Chapter 7: Playful Banter

The two girls walked hand in hand, wandering through the snack street, amusement park, park, and cinema — enjoying themselves to the fullest.

What surprised Xia Jinnian most was that Lin Xiyue actually remembered everything — what foods she liked, which flavors she preferred, even where she liked to sit when watching movies.

These weren’t exactly secrets, but even after being best friends for three years, neither of them had ever bothered to memorize such small details.

So why was Lin Xiyue suddenly… acting like a warm little sweetheart today?

By the time they finished playing around, it was already past seven in the evening — time to head home.

“I’ll walk you back?”

Lin Xiyue squeezed Xia Jinnian’s soft hand.
Partly because she didn’t feel comfortable letting Jinnian go home alone, but mostly because she just wanted to spend a little more time together.

“Mom should be here soon. She’s just giving me a lift.”

“Mm, okay~”

Xia Jinnian nodded, secretly marveling at how unusually thoughtful her best friend was today.

“So, what’s wrong? Who upset our dear Jinnian?”

Tilting her head slightly, Lin Xiyue asked while they waited for the car.

Xia Jinnian sighed.
She didn’t really want to talk about it, but after how caring Xiyue had been all day, she felt that staying silent would just make her seem ungrateful.

“I… argued with my mom.”

“Huh? About what?”

“About choosing my major.”

“You two couldn’t agree?”

“Mm. I guess we never really have. It’s just… now it’s reached the point where we can’t avoid it anymore.”

Hearing that, Lin Xiyue more or less understood what was going on.

She knew that Xia Jinnian had always dreamed of becoming a singer.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have kept practicing despite her family’s disapproval.

Though her mother objected, Jinnian had always held her ground.
And since her grades hadn’t suffered, her family had simply turned a blind eye — until now.

“I want to major in music,” Xia Jinnian said softly, “but my mom wants me to study medicine.”

As expected, her words confirmed Xiyue’s guess.

Normally, one would need to pass an art exam before entering a music program.
But with Jinnian’s record — a three-time city-level singing champion — and her excellent academics, she could easily receive special admission into Guangnan University.

Lin Xiyue could actually understand Madam Xia’s worries too.
After all, like her, Jinnian came from a single-parent family.

The Lin family still had a sizable business, but Jinnian’s mother was just an ordinary worker at a shipyard.
They lived together in an old company dormitory.

In such an environment, Jinnian naturally became her mother’s sole hope.
It was only natural that her mother wanted her to choose a stable, respectable career — not to chase something as uncertain as a “star dream.”

“What do you think, Xiyue?”

Jinnian asked quietly, not really expecting an answer.
Family matters like this were always awkward — at best, her friend could offer some emotional support.

Lin Xiyue didn’t reply right away.
She lowered her head, deep in thought.

If this had been her previous life, she would’ve told Jinnian to talk things through with her mother.
That was exactly what Lin Xi had done back then.

After all, the Lin heir had seen enough of the entertainment world — a filthy, chaotic place.
Keeping Jinnian far from that mess had seemed the wiser choice.

But now… Lin Xiyue had changed her mind.

She wanted to fully support Xia Jinnian — not only because it was her dream, but because saving her would require wealth, influence, and connections.

And none of that could be achieved by staying ordinary.
To reach that power, one had to step into the entertainment industry — the most prosperous battlefield in all of Country C.

“I support you—”

She tightened her grip on Jinnian’s hand, her gaze firm and unwavering.

That startled Xia Jinnian.
She hadn’t expected that at all.

“Eh? Xiyue?”

“I’m your… best friend, aren’t I? If even I don’t support you, then who will?”

At those words, Xia Jinnian’s eyes welled up with tears.
She laughed and cried all at once.

“Pfft— Xiyue, you’re so mushy today!”

“I mean it!
Actually, I’m starting work tomorrow at Lin Entertainment as a producer.
If you’re curious about how the industry really works, you can come see for yourself.”

“What?!”

Jinnian’s eyes widened.
She hadn’t expected her friend to act this quickly — she was already hired?!

“Idiot, you think I’m joking?”

Lin Xiyue met her gaze, utterly serious.

“If you really want to be an artist, I’ll be your producer and your manager.
Before you finalize your major, let’s try it once — maybe you’ll achieve something that’ll change your mom’s mind.”

“Mm… okay! Thank you, Xiyue! My Xiyue is the best—”

Overwhelmed, Xia Jinnian pulled Lin Xiyue into a tight hug.

“Cough— c-can’t breathe!
Don’t you realize how big your boobs are?!”

Xiyue’s startled shout drew the attention of everyone nearby.
People turned to stare at the two girls locked in an embrace.

“You—! Do you have to yell that loud?!”

Jinnian’s face turned scarlet.
She quickly covered Xiyue’s mouth and tugged on her ear in embarrassment.

Even Lin Xiyue was stunned.
The outburst had slipped out instinctively — completely unlike her old self.

She was going to apologize…
but seeing Jinnian’s flushed, adorable face, she couldn’t help but smile mischievously.
Maybe this kind of teasing friendship wasn’t so bad after all.

“What? I can’t even speak now?
You nearly smothered me to death—”

“You—! You you you! Stupid Xiyue! I’ll kill you!”

The two girls began to play-fight, laughing and chasing each other until Lin Xiyue, the more delicate one, ran out of strength first.
Jinnian caught her and began kneading her cheeks into all sorts of funny shapes.

“Let’s see how you like being my stinky little piggy!”

It wasn’t until Xu Wei arrived that their chaotic girlish brawl finally came to an end.

“See you tomorrow, Jinnian—”

“Hmph! See you tomorrow~”

Watching Xia Jinnian disappear into the dormitory gates, Lin Xiyue closed the car window with a satisfied smile.

For now, being Jinnian’s best friend didn’t seem so bad.
In fact… it might even feel more natural — and sweeter — than being lovers ever did.