Chapter 41: Hero Saves the Beauty

Lu Jia had brought her line draft to find Rong Yi.

As she walked from the studio to the stairwell, she discovered that the elevator was occupied and heading downward. Since it was only two floors anyway, she decided to take the nearby staircase instead.

Thus, by a stroke of sheer coincidence, she unintentionally overheard the conversation between three people.

“Sheng Jiejie.”

Her fingertip pressed against the soft case of her tablet as she lowered her gaze.

Around the corner of the wall came the voice of a stranger she had never heard before—a woman’s voice, outgoing and cheerful, sounding very familiar with Sheng Shubai.

Lu Jia was no stranger to others calling Sheng Shubai “Jiejie.”

Sometimes when she went to the bar to pick up a woman and take her home, the girls at the same booth called Sheng Shubai all sorts of things.

Over time, some even teased her: “Little Lu, here to pick up your Sheng Jiejie again?”

Lu Jia simply nodded in acknowledgment, wrapped her arm around Sheng Shubai’s waist, and left without ever repeating those nicknames herself.

Or like the few students Sheng Shubai brought along—young people like her, and with Sheng Shubai’s approachable personality that carried no airs, they all called her “Sheng Jie” outside of class.

Thinking about it this way, it seemed she was indeed the only one who still addressed her as “Miss Sheng.”

Yet that person seemed accustomed to it too. Apart from once joking in Z City about wanting to hear her call “Shubai Jiejie,” she never brought up the topic again.

“Miss Sheng” or “Professor Sheng.”

Distant and boundary-setting forms of address that always appeared in their most intimate moments of merging closeness, creating a particularly ambiguous and contradictory contrast.

But Lu Jia couldn’t think of a suitable alternative either.

After all, just that morning… she had only just discovered her own feelings of attraction.

Any sudden change would surely be noticed by Sheng Shubai.

Even though she also wanted to try calling her “Jiejie” once.

Lu Jia silently sorted through her emotions without a change in expression—it took only a dozen seconds or so.

She turned the corner with a calm face and caught sight of Sheng Shubai’s slender back, with her mentor standing opposite and another young woman beside them.

“Teacher, Professor Sheng.”

Lu Jia greeted them politely, only to see the graceful figure turn around, revealing Sheng Shubai’s raised eyebrow. “Lu Jia, what a coincidence.”

She pursed her lips in a smile, but her gaze passed over Sheng Shubai and landed on the unfamiliar woman.

“This is my little sister, Rong Yu.”

Rong Yi noticed her pause and assumed Lu Jia was hesitating over how to address her, so she introduced: “She’s a few years older than you. Just call her Jiejie.”

“Rong Yu Jie, I’m Lu Jia.”

Lu Jia obediently followed her words.

Then, she subtly glanced at Rong Yu’s hand.

Just as she had turned the corner, she had caught sight of the other woman gripping Sheng Shubai’s hand and not letting go—it was Sheng Shubai who had actively pulled away.

Upon hearing her sister introduce Lu Jia’s name, Rong Yu’s eyes lit up. “So you’re the student my sister mentioned.”

This time, it was Lu Jia’s hand that got grabbed and held tight. She tried to move it, but couldn’t break free.

How is this kid so likable?

Sheng Shubai watched the scene and recalled how her own older sister had once asked about Lu Jia’s future plans on behalf of the family elders. She sighed inwardly.

She changed the subject: “Little Yu, that painting is currently stored with my friend. Do you want to go take a look? I can have it sent to your studio in S City later.”

Lu Jia watched Sheng Shubai and Rong Yu leave side by side before entering her mentor’s office with her tablet in hand.

“Teacher, I’m not too sure about what engraving technique to use here.”

This was a new piece she had settled on the direction for last week. After discussing the theme with Rong Yi and getting approval, she had started drawing.

The line draft was basically finalized, enough to make the exhibition next month. Before actually cutting, Lu Jia just wanted to deliberate over every engraving technique multiple times in advance.

She pushed the tablet toward Rong Yi and stood by, waiting for guidance.

The two engraving techniques Lu Jia suggested were both good. Using ripple spots or broken wall spots on the fabric folds of the clothing would better fit the overall style of the piece. The common diamond lines would seem too rigid and unsuitable.

Rong Yi pondered for a moment and became absorbed. When she looked up again, she found Lu Jia still standing there. “What are you spacing out for? The chair is right over there.”

After explaining her analysis, Rong Yi fetched a scrap piece from the temporary work area behind.

She roughly sketched the outline with a pencil and engraved parts using both techniques on the plate material. Lu Jia leaned in close to watch.

The woman’s movements flowed smoothly like water, quickly demonstrating the pros and cons of both methods. She patted Lu Jia’s shoulder, telling her to take it back and decide for herself.

“Little Lu.”

Lu Jia thanked her and turned to leave when Rong Yi called her back.

She turned her head and saw her mentor’s hesitant expression. For a moment, her usually straightforward mind suddenly became sharp.

As if influenced by osmosis from a certain vixen, inspiration struck, and she guessed what Rong Yi wanted to ask.

“By the way, your shi jie—”

Lu Jia had just opened her mouth when she saw her mentor’s expression shift, and the phone on the desk rang at the same time.

Her sixth sense told her that this was the expression Rong Yi had been waiting to hear about.

But in reality, the usually steady mentor hurriedly answered the call and waved her hand, signaling her to leave first.

Before turning away, she caught a glimpse of Rong Yi seeming to breathe a sigh of relief.

Lu Jia didn’t understand but decided not to tell Shi Mengxi about it, lest she be disappointed.

Her shi jie had come to vent to her last night, moved to a hotel at noon to sign a long-term lease, and hadn’t returned to Rong Yi’s place.

Busy with her draft while worrying about others’ relationships. It wasn’t until past nine that evening, shortly after Lu Jia got home, that the door was knocked on.

“Miss Sheng?”

Lu Jia opened the door and froze for a moment.

She hadn’t received any prior message from Sheng Shubai, so she thought they wouldn’t meet tonight. She also… hadn’t prepared herself, knowing full well she was already smitten, yet still needing to fulfill the contract with her.

The woman held a wooden box containing a bottle of red wine in her arms and lifted her chin. “Not going to invite me in to sit?”

Of course she would.

Lu Jia took the wine box herself and stepped aside, waiting for Sheng Shubai to change into the cotton slippers reserved for her.

The weather was cooling, and the slippers were ones they had bought together at the mall not long ago—same style, same color, just with slight differences in the decorative patterns on the top.

Both had little dog patterns; hers had wavy blue lines below, while Sheng Shubai’s had an extra bow on the dog’s head.

Very much unlike their age-appropriate style, but comfortable to wear.

Knowing Sheng Shubai’s preferences when drinking, Lu Jia turned on the rarely used sound system. It automatically connected to the woman’s phone Bluetooth upon startup, and soothing music flowed out.

Two wine glasses sat side by side, already filled with the ruby liquid.

“What made you suddenly want to drink?”

The glasses clinked crisply. Lu Jia took a small sip and asked Sheng Shubai.

Just a couple of days ago, the woman had said she was getting older and planned to cut back on bar visits. How long had it been?

Sheng Shubai’s tone was casual: “If I want to drink, I drink. No reason needed.”

“Fair enough.” Lu Jia nodded.

The wine slid down her throat, clearly sipped in small amounts. Nearly an hour passed with only half a glass drunk, yet every inch of her skin flushed with a thin layer of cherry pink warmth.

Lu Jia rubbed her brow and picked up the bottle to examine the label.

She didn’t drink red wine often, but Sheng Shubai had introduced her to some common brands. She hadn’t seen this one before.

“This is a niche foreign label. Rong Yu gave it to me.”

Sheng Shubai’s gaze narrowed slightly as she lightly swirled the stem glass, the wine inside rippling in gentle waves.

“Rong Yu…?”

Perhaps from drinking too much, her thoughts grew sluggish. Her gaze fell on the reflection from the speaker’s metal logo ahead at an angle, and Lu Jia softly repeated the name.

Her moist, beautiful eyes carried a hint of intoxication.

The floor lamp by the sofa cast a soft warm glow, blending clear light into her pupils.

Paired with her lightly flushed cheeks, she looked obedient and stunningly pretty.

Sheng Shubai chuckled and pinched her cheek. “The young woman you met this afternoon, your mentor’s sister.”

“Oh…”

The one Sheng Shubai had taken away.

Lu Jia’s response lagged half a beat, her speech slow and drawling, as if she hadn’t fully come back to herself. “Are you two close?”

The question unwittingly hit a nerve, and Sheng Shubai’s expression shifted.

But the drunk woman beside her didn’t notice and took another small sip before turning to look at Sheng Shubai, seemingly waiting for her answer.

“Not really close.”

Sheng Shubai figured since she’d shared so much with Lu Jia already, one more thing wouldn’t hurt.

Back then, she was still an undergrad, in the years right after Sheng Ling’s death. She spent most nights hanging out in bars, using alcohol to sink into a floating haze.

Only when drunk and drowsy enough to pass out did she avoid nightmares.

Sheng Shubai knew she had good looks, temperament, and family background—everything that made left and right embraces in a sea of flowers as easy as crooking a finger.

She thrived in the bar scene, though it never went beyond flirtation.

Even in a bar catering only to women, sordid incidents were inevitable.

Sheng Shubai usually lent a hand when she saw them, and those types, seeing she wasn’t one to mess with, would slink away grudgingly.

The one time someone pointed at her nose and cursed her out in public was right after she’d done a good deed anonymously, stopping two habitual “corpse pickers.”

She remembered the date clearly to this day.

A young girl had come into the bar that night, heavy makeup but looking underage.

Sheng Shubai had glanced when she entered—the girl was alone, stayed a long time, downing drinks one after another like her life depended on it.

Sheng Shubai hadn’t paid much attention.

The style wasn’t to her taste, so no interest in getting acquainted.

But as she prepared to head to the second-floor terrace with friends, she spotted the girl slumped over the table, with two buzz-cut, tattooed women eyeing her eagerly, ready to move in.

They had a bad reputation. They’d previously tried to forcibly take a girl away but backed down when the owner showed up, bullies at heart.

Perhaps emboldened by the owner’s absence that day, they exchanged a glance and approached, patting the girl’s shoulder to check if she was conscious, then tugging to drag her off.

Sheng Shubai strode over quickly, shoving them aside with a stumble.

She pulled the startled stranger girl into her arms and stared down the two coldly: “Scram.”

The girl was already drunk and had been yanked up roughly, instinctively collapsing into her embrace, her full body weight leaning in.

Sheng Shubai held her waist and heard her mumbling lowly, still dazed. She rubbed the girl’s head: “Don’t be scared. Those two are gone.”

She patted her back reassuringly a couple times and prepared to let go, but the fabric at her side waist was clutched tightly.

Fingertips still trembling with fear, mumbling repeated thanks incoherently.

It was no big deal.

Worried she might fall if unsteady, Sheng Shubai shifted to hold her properly and joked: “Thanks? So how do you plan to thank Jiejie?”

No sooner had she spoken than someone called her name from behind, with a gritted-teeth edge.

It was Rong Yi.

Her roommate had apparently rushed over in a hurry. Her hair was a mess, clothes like she’d thrown on a random jacket—far from her usual prim and steady demeanor.

Rong Yi coldly questioned her and nearly dragged her away by the wrist.

Sheng Shubai let go, allowing Rong Yi to take her sister.

Before leaving, she shot her a furious glare.

“Your mentor saw me holding her sister and thought I was making a move on a minor. From her perspective, it did look pretty bad.”

Sheng Shubai finished recounting the gist lightly and casually wrapped up.

Coincidentally, it had been Rong Yi’s birthday that very early morning.

Just hours earlier in the dorm, they’d been all roommate harmony as she gave her an early gift. Then this cold treatment.

Out of respect for the birthday girl, Sheng Shubai hadn’t fired back.

Not long after, she ran into Rong Yu at school and probed sideways, learning the kid had blacked out from the drunkenness and remembered nothing of the incident.

To avoid scaring the underage girl by spilling it, Sheng Shubai never explained herself.

As for Rong Yi, who never went to bars, none of the witnesses knew her, so no one passed on the truth.

Lu Jia was puzzled: “But why didn’t you explain?”

Sheng Shubai gave a nonchalant smile: “She left in such a rush back then; I only managed to say ‘I wasn’t planning to do anything to her.’ She probably didn’t believe it.”

No need for more explanation.

After all, she and Rong Yi had never seen eye to eye on each other’s lifestyles anyway.

One thought the other wasn’t a decent person for hanging out in bars every day, while the other found the rigid three-points-and-a-line routine of early to bed, early to rise boring and headache-inducing. As dormmates, they inevitably had to accommodate each other’s schedules, which cut into their own late-night habits.

In any case, the arguments that followed weren’t limited to this one—it was just the spark at most.

Moreover, by the time she learned that Rong Yu had blacked out and lost her memory, the little sister happened to be pursuing her. So that former roommate grew even more hostile toward her, her nose wrinkling and her eyes narrowing.

They weren’t the same kind of people anyway, so why care about her attitude?

Lu Jia let out a light “oh” and offered no comment on their shared history. She just buried her head and took another small sip.

“Speaking of which, Xiao Yu is pretty interesting, and her personality’s not bad either.”

Sheng Shubai thought of something, shook her head, and let out a light chuckle. “It’s a pity she’s your mentor’s sister. If we actually got together, wouldn’t that mean I’d have to call her ‘jie’?”

One day, if someone made her call Rong Yi “jie,” they’d have to hold a knife to her neck first.

Lu Jia fell silent.

Not even willing to call her “jie”—it seemed Sheng Shubai had even less interest in being with her.

Otherwise, by seniority, wouldn’t the other party have to call Advisor Rong “teacher”?