Accidentally Marking The Vicious Female Lead After Transmigrating Into A Period Novel - Chapter 35

Li Yan stepped out of Director Qi Haisheng’s office in high spirits, humming a tune as she walked back toward the workshop.

When the workers in the shop saw her like this, they couldn’t help but ask curiously, “What’s going on? Looks like your raise wasn’t affected after all. So, Li Yan, what did the director say? Is it still a five yuan raise?”

In a workshop full of people, rumors spread within minutes. Although Li Yan’s raise was supposed to be a secret, word had long since gotten out.

Upon hearing the news, some didn’t care much. Their wages were tied to both skill and years of service. Li Yan was young, and for the first two years, her salary had been at the base level, but her excellent skills were undeniable. After two years, a raise seemed normal.

However, others were naturally dissatisfied.

A raise was one thing, but a five yuan jump felt like too much.

Consequently, after the incident with Liu Gang before the New Year, many were waiting to see if her pay would be docked as punishment.

Seeing her now, people began probing, both directly and indirectly.

In the past, Li Yan had been simple minded and lacked experience in the workplace, but these last two years had toughened her up.

Knowing what they were thinking, she figured it was better to speak openly rather than let them gossip behind her back. Whether they felt envy or mockery, she would take it all.

So, she said directly, “Of course it was affected. The director said it’s been lowered from five yuan to three. Two punches cost me two yuan. Oh, my heart truly aches!”

Though she claimed her heart ached, the crowd couldn’t see a hint of distress in her eyes.

“It got lowered and you’re still happy? Are you silly, kid? Honestly, with your skills, you deserve the five yuan. It was just a little friction with a coworker, why did it have to affect your raise? The director is really…”

Human nature is a fickle thing. Those who were sour a moment ago felt their jealousy vanish once they heard she lost money, and they even began offering a few kind words.

Li Yan acted as if she didn’t notice the change in tide, playing the fool. “How could I be happy? I’m so angry I don’t know what face to make. Sigh!”

She wasn’t actually stupid.

The news about the wages was already out, so she could talk about it freely. But her plan to recommend a broadcaster had to stay under wraps for now.

With the workday almost over, as long as she kept quiet, even if others wanted to recommend someone, it would be too late.

Hehe, let’s use the time difference.

Moreover, she believed that once Lin Yishu showed up tomorrow, the factory leadership would definitely want to keep her.

Of course, this was currently just her own idea. She still needed to ask for Lin Yishu’s opinion when she got home tonight.

Having said her piece, Li Yan stopped talking and got back to work, waiting impatiently to clock out and bring the good news to Lin Yishu.

As soon as work ended, Li Yan vanished in a flash, leaving Chen Aihua, who wanted to walk home with her, unable to even catch a glimpse of her shadow.

When she arrived home, she happened to run into Lin Yishu coming out with a lunch box.

For the past few days, the two had been running back and forth to the hospital to bring food to Yang Xueying. Lin Yishu was “tough on the outside, soft on the inside”, she complained about the cold and the distance, but every day at the designated time, she left the house without fail.

Seeing her heading out in clothes that looked a bit too thin, Li Yan frowned and shouted as she ran into the house:

“Don’t go yet, wait for me!”

Lin Yishu looked away, refusing to look at her, but when Li Yan emerged with a scarf, the other woman was still obediently standing there waiting.

Li Yan chuckled inwardly.

At least she’s obedient, even if she is stubborn.

She wrapped the scarf around Lin Yishu’s neck and tied it, then took the aluminum lunch box from her hand.

Lin Yishu kept her neck turned, refusing to look her in the eye.

She’s really determined to ignore me.

Li Yan felt quite uneasy about it.

The two walked to the village chief’s house, borrowed a bicycle, and rode to the hospital in silence.

When they arrived, Yang Xueying wasn’t in the ward, so they had to sit on a bench and wait.

Lin Yishu showed no intention of opening her mouth, and Li Yan didn’t know how to start a conversation naturally. She wanted to mention the broadcaster job but feared Lin Yishu might reject it out of spite.

After a moment of thought, she glanced at the woman sitting a short distance away on the bench and casually slid a little closer.

A few seconds later, Lin Yishu noticed and moved further away.

Li Yan stubbornly moved closer again.

This continued until they reached the edge of the long wooden bench. With nowhere left to go, Lin Yishu turned and glared at her, annoyed. “Li Yan, what are you doing? Are you trying to stop me from sitting comfortably?”

Only then did Li Yan put on an innocent face and speak the truth: “It’s because you won’t talk to me. Lin Yishu, please stop being mad at me. Just talk to me, okay~?”

She purposely trailed off her last word with a hint of a pout, affectionate but not clingy.

She didn’t know if Lin Yishu would fall for it.

But she was truly at her wit’s end, she had to try regardless of whether it worked.

Hearing the girl’s soft pleading, Lin Yishu wanted to stay cold, but she found Li Yan’s behavior incredibly cute.

In fact, Lin Yishu had been replaying the events of that day in her mind over and over.

No matter how she looked at it, the conclusion was always the same, she seemed to have truly fallen for Li Yan.

The question she had asked that day seemed to be directed at Li Yan, but it was actually a revelation of the hidden desires in her own heart.

Upon realizing this, Lin Yishu had fallen into an unprecedented state of panic. She didn’t even know how to face the other woman.

Especially when she remembered Li Yan saying it was just the “influence of pheromones,” her panic was joined by a sting of sadness.

Li Yan doesn’t seem to like me yet.

So, Lin Yishu had begun to feel frustrated again.

Frustrated at Li Yan’s lack of insight, and frustrated at her own lack of charm.

That was why the atmosphere had been so heavy for the past two days.

Even now, she still hadn’t figured out how to face her, so she turned her head away again.

Seeing that her response was met with silence and a turned head, Li Yan felt a strong sense of defeat.

However, in the next second, a bold idea popped into her head.

She reached out.

Lin Yishu felt her cheeks suddenly held by warm palms, forcing her to turn her head. She was compelled to meet the eyes of the person in front of her. As their gazes locked, her heart rate unconsciously accelerated.

Li Yan’s eyes were drooping, looking a bit aggrieved and a bit pleading.

“Lin Yishu, you can hit me or scold me if you’re angry, just please don’t ignore me, okay?”

As she spoke, a layer of mist seemed to rise in her eyes. As she blinked, a faint glint of tears was visible.

Lin Yishu felt a sudden prick in her heart, like a needle.

It seemed that Li Yan had always been the one absorbing her emotions, while she had been recklessly venting her little tantrums in front of her.

She suddenly realized something.

Even if their pheromones were a 100% match, Li Yan wasn’t actually obligated to love her.

Besides, they were just getting started, weren’t they?

Who’s to say Li Yan wouldn’t catch feelings later?

Once she thought through this, Lin Yishu felt her behavior over the past two days had been quite strange. She rubbed her cheek against Li Yan’s palm and blinked. “Okay.”

Li Yan was instantly overjoyed, not even noticing the subtle rub against her hand. She asked for confirmation: “Really? Then it’s a deal, no matter what happens in the future, you can’t ignore me!”

Seeing the irrepressible joy on the other’s face, Lin Yishu nodded gently again. “Okay.”

Li Yan finally felt at ease and decided to strike while the iron was hot. “Then let me tell you some good news…”

She explained what she had heard today and then said, “I recommended you to our director first, but if you’re not interested, it’s fine. I can tell the factory. I just feel you’re perfect for this position. When I heard them talking about it, your name immediately popped into my head…”

Lin Yishu hadn’t expected her to be talking about a job. She said hesitantly, “But I don’t have any experience. I don’t know if I can do it.”

Li Yan nodded vigorously, saying with certainty, “You definitely can! I believe in you! Your Mandarin is so standard and your voice is so pleasant, there’s no one better suited to be a broadcaster!”

Hearing such direct and intense praise, a secret joy bubbled up in Lin Yishu’s heart. She hesitated, then said, “Then… should I try?”

Seeing the eager expression hidden behind her hesitation, Li Yan knew she had made the right call.

Lin Yishu must also be longing to find her own value in this family.

With their plan settled to go to the slaughterhouse together tomorrow, the stifling atmosphere in the room finally dissipated, replaced by their usual laughter and chatter.

Yang Xueying’s footsteps froze at the doorway.

She lowered her head, her thoughts unreadable.

Until there was movement behind her.

Xu Xinlan stopped a step away, leaned against the wall, and asked, “Why aren’t you going in?”

Yang Xueying shook her head, biting her lip without answering.

A moment later, the ground beneath her toes was damp.

Xu Xinlan looked at the silent girl and sighed. She stepped forward and lifted the girl’s chin, forcing her to make eye contact.

“Can you tell me what you’re so afraid of? Did you forget that I’m your doctor?”

This young girl seemed constantly shrouded in an inexplicable gloom. Xu Xinlan’s feelings had shifted from initial pity to a hint of curiosity.

Yang Xueying still didn’t speak; tears simply poured out, covering her face in a way that was heartbreaking to see.

Xu Xinlan kept sighing inwardly, but her hands were busy gently wiping the girl’s face dry.

She wiped carefully and thoroughly, her fingertips sliding from the chin to the eyelashes with soft, slow movements.

“Has no one told you? A girl’s tears are pearls. But if you have too many grievances, don’t let them ferment in your heart. If you’re willing, you can come to me anytime. I’m happy to be a listener.”

Xu Xinlan didn’t understand why she, a person who usually didn’t like meddling in others’ business, kept making exceptions for this girl.

In the end, she could only attribute it to a sudden bout of “hero syndrome.”