Carrying handmade pastries.
Holding a homemade coffee.
Dressed to perfection,
she arrived at the golden storefront on the basement floor of Building A, Chengkai Center.
Lin Mu today was dazzling.
The dress she wore was a high-end piece from Huasha, a gift from her sister,
Her hair, styled by Tony at the Riyuegu Mall, had cost several hundred yuan for a professional touch;
Her feet were adorned with high-heeled Gothic medieval leather shoes,
And she carried a pure and simple canvas tote bag from Miu Miu's latest collection.
Meeting her sister required putting in every ounce of effort.
After all, seeing her sister was no easy feat.
"Sister Gao Ban, has my sister already arrived?"
In the noisy Chengkai Plaza, Lin Mu followed behind a blonde adult woman, looking like a big sister leading a little girl.
— Lin Mu was the younger sister.
"Yes, she arrived long ago. She's practicing the piano in the music room. By the way, I have something to take care of, so I'll drop you off and then leave for about 15 minutes before coming back to pick you up."
The 155 cm tall, aloof GaoBan Weihua said.
"Okay, Sister Gao Ban. I'm always troubling you, thank you so much." Lin Mu expressed her gratitude.
She was well aware that Mu Xia's time was precious, measured in seconds.
To spare 15-20 minutes to spend with her was already the maximum effort her sister could muster.
As a debuting songstress, a master's disciple, a piano brand ambassador, and the student council president, Mu Xia's daily tasks could fill the largest notebook.
Without GaoBan Weihua, this extremely capable manager, her sister would likely collapse, as she once overheard at home,
breaking metronomes, smashing a clock worth tens of thousands, and dismantling an expensive, massive air purifier with her bare hands.
"..."
It's not easy.
"By the way, Lin Mu."
Suddenly, Sister Gao Ban spoke up as she walked ahead.
"Hmm?"
"I wanted to ask, do you usually read novels?"
She asked, not looking back.
"Ah? Novels?"
Lin Mu was a bit puzzled, unsure why she was asking such a question, but she answered instinctively,
"No, I never read them. I listen to music more."
"Oh, okay."
GaoBan nodded and didn't ask further.
Feeling curious, Lin Mu couldn't help but ask, "What's going on, Sister Gao Ban? Why the sudden question?"
"Nothing, it's just that your sister has been a bit strange recently, always reading things she shouldn't in my car." GaoBan said as she walked,
"As her manager and 'guardian,' I naturally need to figure out her recent interests to prevent her from going down the wrong path."
"Ah..."
Lin Mu's head seemed to have a little progress circle spinning, reacting a bit slowly to such adult topics.
"So, I took a look too." GaoBan said.
"Eh? You mean... that novel?"
"Yes."
She said, "Although there are many parts I can't understand, since the context of your Chinese language is quite different from ours, this book seems to be about the relationship between siblings. I think your sister reading this might be thinking of you."
"..."
Lin Mu felt warmth in her heart upon hearing this.
"Well, that's not bad, is it? Let her read it, Sister Gao Ban, why worry so much?"
She asked shyly in a small voice.
"Hmm. It's not really about the content. It's just that... Miss Mu Xia... you know how fast she learns, so her reading efficiency must be very high. But she keeps reading that book over and over in my car every day.
— By my estimation, she's already read it at least 300 times."
GaoBan frowned slightly.
"Although the work is good, Miss Mu Xia constantly rereading it like this is a bit worrying."
"..."
Lin Mu, upon hearing this, also felt a bit concerned.
She had some understanding of her sister's personality.
Normally, she was an absolute high-mountain flower.
She liked to smile.
She would use that fake smile with anyone.
Even in front of her uncle,
she never spoke a single truth.
Only when talking to her did she occasionally reveal a sliver of her true self.
Her sister's heart was like a black hole.
It was impossible to fathom.
And if, as Sister Gao Ban said, something had caught her sister's attention...
Then.
Lin Mu wasn't worried about her sister's mental state.
— But rather, the thing that had captured her sister's interest.
"..."
Fortunately, it was just a book.
It should be fine.
Lin Mu thought so.
However, she could indeed have a light conversation with her sister about this later.
After all, it was Sister Gao Ban's indirect request, wasn't it?
...
The time arrived at the agreed-upon one o'clock.
「Mosse」Piano Experience Center, Chengkai Center branch.
Lu Qing dragged Bai Xing, both moving slowly.
The girl seemed to be hanging on him, clinging to his arm, unable to be pushed away.
"If you keep this up, I'll have to throw you out, you know? You can't just bask in a little sunshine and get carried away, understand?"
"What's wrong, senior? You're so awkward, clearly liking it but pretending to be cold, huh~ If you really didn't feel anything for me, you would have dumped me on the street long ago, right?"
Bai Xing seemed to have figured out his personality and had escalated her boldness from A+ to Triple S.
"..."
Lu Qing rubbed his forehead in frustration, "I reiterate, our relationship is purely professional. I'm your operator or manager, not your sugar daddy, and I haven't thrown money at you. You're going to be a big V in the future, so getting too close to me like this, what if someone sees? What would that look like?"
"Huh? But I don't have any fans yet, do I? What's wrong with getting close to my boss?
Senior, I don't think you understand the VTB circle at all."
"???"
Bai Xing's charming appearance, combined with her curvaceous figure and her all-encompassing voice, repeatedly shattered Lu Qing's three views, dealing countless critical hits.
Wow, you've completely figured out how to get into my head with your voice, haven't you? You're not even pretending anymore.
Using DNA to manipulate me, huh?
Little thing.
Lu Qing pulled her aside and said sternly,
"Bai Xing, you can say that in front of me, but don't talk nonsense with others, understand? Also, the person we're about to meet is not ordinary, and it involves the assignment. I'm in full charge, you just stay by my side, listen, and don't speak, got it? I'm afraid you'll say something weird and mess up our assignment."
"Okay, okay, I get it, senior. As long as I don't ruin your image, everything else is none of my business~"
Bai Xing smiled sweetly and clung back.
"..."
Lu Qing shook his head and walked straight toward the main entrance of the store.
At this moment, in addition to the staff in formal attire welcoming guests, two women were standing in the necessary path.
One of them...
seemed familiar.
Before he could think more.
Lin Mu, as if hearing something, suddenly turned around and looked in their direction.
Lu Qing, upon catching sight of her face, also narrowed his eyes.
Both almost simultaneously exclaimed—
"Oi! Why did you switch girlfriends again?!"
"Holy crap, the little devil from Twilight Coffee?!"
...
...