“Teacher Xin, wait a moment.”
Those six simple words were like pressing the pause button on the world.
Everyone in the photography studio held their breath and stopped what they were doing.
The room fell dead silent. No one dared make any big movement like turning their head, but all eyes turned in unison toward Ye Qing’an, who had spoken, and Xin Ruan beside him.
The tangled love and hate between Xin Ruan, Li Ran, and Ye Qing’an—surely there was no one who didn’t know about it.
And now, the white moonlight and the current flame had come face to face, at CEO Li’s own brand no less. Thinking about it more carefully, wasn’t the brand’s change of spokesperson just CEO Li slapping the current flame in the face and standing up for his white moonlight?
Everyone assumed that Xin Ruan’s personality matched his harmless appearance, so they were certain that in this coming storm, the aggressive Ye Qing’an would emerge victorious.
And so, one by one, as if injected with adrenaline, they stared at the two men with burning eyes.
Ye Qing’an was long accustomed to being in the spotlight. The gazes of these few people around him didn’t bother him in the slightest.
He gave Xin Ruan a faint smile and said, “Sorry about stealing your endorsement. But there’s nothing to be done CEO Li thinks I’m a better fit for the brand’s positioning and style.”
The words of apology carried not a trace of apologetic tone, only smugness and showing off.
Xin Ruan’s hands paused slightly as he packed up his things.
It was Li Ran.
Even though he’d already had his suspicions, having it confirmed so definitively still stung a little.
Of course. It could only be Li Ran. In the end, he had decided Xin Ruan wasn’t suitable not for the Lipobo brand, and not for him, Li Ran.
If that was the case, why not tell him in advance?
Did it have to be in a setting like this, letting him be informed of his replacement in front of so many people? So in Li Ran’s heart, he had no dignity at all?
His heart felt as if a knife had carved into it, every beat throbbing with pain.
But pretending was what Xin Ruan was best at. He continued packing his things with perfect composure, not showing the slightest hint of hurt or caring on his face.
Perhaps in this lifetime, all his acting talent had gone into pretending not to care.
Not getting the reaction he’d imagined, Ye Qing’an raised an eyebrow and made his next move.
He looked Xin Ruan up and down, then turned his head as if consulting the stylist beside him. “I think this haute couture outfit Teacher Xin is wearing suits me better. What do you think?”
“Indeed, that suit looks more striking on Teacher Xin. It would photograph better.”
The stylist instantly understood Ye Qing’an’s meaning and chimed in to please him.
“And these cufflinks too.”
Ye Qing’an flicked nonexistent dust off Xin Ruan’s shoulder, then flipped his wrist and rudely yanked the gold cufflink off Xin Ruan’s chest pocket.
“Tsk tsk tsk. Not bad. Thanks, Teacher Xin.”
His tone was upbeat, but there was hardly any gratitude in his words, only mockery.
“Don’t mention it,” Xin Ruan said evenly.
Even with his things so rudely snatched away, his beautiful face remained calm and composed.
So composed that it irritated Ye Qing’an’s eyes.
“Then this outfit…”
Ye Qing’an looked him up and down, as if deliberating, hesitating.
Finally, he tilted his head, raised his brow, eyes full of mirth. “How about you take it off yourself?”
“Surely you don’t expect me to strip it off you. Oh my, I’m not as experienced as Teacher Xin, I don’t go around snatching other people’s things.”