Chapter 7

Chapter 7

“You…”

Xing Ye’s face darkened. He didn’t say the rest for a long time. The knuckles gripping the signing pen tightened, as if he could execute the innocent pen on the spot the next second.

The tissue had childish cartoon smiling faces printed on it. The wide grins seemed to be mocking his self-indulgent assumption.

Pei Chuzhi wasn’t stupid; seeing this situation, she immediately understood.

She quickly withdrew her hand, threw the mockery-max tissues into her small handbag, and glanced inside, tragically discovering there wasn’t any paper suitable for signing.

The air around them grew colder and colder. Even the driver in front shivered for some reason.

With a “snap,” Xing Ye threw the signing pen back into the storage compartment.

Then he closed his eyes and pretended to sleep.

Or rather, he clearly didn’t want to talk to her anymore.

Pei Chuzhi stiffened her neck and stayed quiet for a while before daring to secretly turn her head to look at him.

Xing Ye’s eyelashes were long. With his eyes closed, the aggressiveness of his sharp features softened somewhat.

Just looking like this, he resembled an ordinary but especially handsome boy.

Unfortunately, his brows were furrowed—obviously unhappy.

Boy…

Pei Chuzhi silently repeated the word in her heart, realizing Xing Ye was only two years older than her.

In a sense, he wasn’t much different from the boys she knew at school—at the age of “the head can be cut off, blood can flow, but face cannot be lost.”

Alright.

Although Pei Chuzhi found it a bit amusing, she decided not to let things become completely awkward.

“Xing Ye, Xing Ye…”

She lowered her volume, truly like waking him, her voice soft and alluring.

Xing Ye lifted his eyelids, his eyes full of irritation after being “defied.”

Pei Chuzhi leaned a little closer, smiling brightly. “Sorry.”

Xing Ye said nothing.

He was quite hard to soothe.

Pei Chuzhi thought for a moment, covered her lips with her hand, and lowered her voice further. “And thank you for inviting me today. Not just this… also including… you know. I really should thank you.”

Xing Ye glanced at her coldly, and the crease between his brows deepened.

The V-neck of her dress was very low. Sitting properly didn’t show much, but now her posture shifted slightly, and with the seatbelt pressing across her chest, a large stretch of skin, white as tofu, seemed ready to spill out.

It was dazzling, and irritating.

“No need to thank me.”

Xing Ye averted his gaze, the corner of his mouth lifting in a mischievous smile. “Just think of it as me doing a good deed—targeted poverty alleviation.”

·

There was no conversation for the rest of the ride.

The car arrived at the ribbon-cutting location, and the driver got out to open the door for Xing Ye.

His face was expressionless. He lowered his eyes, buttoned his suit, and stepped out with long legs.

Just when Pei Chuzhi thought he was still angry, he walked around to the other side, opened the door, and extended his hand to her.

Xing Ye’s palm was large and strong. After holding her fair fingertips, it gave a sense that she could confidently entrust everything to his support.

The moment Pei Chuzhi stepped onto the ground, he bent slightly and whispered a reminder in her ear.

“Don’t mess it up.”

Pei Chuzhi smiled brightly and returned him a “I understand” look.

The event planner waiting outside couldn’t help exchanging glances with others at the sight.

Xing Ye was their newly signed spokesperson this year, so it was normal for him to attend the ribbon-cutting of Yancheng’s largest 4S flagship store.

But Pei Chuzhi was just a passerby they could forget after filming the commercial. Although she performed brilliantly in the ad, she had only done her job well, and they never expected further interaction.

Yesterday, when Xing Ye’s company notified them that Pei Chuzhi would be invited to attend, the planner only thought “having one more pretty girl isn’t a loss.” But when the two arrived today, their physical contact carried an unmistakable ambiguous atmosphere.

The planner couldn’t help thinking of the trending topic from a few days ago. She vaguely suspected she had grasped the truth.

Unfortunately, the people beside her were all brand executives, including a foreigner, whose minds weren’t on gossip about young men and women.

She had a heart eager to chat but nowhere to place it.

Before the ribbon-cutting ceremony began, there was half an hour of preparation time.

As spokesperson, Xing Ye needed to accept media interviews, while Pei Chuzhi was invited backstage.

The stylist came in and looked at her outfit. “Looks good, no problem, but the hair can be adjusted a bit.”

Pei Chuzhi: “Thank you.”

“No need to be polite. Teacher Xing has his own styling team. I was worried I’d get paid for nothing.”

The stylist was a straightforward girl. After plugging in the curling iron, she observed Pei Chuzhi’s makeup in the mirror. “I’m so happy you came today. The ad you two shot was amazing. I haven’t seen such a well-matched pair in an ad for a long time. It’d be great if there were a sequel.”

Pei Chuzhi raised her eyes, thinking this stylist should get to know Qiao Na.

After a moment’s thought, she hinted meaningfully, “Don’t joke. That’s Xing Ye, an award-winning actor.”

The stylist wrapped her hair ends around the curling iron. “What’s that? We face-lovers shipping CP never care about these things!”

“…”

“…”

They looked at each other awkwardly for a few seconds.

The stylist cleared her throat, probably thinking since she had already said it, there was nothing to be embarrassed about.

After all, in the eyes of people close to the entertainment industry, eighteenth-tier artists weren’t considered serious stars; joking privately was fine.

“Seriously, I heard this model sells very well. If I were the brand, I’d definitely shoot a new ad.”

The stylist winked at Pei Chuzhi. “Is your company reliable? Can they fight for you to be the female lead in another ad?”

It was indeed very reliable.

They had even secured the girlfriend position.

“Depends on arrangements.”

Pei Chuzhi stopped there, wondering whether to tell Xing Ye later that their CP career already had a mass base.

·

After finishing her hairstyle and waiting a while, someone came to take her outside for the ribbon-cutting.

As she neared the entrance, Xing Ye, having finished interviews, approached from the other side with brand executives.

At formal events, everyone wore suits, looking like proper but slightly dull elites.

Only Xing Ye still had that relaxed expression, incredibly cool.

His figure was excellent. Walking beside several executives with out-of-shape bodies, he made the suit look different.

The two got closer.

Xing Ye’s steps gradually slowed.

He fixed his gaze on Pei Chuzhi, his eyes slightly darkening.

Her newly curled hair was natural and fluffy. The slightly curled ends fell onto her thin, fair shoulders, brushing across her delicate collarbones.

The waist of the dress was cinched extremely tight, clinging to the edge of her skin, further accentuating the curves of her figure.

As she walked, the wide skirt swayed gently, like a budding flower quietly blooming.

It was Pei Chuzhi’s first time attending such an event, yet she showed no timidity. Her thin high heels stepped steadily. After walking over, she generously greeted the brand executives. Amid either polite or sincere praise, she smiled, then stood beside Xing Ye, a hint of charm at the corner of her eyes, looking at him with a bright smile.

Xing Ye laughed softly.

The unpleasantness caused by the autograph quietly dissipated.

When the group reached the store entrance, the reporters outside were even more surprised.

Some of them had done their homework and immediately recognized Pei Chuzhi as the female lead in the commercial.

The tension the two displayed on camera could still be attributed to editing.

But the scene before them looked even more pleasing than the advertisement.

Xing Ye’s outstanding appearance was already widely acknowledged. Combined with his well-proportioned muscular build, every movement carried a strong aura when facing the public.

Although not said openly, many actors privately feared taking photos with him.

They weren’t bad-looking themselves, but standing beside him somehow made them seem weaker.

At this moment, the surrounding executives almost automatically became human backdrops.

Only Pei Chuzhi, bright-eyed and white-toothed, stood beside Xing Ye without losing even a fraction of his dazzling star-like brilliance.

One reporter rubbed his chin and muttered, “Where did this Pei Chuzhi come from? With such good conditions, how is she not famous yet?”

Pei Chuzhi was completely unaware of the reporters’ reactions. She never forgot her task, tilting her head toward Xing Ye at the right moment, always wearing a smile that easily invited speculation.

But when it came time for the ribbon cutting, her smile stiffened for a second.

The scissors handed by the etiquette lady were somehow a bit dull. Stuck in the red ribbon, she faintly felt strain in her right hand.

She wasn’t particularly strong, and seeing others around her nearly finished, she panicked slightly.

After all, it was a public commercial event. She didn’t want to affect the process over this small issue.

Just as she silently struggled with the scissors, a distinct-boned hand covered hers.

Their warmth silently overlapped, conveying a hint of warmth in the autumn wind.

An inch, then another inch.

The red ribbon made a faint tearing sound, separating bit by bit before their fingertips.

At the moment it was fully cut, Pei Chuzhi let out a breath. When she looked up, genuine laughter rippled in her eyes. “Thank you.”

Xing Ye took the scissors from her hand and returned them to the etiquette lady.

When he turned back, he first sighed, his gaze carrying helplessness, as if she almost made a mistake due to inexperience.

Yet when he spoke, his voice seemed tinged with a smile: “Such a small matter—what were you panicking for?”