Xiao Qian finished her evening runway show. It was already 10 p.m. She took out her phone from the storage room in the changing room.
Two hours ago, Xu Jia Ning had sent her a video that she was about to open when Sister Tao called out to her from behind, "Xiao Qian, come over here. President Deng wants to see you."
"Oh, Sister Tao, wait a second. Let me put on a coat."
"No need. President Deng is waiting for you outside. Don't keep him waiting." Sister Tao said and pulled Xiao Qian by the hand outside without waiting for her response.
Xiao Qian put down her phone and asked, "Which President Deng?"
"The CEO of Feng Chuan Entertainment, the big boss of this event."
"Why does he want to see me?"
"He must appreciate your runway walk. If he has taken a liking to you and brings you into Feng Chuan Entertainment, you'll make it big!"
Hearing this, Xiao Qian was naturally very tempted: "Then let me...touch up my makeup."
"No need. You look good as is."
Sister Tao led Xiao Qian through the winding corridors to a reception room.
President Deng was a man in his forties. Like all middle-aged men, he had a round head, was bald, and wore a suit and shirt tucked into his belt, revealing a very conspicuous beer belly.
Sister Tao kept signaling Xiao Qian with her eyes. Xiao Qian stepped forward and politely greeted President Deng.
President Deng had a smile on his face, his round eyes ogling her up and down: "You are Xiao Qian, right? You have great potential. I see it in you."
Xiao Qian had entered society early, and could tell at a glance the ill intentions in President Deng's gaze.
"Thank you, sir." She bowed politely and took two steps back.
Of course, President Deng also sensed her resistance. He hurriedly took out a card he had prepared and handed it to her, "Little Xiao Qian, this is a bonus for you. You did great tonight."
Xiao Qian's gaze lingered on the card for two seconds.
"This is...a bonus?"
"Yes, your performance tonight was really great."
Xiao Qian did not accept the money. She smiled, "Thank you for appreciating me, President Deng. But I only take what I deserve, the same as others."
Hearing the rejection in her words, President Deng's expression turned cold.
Sister Tao hurriedly came over, pulled Xiao Qian's hand, and whispered, "Just take it if he's giving it to you. Your family needs money, right? Besides, President Deng appreciates you. If you can get into his company, you'll have connections. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Those other girls are lining up for a chance to get in, but don't have the opportunity!"
"Since they are still lining up, I won't take up President Deng's time to keep looking."
After saying this, Xiao Qian strode away, ignoring Sister Tao's obstruction.
Of course, President Deng was not one to be trifled with either. He picked up the card and flung it at her, "If you don't accept a toast, you'll be punished with wine. Who do you think you are, pretending to be all high and mighty? In this profession, how far do you think you can stay clean?"
The card was light, and didn't hurt, but it pierced her heart.
Xiao Qian's hands clenched tightly into fists, her nails digging into her skin, the crescent moons turning white.
She didn't look back.
...
Sure enough, if you don't accept the toast, you get punished with wine.
Because she had offended President Deng, she didn't get a single cent of her wages for the night. She had worked for nothing.
The quiet streets had the occasional passing vehicle. The blisters on the soles of her feet from the high heels made every step excruciatingly painful.
Xiao Qian sat down on a bench by the roadside, took off her high heels, and massaged her fair feet.
Along with the grievance, she also felt some regret.
Perhaps there was a smarter way to reject President Deng - saying a few more flattering words, fawning over him a little, so as not to anger him and lose a night's hard-earned wages for no reason.
And end up in such a sorry state.
Because she didn't get her wages, she didn't even dare spend money to take a taxi home...
She really couldn't take another step. She wondered if she should ask her younger brother to come pick her up on his bike.
But on second thought, no. He was in his last year of high school. She didn't want him to worry and be distracted.
Xiao Qian took out her phone to check the time. Xu Jia Ning's WeChat message was still on the screen.
Her fingertips paused for a moment before she tapped open the message to see the video he had sent.
In the video, the youth sitting in dim lighting, strummed a guitar and sang a quiet song -
"Fell in love with you watching Casablanca,
Back row of the drive-in show in the flickering light,
Popcorn and cokes beneath the stars..."
On this starry night, Xiao Qian slowly looked up at the starry sky, listening to his gentle, husky voice, when suddenly her nose soured.
A young girl would be attracted to his romance and unmatched charm, but it would not be easy to move her heart...
Perhaps it was the wind tonight, too piercingly cold, tearing at her heart again and again, and she could barely hold it together.
Finally, Xiao Qian picked up her phone and called him.
It was a rare moment of recklessness in her cautious life so far.
Twenty minutes later, Xu Jia Ning rode up hurriedly on Lin Chu Sui's light blue women's bicycle.
The woman he had been longing to see was now sitting curled up on a street bench, hugging her knees and looking at him.
There were still traces of tears with smudged eye makeup on her flushed cheeks.
Seeing this, Xu Jia Ning's heart clenched. He strode over and draped his coat over her shoulders.
"Sister..."
He reached out and brushed back her damp bangs, tucking them behind her ear.
Xiao Qian didn't look at him. The corners of her mouth turned up in a mocking smile, "A man offered me 30,000 to sleep with him."
Xu Jia Ning's hand stopped abruptly. His mind went blank instantly and he was somewhat at a loss.
Xiao Qian looked at the tense expression on the youth's face, "It really is a long wait until you grow up."
"I know."
Because he knew, he lacked confidence.
He lowered his gaze and saw the water blisters on Xiao Qian's feet. He wanted to reach out and touch them.
Xiao Qian drew back, not letting him make contact.
Xu Jia Ning looked at her feet with heartache but didn't force it. He said, "I'll carry you home."
Xiao Qian looked at the bicycle beside them, "You can give me a ride."
"You've been on your feet all night. I'll carry you on my back so you can be more comfortable."
Xu Jia Ning locked the bicycle to a tree below, then crouched in front of Xiao Qian and patted his shoulder, "Sister, come on up. I'll carry you."
Looking at the already mature and sturdy arms of the youth, Xiao Qian hesitated for a moment before finally climbing on his back.
Perhaps because she had endured hardship since childhood, she was very thin and light. When Xu Jia Ning stood up, he felt like he was carrying a backpack.
"Sister is too skinny."
"It's required for this job."
"Tell me what foods you like. I'll learn how to make them and cook for you."
Xiao Qian didn't respond. She rested her face on the nape of his neck. Through the thin fabric of his clothes, she could feel his warm body temperature and the faint scent of sandalwood.
In that moment, the inexplicable feeling of home in his scent caused her rationality to go offline for a few seconds. Then she said something that she would surely regret a few seconds later -
"Xu Jia Ning, I have never won since the day I was born. And I have nothing left to lose."
"Let me gamble on you this one last time. Marry me after you graduate. Don't deceive me."
"Did we even get winter break?"
"Did we really get winter break?"
On the first day back at school, Lin Chu Sui lay limply on the desk, chanting as if reciting scripture, "Five days of winter break, even the five-day May Day holiday has more dignity."
Not just her, the entire morning self-study classroom was filled with complaining.
"Nothing is more unjust than a five-day winter break!"
"Objection! Formal objection!"
...
Lin Chu Sui looked towards Xiao Xian. He sat silently in his seat, wholeheartedly writing something.
The youth's short hair was neat and trim, his brow bones prominent. His sleeves were rolled up a few inches, revealing slender, pale forearms.
Lin Chu Sui wandered over with nothing to do and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Practicing writing."
"As expected of the academically-accomplished. Able to get into study mode anytime, anywhere."
Before her voice faded, she saw that the title of his essay was—
"Letter of Protest"
"This is..."
Xiao Qian lazily swept his gaze over her face and said flatly: "The noise in the shop always increases exponentially during the winter vacation, but because of the brevity of the holidays, it leads to a straight drop in turnover. When riches block the way like killing one's parents, I am quite furious internally."
"So will you submit this protest letter?"
"I won't."
"What's the use then?"
"To practice my handwriting and maintain inner peace."
Lin ChuSui pinched his cheek and laughed: "Our family's academic star looks so adorable when he's seriously angry!"
Just then, Xu Jia Ning emerged from somewhere, snatched the protest letter from Xiao Qian's hand, and said with a laugh: "Since the scholar has written it already, I will definitely help convey the voice of the people upwards for you to hear."
Recently Xu Jia Ning has been swaggering around quite smugly.
Lin ChuSui slapped the table and stood up: "Xu Jia Ning, give it back!"
"I won't give it back."
It was precisely at this moment that their homeroom teacher, Mr. Qin, walked into the classroom: "What's with the clamor? It's only the first day of school. You haven't gotten your hearts back yet, have you! You're not elementary schoolers anymore, but senior high students who are about to take the college entrance exam. Focus on your studies!"
Xu Jia Ning immediately handed the protest letter to Mr. Qin: "Mr. Qin, this is a letter Xiao Qian wrote to you, representing the voice of the masses. Of course, except for me."
Mr. Qin dissatisfiedly accepted the protest letter and started reading it.
Lin ChuSui looked at Xu Jia Ning resentfully, her eyes wishing she could swallow him whole: "Meddlesome fool."
Mr. Qin glanced over the protest letter and angrily said to Xu Jia Ning: "Xu Jia Ning, what is the meaning of writing something like this? If you don't want to start school you can stay home. "
"No, Mr. Qin, Xiao Qian wrote this."
"I see you're not stupid, you're just bad." Mr. Qin held up the protest letter in front of his face: "You think I can't recognize your handwriting? You're trying to frame Xiao Qian? If you had put this effort into your studies, you wouldn't be forever chasing behind Xiao Qian!"
Xu Jia Ning looked closely at the content of the protest letter. The handwriting was identical to his own flowing script, and the signature at the end was even written in English as "Carl" - Xu Jia Ning's English name.
Xu Jia Ning glared angrily at Xiao Qian, who shrugged with palms outstretched:
"Your handwriting is pretty good, so I practiced with it."
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