Jiang Ruoning had just felt that the egg yolk was a bit too much for breakfast; she should have eaten it now instead—being choked to death would still be better than being pissed off to death.
How was it just friends?
Did this person not have any interest in her at all?
Was she playing around?
Jiang Ruoning heavily tapped out six periods and sent them to Shi Sui.
The door to Shi Sui’s office was knocked on, and Jiang Nuan walked in. She said to Shi Sui, “Jiang Ruoning’s agent has agreed to take on the new product shoot. She’ll come over at two in the afternoon to sign the contract.”
As she finished speaking, Shi Sui’s hands paused slightly on the keyboard.
Shi Sui looked up. “Two in the afternoon?”
Jiang Nuan said, “Yeah, and I casually mentioned our winter show plans to her. She still needs to think about it.”
Shi Sui understood.
She hadn’t even revealed this to the lead designer yet, so the other side definitely had reservations.
And it was under the condition that Jiang Ruoning hadn’t done a lead model gig in half a year.
A company’s first lead model walk after switching agencies was no less significant than her first time on the T-stage.
She asked Jiang Nuan, “How’s the contact with Jiaren going?”
Jiaren was one of the most representative fashion magazines in the country—a monthly publication covering clothing, fashion, entertainment, new culture, and more. Each issue’s cover featured the hottest celebrities, entertainers, sports stars, or models of the moment.
It was an industry authority and a sweet treat in fans’ eyes.
Within a single circle, fights over a cover spot could turn bloody.
Let alone across multiple circles vying for one position.
So every new issue brought joy to some and sorrow to others. Fans of cover stars beat drums and set off firecrackers, terrified of being outsold by the issues before or after, and they shelled out cash like crazy.
Thus, Jiaren’s sales for each issue were in the tens of millions.
There was another reason fans splurged: to show Jiaren their power, hoping for preferential treatment for their star and future collaborations.
Of course, the celebrities fought tooth and nail for covers.
Brands sponsored aggressively too.
A few years back, there had been insane auctions for the highest bidder, but after national crackdowns, things had toned down. In the last couple of years, responding to the call, new brands could occasionally snag a piece of the pie.
They had this advantage too, plus Less had been rising sharply these past two years with national support projects. Otherwise, by Jiaren’s old standards, cooperation would have been impossible.
Jiang Nuan said, “We just got in touch. Are we sponsoring with winter collection new items?”
Shi Sui nodded.
Jiang Nuan said, “Who knows which celeb will get the December cover. What if it clashes with our brand vibe…”
Shi Sui interrupted her. “Jiang Ruoning.”
Jiang Nuan’s voice cut off abruptly. “Huh?”
Had she heard that right?
Shi Sui repeated, “Jiang Ruoning.”
Jiang Nuan seemed to catch on. “You mean, have Jiang Ruoning wear our winter new items for Jiaren?”
She was so shocked her voice pitched up.
Shi Sui didn’t get her big reaction; her tone stayed casual. “Any problem with that?”
Jiang Nuan said, “No, it’s just…” She thought for a moment. “Jiang Ruoning has been on Jiaren before.”
Shi Sui said, “Can’t she do it a second time?”
Jiang Nuan shook her head. “She can do it a second time— that’s not it. I mean, she was at the peak of her career back then when she got Jiaren. She doesn’t have those conditions now. I think it’s a bit tough.”
Even one of them alone was a stretch; adding Jiang Ruoning made it even iffier.
Shi Sui looked at her. “What if it’s her plus Ying Jinan?”
“Ying Jinan?” Jiang Nuan said, “No need to say it—she’s the ‘fashion godmother’ of the industry. So many magazines beg for her design sponsorships. I heard Jiaren’s been talking to her this year, but the price talks keep falling through.”
All these years, Jiaren had been pampered by everyone—celebrities, sponsors, fans. Under that, negotiating with the talented but prickly Ying Jinan was a miracle if it didn’t clash outright, let alone succeed easily.
So they’d been grinding away with no results.
Shi Sui typed steadily without distraction. “So the price negotiations are on you.”
“Me?” Jiang Nuan let out a long sigh. “You always give me the challenging tasks.”
Shi Sui propped her chin and looked at the screen, her lips curving. “How else to show off our Assistant Jiang’s skills?”
“Hiss—” Jiang Nuan said, “Something’s off.”
She looked at Shi Sui. “You’re acting weird.”
Shi Sui’s eyelids lifted slightly, her long lashes tracing an arc as her beautiful eyes met Jiang Nuan’s gaze. “Weird how?”
Jiang Nuan said, “Since when do you say such sweet things? I remember now—who’d you take that call from last night?”
Shi Sui gave her a “mind your own business” look, but Jiang Nuan dropped a bombshell. “Are you dating someone?”
Shi Sui: …
For a moment.
She thought of Jiang Ruoning.
She used to drop lines like that too, shocking without restraint.
She stayed silent, and Jiang Nuan itched with curiosity. “Is it? Is it?”
She’d sensed something last night—Shi Sui’s eyes and that gentle look during the call had overflowed even through the screen. She’d meant to ask in the morning but got busy and forgot. Shi Sui said irritably, “Did you join the company for gossip or work?”
“Work, work!” Jiang Nuan rubbed her fists eagerly. Knowing Shi Sui’s temper, no denial meant admission. She dropped it and picked up the thread. “I love challenging work. But the issue now is, how do we get Ying Jinan on board?”
Shi Sui’s right hand clicked the mouse and scrolled down. She said to Jiang Nuan, “I ran into Ying Jinan this morning. She knows Jiang Ruoning is our winter show lead model and said she’d consider it. They have history, so it should be fine.”
She’d been holding out the big gun!
Why not bring it out sooner!
No wonder they said an assistant running her legs off couldn’t match the boss’s one word.
Why make it hard for fellow workers?
Jiang Nuan then thought, “What if Jiang Ruoning says no?”
Shi Sui glanced at her sidelong, silent for two seconds, then sighed. “You tell her agent that being our lead model gives a shot at Jiaren December cover. Think her agent would agree?”
“Of course!” Jiang Nuan didn’t hesitate. “In her current situation, getting on Jiaren…”
She trailed off as it hit her.
Ying Jinan agrees because of Jiang Ruoning.
Jiang Ruoning does the winter show lead for the Jiaren cover.
Jiaren can’t refuse Jiang Ruoning and Ying Jinan together.
She rarely swore. “Damn, you’re pulling a white wolf with empty gloves!”
Shi Sui laughed helplessly. “How is it empty-handed? Doesn’t every side cost money?”
Jiang Nuan was choked but wanted to retort. “No—”
Something was off.
But she couldn’t argue!
Jiang Nuan took a deep breath. “Then I don’t need to do anything.”
Shi Sui had arranged everything crystal clear.
Shi Sui said, “How not? Like I said, the price talks are on you.”
Jiang Nuan: …
So that line was the trap.
She couldn’t help giving Shi Sui a thumbs-up. Shi Sui said, “Is the two o’clock contract ready?”
Jiang Nuan sobered up. “I’ll do it now.”
Shi Sui watched her leave the office, her gaze drifting unconsciously to her phone.
Two o’clock, sign the contract.
Jiang Ruoning should come to the company, right?
Jiang Ruoning definitely wanted to come, but her condition wouldn’t allow it. She couldn’t walk into the company with a crooked neck and kill the partner with laughter before signing.
Wu Jie had already been killed by laughter. “Wry neck? How did that… uh…”
The laughter she desperately held back nearly burst Jiang Ruoning’s eardrums.
Jiang Ruoning said, “Wu Jie, you can laugh.”
Wu Jie then burst out laughing heartily.
Jiang Ruoning hadn’t heard her laugh so boldly in ages.
It must really be hilarious.
She sighed, tried to turn her neck, yelped in pain with tears welling up. Wu Jie quickly said, “Hey, don’t move! I’ll send Miao Miao to your place. Sign the authorization letter. Don’t worry about the contract, but you absolutely can’t skip the next dinner.”
With Fengshang as a precedent, and fearing Less thought they were playing big names by ghosting once or twice, the next dinner was non-negotiable.
Jiang Ruoning got it. She said, “Don’t worry, Wu Jie. Next time, even if it’s pouring knives outside, I won’t hesitate.”
Wu Jie said, “Such a cheeky mouth.”
Her tone brimmed with delight for her model.
Jiang Ruoning’s neck hurt, but her mood was great. Soon Zhao Miaomiao arrived with the authorization letter. Seeing her, her eyes darted side to side, avoiding Jiang Ruoning’s gaze. Jiang Ruoning signed with her head down and said, “Laugh if you want; no one’s stopping you.”
Zhao Miaomiao clutched her stomach and laughed exaggeratedly.
Exaggerated enough to puzzle Jiang Ruoning.
Was a wry neck really that funny?
After sending Zhao Miaomiao off, she went back to the mirror. Head tilted, face twisted on the slightest move—like a monkey baring teeth and clawing in pain.
She snorted, immediately snapped a photo in the mirror, and sent it to Qin Zheng.
Qin Zheng was probably sleeping; no reply.
Jiang Ruoning sprawled on the sofa watching a movie when her phone buzzed. She grabbed it and saw her screen filled with Qin Zheng’s messages: [Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha]
No exaggeration.
It took over her entire screen.
Jiang Ruoning gnawed her fingernail, staring at the phone, imagining Qin Zheng doubled over in laughter.
She pursed her lips.
Ten minutes later.
Two o’clock.
Just before entering the conference room, Shi Sui suddenly got a message from Jiang Ruoning.
It was very prim: [Do you want to see a monkey?]
Shi Sui stared at the screen, suddenly recalling how Jiang Ruoning once asked her: [Shi Sui, do you want to see a glutton?]
[Glutton?]
[Watch me devour a watermelon slice in three seconds ]
In the video, Jiang Ruoning wolfed it down from end to end in one go. The slice vanished, and she looked up with a sweet smile at Shi Sui, lips still glossy with watermelon juice.
How could she be so cute?
“President Shi.” Jiang Nuan called her properly from behind. In front of Jiang Ruoning’s agent, she snapped into work mode, their relationship the strictest superior-subordinate.
Wu Jie couldn’t help glancing at Shi Sui again.
Shi Sui stood at the conference room door, eyes down on her phone. She wore her usual black-and-white classic: white blouse with black slim trousers, simple and generous. But with her slightly broad shoulders, it accentuated her slender waist and curves, her high heels stretching her legs to an imposing 1.8 meters. Standing beside her felt oppressive.
Especially.
She looked very serious.
Wu Jie had spotted Shi Sui when she got out of the car. She was surprised—Less valued this collaboration, but she hadn’t expected the general manager to personally come down to greet her.
It flattered her. The door had been open seconds before her assistant whispered to snap her out of it.
After greetings and pleasantries, she followed Jiang Nuan and Shi Sui upstairs.
In the elevator, the assistant kept her eyes forward, barely breathing, stealing glances at Shi Sui.
This made Wu Jie sneak several looks too.
What killer proportions.
If the time, place, and status fit, she might’ve pulled out a card: interested in modeling?
But she figured Shi Sui would suit print and T-stage— that cold, aloof, world-weary vibe was perfect.
Perfect to the point of giving chills.
Wu Jie, seasoned as she was, felt uneasy.
What had she done getting out of the car to displease President Shi?
Shi Sui wasn’t displeased.
She’d just assumed Jiang Ruoning would come along.
Then Wu Jie explained Jiang Ruoning wasn’t feeling well.
Before she could worry what was wrong, the message arrived.
See a monkey?
Was she at the zoo?
Wasn’t she unwell?
Shi Sui only replied once inside the conference room: [What monkey?]
Jiang Ruoning promptly sent a photo.
Shi Sui kept her composure.
This time, holding back laughter.
She lowered her eyes, finger to thin lips, closed her phone, picked up the nearby tea, and took a shallow sip.
Suppressing the urge to laugh.
Jiang Ruoning stared at her phone.
Three minutes…
Five minutes…
Ten minutes…
Wasn’t it funny?
It had to be. Qin Zheng’s grimacing emoji, the screen full of “hahas,” and Zhao Miaomiao holding back laughter even from a fart—it was hilarious.
She hugged her phone, doubting herself, when it vibrated. Jiang Ruoning’s eyes lit up as she looked closely.
It was a call from Qin Zheng.
She had changed.
She was prioritizing romance over friendship.
Before, she wouldn’t have felt this disappointed seeing Qin Zheng’s call.
Qin Zheng asked her, “Got a crick in your neck?”
She replied with a sullen face, “Yeah.”
Qin Zheng heard the wilted tone in her voice. “Does it hurt a lot?”
Jiang Ruoning said, “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Qin Zheng said, “Then why does your voice sound so listless?”
Jiang Ruoning said, “I just can’t figure it out.”
Qin Zheng was puzzled. “Huh?”
Looking at herself in the mirror, Qin Zheng said, “Was the photo I just sent you funny?”
There was two seconds of silence on the other end.
Qin Zheng hesitated, “Uh, a bit.”
She said it tactfully.
Jiang Ruoning said, “Then why didn’t she laugh?”
Qin Zheng was baffled. “What?”
Jiang Ruoning said, “I sent the photo to her, and she didn’t laugh.”
Qin Zheng caught on. “You mean, you sent the photo to the person you like?”
Jiang Ruoning: “Yeah, I thought it was really funny.”
Qin Zheng: …
Holy crap.
How did this girl even date before?
Everyone else hid their flaws, sending only the most perfectly edited, best-looking photos. But she sent her most ridiculous one?
Qin Zheng squeezed her eyes shut, still having to comfort her. “Maybe she was too embarrassed to laugh.”
Jiang Ruoning frowned. “What’s there to be embarrassed about laughing at?”
Qin Zheng took a deep breath. “To spare your feelings?”
Jiang Ruoning: “But I sent it to make her happy.”
She said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
So natural that it left Qin Zheng speechless.
The depth of Jiang Ruoning’s feelings for her was deeper than she had imagined.
But it had only been a few days.
Qin Zheng probed, “You like her that much?”
Jiang Ruoning hesitated for a moment before saying, “Actually, she likes me more.”
Qin Zheng doubted it from the sound of her words.
Seeing no response, Jiang Ruoning said, “Really, she’s been secretly in love with me for a long time.”
Qin Zheng: “Did she say that?”
Jiang Ruoning made a noncommittal sound, then after a long pause replied, “I guessed it.”
Qin Zheng: …
Qin Zheng’s silence probably stung Jiang Ruoning’s fragile self-esteem, and after hanging up, she started doubting herself too.
After all…
Shi Sui had never said she liked her.
She had even said she wanted to be friends.
But Shi Sui had paid so much attention to her before—watching her on the T-stage, her interviews, recognizing her voice with just one listen, eating ice cream she’d eaten from, saying such ambiguous things, doing such ambiguous things.
How could she have no feelings for her?
Jiang Ruoning bit her lip.
In that moment, she remembered a novel she’d read before, where the female lead and the other protagonist dragged out their emotional tug-of-war for so long.
Back then, she’d thought it was all so drawn-out and nagging—what couldn’t they just ask or say outright?
But now, she felt like the novel’s female lead herself, just staring at her phone, at the chat screen with Shi Sui.
The last message stopped at the photo she’d sent.
She scrolled through it a couple times.
Suddenly, the photo didn’t seem that funny anymore.
It even looked uglier the more she looked.
Annoyed, she poked at the photo, wishing she could chop off her hand—why had she sent it like that? And now she couldn’t even unsend it.
Jiang Ruoning’s expression soured.
The next second.
A new message popped up on her phone.
From Shi Sui: [What’s wrong with your neck?]
She hadn’t laughed.
Instead, she was concerned about what was wrong.
Jiang Ruoning’s bitten lip corner relaxed a bit.
Shi Sui sent another: [Sorry, I was in a meeting just now and couldn’t reply in time.]
Jiang Ruoning raised her brow, her lip finally releasing the indent. Her tongue tip brushed it, stinging with pain.
She put on an act: [It’s nothing big, just a crick in the neck.]
She was dishonest: [I’ve been busy until now too.]
Wow!
From now on, she would never complain about novels again!
She was way more melodramatic than those protagonists!
