I'm Interested In Your Friend - Chapter 18

18

Returning home.

“Lili, you’re back so late.” Mom draped a silk shawl over her shoulders. “You reek of alcohol.”

“Hehe, I didn’t drink much. It was all my friends.”

Madam Yu rested her fair wrist on the nanwood staircase railing. “Time to settle down. When are you planning to start working at your dad’s company?”

“…” Yu Lili bit her lip. “Mom, I’m a little sleepy. I’m going to bed first.”

If you can’t win, retreat first.

After washing up and lying in bed, Yu Lili grabbed a soft pillow and poked its head, seriously thinking about how to talk to her mom about her job.

As she pondered, her gaze unconsciously fell on her phone.

Hmm…

Might as well play with her phone for a bit first.

Yu Lili opened a certain video site.

What if she could find some negotiation strategies or communication tips?

Right?

Faced with a homepage full of [Hilarious Variety Show Clips] and [Funny Video Compilations], Yu Lili shamelessly began her “research.”

The left screen played a male celebrity falling into a mud pit and getting stepped on. Yu Lili laughed heartlessly, but then her eyes caught a familiar name in the recommended videos on the right.

—”Unveiling the Secrets of Tan Suran, CEO of Huanyu Group’s Success”

What did this have to do with funny videos?

Yu Lili was baffled.

Had the app eavesdropped on her conversation with Du Tanyu?

Was that why it recommended this to her?

Even if it had, it was useless.

She wasn’t interested in this at all.

It was probably just empty, meaningless talk.

She wouldn’t watch it.

—

Two minutes later.

Yu Lili curled up her little feet, leaning against the soft headboard pillow, her eyelids drooping as she watched the video—completely different from how she looked while watching funny clips.

“President Tan, what was the biggest challenge during the acquisition of Zhihua?” the host asked in the video.

“Challenge? Assessing Zhihua’s future growth potential and Huanyu’s liquidity pressure.”

“That’s clearly a test of your judgment. Thank you so much for sharing, President Tan. Personally, I found it incredibly insightful.”

How could such empty, meaningless talk be considered insightful?

Yu Lili smirked boredly.

She instantly regretted spending ten minutes on this video.

Just as she was about to close it and switch back to her usual funny videos, a bright red bullet comment floated across the screen.

[Bullshit! My brother works at Zhihua. Tan Suran is nothing but a shady businesswoman.]

Seeing someone trash Tan Suran, Yu Lili’s eyes lit up.

She scrolled down to the comments.

Sure enough, this comment was pinned at the top.

Naturally, people asked for details.

The whistleblower didn’t disappoint, replying with specifics:

[KnockYourDadLittleWatermelon: Hah. I don’t know the details, but I do know a certain company first claimed they were super eager to collaborate, then at the last minute said they didn’t have enough funds and played the victim card, forcing the other side to lower their price.]

[SeriouslyNoLogic: So even business tycoons play the victim card, lol.]

[You’re just making up stories based on hearsay. Careful, she might sue you for defamation.]

Yu Lili put down her phone.

Playing the victim?

Who couldn’t do that?

The next time her mom brought up working at her dad’s company, Yu Lili nodded—then put on a fragile, pained yet determined expression, like a delicate little white flower.

That night.

Madam Yu came out for water.

In the pitch-black living room, she heard faint sobbing.

Turning on the light, she found her daughter crying.

“What’s wrong, sweetie?” Madam Yu walked over.

Yu Lili covered her eyes, her body trembling as she spoke haltingly: “I’m just… just scared I won’t do well.”

“It’s okay. Someone will teach you.”

“But… but… I feel so sad about giving up photography. I can’t bear it.”

“Well…” Madam Yu started, but Lili cut her off.

“It’s fine, Mom. I can do it. It’s just a hobby I wanted to pursue forever, right? I can give it up. I also feel so guilty for not being the daughter you can be proud of.”

“Lili, don’t say that. You’ve always made me proud. I’m not forcing you to work at your dad’s company…”

“Really?”

Madam Yu sighed. “Of course. I’m not trying to make your life harder. I just want you to be happy. If you really want to keep doing photography, I’ll ask around and see if I can find you opportunities.”

Instantly, Yu Lili’s nose stopped sniffling, her lips stopped trembling, and she quickly tossed aside the onion core she’d been clutching. She bounced up happily: “Thanks, Mom! Love you! Mwah!”

Madam Yu sat in the living room for a long time, torn between laughter and exasperation, before finally letting out a long sigh.

Fine. Let her daughter do whatever she wanted.

Before starting at Frontier, Yu Lili met up with Sela.

They chose a quiet Japanese restaurant.

“I only found out about your situation after returning to the country. I’m sorry.” Sela said bluntly.

“No, no, it’s not your fault. It’s nobody’s fault…”

“I wanted to make up for my mistake, but I heard Olivia already poached you.” Sela nodded to the waiter serving their food, then looked back at Yu Lili. “If you ever need my help, don’t hesitate to ask.”

While paying at the counter, a crowd suddenly poured into the restaurant.

Yu Lili turned her head.

Tan Suran stood at the center, surrounded by a group of sharply dressed elites.

Aloof. Untouchable.

Yu Lili looked away.

She tapped the counter twice.

Consider it a silent thank-you.

She’d used Tan Suran’s underhanded tactic to convince her mom.

Little did she know, she wouldn’t see Tan Suran again for the next two months.

Busy adapting to her new job, she barely had time to rest.

As a contracted photographer for Frontier Magazine, her workload was heavier than before. Since it was a startup, there were only two photographers. Aside from magazine shoots, she also had to handle content for the public account and short video platforms.

Exhausted, she’d drag herself home, only to be mercilessly teased by her mom: “Serves you right. You chose this path—now you have to see it through, even if it makes you cry.”

Even Du Tanyu had been scarce during this time.

So when the thought “I haven’t seen Tan Suran in two months” popped into her head, it startled her.

Why did she feel like running into Tan Suran was something that should happen?

Maybe it was because they’d crossed paths so frequently before, making her forget that she and Tan Suran were on entirely different levels. Even a chance encounter would take tremendous luck.