Chapter 29: Love Rivals Part 2

The pay was 1,000 yuan per episode, with an estimated twenty episodes. Extras and bonus tracks would be calculated separately based on sales. One episode’s pay was almost equivalent to Xu Yinian’s entire monthly living expenses.

Even though she didn’t believe someone like her, who had never touched voice acting, could handle the job, the pay was undeniably tempting.

“I… I probably can’t do it… Thank you for thinking of me, Senior Sister.” In the end, Xu Yinian shook her head.

“No, no, no! The director said that professional voice actors actually find it hard to make that specific speaking habit sound natural. She’s been stuck on casting for a long time and said if she can’t find someone soon, she’ll just scrap it. Why not give it a try?”

Seeing Xu Yinian’s resolve waver, Qin Jiashu struck while the iron was hot. “Junior, your voice is a literal treasure! I’ve always felt that you not being a voice actor is a loss for the entire industry. I’ve never heard a soft-girl voice that sounds so natural and authentic. Sob.“

Xu Yinian covered her burning cheeks with her hands, nearly dying of embarrassment. She peeked through the gaps in her fingers and finally mustered the courage to speak. “Senior Sister, stop… stop praising me. Then… I’ll give it a try.”

Fearing that Yinian might change her mind, Qin Jiashu immediately messaged the voice director.

[The junior I mentioned before agreed to come in for a screen test. Teacher, when would be a good time to meet?]

She had her own motives, of course. Once Xu Yinian entered the industry, as her senior, wouldn’t they have frequent excuses to discuss work? They could naturally meet and hang out, and they’d become close in no time, right?

Qin Jiashu never would have guessed that the voice director, labeled “Lin San” in her contacts, would immediately call Ji Yan to share the good news upon seeing the message.

“You’re a regular prophet! How did you know Qin Jiashu could convince her?”

Lin San’s “casual mention” of the project to Qin Jiashu had been anything but accidental. Ever since Ji Yan had sent her that voice clip, Lin San was convinced that the “Little Stutterer” in Improper Thoughts had to be that sweet, soft girl.

Ji Yan had returned to the dorm yesterday specifically to take Xu Yinian for a screen test, but the girl clearly wasn’t going to cooperate. If Yinian knew the co-star was Ji Yan, she’d never agree.

Lin San couldn’t bear to let such a perfect candidate slip away. She had gone nearly frantic, demanding that Ji Yan get on her knees and apologize to the girl if that’s what it took to bring her back.

In the end, Ji Yan had pointed her toward a better path: drop a hint to Qin Jiashu, who happened to be using the recording studio that day. After all, even Qin Jiashu didn’t know Ji Yan’s alias in the voice acting world.

As soon as Qin Jiashu heard about the role, she claimed she had a junior who fit the character perfectly and possessed a gifted voice. By the second day, she had already convinced the girl. The efficiency was staggering.

Despite the fact that the girl had agreed, Ji Yan’s expression was slightly cold. Having personally witnessed how the timid and socially anxious Xu Yinian went out of her way to please Qin Jiashu, she felt a chill.

Who knew what kind of spell Qin Jiashu had cast on her?

“Remember to keep her happy,” Lin San added.

Lin San rolled her eyes. “You think everyone is like you? As long as you don’t mess things up for me, she’s as good as hired.”

After hanging up, the paintbrush in Ji Yan’s hand paused. She gazed gloomily at the canvas, where she was painting the tearful face of a girl from memory.

The holiness of a Muse; a beauty beyond words.

She didn’t know when it had started, but every time she picked up a brush, only that girl’s shadow remained—the eyes, the features, the contour of her neck and shoulders, all etched into her mind…

Ji Yan knew better than anyone that every stroke of the brush was only deepening her addiction.

And she remembered even more clearly: her Muse did not belong to her yet.

***

After finishing her punishment, Shen Ruoshuang was permitted to rest for a moment.

Her physical stamina had always been excellent. Though she looked slender, she had stood in the sun for two hours with a standard, upright posture without her face turning pale or her breath hitching. Even the way she used a wet wipe to dab the sweat from her forehead was pleasing to the eye, showing not a hint of distress.

Her gaze shifted inadvertently, then suddenly froze.

Up on the bleachers, Xu Yinian was sitting next to a striking, vibrant beauty she had never seen before. The two were talking intimately.

Suddenly, Xu Yinian spread her slender, pale palms to cover her face, her cheeks visibly flushed a deep red. She even stole a glance at the person beside her through the gaps of her fingers.

Having gone two full years without any news of her, Shen Ruoshuang found that instead of forgetting, her obsession had only grown deeper and more suppressed.

Since reuniting with Xu Yinian, hadn’t she tried over and over to lower—even break—the arrogant pride she relied on to survive? Yet every time she cautiously reached out, Xu Yinian pushed her away.

And the person who pushed her away turned around to smile like a flower for someone else.

Anyone else was fine, but not her.

The light in those eyes was a warm sun to others, but to Shen Ruoshuang, it was a scorching flame that burned her soul, carrying a possessiveness and jealousy that threatened to swallow her whole.

What else could she do?

No. Xu Yinian would not fall for someone else, and she certainly would not be with anyone else.

She had only been showing weakness for a few days, and she had almost forgotten. As long as she didn’t want it to happen, it wouldn’t. She was perfectly capable of ensuring that.

In that moment, the softness she had felt toward Xu Yinian recently, the hesitation, and her self-doubt all vanished.

Shen Ruoshuang’s peach blossom eyes were left with nothing but a paranoid darkness. In this dangerous state of mind, she walked straight toward the two people on the bleachers.

At the same time, Qin Jiashu suddenly looked toward the end of the stairs, her brow furrowing. “Is that… Shen Ruoshuang?”

Hearing the name, Xu Yinian looked over blankly. Sure enough, a figure was approaching from the shadows against the backlight.

Oh no.

How did Shen Ruoshuang and Qin Jiashu end up facing off like love rivals?!