Chapter Fifty-Seven: Familiar Strangers

The contestants noticed that Lin Na was much gentler when instructing them in the afternoon. Even when a contestant asked a somewhat offensive question, Lin Na didn't seem to mind, which made them feel incredibly flattered.

The change in Lin Na's attitude was even more noticeable to the production crew observing from the sidelines.

This change occurred only after Xu Jiaojiao asked for her autograph, making everyone curious about what Xu Jiaojiao had done to cheer her up in the dressing room. They couldn't think of any way to make Lin Na happy in less than ten minutes.

Even Lin Na's assistant, Sudan, was puzzled. As an assistant, she knew better than anyone how bad Lin Na's mood had been these past few days, but ever since Lin Na spent time alone with that short-haired girl, her mood had suddenly improved, and she even asked her to order desserts and snacks to share with everyone present.

That Chinese girl named Xu Jiaojiao is truly a magical existence! Sudan thought silently.

When the ordered desserts and snacks arrived, the contestants were digesting the runway experience Lin Na had shared with them.

"Everyone's worked hard, have something to eat first," Lin Na clapped her hands to attract everyone's attention.

"Wow, Teacher Lina, I love you so much!"

Lina smiled, took the individually wrapped dessert box she had specially requested from her assistant, and handed it to Sheng Jiaoyang.

"Your taste hasn't changed, has it?"

Sheng Jiaoyang knew what Lina meant; she was simply asking if her tastes had changed after she became someone else. She smiled and took the dessert box. "Blueberry cheesecake?"

Lina's eyes lit up with laughter.

The reunited best friends exchanged glances and smiled knowingly.

Those watching forgot to chew their food, completely bewildered. Why was Lina suddenly being so nice to Xu Jiaojiao? Did Xu Jiaojiao have some kind of witchcraft?

Lina didn't care what others thought. She pulled Sheng Jiaoyang aside and whispered, "Grandpa Yang's phone is off. Go ask the production team for leave later, and I'll take you to the hospital. Grandpa Yang used to come to the hospital to keep you company every night."

"In London?" Sheng Jiaoyang, who was opening the dessert box, paused.

“Yes, it’s the Godilia Hospital, run by your grandfather’s old friend.”

“Oh.” Sheng Jiaoyang nodded, forked a piece of cake and put it in her mouth. Hmm, it tasted alright.

As she forked her second piece, Lin Na leaned over and snatched it into her mouth, giving Sheng Jiaoyang a mischievous smile.

Everyone who had been watching the two of them looked like they’d been struck by lightning.

Even including the time they spent together during the last training camp, these two hadn’t even spent a day together. How could they be so inseparable, like conjoined twins, without any inhibitions?

“Could they be in that kind of relationship?” Yin Meiling said in an indescribable tone.

Luo Yi glanced at her and said, “You forgot that Lina has a boyfriend.”

“Didn’t we break up? Besides, there are quite a few bisexuals these days.” Yin Meiling retorted.

“You actually suspect that Jiaojiao and Lina are lesbians?” Wang Wei looked at Yin Meiling with disbelief.

“Wang Wei, keep your voice down!” Pu Mingyu reminded her.

Sheng Jiaoyang turned to look at them and said, "We've heard it." "

Lina, we weren't gossiping behind your backs, we're just really curious why you and Jiaojiao suddenly became so close," Luo Yi quickly explained to Lin Na, who was also looking over.

"We've actually known each other for a long time, but only online," Sheng Jiaoyang put his arm around Lin Na's waist, "right, beautiful?"

Lin Na nodded with a smile.

The others suddenly understood, thinking that Xu Jiaojiao was incredibly lucky to have met such a big star online.

Luo Yi glanced at Sheng Jiaoyang with a complicated expression. So that's the reason. No wonder Lina acted so strangely after hearing what Xu Jiaojiao said during the last training camp. If it weren't for the changes in Lina's family, the two of them would probably have recognized each other by then.

"Jiaojiao, you two are several years apart in age and have different living environments. Don't you have a generation gap when you communicate?" Wang Wei asked curiously.

The others listened intently. From the cake incident earlier, they could tell that the two of them got along equally and openly, and it wasn't Xu Jiaojiao deliberately trying to please them. But I've never seen online friends break down the barriers of the two-dimensional world and become so close on their first meeting.

"No one understands me better than Jiaojiao," came Lin Na's reply. Everyone

felt inexplicably hurt...

silently turning away to do their own thing, not wanting to be hurt a second time.

After finishing the cake, Sheng Jiaoyang approached Yu Jing to ask for leave.

Yu Jing's first reaction was naturally opposition; how could they allow their protégé to stay out overnight? What if something happened?

Seeing the situation wasn't going well, Lin Na stepped in. With her as guarantor, Yu Jing agreed without hesitation.

Lin Na didn't let her assistant accompany her and personally drove Sheng Jiaoyang to the hospital.

Upon arrival, they were told that "Sheng Jiaoyang" had already been discharged two days prior.

"Why didn't Grandpa Yang tell me?" Lin Na wondered.

Sheng Jiaoyang frowned slightly. "Has something happened?"

"I don't know. I'll have someone inquire about it later. Don't worry. When I saw Grandpa Yang last time, he was sad but in good health. He said he would definitely hold on and that you would wake up one day."

Hearing Lin Na say this, Sheng Jiaoyang felt very uncomfortable.

Sheng Jiaoyang understood Lin Na, and Lin Na understood Sheng Jiaoyang as well. Sensing her bad mood, Lin Na put her arm around her and led her to the parking lot, saying, "Let's go eat first!"

They sped off, arriving at a French restaurant in less than half an hour.

After parking, the two went inside and chose a two-person table in a corner.

While waiting for their food, Lin Na asked Sheng Jiaoyang about what had happened since she became Xu Jiaojiao. Hearing her description of the low-rent housing she initially lived in, Lin Na felt both amused and sorry for her.

When Sheng Jiaoyang talked about the source of her first sum of money to improve her life, Lin Na was quite surprised.

"You even ran into Shen the Demon King while selling paintings! Your luck is amazing! But it's also fortunate that you met him, otherwise how many paintings would you have sold!" The nickname "Shen the Demon King" obviously came from Sheng Jiaoyang.

"I have to say, I used to only run into him once a year, but this time I've run into him so many times in just half a month." Sheng Jiaoyang held up three fingers and shook them, quite annoyed by this.

Lin Na smiled, looking at Sheng Jiaoyang's unfamiliar face, feeling somewhat dazed, a strange feeling indescribable. She composed herself and asked, "So, what are your plans now?"

"What plans could I possibly have? I'll just take it one step at a time. Pretty girl, remember to keep an eye on my grandfather's movements for me."

"Okay, I'll do that even without you saying so," Lin Na nodded in reply.

Sheng Jiaoyang was about to say something when she suddenly saw two people walking towards them. She leaned forward and whispered to Lin Na, "Don't turn around yet."

"What's wrong?" Lin Na looked at her questioningly.

"Darling, what do you like to eat?" a sweet, soft voice speaking English reached her ears.

Judging from the distance, it was coming from the table behind them. Remembering Sheng Jiaoyang's hint, Lin Na was about to turn around curiously when she heard a male voice.

"Whatever you like to eat, that's what I like to eat."

Now Lin Na finally understood why Sheng Jiaoyang had told her not to turn around; she knew that voice all too well.

"Let's go to another restaurant!" Sheng Jiaoyang said.

"Why change?" Lin Na's lips curled into a cold smile. She picked up her wine glass and walked towards the table behind her.

"George, what a coincidence?" Lin Na stopped, looking down at the man who didn't seem surprised to see her. Her left hand, hanging at her side, clenched into a fist. Suddenly, her hand was grasped. She turned to look at Sheng Jiaoyang, who was standing next to her, and smiled at her, indicating that she was alright.

Sheng Jiaoyang tightened his grip on Lin Na's hand, silently offering her support.

"Darling, is she your friend?" the blonde, blue-eyed woman sitting opposite the man asked him.

"She used to be," the man replied casually.

Sheng Jiaoyang narrowed his eyes, staring at the man who was about to ignore them. The man who had once joked with her, telling her not to come back and disturb his time with the beautiful woman, had changed his mind about her after only six months?

"George, aren't you going to introduce the lady opposite you?" Lin Na raised her chin and said in a cold voice.

“Oh,” George said without looking at Linna, “her name is Judy, she’s someone I’m planning to date.”

“Great!” Linna smiled, nodded, and raised her glass. “George, we haven’t broken up face-to-face yet. Come on, cheers! From now on, we’ll go our separate ways.”

Judy looked at them in surprise.

George was silent for two seconds, then said, “There’s nothing to toast about.”

Cheers? To celebrate the breakup?

Sheng Jiaoyang couldn’t take it anymore. She snatched the glass from Linna and splashed it on George’s face.

“Oh my god! How could you treat George like this…” Judy quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe George’s face.

“Hey, let’s go!” Sheng Jiaoyang went back in a few steps, grabbed Linna’s bag, and pulled her away.

George gently pushed the woman’s hand away, took out a tissue, and slowly wiped the wine stains off his face, not caring that his expensive shirt was wet. As he wiped, he suddenly laughed.

“George, are you alright?” Being splashed with wine and still able to laugh, Judy thought his unusual behavior was due to extreme anger.

Just then, a waiter came over with a plate and froze when he saw the empty table.

"That table's on me," George said to the waiter.

"Yes, sir. Would you like these two steaks?"

"Take them away," George waved.

The waiter nodded and took the plate back to the kitchen.

George looked at the woman opposite him and said, "Order whatever you like. I'll pay. Excuse me tonight."

Without waiting for the woman's reaction, he got up and left.

"George, how could you leave me alone? That's so ungentlemanly!" Judy, left behind, was furious.

However, apart from the soft music playing in the background, she received no response.