Zhou Yu: !!!
Has Huo Jingnian become this calculating now? ʂƭơ55.ƈơɱ provides the latest and fastest novel updates.
But since the question had already been asked, it had to be answered. Zhou Yu immediately scratched the back of his head and asked with a grin, “So, what benefit do you want?”
Huo Jingnian lowered his gaze and thought for a moment. “You should discuss this with Weiwei. After all, it was her idea.”
Qiao Zhiwei had thought it was just a joke, but seeing how serious Huo Jingnian was, she didn’t dare to be careless. “Let’s see the results first. If you’re satisfied with the effect, then we can talk.”
Zhou Yu nodded. “Alright, we’ll go with Miss Qiao’s plan.”
“Since you’re Brother Jingnian’s friend, you can just call me Weiwei from now on.”
“Then come in and take the photos.” Zhou Yu led them inside.
The two entered the photo studio and sat together on a long bench.
Zhou Yu switched to a red background, walked over to face them, raised the camera, then lowered it again, looking at the two of them thoughtfully.
Qiao Zhiwei quickly glanced at Huo Jingnian and noticed that a strand of hair on his forehead was slightly messy and his collar wasn’t quite neat.
She immediately stood up, reached out, tilted her head, and tidied things up for him.
Her sudden closeness made Huo Jingnian’s breathing hitch; his Adam’s apple rolled unconsciously, and his long lashes lowered at once.
But in that brief moment when his gaze dropped, it happened to land on her chest, and his ears heated uncontrollably.
“Brother Jingnian, didn’t you look in the mirror before coming out?”
Her gentle voice came from above him, making the fingers resting on his knees curl slightly on their own.
His hair was very short, so he didn’t have the habit of checking a mirror.
“No.”
After fixing his hair, Qiao Zhiwei lightly adjusted his collar as well, then went to the mirror herself to check before sitting back down and asking Zhou Yu, “Is this okay now?”
Zhou Yu nodded with a smile. “Perfect.”
With a click, the camera flashed. He lowered it, glanced at the shot, and looked quite satisfied.
“Very nice. You both photograph really well.”
Qiao Zhiwei was just about to stand when Zhou Yu added, “Let’s take a couple more so I can choose later.”
Qiao Zhiwei thought for a moment. “If it’s just for ID photos, that one should be enough. But if it’s for sample shots, could we change the pose?”
Wedding photos in the 1980s were almost always taken sitting or standing properly, at most changing the background.
The outfits were usually just bright red wedding clothes or a white wedding dress.
Zhou Yu laughed. “Sure. When you say a different style, do you just mean changing the pose?”
Qiao Zhiwei smiled. “Not just the pose also the makeup and styling theme.”
“What do you mean by a makeup-and-styling theme?”
Qiao Zhiwei thought for a moment. “I’ll tell you once I’ve figured it out.”
In her previous life, she had seen all kinds of personal and couple photo shoots.
Zhou Yu nodded. “Alright, I’ll wait. You can think about the poses first.”
Qiao Zhiwei glanced at Huo Jingnian and saw him sitting stiffly upright, lips pressed thin.
Zhou Yu chuckled. “Whether he cooperates or not depends entirely on you.”
After all, he couldn’t order Huo Jingnian around.
Qiao Zhiwei smiled. “He just needs to sit like this.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she leaned closer to Huo Jingnian, tilted her head, and gently rested it on his shoulder. The corners of her lips lifted into two shallow dimples, and Huo Jingnian couldn’t help lowering his gaze to look at her.
At that exact moment, Zhou Yu pressed the shutter.
Lowering the camera to check the shot, he said excitedly, “Weiwei’s expression is so lively. That smile is unbelievably sweet.”
Qiao Zhiwei stood up. “There’s one more pose.”
She walked behind Huo Jingnian and gently wrapped her arms around his neck. When her lips drew close to his ear and he sensed her breath, every muscle in Huo Jingnian’s body trembled slightly.
He stiffened his neck and didn’t dare turn around. Just then, a flash went off click. With Zhou Yu’s “Okay,” the weight around his neck disappeared at once.
Qiao Zhiwei straightened up and went over to Zhou Yu to look at the playback.
Only after she finished looking did Huo Jingnian stand and walk over. “Alright, let’s go back. Once the report comes out, we’ll go to the Civil Affairs Bureau.”
Qiao Zhiwei quickly stood up and said goodbye to Zhou Yu.
When they reached the car, Qiao Zhiwei hesitated for a moment, then opened the passenger door and got in almost at the same time as Huo Jingnian.
The car started. Huo Jingnian said again, “Get the account book ready. I’ll come by tomorrow afternoon around two to pay off the debt.”
Qiao Zhiwei looked at him gratefully and said softly, “Okay.”
After that, the car fell quiet again. Qiao Zhiwei thought for a moment and asked, “Brother Jingnian, once I’ve worked out that idea for the wedding photos, will you still have time to cooperate?”
“Do you have someone else in mind?”
Knowing he was busy, she said, “If you don’t have time, I can have Lanlan take the photos with Comrade Zhou Yu.”
Huo Jingnian seemed to consider it. “Mm, alright.”
The car stopped in front of the Qiao family home. Qiao Zhiwei unbuckled her seatbelt and said to him, “Thanks for your trouble.”
Huo Jingnian responded in a low voice, “Mm.”
Hearing his calm reply, Qiao Zhiwei felt that the more polite she was with him, the more distant he seemed.
Thinking that this was just his personality, she didn’t dwell on it. She closed the car door and went back inside.
Qiao Zhilan was about to start cooking lunch. Seeing her sister return, she was very happy. “Sis, how are things going between you and Brother Jingnian?”
Qiao Zhiwei thought for a moment polite, courteous, respectful, distant.
A strange way of getting along, yet very comfortable. So she replied, “Pretty good.”
Qiao Zhilan smiled. “I knew it. Even though Brother Jingnian always seems lukewarm toward people, he’s really good to Grandpa Huo and to us sisters.”
She added, “A hundred times better than that hypocrite Huo Jingchen.”
Hearing that, Qiao Zhiwei smiled. “Mm.”
Compared to attitude, character clearly mattered more.
After lunch, the sisters went shopping together. Since it was for wedding clothes and for the Huo family they had to choose carefully.
They went to the clothing section of the department store and picked out clothes and shoes.
When they passed the men’s section, Qiao Zhiwei stopped.
Qiao Zhilan asked, “What is it, sis?”
“What do you think of that belt?”
She recalled the first time Huo Jingnian came to the Qiao house, wearing his military uniform with a belt cinched tightly at his waist.
The uniform was crisp, the belt outlining his lean waist. When he entered with his back to the light and a cold expression, even the belt buckle gleamed with a chill restrained yet sharp.
She had never tried to remember it deliberately, but the moment she saw that belt, the image flashed into her mind.
Qiao Zhilan glanced at it. “All belts look the same to me. I can’t tell the difference.”
Qiao Zhiwei walked closer and asked the sales clerk, “How much is this belt?”
“Eighteen yuan.”
In the past, that price wouldn’t have seemed expensive to either sister, but now it was actually a bit costly.
Still, Qiao Zhiwei bought it.
She felt that it would look exceptionally good around Huo Jingnian’s waist.
And she should give him something as a token of thanks.
After shopping, they returned home and saw He Gang’s car parked at the door.
As the sisters approached, He Gang and He Manman got out of the car.
Seeing Qiao Zhiwei, He Manman was very agitated. “Qiao Zhiwei, what exactly did you say to Huo Jingchen?”
Seeing her aggressive manner, Qiao Zhilan quickly stepped in front. “That hypocrite Huo Jingchen my sister wouldn’t even bother saying another word to him.”
“Nonsense! It must have been Qiao Zhiwei, this vixen, whispering in his ear. Otherwise he wouldn’t have broken off the engagement with me.”
Qiao Zhiwei was a little surprised. “The engagement was broken?”
“Stop pretending!” He Manman glared at her, wishing she could tear her face apart.
Disliking her attitude, Qiao Zhiwei frowned. “I’m about to marry Brother Jingnian. Didn’t He Gang tell you?”
Hearing this, He Manman turned to He Gang in disbelief. “When did this happen?”
He Gang lowered his head. “Just this morning. I told you not to come, but you insisted.”
“You idiot! Huo Jingchen doesn’t even want her would Huo Jingnian really take her on? You believe whatever she says? I think you’re completely dazzled by that face of hers!”
He Gang muttered, “Huo Jingnian came personally to acknowledge it.”
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have believed it either.
Only then did He Manman look at the sisters. Seeing Qiao Zhilan raise her brows slightly, she exploded in anger. “How is that possible?”
“Whether it’s possible or not, why don’t you ask Huo Jingchen yourself?” Qiao Zhiwei said coldly.
He Manman sneered. “Aren’t you just doing this on purpose to get Huo Jingchen’s attention, to make him jealous and care about you?”
“Dragging Huo Jingnian in to make Huo Jingchen jealous?” Qiao Zhiwei paused, then said, “It seems I’m quite capable in your eyes. Since you think so highly of me, I’ll advise you not to get so angry that you lose your head. Calm down and think carefully about what kind of person Huo Jingchen really is.
“He could abandon me for profit, and he could abandon you for the same reason. So I don’t have the power to make him break off an engagement with just a few words.
“Besides, I’m about to marry Huo Jingnian. What meaning would it have for me to make him break things off with you?”
“You’re not allowed to talk about Huo Jingchen like that,” He Manman retorted angrily.
Qiao Zhiwei found it unbelievable. “What kind of spell has Huo Jingchen cast on you? I said so much, and you only heard one sentence of criticism?”
As she said this, she knew clearly that Huo Jingchen really did have that ability.
If she hadn’t lived an extra lifetime, she might never have escaped his gentle trap in this life.
She looked at He Manman with pity. “It’s rare that things are peaceful at my doorstep, so if you don’t have anything else, please don’t come to disturb us.”
He Manman secretly wiped the corner of her eye, but her expression remained stubborn. “What do you mean, don’t disturb you? Since Jingchen’s matter has nothing to do with you, then we can come to collect the debt, right?”
She wasn’t some noble young lady from an elite family, yet she always acted so high and mighty. Now that she was down on her luck, she should look the part. So what if she was marrying Huo Jingnian did that mean she didn’t have to repay debts?
He Gang tugged desperately at her sleeve. “Cousin, we’re not collecting the debt today.”
“Why not? Do we have to pick a day just to collect a debt? I’m determined to make Qiao Zhiwei embarrassed today.”
Qiao Zhilan said angrily, “Miss He, it’s Huo Jingchen who made you unhappy. Why are you taking it out on my sister?
“Go ask Huo Jingchen yourself why.
“And as for the debt we owe you, it can be repaid tomorrow. Huo Jingnian already discussed it with He Gang. Can’t you even wait one day?”
“Huo Jingnian is paying off the Qiao family’s debt for you?” He Manman was shocked.
Everyone in the capital knew that Huo Jingnian was powerful, wealthy, and handsome.
His good looks were obvious to anyone with eyes. As for power, it wasn’t about his current position but his promotion prospects and connections reaching the top was only a matter of time. As for wealth, people had only heard rumors; no one knew how much his mother had left him.
She just hadn’t expected him to be this wealthy so much so that it was astonishing. No wonder he didn’t care about the Qiao family’s debt and was willing to marry Qiao Zhiwei.
Qiao Zhilan lifted her chin. “Yes. Is that not allowed?”
He Manman fell silent.
Qiao Zhiwei and Qiao Zhilan turned and went inside.
As He Manman looked up, the Qiao family’s gate closed.
She stood there in a daze for a long time, still finding it hard to believe. Turning back, she asked He Gang, “Is Huo Jingnian really going to marry that fallen family that even Huo Jingchen didn’t want?”
He Gang nodded. “Otherwise, do you think I’m stupid or just honest?”
Seeing He Manman still standing there blankly, he pulled her arm. “Since Huo Jingchen breaking off the engagement has nothing to do with Qiao Zhiwei, you should go ask him in person why. Don’t just believe whatever Huo Jingli says.”
When He Manman first heard the news, she had been so furious that she lost her head. For some reason, after Huo Jingli left, the first person she thought of was Qiao Zhiwei causing trouble she had completely forgotten to go ask Huo Jingchen face to face.
“Yes, I should go ask him,” He Manman said, still holding onto hope for Huo Jingchen.
Thinking of this, he should still be at school. So she said to He Gang, “Drive me to C University.”
He Gang agreed, and the car stopped at the entrance of C University.
He Manman glanced at her watch, got out, and walked toward the gate. Just as she was about to ask the elderly gatekeeper which office Huo Jingchen was in, she heard several girls who had just walked out of campus chatting.
“I never expected Professor Huo to be so young and handsome.”
“And his perspective is so broad. He knows foreign economic history incredibly well.”
“Of course he studied abroad. I heard he visited many famous economics professors overseas. Otherwise, how could he come back and immediately become a professor at C University?”
“I heard he was born into a prestigious family.”
“You can tell from his bearing refined, elegant, noble, and knowledgeable. All the books he reads are in English.”
“I heard he’s only twenty-four?”
“I wonder if he has a girlfriend. Having a man like that would be such happiness…”
At that last remark, He Manman’s lips curved upward. She stepped forward and asked, “Excuse me, are you talking about Professor Huo Jingchen?”
The girls looked her up and down. Seeing her refined temperament and bright, appropriate appearance, one smiled. “Yes. And you are?”
“I’m a friend of his. I’m looking for him about something. Could you help pass along a message?” She pointed to a small shop behind them. “I’ll be waiting there. Just tell him my surname is He.”
“Sure. I’m going to that shop to buy a pen anyway. I’ll go back and pass it on right away.” Being able to interact closely with Professor Huo made the girl very willing.
After buying their things, the girls went back into campus. He Manman went to the shop, bought two bottles of soda, borrowed two chairs from the owner, and sat beside the shop to wait.
After an unknown amount of time, Huo Jingchen finally came out.
He was wearing a light gray Dacron short-sleeved shirt, neatly tucked into dark gray trousers. Metal-framed glasses rested on his high nose bridge.
He sat down across from He Manman and smiled faintly, looking elegant and refined to the extreme.