I Heard I Was the Scumbag Alpha of a Top-Tier Celebrity (GL) - Chapter 22

Thanks to Gu Xin’s excellent memory, in her eyes, everyone’s characteristics were distinct; there was never a case of one person looking like another.

But with Ying Lu’s expression, that look…

Gu Xin covered her forehead and said, “Impossible, absolutely impossible.”

Ying Lu said, “I haven’t even said who she looks like yet.”

“You can figure it out by elimination,” Gu Xin didn’t have the time to sit and count reasons with Ying Lu one by one. She said with a wry smile, “Why would you think those two look alike?”

“Come on, anyone can see it, alright?”

“Well, I can’t.”

“I don’t believe you.” Ying Lu immediately grabbed the PhD student. “You tell us. Do you think your team leader looks like the most beautiful woman you saw earlier?”

The PhD student scratched her head and said, “Are you talking about Yan Shuangshuang, Director Ying?”

Gu Xin and Ying Lu froze in unison. Gu Xin frowned, looking at Ying Lu: “Don’t say things you shouldn’t casually.”

Ying Lu waved her hand, signaling Gu Xin to be quiet. She restrained the casual smile on her face and asked, half-jokingly, half-seriously, “I thought people in research don’t follow the entertainment industry. I didn’t realize you even knew Yan Shuangshuang, little sister?”

The PhD student showed a shy smile: “Mhm, actually, my brother is her fan… I watched a few things with him.”

“Oh~ I see.”

“Actually, the first day I joined the institute, I thought the team leader looked very much like Sister Shuang, but since no one else recognized Sister Shuang, I just, cough.”

Only then did Gu Xin compare Yan Shuangshuang’s features with Hua Ran’s. But no matter how she looked, she couldn’t find any resemblance. Was she face-blind?

Ying Lu said, “Then that’s quite a fate. Do you want Shuangshuang’s autograph?”

“Ah?”

“If you keep today’s matters a secret, how about I get Shuangshuang to sign an autograph for you?”

“No, no, thank you!” The PhD student’s face flushed bright red. She waved her hands repeatedly. “I know Sister Shuang is here for work. Everyone has signed non-disclosure agreements. I won’t say anything outside.”

Ying Lu said, “Oh, that’s not what I meant. I was just asking if you wanted an autograph. If you don’t need one, you can bring it to your brother.”

The PhD student’s eyes lit up: “Really?”

“Of course, it’s true. I’ll talk to Shuangshuang in a bit.”

“Thank you, Director!”

Ying Lu smiled, putting her arm around the PhD student’s shoulder and leading her toward the cloakroom: “You’re completely soaked. That must be very uncomfortable, right? Come, we have plenty of clothes here. Come pick out a couple.”

Gu Xin was left in the living room, unable to hear their conversation inside.

In the cloakroom, while picking out clothes for the PhD student, Ying Lu asked casually, “Little sister, is Teacher Gu very familiar with your team leader?”

*

After checking all the instruments in the box, Hua Ran let out a sigh of relief.

Excellent. Not a single piece was damaged. Even though water had gotten in, there were protective layers, so the core components were unaffected.

A piece of paper was suddenly offered to her. Hua Ran followed the hand up and saw a woman with a strong aura.

“Wipe yourself off.” The low, hoarse voice was like an undercurrent in a deep pool, carrying a profound mystery, matching the cold, frosty face perfectly.

Hua Ran realized then that she was inadvertently drenched in sweat.

She took the tissue and politely thanked her: “Thank you for the trouble.”

As she wiped the sweat, Yan Shuangshuang said, “The equipment is fine, right?”

“It is.” Hua Ran couldn’t help but relax. “Luckily, you arrived in time. If it had been soaking for a bit longer, this box of instruments would have been totaled.”

“That’s good news.”

Hua Ran found that the woman in front of her not only had a cold appearance but also spoke little. Most importantly, she didn’t talk unnecessarily.

Living long-term among endless chatter, Hua Ran naturally felt a slight fondness. She said, “We will be staying at the weather institute on the mountaintop from now on. You can come to us anytime if you need help. Thank you very much for your assistance. I will apply to the higher-ups to cover the accommodation and miscellaneous expenses to compensate for your loss.”

Yan Shuangshuang lightly shook her head: “It’s nothing.” Pausing, Yan Shuangshuang asked again, “Are you staying on the mountaintop next?”

“Mhm. We have a project here.”

“The conditions on the mountaintop aren’t very good.”

“We’re used to it. It’s normal for meteorologists to work in these kinds of places.”

“It must be hard work.”

After that, both fell silent for a moment.

For some reason, Hua Ran felt a little awkward; the atmosphere was subtle.

Just then, He Xin suddenly came in and broke the silence: “Are you their leader?”

Hua Ran stood up: “I am the person in charge of this project.”

“Then it’s you. The village cadre outside is looking for you.”

Hua Ran immediately put on her usual social mask and went out to socialize.

In a professional setting, Hua Ran was quite experienced. After all, getting funding from the leadership required some thought and tactics. Now, dealing with the village cadre who came to offer comfort was effortless.

After Hua Ran left, He Xin told Yan Shuangshuang: “She’s so impressive.”

“She is.”

He Xin said, “I actually thought you two looked very similar when you both turned your heads together just now, but once she spoke, I didn’t think so anymore.”

Yan Shuangshuang was momentarily stunned: “Do we… look alike?”

He Xin gave a quiet ‘Mhm’: “Physically, you do look somewhat similar, but mostly it’s because both your looks and demeanor are so sharp and cold. You have a strong aura.”

Yan Shuangshuang stood there, her expression unreadable. He Xin strangely waved her hand in front of her eyes: “What’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?”

Yan Shuangshuang suddenly closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, her lips curled into a faint smile, but there was no actual amusement in her eyes.

She said, “It’s nothing. It’s time to eat. Let’s go.”

He Xin followed her anxiously: “If I said anything wrong, you have to tell me. Don’t give me the silent treatment.”

“I’m not mad at you. I just suddenly realized something.”

“What is it? Can I know?”

Yan Shuangshuang smoothly changed the subject with a smile. They went to the kitchen. He Xin soon forgot the little interlude and focused on cooking.

*

It was nearly dinnertime when Gu Xin slowly woke up.

The scent of baked sweet potato immediately stirred her appetite upon opening her eyes. She sprang up from the sofa and asked Ying Lu, who was sitting on a small stool looking at the stars: “Where did the baked sweet potatoes come from?”

Ying Lu took a bite and said, “The villagers gave them. Help yourself if you want some.”

Gu Xin looked around and found a basket full of baked sweet potatoes next to Ying Lu’s stool. She picked one up and started eating.

Ying Lu laughed and scolded her: “A hungry ghost reincarnated.”

Gu Xin mumbled: “I haven’t eaten a single meal since this morning.”

Ying Lu sighed: “Your line of work isn’t easy either.”

“No choice. I chose this path. Can’t exactly throw in the towel now, can I?”

“Oh, so you can say things like that too.”

Gu Xin paused her frantic eating. She looked up at Ying Lu: “Why do I feel like you’re being sarcastic?”

“I don’t mean anything by it.” Ying Lu finished one, wiped her mouth with a tissue, and said slowly, “I just feel that you’re quite different from the rumors.”

Gu Xin’s sweet potato eating frequency slowed down.

Ying Lu said, “It’s strange. Can a person’s personality change so drastically in such a short period? And this kind of change has happened twice.”

“What do you mean?” Gu Xin completely stopped eating. She looked directly at Ying Lu, her eyes like knives.

Ying Lu ignored the sudden heavy pressure. She pulled her stool closer to Gu Xin, lowered her voice, and said conspiratorially, “I have an idea. Listen to this.”