Still Have This Side – Chapter 57

Do you think… she might fall for you in the future?

Qiu Baiyu and Yi Wanyue’s persuasion was very earnest.

They enumerated Jiang Shen’s wrongdoings, then highlighted Qi Ling’s excellence and the myriad choices available for her future. Now it was up to Qi Ling to see if she could take it to heart.

Qi Ling did take it to heart, and even couldn’t refute it.

Indeed, Jiang Shen had a child with someone else, and indeed, he got married while having someone else in his heart.

As for whether he was good to his daughter or not…

“Is he really not good to his child?” she asked hesitantly.

Qiu Baiyu asserted firmly: “He’s not.”

“Jiang Shen can ensure the child’s basic needs are met without worry, but he also neglects the child. He doesn’t even care when the child is bullied at school, which led to a little boy in her class calling her an unwanted child.

“When this child was still in the Jiang family, she longed for her father’s attention every day, but Jiang Shen never spared her a glance.

“But when we divorced, he wanted custody of our daughter. Can you guess why?”

Qi Ling asked curiously: “For what?”

“For me,” Yi Wanyue’s voice came.

“Xiaomin and I have a good relationship. He wanted to use Xiaomin to create opportunities to interact with me.”

Qi Ling’s expression changed instantly: “How could he do that!”

She hated parents who were not good to their children the most.

After a moment of anger, she then frowned: “You’re not lying to me, are you?”

She wasn’t familiar with these two people and couldn’t quite understand why they were willing to sit here and patiently persuade her to let go of Jiang Shen.

In some ways, these two were her love rivals!

Qiu Baiyu calmly said: “How would you like us to prove it?”

“I want to meet your child.”

Concerning the person she liked, Qi Ling wanted to be thorough.

Young children can’t hide things; everything is written on their faces.

Whether their parents love them, and whether they love their parents, others can see it.

She hated adults who treated children perfunctorily the most; she had experienced plenty of that since childhood.

If Jiang Shen was really that kind of person… she wouldn’t like him anymore!

Qiu Baiyu and Yi Wanyue exchanged a glance.

Qiu Baiyu said: “Then wait a moment, I’ll discuss it with my child first.”

“?”

Qi Ling didn’t understand: “Discuss what?”

Qiu Baiyu said: “I don’t like to act first and report later. Since my child is the main character, she should decide whether to meet you or not.

“Only if she’s willing to meet, can we bring her to see you.”

Even adults ask if the other party is willing to meet before meeting, so we can’t be casual when it comes to children.

After hearing this, Qi Ling, for once, didn’t narcissistically say, “There’s no one in the world who wouldn’t want to meet me.”

She picked up the drink in front of her, poking the ice cubes in the cup with the straw, her eyes showing a bit of pleasant surprise: “I didn’t expect you to be so respectful of children.”

Yi Wanyue saw admiration suddenly rise in Qi Ling’s eyes as she looked at Qiu Baiyu, and her feelings became very complicated.

She felt proud that others were discovering the charm of the bright pearl beside her.

Yet she couldn’t help but secretly worry that Qi Ling might ultimately become her love rival, falling for Qiu Baiyu…

Love indeed makes people petty.

In the next second, Qi Ling’s expression changed again, her face full of vigilance.

“Wait,” she said, “You’re not planning to secretly brief her, so she can act in front of me, are you?”

Yi Wanyue: “…”

Qiu Baiyu: “…”

Qi Ling: “I’ve seen through your plan, haven’t I? I’m very clever, you know~”

Qiu Baiyu took a deep breath, took out her phone, and placed it on the table.

“I’ll call her right in front of you.”

The restaurant was bustling with people in the early evening.

Qiu Zimin, carrying her small backpack, followed Qiu Baiyu and Yi Wanyue upstairs.

She was going to meet a friend of her aunties with them.

Qiu Baiyu hadn’t specified which friend on the phone, so she only knew that the person was an auntie who would be having dinner with them.

She had agreed because she also liked eating out.

“I’m so hungry,” she said, “I can eat a lot, a lot of food later!”

Qiu Baiyu gently patted her head: “Alright, eat more later.”

Led by a waiter, they arrived at the room Qi Ling had reserved.

Yi Wanyue knocked on the door first, then pushed it open.

Qiu Zimin happily followed behind them.

Qi Ling was sitting at the table, leisurely looking at the menu on her phone.

When Qiu Zimin clearly saw her face, she couldn’t help but let out a surprised exclamation, instinctively hiding behind Qiu Baiyu, then tugging at her clothes, saying in disbelief: “Auntie, am I seeing things?”

That was Qi Ling, the big star Qi Ling!

She had seen her in many videos!

Yi Wanyue smiled and said: “You know this auntie?”

Qiu Zimin nodded: “Mm-hmm, there are even girls in my class who are her fans!”

Hearing this, Qi Ling slowly put down her phone, revealing an expected smile: “I’ve always said I appeal to both young and old.”

She looked at Qiu Zimin: “Little one, your classmates have good taste~”

Then she patted the seat beside her: “Come sit here with big sister.”

Qiu Zimin looked up at Qiu Baiyu, seeking her opinion with her eyes.

Qiu Baiyu nodded: “Go ahead.”

Only then did Qiu Zimin obediently walk over and sit down next to Qi Ling.

After Qiu Zimin sat down, Qi Ling first ordered a drink for her, then looked her over from head to toe.

“You’re very pretty,” Qi Ling complimented her.

The child before her was well-raised, with delicate and beautiful features, bright and lively eyes full of spirit, truly befitting Jiang Shen’s daughter.

Jiang Shen had naturally good looks, and with his genes, the child’s appearance couldn’t be bad.

“Thank you,” Qiu Zimin smiled, “Big sister, you’re pretty too.”

Qi Ling’s fondness for her instantly doubled.

She couldn’t help but pinch the child’s cheek: “So cute.”

Then she said: “Can big sister ask you a question? Will you answer big sister honestly?”

Qiu Zimin nodded her head, saying “mm-hmm.”

Yi Wanyue and Qiu Baiyu sat calmly to the side, watching.

Qi Ling got straight to the point: “Between daddy and Auntie Baiyu, who would you choose?”

Qiu Zimin answered without hesitation: “Auntie!”

“Why?” Qi Ling furrowed her brow slightly, “Don’t you like daddy?”

Qiu Zimin shook her head: “I don’t like him.”

She said with an innocent face: “Daddy doesn’t like me, so I don’t like daddy either.”

Auntie had told her, treat others the way they treat you.

If daddy doesn’t like her, then she won’t like daddy. She wants to give all her love to those who love her.

Hearing this, Qi Ling was suddenly at a loss for words, unable to say anything.

Qiu Zimin’s expression was too natural to be lying. Jiang Shen really hadn’t given this child any love; if he had given even a little, Qiu Zimin wouldn’t have answered so unhesitatingly.

After a moment of silence, she softly asked: “Then aren’t you very sad?”

She could actually understand this feeling.

She hadn’t received much love from her family either, but she had managed to pull through on her own.

This was also why she disliked parents who were perfunctory.

However, unexpectedly, the child before her smiled brightly and said: “Not at all!”

“If daddy doesn’t like me, then he doesn’t like me. I still have my aunties and friends. They all like me, and I like myself too. Now I have super lots of love~”

As she said this, her face was full of smiles, and the happiness in her eyes was almost overflowing.

She now has lots and lots of love, including her own love, so she doesn’t lack that one person’s at all.

— This is what a happy child looks like.

Qi Ling unconsciously looked towards Qiu Baiyu and Yi Wanyue.

At this moment, she truly believed what they had said.

They genuinely cared for this child, and sincerely hoped that she could see Jiang Shen’s true nature.

She should reevaluate her own relationship now.

After dinner, Qi Ling left first with her manager who came to pick her up.

Qiu Baiyu and Yi Wanyue took Qiu Zimin downstairs to pay the bill, only to find that Qi Ling had already paid for them.

[My treat]

Qi Ling said this to Qiu Baiyu on WeChat.

[Consider it making friends]

Qiu Baiyu showed her message to Yi Wanyue.

The two exchanged a glance, understanding each other.

Qi Ling would definitely think things over carefully after she goes back this time.

“Let’s go, we’re heading home,” Qiu Baiyu said to Qiu Zimin.

Qiu Zimin held both her and Yi Wanyue’s hands, then asked: “Did big sister Qi Ling pay?”

Yi Wanyue said: “Yes, she’s already paid and left.”

Qiu Zimin smiled and said: “She’s so nice~”

Big sister Qi Ling cared about whether she was happy, left her an autograph for her classmates, and treated them to dinner – she really is so kind!

Qiu Baiyu and Yi Wanyue acknowledged this point.

Qi Ling’s attitude towards children was very easygoing, and even her narcissism was much more restrained.

During dinner, she would put food on Qiu Zimin’s plate, and when she learned that Qiu Zimin was learning Sanda, she praised her and encouraged her to study well.

After all, she is a kind person, and they looked forward to her letting go of Jiang Shen soon and looking ahead.

The three left the restaurant and happily headed home.

After arriving home, Qiu Baiyu told Qiu Zimin to take a bath first.

After arranging for the child, she poured herself a glass of water, and while drinking, said: “I think we should treat Qi Ling to a meal next time.”

“Hm?”

“Friendship should be reciprocal.”

She didn’t like owing people, even if they were friends.

Since Qi Ling intended to be friends with them, she was also willing to show her sincerity.

Recalling her two encounters with Qi Ling, she said: “Although she’s a bit narcissistic, she’s quite interesting. Being friends with her should be fun.”

Yi Wanyue leaned against the sofa, arms crossed, looking at her.

Hearing her say this, she couldn’t help but smile slightly, suddenly throwing out a question: “Isn’t being friends with me fun?”

Qiu Baiyu sensed a whiff of vinegar in the air.

A sudden scent of vinegar.

She looked at Yi Wanyue.

“Jealous?”

Yi Wanyue didn’t hide it, nodding frankly: “Mm, jealous.”

Qiu Baiyu didn’t think much of it.

Friends can be jealous too, everyone hopes to be the most important person in their best friend’s heart, this is normal.

But this was the first time she had seen Yi Wanyue jealous – it was kind of cute.

She put down her water glass and walked towards Yi Wanyue, sitting down beside her, saying: “I’m very happy being friends with you too.”

“Happier than being with her?” Yi Wanyue smiled and asked further.

“Happier than being with her.” Qiu Baiyu couldn’t help but smile.

“Then would you kiss her?”

“What?”

Qiu Baiyu was caught off guard by the question.

Yi Wanyue gazed at her intently, awaiting her answer.

They would kiss, yet they were still friends.

She didn’t want another such special friend to appear in Qiu Baiyu’s world.

Not Qi Ling, not anyone.

After Qiu Baiyu recovered, she chuckled wryly.

“Of course not,” she said, “One special friend like you is enough, there won’t be a second one.”

Her heart was only this big, it could only accommodate her, it couldn’t accommodate anyone else.

But she still couldn’t honestly show her her heart.

Yi Wanyue’s expression softened, the smile on her lips becoming more genuine.

What a satisfying answer.

“Then I can rest assured.”

This was a special status personally confirmed by Qiu Baiyu, no one else could compare to her.

Yi Wanyue rested her chin on her hand, looking at her, suddenly proposing a possibility: “Do you think… she might fall for you in the future?”

If the female lead’s sexual orientation could change, why couldn’t the female supporting character’s?

Qiu Baiyu didn’t react immediately: “Who?”

Yi Wanyue said: “Qi Ling.”

Qiu Baiyu: “…?”

This was simply unimaginable.

“She won’t like me, let’s not make such earth-shattering, ghost-crying assumptions.”

“That’s not necessarily true,” Yi Wanyue looked at her with gentle eyes, “Our Baiyu is both gentle and charming, anyone who gets to know you will surely be moved by you.”

Qiu Baiyu was momentarily speechless.

Yi Wanyue’s words gave her an illusion, as if she was the one moved by her, a beautiful illusion.

But her heart leaned more towards thinking Yi Wanyue was just flattering her.

“Thank you for the compliment, it’s nice to hear, but if I had such charm, I wouldn’t have been single for 29 years.”

“Auntie— I forgot to bring my pajamas!”

Qiu Zimin’s voice suddenly came from the bathroom, interrupting their chat.

Qiu Baiyu responded: “Got it, I’ll bring them for you now!”

Yi Wanyue watched her get up and leave, silently cupping her own cheek.

Her beloved seemed to have a misconception about herself, not knowing at all how likable she was.