CHAPTER 173: CHAPTER 154: IS YOUR LIFE USUALLY THIS DIFFICULT?

Xi Mei Selection Room.

Someone came in, and the four people at the back were as quiet as if they didn’t exist.

When there was a lull after people finished performing, Qiao Yuxian and Lin Huai Shu would quickly say a few words.

Gu Yanjing and Qiao Lech mostly listened quietly.

Gu Yanjing simply didn’t talk much.

As for Qiao Lech, she’s too shy to speak unless someone talks to her, then she’ll respond with a few words.

"Tsk, isn’t the selection happening too frequently?" Qiao Yuxian said, looking at the resumes in her hand, "Why does it feel like there aren’t any good prospects."

"If we don’t select frequently, wouldn’t we just overlook good talents?" Lin Huai Shu replied, "Selecting trainees doesn’t mean we’re debuting them, just looking for the talented ones is enough."

"We’ve seen five so far. Their talents are average. But these two look pretty good." Qiao Yuxian commented, looking at the resume photos, "If Wei Jiye is willing to spend money to train them, it would be alright."

Gu Yanjing gave her a glance.

Qiao Yuxian flipped through the resumes again, roughly glancing at the photos and said: "There are quite a few good-looking ones."

Gu Yanjing placed the peeled sunflower seeds near her hand.

Qiao Yuxian looked at the sunflower seeds, then at Gu Yanjing, placed her hand on his and squeezed softly, saying: "Work, don’t be angry. Look, they’re all pretty girls, no handsome fellows."

Gu Yanjing returned the slight hand squeeze, not looking at the resumes.

Lin Huai Shu sipped tea, glanced sideways at their minor interaction, and put down his cup, saying: "Little sister-in-law, don’t worry. I can see your family status, Yanjing doesn’t dare to get mad."

Qiao Yuxian raised an eyebrow and smiled.

Gu Yanjing looked at him.

Lin Huai Shu immediately lowered his head, sipping tea, trying to minimize his presence.

Qiao Lech looked at Lin Huai Shu and couldn’t help but laugh.

Five hours of selection.

Qiao Yuxian was present throughout, and from the moment she arrived, she watched everyone without missing anyone.

She wrote all her opinions on the corresponding resumes.

Lin Huai Shu went out midway.

Qiao Lech stayed the entire time, watching these people with her.

Qiao Yuxian sometimes asked for her opinion.

Though Qiao Lech isn’t professional, as a seasoned fan, her opinions are quite crucial.

Gu Yanjing accompanied her throughout, pouring water, peeling sunflower seeds, peeling oranges...

He often saw Qiao Yuxian seriously doing her homework beside him; it was the first time he saw her work seriously.

Once the selection was over, and the people outside packed up and left.

Only then did Qiao Yuxian and the others leave the selection room together.

Upon stepping outside, they saw Lin Huai Shu and He Tu standing there.

Qiao Yuxian looked at him and asked: "Were you smoking?"

"I was chatting with Mr. He outside and smoked a cigarette." Lin Huai Shu sniffed himself, "Is the smell strong?"

"It’s not bad." Qiao Yuxian replied, "Mr. Lin, should I be cautious of you? How come you’ve connected with my music department head and now you’re chatting with my Xi Mei’s manager for hours without anyone noticing?"

"Hey? Little sister-in-law." Lin Huai Shu said with a smile, "You’re my sister-in-law, so the Lin Family and Xi Mei are just like family."

Qiao Yuxian nodded: "True."

"Isn’t that right?" Lin Huai Shu smiled, a bit rogue and charming, "I grew up wearing the same pants as Yanjing. We’re even closer than brothers."

Qiao Yuxian nodded again, then looked at He Tu, "Did you hear that, we’re as close as family with the Lin Family. Tomorrow, go over there and take some money to kickstart our new project."

"Alright, no problem." He Tu agreed.

Lin Huai Shu reached out to stop them: "Wait a second, wait a second, maybe we don’t need to be that close."

Qiao Yuxian chuckled.

Gu Yanjing looked at him coldly and said: "We’ve never worn the same pants."

Lin Huai Shu was speechless for a moment, then pointed at them, "Alright, I can’t beat you couples, I admit defeat."

Qiao Yuxian crossed her arms and leaned slightly on Gu Yanjing, smiled again: "Let’s go. To dinner. Minister Wei’s treat."

"Let’s go, this is my favorite part." Lin Huai Shu said, draping his arm over He Tu’s shoulder, walking forward together.

Qiao Yuxian took Qiao Lech’s hand.

Gu Yanjing followed beside her.

The group reached the end of the hallway, turned a corner, and Lin Huai Shu suddenly exclaimed: "Oh my gosh!"

The sound was thunderous.

His shout startled both Qiao Yuxian and Qiao Lech.

Gu Yanjing immediately pulled Qiao Yuxian closer to his side.

Lin Huai Shu looked at the person standing at the corner and touched his own chest, asking: "Hey buddy, why are you standing here? Gave me a shock."

The boy standing at the corner straightened up, stepped back two steps, and said respectfully, cautiously, and fearfully: "Mr. Lin."

Upon hearing this, Qiao Yuxian slightly furrowed her brow. She stepped forward.

Lin Huai Shu looked at the person in front of him and said: "Buddy, you participated in the selection, right? It’s over, everyone has left."

"I, I..." he hadn’t finished speaking when he saw Qiao Yuxian approaching, and his whole body suddenly trembled, retreating another two steps.

Seeing his ghostly expression, Lin Huai Shu followed his gaze to see Qiao Yuxian. After a pause, he said: "Little sister-in-law?"

Qiao Yuxian looked at the boy in front of her, with a hint of a cold smile on her expression, she stepped forward another two steps.

The boy was so scared he took several steps back.

Lin Huai Shu glanced at Gu Yanjing and asked in a low voice, "How did your little sister-in-law scare people like this? Does she usually treat you this way too? Is your life this tough?"

Gu Yanjing shot him a look, unwilling to engage with him.

Qiao Yuxian watched him retreat, stopped, and said, "What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue? Can’t greet people now?"

The boy’s lips trembled, he gulped, and stuttered with a shaky voice, "Sis, sis."

Lin Huai Shu was taken aback and looked at Gu Yanjing, "Why so many younger brothers?"

"He’s from my uncle’s family," Qiao Lech softly said from the side.

Lin Huai Shu looked at her and said, "Oh, I see."

While talking, his eyes fell on her face.

Qiao Lech felt uncomfortable under his gaze, lowered her head, and looked at her own toes.

Gu Yanjing stepped on Lin Huai Shu’s foot.

"Hiss—" Lin Huai Shu bent over suddenly, feeling like his toes were about to fall off, gritting his teeth, "Gu Yanjing!"

Gu Yanjing said nonchalantly, "Thought there was something dirty, couldn’t see clearly."

Lin Huai Shu: "........"

What dirty thing would you step on with your foot.

You did it on purpose.

...

Over with Qiao Yuxian, she looked at the person in front of her and said, "What? Got something to say to me?"

"Y-yes," Qiao Weizhou stammered.

Qiao Yuxian put her hands in her pockets and said, "Want me to pull some strings for you to become a trainee?"

Qiao Weizhou kept his head down and didn’t speak.

Qiao Yuxian let out a snort and took a step forward.

As soon as she took a step, Qiao Weizhou retreated two steps.

Qiao Yuxian said, "Stand still."

Though softly spoken, her voice carried significant weight.

Qiao Weizhou immediately stopped, not daring to move.

Everyone behind them watched the scene.

Qiao Yuxian stepped closer, grabbed his collar, pulled him into an empty assessment room and kicked him inside.

After kicking him in, she turned to the group behind her, gave them a gentle smile, her voice laced with humor as if she were a completely different person, and said, "Give me a moment to handle some family matters. Lech, want to join?"

Qiao Lech shook her head, "No, thanks."

She didn’t grow up in the Qiao Family and felt like a stranger to her uncle’s family.

"Knock if you need anything," Qiao Yuxian added.

"Alright," Qiao Lech said.

Qiao Yuxian smiled at her, then looked at Gu Yanjing, gave him a sweet smile, and entered the assessment room.

Once the door closed, her expression immediately changed.

It was as if she transformed from a cute little kitten into a large, fierce tigress.

Qiao Yuxian grabbed him and gave him two hits, saying, "Still want me to pull strings for you? Look at how you sing. Even a rooster crowing sounds better than you. Wasted so many years of learning, what did you learn! And you want to use connections. You’re humiliating the entire Qiao Family."

"I was just scared of you; who knew you’d be in there," Qiao Weizhou muttered.

Qiao Yuxian gave him another kick, "You’ve trained for years and still can’t control your voice. What did you learn? You’re scared of me, but if it were thousands of people below, you’d have a heart attack."

"Thousands aren’t as scary as you alone," Qiao Weizhou mumbled again.

Qiao Yuxian raised her hand, making Qiao Weizhou shrink back his neck in fear.

"Look at you," Qiao Yuxian said.

Qiao Weizhou kept his head down, staying silent.

Qiao Yuxian put her hands on her hips, stayed silent for a moment, and said, "I can help you become a trainee in Xi Mei. But whether you debut or not is up to you."

Qiao Weizhou suddenly looked up at her, his face showing joy, "Sis, really?!"

Qiao Yuxian was startled by his loud voice and said, "False."

Qiao Weizhou stared at her.

Seeing his dumbfounded look, Qiao Yuxian said, "You can be a trainee, but if you still slack off, mind you, your parents aren’t around to protect you, and I won’t hesitate to hang you up and give you a thrashing."

"Sis, I will definitely work hard this time. I’ll debut on my own merit and not bring shame to you," Qiao Weizhou said.

"Get out of here, it wouldn’t shame me anyway."

Qiao Weizhou chuckled, "I am your real brother."

"Half-brother," Qiao Yuxian said.

"That’s still closer than real," Qiao Weizhou continued.

"Ha, then I must’ve run out of luck for eight lifetimes to end up with a brother like you," Qiao Yuxian said disdainfully.

Qiao Weizhou stayed silent.

Qiao Yuxian was quiet for a while, then said, "Let’s go, let’s eat together."

"Okay," he replied.