CHAPTER 172: CHAPTER 153: WHO GAVE THE COURAGE

It was a bit far from the Qiao Family to Xi Mei Media.

By the time they arrived, the selection had already started for a while.

The car entered the parking lot.

Qiao Lech watched as Qiao Yuxian used the dedicated elevator and scanned her fingerprint, the elevator doors opened.

They entered the elevator, Shang Chen remained in the car.

The three stood in the elevator, Qiao Lech watched the numbers jump upward one by one, feeling completely bewildered.

The elevator stopped on the sixth floor, they exited the elevator, followed the corridor to the end, opened the door, and went through the outdoor corridor to another building.

The other building started from the twelfth floor upward, which was the trainees’ dormitory.

Below the twelfth floor, apart from the sixth floor, were all practice rooms.

The sixth floor was where testing, selection, and assessments typically took place.

Arriving on the sixth floor, He Tu was waiting at the door.

"President Xi. Mr. Gu." He Tu called the two, then nodded at Qiao Lech.

Qiao Yuxian introduced, "My sister."

He Tu immediately said, "Hello."

When Qiao Lech heard "President Xi", her mind had already stopped working, she responded dully.

He Tu smiled at her, then looked at Qiao Yuxian and said, "Mr. Lin is here."

"Oh? Came to poach someone?" Qiao Yuxian exuded confidence, but it was clearly a joke.

He Tu glanced at Gu Yanjing, said nothing.

Gu Yanjing showed no expression either.

Qiao Yuxian said, "Lead the way ahead."

They entered the selection room just as someone from inside was coming out.

To avoid interrupting the performance, they waited for the person to come out before entering.

In the spacious selection room, floor-to-ceiling windows, two mirrors.

A row of long tables, all seated with music department teachers and heads.

An overwhelming sense of pressure.

Wei Jiye sat in the middle, stood up immediately upon seeing Qiao Yuxian coming in.

The others, vocal, dance, physical, acting teachers, all stood up after seeing him stand.

Wei Jiye walked over, keeping his gaze on Qiao Yuxian, and when he reached her, first looked at Gu Yanjing: "Mr. Gu."

Gu Yanjing responded with a simple, "Mm."

Lin Huai Shu sat at a small table by the wall, his leg crossed, snacking on tea treats.

He was sideways to the front.

He looked when he felt like it, bowed to play with his phone when he didn’t.

He also stood up and walked over lazily: "Little sister-in-law."

Casually nodding to Gu Yanjing.

Qiao Yuxian gave him a mock smile intended to "stab" him: "Mr. Lin. What’s this, poaching someone?"

"Who dares? Listen to what you’re saying." Lin Huai Shu using a Beijing accent said, "I came to learn."

Qiao Yuxian shot him a "do you think I believe you" look.

"I really came to learn." Lin Huai Shu said, "I talked with Wei Jiye, he let me come, so I did."

Wei Jiye nodded.

Qiao Yuxian looked at him, saying: "Alright then. If he fancies someone..."

Lin Huai Shu’s eyes lit up with hopeful light, words of thanks almost on his lips.

But he heard Qiao Yuxian say: "We better seize them quickly, definitely don’t let him take them."

"Alright." Wei Jiye agreed.

Lin Huai Shu glanced at him, then at the completely indulgent Gu Yanjing: "..."

"Why didn’t you say earlier you were coming?" Wei Jiye only asked when they stopped talking.

Gu Yanjing listening to this, his demeanor grew even cooler.

Qiao Yuxian laughingly said, "Here to give a surprise inspection of your work."

Wei Jiye smiled a little.

Everyone else in the selection room looked dumbstruck at Wei Jiye.

Wei Jiye wasn’t a haughty person. But his words were often pathetically few, he rarely interacted with others.

Of all these people, many had worked with him for years, yet felt not a single ounce of rapport had developed.

His eyes seemed devoid of anything beyond work, as though no social interaction mattered.

This led many outsiders to say he was arrogant and disdainful.

Actually, he honestly believed socializing was pointless.

They’d never seen Wei Jiye act so warmly toward anyone.

Yes, warmly.

Standing to welcome someone was very warm for Wei Jiye.

Wei Jiye slightly smiled, "Sit over here."

Qiao Yuxian nodded, pulled Qiao Lech forward, introducing: "My sister, your little fan."

Wei Jiye looked at Qiao Lech.

Lin Huai Shu also looked at her.

Upon seeing her, he momentarily furrowed his brow.

Gu Yanjing took full measure of his expression.

Qiao Lech was already bewildered, seeing his gaze, she instinctively clenched her hands, her pupils trembled slightly, unable to speak.

Wei Jiye smiled at her: "Hello."

Qiao Lech stared blankly at him, her lips moved several times before saying: "You, hello."

After those words, Qiao Lech couldn’t speak anymore, her eyes grew moist, she quickly lowered her head.

Seeing this, Qiao Yuxian said, "Let’s sit first, don’t delay the selection."

"Alright."

Wei Jiye had someone bring over a few chairs.

Qiao Yuxian and her group didn’t crowd forward, intending to casually watch from the back, so Wei Jiye had another table brought over along with some snacks and fruit.

Selection on the front, quietly eating and drinking in the back.

Qiao Yuxian sat in the main seat, with Gu Yanjing and Qiao Lech on either side.

Lin Huai Shu squeezed in beside Gu Yanjing, occasionally glancing at Qiao Lech.

After a while, Wei Jiye brought over a stack of resumes for Qiao Yuxian.

Gu Yanjing glanced at the stack, poured tea for the sisters without saying a word.

Qiao Yuxian looked at Wei Jiye.

Wei Jiye said: "Since you’re here, take a look around."

Gu Yanjing placed a cup near Qiao Yuxian’s hand, then handed another to Qiao Lech.

Qiao Lech took it, saying: "Thank you, brother-in-law."

"Mm." Gu Yanjing responded.

Wei Jiye looked at him.

Gu Yanjing also looked at him.

An icy gaze with a sense of asserting sovereignty within.

Qiao Yuxian glanced at him, feeling like Mr. Gu almost had "Look, I’m her brother-in-law" written across his forehead in that moment.

Lin Huai Shu wanted to laugh but didn’t dare, straining to hold it in, preserving his family’s legacy.

Qiao Lech kept her head down, silently drinking her tea, pretending not to notice them.

Qiao Yuxian stifled her laughter, said to Wei Jiye: "You just can’t stand seeing me idle, can you?"

Wei Jiye laughed softly: "What would you do idle?"

"Alright then." Qiao Yuxian said, "You’ll pick up the tab later."

"No problem." Wei Jiye moved to the front.

Qiao Yuxian looked at Gu Yanjing, her hand rested on the stack of resumes, deliberately saying: "Mr. Gu, there are lots of young handsome guys in here."

Lin Huai Shu looked at her surprised, wondering who gave her the nerve to act so brainlessly.

Gu Yanjing looked at her, the atmosphere immediately turning colder.

Qiao Lech hung her head even lower, worried for her sister, even considering how to escape with her.

"So what if they’re young and handsome? None of them could match my Gu." Qiao Yuxian wisely changed course, starting to praise, "No matter how good their qualities, they don’t compare to Mr. Gu. My Gu, if he wanted to enter the entertainment industry, he’d be the type to become an overnight sensation, so famous no one could rival, without precedent, with none to follow..."

Gu Yanjing placed his hand on her little head.

Qiao Yuxian shrunk her neck slightly, paused, then continued: "The most important thing is, I only like Mr. Gu."

Qiao Lech kept her head down, lips pursed, secretly laughing.

Lin Huai Shu saw Gu Yanjing’s feigned anger, thought to himself.

He realized it was indeed Gu Yanjing who gave her the courage to act that way.