A Chance Encounter

“Pant… Pant…”

Xiu Lan panted heavily as she climbed the stairs, a few strands of gray hair escaping her hat, and beads of sweat rolling down her forehead. Despite the cool morning, she felt like she was in a furnace, stiflingly hot.

“…”

If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, Xiu Lan wouldn’t have believed that someone could be so exhausted from climbing just two flights of stairs. This was beyond the capacity of a normal human being.

Her heart silently labeled the girl behind her as frail and sickly. Out of professional courtesy, she still asked, “Do you need a break?”

“No… No… It’s okay.”

Xiu Lan gasped for breath, each word feeling like it was being cut from her throat, causing her immense discomfort.

Refusing the offer to rest, she trembled as she climbed a few more steps, but those steps seemed to have drained all her strength, causing her to collapse against the railing, gasping for air.

“We’re heading to the 5th floor.”

The woman kindly reminded her.

“…”

It looked like her self-improvement plan was doomed to fail again today.

“So, why didn’t you take the elevator?”

“I’m sorry, the elevator is currently out of order.”

“Hmph…”

You expect me to believe that?

But now that she was in survival mode, Xiu Lan didn’t bother arguing. In the woman’s shocked expression, she casually leaped up three steps, as if she had accomplished a great feat. Lifting her chin proudly, she declared, “I’ve rested enough. Let’s go.”

“…”

Is this girl crazy?

No longer wanting to verify the authenticity of her earlier exhaustion, the woman just wanted to end this interaction with the foolish girl. She weakly waved her hand and walked ahead, signaling Xiu Lan to follow.

Together, they climbed to the 5th floor and stopped at a room near the edge.

[504]

Xiu Lan memorized the room number.

“Please come in.”

Xiu Lan followed the woman into the room, which was surprisingly spacious and empty. Glass doors divided the space into several sections, with a few tables and sofas scattered about. The white walls showed traces of fresh paint, and most importantly, there wasn’t a single employee in sight. Is this even a legitimate company? It might still be possible to run away now.

“This place was just recently rented, and we haven’t had time to renovate it yet.” The woman’s casual tone belied the shock Xiu Lan felt. Even someone like her, with no common sense, knew that such a prime location in the city center would be rented on a yearly basis. But from the woman’s tone, it seemed like this was just a minor detail.

She’s a wealthy woman, Xiu Lan thought, her eyes sharpening as she focused on the potential big client in front of her. “If you hire me, I can do anything.”

She then counted off on her fingers, “But I’m still a student, so I can’t work every day, and the workload can’t be too heavy. I expect at least this much in salary, and definitely not less. I absolutely won’t take on anything illegal, like murder or arson.”

“No, I can’t do cleaning.”

“As long as the money is right, I can do anything!”

“Please, with your performance climbing stairs, I’m afraid you’ll collapse and leave me with a big mess on my hands.”

“That was just an accident, I… I…”

Xiu Lan’s face flushed red, unable to refute her own embarrassing display.

This kid is quite entertaining.

Calming herself, the woman removed her sunglasses and sat on the sofa, “I’m Mu Yan, but you can call me Mu Sister. Please introduce yourself first.”

To make a good impression, Xiu Lan sat upright across from Mu Yan, responding seriously, “Hello, Mu Boss. I’m Xiu Lan.”

Then, they stared at each other in awkward silence.

After a moment, Mu Yan couldn’t help but ask, “Is that it?”

“Yes, that’s it!”

Xiu Lan replied confusedly, struggling to think of what to say next. Wasn’t it enough to just have a presentable face?

Mu Yan, feeling awkward, examined the oddly dressed girl in front of her, her confidence in Xiu Lan slightly wavering. Due to certain reasons, she couldn’t recruit through regular platforms and had to use underground networks instead.

But despite agreeing on a time, the applicants kept delaying, and this happened several times. Even if she was naive, she began to sense something was off. Ultimately, the underground network system existed only under the tacit approval of higher authorities, and it was natural for it to be influenced by certain powers.

She had almost given up hope.

Until…

This girl, Xiu Lan, appeared before her, reigniting a spark of hope.

“Is there a problem?”

Nervously, Xiu Lan asked, fidgeting like a timid rabbit.

Is she always this shy?

Biting back a comment, Mu Yan suggested, “Could you please take off your mask and sunglasses so I can see your face?”

You can’t avoid this forever, Xiu Lan thought, her hesitation not escaping Mu Yan’s notice. This evasive behavior only piqued Mu Yan’s curiosity further.

Connecting Xiu Lan’s previous behavior, Mu Yan asked again, “Miss Xiu Lan, are you in dire need of money? I can offer a fifty percent raise in salary right now. How about that…?”

This was a blatant bait of money.

Xiu Lan swallowed, her eyes behind the sunglasses gleaming with greed. She stammered, “I… I…”

“If that’s still not enough…”

Mu Yan placed a gold-trimmed bank card on the table. “This is a gold card from the previous branch of the Lincheng Bank. You should know what this means. If you meet my requirements, you’ll have a chance to get this card from me.”

Tempting words echoed in the gray-haired girl’s ears.

Xiu Lan didn’t know what this meant, but she knew that with this, her future would be secure. Her gaze was completely drawn to the card on the table. She reached out cautiously, her hand covered by a slender palm. Following the arm up, she met Mu Yan’s smile. Their eyes locked, and Xiu Lan looked down.

“I understand…”

Whether it was a trap or not didn’t matter anymore. Exposing her identity didn’t matter either. Remembering her family’s poverty from childhood and the hardships of life in this era, she thought, now she could earn this much money just by showing her face. Was there an easier job in the world?

Her desire blurred her judgment. Under Mu Yan’s expectant gaze, Xiu Lan placed her hand on her face, mustering all her courage to remove the sunglasses and mask.

Did I win?

Seeing Xiu Lan’s true face, Mu Yan deflated like a balloon, slouching on the sofa and patting her chest to calm her racing heart. Her usually composed and efficient image was nowhere to be found.

“Are you alright? Do you feel unwell?”

The gray-haired girl leaned in, her concern palpable. The face, almost identical to that of Vanguard, almost stopped Mu Yan’s heart. But it was followed by an uncontrollable surge of joy.

“I won!”

With a shout of excitement, she pulled Xiu Lan into an embrace, the gray-haired girl squirming and pounding her fists against Mu Yan’s body, but without the use of her shadow abilities, she only seemed to be giving a massage.

“Sorry, I got too excited.”

Realizing her overenthusiasm might leave a bad impression, Mu Yan reluctantly released Xiu Lan from her embrace. She then took a contract from a drawer in the office desk and placed it in front of Xiu Lan, gesturing for her to sign.

“Trust me, I don’t need to deceive you. To me, you are far more valuable than any of this money.”

The suggestive words made Xiu Lan’s cheeks flush. Could she admit that she hesitated to sign because she couldn’t understand the terms?

After a moment of pretension, Xiu Lan signed her name and handed the contract back to Mu Yan. As she watched Mu Yan carefully place it in a safe, Xiu Lan remembered a crucial question she had forgotten to ask.

The gray-haired girl, with a hint of excitement, asked, “What exactly is my job?”

Is it bodyguard work, espionage, or some secret mission? She believed that with her shadow abilities, she could handle almost any job in the world.

Hearing Xiu Lan’s question, Mu Yan straightened her clothes and sat upright, her expression serious. “Your job is to become a qualified… idol.”

“…????”

Be an idol, really?

****

Mu Yan sat across from Xiu Lan, her expression thoughtful. “I need someone who can handle the spotlight and the pressure. Your abilities are unique, and I believe you can fit the role perfectly.”

Xiu Lan, still processing the revelation, asked hesitantly, “But I’m not sure I have what it takes to be an idol…”

“Trust me,” Mu Yan reassured, “I’ve seen your potential. With the right training and guidance, you can achieve great things. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I believe in you.”

Xiu Lan nodded, a mix of excitement and trepidation in her eyes. “I’ll do my best.”

Mu Yan smiled, “That’s the spirit. Let’s make this work, together.”

****

As the door to the room closed behind them, Xiu Lan took a deep breath, ready to embark on this new journey. The path ahead was uncertain, but she was determined to make the most of this chance.

****

Xiu Lan stood at the edge of a cliff, the wind whipping her hair as she gazed out at the vast expanse before her. It felt like a new beginning, a chance to rewrite her story. She closed her eyes, letting the moment soak in, ready to face whatever came next.