Chapter 10: Thinking About Past & Present

Chapter 10: Thinking About Past & Present

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Jiang Qi knew that when he said this, the two people across from him would inevitably be puzzled. Just by the way they stared at him as if he were crazy, he could tell.

But he wasn’t lying; he did have the idea of opening a small supermarket in a budget-friendly location. This was something he had agreed upon with Zhi Qi before.

It was probably around the second year of high school.

Back then, there was a very popular convenience store near Sanzhong, like an early version of a Family Mart chain. Usually, high school students, after classes at noon or during evening self-study, would be willing to go there to buy some fast food.

They used to go there for their ‘dates.’

On rainy days, Lin Lan had many, and there was a period of continuous misty rain. After class, the two of them would often go to that convenience store and sit by the window to eat instant noodles. On rainy days, students didn’t like to come out, and most of them stayed in the classrooms. Only the two of them would unexpectedly come out, braving the rain.

—But there were advantages too, like fewer people around.

Zhi Qi’s fluffy hair was soaked at the tips, and beneath the thin bangs, her moist black eyes sparkled. She lifted her head, smiling at him.

After many years, Jiang Qi still remembered how he felt at that time. It was... really wanting to kiss her. But Jiang Qi understood the concepts of ‘overstepping’ and ‘restraint.’ In front of Zhi Qi, he always acted like a proper person.

So, in the end, he didn’t kiss her.

In a very quiet and gentle atmosphere, the young girl looked at the rainbow after the rain outside the window, looking at him with some hope, “Jiang Qi, it would be great if we could open a supermarket together in the future.”

Jiang Qi listened and nodded earnestly.

Thinking about it now, their initial idea was indeed naive and ridiculous, but it was not as unrealistic as ‘I want to become a high-ranked official and make a fortune.’

In the current bizarre and extravagant world of fame and fortune, Jiang Qi ironically missed that simple and pure wish. If he could open a supermarket with Zhi Qi, that would be great. If the two of them were together... anything would be good.

The young man’s long eyelashes drooped, and a hint of loneliness flashed through his eyes, but it was very brief, too fleeting to be captured by anyone. He seemed to be enveloped in a faint vacuum layer all around him, rejecting people’s prying and approach.

Shen Lei and Wang Zhaoqiu exchanged a glance, both momentarily speechless.

It was really... it was because of Jiang Qi’s decision that they didn’t know how to persuade him.

Shen Lei, as an artist planning to leave the entertainment industry, had encountered such cases before, but the reasons were mostly related to immigration, becoming a wealthy heir, or pursuing better career prospects outside acting, such as investments and entrepreneurship. This was the first time he had heard of a rising star wanting to leave the entertainment industry to go home and open a supermarket.

This, this, this, how could they persuade him?

In fact, it was even more challenging to convince someone with such a simple and well-thought-out wish. If Jiang Qi’s desire was a bit unrealistic, Shen Lei could use the allure of fame and fortune in the entertainment industry, known for low investment and high returns, to keep him. However, Jiang Qi’s aspirations were straightforward, making it even more difficult.

Jiang Qi’s reason for opening a supermarket sounded very ‘casual.’

His statement could only resonate with those with desires, not those who followed their whims. Watching such a highly talented artist like Jiang Qi wanting to quit, it was truly lamentable.Geett the latest novels on no/v/elbin(.)c/om

After a while, Shen Lei could only play dumb, forced a difficult smile, and said, “Jiang Qi, are you joking with me?”

“No.”

Jiang Qi simply shook his head sincerely, then thought for a moment before adding, “Regarding the fan meeting you mentioned, I can attend.”

—The lead actor is surrounded by scandals, everyone has to come out and explain and debunk. Why bother having a fan meeting?

In today’s internet age, silence is equivalent to acknowledgment. Others easily throw out rumors, and the person involved has to find ways to prove that they haven’t done what they’re accused of. If you don’t follow the established rules, does it mean you’re guilty?

Under the official announcement of the fan meeting on Weibo, the comments and retweets were almost entirely drowned out by the spittle of netizens criticizing Jiang Qi. Zhi Qi saw the post and jumped up excitedly in her dorm room. She also saw the Weibo post and left a ‘out of place’ comment below: [Ah ah ah, I will definitely grab a ticket to see Jiang Qi!]

However, her positive comment was quickly engulfed in the sea of spittle.

Meng Chunyu was lying on another bed, solving problems, and was almost scared to death by Zhi Qi’s sudden ‘twitch’ of excitement.

“How many times have you seen him?” Meng Chunyu couldn’t help but laugh when she heard Zhi Qi talk about the past about Jiang Qi. She shrugged his shoulders, “Is it necessary to be so excited?”

“Of course,” Zhi Qi said, not stopping for a moment as she swiped her phone. “I haven’t seen him in a long time.”

Since Jiang Qi was sentenced to prison at the age of seventeen, she hadn’t seen him again. The young man at that time was so poor that he couldn’t even afford a phone. They didn’t even have a way to contact each other, and the three-year sentence was like an insurmountable gap. If Jiang Qi didn’t appear on the big screen, Zhi Qi really didn’t know how she could see him, except for such an extreme coincidence as a ‘chance encounter.’

Fortunately... she could actively seek him out now.

Even if she had to stay up all night to grab tickets, she would definitely do it.

Zhi Qi clenched her fist, silently making a resolution. Unable to resist, she opened Jiang Qi’s Weibo and sent a private message with her heart pounding:

[Hearing that your crew is going to have a fan meeting.]

[We will definitely meet! ^^]

[DAY.43.]

Qiu Mi, who was holding his phone, saw the screen flicker a few times at the top and clicked into it, unable to help but laugh. For over a month, the fan with the Weibo nickname ‘Zhi Qi’ had been sending private messages to Jiang Qi’s Weibo every day. The words seemed to treat the Weibo as an intimate lover, which was simply bizarre.

Could it be that this girl didn’t know that a celebrity’s official Weibo is just an emotionless machine account? Managed by agents and assistants? Who has time to read Weibo private messages?

If Zhi Qi hadn’t left a deep impression on Qiu Mi with her persistent messages, he wouldn’t have bothered to click and check. At first, he found it amusing, but now, Qiu Mi unexpectedly sensed a bit of ‘tenderness’ and even felt a bit sympathetic.

Sometimes he also can’t help but feel pity for fans who ardently love unattainable celebrities.

Unable to resist, Qiu Mi turned to look at Jiang Qi, who was half-squinting in the back seat, and tentatively said, “Bro, there’s a fan on Weibo who sends you private messages every day. Should I read them to you? She really likes you.”

Lately, the internet has mostly been filled with criticism, and fans like Zhi Qi, who wholeheartedly love Jiang Qi, are rare.

Qiu Mi thought that Jiang Qi’s recent bad mood might be because of this, and subconsciously felt that his idea was quite good. Maybe he could give Jiang Qi some encouragement. So, he was even more eager to recite.

But Jiang Qi responded with cold detachment, “No need.”

...

Qiu Mi didn’t dare to continue reading.

He withdrew his head like a quail and weakly said, “Okay, Brother Qi, you continue sleeping.”