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While the "entertainment value" was high, the actual workload was anything but light.
Rin's fingertips tapped incessantly against the keyboard, yet she still couldn't figure out why the code refused to budge. I'd accept it if you ran and crashed with a million errors, but just move! Please!
While she waited for her sister's reply, she caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye—the seniors in the distance were collectively ditching work?
"Eh? What's going on?"
Curious, Rin tilted her head toward the workstation next to her, looking at Senior Xiaoli, the person tasked with mentoring her.
This "big sister" she'd only met yesterday was also briskly closing her laptop and grabbing her phone, ready to join the "mass exodus."
"Company meeting."
Xiaoli tossed out those two words—short and sweet—as an explanation.
"Even you can go!?"
Rin was instantly shocked. "Sister Xiaoli, are you some kind of hidden high-level executive undercover among the employees?"
"What are you even thinking?" Xiaoli laughed at her, reaching out to give her head a light pat. "You can go too once you're a full-time employee. Currently, our Reson Studio only has a handful of official staff members when you count them all up."
Otherwise, they wouldn't have been reduced to collaborating with another company just because they started a new project. No matter how much people mocked the "Useless Duck," Bronya's works were still nominated for awards every year.
Rin nodded half-understandingly. She figured that once the seniors were gone, she could use her "Ghost Possession" trick to solve this code that was currently sitting there like a stubborn rock.
Just then, Kaito walked over and patted her on the shoulder.
"Let's go together. Your sister managed to get you in here; becoming a full-time employee is just a matter of time."
Besides, Kaito really did have a lot he wanted to know about that "family" of thirteen.
Rin looked at the code that still wouldn't run, then at Senior Kaito. She suddenly realized that her sister might be the one lying.
Is Senior Kaito really petty?
Well, a little bit. The only reason he came over to call her was that he'd had enough of his colleagues' prying questions and wanted to find a seat in the back.
"Senior, while I'm touched, I must emphasize—I am NOT a back-door hire!"
Rin first activated her "Ghost Possession" skill, calling upon her sister for remote control, before leisurely leaving her workstation.
She had four years of work experience! She was a "Family Heritage" Destined One in her "Fresh Graduate" form! Rin 2.0!
In other words, a Two-Star Rin!
If a small startup managed to pull a Two-Star Rin at launch, they'd be laughing all the way to the bank! Especially with that noble "Fresh Graduate" synergy.
There weren't many people at the meeting. Excluding departments that didn't need to attend and employees who were optional, only about thirty people showed up. For a studio that had just branched out... it could be described as somewhat pathetic.
Thinking about it, it made sense. Who in their right mind would give up a lucrative offer at Anti-Entropy HQ just to follow Bronya out on a whim to start from scratch and "prove themselves"?
Kaito didn't count. He was here for the high salary, and he knew that if the boss failed to make it work, she'd just obediently crawl back to HQ anyway.
He practiced his usual routine and found a seat in the back.
"By the way, is it really okay for me to be here?"
Rin huddled close to him, looking around curiously, her eyes constantly darting about.
Just then, she saw the Lead Producer, Bronya, walk into the conference room last, stopping a little purple-haired girl with golden eyes at the door.
She knew that one! That kid was the "brat" from yesterday's rumors who got thrashed by Senior Kaito!
"Letting everyone know you're a back-door hire is good for your future work," Kaito said, his words casual yet painfully pragmatic.
Rin's cheeks flushed bright red. "I! AM! NOT! A back-door hire!!!"
She'd say it ten thousand more times if she had to!
Rin tried her best to stay calm. "Senior, do you know what phrase children hate hearing the most?"
Kaito was stunned by the abrupt question. How did the topic jump there?
He instinctively thought about it. Things kids hate... probably "Go to bed right now!" or "If you don't behave, I won't want you anymore!"
Rin emphasized with a dead-serious face: "It's actually: 'I got you for free when I topped up my phone,' or 'I picked you up from the trash can, and if you keep acting up, I'm throwing you back.' Phrases like that hurt a kid's feelings. So, even if I know 'back-door hire' is a joke, saying it still hurts my feelings."
Facing Rin's exceptionally solemn little face, Kaito fell silent for a moment.
"Did you not hate hearing things like that when you were little, Senior?"
Rin blinked. She had hated those jokes the most, yet her parents always thought they were hilarious.
Kaito's voice remained flat. "I'm an orphan. My sister and I only had each other to lean on."
Rin: "..."
The air went quiet for a few seconds.
Rin rubbed her nose, her voice softening. "Although I should probably be quiet right now, my sister and I have also been leaning on each other for a long time."
So, Rin wouldn't be hurt by those words, nor did she have to worry about hurting others, because she and her sister were orphans now, too. They were the same.
Kaito suddenly realized something. Was his sister huddling together with someone like Sakura during university because they shared a similar plight?
If that were the case, Kaito's opinion of Sakura dropped even lower... if their situations were so similar, why didn't she pull her own family in?
Why did she have to come and corrupt his sister!
He shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "Actually, I have heard those words before."
Rin sneaked a glance at the Lead Producer, who hadn't started speaking yet. "Your sister said them?"
"No, I used them to prank my sister."
After all, Kaito wasn't a real child. And in this world, it was rare for one child to actually raise another child from scratch, even with universal compulsory education and various grants...
Rin's face went blank. Wait, what? You pranked your sister? Which one of you is actually older?
Before she could untangle her thoughts, Bronya tapped the microphone at the front. The crisp sound caused the conference room to fall silent instantly.
But Rin couldn't help herself. "Did she believe you?"
A memory seemed to flash before Kaito's eyes—from a long time ago—of his sister's eyes turning red in an instant, filled with helplessness and grief. He let out a barely audible "mm-hmm."
"She cried for a long time," he added a moment later.
After all, getting on good terms with Rin was important.
Maybe he could win over her sister, and then, for the sake of being fellow Anti-Entropy employees, Ms. Sakura might have a change of heart and help him convince Elysia.
As for the impassioned Bronya... Kaito didn't pay much attention.
Because Anti-Entropy had always been there to back her up, the Boss didn't quite understand the essence of a "rallying speech." In his opinion... it wasn't as effective as just doubling the salary and linking bonuses to results.
And perhaps because it touched upon her own youthful memories, Bronya was being a bit too fired up right now.
When it was time to head back to work, Rin was skipping ahead cheerfully. From quite a distance, she saw her computer screen—the code was actually running.
Yes!
"Senior, let me emphasize one more time—I am NOT a back-door hire!"
The girl clenched her dainty fists, full of energy and radiant confidence.
In response, Kaito simply returned to his workstation, thought for a moment, and sent a private message to the Boss.
Kaito: "How did Rin get in?"
Bronya: "Her sister put in a word, and the girl's skill level isn't bad."
The Boss's reply was short and sweet.
Kaito looked at the screen and leaned back against his chair, satisfied. He knew it.
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