Chapter 140: The World’s Malice
Arriving home at seven o’clock, Ye Zhiyun felt a pang of emptiness, despite it being her usual arrival time. She often worked late, negotiating deals and signing contracts, sometimes even staying overnight at hotels.
But before, no matter how late she returned, someone was always there, waiting for her. Now, the apartment was dark and silent, the kitchen lights off, the stove unused.
She switched on the lights, illuminating the apartment, dispelling the darkness, but not the loneliness. She turned the lights off, plunging the living room back into darkness, then switched them on again, the light reaching every corner, but no one stood there to greet her.
“Sigh…”
Ye Zhiyun sighed.
What was she thinking? Yu Linna had moved out; what was she expecting?
It was a pointless expectation.
Something was definitely wrong with her.
She tossed her bag onto the sofa and collapsed onto it, her weight sinking into the cushions. She felt exhausted. She had recently scaled back on her projects, delegating work to her studio, wanting to focus on her upcoming gaokao. She was less busy than before, yet she felt more tired.
Was it because something was missing?
She had grown accustomed to Yu Linna’s presence, her absence making life feel dull and monotonous. When Yu Linna was here, no matter how tired she was, she felt happy, knowing she had a place to return to, someone waiting for her.
Now, there was nothing.
“Na… Nana…”
That girl, initially her rival, their feud starting over two yuan on the bus, now… what were they? Their transformation from rivals to… this… was strange.
Seeing Yu Linna happy brought her joy; seeing her cry brought her sorrow. What were these feelings? And her gaze, lingering on Yu Linna, becoming increasingly intense… it wasn’t like her. Could she be…?
No, no, impossible. She loved Li Muqing, there was no doubt about it, even after being rejected. She loved him, undoubtedly.
Undoubtedly…
Ye Zhiyun’s mood was unusually somber.
Meanwhile, Yu Linna continued her discussions with the illustrator, his provocative style clashing with her vision. Despite her insistence, Zhiqiu’s revisions failed to satisfy her. Zhiqiu, a proud artist, his patience wearing thin, finally snapped.
“Shion-sensei, don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you won the Gold Award! My art is recognized in the industry! If you don’t like my style, find someone else!”
Zhiqiu had his pride. He was a renowned illustrator, having worked with numerous Wenqing authors. To have his style criticized by a newcomer… he had been remarkably patient.
Yu Linna wasn’t inherently stubborn, but she felt his provocative style didn’t suit her novel, a story focused on plot and character development, not fanservice.
Their disagreement escalated into an argument.
“Sister Chen, I heard Zhiqiu and Shion are having a disagreement. The illustrations aren’t finished yet.”
Rabbit Princess, aka Qian Jiaxuan, reported the issue to Chen Xi.
Though a newcomer to the editorial department, Qian Jiaxuan was capable and had earned Chen Xi’s favor. She mostly managed male authors, often receiving unwanted private messages, and longed to work with a female author.
“What happened?”
Chen Xi, working late, pushed up her glasses, her annoyance evident. The publication date was approaching, and the illustrations weren’t finished yet.
“Well, you know Zhiqiu’s style… it’s… fanservice-oriented. Shion-sensei doesn’t like it. She insists on a less revealing style, and Zhiqiu is furious. So, a week has passed, and there are no finished illustrations.”
“That girl…”
Only a few people in the editorial department knew Shion was female; most assumed she was male. Her dislike of fanservice was likely seen as incomprehensible.
“Sister Chen, what should we do?”
“I hired Zhiqiu; I can’t just let him go. I’ll talk to Shion.”
She wanted Yu Linna’s book to attract readers, and in this market, an eye-catching cover was essential, especially for an unknown author. Though a Gold Award winner, she was still a newcomer.
“By the way, are Bai Chen’s illustrations done?”
“Yes, they’re finished, ready for printing.”
“That’s Young Master; make sure there are no problems. Resolve any issues immediately.”
Bai Chen, the Silver Award winner, the author of The Cross-dressing Young Master Doesn’t Want to be Served, though officially a newcomer, was using a pen name. He had published before, though only short stories.
More importantly, he was the chief editor’s…
So, there couldn’t be any problems.
The next morning, Yu Linna dragged herself to school, exhausted from another late-night argument with the illustrator, their disagreement unresolved. She disliked his style, but asking him to change it seemed unrealistic. She considered finding a new illustrator.
“Linna, are you okay? I called the police yesterday. Zhiyun told me you were safe, but I was so worried! Did those men do anything to you?”
Fang Jiangning, arriving early, fussed over her, checking for any injuries.
“I’m fine. Perfectly fine.”
“I’m so sorry, Linna. I shouldn’t have left you alone. I’m glad you’re okay.”
“It’s fine.”
If it weren’t for Ye Zhiyun, things might have turned out differently. She was grateful for Zhiyun.
“Let’s not talk about that. We have a quiz today. Did you study?”
“Um… is it too late now?”
“Come here, I’ll help you with the key points.”
“Heehee, you’re the best.”
The pressure of senior year was relentless. Yu Linna, sitting down, pulled out her notes, reviewing for the upcoming quiz. Her distinctive blonde hair stood out in the classroom. Huo Ningning, sitting to her left, could still see her, even with several students between them.
Yu Linna was as beautiful as ever.
She still wanted to get closer to her.
“Linna.”
With that thought, Huo Ningning stood up and walked over to her, determined to be more proactive today.
“I…”
“Not today.”
“Huh?”
The swift rejection caught her off guard.
“W-wait! Don’t reject me so quickly!”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.”
Yu Linna wouldn’t go out with her, absolutely not. That introverted, unpredictable girl… who knew what she was thinking? Huo Ningning was attractive, but Yu Linna felt no connection to her, no desire for a closer relationship.
Going out with her was out of the question.
“Class rep, Yu Linna, the homeroom teacher wants to see you in the office.”
“…Fine.”
Going to the office together didn’t count as going out, right?
Huo Ningning, unexpectedly, had a chance to be alone with Yu Linna. Though Yu Linna looked displeased, they had to go to the same place, so they walked together.
Their homeroom teacher, Li Lexuan, was waiting for them.
“Ningning, Linna, I wanted to talk to you about something. The gaokao is approaching, and everyone’s feeling the pressure. Ningning, your grades are decent, and you’re the class rep. I expect a good score from you on the next mock exam. Look at Fang Jiangning; her grades have improved significantly. You need to step up your game. Also, I’m planning to conduct home visits for some of the top students soon. Inform the class president and have him make an announcement during the class meeting.”
The words “home visit” made Yu Linna’s blood run cold.
What the fuck?! Another home visit?
And this time, it was for the top students. She was definitely on the list. They had already done a home visit last semester; why another one? Would she have to find someone to impersonate her parent again? That trick wouldn’t work twice!
“And you, Linna, though you’ve been much better this semester, not skipping classes for work, I still want to remind you to focus on your studies. You’re a valuable asset to our liberal arts program; the school is counting on you to achieve a high score. Don’t disappoint us.”
“Oh… okay…”
“Why do you sound so unenthusiastic? Show some youthful energy!”
“Okay.”
“This child…”
Li Lexuan sighed. This girl was excellent in every way, except for her occasional disobedience. With her academic abilities, she could easily surpass the students from the Experimental High School. She had even outscored them on several tests, though she remained the top student at their school.
The principal had recruited her from the Experimental High School, waiving her tuition fees; she couldn’t afford to slack off. The principal had high hopes for her.
“Also, I’ll be visiting your home soon. How’s your mother doing?”
“Huh?”
Yu Linna recalled asking Ye Zhiyun to impersonate her mother, a memory she wasn’t fond of.
Would she have to ask her again?
It wouldn’t be easy.
“My mom… she’s… in another city. Can we skip the home visit?”