She advised Yuanya to get home quickly, to avoid any further danger.
Indeed, Yuanya didn't dare to stay in Imperial Court any longer, even less so to get involved with any dangerous characters.
When she got home, sweaty and dazed, she was surprised to find her sister, who should have been at school, was also home.
"Why are you home?"
Yuanmiao shot her a look, "Whether I am home or not is none of your business. Stop being so nosy!"
The look on her face clearly showed distaste for Yuanya's meddling. She probably felt her earlier rebuke wasn't quite harsh enough.
She added, "This is my home. Can't I just stay here?"
"It's not weekend today. Aren't you supposed to be at school?" Yuanya was exhausted and had no energy to argue.
"What, are you trying to show off being a college student?" Yuanmiao scoffed, glaring at her.
Yuanya pursed her lips. How could she think that?
"Huh, not only a college student, but a damn prestigious one at that! Why not hang a sign around your neck? If it wasn't for your useless art studies, we wouldn't be out of money for my tuition!"
Yuanmiao, as if fueled by anger, crabbed at her some more.
Yuanya, realizing her sister's words were becoming more and more inappropriate, knew any further talk was pointless, so she simply said, "I was just asking."
"Just asking? You're very pleased with yourself, aren't you? Are you happy that I have to retake the year?"
Yuanya held her tongue, knowing that whatever she said would be twisted at Yuanmiao's will, better to keep silent.
At first, Yuanmiao was just in the habit of prodding her, but as they continued, her irritation grew.
She just missed getting into Huaguang due to a few points, but the family couldn't afford the fees.
She was told to settle for another school. Why should she have to settle!
If not for Yuanya, why would she need to retake the year!?
Moreover, she had a rich and influential boyfriend, Lu Jie, but he wouldn't lend her a dime, an ungrateful wretch he proved to be.
She truly didn't understand why her parents were so fond of an outsider!
With these thoughts, Yuanmiao's resentment towards Yuanya intensified, finally shouting, "Why did dad ever pick you up!"
Then she stormed into her room, slamming the door behind her.
Yuanmiao didn't perform well in the college entrance exam, couldn't get into Huaguang University, and Yuanya couldn't bring herself to ask Lu Jie to lend money.
This type of accusation leveraging the situation was repeated every few days.
Yuanya had gone from initially feeling hurt to growing increasingly numb.
Just as Yuanya wanted to take a shower and rest for a while,
The cell phone in her pocket suddenly rang. She picked it up and heard that it was the manager of Imperial Court.
"Ten thousand?" After listening to what the other party had said, Yuanya was dumbfounded.
When she had taken this job, the agreed-upon price was only five thousand. How could they demand she pay ten thousand in compensation right off the bat!
The manager of Imperial Court answered in a calm tone, "Yes, ten thousand. Not only did you fail to complete the mural on time, you left all your painting tools and paint in our hallway, greatly affecting Imperial Court's public image."
After being reminded, Yuanya suddenly realized, she had left her painting tools at Imperial Court!
"But, ten thousand is really too much…"
If Yuanya could come up with ten thousand, she wouldn't have been berated by Yuanmiao.
"As stated in the contract signed before work started, if the mural is not completed on time, compensation for losses must be paid. Miss Yuan, if you plan to delay payment, we at Imperial Court will need to take legal action."