She was puzzled, wondering what it was about her that caught the eye of this arrogant man.
She lowered her head to fiddle with the components in her palm, the small metal pieces glistening faintly under the fluctuating light.
A hand reached out from the side, taking them: "Assemble it like this." He demonstrated it to her, retrieving several other components from the mess and deftly assembling them together. His fingers were strikingly attractive, long and powerful, moving with a fluid grace as they assembled the parts. Soon, a partial periscope took shape.
She watched him, somewhat entranced.
This man was truly pleasing to the eye, dressed in light white loungewear, his slightly open collar exuding an indescribable casualness and sensuality. With his head bowed and an intent expression, the ruins behind him contrasted with thousands of metallic components that together constructed a grand and absurd sense of postmodern industry, inorganic and cold. However, he was the only warm tint amidst this vast coldness that seemed ready to engulf everything, the white fabric accentuated by the faint sunlight streaming through the window, his long, strong fingers stained with oil, gleaming brightly.
She had watched him for a long time, and no matter how much she disliked the man in front of her, she couldn't deny that his beauty was sometimes overwhelming.
She wanted to capture him in a photo, but dared not forget the prohibition against photography, so she held back.
Her thoughts drifted far away as she mentally composed the scene thousands of times.
Lu Shifeng finished assembling the parts and looked up at her: "Did you understand?"
She instinctively nodded.
He was surprised; assembling a periscope wasn't the easiest task, but not low in difficulty either. How could a girl understand it all at once?
"Did you really get it?" He stood up, "Then assemble it once and show me."
Her gaze returned from a distant void, finally landing clearly on the man before her, and she broke into a beautiful smile: "I meant, I understood how to solve that work issue, thank you for bringing me here, Lu Shifeng."
The next day, she went to the magazine office.
Ling Weilong was already waiting for her: "Just in time, come with me to the model company, Huadie wants to change the model for the advertisement."
Su Xingyu was taken aback: "Change again? Not using Jiang Zhenzhen?"
Ling Weilong said: "Huadie is urging us. Since there's no good creative idea, at least we can't lose face. We need to find someone more famous and prominent than Su Xingqi." This time it was Huadie who removed Su Xingqi, and if she were to stage a comeback and seize the cover, wouldn't Huadie become a laughing stock? They can't allow that to happen under any circumstances, and sacrificing Jiang Zhenzhen is a small price to pay in comparison.
Su Xingyu asked: "Can we surpass the Qin Family just by changing the model?"
Ling Weilong was somewhat irritated: "That's why I'm asking you to hurry. It's not easy to find a model on short notice, let alone a famous one. Even if we find someone free, they might ask for a sky-high price."
Su Xingyu chuckled: "We don't have to change; I have a good idea."
"You?" Ling Weilong was skeptical, "Are you joking with me at a time like this?"
"Do I seem like the type who jokes with you?" Su Xingyu smiled again and shared the idea she had conceived the day before.
Ling Weilong's eyes brightened: "I couldn't tell you were so capable. Did you really think of that? Alright, let's do it."
He promptly organized a team to set up the outdoor scene and called Jiang Zhenzhen to start work without delay.
After two consecutive days of busy work, Mr. Zhao sent someone to urge them: "How's the shoot going? Su Xingqi's side is done, just waiting for yours!"
Ling Weilong was very satisfied with the result of this shoot, chuckling: "No problem, we're almost done here too. I'll do the final retouches overnight and it should be ready by tomorrow, don't worry!"
Mr. Zhao's representative said: "Then come to a meeting tomorrow. All the big wigs from the office, Qin Corporation, and Huadie Clothing will be there. It's a fair discussion; let capabilities do the talking."
Ling Weilong agreed cheerfully.
After sending that person off, he chuckled with ill intent: "Xingyu, how can anyone be so foolish as to wish to compete with us? Isn't that a pipe dream?"
Su Xingyu simply couldn't stand this man with an exploding vanity, rubbing her forehead: "I'm tired. I'm going home to sleep." Working day and night for the past two days, Lu Shifeng was already quite displeased. If she couldn't make it home on time today, she severely doubted if she could keep her job. Besides, the consecutive days of high-intensity shooting left her exhausted.
This advertisement was primarily her creation, guiding the concept and lighting, while Ling Weilong was responsible for execution.
Although she didn't personally handle the camera, the mental strain was immense.
Seeing her exhausted demeanor, Ling Weilong didn't press further and said readily: "Then go home and sleep early. Remember to dress nicely and be spirited tomorrow! I can't wait to see the look on Su Xingqi and their faces after they fail, hahaha!"
Su Xingyu shook her head, marveling at how, despite everyone working hard for two days, this man remained full of energy, seemingly unaffected.
Returning home, she was met with Lu Shifeng's brooding eyes, and she collapsed into bed.
From the bathroom came the faint sound of water, and then the other side of the bed sank as his heavy, agile body enveloped her.
"Lu Shifeng..." She murmured, too exhausted to open her eyes, "I'm so tired... Let me rest for a day, just one day, please..."
Lu Shifeng's long, powerful fingers traced down her elegant neck, his voice husky: "You said that three days ago too."
...Had she been using that excuse for three days?
Su Xingyu was about to cry, unable to remember that she'd used the same pretext for three days. If she'd known, she'd have claimed to start her period!
"I... I'm on my period..." Was it too late to change her excuse?
The man above her slightly raised an eyebrow: "Hmm?" Was she insulting his intelligence?
"I..." His fingers teased her body, clouding her thoughts, but she was truly too tired, today as the tasks ended, all the exhaustion hit her, "Please spare me tonight, tomorrow, tomorrow, is that alright... do whatever you want..."
The fingers tormenting her paused: "Do whatever I want?"
"Yeah." Right now, all she cared about was sleeping, no matter what happened.
The man beside her, satisfied, withdrew his hand, adjusted his position, and embraced her petite form.
"Sleep." He lowered his head to kiss her hair.
She slept soundly until morning, waking up to find the room full of sunlight pouring onto the bed. Checking the clock, it was almost 10 a.m.
"Oh no!" she exclaimed, remembering the meeting scheduled this morning with Huadie and the Qin Corporation!