The Shadow Queen and Her Little Bodyguard (GL) - Chapter 16

Once Yi Lanyin removed her makeup and changed out of her costume, she no longer resembled an ancient person.

Wearing sunglasses and dressed casually, she sat in the passenger seat with her arms crossed, coldly directing Yu Jing on the best route to the most authentic local cuisine restaurant in the film studio area.

Throughout the drive, Yu Jing repeatedly tried to ask Yi Lanyin what she had done wrong, but each time she opened her mouth, Yi Lanyin would impatiently snap, Watch the road.

By the time Yu Jing finally found a parking spot and pulled over, she was shocked to see that Yi Lanyin and Xiao Tao had already entered the restaurant without waiting for her.

Yu Jing secretly pouted and glanced up at the restaurant’s weathered sign Little Sister-in-Law’s Local Cuisine Restaurant.

The once-white background had yellowed with age. It was past lunchtime, and the restaurant wasn’t crowded. Standing under the eaves, Yu Jing squinted at the utility pole across the street, where several real estate and rental ads were plastered. Amidst the stark white papers, one garishly colorful flyer stood out. Yu Jing rubbed her eyes and finally made out the image a blatantly pornographic advertisement.

Yu Jing turned around guiltily, like a thief, and, seeing no one was paying attention to her, hurried over and tore down the offending poster. Crumpling the paper in her hand, she straightened her back, aimed at the large trash bin by the roadside, and finished with a perfect arc.

At the window of a second-floor private room, a woman stood wearing a flowing white shirt, the top three buttons undone to reveal her elegant collarbones. Leaning one hand on the windowsill and the other on her hip, she smiled and said to someone behind her, Xiao Zhi, look down there—there’s an interesting girl.

Yi Lanyin rose from the table and walked to the woman’s side, glancing down for a few seconds before turning away. Leaning against the restaurant’s window, she said to her companion, My assistant. She gestured to Xiao Tao, who immediately stood up to greet Yu Jing.

Oh, the woman said, her lips curling slightly as she withdrew her hand from her hip and lightly traced patterns on the glass with her slender fingers. Zoe mentioned something about Wanwan resembling you. I didn’t believe it at first. She paused, then glanced at Yi Lanyin. Don’t you think she looks a bit like Mi Lai from high school?

Mi Lai was their junior from the same high school, a sports student who dropped out but now a powerful figure in the industry. The rest was just personal fortune, but the crucial point was that You Ning had a crush on Mi Lai in high school and was rejected.

Yi Lanyin glanced at her. What? Trying to steal my girl?

That depends, You Ning replied with a smile, which kind of ‘girl’ are we talking about?

Yi Lanyin suddenly understood You Ning’s mischievous grin. She realized You Ning was just trying to trick her into revealing whether she was secretly keeping someone hidden.

Boring, Yi Lanyin said, pushing her away. Thanks for coming. Pei Jiu just promoted you to COO, right? You’re so busy, yet you made time for this trivial matter. Sorry about that.

You Ning turned to leave. I told Lao Pei on my first day at Qihang that your affairs always take priority. Don’t try to change the subject. So, is this one a Chun Yuan or a Tianjiang?

Just then, Xiao Tao opened the door, followed by Yu Jing. You Ning looked up and continued, addressing Yu Jing’s perpetually displeased expression Chun Yuan or Tianjiang?

By the time Yu Jing reached the upper floor, Xiao Tao had already informed her of You Ning’s title. As soon as she saw You Ning, Yu Jing greeted her first Good afternoon, President You. I’m Teacher Yi’s new assistant. My name is Yu Jing.

You Ning nodded at her, then turned to pat Yi Lanyin, who hadn’t acknowledged her. You know, she really does look a bit like… She turned back to Yu Jing with a friendly smile.

Like what? Yu Jing wondered, but not knowing, she simply sat down properly at the table.

Stop talking nonsense, Yi Lanyin frowned. Sit down and eat.

You Ning wore an expression as if she had anticipated this response. She gracefully rose from her seat by the window, settled between Xiao Tao and Yi Lanyin, and calmly retrieved Yu Jing’s resume from her bag. Lowering her head, she began reading aloud Yu Jing, two and a half years of peacekeeping experience abroad, and just graduated from police academy this year. She paused, lifting her gaze to meet Yu Jing’s eyes. May I ask why you chose to enter our industry? After all, she spread her hands, someone with your skills, who could have continued serving the country, surely has better options even after leaving the military.

Yu Jing was caught off guard by the question. Liu Ruo had never asked her this before, and she hadn’t prepared an answer. She certainly couldn’t say she’d taken the job because Yi Lanyin resembled the sugar daddy who had supported her in college, could she?

Suppressing the urge to fidget and betray her lie, she met You Ning’s gaze steadily. The entertainment industry is the best place for me. I’m still young and don’t want to risk my life for money anymore.

Hmm, that’s a good answer. Its sincerity earns you a passing grade with me. You Ning put down the resume and smiled at Yu Jing. Don’t think I’m being nosy, Xiao Zhi—ah, Xiao Yin, she said, touching Yi Lanyin’s shoulder. She’s not just my signed artist, but also my high school and college classmate. And, she drew out the word for emphasis, building anticipation before adding, we were roommates for two years. I’m particularly concerned about her safety, which is why I’ve been searching far and wide for top-tier talent. The fact that you’ve passed Xiao Yin’s scrutiny proves your exceptional qualifications.

I wouldn’t presume to be so highly regarded. I must thank Teacher Yi for her kind words, Yu Jing said with an awkward, forced smile.

You Ning waved her hand dismissively. Don’t be so modest. She then asked, Do you know anyone with the surname Mi? I mean, do you have any relatives or friends with that name?

Yi Lanyin looked up at You Ning, who smiled and gently tilted her chin, turning her face away with a silken touch.

Yu Jing watched this gesture, a daring thought suddenly flashing through her mind Could Yi Lanyin and Pei Jiu be just a public facade? Is President You her real lover?

No, I don’t know anyone with that surname, Yi Lanyin replied, lowering her head. Her feathery eyelashes flickered twice before settling. She seemed to genuinely have a half-sister from a different father, someone who shared her plight. Was her surname Mi or Fan? Regardless, she had no intention of revealing anything to the person before her.

I’m not jealous, I just… I just don’t want to talk about it, okay?

Yu Jing’s mind was locked in a fierce internal battle. On one side, a mischievous devil mocked her cowardice—He’s right here, and you can’t even ask him? On the other, a virtuous angel defended her—She’s not bothered, not jealous, not angry. She’s perfectly calm.

Having undergone countless counter-capture drills in special forces training, this trivial dining table situation posed no challenge to her.

Once all the dishes were served, Yu Jing naturally picked up her chopsticks and began eating.

You Ning instinctively avoided Yu Jing’s gaze when she caught it in her peripheral vision.

From Yi Lanyin’s perspective, however, these subtle movements took on an entirely different meaning.

You Ning and Zoe had been the talk of the university campus with their passionate romance—a wild art student relentlessly pursuing the gentle, scholarly student council president in a classic yuri love story. The student body had lapped it up. After their breakup, the pursuer had flitted from girlfriend to girlfriend like a butterfly, while the pursued had remained single to this day. Now, these two, who should have been strangers, were exchanging glances across the dining table, making Yi Lanyin wonder if You Ning and Yu Jing shared some hidden history.

Yi Lanyin couldn’t hide her thoughts from her friends and family. Though her chopsticks continued to move, her curiosity was written all over her face.

For several minutes, the only sounds at the table were the occasional clinking of chopsticks against plates. Finally, Yi Lanyin couldn’t contain herself any longer. She set down her chopsticks and asked, Have you two met before?

No, Yu Jing blurted out, setting down her chopsticks as well.

You Ning chimed in lazily, We really haven’t. Otherwise, why would I have bothered reading her resume?

Their coordinated responses only made the situation seem even more suspicious.

Yi Lanyin reached out to grab You Ning’s arm, but You Ning brushed her hand away with her other hand. I really don’t know her. Don’t you think she looks a lot like Mi Lai? Can’t I just be curious?

No, Yi Lanyin said flatly.

You Ning put down her chopsticks and looked at Yi Lanyin, trying not to laugh. Finally, she couldn’t hold it in any longer, her face turning red. Alright, I get it now. It’s Chun Yuan. She shrugged. I’ll have to tell Zoe when I get back. You’re… beyond help. She glanced at Yu Jing’s face before quickly looking away.

Lovesick.

Yi Lanyin bristled. I’m not! Besides, what does Zoe have that’s better than me? She’s been cycling through girlfriends ever since you broke up. What do you think that’s about?

You Ning turned to her, intrigued. Well, what do you think it’s about?

You know exactly what it’s about. She’s pathetically trying to get your attention by constantly changing girlfriends. And you’re just letting her spiral like this, You Ning. You’re so magnanimous. Yi Lanyin frowned, exasperated.

I heard she keeps getting dumped because she tells those young women she’s… frigid, You Ning said with a teasing smile.

I don’t know, Yi Lanyin said, shaking her head. Don’t ask me about your two’s… business.

Yu Jing understood immediately. This gentle-seeming beauty, the CEO with a knife hidden beneath her soft exterior, had a history with the fiery stylist boss from the dressing room. Even Xiao Tao, standing beside her, seemed to have gleaned more from the conversation, her eyes darting around wildly, her face flushed with the effort of suppressing her excitement over the juicy gossip.

Yu Jing thought to herself, A history is good. Anything’s better than Yi Lanyin having a history with me.

Not that she was jealous or anything. She wasn’t bothered at all… She just believed that agents and artists shouldn’t get romantically involved. It could lead to emotional decisions that would jeopardize both their careers. Yu Jing offered herself this self-righteous and unnecessary explanation.

You Ning merely smiled faintly at Yi Lanyin’s words. She lifted her wrist to take a sip of water, set the glass down, and turned to Yu Jing. Did you know she’s a third-generation heiress?

No, Yu Jing replied truthfully.

You Ning turned to Yi Lanyin, who was sitting rigidly beside her, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. We went to high school in H City, up in the northeast, she said. And here’s this top-tier third-generation heiress enrolling in our school. The funniest part? For three whole years, no one knew she was mixed-race! She wore colored contacts every day and even pretended to be poor, riding a bicycle to school. The catch? She couldn’t ride it! You Ning burst into laughter. So she’d push this rickety, almost falling-apart bike all the way from the neighborhood across the street to school every morning, and then push it back home after class. To avoid attracting attention from the boys, she’d deliberately tie her hair up in a messy bun. She was way cuter back then than she is now.

Yu Jing looked up. I’m from H City too. The high school you’re talking about, President You, is that Deyu High? It’s the only good school in the city.

Yes, that’s right, You Ning nodded smoothly, then smiled and asked, So you really don’t know anyone named Mi?

Yu Jing pressed her lips together. I really don’t. She wasn’t lying she’d never met this legendary older sister.

Yi Lanyin glared at them, her face darkening. Is this the important part?