"What's wrong with hanging out with me every day?" Xu Jiayi raised an eyebrow. "Are you afraid you'll fall in love with me and accept me by accident? Then I'll have to be around you even more."
Regarding Xu Jiayi's remark, Shi Xinxin appeared very helpless. "Please, big brother, stop living in your own fantasies. Anyway, I have something to do tonight. You should focus more on your acting career. Don't fall from being a popular superstar to rock bottom."
With that, Shi Xinxin quickly left Xu Jiayi's studio. In fact, she didn't want the magazine staff to know about her connection with Xu Jiayi. After all, the magazine office was a place where gossip spread easily. It had taken Xu Jiayi a long time to arrange for her to visit even once a week.
Xu Jiayi watched Shi Xinxin's retreating back. He knew all too well what Shi Xinxin was thinking in her heart. After all, her heart still belonged to that man.
Whenever Xu Jiayi thought about it, he felt a pang of jealousy. Jealous of how much Shi Xinxin loved that person and cherished him in her heart.
It seemed that ever since she left Sheng Chenjin, Shi Xinxin had been living in a daze, as if she had no other joy. She would go to and from work alone, with only Xu Jiayi occasionally chattering beside her.
Shi Xinxin's life was very dull, yet it seemed very peaceful.
During the meeting, she was, as usual, lost in "deep thought."
"To America?"
When she heard these three words, Shi Xinxin's mind snapped back. She looked with a faraway gaze at the colleague who had just uttered them.
Wen Xiaoxiao looked at Shi Xinxin, originally intending to exchange a knowing glance and gauge each other's thoughts through their eyes. However, she didn't expect to meet Shi Xinxin's gaze at all, only to see her looking dazed and sleepy.
Wen Xiaoxiao sighed inwardly with helplessness.
"This is for further study. It's an opportunity provided by the company. We hope all you beautiful ladies will eagerly sign up," the director continued speaking.
The editors below had already started whispering among themselves, as some were indeed eager to seize this opportunity.
But Shi Xinxin and Wen Xiaoxiao clearly felt nothing for this chance.
"How long would it be for?"
"One year."
"One year?" The colleagues who heard this answer seemed hesitant.
The director continued, "That's right, it's for one year. Therefore, headquarters places great importance on this single spot that will be selected. If there are many applicants, there will be several rounds of selection. You'll need to exert yourselves with all your might and capability then."
With that, the director surveyed everyone before saying, "Our meeting is now adjourned. You may all return and prepare yourselves. If you are truly interested, eager to try, or confident you can do well, you can come and speak to me. I will then conduct the selection."
The director then left his seat.
The colleagues discussed amongst themselves and left the conference room. Wen Xiaoxiao, who was sitting opposite Shi Xinxin, saw that Shi Xinxin was still motionless. She reached out and waved her hand in front of Shi Xinxin, but Shi Xinxin seemed blind, as if she saw nothing.
Wen Xiaoxiao helplessly walked over to Shi Xinxin's side and shook her arm. "What's wrong with you? Why are you so still? Don't tell me you're stunned by this news."
Shi Xinxin knew Wen Xiaoxiao was by her side. She hadn't intended to pay attention to Wen Xiaoxiao, her mind still preoccupied with the matter of America.
Seeing Shi Xinxin's continued lack of response, Wen Xiaoxiao became worried. "What's wrong with you? Shi Xinxin, are you alright? You're completely zoned out."
"I'm thinking about whether or not to go to America," Shi Xinxin said, her eyes still fixed straight ahead, not looking at Wen Xiaoxiao.
As expected, when she heard Shi Xinxin mention going to America, Wen Xiaoxiao almost screamed. "What? You're also considering it!"
Wen Xiaoxiao could hardly believe it. In her mind, Shi Xinxin wasn't the type to strive so hard for her career.
"Yes, I'm going to apply with the director later."
When she heard Shi Xinxin say this again, and with such seriousness, Wen Xiaoxiao simply couldn't believe it. She even thought Shi Xinxin must have gone mad.
"Shi Xinxin, are you crazy? You want to go to America? Is your brain not working properly? Are you still asleep and talking in your dreams? Your sleep-talking is too frightening."
Wen Xiaoxiao shouted loudly, shaking Shi Xinxin's arm with all her might.
Being shaken so violently by Wen Xiaoxiao, Shi Xinxin felt like she was about to fall apart.
"Don't get so agitated, Wen Xiaoxiao, please. I'm falling apart!"
Wen Xiaoxiao managed to calm herself down a bit, but she still looked at Shi Xinxin in disbelief. "Shi Xinxin, what's wrong with you? What happened to you that you're like this?"
In response to Wen Xiaoxiao's question, Shi Xinxin simply looked up with a meaningful expression and said, "After work, let's have dinner and talk, okay? Making such a racket in the company, do you want to be reprimanded by the director?"
Wen Xiaoxiao immediately covered her mouth, but still looked at Shi Xinxin in disbelief.
Thus, the two of them did leave the conference room. Shi Xinxin appeared as if nothing had happened, but Wen Xiaoxiao was already unsettled. She hovered around Shi Xinxin all day.
This made Shi Xinxin feel uncomfortable, as if she were being monitored all day.
Finally, Wen Xiaoxiao couldn't hold back any longer and typed on QQ: "Shi Xinxin, I know your decision, but let's discuss it after work. Don't go to the director immediately."
Wen Xiaoxiao still wanted to hear why Shi Xinxin had suddenly made such a decision.
However, to Wen Xiaoxiao's surprise, Shi Xinxin's reply appeared on QQ: "I've already spoken with the director. They will reserve a spot for me."
Upon seeing this, Wen Xiaoxiao nearly fainted.
"What!" Wen Xiaoxiao could only exclaim, "Why didn't you discuss it with me?"
"My mind is made up," Shi Xinxin replied to Wen Xiaoxiao with just four words. These four words were enough to make Wen Xiaoxiao indignant. She still couldn't quite understand what was going on with her good colleague.
Wen Xiaoxiao could only surrender. "Fine, it's not like you're the only one applying, and there's only one spot. Maybe it won't even be yours."
Wen Xiaoxiao finally consoled herself.