With the perks from the TV station, An Ting worked even harder.
Just as she was about to start recording, the studio door swung open, and two very pretty girls walked in.
"Director, let's record!" Zhou Lili rushed to Sun Yiling's side, smiling as she approached him.
Li Qin, still editing, rolled her eyes.
Sun Yiling subtly stepped back. "Are you familiar with all the lines?"
"We're already familiar with each other," Zhou Lili replied. She tried to edge closer, but then caught sight of Ye Qianqian behind her. For once, a rare smile appeared on Sun Yiling's usually expressionless face.
Zhou Lili misinterpreted it as a smile for her and practically glowed. "Director, why did you give me only a few lines? We have such a great rapport—why not give me the whole thing?"
By now, An Ting had stepped out of the recording studio and locked eyes with Ye Qianqian. The last time An Ting had ruined Ye Qianqian's plans still stung, and seeing her again reignited the anger she had tried to suppress.
An Ting met her gaze with an overly friendly smile.
Ye Qianqian's anger only deepened.
Li Qin pulled An Ting aside. "Did you offend her? Be careful. She's… unusual. She somehow got so close to the station director that he smuggled her into the station, even though third-year students aren't normally recruited. And now she has the lead role in this promotional video—several seniors had been eyeing it, but she took it. They complained to the director, and he refused to change it."
An Ting glanced toward Sun Yiling—and sure enough, a faint filter glimmered just a few centimeters in front of him.
PS popped up: "Look, the second victim! Go and put out that trashy 'admiration buff's' arrogance!"
An Ting lazily stared at the only usable basic panel in Photoshop. "You make it sound so easy."
PS remained silent.
Meanwhile, Zhou Lili was pestering Sun Yiling to hand over all the voiceovers. No matter how coquettishly she twisted into an S-shape, Sun Yiling's expression stayed unmoved.
"The candidate has already been chosen and cannot be changed," he said flatly.
Zhou Lili pouted. Then she turned to An Ting with a sneer. "Are you suggesting she should do the voice-over? Besides lacking professional training, does she even have the time? Isn't she busy washing dishes at some small restaurant?"
Everyone knew An Ting was poor, and none understood how she got involved with Song Qian. That he had stayed with her without buying her a single bag only proved he didn't take her seriously.
Zhou Lili, from a wealthy family and known for her outstanding looks, had long coveted Sun Yiling's attention. She'd spent two years lingering around him, and everyone at the station could see he had feelings for Ye Qianqian. But Zhou Lili mistakenly thought Sun Yiling liked her—and that he had even recruited Ye Qianqian as a favor to her.
Hearing that the rest of the dubbing had gone to An Ting infuriated her.
Sun Yiling's face darkened. "I made the decision. You don't need to be sarcastic and criticize me to my face."
This was the first time he had ever spoken so sternly to a girl. Zhou Lili's eyes immediately reddened.
"You yelled at me for her?" she cried. "Understand this! She has a boyfriend! A gold digger who could be dumped by a playboy like Song Qian at any time!"
An Ting's smile was cool. "Hey, classmate. You can smear Song Qian all you want, but don't smear me. If I were really that kind of gold digger, I would've called Song Qian to complain when you insulted me. Let that playboy rush over with money just to slap you in the face."
Zhou Lili's glare could have cut steel. "Who do you think you are? Song Qian doesn't even respect you! He'll dump you sooner or later!"
"Zhou Lili, enough!" Sun Yiling snapped, unable to tolerate her anymore. "Watch your mouth."
Zhou Lili smashed the glass in her hand and stormed out.
Ye Qianqian caught her in time and whispered gently, "Don't be angry. The director was just impulsive. Calmly discuss the script with him. You're the most senior in the department—he'll entrust the entire dubbing to you." She then smiled slightly at Sun Yiling.
Li Qin, watching from the side, muttered, "How shameless! She actually thinks the director will hand everything over to her."
An Ting had a bad feeling. She instinctively looked at Sun Yiling.
Sure enough, the filter in front of him flared. For a moment, his expression toward Ye Qianqian blanked, then softened into something like restrained affection.
Ye Qianqian's eyes gleamed with smug satisfaction. Zhou Lili, through her tears, laughed and gave An Ting a teasing, victorious smile.
Li Qin's face darkened. "What's wrong with the director?!"
An Ting stayed calm on the surface, but inside, she was far from peaceful.
PS reappeared: "I told you long ago. Even if you don't deal with this trash, her existence will inevitably threaten your interests one day. This is just the beginning. The trash host she chose is not magnanimous. Since she holds a grudge against you, forget about a good life in the future."