Back Then, I Adored You

Qin Zhi’ai already knew for a fact that the housekeeper had told Grandpa the truth about Gu Yusheng. It wasn’t his fault, since Grandpa hadn’t bought her fabricated story. If he had bought it, he wouldn’t have questioned the housekeeper, so even if the housekeeper had kept the truth from him, Grandpa would still be questioning Gu Yusheng. Whatever it was, the results would always be the same as that night.

“It’s over. Don’t mention this anymore. It’s late now, so go rest.”

“Miss… then, you should also rest soon.” The housekeeper paused and said again,”I’m sorry.”

Qin Zhi’ai kept quiet.

The housekeeper outside the door didn’t make any further remarks.

After a few minutes, Qin Zhi’ai heard his footsteps as he walked away.

The entire second floor fell into silence all at once.

Qin Zhi’ai was exhausted, yet she couldn’t sleep. She sat on the bed while hugging her quilt. She stared blankly for a while before she could get out of bed and head for the bathroom.

Every single step she took ripped her body apart. When the bathroom was finally within reach, she was as pale as death.

Gu Yusheng had taken a shower before her without using the bathtub. The bathtub was still in the state it was before Gu Yusheng returned. The hot water from the tap was gushing out, and the steam from the hot water had filled the entire bathroom.

Qin Zhi’ai turned the tap off and sank into it. As she was soaking herself, the pain and the tiredness was relieved.

She stayed in the bathtub until the water gradually cooled down, then she climbed out.

Drying herself with a towel, she put on her bathrobe and took a hair dryer to the sink. Through the mirror, Qin Zhi’ai was staring at her clean, delicate face in the reflection. She recalled something that Gu Yusheng had said before he left the room, “However, Liang Doukou, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Next time, it won’t just be the same as today. There’s a great variety of treatment, so if you’re curious, go ahead!”

For a moment, she was so engrossed in her own thoughts that she forgot to blow-dry her hair.

–

She was Qin Zhi’ai.

But, in everyone else’s eyes, she was now the renowned Liang Doukou.

Liang Doukou was a well-known muse who had gained her popularity through a highly-rated ancient fantasy drama series. Her fame had risen overnight, and almost everyone in China knew her.

Qin Zhi’ai, on the other hand, was a nobody. She had been handpicked by Liang Doukou’s manager to act as her substitute, because she had a very close resemblance to Liang Doukou’s overall appearance.

In the beginning, she really was just a substitute in her shows.

But Liang Doukou was out of reach, while Qin Zhi’ai was like an invisible person, not worthy of mentioning. Although she was Liang Doukou’s primary substitute, neither of them were in close contact. She could count the number of her interactions with Liang Doukou on ten fingers, even after being her substitute for a year and more.

Perhaps, things had been going too well for Liang Doukou, so God decided to give her a test. Just a month ago, her medical report showed that she had a tumor in her chest.

It was malignant, but it hadn’t spread and could be cured with surgery and chemotherapy. The recovery process was, however, time-consuming.

The medical report was, undoubtedly, out of the blue to Liang Doukou, who was at the peak of her career.

The entertainment business was like a battlefield, ruthless and merciless, as everyone knew. No one could ever predict if Liang Doukou could retain her status when she returned to show business after her treatment, which was going to last for a year.

After much consideration, Liang Doukou decided to use her substitute actress, Qin Zhi’ai.