CHAPTER 167: CHAPTER 148: CURSED, RIGHT?

On January 10th, Qiao Yuxian finished her final exams.

And in fifteen days, it’s going to be the New Year.

Then these fifteen days... Qiao Yuxian was busy knitting scarves, gloves, and even little hats for Zhaocai and Dou Jin.

Because of knitting, she went to the Qiao Family more frequently.

Because sometimes while knitting, she’d get stuck and needed to ask Chen Hui.

Qiao Lech has not been going to school, took a leave of absence and has not gone out as well.

She just stays at home all day, at most basking in the sun in the yard.

Even though she’s home all day not doing much, she’s still lost some weight.

Qiao Yuxian came over with the yarn, and she’d follow along, smoothing out the yarn beside her.

Qiao Yuxian learns things quickly, skillful, and has nothing else to do, having just learned a new skill, she got addicted.

She knits every day, day in, day out.

Until Gu Yanjing cut the power to Fenglin Villa one night.

And that night, after Qiao Yuxian lay down, she couldn’t sleep. She took out her phone to use as a light and knitted secretly.

Then she was carried back to the bedroom by Gu Yanjing.

After being scared a bit, she behaved.

From then on, she turned off the lights and went to bed at eleven o’clock every night.

When Qiao Yuxian was knitting a hat for Zhaocai, she went back to the Qiao Family, got advice from Chen Hui, and Qiao Lech was accompanying her.

After a while, Qiao Yuxian said, "Isn’t Qiao Weizhou coming over? Why hasn’t he arrived?"

She still remembered Qiao Yu telling her that Qiao Weizhou was going to stay for a while to participate in the trainee selection at Xi Mei Media.

But after the winter break started, Xi Mei Kyoto’s selection was about to begin, and she hadn’t seen him for days.

"He came." Chen Hui said, "He was placed in the West City apartment."

Since he was coming, although Qiao Yuxian didn’t say anything, Qiao Yu still didn’t let him stay at home and sent him to stay elsewhere.

"There’re only two days left before the Xi Mei selection starts," Chen Hui said, "I don’t know if he’s ready."

"The requirements for the trainee selection aren’t high. It mainly depends on whether he has talent," Qiao Yuxian said, "He looks good, which might earn him some points."

"There are very few who can go far based on looks alone, those with looks but no strength can only make a splash and eventually disappear," Chen Hui said.

Qiao Yuxian nodded.

Chen Hui asked again, "I heard the actress Xie Qinghe started filming a movie."

"Yes." Qiao Yuxian said.

When the incident first broke out, Xie Qinghe was very unstable emotionally.

First, her photos were leaked, second, her relationship was exposed, ruining her pure image, and third, she was betrayed in love.

For a long period, Xie Qinghe couldn’t get over it.

Lin Huai Shu continuously ensured she had people accompanying her.

Until the matter slowly passed.

Tao Sen was arrested and it was officially announced by the police.

People came to understand the ins and outs of the matter and knew she was a victim.

Though there were always people online who only had half the story, didn’t know the truth, and inexplicably criticized her, Xie Qinghe adjusted quickly.

After so many years in the entertainment industry, being scolded had become more common than eating.

She just couldn’t bear it when it first happened, but over time, as it passed, she let it go.

It wasn’t a big deal.

Xi Mei offered her double the compensation she was owed.

And the Lin Family gave her an option too. If she wanted to retire, they would give her separation money. If she wanted to return, they would provide a comeback plan.

She chose to come back.

The first step was filming a movie.

After all, she gained fame from movies.

So she joined the production crew.

"There’s no obstacle you can’t overcome unless it concerns life and death, everything else is a minor issue," Chen Hui said, "Moreover, everyone is born naked. Women have always been confined by past ideologies. It’s like women being seen is a huge crime but if men are seen, they just get called names and it’s over."

Qiao Lech looked at her.

Chen Hui was knitting a bracelet with the yarn that Qiao Yuxian wasn’t using, speaking as if it was inadvertent: "In my opinion, men and women are the same, both are people, both have one nose and two eyes, why should it be different? Why are societal expectations for women so high?"

Qiao Yuxian was knitting the small hat and looked at her.

Chen Hui raised her eyes to look at them both and said, "It’s because men are afraid of us, fear us. They’re afraid that we’re too outstanding, overshadowing their abilities, so they always put us down, setting boundaries for us."

Qiao Yuxian looked at her and smiled.

Chen Hui was a bit startled, then laughed and said, "Why are you smiling?"

"Auntie, did my dad bully you?" Qiao Yuxian asked with a smile.

Chen Hui laughed, "Do you think your dad looks like someone who would bully people?"

Qiao Yuxian thought for a while and said, "My dad... My dad just doesn’t have the mind to bully people."

Qiao Lech couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Chen Hui laughed too, her eyes tearing up from laughter, "Your description is just too accurate."

Qiao Yuxian also smiled.

The three continued chatting for a while. Chen Hui checked the time and said, "I need to go pick up Qiao Zhiang, you two stay home and play."

"Okay." Qiao Yuxian replied.

Chen Hui changed her clothes and went to pick up Qiao Zhiang from tutoring class.

Qiao Yuxian and Qiao Lech were at home.

After a quiet moment, Qiao Lech asked, "Sis, are you and Gu Yanjing... okay?"

Qiao Yuxian looked at her, paused, then said, "If I said not okay, what would you do? Go fight Gu Yanjing for me?"

Qiao Lech seriously thought for a moment and said, "I couldn’t beat him, but I could draw circles to curse him every day."

Qiao Yuxian laughed, patted her head, and said, "Then save it. Use it if he ever treats me badly in the future."

"Really? But he looks kind of scary," Qiao Lech added.

"Does he?" Qiao Yuxian said, "Don’t you think he’s handsome?"

"Handsome, yes, but also scary," Qiao Lech said.

"No," Qiao Yuxian said contentedly, "He’s really nice."

Qiao Lech looked at her but didn’t say anything, thinking: Did my sister get hexed?

The two stayed quietly together for a while.

Qiao Yuxian knitted quietly, and Qiao Lech was beside her pulling the yarn.

Every stitch Qiao Yuxian knitted passed through Qiao Lech’s hands.

"Sis, do you think Wei Jiye will attend the Xi Mei trainee selection?" Qiao Lech asked again.

Qiao Yuxian looked at her, "Do you like him?"

Qiao Lech nodded, "I like his songs, admire his talent."

Qiao Yuxian raised her eyebrow, "How about I take you to the selection site to take a look?"

"Huh?" Qiao Lech was surprised, and her face showed resistance.

Qiao Yuxian said, "No rush. There are still two days. Think about it."

Qiao Lech looked at her, her eyes showing a bit of curiosity.

Qiao Yuxian said, "Your sister is awesome. Taking you to the selection site is a small thing."

Qiao Lech blinked again.

Qiao Yuxian didn’t say anything else, just said, "Think about it."

Qiao Lech didn’t ask further, just nodded, "Okay."