Chương 20: 20
This time, it was Jing Yao's turn to look at Luo Li with a complicated expression.
If she remembered correctly, Luo Li used to be inseparable from a girl in high school, but for some reason, the two eventually drifted apart.
Jing Yao's lips curled into a mischievous smile as she lowered her presence, stepping back to see what sparks might fly between these two.
"Ahem, it has been a long time," Luo Li nodded awkwardly, sensing that something was different about the person before her.
In the past, Tao Jinxin had been like an immortal descended to earth, always aloof and distant at school.
With her family background, academic achievements, talents, and looks, she was the epitome of perfection—graceful and unattainable. Wherever she went, she stood out as the most striking person in the crowd.
Someone like her didn't need to try to please anyone; people naturally flocked to her.
But now, she seemed... more approachable?
Meeting her here again, Luo Li couldn't quite put her finger on how she felt. Frustrated, she shook her head and said, "Let's just get started."
It was clear that Luo Li didn't want to engage in too much conversation. The makeup artists, stylists, and a whole entourage whisked Tao Jinxin away to the makeup room, leaving only a few people in the studio.
"You don't seem too thrilled to see our model…" Jing Yao remarked, approaching Luo Li, who was intently adjusting her equipment, her curiosity growing.
"Care to explain?"
After giving some instructions to the lighting technician, Luo Li unscrewed a bottle of orange juice and shot Jing Yao a look. "There's nothing to explain. It was nothing, to begin with."
Even Luo Li had lost herself in the tangled web of truths and lies, so how could she clearly explain it to someone else?
Back then, as a teenager, it was hard to tell whether their relationship was one of pure friendship or something more.
Looking back now, Luo Li found it amusing. Maybe it was just the whims of a spoiled rich girl.
Jing Yao didn't press further. She gazed at the set, designed to evoke the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena. Tao Jinxin did seem like the perfect choice for the role.
"It was my mistake to drag you into this," Jing Yao admitted, realizing she hadn't considered who the model might be before roping Luo Li in. "Do you think your boss will hold a grudge against me?"
Luo Li wasn't in the mood to entertain her, so she focused on adjusting her camera.
When Tao Jinxin returned, Luo Li could feel the intense gaze directed at her, impossible to ignore.
She slowly focused her lens, capturing the blonde woman before her.
Her sharp, refined features exuded elegance and grace, with a mysterious air of authority. Those heterochromatic eyes seemed alive, a mesmerizing whirlpool drawing others in.
The owl, Athena's sacred animal, stood by her side, both guarding the temple of wisdom.
The portrayal of power and beauty, as well as the disdain for the gods, was perfectly conveyed.
—Athena's wisdom seemed to see through everything, leaving her unbound by anyone or anything.
For some reason, this thought suddenly popped into Luo Li's mind.
"Good, now slowly lift your head and hold that pose," Luo Li's voice carried a hint of excitement as she focused on the shot.
Jing Yao, watching from the side, stifled a laugh. Ah, the excitement of an artist satisfied with their work—but for the person on the other side of the lens, it might not be seen the same way.
The morning shoot went smoothly, and once Tao Jinxin had changed out of her costume, she immediately invited Luo Li to lunch.
Although Luo Li was hesitant, Tao Jinxin skillfully invited the entire crew, making it hard for her to refuse without seeming overly sensitive.
Luo Li sighed internally—she never thought she'd end up worrying about social niceties like this.
She finally checked her phone, which she hadn't looked at all morning, and her eyes lit up, her lips curling into a smile.
Of course, Tao Jinxin, walking beside her, noticed this.
"Who are you texting that's making you so happy?" Tao Jinxin's pleasant voice held a hint of curiosity.
Tao Jinxin remembered that Luo Li didn't have any friends she wasn't familiar with. Though she wasn't close with them, she knew all about Luo Li's social circle.
But now, she was right beside her, and yet Luo Li was texting someone else.
Who could it be?
Luo Li's pinned contact still had the same note, and she figured she might as well keep it, considering no one knew about it.
The person on the other end was inviting her out, using the excuse of thanking her for her help a few days ago.
Luo Li guessed that Lu Cixue had probably done extensive research on date planning, meticulously laying out a schedule with precise times and locations.
She couldn't help but think that this was classic Director Lu, turning even a date into a well-organized plan.
Then again, maybe the cat didn't even realize this was a date.
[If you're busy, we can do this another time.] The last message was thoughtfully giving her an out.
But Luo Li felt she absolutely had to make time for this—how could she possibly decline after all the effort Lu Cixue had put into it?
[I'm free! Don't even think about not taking me.]
(Pouting and rolling around.jpg)
The cat on the other end, satisfied with the response, thought back to what she had browsed last night.
The ways humans deepen their relationships were quite bold.
Sitting in a dimly lit movie theater, sneaking a kiss in a couple's seat, traveling together and naturally sharing a bed, which would then lead to… some even suggested adding some "spice" to the experience.
The cat had immediately turned off her phone, blushing from her ears down to her porcelain cheeks.
Did she search the wrong way? She just wanted to find ways to strengthen their bond while traveling together.
But it seemed this useless "brick" of a phone had completely misunderstood their relationship.
Luo Li pocketed her phone with an indifferent expression, the brim of her hat casting a shadow over her face, making her look almost wary.
"We haven't seen each other in so long, but you're so distant," the woman observed, swiftly changing the topic when she saw Luo Li wasn't interested in answering.
Distant? Luo Li thought back to high school when she was the one constantly chattering, trying to start conversations while the other person remained aloof.
"No, you're overthinking it," Luo Li said as she pressed the elevator button. "Why did you come back?"
Having been abroad for several years, Luo Li wasn't well-informed about the industry and had no idea what Tao Jinxin had been up to.
It seemed like after they drifted apart in high school, their contact became sparse and distant.
Meeting her today was truly a strange occurrence.
"After traveling around so much, I realized there's no place like home," Tao Jinxin said, her words carrying a deeper meaning. With her face mostly hidden behind dark sunglasses, her red lips curled up slightly. "I've met many people, but I've realized the outside world isn't that interesting after all."
Luo Li raised an eyebrow, surprised to hear such words from Tao Jinxin.
Though she had always seemed above the mundane world, this was the same person who had fiercely fought with her family to leave for another city, choosing to attend H University over the prestigious A University because of a long-distance boyfriend.
It was almost funny—Luo Li hadn't even known Tao Jinxin had a boyfriend until she heard it from her parents after she left.
Everyone else had gathered in another private room, but Tao Jinxin led Luo Li to a separate one.
Luo Li couldn't understand what this person was up to.
But whatever, if someone was offering a meal, why not take it?
"And you?" Tao Jinxin suddenly asked.
Luo Li looked at her, puzzled.
"How have you been lately?" Tao Jinxin asked, taking off her long coat and resting her chin on her hand as she looked at her. "How's your career, love life, and everything else going?"
"I'm doing great. As long as I'm happy, that's all that matters," Luo Li replied, not wanting to engage too much. This felt like she was being interrogated by a superior.
"Is that so…" Tao Jinxin murmured, picking up a glass of water.
"Actually, I arranged today's shoot just so I could see you."
"Oh, is that right." Luo Li wasn't surprised—she had suspected as much when she first saw Tao Jinxin.
With the resources of the Tao family at her disposal, it would've been easy for Miss Tao to change the photographer.
But even with Tao Jinxin's deliberate attempts to reconnect, Luo Li felt nothing.
"Luo Luo," the woman across from her looked at her with a trace of helplessness, seeing through her pretense. "You know what I mean."
"I came back because I wanted to see you."
"And you don't have a girlfriend—I know that."
During their youth, Luo Li was always by Tao Jinxin's side. Their parents were friends, their backgrounds similar, and both were attractive, but their personalities were worlds apart.
Their classmates used to joke that they always looked like a princess and her knight.
The noble princess was confident as she spoke, feeling certain she knew the person across from her well enough.
No one knew her better.
Luo Li quietly put down her fork.
So that was it. This person must have had a screw loose to suddenly return.
"It's true that I don't have a girlfriend," Luo Li said slowly, reaching for her phone to see if there were any new messages.
"But I do like someone."
Tao Jinxin fell silent, though she didn't seem hurt. The slight curve of her lips suggested her mood hadn't been affected.
The woman's eyes half-closed, her demeanor lazy and nonchalant.
Just someone she liked—so they weren't together yet, right?
Luo Li couldn't be pushed. The more you pushed her, the more she'd push back.
It would take time.
She was curious, though—who could possibly have captured Luo Li's heart?
The afternoon shoot went just as smoothly, and Luo Li had to admit that Tao Jinxin's ability to express herself was impressive.
And the model didn't seem to care about the attention she was getting from the crew.
After the shoot, she didn't even change out of her outfit before asking for Luo Li's contact information.
Ha, didn't this person want to sever all ties when she left?
"My parents also mentioned they'd like to see you again. I told them I'd bring you over sometime."
How annoying, this woman is truly annoying.
Their parents didn't know anything about their interactions, and there was no need to trouble them with such things.
Luo Li handed over her phone, and Tao Jinxin's eyes flashed with a sly glint as she quickly scanned the code.
By the time she left the studio, it was already dark, but the city was still bustling.
Jing Yao had long since abandoned her, off to spend time with Ji Qiubai.
Tao Jinxin had offered to drive her home, but Luo Li wouldn't let her.
She felt that Tao Jinxin had no sense of discretion as a public figure.
After grabbing a quick meal at a nearby restaurant, Luo Li leisurely drove back to her apartment complex.
But before she could get there, she spotted a familiar black Bugatti in the distance.
The person who stepped out of the car walked over to her in disbelief, holding up a phone screen that displayed the trending page of some social media platform.
"Luo Luo, you're in trouble," Jing Yao said sympathetically, watching Luo Li check her phone. "Your quest to win her over is about to get a lot more complicated."
#TaoJinxinArtistAndMuse#
The hashtag was quickly climbing the ranks.
Tao Jinxin's post featured behind-the-scenes shots from today's shoot, and in each of the nine pictures, Luo Li appeared.
Although her face wasn't fully shown, the shots captured them inspecting the photos together, chatting, and walking side by side.
The caption read: Long time no see, my mate.
Two beautiful people together, with a caption that could be interpreted in many ways—it immediately caught everyone's attention.
[Learning a new word today: mate—friend; partner; lover]
[Long time no see, Xixi darling.]
[Honey, you...]
[Okay, got it. Whether you're besties or partners, let's all just live happily ever after.]
…
What are these people even saying? Are these netizens really that desperate for gossip?
"Qiubai said she's working late at the office." Jing Yao figured Luo Li should be grateful—she had shamelessly asked about Ji Qiubai's schedule and learned that Lu Cixue was also at work.
"Do you think your boss has seen this yet?"
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