Coming out of the hospital, Yun Ni and Lin Zijin were silent for the entire walk.
Finally, Yun Ni spoke first: “President Lin, next time, if you can’t eat spicy food, don’t eat it.”
Lin Zijin stuffed the medicine into her pocket. “The same goes for you, Miss Yun. While being able to eat spicy food is a skill, eating until you have diarrhea is hardly a point of pride.”
The two looked at each other and then simultaneously turned their heads away, pretending to be very interested in the scenery. Night had fallen, and everything was dark save for the hospital lights and the flickering neon signs of the street—honestly, there wasn’t much to see.
Yun Ni checked her phone. “It’s late, President Lin. I’ll head back now.”
“I drove here. I’ll take you,” Lin Zijin said. Worried the other would refuse, she added, “It’s not convenient for a girl to be out alone this late.”
Yun Ni hesitated for three seconds and then nodded. It wasn’t that she was worried about convenience—it was that she was broke. After paying for the doctor and the medicine, she only had a few dozen yuan left. If she took a taxi, she’d literally have zero. She made a mental note to ask the director for an advance on her pay.
Following Lin Zijin to her car, Yun Ni couldn’t help but take a second look. She had an interest in cars and occasionally browsed automotive sites; she recognized the bright red vehicle as a new Ferrari model released this year, valued at over five million.
Thinking of her balance of less than 150 yuan, Yun Ni felt… salty. Even though she knew she was earning money from this shoot, it didn’t change the fact that she was currently impoverished.
Lin Zijin opened the passenger door. Noticing Yun Ni staring intently at the car, she raised an eyebrow playfully. “Like it?”
“Hmm?” Yun Ni looked back. Seeing the teasing glint in Lin Zijin’s eyes, she knew it wasn’t a question that needed a serious answer, so she simply bent down, sat, and buckled her seatbelt.
“If you like it, work hard at acting and earn your own,” Lin Zijin said as she got into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
Yun Ni nodded. She did plan to buy a car in the future; seeing this Ferrari only solidified that ambition. The car fell quiet. Yun Ni could feel the person beside her glancing over occasionally, so she kept her eyes strictly on the road ahead.
Lin Zijin spent the drive calculating. When they stopped at a red light, she asked abruptly, “Can you ride a horse?”
The question was sudden, but it was just like her—she never was one for subtle traps.
Yun Ni smiled inwardly, but when she met Lin Zijin’s eyes, she masked it and shook her head. “Why do you ask, President Lin?”
“You’ll have to ride in a period drama eventually. If you can’t, the director will teach you, so don’t worry.” As soon as Lin Zijin finished, she heard the person beside her let out a soft sigh of relief, causing her brow to furrow.
Yun Ni looked away, watching the night blur past the window. “Then I shall learn well. You needn’t worry about me dragging the production down, President Lin.”
“I wasn’t worried about that,” Lin Zijin muttered.
Yun Ni knew the question was just another relentless test, but she deliberately misinterpreted it, replying with a smile, “Then I suppose I’m just getting the wrong idea again.”
Hearing this, Lin Zijin felt that Yun Ni was throwing her own words back at her. She pressed her lips thin but didn’t explain.
They didn’t speak again until the car pulled up smoothly near the hotel. Yun Ni yawned, rubbing her eyes to wake up, and unbuckled her belt. “President Lin, thank you for the ride.”
Lin Zijin nodded and watched her enter the hotel before driving into the nearby underground garage. Although the test hadn’t been conclusive, she trusted her instincts. Giving up and leaving wasn’t in her nature.
Back in her room, Yun Ni took her medicine and lay down with her script. However, her mind was full of thoughts about Lin Zijin, so she tossed the script aside and grabbed her phone.
Buzz buzz—
She checked WeChat. Tao Ningchu had sent several photos with the caption: “The air is so fresh without ‘certain people’ around. A pity you aren’t here!”
Yun Ni smiled. Just as she was about to reply, a friend request popped up.
Miss Yun, I am Lin Zijin.
Yun Ni accepted without a second thought. As she was about to type, the other side sent an image: a middle-aged woman with dark hair holding a steaming cup of tea, with the caption: “Hello, beautiful.”
Yun Ni froze. She hadn’t been in this world long, but in all her chats with Tao Ningchu, she had never seen such a strange “sticker” (meme). Was Lin Zijin using this as a coded invitation to tea?
Just as Yun Ni was about to say her stomach couldn’t handle tea, a text followed.
You there?
Yun Ni stopped overthinking the tea and replied, “I’m here.”
Still feeling unwell?
Yun Ni pondered the meaning of this sudden concern. It was clear Lin Zijin wasn’t giving up; she was certain Yun Ni was that Yun Ni. “I’m fine now. You?”
A bit uncomfortable.
Seeing this display of vulnerability, Yun Ni’s fingers paused. “If you’re unwell, you should rest early.” This wasn’t the response Lin Zijin wanted. She immediately pulled the conversation back.
My stomach is acting up, so I decided to stay at the hotel where you’re staying.
Yun Ni frowned but figured the woman really shouldn’t be driving back to T-City in that state. She typed a simple “Mm.”
Looking at that one-word reply and seeing how Lin Zijin’s messages were all longer than hers, Yun Ni had a rare moment of conscience. she added: “Next time, don’t eat things you can’t handle. It’s bad for your health.”
This time, Lin Zijin didn’t type. She sent another image: a woman reclining in a chair, holding a wine glass high, with the text: “A toast to our friendship.”
It took Yun Ni a while to grasp the meaning. Was she suggesting their “friendship” was why Yun Ni was looking out for her? But then, a flicker of annoyance rose in Yun Ni’s heart.
Who was this woman in the pictures? Why did Lin Zijin have so many photos of her? Though the woman looked to be in her forties and unlikely to be romantically involved with Lin Zijin, Yun Ni felt a strange sting of irritation. She sent a cold “Mm.”
While Lin Zijin was left puzzled, Yun Ni saved the image and tried to search for it online. She found nothing but a bunch of similar “elderly-style” memes, which only made her more frustrated.
Unaware, Lin Zijin sent another one. The same heavily-made-up woman, the same cup of tea, but the caption read: “So happy chatting with you.”
Yun Ni: “…” After staring at the image for three seconds, she typed quickly: “If you’re not well, sleep early. I’m going to bed too.”
She exited the app. Lin Zijin didn’t notice any underlying tension; she simply assumed Yun Ni was still tired and sent a “Goodnight.”
Perhaps because of the memes, Yun Ni dreamed of that woman. In the dream, the woman held tea in one hand and coffee in the other, smiling as she spoke: “Hello, beautiful… A toast to our friendship… So happy chatting with you.”
Yun Ni woke up in a cold sweat.
It was morning. Sun was streaming through the window. She checked the time: not even 6:00 AM. She didn’t have scenes until noon, so she could have slept in. But the image of the woman with the tea and wine was burned into her mind, so she gave up and got up to wash.
She was hungry after yesterday’s ordeal. After getting ready, she put on her sunglasses and headed out. There was a breakfast shop near the hotel that opened at 5:00. As she walked, she searched for “what to eat for gastritis recovery.”
“Morning, beautiful! What can I get you?” the lady at the counter asked.
Yun Ni looked around, remembering the doctor’s orders. “A bowl of spinach porridge, please.”
The owner looked surprised. “Our meat buns and fried dough sticks are fresh out of the fryer. Want to try?”
“Stomach’s acting up, doctor said keep it light.” Yun Ni paused, then added, “Actually, make it two bowls of porridge, two boiled eggs. To go.”
Hearing she was sick, the lady gave her a bit extra. Yun Ni also grabbed two cups of soy milk.
Five minutes later, she headed back to the hotel. She thought about calling Lin Zijin but realized it might be too early. She didn’t want to wake her. She took the elevator to her floor.
She reached the corner near her room. Thud—
Yun Ni was bumped unexpectedly. She nearly fell back, but her reflexes were sharp; she braced her right foot and stabilized herself.
Opposite her, Lin Zijin was doing the exact same thing.
“Miss Yun.” “President Lin.”
They spoke in unison, both surprised. Yun Ni looked down and saw a paper bag in Lin Zijin’s hand. Looking past her, she saw another bag already sitting in front of her room door. She raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing here, President Lin?”
“I bought an extra breakfast. I thought you might still be asleep, so I left it at the door.” Lin Zijin regained her composure, eyeing the bag in Yun Ni’s hand. “And you… went out to buy breakfast?”
What a ridiculous coincidence.
Yun Ni looked down, a smile flashing through her eyes before she looked up with a neutral face. She pulled out one portion and handed it to Lin Zijin. “I also happened to buy an extra one.”
Lin Zijin looked at her with surprise and took it. “Thank you.”
Yun Ni nodded and stepped past her. Then, she stopped and looked back. “If you can’t finish it, don’t force yourself.”
Lin Zijin nodded. “I was thinking the same.”
Meeting in the hospital after eating bad food was an experience neither of them wanted to repeat.