“Click.”
“Very good, this part is done.”
Lin Haobai quickly took the towel his assistant handed him and wiped the water droplets from his hair and body. Heaven only knew why the director of this ad liked to use a wet look as a selling point for a skincare commercial.
Lin Haobai remembered how shocked he had been when he first saw the storyboard, wondering what the final effect would look like.
Wiping his hair as he walked toward the director, he saw the director admiring the footage just shot. Peeking at the screen, Lin Haobai wanted to cover his slightly flushed face.
On camera, he was wearing a pure white short-sleeved cotton pajama set, revealing half of his chocolate-colored arms.
According to the ad script, he was smiling while standing in front of a carefully arranged washbasin. A small shelving unit sat beside him, filled with “Lou” skincare products. He first picked up the “Lou” facial cleanser and carefully washed his skin, following the meticulously detailed hand movements required by the ad.
After drying his face, he continued with the toner, lotion, and other products from “Lou,” applying each in sequence. Of course, if it were just that simple, Lin Haobai wouldn’t have thought the concept was so over-the-top.
The strangest, and supposedly the highlight, part came after he finished applying the lotion. The faucet on the washbasin was rigged to malfunction, spraying a small jet of water onto his face.
Next, the camera focused on his face, showing smooth, flawless chocolate-colored skin, without a single visible pore. Silky, like chocolate itself, making people want to take a bite and see how sweet it really was.
That was the idea behind the ad, but looking at himself on the screen, his clothes soaked through and his muscles faintly visible, Lin Haobai could only stare in disbelief.
Turning to look at the director’s completely enthralled expression, he couldn’t help but suspect that this so-called ad concept wasn’t really about showing his face, it was about showing other… parts.
“Haobai, the effect is amazing. Even an old man like me can’t help being moved by this ad.”
Lin Haobai: Be clear, moved by what exactly?! This ad concept is truly speechless.
Even so, the camera didn’t reveal anything inappropriate; nothing was exposed that shouldn’t be. Lin Haobai could only nod along inwardly, thinking: It would’ve been even better if the person on camera wasn’t me!
Thinking this, he couldn’t help but want to smack his own head.
Half a month ago, he had set a flag, and look at it now, completely broken.
He had promised himself not to get involved with Ren Tianxing, not to take this ad. Yet, after everything that happened in between, the final result was that he had ended up taking exactly this ad.
Speak of the devil, and here it comes.
Lin Haobai was still muttering to himself about the trouble Ren Tianxing, the little “fairy”, kept bringing him, when suddenly the entrance to the set became lively.
Looking up, he saw seven or eight men in black suits escorting a handsome man in a blue suit into the studio. The crew, if they weren’t busy with urgent tasks, immediately gathered around.
The big boss had arrived!
The set instantly buzzed with activity.
Through the crowd of props and people, Lin Haobai could precisely spot the fairy who appeared in his dreams every night. He lifted his head slightly, and over all the obstacles, their eyes met.
Before he could react, the man’s smile bloomed like a flower, perfect and dazzling.
Lin Haobai couldn’t help but cover his eyes with his hands: that damned fairy.
Unable to handle the man’s charm, he turned around, draped the towel over his head, and walked toward the lounge. Only the final tagline part of the commercial remained, and he still needed to change outfits before filming could continue.
Back in the lounge, just as Lin Haobai reached to close the door, a flawless white hand stopped the almost-shut brown wooden door.
It looked delicate and pampered, yet it effortlessly prevented him from closing the door.
“President Ren, do you need something?” Lin Haobai suppressed his irritation, trying to keep a normal tone while facing the man who had suddenly appeared before him.
But after dismissing his bodyguards, the man pushed the door open as easily as a host would, walked in naturally, and casually closed the door behind him.
“Xiao Bai, we’re friends now, right? I came to see how my friend’s doing. Also, like I told you last time, no need to be so formal calling me President Ren. Just call me Tianxing.”
Lin Haobai watched him claim the lounge sofa as his own, comfortably grabbing the chocolate balls on the table and eating them like he owned the place. Lin Haobai felt a jolt run across his forehead: “T-Tian…xing…how does a big CEO like you even have time to come here?”
Seeing Lin Haobai’s frustrated-but-don’t-dare-to-show-it expression, Ren Tianxing smirked inwardly: “Isn’t this commercial for the new product important? Of course I need to come check the progress. The ad is scheduled to launch next Monday, so time is tight.”
Hearing him talk seriously about work finally made Ren Tianxing feel familiar to Lin Haobai. “We can finish filming today.” Saying that, Lin Haobai went to the corner where the clothes were hung, grabbed his outfit, and headed to the changing room.
When he came out after changing, he was stunned to see that the little “fairy” Ren Tianxing still hadn’t left.
“Tianxing, why are you still here?”
“I’m waiting for you, of course. I even prepared some snacks for you, eat them first, then we’ll finish the remaining shots.” He said this, pointing to several neatly packaged food boxes that had somehow appeared on the small coffee table.
Lin Haobai: …This guy is way too comfortable being familiar…
Ren Tianxing: …Xiao Bai’s little expressions are just too cute…
The two of them sat together and started eating the contents of the food boxes.
Lin Haobai picked up a shrimp dumpling, took a bite, and his face lit up with satisfaction. This little “fairy” actually bought his favorite food.
Ren Tianxing watched the way his eyes squinted with pleasure and the slight curl of his lips, quietly feeling pleased with himself. All that effort to learn Lin Haobai’s personal preferences had paid off.
With the delicious food settling in, Lin Haobai’s mood lifted.
After all, this commercial shoot was basically because he owed Ren Tianxing a favor.
That night, Ren Tianxing had muttered to his figurine that he’d regret it if he didn’t take the endorsement, but Lin Haobai had completely forgotten about it the next day.
He spent the day researching the “Lan” brand through various channels. Of course, all the information he could find was mostly positive. He even asked around a bit about the relationship between “Lou” and “Lan,” only to realize that the two companies were now in direct competition, practically at odds like fire and water.
Being naturally averse to trouble, Lin Haobai decided not to accept either endorsement, especially since he had a break coming up anyway.
However, less than an hour after rejecting “Lan,” he actually received a call directly from their group.
Now, looking back, he still felt a little sickened by the haughty attitude on the other end of the line.
“Xiao Bai, after the commercial shoot, let me take you out to dinner tonight?” Ren Tianxing’s eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief as he looked at Lin Haobai, who was spacing out.
Hearing that familiar, unmistakable deep voice pulled Lin Haobai’s thoughts back from his memories.
It was this man, always smiling, always sarcastic, who had freed him from the entanglement with “Lan.”
“Even if we’re eating, it’s on me. I owe you for what happened last time.”
Ren Tianxing smiled as if he had just pulled off a little heist: “What’s the big deal? Friends are supposed to help each other, aren’t they?”
Then, suddenly, he reached out and touched the slightly curling top of Lin Haobai’s head. This was a spot he had always wanted to feel, to compare the texture with the tiny figurine. Today, finally, he got his wish.
So soft! They say people with soft hair have soft hearts too.
Watching the way the person in front of him stiffened instantly after Ren Tianxing ruffled his hair, Ren Tianxing couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
So funny, like an angry little kitten!
Ren Tianxing laughed more in that one hour than he had in an entire year. He really should thank the people at “Lan”, so underhanded, they had forced someone who had been avoiding him to end up right by his side.
“All right, just a little head ruffle, don’t be mad. Or do you want me to ruffle it back? You can do whatever you want,”
Ren Tianxing said, tugging slightly at his neatly tied, stylish tie, then leaning back on the soft sofa with a completely carefree posture.
Lin Haobai was utterly speechless.
He rolled his eyes at Ren Tianxing and walked straight toward the door.
From now on, if he ever felt grateful toward this little “fairy,” he’d swear he’d lose his mind!!
Author’s Note:
A few months later, Lin Haobai would find himself helplessly lying on the bed, pounding the mattress and biting Ren Tianxing’s arm without letting go. Damn it, his flag had failed again!