Xu Yinian’s impression of Qin Jiashu had always been one of warmth and kindness, especially since the older girl had helped her out of a tight spot before.
The intense desire Yinian once felt to muster every ounce of her energy to reciprocate that kindness hadn’t faded in the slightest. Consequently, the introverted and shy girl took the initiative for the first time, waving a greeting from a distance.
The look in Qin Jiashu’s eyes as she turned wasn’t one of surprise, but rather a momentary flicker of panic and complexity. Even with the delicate touch of blush on her meticulously made-up face, an involuntary, deeper crimson began to creep across her cheeks.
The girl who usually kept her light hidden had no idea how intoxicating the inadvertent brilliance of her warmth could be. Faced with such a radiant emotion directed solely at her, Qin Jiashu was almost instantly disarmed, rendered completely helpless.
She hurriedly tossed a “Wait a moment” to the person at the check-in desk before walking toward Xu Yinian.
In the past, seeing Senior Sister Qin would immediately remind Xu Yinian that she was Ji Yan’s girlfriend. But now, it was only as an afterthought that she realized why Qin Jiashu was at the Injury Company in the first place—it went without saying who she was here for.
Such a beautiful senior sister… Ji Yan really is a menace to society.
On one hand, Xu Yinian felt that Ji Yan should just lock things down with Shen Ruoshuang and stop messing with others. On the other hand, she couldn’t help but think how heartbroken the senior sister would be once she found out the truth. She wondered if Qin Jiashu had actually taken her previous warning to heart.
The usually outgoing and vibrant Qin Jiashu seemed off today. Despite having reached Yinian’s side, she remained uncharacteristically silent for a long time.
Seeing this, Xu Yinian took the initiative. “Senior Sister, are you here for Ji Yan again? I haven’t seen her arrive yet.”
Qin Jiashu’s mind was already a tangled mess. Hearing Xu Yinian mention Ji Yan made her suddenly realize that the girl still thought she liked that person! While she hadn’t quite figured out how to face Xu Yinian yet, she couldn’t let this misunderstanding continue.
At that thought, Qin Jiashu waved her hands in frantic denial. “Ah? Ji… Ji Yan? I’m not here for her…”
The student at the check-in desk already knew Qin Jiashu. Having seen her every day recently, they had long since guessed her feelings for Ji Yan. They couldn’t resist a playful jab. “She’s right, she’s not here to find Ji Yan. She just comes every day to sign in for her—talk about devoted love.”
Hearing this, it finally clicked for Xu Yinian. No wonder she never saw a trace of Ji Yan; it turned out Qin Jiashu was covering her attendance every single day.
Qin Jiashu choked. She had originally come with that intention, but… but things were different now! This was only going to make Xu Yinian misunderstand even more!
She took a deep breath, shot a silent glare at the meddling junior to tell them to stop stirring the pot, and quickly explained, “No, it’s just that I have to come here every day recently to handle the broadcasts for the rehearsals. I’m just signing her in while I’m at it… We’re just, uh, friends…”
But the explanation was useless. Xu Yinian simply assumed she was being shy in front of an outsider.
The fact that Ji Yan wouldn’t even show up to sign in and instead made her “girlfriend” do the legwork perfectly matched Xu Yinian’s stereotypical image of her as a profligate playboy who spent her days in a drunken stupor.
“What is she even doing every day that she can’t sign in herself?” Xu Yinian grumbled.
Qin Jiashu didn’t catch the disdain in Yinian’s tone. She thought the girl was genuinely asking. “Ji Yan is almost always in the studio. She’ll soak herself in the painting room for the entire day.”
Meeting Xu Yinian’s surprised gaze, Qin Jiashu’s old habit of defending Ji Yan kicked in, and she couldn’t help but open up. “Don’t be fooled by how lazy and flippant she acts toward everything. Once she finds something she likes, or when she gets serious about something, she’s like a completely different person…”
As she spoke, she suddenly realized: Why am I praising Ji Yan in front of Xu Yinian? She came to a bizarrely abrupt halt.
The answer caught Xu Yinian off guard. She had assumed Ji Yan’s loose attitude and disregard for school rules were typical of a talentless rich kid. Now, she was hearing about a version of Ji Yan that felt like a complete stranger.
Having grown accustomed to her reckless and mischievous side, Xu Yinian had almost forgotten that Ji Yan had actually entered the X University Academy of Fine Arts with the highest score in the country.
Yinian recalled the contrasting version of Ji Yan she had seen at the opening ceremony. That ethereal focus, the way those lazy, vacant eyes seemed to be imbued with the colors of a soul.
She had just finished labeling her, only to be immediately proven wrong. Not only was the other girl far more gifted, but she was also working harder…
Xu Yinian felt a bit ashamed of herself. Her impression of Ji Yan as a “useless, scummy playgirl” began to crumble, leaving her unsure of how to view the woman.
Qin Jiashu had no way of knowing the upheaval in Yinian’s heart. After finishing the sign-in for Ji Yan, she was loath to leave, yet she could no longer maintain the natural familiarity she’d had when she was still indifferent toward Xu Yinian.
Desperate for a conversation starter, Qin Jiashu remembered a part-time job at the recording studio she’d heard about yesterday. While chatting with the voice director, she’d learned that a lead role for a new audio drama was being cast.
“Junior, are you interested in a part-time job? I just heard about a project, and as soon as I saw the requirements, I thought of you.”
To Xu Yinian, who was currently distressed about finding a way to make money, this was a godsend. Her natural trust in the senior sister made her nod eagerly.
Those starry eyes again… Qin Jiashu coughed twice, hiding an inexplicable blush.
“Let’s add each other on WeChat,” Qin Jiashu said with a hint of awkwardness, even though she had a valid excuse. She knew in her heart that she just wanted Yinian’s contact information. “I’ll share the documents with you.”
Xu Yinian finally understood why the senior sister had suggested it. It was a casting call for a voice actor in an audio drama. The description for the character’s voice read: “Young girl. Voice is soft and sweet. Speaks with a stutter.”
