes that suddenly opened.

His heart clenched violently, and it took him a moment to recover before he cursed, “Are you sick or something, playing dead here!”

With that effort, she might as well join a drama crew as an extra playing a corpse and at least get a red packet.

Lin Xu’s mouth puckered, and her eyes started to redden.

Ji Zeqiu instantly felt a headache coming. Was this woman about to cry now?! His tone hadn’t been that harsh.