Chapter 16: The Studio, An Interview

“Are you done changing? Can we start filming?”
Li Yan pushed the door open from outside, followed by a tall, handsome figure.
“Ah!”
Lin Xiyu saw who had arrived and was so startled her heart raced wildly; instinctively, she covered her chest with her hand.
Gu Bin’s heart, too, seemed struck by a surge of electricity the moment he saw her, pounding fiercely—a sensation he had never experienced before flooded his chest and quickly spread through his body.
“Tsk, tsk, who would have thought, little sister? Only eighteen, and you’ve developed so well. Even I’m a bit jealous,”
Li Yan, who had worked at the TV station for years and seen every kind of situation, ignored Lin Xiyu’s embarrassment and teasingly drew closer, reaching out as if to give her chest a playful squeeze.
“This dress won’t do?”
Gu Bin, his face dark, interrupted her, stepping forward and pulling Lin Xiyu behind him.
“And why not?”
Li Yan, thwarted, withdrew her hand awkwardly, a trace of displeasure in her gaze.
Gu Bin replied succinctly, “The neckline is too low. It’s not suitable for her.”
“What’s wrong with that?”
Li Yan was unimpressed. “Actresses all wear this style. Besides, this dress is top-class—the craftsmanship and material are excellent, perfect for a formal interview in the studio.”
“She’s not an actress,”
Gu Bin refused to budge. “There’s no need for sensationalism.”

——

Li Yan was left speechless, her breath a little uneven.
“Um, Sister Yan…”
Lin Xiyu peeked out from behind Gu Bin, timidly voicing her own opinion. “Actually, I also think this dress isn’t quite right for me. The waist is too tight—I can hardly breathe.”
Li Yan: …
Gu Bin: …
Both turned at once to look at her waist.
The next second, Gu Bin’s ears flushed bright red, and he quickly averted his gaze.
——
Thanks to Gu Bin’s insistence, the low-necked dress was replaced.
The stylist selected another outfit for Lin Xiyu—a graceful, airy dress.
A white, loose-fitting short-sleeved blouse with a uniquely designed front waist, two flowing ribbons tied into a bow, paired with a chiffon maxi skirt of white base and blue flowers falling below the knees—she looked especially light and lively, the very image of youthful spirit.
“This is the one,”
Gu Bin’s eyes flashed with admiration, and he nodded in satisfaction.
Lin Xiyu gazed at herself in the mirror for a moment, finding herself lovely too; she lifted the hem and spun happily a few times.
Gu Bin’s brows arched, his clear gaze shining with an unusual brilliance.

——

Studio.
Li Yan, acting as host, improvised: “Before you jumped into the river to save someone, did you think about the danger to yourself?”
“I didn’t think that far. When I heard the child crying, I just jumped in without a second thought.”
Facing the camera, Lin Xiyu was a bit shy, her innocent expression prompting gentle laughter from the documentary crew.
“And the college entrance exam? Did you consider that?”
Li Yan smiled, guiding her gently. “After all, it’s not like other exams—miss it, and it changes your whole life…”
“No, I didn’t,”
Lin Xiyu answered honestly. “In that moment, there really wasn’t time to think. I guess I just followed my heart—my body acted before my mind could react. By the time I realized what I was doing, I was already in the water…”
Soft laughter rippled through the studio again.
The cameraman zoomed in, giving her a close-up shot.
Gu Bin stood before the camera, gazing at the screen where the girl’s fresh, unadorned face radiated pure beauty, and his eyes gleamed with something unusual.