Category: Shion’s Notes

Chapter 23: The Gap

She left. Without warning, without any surprise.

It wasn’t that she didn’t try hard enough; she simply wasn’t good enough, unable to meet their expectations. Yes, she worked hard, gave it her all, but she just wasn’t good enough. She couldn’t deliver what they wanted.

Looking at the 500 yuan in her hand, payment for a week of strenuous rehearsals, the money felt scorching. She loved money, but this was the first time she didn’t want it. What good was money? It wasn’t what she truly desired.

Yu Linna harbored a dream: to rise above her current predicament. Seeing Nangong Ying climb higher and higher, the distance between them growing, she felt increasingly uneasy. She wanted to catch up, to close the gap, but she couldn’t. She just couldn’t.

For the sake of survival, she had to accept the 500 yuan. Faced with the harsh realities of life, dreams were a luxury. She compromised, unsurprisingly. She felt disgusted with herself.

She put the money away, and somehow, a few tears fell onto her hand, dampening the red banknotes. Tears streamed down her face as she sat on a park swing, unable to control herself. She took out a tissue to wipe her tears, but they kept flowing. She looked up at the sky, the bright sun shining on her, the glistening teardrops sparkling.

Sometimes, she just didn’t understand why she couldn’t do anything right. She wanted to change her life, was that too much to ask? She just wanted to escape poverty; she hadn’t done anything wrong. And she had tried so hard, but fate never seemed to be on her side.

Yu Linna always cried, at the drop of a hat. It was probably her nature. Whenever she encountered something sad, she would cry.

At the Grand Theater, in the rehearsal hall, Shen Wenwen was the first to complain to the person in charge about Yu Linna’s sudden dismissal, finding it incomprehensible.

“Sir, I don’t understand your thinking. We’ve been rehearsing for so long, and now you’re replacing her just like that? Are you sure we can perform well tomorrow? Xiao Yu may lack experience, but she works hard. Can’t you give her a chance?”

Although Shen Wenwen initially didn’t think much of Yu Linna, even commenting that her acting lacked spirit, Yu Linna was still a child, and she didn’t have high expectations for her. It was the way the person in charge treated her, like an adult, that she found unreasonable.

After all, the girl worked so hard. Since she arrived, she hadn’t rested, choosing to spend all her time studying the script instead of socializing with the others. She even asked questions during breaks and didn’t slack off after going home.

Wasn’t all this effort to move forward, to get closer to Nangong Ying?

“Wenwen, calm down. It wasn’t easy for me to let her go either. She was recommended by Miss Huang, and out of courtesy, I kept her, but this child really can’t do it. She can’t act in a play; her clumsy acting just doesn’t cut it. If I continue to use her, the entire performance will be ruined!”

“But she tried hard! Can’t you give her a chance?!”

“Effort alone isn’t enough; I need results. In a performance, everyone works hard, not just her. If she can’t blend in with the rest, the entire performance will be ruined. I can’t let one weak link ruin the whole thing. You’re a professional actress; you understand this, don’t you?”

Shen Wenwen fell silent.

Indeed, no matter how she looked at it, she was the irrational one.

Seeing Yu Linna reminded her of her past self, always wanting to help others. But she knew, she couldn’t help her. Those without ability would be eliminated quickly; that was reality.

In the park, Yu Linna dried her tears and walked home alone. She had taken the day off, so she could go wherever she wanted. She had an extra 500 yuan in hand, enough for her expenses. She understood that this sadness was temporary; it would pass. She simply wasn’t skilled enough yet; she would gradually improve.

The streets were bustling with traffic and pedestrians. Yu Linna blended into the crowd. Crossing the road, at the commercial Times Square, a large screen displayed the live broadcast of the National Singing Competition.

Yu Linna crossed the street and looked at the live broadcast, captivated by the content. There were many pedestrians on the street, and many stopped to watch the broadcast. The National Singing Competition was famous nationwide and had a large audience. Many young people on the street stopped to watch the competition, the exciting content captivating them.

The National Singing Competition was nearing its end.

“Now, I announce that the champion of this year’s National Singing Competition is—! Nangong Ying from Guangnan City! A round of applause for the winner!”

Clap clap clap!!

Applause erupted on the screen, dazzling lights flashing on the stage, and the audience watching the live broadcast cheered. As a well-known national program, every year, the announcement of the champion was met with enthusiastic cheers. The champion of the National Singing Competition, what a prestigious title! It was a golden key to the entertainment industry.

Yu Linna looked up at the screen, a wave of sadness washing over her.

On the screen, Nangong Ying wore a beautiful gown, meticulously dressed, her beautiful blue hair styled in braids, her slender figure captivating many male viewers. Her expertly applied makeup was incomparable to the typical internet celebrity face; it was a natural beauty.

Compared to actresses in the entertainment industry, she was no less stunning. It was hard to imagine that this charismatic person was a nationally ranked athlete just a few years ago.

“Miss Nangong Ying, congratulations on becoming this year’s champion.”

“Thank you.”

Receiving the award on stage, Nangong Ying maintained a polite smile throughout, neither overly enthusiastic nor cold. This was Nangong Ying, a person with inherent pride.

“You’ve fought your way from a small city-level competition all the way to the nationals, unexpectedly winning the championship. You could be considered a dark horse in this competition. Can you share your thoughts on winning?”

“Of course. Actually, I didn’t prepare a speech, so I’ll just speak from the heart.”

The audience laughed, amused by the winning girl’s candidness. The atmosphere immediately lightened.

“I started taking music classes when I was five years old, after begging my mother for a long time. You could say I’ve been interested in music since I was young. Later, due to family reasons, I couldn’t continue and joined the martial arts team instead. Although I won awards there, it didn’t feel like what I wanted.”

She delivered her acceptance speech calmly, showing no stage fright, even improvising her words. This made many in the audience like her. The winning girl was young and beautiful, naturally attracting many fans.

“By participating in this competition, I wanted to fulfill my long-held dream of winning a championship. Now, my dream has come true. Although it’s many years late, I don’t think it’s too late at all. I’ve always wanted to express myself on stage, to show everyone a different side of me. I want to use this stage to tell my parents that I can do it.”

“Thank you for your speech.”

After the applause, the stage lights brightened, and music played. The spotlight shone on Nangong Ying, making her dazzling. She stood there, basking in the adoration of everyone. No one doubted her because she was the true protagonist, destined to shine.

Yu Linna watched her good friend, standing in the spotlight, surrounded by people, and she knew that the distance between them had truly widened.

She had known from the beginning that Nangong Ying and she weren’t the same. Nangong Ying was a genius, destined for the stage. Yu Linna wasn’t. She didn’t even have the chance to stand on stage; she could only watch from below.

She recalled her past experiences with Nangong Ying. In the beginning, Nangong Ying stood up for her when she was bullied by a few thugs. Afterward, they became friends, sharing everything. Nangong Ying always shone brightly, never stopping her forward momentum. But Yu Linna remained unchanged, stuck in the same place.

“Miss Nangong, is there anyone you’d like to thank in particular?”

“Of course. First, I want to thank my mother for supporting me in this competition, and also thank my father, thank you for trying to stop me from participating. If you hadn’t stopped me, how could a stubborn person like me have made it this far? Also, my music teacher, I have to thank her for teaching me music theory, and I want to thank my mentors for their guidance. Finally… I want to thank a friend. Although she didn’t come to Beijing, I still want to thank her.”

She paused, looking at the camera with sincere eyes.

“If you’re watching my live broadcast, I want to say thank you for being my friend. I’ll always be your support. Don’t forget to go for barbecue with me when I get back.”

Cheers, applause, and screams blended together. That statement was enough to fuel people’s imaginations.

Nangong Ying didn’t explain, just smiled.

Yu Linna lowered her head, tears falling one by one. Why would she do this? The gap between us is so wide, yet she still considers me a friend. It was too much. How could such a friend not be loved?

This feeling was truly complex. Seeing her pull ahead, she couldn’t feel any jealousy, only a simple wish that she could keep up.

Suddenly, a hand patted her shoulder. Yu Linna looked up and saw a woman wearing glasses standing before her.

“Aren’t you Yu Linna? What are you doing here? Today’s a day off.”

“…Miss Chen?”

A chance encounter, a new opportunity arose.

Chapter 22: Ruthless

She had, after all, come in through the back door. Not a formal actress, just a temporary one. And the daily pay wasn’t much. But she needed this job, even if it was temporary; she wanted to do well. She wanted to be closer to Nangong Ying. Seeing her friend drift further and further away, she felt increasingly uneasy. She also wanted to push herself forward.

The days of rehearsing the play weren’t long, but the performance was scheduled for a week later. Yu Linna worked hard to get into character, rehearsing with everyone. But it was always unsatisfactory; it was impossible to go through a rehearsal without stopping a dozen times.

During breaks, Yu Linna would personally consult Shen Wenwen with the script. Her role wasn’t big, but it served to advance the plot, so she took this performance seriously. As long as she performed well, her opportunities would increase. She had gotten in through the back door; if she didn’t cherish this opportunity, she might not have another one.

“You’re always deliberately imitating other people’s acting styles. Your performance just now seemed to be imitating a famous comedian. Trying too hard to imitate others makes your performance unnatural. And don’t you think your performance is awkward?”

“Then what should I do?”

“Be more natural. Don’t empty your mind; you’re a whole person. You need to enter the character’s inner world and understand who she is. Don’t deliberately act like a fool; that kind of performance isn’t good.”

As a senior, Shen Wenwen diligently guided her. She knew this girl had never acted before and patiently taught her. What surprised Shen Wenwen was that this girl who came in through the back door wasn’t as lazy as she imagined. On the contrary, she worked hard to learn new things.

Although the girl’s acting was terrible, devoid of emotion, her determination to work hard made Shen Wenwen not dislike her.

Yu Linna was troubled. She didn’t know how to immerse herself in acting; she only knew how to follow the script. She played the character as written, but her performance was too artificial, always feeling like herself.

This worried her.

How could she act effectively? How could she portray the female lead’s sidekick in a comedic way? She had to be both annoying and funny, a true test of acting skills. Was the person in charge deliberately making things difficult for her because she was new?

“Alright, rehearsal time, come over.”

With a call from the stage, Yu Linna had to go back to rehearsing. She would come to practice every day after school. Fortunately, they rehearsed until the evening, so she had enough time. And her role was small, not requiring her to be on stage for long; most of the spotlight was on the male and female leads. This prevented the rehearsal from slowing down too much.

Yu Linna got into character, forgetting her own identity, following Shen Wenwen’s guidance, trying not to imitate, and performing naturally.

“Sister Zhuzi, that Qian Beisha is clearly match-fixing, why don’t you expose him? You’re not that kind of person!”

“Xiao Yu, stop talking, I know what I’m doing.”

During the official rehearsal, Shen Wenwen, playing the female lead, and Yu Linna were acting opposite each other, reaching the middle of the story. In this scene, the female lead started to develop feelings for the male lead, having evidence but choosing not to expose his match-fixing. Naturally, her sidekick became suspicious.

“Sister Zhuzi, could it be that you’re…”

“Xiao Yu, don’t talk nonsense! How could I like that jerk?! Impossible!”

“What, you like him?”

“Ah… no, no, no! I said I don’t like huntun (dumplings in soup)! They taste awful! By the way, what were you saying just now?”

“Oh, it was huntun. Sister Zhuzi, are you not exposing Qian Beisha because he threatened you? It’s okay, I’ll ask my dad to deal with him. My dad is the mayor of Tomato City…”

“What, your dad is the mayor?!”

“…The mayor’s assistant.”

“…”

This part of the rehearsal was a comedic scene, heavily relying on the actors’ improvisation. Because their main task was to make the audience laugh, it demanded high-level acting skills.

Shen Wenwen’s performance was not bad, naturally bringing out the comedic effect. But Yu Linna still had major problems. Despite being a comedy, her performance was still awkward. She forced herself to act silly, deliberately playing the fool. She tried hard for comedic effect, but the result was neither fish nor fowl, the difference between her and Shen Wenwen stark.

“Stop, stop, stop! Xiao Yu, what are you doing?! You’re playing a character, not a lunatic! Don’t act like a crazy person, be normal!”

The person in charge was so angry after the rehearsal, not knowing what she was doing. As expected of a temporary actress who came in through the back door, she had no talent at all.

“If you don’t have the skills, if you can’t act well, you should just leave. If it weren’t for Miss Huang, I wouldn’t even want you here! You’re infuriating!”

The person in charge angrily sat down on a chair. When he got angry, he would blurt out things he shouldn’t say, showing how upset he was. The performance was approaching, but the rehearsal was still a mess; how could he not be angry? If this were the first day, it would be fine, but the problem was that Yu Linna had been here for three days and still acted like a clueless fool.

Although it was her first time acting, she didn’t even have a decent stage presence; what could he show the audience? It was truly infuriating. When Huang Jinglin called him to take in a girl as a temporary actress, he thought he had found a treasure, as he was short of actors at the time. But he truly didn’t expect Yu Linna to be so useless, unable to do anything right. Although she was pretty, her appearance outstanding, the problem was that she couldn’t act! Without acting skills, stage presence was meaningless!

Yu Linna, repeatedly criticized, felt discouraged. Was she really not suited for acting?

Thinking that she wanted to follow Nangong Ying’s path and not live a mediocre life, she gritted her teeth and persevered. After all, only hard work could be her way out. She had nothing and wanted to climb high; it was impossible without putting in the effort. She wanted too much, didn’t want to live in poverty, so when the opportunity came, she seized it without hesitation, just wanting to climb up quickly.

But was her hard work truly useful?

“Xiao Yu, he just speaks without thinking, don’t take it to heart. Come, let me teach you again. You’ll get used to it gradually, don’t worry.”

Seeing her like this, Shen Wenwen couldn’t help but soften. Yu Linna’s helpless and powerless appearance, unable to retort, reminded her of herself when she first graduated.

Upon graduating, Shen Wenwen went to Beijing to pursue her dream of becoming a star. She worked hard, going from one film crew to another, starting as an extra, everything from scratch. She was scolded by directors countless times, unable to do anything right, unable to retort. She could only endure, silently bear it. But even so, opportunity didn’t favor her. No matter how hard she tried, how desperately she worked, she still couldn’t climb up. During her most difficult times, even paying rent was a problem.

Later, she left Beijing, no longer striving in that big city. Not because she gave up on her dream, but because she realized that even with hard work, it was useless. Good resources were only given to others; an actress without money or connections like her had no chance. She came to South China, joined a drama troupe, and became a theater actress. Her dream was still alive, but she knew that she couldn’t return to Beijing anytime soon. She had to start from the bottom in the drama troupe, waiting for the day she could shine.

Precisely because of this experience, she felt more sympathy for Yu Linna. This young girl, harboring a glimmer of hope, came here with more than just a playful attitude. Judging by her attitude, she was at least sincere. Although Shen Wenwen felt that this girl had no acting talent at all, she still didn’t want to discourage her.

After all, they were both dreamers.

“Sister Shen, please teach me again, I’ll work hard. Please, give me a chance.”

Yu Linna quickly recovered; she knew she couldn’t afford to be discouraged. She had to climb up, didn’t want to be abandoned, she was afraid. Therefore, she cherished every opportunity.

“Get ready, start rehearsal!”

After several attempts, Yu Linna remained humble and eager to learn, asking questions whenever she didn’t understand, striving to improve herself. However, sometimes, hard work wasn’t enough. It didn’t mean that effort would always be rewarded.

The person in charge watched for a long time. Yu Linna’s performance was truly terrible. She had no comedic timing, and her attempts at humor were awkward. If it were a drama, it wouldn’t be a problem. But they were doing a comedy, which heavily relied on acting skills. Without acting skills, it couldn’t be called a comedy.

Time flew by, and the performance was fast approaching. Yu Linna spent a week rehearsing, practicing diligently, studying the script at home, analyzing the character’s inner thoughts, all to better portray her role. Although she lacked talent, everyone could see her hard work. Initially, they thought she was just someone who came in through the back door and didn’t think much of her, but seeing her constantly asking Shen Wenwen for advice during breaks, even pulling Mario and others aside after rehearsal, her serious attitude towards acting, like her approach to studying, showed her dedication.

The day before the performance, Yu Linna specifically took a day off to rehearse at the theater, reading the script and practicing her lines early in the morning. She worked incredibly hard to play her role well, even surprising Shen Wenwen, who realized that this girl was truly dedicated.

But…

Was all this effort truly useful?

“Xiao Yu, come here for a moment.”

“What is it, sir?”

Called by the person in charge, Yu Linna didn’t put down her script but held it as she approached him. Seeing the serious expression on his face, she sensed something was wrong, but she hoped she was just overthinking it.

“The performance is tomorrow, and your acting is still not up to par. I’ve thought about it, and it’s better that you don’t go on stage tomorrow. You’ll just be wasting time.”

“…What… what are you saying…?”

These words stunned everyone present. Shen Wenwen even put down her script, unable to believe what she just heard.

She had been here for so long and had never seen the person in charge dismiss an actor.

“I’ve borrowed someone from the sketch comedy troupe to replace you tomorrow. You’re really not suitable for the stage; you don’t have the talent. Thank you for your hard work these past few days. Since you were recommended by Miss Huang, I’ll compensate you. Your time this week wasn’t wasted. I’ll ask my assistant to give you the rehearsal fee. You can go home now, you don’t need to practice today.”

Perhaps, as they said, Yu Linna was simply not cut out for acting. She wasn’t meant to shine on stage, simply because she lacked her own unique qualities.

But wasn’t this also good? She still got paid. Yu Linna smiled, but it wasn’t a happy smile.

Chapter 21: A New Job

Poverty continued to plague the young girl. Although she wasn’t starving, she was still poor. Seeing things she wanted to buy but couldn’t afford, seeing food she wanted to eat but could only swallow her saliva, this feeling was quite unpleasant. Yu Linna desperately wanted to find a well-paying job to overcome this crisis.

As rent day approached, along with overdue utility bills, Yu Linna felt a headache coming on. How could she solve this problem? Borrowing money was out of the question; she didn’t know if she could even pay it back. More importantly, she had no one to borrow from.

“Sigh…”

Another day, once again awakened by poverty. Seeing her friend Nangong Ying getting closer and closer to her dream, the distance between them growing wider, Yu Linna felt uneasy. She also wanted to find something to do, preferably a decent job.

She somehow recalled her experience as an extra. Since that lucky break, Yu Linna hadn’t had any such fortunate events. Could such a windfall happen again?

But opportunities were earned, so Yu Linna still wanted to try her luck. She called Huang Jinglin, inquiring about extra work. At first, Huang Jinglin was truly impatient. She was so busy every day; how could she care about a talentless vase? But remembering that her friend Chen Xi had recommended this girl as an extra, even she, a discerning host, paid attention to her because of her friend.

Indeed, by her standards, Yu Linna absolutely didn’t meet them. She had no talent, only a pretty face, nothing else. Huang Jinglin definitely looked down on her.

But Chen Xi did have a point; this girl’s appearance was suitable for being on camera. After all, she had experience in the industry; giving young people a chance wasn’t a bad thing.

“Alright, I have a job for you. Go act in a play. The Grand Theater is short-staffed; you can try out there.”

“Thank you so much!”

No matter what, this was an opportunity! An opportunity Yu Linna actively sought!

As long as she could earn more money, what did it matter if she appeared on stage more often? She was a gold digger; there was nothing wrong with earning money. And she was also a person with dreams; there was nothing wrong with pursuing them. She was striving for her dreams.

Yu Linna got ready early and went out wearing a black tracksuit, her tacky outfit begging for ridicule. If not for her attractive appearance, her dreadful fashion sense would have been a disaster. But Yu Linna didn’t have the money to buy new clothes, so this outfit was understandable.

Following the address Huang Jinglin gave her, the girl transferred buses and subways several times, traveling for over an hour before finally arriving at the Grand Theater. Located in a bustling district in the city center, surrounded by skyscrapers, the glass reflections mirrored the vehicles on the road. Even during the day, the advertisement lights were eye-catching. Under the overpass, pedestrians formed a picturesque scene.

Standing among the bustling crowd, the girl seemed out of place, like a resident of another world, struggling to find her direction, unable to find her place.

She took a deep breath and entered the Grand Theater, led by the staff to the rehearsal area.

The Grand Theater in the city center had always been the top choice for theatergoers. Every week, new stage plays and dramas were performed, attracting theater enthusiasts, mostly in their forties and fifties. With the development of the film industry, few young people went to the theater. After all, for young people, excitement was the priority.

Yu Linna’s introduction here was also out of necessity. The theater was indeed short-staffed. Without recruiting more people, it would be difficult to stage the plays. After entering through the back door, Yu Linna followed the staff inside, changed into her costume, and went on stage without any makeup.

“This is Xiao Yu, our new member. Starting today, she’ll be rehearsing with everyone. For next week’s performance, please work hard!”

The person in charge briefly introduced Yu Linna, had her join the group, and then prepared for rehearsal. This was Yu Linna’s first time performing in a play, and she was a bit nervous. But for this promising job, she forced herself to calm down.

“Welcome to the Happy Fries family! I’m Shen Wenwen, an actress at this theater. I hope you can adapt to life here quickly.”

“Hello, I’m Mario, you can call me Brother Ma.”

“I’m Ai Xiansen.”

The members of this drama troupe were all adults, working professionals, completely different from a high school kid like her. Moreover, the main members were all graduates of professional acting academies, formal actors. They probably gave up on the film and television industry and turned to theater because their acting careers weren’t going well.

Yu Linna had a good first impression of these people. At least they weren’t indifferent to her like Huang Jinglin. Although everyone knew she got in through the back door, they didn’t exclude her, accepting her with a friendly attitude. This eased the nervous girl’s anxiety.

“Little Yu, have you acted before?”

“N-no… I only had one opportunity as a featured extra, appearing on screen for a few seconds.”

“So, zero experience? Then you’re in danger. Acting isn’t as simple as you think. But we can teach you gradually. Acting is something that requires accumulation.”

When it came to acting, Yu Linna had absolutely no experience. Playing a compelling character was quite difficult. Since she was starting from scratch, she might as well start from the beginning.

Happy Fries was a drama troupe that had been performing at the Grand Theater for a long time, gaining some fame in the city. Their plays were always excellent, often hilarious and thought-provoking. Coincidentally, their contract with the Grand Theater was about to expire, meaning they might soon leave this theater and move elsewhere.

Digressing a bit, Yu Linna had at least gotten an opportunity to act here. But she knew nothing about acting, didn’t know how to perform. The script they gave her this time was about match-fixing, a comedy by theater standards. However, it also contained thought-provoking elements. Of course, the most appealing aspect of this script was the comedic scenes.

The play mainly told the story of a match-fixing male protagonist and a female reporter dedicated to exposing him. The story was clichéd, nothing surprising. But it emphasized comedic performance, and the actors’ coordination was crucial.

“Alright, let’s start rehearsing. Newcomer, get ready, it’s your turn!”

“Yes!”

After calming down, Yu Linna walked onto the stage as instructed. Her assigned role was Shen Wenwen’s sidekick, the assistant to the female reporter, who was the female lead. When the female lead confronted the male lead, she was responsible for causing trouble in the background, but her attempts at helping only made things worse, leading to a series of comedic situations.

Acting in a comedy was much more difficult than a drama. Comedy required high-level acting skills. As a newcomer, could Yu Linna handle such a role? Although uneasy, she was determined to do it. This was a hard-earned opportunity, and by seizing it, she could get one step closer to catching up with Nangong Ying!

After rehearsal began, Shen Wenwen, playing the female lead, was outstanding. She perfectly grasped the comedic timing, her acting skills effortless and much better than many young actors in the entertainment industry. It was strange that someone with such good acting skills would condescend to perform in a play.

Mario, playing the scumbag male lead, although not as good as Shen Wenwen, was also stable, without any major mistakes. He handled the comedic scenes with ease.

However, when it was Yu Linna’s turn to rehearse, problems arose.

As mentioned earlier, Yu Linna was acting for the first time and didn’t understand many things. You couldn’t expect someone without professional training to play a role well. Yu Linna’s lines were recited like an elementary school student reading a textbook, stiff and emotionless. More importantly, despite being a comedy, her performance was incredibly awkward, worse than a drama.

“Stop, stop, stop, again! Xiao Yu, your expressions aren’t right! You need to be more engaged, let go of your inhibitions, and fully immerse yourself in the role! Again!”

After being scolded, Yu Linna felt ashamed, but for the sake of the rehearsal, she still tried her best to play her role. After all, this was a hard-earned opportunity; she didn’t want to let it slip away.

Despite Shen Wenwen’s personal guidance, her performance didn’t improve at all, remaining painfully awkward. Even the other actors were helpless. They were acting seriously, while Yu Linna seemed like she was deliberately trying to sabotage the play.

After all, she got in through the back door and naturally knew nothing about acting. How could she perform well? The only thing commendable about her was her appearance. Not to mention, her physical attributes were indeed advantageous. If she were on stage, the audience would naturally be drawn to her, creating a good visual effect.

But plays weren’t about looks. If the overall story wasn’t good, it wouldn’t attract anyone.

A day passed without much progress. After rehearsal, the person in charge was practically fuming. This Yu Linna was like a dead pig, not a single decent performance all day.

“Sister Shen, is Xiao Yu’s situation really okay?”

Ai Xiansen was worried about the newcomer. According to what he heard, this little girl got in through the back door and had no acting experience. So, she couldn’t possibly give a stunning performance. She was no different from a complete novice.

As the pillar of the drama troupe, Shen Wenwen naturally knew the importance of acting skills to the overall play. Without solid acting, only having good looks was useless.

“That child… to be frank, her acting is completely devoid of spirit, no feeling at all. Although she’s trying hard to get into character, no matter how she acts, it’s still just her. It doesn’t feel like she’s playing the character from the script.”

Shen Wenwen hit the nail on the head, showing no mercy. She naturally knew about Yu Linna’s situation and didn’t intend to sugarcoat it. After all, she was just stating facts.

“So, Sister Shen, what do you mean?”

“Although it’s not nice to say, but her stiff performance really makes me feel that she’s not suitable to be an actress.”

She said what no one else had dared to say.

All along, many people said Yu Linna had great looks, suitable for the entertainment industry. And Shen Wenwen was the first person to say that Yu Linna wasn’t suitable to be an actress.

Whether it was true or not, no one could have predicted.

Chapter 20: Please, Make It Yuri!

Yu Linna had considered her future more than once. Given her current situation, entering society early was the most practical option. For someone like her, just surviving was already a challenge. Adding school to the mix seemed redundant. Ideals were built upon a foundation of basic necessities.

“You’d better think it through.”

“I’ve already thought it through.”

“You’re so smart, wouldn’t it be a waste not to go to university? With your abilities, you could get into a good university!”

“Only if I could afford it…”

Like countless impoverished students in China, it wasn’t that Yu Linna didn’t want to study, but she simply couldn’t afford it. Of course, she knew that life without a university education felt incomplete. And in her past life, she lived for such a short time, not even making it to university. She naturally wanted to experience it in this life.

But facing reality, she gave up.

“My family’s situation isn’t good. We really can’t afford it. I’m thinking of finding a full-time job after high school. That’s the most practical option.”

Hearing her speak about her situation in a seemingly lighthearted tone, Fang Jiayi’s expression turned serious, and the atmosphere around them changed. The previous harmony was now replaced by a heavy silence that filled the pink room.

She had heard that Yu Linna’s family situation wasn’t good, but she didn’t expect it to be this serious. Would a normal family be so poor that they couldn’t afford university? As long as they had a stable income and a decent life, they could generally afford their children’s university education. Unless they were truly destitute.

Yu Linna seemed to be in that situation.

Fang Jiayi didn’t feel comfortable prying into her personal matters. After all, she was just an outsider, not qualified to interfere too much. Besides, what was their relationship? Friends, at most. She couldn’t solve all of Yu Linna’s problems.

“Well, if that’s what you think, I won’t say more. But Linna, the college entrance exam is still some time away. You can wait until after the exam to make a decision.”

“Mm.”

Yu Linna nodded silently, seeming to take her words to heart. Although she didn’t think it would change anything.

After that, the two girls fell silent, the previously lively atmosphere gone. Yu Linna quietly found a spot to read manga, no longer speaking, reverting to her usual aloof demeanor at school. Fang Jiayi felt awkward. She had finally invited a classmate over, but they barely interacted.

Helplessly, Fang Jiayi turned on her desktop computer, opened her video editing software, downloaded a few videos, and prepared to edit them together. She had to release another commentary video soon. As a famous uploader on Bilibili, regular updates were her responsibility. Moreover, she had promised her fans a commentary video on an old anime, which she had been procrastinating on. She was finally starting on it now.

At first, Yu Linna just saw the little angel editing videos and didn’t pay much attention. Many people edited videos these days; it wasn’t difficult. Anyone with a little skill could create decent videos. She simply considered it a hobby of Fang Jiayi’s.

Until Fang Jiayi put on her headphones and tested the microphone.

“Ahem, hello everyone, I’m the fighter among the dregs, Dancing Angel, and today I’m going to talk about a 2004 anime… Hmm? Seems like there’s something wrong with the microphone.”

Fang Jiayi checked her microphone; it didn’t seem quite right. Maybe she had been using it for too long, and the sound quality wasn’t as good as before. It seemed she needed a new one. Although a new one would be expensive, for the sake of future livestreams and videos, it was a necessary expense.

“Wait a minute, Fang Jiayi!”

“Hmm?”

The little angel took off her headphones, looking puzzled.

Yu Linna had put down her manga, taken out her crappy phone, opened the Bilibili app, logged into her account, and searched for the uploader she followed. After scrolling for a bit, she found the name “Dancing Angel.”

“Holy shit, you’re ‘Little Angel’?!”

“Pfft, so you follow me, emmm…”

The little angel was quite surprised. Her deskmate actually followed her Bilibili account. But it made sense; she was also a hidden otaku, also liked anime. Since they were in the same circle, it wasn’t surprising that she had a Bilibili account.

“Dancing Angel” was the account Fang Jiayi used on Bilibili. Initially, she didn’t have many followers, but riding the wave of Bilibili’s growth, her fame grew. Now, she was a rare female uploader on Bilibili, quite well-known in the otaku community. In a sea of male uploaders, Fang Jiayi was a breath of fresh air, affectionately called “Little Angel” by her fans.

“You’re really Little Angel? Wow, your voice is a bit different from your videos!”

“I use a voice changer, so it’s not surprising that there’s a difference.”

“I’ve watched many of your videos.”

“Thanks for the support.”

“Can I have your autograph?”

“Emm, sure. But I’m telling you, don’t sell my autograph.”

“…Okay.”

Yu Linna originally wanted to sell the autograph for profit, but her scheme was seen through.

However, it was quite surprising that her deskmate was a famous Bilibili uploader. If she hadn’t seen her making videos, she wouldn’t have known. This deskmate was truly hiding her talents! She thought Fang Jiayi was just an ordinary girl, but she was actually a hidden boss. It turned out that she, Yu Linna, was the real loser!

Fang Jiayi was the happiest. She hadn’t expected her deskmate, Yu Linna, to be an otaku and even follow her account, watching her videos regularly. In other words, Yu Linna was her fan! Deskmate turned fan, this feeling was amazing! The previously unattainable ice queen was actually her fan! How impressive it would be to tell her friends.

“Um, Fang Jiayi… since you’re Little Angel, can I talk to you about Bilibili?”

“Of course. Isn’t that why you came here, to discuss anime with me?”

“Then I won’t hold back! Little Angel, please, make a commentary video on a yuri anime, please!”

“Huh?”

Seeing Yu Linna kneel before her, Fang Jiayi was taken aback. As an anime commentator, she usually focused on anime with many flaws, often of questionable quality. Of course, she also covered good quality anime, but among so many videos, she didn’t seem to have done any yuri anime commentaries.

“My favorite anime, Kon, no one has ever done a commentary on it. It’s such a good anime, why hasn’t anyone covered it? It’s an outrage! So, Fang Jiayi, as my good deskmate, please, make a commentary video on Kon, please?!”

“Th-this…”

What the heck? Asking her to comment on a yuri anime?

Although she didn’t have any prejudice against yuri anime, having watched a few light yuri series herself, she had never done a commentary on one! A female uploader commenting on yuri anime, was that really appropriate?!

“Calm down…”

“I won’t get up until you agree!”

“Th-this… okay, okay, I agree, alright?”

Only after the little angel agreed did Yu Linna reveal a satisfied smile. Today was truly a lucky day. Not only did she discover that her favorite uploader was her deskmate, but she even got her to owe her a video. The commentary video she had always wanted to see would soon become a reality.

Yu Linna was a yuri anime fan!

Fang Jiayi, on the other hand, had a headache. A yuri anime commentary, she had never done one before. And as a female uploader doing this kind of commentary, would her fans think she was gay?

Due to face, she didn’t want to say it directly.

Yu Linna, immersed in happiness, opened WeChat, wanting to browse her Moments, when she received a message from Nangong Ying.

“I’ve advanced to the national competition! The competition is in two days, and there will be a live broadcast. You can watch it on xxxx.”

Seeing this message, Yu Linna felt a pang of something.

Nangong Ying had actually made it to the national competition, going to the furthest place, as expected. The national singing competition was held in Beijing, far away from here, and Nangong Ying was there now. The place Yu Linna once wanted to go, Nangong Ying had reached it before her.

Thinking that her friend had gone so far, while she was still stuck at the bottom, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of disparity. Yu Linna originally wanted to reach greater heights through other means, but she realized it seemed impossible.

“What’s wrong? You don’t seem happy.”

“No, I’m happy… Nangong is going to participate in the national competition. I’m happy for her.”

Yu Linna brushed aside her feelings of disappointment, putting on a smile to mask her true emotions.

“Nangong? I heard from people at school that she’s participating in a singing competition and even advanced to the provincials. Is she at the nationals now?”

“Yeah, she just sent me a message, see?”

“That’s amazing. As expected, geniuses are different from us. It’s been years since someone from our area made it to the national competition. She’s truly bringing honor to us.”

Yes, the gap between them was growing.

Even Yu Linna had to admit that the distance between her and Nangong Ying was constantly widening and would continue to grow. In the future, Nangong Ying would reach higher and further places, while she could only stay where she was. She was different from Nangong Ying; she didn’t train from a young age, so she couldn’t become like her.

“Linna, you don’t look well, what’s wrong?”

“…Nothing, just feeling a bit emotional. Nangong is moving so fast, if I’m not careful, I’ll only see her back.”

This feeling of being left behind wasn’t pleasant.

But the naive Yu Linna didn’t know that her future was even more unpredictable.

Chapter 19: A Visit

Fang Jiayi’s home wasn’t far from their workplace. A four- or five-stop bus ride followed by a kilometer walk, and they arrived. Her home was in a residential complex, and the interior was nicely decorated, though not extravagant.

The apartment was quite spacious, and Yu Linna’s eyes lit up, captivated by the sight. Such a beautiful and large apartment, if only it were hers! It was a stark contrast to her own cheap, small, and run-down single room, without even an air conditioner! There was simply no comparison!

“You seem to like my place.”

Fang Jiayi locked the door and chuckled.

“Rich lady, do you need a kept man? I can warm your bed, please take me in!”

“Ah…”

Yu Linna shamelessly hugged her soft thigh, practically kneeling and calling her “mommy.”

Although Fang Jiayi wasn’t extremely wealthy, she didn’t have to worry about basic necessities. Her family was relatively well-off, and her father had a respectable job. Because Fang Jiayi had a stable monthly income, her parents stopped giving her an allowance long ago. Otherwise, why would she resort to working a part-time job?

“Jiayi, you brought a friend home?”

“Yes, Mom, this is my deskmate, Yu Linna.”

Fang Jiayi’s mother was a woman in her forties. Well-maintained, she didn’t look too old, but the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes revealed her age. She was a school beauty in her youth, and her daughter naturally inherited her good looks. Looking at Fang Jiayi, it was clear they were related.

“Hello, Auntie, I’m Jiayi’s classmate.”

Visiting someone’s home for the first time, Yu Linna still knew proper etiquette and politely greeted her.

“Hello, you’re such a cute girl. Are you mixed-race?”

“Ah… this…”

Yu Linna touched her blonde hair, unsure how to answer.

Speaking of her deceased parents, she didn’t know where she came from, completely clueless about her roots. But her household registration was indeed from China.

“Well, sort of.”

Whether it was true or not, she might as well admit it. After all, she did look mixed-race.

Fang Jiayi’s mother didn’t question it further, simply finding the girl adorable, like a doll. Her own daughter was overshadowed standing next to her, which showed that this Yu Linna had good genes.

Fang Jiayi led her into her room. Whether in her past or present life, Yu Linna rarely had the chance to enter a girl’s room. This was a rare opportunity. She was slightly excited, wondering how to present herself in front of another girl.

However, she clearly forgot how coldly she treated her deskmate at school.

“You seem nervous. What, is this your first time visiting a classmate’s home?”

“Ahem… this… n-no, it’s not the first time…”

“Alright, come in.” (laughs)

Fang Jiayi’s room was decorated in pink. On the dressing table were lotions, toners, and other skincare products, all expensive brands that Yu Linna couldn’t afford. Besides these, Fang Jiayi also had a small bookcase filled with figures, including female characters from popular anime and male characters from mainstream anime. This made Yu Linna, a fellow anime fan, excited.

“Wow, you even have the limited edition Iron Spider figure! This is so expensive! I remember the deposit alone was three thousand yuan!”

Yu Linna admired the Spider-Man figure displayed on the shelf. This limited edition figure, only one thousand made worldwide and distributed from the US, was a true collector’s item. The import tax alone was exorbitant; no one would buy such a luxurious item without spending at least twenty or thirty thousand yuan.

“Yeah, I got lucky this year and managed to snag one. Such a precious figure, I’ll definitely pass it down as a family heirloom!”

“Damn, I’m so jealous! Capitalism is so evil! I want one too!”

As a poor person, Yu Linna couldn’t afford a figure; she couldn’t even afford a bootleg, let alone a collection. But it didn’t matter, looking at other people’s figures was satisfying enough, and with so many figures, if she came here often, she could see them anytime!

“Wow! Isn’t this an authentic One Piece figure? And the Thousand Sunny! So big!”

“I have more~”

“Whoa, the legendary discontinued Goku figure! Damn, how did you get your hands on this?!”

“Hehe, jealous?”

“Ugh, super jealous!”

Fang Jiayi was truly a queen among otaku. So many items, some of which were hard to come by, who knew how she got them? Yu Linna was practically drooling just looking at them. She took out her phone and frantically took pictures. Although she couldn’t own these figures, preserving them as photos was good enough.

“But, I really didn’t expect you to be into anime, Fang Jiayi?”

“Yeah, I like it quite a bit. Although I’ve never mentioned it, I’m a die-hard otaku!”

“Nonsense, an otaku can’t be a pretty girl!”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Fang Jiayi hummed a tune and pulled a few manga volumes from her bookcase, handing them to Yu Linna. She hadn’t expected Yu Linna to be a hidden otaku as well. Based on her behavior at school, she didn’t seem like the type to be into otaku culture at all. A top student in every subject, a hidden otaku, how strange.

Yet, it was true.

“I heard this manga is hard to get. You even have this? I couldn’t find the Chinese translation after the third chapter when I searched online before, and now you have the whole set.”

“I bought it from Taiwan. I was lucky; I happened to find a store that sold it. I heard this manga was published in Taiwan.”

Yu Linna couldn’t put the manga down. She felt like she had entered heaven.

“You’re truly an angel!”

She didn’t hold back her praise.

So many otaku goods, such a rich collection, wasn’t this Yu Linna’s dream? She had also dreamed of having such a collection, filling her room with her favorite figures, creating her own sanctuary.

But Fang Jiayi had made it a reality!

“If you like, I can lend you a few volumes. You can take them home and read them slowly.”

“Ugh, you must be an angel from heaven.”

“It’s not that exaggerated.”

Fang Jiayi laughed cheerfully. She enjoyed being praised, especially by her deskmate.

She remembered the beginning of their third year when they were assigned as deskmates. Initially, Yu Linna was difficult to approach, keeping her distance, always indifferent. She only focused on taking notes during class and completing her tests perfectly.

In their third year, they faced mountains of test papers, often causing Fang Jiayi to frown. Yu Linna, however, was unfazed, finishing her tests quickly and leaving early after submitting them. When it came to studying, Yu Linna was unmatched. Fang Jiayi wanted to befriend her, but she always refused. Until one day, Fang Jiayi offered to treat her to milk tea, and from then on, Yu Linna became much more approachable.

“By the way, Linna, the rankings are out, have you seen them?”

“Not yet, what place am I?”

“Same as before, you’re still first in our class. However… you dropped to third in the grade rankings for liberal arts students.”

“What?!”

Yu Linna dropped the manga, grabbed Fang Jiayi’s collar, and shook her, demanding an explanation.

“Third place? How could I drop?!”

“I don’t know… Maybe because you’ve taken too many days off recently, and you didn’t keep up with the review. The homeroom teacher is very angry, saying that our class lost the top spot to the next class.”

Yu Linna collapsed onto the bed, almost beating her chest. She had been placed in the advanced class with high expectations. Now that she didn’t get first place, wouldn’t the homeroom teacher skin her alive?

It’s over, it’s definitely over. The homeroom teacher wouldn’t let her off the hook.

“Are you okay, Linna?”

“No…”

“Well, just go with the flow.”

What else could Fang Jiayi do? It was Yu Linna’s own fault for slacking off. Unaware of the full situation, she assumed Yu Linna had wasted too much time on part-time jobs, neglecting her studies. She didn’t know why Yu Linna had to work so many jobs.

“By the way, Linna, you originally tested into City Experimental High School, right?”

“Yeah, I met their admission requirements during the high school entrance exam. Getting in wouldn’t have been a problem. But the principal of our school contacted me personally, wanting me to attend their school.”

Speaking of what happened three years ago, Yu Linna still remembered it clearly. With her scores, entering Experimental High School wouldn’t have been difficult. The principal contacted her, wanting her to attend City High School. Initially, she refused, until he offered a condition:

He would waive her tuition for three years, including miscellaneous fees and all other additional charges. She wouldn’t have to pay for any school activities, a privilege not offered to other students. Yu Linna was tempted. Three years of high school, no fees at all, she just had to attend. After much hesitation, she agreed.

And so, Yu Linna became a student at City High School.

“The principal values you so much, what will happen if your grades drop?”

“I don’t know, the principal said as long as I stay in the top three in every major exam, he’ll guarantee me three years of trouble-free schooling. I haven’t broken the agreement yet.”

“So, what are your plans for the future? Which university do you want to attend?”

Yu Linna had pondered this question more than once.

Where would she go in the future? What kind of person would she become? She truly didn’t know. But her recent experiences gave her a hint of what kind of person she should become.

“Maybe… I won’t go to university…?”

She wasn’t lying. She had seriously considered this. In Yu Linna’s current situation, even if she got into a good university, so what? Could she afford the tuition? She would rather start working early and solve her basic needs as soon as possible.

“Are you kidding?”

Fang Jiayi, however, was hearing this for the first time. She was dumbfounded, repeatedly asking for confirmation, hoping she was joking. But Yu Linna showed no signs of jesting.

Chapter 18: Coincidence

One competition followed another, and she tirelessly went through each one. For her, competitions were just personal showcases, and few could match her. Thus, she effortlessly passed the provincial competition and successfully qualified for the nationals.

This was good news for her. She had long wanted to perform on a bigger stage, to be noticed by more people, and this fulfilled her wish. But this wasn’t enough; she had to keep moving forward, until she won the national championship. Only then would her mission be complete.

After she passed the competition, Li Yuexin specifically sought her out. This famous star repeatedly approached her, making Nangong Ying surprised and suspicious of her motives. They were complete strangers; why was she trying to get close?

“Why? I’m here to see you, and you don’t seem happy.”

“No, a big star coming to see a nobody like me, I’m overjoyed.”

Just how much of that joy was genuine, though, was unknown.

Li Yuexin had anticipated this reaction. It was understandable; anyone would find it strange. A newly famous star specifically interacting with an unknown girl was indeed a bit odd.

“To be honest, I’m optimistic about your future.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes, that’s it.”

Li Yuexin was sincere; she wasn’t lying. She did admire Nangong Ying’s talent, but she also had ulterior motives. She wanted her band to thrive. The band currently relied on her fame, which wasn’t sustainable in the long run.

“Come in and have a seat.”

Nangong Ying invited her into the hotel room, offering her a chair. Nangong Ying herself sat on the bed, wanting to see how Li Yuexin would try to persuade her.

“Don’t worry, I don’t plan to persuade you so easily. After all, we’re not close yet.”

“Then why…?”

“Just because we’re not close now doesn’t mean we won’t be in the future. Nangong Ying, you’re a promising talent, and you need fertile ground to grow. I saw your information; you used to be an athlete, winning so many trophies at such a young age. I wasn’t as good as you back then. You had the potential to become an excellent athlete, but you gave up your athletic career.”

“Nothing special, I just didn’t want to do it anymore. It was too tiring.”

She didn’t say that she gave up being an athlete because she didn’t want to follow in her father’s footsteps. That reason was for her to know. She wasn’t famous yet; it wasn’t the right time to reveal it.

“You’re joking, right? Do you think participating in these large-scale competitions isn’t tiring? Those are just excuses. But I won’t dwell on your past. I only know that you have the ability and the potential that’s worth nurturing.”

Nangong Ying sighed deeply. She knew Li Yuexin wouldn’t easily believe her excuses.

This was all within her expectations.

“By the way, Nangong Ying, you mentioned before that you came to the competition with a friend, right?”

“Yes, she’s my good friend. We came together, but unfortunately, she didn’t advance with me.”

When speaking of her friend Yu Linna, Nangong Ying’s furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and her serious expression softened.

“When you win the national championship, do you want to celebrate with your friend?”

“No, I’ll celebrate with her privately when I get back. That’s between us. If you want to have a gathering with more people, please do it before I go back home.”

“You’re really not giving me any face.”

Li Yuexin sighed. This Nangong Ying was so straightforward, showing no tact. Even though she was so obvious, Nangong Ying still didn’t take the hint. It was understandable; she was still a newbie, unfamiliar with social niceties. If she understood them, she wouldn’t be Nangong Ying.

“Miss Li, I respect you because you’re a public figure, and I don’t want to embarrass you. But please don’t interfere in my private life.”

“No problem, I’ll remember that.”

Li Yuexin smiled.

This matter required patience, a process. Haste makes waste. She had come so far; she could afford to wait.

“By the way, have you considered entering the entertainment industry? With your abilities, I think you’d do well.”

Perhaps she just said it casually, and no one took it seriously.

But who knew what consequences those words would bring? No one could have imagined. But Nangong Ying remembered those words, every single one of them. No one realized that this sentence foreshadowed a certain outcome.

Far away in South China, Yu Linna was completely unaware of what was happening. She was still worried about her living expenses. Although she had a job at the tutoring center, the salary was far from enough to meet her growing needs. She worked several part-time jobs, but aside from the tutoring center, none of them lasted long. Often, the bosses, fed up with her frequent absences due to other commitments, would fire her.

Not long ago, she lost two jobs. Fortunately, she found new ones, but her situation hadn’t improved much.

“Ugh, I wish I were rich…”

That day, Yu Linna sat at the convenience store counter, slumped over like a salted fish. The impending due dates for rent and utilities, as constantly reminded by the landlady, filled her with dread. She didn’t have enough money again.

Although she made a decent profit from selling Li Yuexin’s autographs, it was just a temporary solution. She still hadn’t figured out how to cover her food and rent.

Could she really resort to illegal activities? No, absolutely not!

“Yu girl, what are you doing?”

The owner saw her shaking her head vigorously at the counter, occasionally slapping her cheeks, and was puzzled.

“Nothing! I’m not slacking off!”

But it was hard to believe she wasn’t slacking off.

“Are you lovesick?”

“No way! How could I be so perverted?!”

“Alright, I’m just kidding. There’s a new employee starting today, the same age as you. Get to know each other. Jiayi, come over here.”

Yu Linna’s previously bored expression instantly changed.

Fang Jiayi, the little angel, wearing the same uniform as her, hair tied in a ponytail, slowly walked over. Seeing the blonde hair, Fang Jiayi’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Her name is Yu Linna, same as you, also a third-year high school student. Yu girl, show her the ropes, she’s new.”

“Me?”

“Yes, she’s a temporary worker. You train her today.”

With that, the owner left Fang Jiayi and went about her business.

Fang Jiayi covered her mouth and giggled, then went to the counter and sat down, speaking in her sweet voice:

“Well, this is a surprise~ Senpai, please take care of me~”

“Don’t call me that… Why are you working here?”

Yu Linna couldn’t understand. Fang Jiayi had no need to work part-time. She didn’t look like she was short on money. She was completely different from Yu Linna, who would go hungry if she didn’t work for a day.

“I’m a bit tight on cash recently, and the summer comic convention is coming up. I need money for tickets and figures, so I had to find a job. But I’m a temporary worker, so I’ll probably only be here for about a month.”

In Fang Jiayi’s case, as a Bilibili uploader, she had a stable monthly income and shouldn’t be short on money. Moreover, because she had a stable source of allowance, her parents rarely gave her extra money, leading to her uncontrolled spending. She wanted to buy many things, but her monthly income was limited. Doujinshi, figures, cosplay costumes, after all these expenses, her savings quickly dwindled.

The summer comic convention was approaching, and she was out of money, even owing some friends. Her commission wouldn’t arrive until next month, so she had to find a temporary job at the convenience store to cover the costs of tickets and figures.

“I didn’t expect you to be this kind of person.”

“Well… I didn’t want to…”

Fang Jiayi was a bit embarrassed. She had been spending recklessly recently. If her parents found out, they would definitely scold her. Moreover, she was already a third-year student. Working part-time during this crucial year, if her teachers found out, she would be in trouble.

But to her surprise, Yu Linna also worked here. She had heard that Yu Linna worked part-time jobs, but she didn’t know where. Today, she finally found out.

“Okay, although you’re a temporary worker, we’re classmates, so I’ll teach you the basics. This job is very simple, you’ll learn quickly. Just watch what I do and sit next to me.”

The cashier’s job wasn’t complicated at all, very simple. Fang Jiayi learned it after just a couple of demonstrations. However, the convenience store was busy, and she often fumbled when collecting money. The most troublesome part was handling cash; just giving change was a pain. In comparison, Fang Jiayi preferred electronic payments; they were much more convenient.

“Linna… Help me!”

“Huh? I haven’t finished here either. Figure it out yourself!”

“Someone save me…”

The work was simple, but it was overwhelming when it got busy. This was Fang Jiayi’s first time doing this kind of work, and it was a bit too much. She used to just scan a code and be done with it when buying things. Who knew that scanning other people’s codes would be so troublesome, having to print receipts and prepare plastic bags. She almost suffocated.

By the time her shift ended, Fang Jiayi was almost dehydrated.

In comparison, Yu Linna was much more experienced. She didn’t even break a sweat throughout the afternoon.

“Hey, Fang Jiayi, are you still alive?”

“I’m alive, but I don’t want to move.”

“Hmph, woman.”

“As if you’re not one!”

Fang Jiayi went to the staff room to change, almost collapsing. She glanced over and saw Yu Linna standing outside the staff room, hesitant to enter. Her beautiful blonde hair was very attractive.

The little angel suddenly smiled.

“Linna, what’s wrong? Afraid to come in and change? Why so shy?”

“Shy… who’s shy?! I’m being reserved, reserved, understand? A maiden’s actions shouldn’t be called shy, it’s called being reserved!”

“Uh-huh, sure, whatever you say. Anyway, it’s closing time now. Why don’t you come over to my place? It’s not far from here. Want to hang out?”

She extended an invitation to the girl.

Chapter 17: Just You Wait and See!

Now that she had the opportunity, how could she let it slip? Revenge was a must; it was her life’s motto. That Yu Linna wouldn’t escape her grasp today. Thinking this, Ye Zhiyun revealed a sinister smile that sent chills down one’s spine.

Yu Linna trembled. She was truly unlucky, of all people to run into, it had to be her!

And Li Muqing wasn’t here; no one could control her. What should she do? Yu Linna desperately racked her brains, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t come up with a good solution.

Ye Zhiyun registered her cousin and immediately demanded he start class right away. Her cousin, Wu Lin, wanted to go home and come back tomorrow, but Ye Zhiyun refused, insisting he attend class now. Furthermore, she wanted to observe the teaching firsthand.

Anyone could see that Ye Zhiyun was deliberately targeting Yu Linna, trying to make things difficult for her. Yu Linna knew there was no escaping today and could only pray for mercy.

Yu Linna led Wu Lin into her class, had him greet the other children, and then let him join the lesson.

Ye Zhiyun watched from the side. She originally came to enroll her cousin in the tutoring center as instructed by her aunt, but unexpectedly ran into Yu Linna. This time, if she didn’t take this opportunity for revenge, she wouldn’t be Ye Zhiyun.

“Alright, we have a new student today. Everyone quiet down. Today we’re learning how to draw circles. Everyone take out your pencils.”

She hadn’t planned to teach this so soon. These children weren’t here to learn professional drawing; it was purely for fun. For professional drawing, based on their current progress, they shouldn’t be learning this yet. But because Ye Zhiyun was here, Yu Linna had to speed up the curriculum.

“Sister Linlin, why aren’t we drawing people today?”

“Yeah, we want to draw people. Can we draw houses too?”

“Okay, listen up, I’ll give you a demonstration first. To draw a circle, you first need to mark some points. After marking these points, connect them, and it becomes a circle. I’ll teach you how to mark these points.”

Yu Linna took her drawing board and paper, taped the paper down, and picked up her 2B pencil to start marking points and drawing. It had been a while since she taught such technical content. This was usually taught by the art teacher, Su Wanwan. As an assistant, she didn’t need to teach this. But today was an exception; she had to speed up the lesson.

Ye Zhiyun watched from the side, initially dismissive, thinking about how to find fault. As she watched, Yu Linna’s drawing became more and more detailed, and her attitude began to change. Although she disliked Yu Linna, she had to admit, she did have some skill. These drawing techniques didn’t seem amateurish at all; she had clearly received professional training.

She could draw such a simple circle with professional techniques, at least proving her ability in this area. Ye Zhiyun couldn’t find any flaws. What should she do?

She had come here intending to find fault and make things difficult, but Yu Linna’s performance was too good. Afterward, Yu Linna let the children draw freely and even personally guided them, helping them draw perfect circles. If Zhou Xiaoqing saw her dedicated attitude, she would be very pleased.

Yu Linna smiled at her, as if saying, See? I can teach.

Ye Zhiyun was annoyed, gnashing her teeth. She had to make this damn blonde pay.

“Sister Linlin, how do I draw this?”

Wu Lin raised his hand. The new student was completely lost and confused about this knowledge. Yu Linna had given him some pointers earlier, but it didn’t seem to help.

“Excuse me, Miss Yu.”

Ye Zhiyun finally saw her opportunity. She maintained a calm exterior, but inside, she was plotting.

It’s over!

By the time Yu Linna reacted, it was too late. The black-haired girl wouldn’t give her a chance. Her eyes were telling her that she wouldn’t be let off easily.

“Miss Yu, you seem to have forgotten something important. My cousin is attending class for the first time today. The things you’re teaching, he can’t grasp them, can he?”

“This…”

“Are you planning to let someone with no foundation pick up a scalpel? Hmm?”

Yu Linna stammered, unsure what to say. She tried to explain weakly:

“I… I was just about to teach…”

To be honest, this was indeed Yu Linna’s oversight. At Wu Lin’s level, he couldn’t even hold a pencil steady. Asking him to draw this was inherently difficult.

In art, the circle was both the easiest and the hardest thing to draw, a hurdle for many beginners.

How could a child suddenly learn to draw this? This was Yu Linna’s biggest mistake in her teaching.

“This oversight is a small matter, but what if you make another mistake next time? If you don’t teach these children well, it’s your responsibility, understand?”

“I…”

“I’m very dissatisfied with your work attitude. I wonder if I should file a complaint?”

“No, please… I’m sorry, it was my fault. Please forgive my negligence. It won’t happen again!”

Yu Linna had to apologize. If her boss found out about a complaint, she would definitely be fired. She couldn’t lose this job.

So what if she had to apologize in front of so many children? Face wasn’t important; keeping her job was.

“Sister Ye, don’t bully Sister Linlin!”

“Yeah, don’t bully Sister Linlin!”

Although the children were young, seeing their favorite sister being bullied, they stepped forward to defend her, which surprised Ye Zhiyun. She had thought these children would just watch the show.

“Depends on your performance.”

Ye Zhiyun snorted and didn’t say anything more. She was just trying to scare her; she wouldn’t actually file a complaint. She just wanted to get back at her, not go too far.

However, Yu Linna’s ambiguous interaction with her childhood friend still bothered her. Jealousy burned within her. She wouldn’t let it go so easily!

Yu Linna continued teaching, learning her lesson and not daring to be careless again. She tailored her guidance to each child’s individual needs to avoid giving Ye Zhiyun any ammunition. Ye Zhiyun watched for a long time but couldn’t find any faults. She leaned against the wall and sighed. This was getting boring. She used her status as a young lady from a wealthy family to stand here and observe, but she wanted to make things difficult for Yu Linna, not watch her teach so seriously.

What was the point of coming here then?

Although Yu Linna was quite pleasing to the eye…

When class ended, Yu Linna breathed a sigh of relief, let the children go for a break, and went to the water dispenser to get a drink. Ye Zhiyun wanted to say something and turned around with a smirk.

“It’s break time, I’m free to do what I want. You can’t accuse me of neglecting my duties now, can you?”

This girl!

Ye Zhiyun was so angry! She had to teach her a lesson!

Just as Yu Linna thought she could relax during break time, whistling cheerfully, a child suddenly bumped into her, knocking her aside. As she was about to scold the mischievous child, she heard a crisp “splash.” Something fell into the water.

Yu Linna turned around and saw a phone fall from the table into the nearby fish tank. The child’s bump had knocked the phone off the table, and it landed right in the fish tank.

“Ahh, my phone, ahh!!!”

Yu Linna frantically fished the phone out of the tank, but it was too late. Soaked in water, it was completely unresponsive. Worse, the screen was shattered.

She was dumbfounded.

“That phone… seems to be Teacher Su’s…”

“She just put it there before going to the restroom, and now Xiao Yu knocked it into the water.”

The other teachers present discussed the incident, lamenting the demise of the phone.

Yu Linna was petrified. This was an iPhone 8, very expensive. The repair costs alone would bankrupt her several times over. She had broken Teacher Su’s phone; what should she do?!

“Hehe, you’re such an incompetent assistant, breaking the teacher’s phone. You’re too careless. I wonder what Teacher Zhou will think when she sees this.”

Ye Zhiyun smirked, mocking her. Although she hadn’t managed to make things difficult for her directly, seeing her in trouble was quite satisfying. She wanted to see Yu Linna suffer, to relieve the hatred in her heart.

Yu Linna’s face turned pale. She had broken the phone; what should she do? Such a hefty repair fee would even affect her living expenses. Teacher Su had bought this phone two years ago, so it was no longer under warranty. And the screen was broken, just fixing the screen would cost over a thousand yuan. How could she afford to compensate her?

“Hey, what’s wrong? It’s not that big of a deal, is it?”

Ye Zhiyun was surprised to see her so frightened. It was just a phone, why such a big reaction? Of course, to her, a phone was nothing, but to Yu Linna, it was a matter of life and death.

“What should I do… I can’t afford to pay…”

Yu Linna was on the verge of tears.

Holding the broken phone, she was completely lost. What she feared most was breaking other people’s belongings because she didn’t have the money to compensate them. If she broke something, it meant bankruptcy.

Seeing her like this, Ye Zhiyun, for some reason, lost her desire to tease her. It felt like she was bullying her, although she did intend to make things difficult, it wasn’t supposed to be like this.

Moreover, seeing Yu Linna in this state, she couldn’t bring herself to be mean anymore, feeling inexplicably irritated.

“Ugh, fine, it’s just a phone, look at you. I’ll pay for the repairs. It’s just a small amount of money, it’s nothing. Can you stop looking like you’ve seen a ghost?!”

When she said these words, Yu Linna’s eyes lit up again.

“Really? Thank you so much, my benefactor!!”

Damn it, she came here to make things difficult, not to receive thanks!

After class, Ye Zhiyun took her cousin home. On the way, through the car window, she saw Yu Linna at the entrance of the tutoring center, smiling like she had just eaten honey, and she felt a surge of anger.

She really hated Yu Linna.

But today, she would let it go, just this once. Ye Zhiyun leaned back against the car seat, exhausted.

Chapter 16: Enemies on a Narrow Road

Another day, another busy day at the editorial department. Chen Xi adjusted her tinted glasses and began reviewing submissions. As an editor, reviewing manuscripts was her primary job. She had already nurtured several best-selling authors. At a young age, she had achieved both success and fame, holding a prominent position in the editorial department, even the editor-in-chief gave her some face. Who would have thought this young woman was just a graduate of a broadcasting university, a field completely unrelated to her current work?

“Sister Chen, could you please work overtime tonight? There’s an error in our data.”

“Okay.”

“Sister Chen, the editor-in-chief is looking for you.”

“I’ll go over later.”

Chen Xi sat at her desk and got to work, a routine she was accustomed to as an office worker. However, due to her outstanding talent, the higher-ups were already considering her as a potential successor. If nothing unexpected happened, Chen Xi would become the editor-in-chief before turning thirty. It was a remarkable achievement. When she first graduated, her relatives and friends thought she was crazy for working at the editorial department, but she proved them wrong.

There was no such thing as useless people, only treasures placed in the wrong positions. Chen Xi proved her worth with her strength and genuine abilities.

“Sister Chen, there’s a young girl downstairs waiting for you. She’s here to submit a manuscript.”

“Okay, I’ll be right down.”

Truly tiring.

Having worked in this field for so many years, Chen Xi was well-versed in the industry’s rules. This high-intensity work was quite demanding. Overtime every day, burning herself out. The accumulated stress over the years had taken a toll on her health.

But in a first-tier city, who cared about health?

Downstairs, Chen Xi went to the reception room and saw a young girl sitting on the sofa, looking slightly nervous. She had short hair and dressed in a rather androgynous style, but her fair face revealed her femininity. Although her looks weren’t as striking as Yu Linna’s, she was still quite attractive.

“I’m editor Chen Xi. Are you here to submit a manuscript?”

“Hello, my name is Luo Nan. I’m here to submit a manuscript.”

This girl was straightforward, directly handing over her manuscript. Chen Xi asked her to sit down, prepared tea for her, and then sat down to read. She started calmly, but gradually, her brows furrowed, and she took a deep breath.

“Your name is Luo Nan, right?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not the best submitter I’ve met, but you’re the most surprising.”

She indirectly acknowledged the girl’s talent.

Chen Xi had been in the editorial department for a long time and was very good at scouting talent. Those she took a liking to were usually quite good. This was one of the reasons why she was able to discover outstanding authors. Those who passed through her hands were rarely bad.

It was precisely because of this occupational habit of judging people that she often unearthed unexpected talents.

Leaving the editorial department aside for now, shifting the focus back to Yu Linna, since she started working as an extra, she hadn’t gained much in the past two weeks, only earning meager wages. She gradually realized that staying here wouldn’t make her a star.

She had boasted about making a name for herself; she was too naive. She didn’t have the same fate as Nangong Ying.

Afterward, she returned to the tutoring center, continuing her work as an art teacher’s assistant. Teaching these mischievous children wasn’t easy, but it was better than staying on the film set. Life there was too tough.

“Sister Linlin, you haven’t been here much recently. Why?”

“I’m an adult, I have things to do. How can I be here every day?”

As she spoke, she demonstrated a painting technique. Just as she finished a stroke on the gouache painting, the children started making noise again. The children really liked Yu Linna, perhaps because her blonde hair was different from others. Children were curious by nature and naturally took a liking to Yu Linna.

“Teacher Zhou is so strict, she doesn’t play with us. We want to play with Sister Linlin!”

“Sister Linlin, can you come every day?”

“Sister Linlin~”

“Okay, quiet down, it’s class time!”

Dealing with mischievous children was Yu Linna’s weakness. She couldn’t hit them, and they weren’t doing anything wrong to scold them for. It was hard for Yu Linna to find an excuse to control them. It was better to just focus on her work; after all, she needed this meager salary.

After finishing the demonstration painting, Yu Linna assigned them a task: to draw their classmates. While they were drawing, Yu Linna could take the opportunity to rest. She had been exhausted lately, juggling several part-time jobs, including being a film extra, a convenience store cashier, and a fast-food delivery person. This tutoring center assistant job was just one of them. On top of that, she was also a third-year high school student, staying up until at least midnight every day and waking up at 6 am.

“Linna, are you free?”

“Oh, Sister Qing, what’s up? Are you looking for me?”

Zhou Xiaoqing probably came over during the children’s self-study time. Seeing Yu Linna come out, she approached her.

“I wanted to talk to you about something.”

“…”

“You’ve been coming less and less recently. Although you’re just an assistant, not a formal teacher, you should at least be punctual.”

“I’m very sorry, I really haven’t had the time lately.”

“I think you’re getting lazy.”

Zhou Xiaoqing snorted. Although dissatisfied, she wasn’t angry. Yu Linna was still a child, and she wouldn’t make things too difficult for her. But she hired her to improve her tutoring center. Yu Linna, who frequently skipped work to do other jobs, was her least favorite employee. If Yu Linna weren’t a part-timer, she would have lost her temper.

“Sister Qing, I’m sorry, I’m really short on money, so I’ve been working many jobs and haven’t been able to keep up with the work here.”

“The pay here isn’t low. Do you have to work elsewhere? Compared to those dishwashing and cashier jobs, the work here is relatively easy.”

Zhou Xiaoqing was quite dissatisfied. Although the salary she offered wasn’t high, it was already a lot for a student like Yu Linna. 700 yuan per month, calculated hourly, and not an 8-hour workday. It was a high rate for any student. Zhou Xiaoqing treated her well, but she never seemed to appreciate it, which was why she was unhappy.

Yu Linna had wasted too much time on that competition and then went to work as a film extra, fantasizing about changing her fate, but it all came to nothing. In the end, she could only return obediently.

Regardless of Yu Linna’s feelings, how could Zhou Xiaoqing understand? From Zhou Xiaoqing’s perspective, she was in the right.

“Sister Qing, I’m really sorry…”

“Alright, forget it. Anyway, your salary is calculated hourly, that won’t change. Just do your job properly.”

Zhou Xiaoqing didn’t give her any face.

But Yu Linna also knew she was in the wrong. It was her own fault for messing around, causing so much trouble. However, the money she lacked couldn’t be made up by this meager salary.

Just as she was wondering how much her salary would be deducted, a luxury car pulled up outside the tutoring center. The car was so eye-catching that many children were stunned, having never seen such a beautiful car before. Even Zhou Xiaoqing, the owner of the tutoring center, was taken aback.

Why would such an expensive car come to this shabby place?!

The car parked, and the door opened. A young girl with long black hair, dressed in fashionable clothes, got out of the passenger seat and opened the rear door. A little boy with a round face stepped out. The boy looked around and then spotted Yu Linna, his face breaking into a bright smile.

“Hello, pretty sister!”

“Oh… hello…”

Yu Linna instinctively greeted him. Was this little boy a face-con from a young age? Or were all rich young masters like this, judging people by their looks? It wasn’t impossible.

“Huh? Yu Linna, what are you doing here?!”

But that wasn’t the end of it. When Yu Linna looked up again, she was shocked to find that the black-haired girl was the one she encountered on the bus a few days ago, Ye Zhiyun! The Miss Ye who almost caused a scene over two yuan!

“Oh, oh, Ye Zhiyun… what a coincidence…”

“Yeah! What a coincidence! I didn’t expect to run into you here. What are you doing here? Are you naturally opposed to me?!”

“I work here. I’m an assistant teacher.”

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhiyun was about to say something when a thought struck her, and she had a brilliant idea.

“Ye Zhiyun, what about you? What are you doing here?”

“I’m enrolling my relative’s child here. I heard the teaching here is good, so I want to sign him up for art classes. You’re an assistant teacher here?”

“Just part-time, I come here occasionally.”

As the two girls talked, the little boy stood there, staring at the pretty blonde sister. It had to be said, this sister was comparable to his cousin, both beautiful. The only flaw was that this sister didn’t have long legs like his cousin.

“Ahem, Miss, are you here to enroll your younger brother?”

“Yes, this is my cousin. I brought him here to sign up for art classes. Who’s the art teacher here?”

“Our art teacher is Su Wanwan. She’s teaching in another classroom. By the way, that girl is Teacher Su’s assistant. Her name is Yu Linna. If you have any questions, you can ask her.”

Ye Zhiyun turned her gaze to Yu Linna, scrutinizing her. Yu Linna was unnerved by her dangerous gaze, feeling uncomfortable all over.

“You’re an assistant teacher here, right?”

“Y-yes…”

“Oh.”

Ye Zhiyun smiled, a sinister smile.

This Yu Linna, this scoundrel, actually dared to sabotage her relationship with her childhood friend. She had to teach her a lesson. She, Ye Zhiyun, would definitely make her pay.

“Can you even teach?”

“Of course I can!”

“If you don’t teach well, I have the right to complain.”

Ye Zhiyun’s words were like a call from hell, sending chills down Yu Linna’s spine.

I’m doomed! I’ve provoked someone I shouldn’t have!

Ye Zhiyun wouldn’t let her off the hook. She would teach this girl a good lesson, show her what true power was. The black-haired girl revealed a playful smile.

Chapter 15: Exceptional People

The continuous competitions were undoubtedly tiring, but Nangong Ying, accustomed to this, simply drank a bottle of mineral water, cleared her throat, and was fully rejuvenated. She had participated in national competitions much tougher than this long ago; just using her voice wasn’t a big deal. When she participated in martial arts competitions, she had to display all her skills flawlessly. Compared to those times, this was nothing.

“Miss Nangong, you’ve been winning one match after another. Are you feeling any pressure for the upcoming competitions?”

“Motivation actually stems from pressure; the two are complementary.”

After answering, Nangong Ying returned to her hotel.

She wasn’t in her city now but had flown to Shanghai. Participating in the provincial competition for the first time was a new experience for her, but not a big deal. Her goal was the national competition. Once she advanced from the provincials, obtaining the pass, she could fly to Beijing for the nationals.

At the age of twelve, she won the national women’s martial arts championship, surpassing all her competitors. She became the youngest champion of that year and even appeared in newspapers, achieving fame at a young age. Later, she left the martial arts team and started playing tennis. After winning another national championship, she began to wonder if being an athlete was her only path. From that point on, she wanted to change careers and, despite her teachers’ objections, quit the high school tennis team, determined to no longer be an athlete. Participating in the singing competition was to prove that she could do other things besides being an athlete.

Back at the hotel, Nangong Ying sat on the bed, scrolling through her phone. Alone in a foreign city, at eighteen, she was already stronger than most of her peers. With her dreams in her heart, she embarked on this difficult path.

But after being away for so long, only her mother sent her WeChat messages, reminding her to take care of herself. Her father, however, didn’t react at all. It was understandable. Nangong Ying unilaterally quit her athletic career, and it was normal for her father to be angry. He always believed she could become a professional athlete and bring honor to the country.

Nangong Ying gave up her athletic career to become a singer, for no other reason than an unfulfilled dream.

Feeling bored, Nangong Ying made a phone call. That person shouldn’t be asleep at this hour.

“Hello, Nangong?”

“Yeah, it’s me. You’re not asleep, are you?”

“Of course not, I’m browsing Bilibili. What’s up? Are you…?”

“No, I advanced. Don’t worry.”

Nangong Ying’s words eased Yu Linna’s anxiety. Fortunately, nothing unexpected happened. But it was expected. Nangong Ying was so talented; how could she be eliminated from the provincials? Her goal was the national competition.

“Linna, I miss you, so I wanted to call you.”

“Ah…”

Yu Linna’s face flushed red. What was with this confession-like statement?! Could it be that Nangong…

No, no, that’s impossible! She was a girl, and so was Yu Linna. It was impossible! Although she was a boy in her past life…

“Nangong…”

“Linna, I wish you were here with me.”

Nangong Ying leaned against the headboard, sighing.

She had invited Yu Linna to participate in the competition, but Yu Linna was eliminated in the second round, while she, overcoming all obstacles, made it all the way to the provincials. Although she knew that Yu Linna’s skill level wasn’t enough to advance past the city competition, she still wished she could be here with her. Competing alone was a bit lonely.

But it couldn’t be helped. Yu Linna was too weak to stand beside her. How she wished Yu Linna could walk the same path as her.

“I’m so embarrassed. I’m too much of a loser; I can’t compare to you at all.”

“Pfft, it’s okay, at least your grades are much better than mine.”

This was true. Yu Linna’s academic performance was much better than hers. Her grades were always the most stable. The top student of the advanced class, everyone knew her name, while Nangong Ying was just a specially admitted student in the sports program at the City No. 1 High School.

Although she had quit the sports team and wouldn’t be taking the sports college entrance exam, her student status was still in the sports program.

Even though she was talented, compared to Yu Linna in academics, there was still a significant gap.

“Don’t tease me. I haven’t been going to school much recently. You know, I can barely afford rent, so I have to find more jobs. Because of scheduling conflicts, I’ve been late many times, and two part-time jobs have already fired me.”

Yu Linna sighed as she spoke about this.

Nangong Ying, familiar with her family situation, knew that Yu Linna desperately needed those jobs. Although the pay was low, it was her only source of income.

Yu Linna was an orphan, without parents. In her early years, she bounced between several families. At first, some kind people took her in, but they never kept her for more than a month. Afterward, Yu Linna had to drift from place to place. She stayed at an orphanage for two months, but then the orphanage was demolished, and she had nowhere to go. Helplessly, she relied on donations and lived in many different places, moving constantly, without a stable home until she was fourteen.

Later, Yu Linna simply refused to depend on others and never stayed at anyone’s home again. From then on, with her meager savings, she came to this city, found a place to settle down, and at a young age, found some jobs to support herself. Life was tough, but she preferred this to relying on others. She had had enough; she didn’t want to be treated as a jinx anymore.

Nangong Ying was one of the few people who knew her situation, and she pitied this girl, helping her whenever she could. But as an outsider, she couldn’t interfere too much. That time with the competition, she encouraged Yu Linna to participate because there was prize money. She knew Yu Linna needed the money.

“How about I treat you to hot pot when I get back? I know a good place, their fatty beef is delicious.”

“Really? Then come back quickly, win the championship and show it to me.”

When it came to free food, Yu Linna was more enthusiastic than anyone. She loved free meals.

Nangong Ying smiled. Talking to Yu Linna always made her feel better. She recalled their first meeting, that bullied blonde girl, crying in front of her. She didn’t know where her anger came from, but she had stepped forward and taught those bastards a lesson with her bare hands. Afterward, Yu Linna kept crying, inconsolably.

(“Stop crying. My name is Nangong Ying, what’s your name?”)

(“…Yu, Yu Linna…”)

(“What a beautiful name.”)

From that moment on, she wanted to protect her, to prevent her from being hurt.

This crybaby cried too easily, always worrying her. Nangong Ying couldn’t do without her. If possible, she really wanted to take her along, to higher and further places.

But it couldn’t be helped. Yu Linna wasn’t on the same path as her.

No matter how much she wanted to keep her by her side, she was powerless.

“Nangong, are you listening?”

“Of course, what’s wrong?”

“When are we going for barbecue? I want to eat some.”

“Oh, you little glutton, can’t you restrain yourself? Are you taking advantage of my offer to treat you?”

“We’re friends, why would I be polite?!”

“Fine, fine, whatever you want, it’s my treat.”

“You’re my best friend!”

Nangong Ying smiled, a genuine smile even through the phone. Talking to Yu Linna made her so happy.

She didn’t need praise or compliments from others; just a few words with Yu Linna was enough. No one could replace Yu Linna’s place in her heart.

When she achieved her dream, Yu Linna would definitely congratulate her. By then, she could do whatever she wanted, and no one could stop her.

After hanging up, Nangong Ying let out a long sigh. Today was a good day. Of course, she couldn’t be happy during the competitions. What made her happiest was being able to talk to her friend for so long afterward. For her, that was true happiness.

With nothing to do now, Nangong Ying sat up and made another call, this time not to Yu Linna, but to her mother.

“Hello, Xiao Ying? Why aren’t you asleep so late? You have a competition tomorrow, don’t you?”

A gentle female voice came from the other end of the phone. It was Nangong Ying’s mother.

“Mom, where’s Dad? Isn’t he looking for me?”

“Don’t even mention it. You know your father’s temper. Ever since you gave up your athletic career, he’s been unhappy. He probably wanted you to be his successor.”

Nangong Ying lay in bed, silent for a long time.

Nangong Ying’s father was an athlete. When he was young, he participated in the Olympics and brought honor to the country. He was a star athlete. She remembered her father endorsing products when she was little, often attending national team events. She could often see him on TV. Later, her father retired due to injury and became a coach, wanting to train his daughter as his successor.

Who knew that Nangong Ying didn’t want to be an athlete at all? After “playing” for a few years, winning two national championships, she decisively quit, never touching it again, much to his chagrin. Nangong Ying wanted to be on stage, in higher and further places, not inherit her father’s position as an athlete.

“Since he’s not contacting me, I won’t say anything. Let him do what he wants.”

Nangong Ying sat up, thinking that her father was unreliable after all. It was better not to think about these things. Her father, from the very beginning, didn’t want her to be a singer, didn’t want her to get involved in the entertainment industry. After all, this circle was too complicated.

“Well, it’s not exactly like that. Your father actually went to watch your competition, the city-level one, but he refused to let me tell you.”

Nangong Ying was stunned, speechless for a long time. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to speak, but she didn’t know what to say. Even after hanging up the phone, her emotions remained unsettled.

Chapter 14: The Little Angel is So Cute

“The bottom lane is completely indefensible. Anyone who tries to push forward is just feeding the enemy. There’s no helping it, we fed too many kills early on and they’re too strong now. We just have to farm for a bit. Ugh, it’s been a while since I’ve had such a tough match.”

In a pink room, the little angel Fang Jiayi sat in front of her computer, controlling the mouse and keyboard, wearing headphones, the camera focused on her fingers. Her sweet and melodious voice transmitted through the microphone to the livestream.

Barrages of comments filled the livestream, many viewers spamming “666,” supporting the streamer and making their presence known.

“Streamer, are you sure you’re not showing off? You keep saying your teammates aren’t good, but you’ve been chasing the enemy across the entire map. This is the first time I’ve seen someone chase someone from top lane all the way to bottom lane, even diving under the tower.”

“666, say what you will, Little Angel is the best!”

“No, Little Angel is my wife!”

“Little Angel, why don’t you show your face? Let us see what you look like.”

Fang Jiayi, while livestreaming her game, glanced at the comments and chuckled.

“Haha, showing my face is impossible, absolutely impossible. I’m not pretty, and I’m bad at games. I have neither looks nor talent, I can only hug the thighs of pros and spam ‘666.’”

Fang Jiayi self-deprecatingly poked fun at herself during a break in the game, livening up the atmosphere of the livestream.

“Shocking! A famous Bilibili streamer cries about having no talent. Netizens: Streamer, we’ll always support you!”

“Come work at UC News tomorrow.”

“666, a bunch of comedians!”

“I’d believe any other streamer who said they had no talent, but Little Angel having no talent? I absolutely refuse to believe it!”

Fang Jiayi laughed and continued to livestream her game, playing League of Legends with her teammates.

Fang Jiayi was usually a well-behaved third-year high school student, but privately, she was a famous uploader on Bilibili, mainly active in the advertisement and animation sections. She usually livestreamed games and regularly uploaded videos, gaining a loyal fanbase.

However, due to her parents’ wishes, she wasn’t allowed to show her face during livestreams or even in her videos. Fang Jiayi could only be a talent-based uploader, although she really wanted to show her face. Her parents said she could do whatever she wanted after entering university, but during high school, academics were the priority.

Well, it was fine. She wasn’t relying on her face to make a living from streaming anyway.

“Phew, finally won! Getting a godlike streak this time was so difficult. That’s all for today’s livestream. We’ll stream again next time. Viewers who want to watch my next stream can leave a comment. I might play some life simulation games or wuxia games. If you have any specific requests, leave a comment, and I’ll choose the one with the most likes.”

After ending the stream, Fang Jiayi exited the platform, turned off the camera, and stretched. As a Bilibili uploader, although still a high school student, she already had her own fans. If her classmates knew about this, they would probably be shocked. After all, a high school student’s main task was studying, and doing these things would definitely be considered a waste of time.

Looking at the time, it was almost dinner time. Should she go downstairs? As Fang Jiayi was thinking this, her phone rang. She checked the caller ID, and it was Yu Linna.

When Fang Jiayi saved Yu Linna’s number, she never thought Yu Linna would take the initiative to call her. She always assumed she would be the one to initiate contact. But unexpectedly, Yu Linna made the first move.

“Hello, Linna?”

Since their relationship had progressed, she simply called her by name.

“Fang Jiayi, I wanted to ask, do you follow any celebrities?”

“Follow celebrities? I wouldn’t say I follow them. I have favorite stars, but I don’t follow them religiously. Why are you asking?”

“Well, I went to work as an extra today, guess what I got.”

“I can’t guess. Tell me.”

“Actually… I got Li Yuexin’s autograph! Ten of them!”

“…”

Oh my god!

Fang Jiayi was shocked! Although she didn’t follow celebrities, it didn’t mean she didn’t understand their value! She knew how much a signed photo from a celebrity was worth. To get an autograph from your idol, what an honor!

“Considering you treated me to food…”

“Are you going to give me one?!”

“I’ll give you a 20% discount.”

“…”

Right, she should have known what kind of person Yu Linna was.

That “gold digger” would never give away such a valuable item for free. Her first thought was definitely to sell it. Perhaps because she was blonde, it wasn’t surprising that she was a “gold digger.” (Is there a connection?)

“Fine, it’s my first time seeing a real celebrity autograph anyway. But… how about a 50% discount, for the sake of our friendship.”

“Li Yuexin’s value isn’t that low!”

“60%!”

“Do you think I’m…”

“65%!”

“I’m not that kind of person…”

“70%!!”

“From now on, no matter what, I’m yours!”

Okay, deal!

It took a lot of effort to get an autograph, although signed photos weren’t that appealing to someone like her who was deeply involved in ACG. However, having an autograph would be very useful for her next livestream, attracting more viewers.

Li Yuexin was incredibly popular recently. Many uploaders on Bilibili were making videos about the TV drama she starred in, including edits, MADs, and parodies. This showed the popularity of Li Yuexin’s recent drama. Using such a big star for livestream promotion was perfect.

“But speaking of which, Linna, why did you become an extra? Are you short on money?”

“Ahem! Something like that. I need to earn a lot of money recently, so it’s worth suffering a bit.”

“The homeroom teacher said you’ve taken too many days off and can’t take any more, or she’ll have a talk with you. You should come to class tomorrow.”

“No way…”

“There’s a quiz tomorrow. Do you dare to skip it?”

“Ugh… fine, I’ll go. I’m not afraid of quizzes anyway.”

Yu Linna held a high position in the class; she was a true academic overlord! She could skip class and still get first place on tests. Who could do that?!

Usually, Yu Linna put on an aloof facade, rarely interacting with others. But Fang Jiayi, who had interacted with her, knew that it was an act. She wasn’t aloof at all, even a bit naive. As long as you fed her delicious food, she would immediately become obedient, very easy to tame.

Just look at Fang Jiayi; that’s how she subdued Yu Linna.

“I’ve been wanting to ask for a while now, Linna, do your parents not give you any allowance? You seem quite short on money.”

“Parents?”

“Yeah, are your parents raising you frugally? Otherwise, why would you work so many part-time jobs? It’s a lot of effort for little reward.”

Yu Linna fell silent.

Why did she work part-time jobs?

Because she had no food to eat, no one to support her. If someone provided for her, would she need to work so hard?

“Well, in a sense, they are raising me frugally. I am short on money. Let’s not talk about this for now. Let’s talk about the autographs.”

Yu Linna deliberately avoided the topic, and for some reason, the atmosphere became a bit heavy. Fang Jiayi didn’t want to push further.

After hanging up the phone, Yu Linna lay alone in bed, her expression turning gloomy.

Although she had lived in this world for more than ten years, she was still subconsciously sensitive to these things. Fang Jiayi’s unintentional question touched a wound in her heart that she didn’t want to be reminded of.

She also wanted to know where her parents were. She didn’t even know what they looked like; all memories were gone. Except for her name, they left nothing behind. She didn’t even know where she came from.

Forget it, it was better not to think about it. Yu Linna sat up. She should prepare for tomorrow’s quiz. Earning money was important, but she couldn’t neglect her studies. Although she might not go to university, she still had to take her education seriously. In her past life, she died young, before finishing elementary school. In this life, she wanted to enjoy her school days.

Being poor wasn’t a big deal. At least she was alive, better than having nothing at all. No matter how hard or difficult it was, she had to live well. She wanted to escape poverty, to become rich. Only then could she gain respect from others.

After a night’s sleep, when she woke up the next morning, no matter how reluctant she was, Yu Linna still had to go to school. As a third-year high school student in this great nation, going to school at 6 am was common sense. Although Yu Linna wasn’t a boarding student, she still had to participate in morning reading. To avoid being caught by the homeroom teacher, she had to obediently go to school.

Yawning, having barely gotten any rest, she had to go to school again. Even for a student like her, whose university admission was almost guaranteed, all the teachers were still worried about her messing up the exams, especially since she frequently took leave. They couldn’t relax at all.

Yu Linna’s grades were obvious to everyone. Her performance was the most stable, never declining. If she remained consistent, she could definitely get into a top university. But what they feared most was this girl underperforming. That would be the school’s biggest loss. So, the teachers of every subject couldn’t be careless.

Although Yu Linna wanted to tell them that she didn’t plan to go to university and that they shouldn’t worry, she couldn’t bring herself to say it. Seeing their concerned expressions, she couldn’t say it, only sighing silently.

“Yu Linna, you’ve taken too many days off recently. And what are you doing during your leave? Don’t you know you’re already in your third year? Stop wasting time on those useless things. I’ve told you, quit your jobs immediately. You can’t waste any more time.”

The homeroom teacher once again approached Yu Linna, earnestly persuading her to quit her jobs and focus on her studies.

Yu Linna pretended to listen but didn’t actually care.

“Yu Linna, are you even listening?!”

“Yes.”

“I told you to quit your jobs and focus on reviewing. Did you hear me?!”

“…”

“I asked you if you heard me.”

“…Teacher, I can’t quit. I need these jobs.”

“At a time like this, you’re still wasting time on trivial matters? Can’t you wait until after university to do these things?!”

“…Teacher, if I don’t work, how will I feed myself? Without money, how can I survive?”

Again, only with money would she gain respect. Without money, she would never be respected.