Chapter 7: The Price of a Secret Assignment

At the close of August, on the second-to-last Saturday before the new school year commenced, Qian Surou arrived at the address Meng Hanjing had provided.

Initially, Qian Surou had presumed there would be some form of onboarding training, but Meng Hanjing simply instructed her to remain her authentic self.

Meng Hanjing, having positioned the young, attractive, and soon-to-be university student from a prestigious girls’ school as her leverage, lauded Qian Surou for her poised demeanor and articulate speech, noting that she exuded a gentle refinement beyond her years, yet still retained a touch of youthful innocence.

Qian Surou remained uncertain of the exact criteria for judgment, but she acknowledged that she did, in a sense, transcend her age; her composure, however, stemmed from habits ingrained by a life long lived by strict principles, bearing no relation whatsoever to natural youthful radiance.

From this, it became clear that most internal assessments based solely on outward appearance were utterly devoid of merit.

Appearance served as both a weapon and a justification.

The chosen rendezvous point was a newly established joint-venture restaurant, renowned for its French-style garden and opulent decor and facilities, with outdoor dining being one of its primary attractions.

Having studied some garden design, a skill acquired due to her family’s original involvement in the hotel industry, Qian Surou recognized that such meticulously maintained French gardens were frequently rented out for intimate yet not overly lavish weddings, primarily catering to returning expatriates and couples in transnational marriages.

Upon entering the grand hall, the fusion of Chinese and European decor proved dazzling, while the outdoor garden, reflected in the glass walls, offered a serene vista that beckoned the soul back to nature and tranquility.

Within this beautiful backdrop, reminiscent of a cinematic scene, a clear fountain shimmered with rainbows, and winding, tree-lined paths connected a series of white structures resembling yurts; white and peach-colored blossoms remained in full bloom, while circular sculpted trees were artfully arranged, creating the illusion of perpetual spring.

The temperature outside exceeded twenty-five degrees Celsius.

Inside, however, the air conditioning was on full blast, causing Qian Surou, dressed in summer attire, to shiver slightly.

‘A button-down white short-sleeved dress, notoriously difficult to carry off.’

An orchestra performed on the curved stage to her left, their music accompanying hushed conversations among guests who maintained a considerable distance from one another, allowing Qian Surou to quickly locate her target.

Standing before a low window, a woman quite different from her preconceived notions offered her a gentle smile.

“Hello, Miss Yan, I am Qian Surou.”

Qian Surou introduced herself succinctly, having learned the other woman’s name from Meng Hanjing; she had expected Miss Yan to be at least thirty, but she appeared to be barely past twenty-five.

Miss Yan wore framed glasses, which lent her an air of maturity beyond her years; she seemed the type to be a doctor or a lawyer, her shoulder-length black hair impeccably styled into a neat, bluish-tinged bun, and her eyes sparkled with intelligence, complemented by remarkably fair skin.

Compared to Qian Surou’s own somewhat sickly pallor, Miss Yan’s complexion likely aligned more with conventional beauty standards.

“May I call you Xiao Rou? Just be relaxed.”

Qian Surou nodded softly, noting that apart from Ji Yushu calling her Susu, her friends might teasingly call her A Rou, while others used formal titles like ‘Student Qian’ or ‘Senior Sister.’

Before Qian Surou’s arrival, Miss Yan had been gazing out at the garden.

“Do you like this garden? Shall we go for a stroll?”

As the one providing the service, Qian Surou naturally could not allow her client to exert unnecessary mental effort; for women, a romantic partner was often expected to initiate actions, such as extending an invitation.

Furthermore, taking the initiative aligned with Qian Surou’s personality, allowing her to retain control of the situation.

Before accepting this assignment, Qian Surou had already erected several thick layers of locks around her heart.

“That sounds lovely!”

Yan Miqing’s smile widened perceptibly.

‘If they were lovers, one might joyfully link arms with the other.’

‘Given her role, such an action would appear overly flamboyant and opportunistic.’

‘Thus, holding hands seemed a less conspicuous option,’ Qian Surou mused.

She extended her hand forward.

Her gaze fixed on the pale, unringed knuckles, the collision lasting only a fleeting instant, firm to the touch.

She grasped at empty air.

Upon noticing Qian Surou’s gesture, Yan Miqing swiftly withdrew her hand.

It wasn’t that she disliked physical contact; rather, she had a mission to execute, and the rule was to avoid intimate contact as much as possible.

Indeed, this regrettable act of ‘dating’ a prospective university student was an order from her employer.

Otherwise, as a former ‘5+3′ graduate from a humble background, she would lack the means to frequent such establishments.

The turning point, she recalled, had begun when she applied for a tutoring position.

To supplement her living expenses and support her family, she had planned to take on a part-time job while studying for her medical practitioner’s license.

She focused her efforts on children from affluent families, and, given her attractive appearance, she was often excluded by parents of male students, thus she preferred to tutor a female student.

At that time, she had promoted herself at an elite girls’ school and various tutoring agencies.

She transformed her resume into several flyers, targeting female students from prosperous backgrounds.

The results, however, were minimal; an entire week passed without a single phone call.

Then, one day, an aristocratic-looking girl approached her as she was promoting herself on the street.

“Thirty thousand a month. Are you in?”

Had the question not come from a girl, she would have assumed it was an offer of patronage; Yan Miqing instantly agreed, yet she soon paid the price for her impulsiveness.

The girl she was to tutor resided in a high-end apartment, and with no demanding parents in sight, Yan Miqing initially believed she had struck gold; however, she quickly discovered that the girl, named Jin Xiaoyue, required no tutoring at all, as her proficiency in fundamental subjects far surpassed that of Yan Miqing, a recent graduate.

Whether it was advanced mathematics or complex Olympic math competition problems designed to test mental agility, Jin Xiaoyue handled them with effortless ease.

The exorbitant commission made her conscience uneasy, prompting her to spontaneously obey some of Jin Xiaoyue’s commands; initially, these were minor tasks like fetching tea and water, but they gradually escalated to running errands and driving.

On one occasion, she refused Jin Xiaoyue’s request for her company on an outing, and the consequence was—

A document was sent to her email inbox.

Yan Miqing, who had not yet fully experienced the harsh realities of society, was utterly terrified.

The email contained not only recent updates on her family’s lives—such as her sister preparing for her wedding, her younger brother getting into a district key high school, and her father retiring in less than five years—but also personal information about her friends.

Yet, the presentation was remarkably subtle; the information was woven into a story, as if it were merely a novel penned by a realistic author.

Within this “novel,” beyond the implied threats, there were also enticing incentives: her sister received a coveted job offer, and her father was exceptionally promoted to management just before his retirement.

Subsequently, Yan Miqing capitulated.

She succumbed to both the implicit coercion and the allure of money.

‘Perhaps it was the right choice!’

The moment she obtained her professional license, she was appointed to a private hospital under Jin Xiaoyue’s arrangement; with the young mistress’s influence, her superior diligently assisted her, providing opportunities for practical experience, and in a mere year and a half, she blossomed into a self-reliant professional.

Despite her achievements, she still dared not entertain thoughts of breaking free from the young mistress’s grasp.

Now, a task of immense importance to the young mistress had fallen upon her shoulders.

‘To become this girl’s client.’

‘What a challenge for a straight woman!’

‘No touching, no hugging, and no raising suspicion from the other party!’

‘Essentially, this girl was being treated as Jin Xiaoyue’s personal forbidden plaything!’

Yan Miqing had taken an elective psychology course, and she believed Jin Xiaoyue fit Jung’s classification of an introverted sensing type, while also exhibiting symptoms of paranoid personality disorder.

‘Suspicious, highly controlling, and incredibly conceited.’

On one occasion, when she suggested Jin Xiaoyue might have psychological issues, she was immediately met with contempt, threats, and a series of reprimands.

She resolved never to court trouble again.

The near hand-holding incident just now had startled her so much that she instinctively threw up her arms.

‘Who knows where the young mistress might be watching from!’