Chapter 27: Yan Li Finds the School

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Yan Li Finds the School

’I can’t believe it. He’s not just talented and handsome, he’s a smooth talker too!’

Her favorable impression of him grew even more.

They say you only learn someone’s flaws after you get to know them, but the more she learned about Xiao Ran, the more she thought he was a great guy!

Liu Min raised an eyebrow. "By the way, what would you like to drink?"

"Coffee is fine." Xiao Ran waved to a waiter. "An iced Americano, please!"

"Right away, sir."

"Oh, right, Sister Liu, about this..."

"Oh, yes, of course."

Liu Min, who had wanted to make a little more small talk, was pulled right back to business by Xiao Ran.

She reluctantly pulled a thick, printed manuscript from her bag, flipped to a page she had marked, and placed it in front of Xiao Ran.

"Teacher Xiao, look here. It’s this part—the scene where the CEO crushes his rival. I was wondering if we could make the resolution a bit more positive?"

Xiao Ran had written the rival-crushing scene to be a bit harsh, but that was to emphasize the CEO’s formidable tactics.

’It’s not like it can’t be changed.’

Xiao Ran thought for a moment.

"Alright, let’s go with a more ’winning them over with virtue’ approach. We can change it so that Wang Xi realizes he was wrong, then comes to apologize to Lili on his own initiative and withdraws from the competition for the project. How does that sound?"

TV dramas, after all, tended to favor virtuous resolutions and perfectly happy endings. Xiao Ran understood that much.

Hearing this, Liu Min’s eyes lit up instantly. "Yes, yes, exactly! You’re absolutely right, Teacher Xiao. That’s just what we need!"

"It’s just... I feel like we still need some kind of event to support this change. You see..."

Liu Min went on and on, then, perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed about piling on so much work, she said, "And, uh, as for compensation, please don’t worry. We’ll pay by the revision—ten thousand yuan for each plot point we change. We definitely won’t have you working for nothing. Is that acceptable?"

At her words, Xiao Ran was almost offended.

’How could she say that? If she was going to put it like that, then his book must have absolutely no redeeming qualities!’

"I don’t know about that..."

"There’s nothing to worry about. I’m just so sorry for all the trouble."

"Well, are there any other parts you’re not happy with?"

"Well, there’s this part... and I think over here..."

As two people in similar lines of work, once they started talking, they became completely absorbed.

So much so that when his coffee arrived, Xiao Ran didn’t even notice enough to take a sip.

Meanwhile, on a street next to Jiaotong University, a Panamera was stuck in traffic. At the wheel, Yan Li frowned.

’She had managed to finish work early for once. She’d been planning on heading home, but of course, she’d run into a traffic jam.’

Gazing at the long line of cars, she sighed. She twisted open the bottle of mineral water at her side and took a small sip before picking up her phone. She opened her contacts and found Yan Xici’s number.

’I’m right outside her university anyway. Might as well go in and see her.’

’She didn’t have anything else to do this afternoon anyway. It was better than sitting around doing nothing.’

Back in the apartment, the girl was lying on her bed, wondering what delicious meal she should make for Xiao Ran that evening, when the phone on her nightstand suddenly rang.

She stretched out a pale arm, her fingers closing around the phone to pick it up.

Seeing the caller ID—"Big Sis"—the girl’s lovely, arched eyebrows instantly furrowed, and she felt a wave of anxiety.

’Why is she calling me again?’

Ever since she’d told that lie, she’d been terrified of her sister calling.

’Speak of the devil.’

She pressed her lips together and answered the phone with a sense of dread. "Hello, Sis."

"Where are you right now?" Yan Li always got straight to the point.

The girl froze. She’d told her sister she was moving into the dorms, and that was two days ago. If she admitted she hadn’t moved yet, she’d definitely get an earful.

She blinked, swallowing nervously out of guilt.

"Oh, me? I’m at the university."

"Perfect, I happen to be passing by. Tell me your dorm number. I’m coming to see you!" Yan Li said.

’Since I’m already here, I might as well check out her dorm.’

She was her little sister, after all. As the elder, Yan Li did care about her; she was just always incredibly busy.

Hearing this, Yan Xici’s breath caught in her throat!

Her heart leaped into her throat.

"Huh?"

The girl asked subconsciously.

’What’s gotten into my sister? Why would she want to visit me at the university all of a sudden?!’

’She wasn’t even living on campus!’

’What am I going to do?!’

In her nervousness, she shot up in bed, her palms already starting to sweat.

On the other end of the line, Yan Li frowned.

"What do you mean, ’huh’? What kind of reaction is that? I’m coming to visit you, not to blow up the university!"

The girl sat up straighter, her delicate features a mask of unspeakable panic.

’If my sister finds out I’m lying to her, she’ll skin me alive!’

She clutched her chest, trying to calm herself down. Then, she ventured guiltily, "Um, Sis, I have a lot of classes this afternoon... How about... how about you come in a couple of days instead?"

Yan Li shot back, "It’s only one o’clock. Do you have class right now?"

It had to be said, she was a logical person with a strong sense of time.

"I... I don’t have a class right now, of course. It’s just... my roommates are all taking their afternoon nap. If you come to the dorm now, you’ll disturb them, right?" the girl continued, trying to put her off.

Staring at the long street ahead, Yan Li honked her horn in frustration.

"Alright, that’s enough. See you in ten minutes. I’ll wait for you in the main square, and you can take me to your dorm."

Used to having her own way, Yan Li hung up as soon as she finished speaking, giving Yan Xici no chance to reply.

Hearing the dial tone, the girl felt her world crumble. Her arm holding the phone dropped to her side, and her beautiful almond-shaped eyes stared at the screen in despair.

’It’s over.’

’Lying really does come with a price.’

’Ten minutes. My sister will be at the university in ten minutes.’

’That meant she had to get to the university in under ten minutes.’

’But she was still at home. Even taking the bus, she’d never make it in time.’

After racking her brain, the girl decided the fastest way was her "brother-in-law’s" electric scooter!

It was a bit of a risk, but she had already tried riding it earlier today and felt like she could handle it.

Having made her decision, the girl, still in her slippers, dashed downstairs. She hastily swapped them for shoes, grabbed the scooter key Xiao Ran had left on the shoe cabinet, and ran out the door.

The girl stuck the key in the ignition, wobbled her way out of the complex’s gate, and headed in the direction of the university.

She mustered her courage and twisted the throttle all the way. Even though the scooter only hit forty kilometers per hour, to a girl who could barely ride, it felt like she was flying.

Luckily, the university wasn’t far from Xiao Ran’s place, and she reached the main gate in just eight minutes. Knowing the campus would be crowded, the girl slowed down as she rode through the entrance.

By now, Yan Li had already arrived. Her dark blue Panamera was parked in a space right at the entrance to Jiaotong University.

She was looking down, just about to get out of the car, when her phone suddenly rang.

She pulled out her phone and glanced at the screen. It was Wang Meng, so she answered.

"Hello, President Yan. President Liu’s secretary just dropped off the contract. When do you think you’ll have time to..."

Yan Li frowned. "Alright, I know. Just leave it in my office for now."

While she was still on the phone, a helmeted figure on an electric scooter with a build remarkably similar to her sister’s zipped past with a WHOOSH.

Yan Li didn’t give it a second thought. She glanced over for a second before her gaze drifted elsewhere. After all, there was no way that could be her sister. She couldn’t even ride a bicycle, let alone an electric scooter.

"So, will you be back in the office this afternoon?"

"I’ll see about this afternoon. I’m at Xici School right now. Gotta go."

She hung up and started walking along the wide, concrete path toward the main square.