Xie Bing was just a business partner. The trust she had placed in her before had led Shi Yu to reveal too much of her private life.
“It’s the weekend. Panpan wanted to go to the amusement park, so Ji Yao came.”
Her explanation made Xie Bing’s face turn even paler, as if she lacked the strength to stand.
Not wanting to escalate the tension, Shi Yu decided to have Ji Yao take Panpan to the garden first while she discussed work matters with Xie Bing.
For the recording of the “Singer” program, Xie Bing likely didn’t need to be involved anymore. It would be best to reassign all subsequent endorsements and activities from Xie Bing’s responsibilities as well.
Since Ji Yao appeared, Xie Bing’s condition had worsened, her emotions teetering on the brink of collapse. After hearing Shi Yu’s words, she tore off her mask herself.
With a somewhat hysterical tone, she demanded, “Are you going to remove me from the studio?”
“Shi Yu, I’ve worked here for so many years. Even if I haven’t achieved great merits, I’ve put in hard work, right? Did Ji Yao say something to you? How could you believe her!”
Ji Yao, who had stayed behind instead of leaving and had asked the nanny to take Panpan away, couldn’t hold back when Xie Bing said this.
This was just wild accusations! What did their work matters have to do with her?!
Seeing the situation turning sour, Ji Yao stepped in front of Shi Yu, raised her hand to show her bracelet, and asked Xie Bing, “You don’t have to believe me, but can you trust this?”
The necklace was too inconvenient, so when Shi Yu had driven her away earlier, she had gone to find Xiao Zhu nearby and swapped it for a bracelet.
The design was a small dolphin, subtle and elegant.
Right after she said this, Xie Bing’s eyes widened abruptly. She looked at Shi Yu, then at Ji Yao.
Her expression twisted, and she struggled to suppress it for a long time before finally tearing her gaze away from Ji Yao’s wrist.
“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
“I… I’m not feeling well. Shi Yu, let’s discuss the studio matters another time.”
Xie Bing didn’t care how Shi Yu looked at her or what expression she wore. She fled the villa in a panic.
Her steps were so unsteady that she nearly stumbled while passing through the garden.
Ji Yao made way for her but, fearing she might harm Panpan, kept an eye on her from the doorway until she left.
The aura surrounding Ji Yao was something Shi Yu had never seen before.
It was very similar to last night.
Last night, she vaguely remembered feeling as if she were trapped in a small box, watching herself as if she were an outsider.
“Shi Yu, are you okay?”
Shi Yu didn’t know when the dizziness had set in, but when she came to, she saw Ji Yao standing in front of the sofa, looking at her with concern. She shook her head. “I’m fine.”
But she couldn’t help biting her lip.
So she emphasized again, “I’m fine.”
Ji Yao didn’t say anything. Instead, she watched her for a moment before handing her a small dolphin bracelet. “This is for you. It can ward off evil spirits.”
“So, I don’t need you anymore, is that it?”
Shi Yu really wanted her to leave, and her eyes even held a hint of anticipation as she looked up at Ji Yao.
Unfortunately, Ji Yao shook her head. “Probably not.”
“But under normal circumstances, I can keep some distance from you, just not for too long.”
“Oh, okay.”
The bracelet was close to her, and Shi Yu actually felt much better. Her tone softened, but when she looked up again and saw the matching bracelet on Ji Yao’s wrist, her face turned cold again.
“Are there no other styles?” She didn’t want to have the same one as Ji Yao.
What was this supposed to be? A couple’s set?
Just the thought of it made Shi Yu furious.
“They’re different. The poses of these two dolphins are different, and their expressions are too.”
“Mine is blue, and yours is purple.”
“Oh, and in a few days, I’ll make another one for Panpan.”
“I should ask her what color she likes.”
Ji Yao seemed completely at ease with the idea of spending time with Panpan in Shi Yu’s home, and she even became more talkative.
“Do you have anything else? If not, you can leave now.”
Shi Yu didn’t want her to stay any longer and once again asked her to go.
Before Ji Yao had helped her without her knowledge, so Shi Yu felt somewhat awkward around Ji Yao, as if seeing a different person, mixed with a hint of gratitude.
But now it was an employer-employee relationship, and she felt entirely justified. After saying such things, her face showed no blush, and her heart didn’t race.
Ji Yao didn’t see any problem with it either, the employer’s wishes were naturally the most important.
Although their employer-employee relationship might not be entirely straightforward.
“Alright, I’ll leave after asking Panpan what her favorite color is.”
Panpan, who was playing outside in the garden, saw Ji Yao about to leave and tugged at her hand, whispering, “Aren’t we going to the amusement park today?”
“Today! Mommy isn’t feeling well and needs to rest. Did you forget?”
“Oh right, I forgot.” Panpan pouted. Ji Yao had reminded her earlier in the morning, but as soon as she heard Ji Yao mention the amusement park, she’d forgotten all about it.
She dashed over to Shi Yu, twisting her fingers nervously, and said, “I’m sorry.” Then she turned back to answer Ji Yao’s question: “I like yellow.”
“Mommy, can you get me a yellow dolphin?”
“Sure, but you’ll have to wait a few days.” After replying, Ji Yao raised her hand and mimed a phone call by her ear.
She was afraid Shi Yu might overthink things and not call her right away.
But clearly, she was the one overthinking.
Considering she couldn’t be too far from Shi Yu, Ji Yao started looking for a place to live in the suburbs.
After searching without finding anything suitable, she had no choice but to return to her own apartment. It was a bit far, but it saved money.
The money she would have spent on rent could easily buy her a motorcycle or a used car.
The old Ji Yao wouldn’t have been so frugal, but her current financial situation was truly tight.
Five thousand a month might seem like a decent amount, and there were additional bonuses, but transportation, accommodation, and meals were all issues. On top of that, she had to regularly buy medicine for bruises and sprains.
Those injuries didn’t look serious at first glance, but because she had been so mentally tense, after returning from Shi Yu’s house and getting a good night’s sleep, her whole body felt as if it had fallen apart.
After applying various ointments for bruises and sprains, and following Qiao Zixi’s recommendation, she went to an old Chinese medicine massage parlor. Only after she felt better did she start looking for a used car.
Mentioning it to Qiao Zixi, he lent her the first car he had bought many years ago, a BYD F0.
“This one is a customized automatic model. It cost over thirty thousand back then, but it’s already ten years old.”
“If you want to drive it, take it.”
Ji Yao didn’t want to owe anyone favors, so she ended up transferring five thousand yuan to him, a friend’s discount. Half a month later, the two of them went to the vehicle management office.
It was on her drive home that she received a call from Shi Yu.
“I need to go to the TV station this afternoon.”
After meeting, Shi Yu cast a disdainful glance at the car Ji Yao was driving.
It wasn’t about anything else, it was just too small.
Ji Yao was over 170 cm tall, with long legs crammed inside, making her look awkward and uncomfortable. Watching her get out of the car, Shi Yu couldn’t help but frown.
“Except for special circumstances, I’ll be home with Panpan on weekends. Monday to Friday are workdays you can follow the same schedule as me.”
“Okay.”
Standing by Shi Yu’s car window, Ji Yao responded calmly, but inwardly she was ecstatic.
She truly hadn’t expected to have weekends off, a completely normal work schedule!
But soon, she began to regret it.
Shi Yu did take weekends off, but on weekdays, there was hardly any time to rest.
Stepping into the recording studio again, Ji Yao felt the weight of everyone’s attention. She stood quietly beside Shi Yu like a statue.
From ten in the morning until eleven at night, she had eaten one piece of bread, drunk two bottles of water, and only managed two bathroom breaks thanks to Shi Yu’s influence.
Throughout the day, Shi Yu had eaten and drunk even less than she had.
When speaking to the contestants, Shi Yu’s voice was slightly hoarse.
At half past eleven, the mentors took a short break, but less than ten minutes later, the assistant director announced, “Ms. Xiao is here.”
Like many others, Ji Yao turned to look.
She saw Xiao Ran, dressed in a denim jumpsuit, looking carefree and confident, her long, wavy hair flowing gracefully.
Xiao Ran walked directly toward Shi Yu. Ji Yao’s gaze followed, only to see Shi Yu, less enthusiastic than others, turn her head slightly.
“Sister Shi Yu,” Xiao Ran greeted with a warm, affectionate smile. Shi Yu’s aloofness didn’t last long. Despite the exhaustion in her eyes, she motioned for Xiao Ran to sit beside her. “I watched your new drama, it’s really good.”
“Impressive.”
The praise carried a rare gentleness, reminding Ji Yao of the days years ago when she had eagerly followed The Singer, passionately cheering for Shi Yu.
Especially since the person standing before her now was Xiao Ran.
The CP she had once shipped so hard on the show.
It instantly transported her back to many years ago, when Shi Yu’s face was always adorned with a gentle, obedient smile so very similar to the one she wore now.
The excitement of a real-life CP fan surged within her. One was the unruly, passionate female alpha, the other the gentle, reserved female omega.
But upon closer inspection, the gentle, reserved omega wasn’t quite the same.
Ji Yao could tell that Shi Yu’s smile didn’t reach her eyes, it was just a facade, not truly sincere.
This realization snapped her back to the present.
Though she had once genuinely believed that Shi Yu was drawn to Xiao Ran and had even been hurt by her, the memory of warm breaths and sharp pains near her neck from a few nights earlier jolted her awake.
She was a CP fan who had long since moved on, and now she was the “ex-wife” of her former idol.
What on earth was she thinking, getting carried away like this?