Fate Trading System – Chapter 219

Plan A

Heavenly Voice 10

A Girl’s Heart

“I’ll do my best. I can’t guarantee¹ it, but if things go smoothly, it should be possible.”

“Okay.”

The two fell into silence, but the atmosphere wasn’t awkward; instead, it was very comfortable, like old friends who had known each other for a long time.

“Shifu!”²

Su Xin heard Zhao Yunhan’s voice. After finishing applying something, she looked up to see the young man walking towards her in the dim light.

“Hey, apprentice.”

“I was downstairs listening to you sing just now. It was really, really awesome! Truly worthy of being my Shifu.”

Zhao Yunhan grinned broadly, looking very happy. Then, thinking of something, his spirits fell slightly. He truly felt it was a pity for his Shifu; such great potential, such an outstanding person, how could her path have been cut short like that? But he believed his Shifu definitely wouldn’t let herself remain buried because of this.

“Mm-hmm, listen to a few songs then head back. Don’t return to the dorm too late, otherwise, what will you do when they lock the doors?”

“Then I’ll just stay outside, duh. Anyway, getting a hotel room for a night isn’t expensive.”

Zhao Yunhan looked completely unfazed; it seemed he was an old hand at this.

“What time do you get off work?”

“12 o’clock. If you’re tired, you can head back first.”

It was only eight-thirty in the evening now.

“I’ll wait for you here. It’s not too safe for you to go back alone at night. We’ll go back together.”

“Okay.”

Zhao Yunhan couldn’t quite make out what the woman next to his Shifu looked like, but judging by her voice, she sounded like a yujie.³

Night gradually descended, and the number of customers grew.

Zhao Yunhan left at ten o’clock. When Su Xin had downtime, Yan Shuang would chat with her. If Su Xin was singing on stage, she would listen attentively.

Her phone vibrated. Yan Shuang swiped it open.

【Yan Xi⁴: Sis! Sis! Where are you now? Aren’t you at home here? I can’t find you. No one answered the door, and you didn’t pick up your phone.】

Only then did Yan Shuang realize she had several missed calls on her phone, all from her younger sister, Yan Xi.

【Yan Shuang: Out.】

The reply came quickly after the message was sent.

【Yan Xi: Wow! Am I seeing things?! It’s 10 PM right now, and you’re still out? That’s really not normal.】

Yan Xi had originally wanted to seek refuge with her sister and stay at her place for a night, but she couldn’t find Yan Shuang an hour ago, so she got a room at a hotel outside.

Yan Xi found it incredible that her sister was still out at 10 PM. Because whenever her sister wasn’t away on a business trip, she never came home later than eight. After eight o’clock, she had to stay inside, not stepping out the main gate or the inner door.⁵ If she was at home, she might soak herself in the laboratory all night. In Yan Shuang’s words, the labs outside didn’t quite meet her standards, and she had no desire to pull all-nighters in them.

【Yan Shuang: You came looking for me? Just stay outside for tonight. Knock on my door tomorrow morning. Hmm, come around noon. I might not be in during the morning.】

Yan Shuang was Yan Xi’s twin sister.⁶ They were twins and used to look very similar, but as they grew older, differences in personality, hairstyle, and clothing style made them appear less alike to outsiders.

【Yan Xi: Fine.】

【Yan Shuang: You wouldn’t come without a reason.⁷ Why did you come looking for me here?】

Yan Shuang was a recognized xueba.⁸ Her sister was no slouch either, but their aspirations differed. Yan Shuang followed the family path, and she was also dedicated to it, but Yan Xi preferred doing business.

【Yan Xi: Sis! Let me tell ya! There’s this guy trying to pursue me, but I don’t agree. But that person might be sick in the head,⁹ like a madman. Yet he has status, making it hard for me to refuse him too clearly. So I can only come hide at your place for a while.】

【Yan Shuang: ……Go back tomorrow. No need to hide anymore. I’ll have someone go help you.】

【Yan Xi: Let’s be clear, I won’t do anything illegal like murder or arson! I’m a proper businesswoman. Who are you going to get to help me?】

【Yan Shuang: You’ll know when the time comes.】

The young woman on stage was still singing beautifully. A faint smile touched Yan Shuang’s lips as she dialed another person’s number.

“Hello, Shuang-jie? Why are you calling me at this hour?”

The voice on the other end was sweet and soft; you could tell it belonged to a cute girl.

“Someone is pursuing my sister. My sister finds it troubling but feels awkward refusing. You understand what I mean, right?”

“Shuang-jie, have you decided to help me?! Thank you, Shuang-jie!”

“I’m just giving you a chance to show what you can do. Whether she agrees or not still depends on her. Don’t use any methods that would make any of us unhappy.”

“I understand.”

Unlike Yan Shuang, who tended to keep strangers at a distance, Yan Xi had the complete opposite personality, like a little sun, very dazzling.

Although Yan Shuang had many potential suitors (peach blossoms),¹⁰ they were frozen over by her before they could even bloom. The area around her could practically be described as barren ground where not even a blade of grass grows; forget pursuing her, even meeting her gaze felt terrifying.

Yan Xi, on the other hand, had extremely flourishing peach blossoms, among which were several rotten ones¹¹—for instance, the girl on the other end of the call Yan Shuang had just made.

Yan Shuang held no prejudice regarding gender; love itself is equal. As long as both parties are willing,¹² it’s no one else’s business. After all, it’s one’s own responsibility.

That girl had started having designs on Yan Xi several years ago, using the pretext of sisterly friendship to get close. Yan Xi herself hadn’t noticed, but Yan Shuang discovered it. Yan Shuang warned the girl, and only then did the girl refrain from doing anything excessive, merely continuing to show concern under the guise of being a friend.

But no one could bear watching the person they liked nearby every day without being able to act, even having to endure it. The taste of secret love is not pleasant. So, the girl left for a faraway place for the sake of her career, also using the opportunity to cool down.

However, she still hadn’t let go, a fact Yan Shuang knew perfectly well.¹³

It wasn’t about helping her sister go down the wrong path—how could this be called the wrong path? It’s merely society’s definition.

It was just liking someone of the same sex; there was no fault in that.

12 o’clock arrived quickly. Su Xin received gifts from a few customers, thanked them, changed her clothes, and walked to the entrance.

Yan Shuang was waiting for her at the door. Su Xin hadn’t removed her makeup yet, her face shimmering with a little glitter.

“Let’s go. There are no taxis this late, and even if there were, it’s not too safe. So let’s walk back.”

Yan Shuang knew how to drive, but her car was at home, not here.

“Okay.”

Su Xin wore her coat, her long hair cascading down her sides. She walked home with Yan Shuang under the streetlights.

The lights stretched their shadows very, very long. The night was always ice-cold, the chill penetrating everywhere. Chilly gusts of wind blew into their clothes, enough to make one shiver twice.

The two walked quietly, staying very close to each other.

“I’ll help you ask about that variety show. If you want to enter the entertainment circle, you can ask me for help.”

“Hm? That’s too much trouble for you. You’ve already helped me so much. I don’t have anything to repay you with… unless you’re willing to invest in me, and then a very, very long time later, I can give you back many things. But I feel like you probably don’t need that investment. After all, you don’t seem to lack those things.”

Su Xin said, tilting her head. She didn’t really like owing people favors because repaying them felt very troublesome. Comparing their current lives, the gap between them was just too vast.

If Yan Shuang had ulterior motives towards her, Su Xin herself would find it laughable.

“No need. It’s just a small effort.¹⁴ If you want the opportunity, I’ll give it to you. I have faith in you, I think you have the talent. You must really love singing.”

Yan Shuang thought, the young woman probably didn’t know how captivating she looked standing on stage, singing into a microphone. That focused look as she immersed herself in the world of music made it truly hard for anyone not to fix their eyes on her, and then listen to her sing.

For that momentary feeling of being moved, Yan Shuang felt she should also take this action.

“But… why help me like this?”

“Does there need to be a reason?”

“Doesn’t there?”

“Maybe I just find you agreeable.”

“Then… I’m deeply honored?”

“Don’t feel like you owe me anything, because I haven’t lost anything.”

“Isn’t your family a medical family?¹⁵ How are you also involved in the entertainment circle?”

“I have contacts there. It’s not really easy to explain clearly to you. My sister is in the business circle, and also has some entertainment industry ventures.”

“You have a sister?”

“Mm, a twin sister. But her personality is quite lively, not much like mine. You should be able to get along well with her.”

“Are you so sure?”

“Her personality and mine could be described as poles apart.¹⁶ She’s quite lively. Although she’s the same age as me, she still feels like you kids of 18.”

“Then I might not get along with her, you know? Because I really like people like you.”

Su Xin kicked a small stone at her feet, then looked up, her eyes shining brightly under the lamplight.

Yan Shuang’s heart softened, and she did something she hadn’t expected.

She pulled her hand out of her pocket, placed it on the young woman’s head, and gently ruffled her hair.

The gesture was gentle and doting. Su Xin froze. Yan Shuang froze too.

“Apologies for the liberty.”

Yan Shuang withdrew her hand, saying awkwardly.

“It’s okay. We’re friends now, aren’t we? As long as you don’t mind me.”

“I won’t.”

Yan Shuang walked along the road with her little neighbor. The moon in the sky was a crescent, with only a few sparse stars emitting light. The cold autumn night wind came from who knows where, bringing a cool sensation.

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

Su Xin returned home. After entering the door, the room was pitch-black, but she didn’t rush to turn on the light immediately.

She leaned her back against the cold door panel and rubbed her face.

So strange. When I see Yan Shuang, I really feel like acting cute.

Maybe this old man’s girlish heart isn’t dead yet,¹⁷ Su Xin thought.

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