After Stealing a Kiss from My Sponsor Sister - Chapter 23
“Oho~ Something’s up?”
The teasing, singsong tone made Yu Shuang’s head throb.
“What’s up? Who’s chasing you now? Is Professor Shu jealous? Or is your ex begging to get back together?”
“…”
Tan Xiao tapped Yu Shuang’s phone screen twice with two fingers. “I said, you have something going on.”
“‘Thanks, Little Sis Yu’—plain as day, black on white—flirting!”
Yu Shuang took the phone back, glanced at the sender’s name, and shook her head with a wry smile.
Jiang Ya.
That brat.
Going out of her way to avoid calling her “big sis.”
She poked the chubby pink Jigglypuff avatar with a finger.
Just like Jiang Ya herself—all sweet on the surface but full of defiance underneath.
What’s the big deal about calling her “big sis”? Was it really that hard?
Unable to resist, Yu Shuang poked it again—poke, poke, poke.
“Ms. Yu” patted my Jigglypuff head.
“Ms. Yu” patted my Jigglypuff head.
“Ms. Yu” patted my Jigglypuff head.
A flurry of notifications popped up. Jiang Ya: ?
“Ms. Yu” patted my Jigglypuff head.
“Ms. Yu” patted my Jigglypuff head.
The other side didn’t say anything, just kept patting relentlessly, as if trying to flatten her.
Jiang Ya got it.
Ms. Yu?
Another pat.
Little Sis?
Two pats in response.
Big Sis.
Finally, a dignified reply: Mhm.
Childish.
But Jiang Ya could practically picture Yu Shuang right now—narrowing her eyes and nodding like a haughty fairy cat.
Yu Shuang quoted the words “Big Sis” and added: Thank me like this next time.
Jiang Ya grinned, spinning a pen in her left hand while her right, hidden under the desk, held her phone. The professor was covering a key point in the lecture, but since it was a topic she already understood, she leaned in closer to her phone and typed one-handed: Like what?
“Ms. Yu” patted my Jigglypuff head.
“Ms. Yu” patted my Jigglypuff head.
Jiang Ya burst out laughing.
Yeah, she wasn’t much better.
Putting her phone down, Tan Xiao’s eyes were practically glowing as they roamed over Yu Shuang’s face, her thirst for gossip overflowing from her gaze.
Yu Shuang arched a brow.
Tan Xiao pointed an accusing finger. “Don’t play dumb!”
Yu Shuang was so done.
“The design for the Forest Nymph still isn’t coming together. I have a theory—your energy allocation is off.”
“Hm?”
Yu Shuang took a sip of coffee, peeling herself away from the design drafts to slump into her ergonomic chair. “If you put half as much enthusiasm into your designs as you do into other people’s love lives, you wouldn’t be stuck.”
Slander. Absolute slander.
Tan Xiao rallied, straightening up with the energy of someone ready to debate an entire council. But before she could speak, Yu Shuang’s long arm shot out, thrusting a freshly printed design draft practically into her face.
“Look.”
Tan Xiao glanced reluctantly—then immediately forgot her grand ambitions from seconds ago, gasping in awe. “Wow, this is great! When did you draw this? Oh my god, I could cry. Let me see… No, seriously, this is amazing!”
God knew how many people in the studio had collapsed trying to nail this draft.
She knew if they couldn’t figure it out, Yu Shuang would.
Tan Xiao’s excited shout summoned several assistants and designers, who crowded around the draft, murmuring in admiration.
“This is it, this is the one.”
“Sweet Jesus and Mary, finally something presentable. Amen!”
“Holy crap, holy crap—today, I am Ning’s loyal dog!”
“Politely declined, thanks. I’ve already got a dog.” Yu Shuang set her cup down on the table. “But I appreciate the coffee offer.”
The cup was immediately whisked away by an eager junior designer.
Once the crowd dispersed, Tan Xiao suddenly clicked her tongue and remarked, “This isn’t Su Shu, is it?”
“Nope.”
“Pure original work, then?”
Well, not exactly.
But Yu Shuang didn’t feel like explaining to Tan Xiao and stayed silent.
“The facial features aren’t refined yet. Have you decided?” Tan Xiao’s thoughts jumped around, quickly shifting to business.
“Hold on.”
“How long?” Tan Xiao assumed Yu Shuang was still brainstorming. “This draft is way overdue. The client’s been breathing down our necks.”
“I know. Give me the time it takes to finish this coffee.”
“?”
When a fresh cup arrived, Yu Shuang snapped a photo of the draft and sent it to Jiang Ya.
It was inspired by Jiang Ya, but with altered details.
The hair was transformed into leaves and flowers, the clothes had a flowing water texture, and tiny animals were scattered throughout.
The idea had struck her over the weekend—Jiang Ya’s white outfit, billowing ominously when she tied up Jiang Rui, had fit the theme perfectly.
Jiang Ya: Me?
Yu Shuang: Used your likeness as a template for this draft. If you’re okay with it, I’ll pay you licensing fees.
No need for fees.
Feel free to use it.
Yu Shuang was about to reply when another message popped up.
Sis ^^
“…”
Gritting her teeth, she tapped the overly sweet avatar with a fingernail before typing: Okay.
Coffee finished, Yu Shuang refined the facial details and casually handed it to Tan Xiao, who squealed in excitement.
Finally, after tormenting their studio for nearly half a month, the character design was finalized.
–
The forum buzzed with noise, but Jiang Ya remained focused on her studies.
Xiao Hua and Pang Pang spent their days there countering slander while the subject of it sat nearby, solving problems.
Xiao Hua fretted, “It’s getting worse. Aren’t you going to do something?”
Jiang Ya: “Finished memorizing the Chinese texts? Done with the math problems? Any noticeable improvement in your English essays?”
Xiao Hua deflated.
Pouting, she muttered, “The emperor isn’t anxious, but the eunuch is!”
Unfazed, Jiang Ya replied, “Eunuch Hua, have you finished today’s physics error log?”
“Ahhhh!” Xiao Hua surrendered.
Pang Pang, who had been about to chime in, swiftly distanced herself from Xiao Hua and pulled out her biology test papers, diving into study mode.
With Yu Shuang’s final design approved, the follow-up work kept her even busier than the drafting phase. On Friday morning, she mentioned she’d be tied up with work discussions and told Jiang Ya to head home alone after school.
After a day of immersive studying, Jiang Ya tucked her completed weekend homework into her desk, packed her things, and stepped out of the classroom right as the bell rang.
Hopping down the stairs, she suddenly heard her name called from behind. Turning, she saw Mu Xiao, their class’s English representative, gripping her backpack straps and staring at her with a conflicted expression from the steps above.
“Something up?”
Mu Xiao descended until they were an arm’s length apart, then spoke in a soft, sweet voice, “You should check the forum this weekend. People are saying bad things about you. If it’s false, you can report it to the school and get it taken down.”
Jiang Ya didn’t respond. Her slightly hooded eyes narrowed as she coolly assessed Mu Xiao. The prolonged silence made Mu Xiao tighten her grip on her backpack straps, growing visibly more uneasy.
“Wh-what’s wrong?” Her voice wavered, betraying her nerves.
She seemed like a genuinely innocent girl.
Jiang Ya: “Does this concern you?”
Mu Xiao’s eyes widened. “What did you just say?!”
“Oh. It doesn’t.”
Jiang Ya lowered her gaze, drawing her own conclusion from Mu Xiao’s reaction.
“No, you—you’re just…”
Jiang Ya: “Don’t you have a crush on the class president? I wondered if you were the one who posted it.”
“You…”
After just one word, Teng—Mu Xiao’s entire face flushed crimson.
A silent stare-off lasted a few seconds before Mu Xiao, her face burning red, stammered, “Y-you’re talking nonsense! What nonsense are you spouting!”
“Hmm, let’s just say I-I-I was talking nonsense then.”
“…”
She even mimicked her stammer—how mean!
Mu Xiao gritted her teeth, glaring at Jiang Ya with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. Though clearly furious, she lacked any real intimidation.
Jiang Ya glanced behind her. “The crowd’s about to come down. Let’s talk while we walk.”
No sooner had she spoken than Shu Tianxin appeared from the stairs above, chiming in, “What are you two talking about?”
Jiang Ya, noticing Mu Xiao’s face reddening another shade, worried she might combust. “A maiden’s heart is always poetic?”
Shu Tianxin: “?”
Mu Xiao’s teeth audibly clenched.
Hearing the approaching footsteps from above, Jiang Ya grabbed Mu Xiao’s wrist and bolted outside.
“L-let go of me!”
“N-no, I won’t.”
“Jiang Ya!”
“Come on~ Run! Unless you want everyone to know you have a crush—”
Before she could finish, the English class representative frantically covered her mouth, stomping her foot. “Run! Let’s go!”
Jiang Ya burst into laughter.
Leaving everyone far behind, the initial embarrassment faded, and Mu Xiao’s awkwardness seemed to vanish with it.
The two of them, breathless from sprinting, bent over at the school gate, hands on their knees.
Jiang Ya grinned. “Want bubble tea? My treat—Snow King?”
Mu Xiao shoved her. “You’re insane!”
“How about adding an ice cream?”
“I want an Oreo sundae!”
“Fine, let’s go.”
Mu Xiao hesitated. “Is this an apology?”
“Apologize for what? I told the truth.” Jiang Ya straightened up, self-deprecating. “Being a kept woman means I’ve got plenty of spare change for sundaes.”
The rumors on the forum.
They said some of her clothes and accessories were expensive, and coupled with photos of her getting into Miss Yu’s car, that’s how the speculation started.
If only she really were Miss Yu’s kept woman.
Blind haters, always ruining her mood.
Mu Xiao hurriedly clarified, “Those are obviously lies! I never believed them!”
Jiang Ya laughed again, nudging Mu Xiao forward. “Yeah, it’s a bribe. My English is weak—I need your help with some questions.”
Mu Xiao usually avoided her, but now that she’d walked right into her hands, Jiang Ya wasn’t letting go.
“Huh… what?”
“Weren’t we talking about the forum?”
“That’s not important. Questions first.”
Mu Xiao gave up. “I hate seeing talented people like you work hard the most!”
“‘People like us’? You mean me and Shu Tianxin?”
“…”
This conversation was over.
How could she be like this!
–
Before leaving, Jiang Ya finally got her wish—adding the English class representative’s WeChat, enthusiastically promising to ask for help over the weekend.
Mu Xiao, drained by Jiang Ya’s endless questions, waved numbly as she left, her spirit thoroughly crushed.
The entire weekend, Jiang Ya was home alone. She barely saw Yu Shuang during the day, and even Xiao Huang was taken to doggy school by Yu Shuang’s assistant.
Half a month in boarding.
Half a month with her.
This arrangement worked best for both Xiao Huang and Jiang Ya, who was in her final year of high school.
When dropping off the dog, Jiang Ya felt a pang of reluctance. But once they reached the outskirts and saw Xiao Huang gleefully sprinting across the grass, two words surfaced in her mind: ungrateful child.
That evening, the school sent a video—Xiao Huang had devoured two bowls of dog food. Jiang Ya scoffed. Hmph.
Definitely an ungrateful child.
Over the weekend, she took photos in Miss Yu’s walk-in closet and sent two to Yu Shuang.
Actually, she just wanted to use this as an excuse to say a few words to Miss Yu.
An hour after sending the picture, there was still no reply in the chat box.
Well, Miss Yu was busy and didn’t have time for her.
Jiang Ya felt a bit dejected. She logged onto the forum and started posting pictures under her real name.
No words—just pictures.
Clothes worth thousands, bags worth tens of thousands, watches worth hundreds of thousands.
Pure flexing.
After posting, she checked the clicks and reposts of the original thread and contacted the lawyer from before—the one Miss Yu had found for her. They had added each other on WeChat during the initial consultation.
After a brief chat, the lawyer forwarded a new contact. Jiang Ya thanked him profusely and added the new lawyer.
By the afternoon, the new legal representative had completed the evidence collection.
Her posts added fuel to the fire, and the original thread quickly gained enough traction.
That evening, the lawyer successfully contacted the school, and the next day, they obtained the real identity of the anonymous poster.
Jiang Ya didn’t know this person.
But that didn’t stop her from making them famous.
The next morning, she woke up early, armed with several freshly printed cease-and-desist letters. The documents prominently displayed the defendant’s name, ID number (partially redacted), phone number, and class—all in bold, enlarged, black font.
With Little Huang away at dog school, there was no need for a walk. By the time Jiang Ya arrived at school, the campus was still mostly empty.
She pasted a row of notices on the bulletin board right by the main entrance.
Then another row on the door of the defendant’s classroom.
Finally, she took photos, posted them on the forum, and copied-pasted the same content in the first comment of the thread.
Below the post, Jiang Ya wrote: 【Not sure where the defendant sits. If anyone knows, please help pass these along.】
With that done, she left to grab breakfast.
Leisurely sipping soy milk and nibbling on steamed buns, she returned to find a crowd gathered around the bulletin board, buzzing with activity.
She pulled out her phone and checked again.
As expected, the forum had exploded.