Tonight, the stars sprinkle down, and the moonlight is gentle.
The evening breeze brushes through the hair, yet brings no chill.
Walking with him, the coolness of late autumn seems no longer worth paying attention to,
Because with his company, no matter how dark the outside world is, there's no need to fear it as before.
The sense of security in the heart is precious.
It is genuine,
priceless,
long-lost, and something one would want to hold onto—
a sense of security.
"Senior."
"Hmm?"
"How was the interview today… Are you satisfied?"
Bai Xing's petite and charming figure exudes a captivating feline aura under the moonlight.
At the bottom of the apartment building,
Lu Qing stopped, reminiscing about the experience from the afternoon to the evening,
feeling somewhat surreal.
Never would he have imagined that Bai Xing…
also had another side undiscovered by him—
the "Third Side."
In Lu Qing's eyes, every character in his writing, regardless of gender, only needs "two sides" to become three-dimensional.
This is akin to the 2D perspective for an artist,
but in Lu Qing's case, a master writer, he divides it into "Surface" and "Inside."
To put it simply,
it's what "others see" and what "she truly feels inside."
That makes "two sides."
Bai Xing's third side, however, elevates the 2D to "3D"—
that is, adding a "Glint."
The "Surface" and "Inside" began to extend outward at a certain point.
Extending, evolving, perfecting, and self-consistent.
Forming a unique—
"Aura."
"Bai Xing…"
"is constantly improving."
Lu Qing sighed inwardly.
Once, she had put aside her voice acting skills,
for the sake of her grandmother, she had to become a legend in the V-community.
Of course, she didn't completely abandon them,
but integrated her voice acting techniques into her new career,
making them shine.
Reaching the current height, becoming a vocal prodigy.
Lu Qing understood,
any dedication and effort in life are valuable and meaningful.
— "They will, at some point in the future, in ways you can't imagine, repay you, embrace you."
Similar to a kind of delayed gratification,
a late-game surge.
That's why he regards "homework" as paramount and puts his all into whatever he learns.
Lu Qing believes,
[Full commitment never betrays oneself.]
Just today, he witnessed the efforts Bai Xing had once put in.
Remembering the "Sound Bear" voice acting studio, where the moment the girl brought him in, they were surrounded and greeted by a crowd of juniors and teachers, enthusiastically.
"Bai Xing, where have you been all this time? During your absence, we've piled up so many big projects, the younger ones can't handle them, we still need you to come back to sort things out…"
"Senior Bai Xing, can you guide us? We also want to voice characters in 'The Maid's Fantasia'… Please!"
"Senior Bai Xing, I'm CV Ruiyi, are you doing VTB? I'd like to ask about the transition from voice acting to V-tuber… I feel, feel like you must have experienced it… Can you teach me how to prevent being doxxed by perverts…?"
"Sister Bai Xing, can I take a photo with you? I've admired you for a long time, I specialize in ancient-style dubbing, and I really want to collaborate with you. Please…"
"No."
When approached by men, Bai Xing smiled with half-closed eyes, her dangerous expression resembling a deeply tsundere girl, ready to explode at the slightest touch.
"Senior, come here."
"Everyone, see, this is my boyfriend. Today, I brought him to introduce to you, and also use the recording studio to edit an audio. So, if there's nothing else, disperse, I'm not interested in little boys, don't come near me, okay?"
At such times, she seemed to revert to her initial state before their first encounter, opening her hedgehog-like defenses against outsiders.
From this, Lu Qing could tell that she is the type who "retains her core attributes,"
even though she is currently in a "love-struck" phase, she still reflexively directs her "sharpness" toward outsiders,
toward those who are "unimportant" to her.
Bai Xing…
Looking at her by his side,
witnessing her with her arc of growth,
Lu Qing felt that the three-dimensionality of his female protagonist had once again soared.
He had a vague premonition.
If this continues.
— "A masterpiece is about to be born."
…
Now, the three dimensions are established,
the next step is to maintain this relationship, not to let her feel pain, to cut off the "intimacy" that was arduously built through all the previous efforts.
[Bai Xing gives me inspiration,]
[I give her what she needs.]
Therefore,
even if it's a slightly excessive request,
as long as it's within his capability,
Lu Qing will nod in agreement.
"Say it, what do you want?"
Lu Qing seemed to have already seen through her little thoughts, as she had stopped him before entering the elevator, clearly not wanting to trigger the low-probability horror memories once upstairs.
"Hehe, it's just… just today's assignment, I think I contributed a lot, right…?"
"Yes, you arranged the interview with the company, contacted the dubbing director, let me record the entire interview, and also used the equipment to edit the audio. You've done a lot."
Lu Qing listed them one by one.
He knew that praising her at this moment, detailing her efforts, would make the girl feel that her day's hard work was not in vain.
「It's essential to make her feel valued.」
To make her realize that effort brings returns.
That striving leads to echoes.
Even the emotions invested won't sink like stones into the ocean,
but will be met with warmth, not the bloody truths of society torn open and splashed onto her pure, fragile heart.
Such things, Lu Qing couldn't do.
At least not yet.
"First, protect her."
"Like how I once protected that black cat."
"Provide her with all the mental shelter I can, right?"
He made up his mind.
In fact, just as the girl had guessed,
one of Lu Qing's traits is—
「Return tenfold for any kindness received.」
……
"Senior, if you have any more recording needs in the future, I can always contact Teacher Huang to borrow the studio for you."
She said.
"Yes, no problem. But the fees should still be paid, I don't want to take advantage of Sound Bear for free.
Also, our project is about to move forward, I'll check with the artist about the progress when I get back, and then start designing your character theme from tomorrow."
Lu Qing carefully planned for her.
After all, he knew that Bai Xing's grandmother would soon need the next round of medical fees, which amounted to 44,000 yuan.
Although he had over 400,000 yuan left in his card, he couldn't just hand it all over to help her. She had to earn it herself, to strive for it, to experience the "sense of acquisition" that came with a surge of dopamine.
— Even if all of this,
the driving force behind,
was himself.
…
Bai Xing's heart burned with passion.
On the surface, she said nothing.
"Hey, Senior, can I make a… slightly willful little request?"
Bai Xing blushed, lingering at the elevator door without stepping in.
"You tell me, I'll listen first, then decide if I heard it."
Lu Qing said.
"Hehehe…"
Bai Xing giggled, "You see, today I introduced you to so many people…"
"So, if we don't look like a couple at school tomorrow, it might not make much sense."
"?"
"And… plus today, I really tried my best to help Senior think of ways… I used up all my energy…"
"."
"So, I think the previous 'deal' might have put me at a slight disadvantage. I'm feeling a bit regretful."
"What do you mean?"
"Ah, no, listen to me! I… I just want to add a small request, as a reward for today's performance."
"…?"
Lu Qing remained silent, continuing to look at her.
"…Senior, please."
Bai Xing first acted cute, then suddenly leaned in, speeding up her words:
"I mean, Senior, being the kind of person who can always empathize and understand others…"
"So, like today, you definitely wouldn't want to see me being laughed at by outsiders, being humiliated by classmates…
Saying I'm just being one-sided, deliberately clinging to you, not letting go…"
"After all, I'd cry if that happened."
"It's really going to make me cry, you know."
As she spoke, she lowered her head.
Fiddling with the hem of her skirt,
pouting slightly,
she uttered her wish in a tone of pleading,
with no confidence in her voice:
"So I was thinking…"
"I was thinking…"
"—that from now on, when we walk together on the street, you hold my hand tightly."
She implored:
"Senior, am I being too demanding?"
…
…