You are right. Maybe https://api-int.steemit.com is using hivemind as database for followers.

from beem import Steem
from beem.account import Account
stm = Steem(node="https://api.steemit.com")
acc = Account("anthonyadavisii", steem_instance=stm)
acc.get_follow_count()
{'account': 'anthonyadavisii', 'follower_count': 3616, 'following_count': 2380}

stm = Steem(node="https://api-int.steemit.com")
acc = Account("anthonyadavisii", steem_instance=stm)
acc.get_follow_count()
{'account': 'anthonyadavisii', 'follower_count': 4274, 'following_count': 3153}