Seeing An Ting's behavior, only one thought flashed through Xiao Gong's mind: "A simp will end up with nothing."
But Xing Tang's reaction told everyone that he was fully invested. Over the past few days, people in the studio had speculated endlessly about the former assistant: some said he'd reached the age to get married, some joked about his thinning hair, others claimed he was pressured by his parents to settle down.
Everyone seemed to speak so highly of the former assistant that Xing Tang had been in a foul mood for days.
He's almost thirty. Married? Pressured by parents? Hair still thick… oh, it really is quite thick.
The former assistant, at only twenty-nine, still had half a head of hair, and his wife had already given birth to twins. Their parents' wish to enjoy grandchildren had been fulfilled. How could these reasons justify leaving a million-yuan annual salary?
Xing Tang, with his discerning taste and little interest in romance, couldn't understand why his former assistant would give up so much just to open a farmhouse inn back home. Recently, the former assistant had been posting pictures of pet chicks and Sprite-infused egg drop soup on WeChat Moments every day.
And now, An Ting had appeared, and everything she said struck a chord in his heart.
He had thought she was a promising talent—but now, she was the talent he had always dreamed of.
"Boss, Brother Lin's wedding is tomorrow. He sent an invitation to the studio two weeks ago, even giving you a VIP seat for family and friends. Are you sure you don't want to go?" Xiao Gong asked.
"Why would I go?" Xing Tang scoffed. "He's my former assistant."
"But he hired people from a studio to film the wedding."
"When did our studio stoop so low as to take on these low-class wedding photography jobs? Are we supposed to film why only one of their chicks survived? Does he think we specialize in agriculture, rural areas, and farmers?"
Xiao Gong had grown used to his sarcasm and criticism, and was almost numb to it.
Seeing Xiao Gong silent, Xing Tang turned to An Ting. "Tomorrow is Saturday; you don't have to work. Come Monday, if you have classes, ask me for leave in advance."
"Okay," she replied simply.
After relieving her frustration, Xing Tang went out to wash his hands.
Xiao Gong looked at An Ting with a mix of admiration and despair. "I don't know why, but I feel like you won't get fired by him again."
"Why are you saying such discouraging things? How could someone as outstanding as me be fired?" An Ting replied. To her, a million-yuan salary was secondary; what she valued was the shared understanding with Xing Tang… and the BMWs he gave her during holidays.
She smiled at Xiao Gong and went off to wash her hands. Humming off-key, she turned several corners and finally spotted the restroom sign—just as she almost stepped out, she saw Xing Tang and Ye Qianqian less than a meter away.
She drew a breath and pulled back, preparing to hide in the shadows and eavesdrop.
Xing Tang had just exited the restroom when he bumped into Ye Qianqian at the corner. Seeing her—the girl who had briefly captured his interest—he subconsciously frowned.
The first day he had seen her, he had been inexplicably captivated. In his mind, she had been perfect—flawless without filters, even with the camera inches away. He had even guided her emotions unusually during the shoot.
But once he noticed her acne scars, he had snapped out of that daze.
Later, even when he saw her flawless again, the strange admiration he once felt had vanished. That perfection, now realized, wasn't as surprising. It wasn't even one percent as good as his newly hired assistant.
Yes—ever since discovering how perfectly An Ting complemented him, her charm had reached its peak in his heart.
"What's up?" he asked.
Ye Qianqian lowered her head, embarrassed. "Director Xing… I'm a music student from an art academy. I've been preparing my own single recently, but I can't complete it well alone. I thought I'd come today to recommend myself. Could I… maybe sign with your studio? If I do, I promise to create the greatest value for the studio!"
Xing Tang's studio focused primarily on film and television, though it did occasionally sign outstanding artists. Even after directing several films and investing in over a dozen projects, the number of officially signed artists remained small. Signing with his studio meant access to a constant flow of resources and a strong network in variety shows and music.
Ye Qianqian, full of confidence thanks to the "Admiration Buff," believed she would skyrocket to the top. But to outsiders, a newcomer with no works to her name was overestimating herself.
Xing Tang, buoyed by his earlier conversation with An Ting, listened patiently. After she finished, he simply nodded. "You can find the email on the official WeChat account and submit your resume. I wish you success."
Ye Qianqian had been expecting immediate approval, but this response was far from it. Panicked, she grabbed his sleeve.
"Director Xing, I mean—"
Xing Tang pulled his sleeve free and frowned. "Just say it."
She faltered. She couldn't exactly demand an exception. Clearly, Xing Tang was unaffected by the Admiration Buff.
She had assumed that after applying the buff, he would at least show her favor. She was wrong.
Xing Tang waited silently for a moment, then coldly said, "If you want to sign with the studio, send your resume yourself. If you expect me to pull strings, I'm sorry—you don't have that ability yet."
He said this without hesitation and disappeared around the corner.
Ye Qianqian stood there, her face flushing red and white in turns. She gritted her teeth, her mind still clouded by the buff, and muttered angrily, "You said after using the buff a man would fall in love immediately! What's wrong with Xing Tang?"
The system's voice answered gently: "The Admiration Buff did work. Xing Tang already paid extra attention from the start; otherwise, given your own qualities, he probably wouldn't have glanced your way. The buff can hypnotize and suggest, but it has little effect on people with strong willpower. To make someone fall irrationally in love, you need to upgrade the buff."
Ye Qianqian's eyes darkened. She recalled that the system had mentioned an upgrade: successfully using the buff on one hundred ordinary men would level it up. But one exceptional man could be worth the effort of one hundred.
She had refused to use it on ordinary men, looking down on them. Once she applied the Admiration Buff, she targeted Song Qian and Sun Yiling—the most influential figures in the school. Yet the energy they gave her was minimal.
She suspected Song Qian still had feelings for An Ting. And Xing Tang? The buff had failed entirely. Only by upgrading it could she hope to control such outstanding men.
The system reminded her of the way forward: find one hundred men and use the buff to gain experience.
Watching Xing Tang disappear around the corner, Ye Qianqian finally made up her mind. The Affection Buff's voice softened, coaxing her gently: "Now that I am bound to you, we are one. Help me level up, and I will make you even better—dazzling, unmatched, impossible to imitate."
Ye Qianqian bit her lower lip, ambition and greed lighting her eyes brighter than ever.
"Of course I believe you," she whispered softly. "After all, you've already helped me achieve the impossible, haven't you?"