I Deduce the Female Lead Likes Me [Transmigration into a book] - Chapter 6: Butterfly Effect
Kou Shuang was completely unaware of Song Muxue’s admonishments and concerns.
At this moment, she was being asked by Sun Jiawen, who had her arm linked through hers: “How do you know Lu Renjia? I thought you were usually quite a loner, and I didn’t think you’d bother with boys.”
“Loner.” Hearing this comment, Kou Shuang suddenly remembered Lu Renjia’s comment about Song Muxue: “doesn’t have many friends.”
It seemed there was some commonality between the two. Kou Shuang was slightly lost in thought, but still replied: “Lu Renjia was the chief director for the last department party. Didn’t you go?”
Kou Shuang didn’t recognize the girl in front of her, but since the other person had just introduced herself as a classmate from the same department, she naturally accepted this premise.
“Oh~ so that’s how you met~ Lu Renjia must be pursuing you, right? Don’t say yes to him, he’s very flirtatious.” Sun Jiawen said with a smile, then quickly changed the subject: “What position did you apply for?”
“Illustration, what about you?” Kou Shuang answered without guard.
“Ah, what a coincidence, I’m also illustration!” Sun Jiawen exclaimed in surprise, then seemed a little dejected, saying: “But they’re only hiring one intern, and you’re so much better than me. Looks like I’ll have to keep looking for other jobs, ugh!”
Kou Shuang didn’t know what to say, so she could only console her: “I’m not confident either. It’s just an intern position, maybe they’ll hire both of us? Oh right, the memory card is with you. Are you going to report it to the police?”
Sun Jiawen paused, then said: “Probably not. It’s better to avoid trouble… What if he holds a grudge and retaliates?”
“Mm… you’re right,” Kou Shuang said, “Just be careful in the future.”
The person interviewing the interns was the magazine’s picture editor. Because time was tight and there were many candidates, plus he didn’t take interns very seriously, he simply put everyone in one office and asked questions.
He successively looked through each portfolio tucked into the resumes, his brows constantly furrowed, showing no emotion. The four interviewees were all nervous, not daring to utter a word.
The moment Kou Shuang stepped into this magazine office, she had a premonition: this was the very magazine where “Kou Shuang” interned in the original novel. This premonition had no clear origin, probably “a woman’s sixth sense” or something more mystical.
Because of this, she felt a little more confident, thinking the editor would probably favor her.
As expected, after the editor finished reviewing the resumes, he put them down, clasped his hands, and asked Kou Shuang: “Your name is Kou Shuang, right? How many months can you intern? Can you accept working four days a week in the office?”
Kou Shuang was slightly pleased, but remained calm, saying: “Yes, no problem.”
“Alright, then it’s you. You’ll start your internship next week.” The editor was decisive. After finishing the portfolios and selecting the person, he half-stood up, intending to leave.
The other three interviewees looked at her with envy, jealousy, and resentment.
The editor had already reached the door. Just before opening it, he turned and asked a question: “Your portfolio leans more towards impressionism. Is a simple, realistic style acceptable? We need submissions very quickly here; there’s no room for extended deadlines.”
Kou Shuang froze, her expression stiffening.
It’s over, she thought.
••••
“I’m sorry, I saw you weren’t saying anything, so I instinctively agreed for you…” Sun Jiawen said weakly, looking extremely guilty and fragile.
Although she claimed to have “helped” Kou Shuang agree, it was Sun Jiawen who was ultimately selected. Kou Shuang herself gave up.
Kou Shuang waved her hand magnanimously; the other party making such a big deal out of it made her feel a bit embarrassed. “I’m not suitable; it’s right that they didn’t pick me. Congratulations to you, though, your internship is settled! Next, I need to work hard!”
Only now did Kou Shuang realize that transmigrating into this book didn’t mean she completely replaced the original Kou Shuang.
Putting looks aside, the original Kou Shuang was a true goddess who could write, paint, and flirt. She herself had two years of accounting experience, but in this field, she couldn’t compare to the original Kou Shuang. Even if she had Kou Shuang’s portfolio, once she faced real challenges, she’d be out of her depth.
Fate was one thing, but Kou Shuang’s fate and “Kou Shuang’s” fate seemed to be different.
It was like character settings… The original “Kou Shuang” had a spoiled personality, but her portfolio was quite impressive, and she had other strong points; she herself felt nothing for Zheng Fenglin and knew the future trajectory, but… her personal abilities were quite terrible.
If the original “Kou Shuang’s” skill points were given by the system, then she herself needed to acquire them personally.
If she wanted to live in this world long-term, perhaps… she should really study painting?
It seemed quite interesting. Kou Shuang smiled and said to Sun Jiawen: “You go for it.”
If Sun Jiawen hadn’t taken her place, and she’d been exposed when she actually had to draw illustrations, that would have been truly awkward.
The two walked out of the magazine office together and saw a sunny, handsome young man leaning against a large pillar at the entrance, waiting for someone.
Seeing Kou Shuang emerge, Lu Renjia walked up happily and said: “Finished your interview?”
Kou Shuang was a little surprised and said: “How are you here?”
Lu Renjia said: “I kept an eye out. Do you have plans for lunch?”
Kou Shuang was about to say yes, when suddenly, Sun Jiawen’s voice sounded delighted: “Lu Renjia, I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Lu Renjia looked a little awkward, rubbing the tip of his nose, and said: “Ah… what a coincidence. Well, shall we go eat together?” He looked at Kou Shuang inquiringly.
“Is Kou Shuang your new girlfriend?” Sun Jiawen asked again, her eyes wide, as if gossiping and curious.
Kou Shuang sensitively detected a hint of hostility. She carefully examined Sun Jiawen’s expression but found nothing, so she could only attribute it to her own suspicion.
But the uncomfortable feeling was real.
Lu Renjia also seemed unhappy, frowning as he said: “You ask too many questions.” Then he added: “Why are you here? Interview? Then I guess you definitely didn’t get hired, especially with Kou Shuang here.”
This was a clear dig.
Kou Shuang noticed Sun Jiawen’s face turn a bit sour and quickly smoothed things over: “Sun Jiawen got the job; I didn’t. Sigh, I have to keep looking for an internship.”
Lu Renjia paused, then comforted her: “It’s alright; the next one will definitely be okay. Your painting is so good.”
At this, Kou Shuang felt a little helpless.
Painting… that’s exactly what she was worried about. The original “Kou Shuang” was a great painter, but she herself couldn’t even draw a decent stick figure and couldn’t possibly fool an expert.
If her intuition was correct, this position should have been hers. But she wasn’t skilled enough, so she was rejected… Was this the butterfly effect?
Or perhaps, her intuition was wrong, and this wasn’t the magazine she was looking for at all.
Sun Jiawen said: “I have a few other offers from other places. I was planning to intern at an art gallery if the magazine didn’t hire me. They’re really short-staffed right now. Are you willing to give it a try?”
Kou Shuang hadn’t answered yet when Lu Renjia spoke again: “I don’t know about that internship of yours. What kind of gallery? It’s just a place that sells paintings. You just need to memorize the explanations; you don’t need any professional skills. Kou Shuang wouldn’t go there.”
Kou Shuang originally didn’t want to go, but when Lu Renjia said “you don’t need any professional skills,” Kou Shuang felt a little tempted.
This situation was like playing a game: if you can’t get the SSR you want, you can only beg for fragments while making do with SRs.
Since she couldn’t go to the magazine, doing something industry-related was fine too.
Thinking this, Kou Shuang smiled at Sun Jiawen and said: “Can you give me your contact information? I’ll give it a try.”
Seemingly not expecting Kou Shuang to agree, Sun Jiawen was also startled, then smiled and said: “Okay.”