“If it’s relatives like Shen Daqiang, Wang Fengqin, and Shen Liya, I think it’s better not to have them at all.”
Lu Shuangshuang nodded. “You’re right.”
“I was just sighing, feeling envious of you.”
Lu Shuangshuang shook Ye Zhiqiu’s hand. “Zhiqiu, hurry up and think of a way for me to ‘return the favor’ to Kang Zhixin.”
“What do you think would make you feel avenged? Her leaving the song and dance troupe, or…”
Lu Shuangshuang thought for a long time. “I just want to make her life difficult. As long as she’s unhappy, I’m happy.”
“Then train hard, dance even better, earn praise from the troupe leadership, and best of all, attract someone with really excellent prospects to pursue you.”
Ye Zhiqiu analyzed for Lu Shuangshuang: “If you want to make Kang Zhixin miserable, hit her where it hurts. Whatever she cares about, you make sure to have it.”
What Kang Zhixin cared about boiled down to two things: one was her position as the lead understudy, and the other was her long-held desire to marry into the residential compound.
“That’s a good idea.”
Lu Shuangshuang stood up and started pacing around the small stone table. “But forget about finding someone to pursue me. I don’t want to get involved with romance; it’s too much trouble.”
“Oh, I know! I can try to ruin Kang Zhixin’s romantic prospects.”
“I think that would make her even angrier than seeing someone with good prospects chasing me.”
“That works too.”
Ye Zhiqiu would never advise Lu Shuangshuang to stoop to Kang Zhixin’s level.
Kang Zhixin was unscrupulous and broke the law. They couldn’t lose their own integrity for momentary satisfaction; the cost would be too high.
“Shuangshuang, I don’t think Kang Zhixin will give up easily. You need to be extra careful. If she tries to harm you again, whatever you do, don’t let the person go. Take them straight to the police station.”
“Don’t worry, I definitely will.”
Lu Shuangshuang placed her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest. “I’m not someone who’s easy to bully!”
Hearing Yaya’s cry, Ye Zhiqiu immediately stood up, lifted the baby from the stroller, and headed back inside.
After washing Yaya and changing her clothes, she came back out. Lu Shuangshuang stepped forward to take the baby, bent down, and planted a kiss on her little cheek. “Mwah! Yaya smells so good!”
“No wonder monsters love to eat children. So white and tender—even I want to take a bite.”
“Ah—”
Yaya pushed away Lu Shuangshuang’s face as it tried to get closer again, making Lu Shuangshuang burst out laughing. “Zhiqiu, look at Yaya’s expression! Could she actually be afraid I’ll bite her?”
“Maybe you haven’t looked in a mirror since leaving the house. Your appearance right now is scarier than a monster’s.”
Ye Zhiqiu took Yaya back from Lu Shuangshuang’s arms, placed her back in the stroller, and used a handkerchief to wipe the lipstick mark off Yaya’s face.
Yaya let out a sigh that was almost visible. She wasn’t afraid of being bitten; she knew it was just an expression. She didn’t really mean it. She just didn’t like the powder and perfume smell on her, or the lipstick smeared all over her face.
“It’s not that bad.”
Lu Shuangshuang took a small mirror from her pocket and looked at herself from different angles. “It’s just a bit too much powder and the lipstick isn’t applied perfectly. Even if I were a monster, I’d be a drop-dead gorgeous one.”
“Yes, yes, you’re drop-dead gorgeous.”
Ye Zhiqiu tried to persuade her. “Shuangshuang, you actually look really good without makeup.”
They wore heavier makeup on stage for the effect, but in daily life, it was better to go without or wear very light makeup.
But Lu Shuangshuang insisted on heavy makeup, which didn’t suit her at all. Every time, she ended up looking like a matchmaker.
“Really?”
“Come here.”
Ye Zhiqiu couldn’t bear to watch anymore. She pulled Lu Shuangshuang inside, made her wash her face clean, then pressed her down onto a stool and gave her a light makeup look.
“Open your eyes and see. How does it look?”
“Hmm, it does seem prettier than how I do it. Almost doesn’t look like me.”
Lu Shuangshuang grew to like this version of herself more and more. “Zhiqiu, teach me how to do this makeup, okay?”
“It’s super simple.” Ye Zhiqiu patiently taught her step by step.
Lu Shuangshuang tried it herself once. “Why do I feel like mine doesn’t look as good as yours?”
“Makeup takes practice. It’s a skill you get better at with time.”
That reminded Lu Shuangshuang—back when Ye Zhiqiu was pregnant and transferred to manage costumes, she also occasionally filled in as their makeup artist.
Lu Shuangshuang had often complained about her skills back then. Later, she saw her practicing makeup in secret many times and had even wrongly accused her. So that’s what she was doing—practicing her technique.
“Zhiqiu, back then, I…”
“Why bring up the past again? Let bygones be bygones.”
Lu Shuangshuang was curious. “Zhiqiu, do you really not mind?”
“Of course I mind. No one can be indifferent to the hurt they’ve suffered. It’s just that I don’t want to live in that hurt forever.”
“Why should I stay unhappy just because of those unpleasant things?”
Ye Zhiqiu looked out the window into the distance. “My life clearly has so many possibilities. Why would I choose the worst one?”
Many years later, leaning in someone’s arms with both love and career flourishing, Lu Shuangshuang would still remember this moment.
Ye Zhiqiu had no idea what impact her words had on Lu Shuangshuang.
“Come on, let me try one more time.”
Lu Shuangshuang stood up to go wash her face, but Ye Zhiqiu stopped her. “Makeup is hard on your skin. Don’t apply and remove it so many times.”
“Take it slowly. A lot of things need time. You can’t rush them.”
“Then help me fix this one. The one you did earlier looked better.”
Ye Zhiqiu had a soft spot for people who were gentle with her; she couldn’t stand pushiness. She was especially weak against anyone acting coquettishly with her, regardless of gender.
Lu Shuangshuang, unbeknownst to herself, was naturally a pampered girl at heart. She might not realize it, but her unintentional actions were incredibly endearing and coaxing.
“Like this?” Ye Zhiqiu made a few slight adjustments to Lu Shuangshuang’s makeup.
Lu Shuangshuang’s eyes lit up. “Perfect.”
“Wow, I am just too beautiful.”
“Before I leave this afternoon, help me touch up my makeup, okay? I’m going to go infuriate Kang Zhixin.”
Ye Zhiqiu raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t Kang Zhixin on leave?”
“She said she’s much better and insisted on returning to the team. Crying and making a scene, the troupe leader couldn’t refuse and agreed. But she’s not allowed to overtrain or perform on stage.”
Lu Shuangshuang curled her lip in disdain. “Oh, and I heard Kang Zhixin’s oldest sister is pulling strings for her. She wants to get that serious demerit removed since she got one.”
Ye Zhiqiu could understand that. “It’s hard to find a match with that on her record. She’s set on marrying into the compound, and a serious demerit is a black mark. No family would consider her once they hear about it.”
“But getting a serious demerit removed isn’t easy. Unless she makes a significant contribution to offset it.”
Ye Zhiqiu shook her head. “Given Kang Zhixin’s abilities, it’s difficult.”
For their song and dance troupe to achieve a “significant contribution” usually meant winning a place in a competition.
But their troupe hadn’t had any standout achievements in recent years, always overshadowed by the Qianjin Song and Dance Troupe.
“Do you think her sister might have other connections?” Lu Shuangshuang asked Ye Zhiqiu quietly. “Kang Zhixin’s oldest sister seems pretty formidable.”
