Chapter 67: On Equal Ground
Facing Mu Qing's face as dark as ink, Hu Xin'er inexplicably shrank her neck, and then began to explain: "A contract is equivalent to an agreement. The artist is the model of our advertising company. After the contract officially takes effect, if there is a breach of contract, there will be a penalty."
Mu Qing understood that Erdong signed the contract with Hu Xiner most likely in order to get closer to him.
Once you become an artist in an advertising company, you will definitely have a lot of contact, and the previous agreement of not interfering with each other will naturally be broken.
He really didn't want to be involved in too much trouble, but out of support for Hu Xiner, he couldn't say much.
But his face looked really bad.
Hu Xin'er gently took his sleeve and said, "Mr. Mu, the contract has been signed. Once Erdong develops, you can step back."
Mu Qing nodded reluctantly: "Then I will guide his movements."
"Ah?" Hu Xin'er was stunned.
Mu Qing didn't explain much, but just looked at her stubbornly.
"No problem, no problem. We are all artists from the same company. We should help and learn from each other!" Hu Xiner began to feel inexplicably conflicted again.
She didn't want to see Mu Qing and Erdong get too upset, but if they got too close, she would feel a little jealous.
However, given how they usually interacted, Erdong wouldn't bully Mu Qing. Thinking about how they could become a perfect couple, and how their interactions would enrich the comics, her mood gradually brightened.
"To be fair, I want to sign one with you too!" After she figured it out, she took out another contract she had prepared long ago and explained, "These two contracts are exactly the same. As an artist, you and Erdong are on equal footing!"
Mu Qing refused to agree: "Since I am your husband, I must be superior to Gao Erdong."
"No, you have to distinguish between public and private matters." Hu Xiner tried to persuade Mu Qing again and finally got him to sign the contract.
"Boss Hu is so wise!" Erdong was very proud. Last night Mu Qing was still threatening and ordering him around, but today he could only swallow his anger and be on equal footing with him.
There really is always something that can defeat something else.
"Haha, it's just average." Hu Xiner said modestly.
Paper and ink were relatively expensive in that era, so Hu Xiner decided to test the waters by drawing short comics first, and then consider long comics and mass production.
In just one afternoon, the finished product is freshly baked.
Erdong deliberately hung around in front of Mu Qing for a long time, deliberately trying to irritate him. But when he got the whole comic, he couldn't laugh anymore...
In Hu Xiner's storybook, Mu Qing is a domineering and cool prince, while he is a shy guard who is raped by the prince?
What the hell is this? Watching the handsome, domineering prince pinning the muscular wolf-dog guard against the wall.
Erdong angrily argued with Hu Xin'er, "What the hell are you drawing? Isn't it said to be a passionate masterpiece with two male protagonists? And that it will become a town-wide hit once it's published?"
He shook the page in his hand. "When have I ever made such movements and expressions? It's simply disgusting!"
"This is called 'Danmei', and it is 'artistic processing'. Don't be angry first." Hu Xiner had anticipated such questioning. She spread the pages of the book on the table and began her own trickery.
Erdong turned away. He didn't want to see the comic book at all.
Hu Xin'er pointed to one of the pages and said, "Look, the characters in this picture don't really look like real people. It's just that you have a preconceived notion that it's you and Mu Qing."
Erdong couldn't accept this explanation at all: "But you clearly drew it based on us."
"Oh, no one would think you're the same person as the one on the screen," Hu Xin'er said frankly. "Your temperament is completely different. You wouldn't be able to do these expressions and movements. I made them all up myself. And it's different from a flyer. Everyone will think the paper mannequin is prettier. It won't affect your life at all."
"I don't mind that at all," Erdong said angrily. "Look at this scene, it's so illogical. How could the guard be so strong and overpowered by the prince?"
Hu Xin'er's face was filled with black lines. This had deviated from the main point...
She tried to explain the logic to Erdong: "But judging by status, the prince has an absolute advantage. Besides, everyone likes to see cute contrasts. A strong appearance with a little wolfdog inside is more attractive..."
"This is totally unrealistic. If you don't believe me, just look!" Erdong was eager to prove his strength to Hu Xiner. He happened to be wearing a tight-fitting, narrow-sleeved shirt today. He posed with one arm raised, and his developed biceps immediately burst the clothes.
Hu Xiner was stunned: Is this possible?
Erdong invited enthusiastically, "If you still don't believe me, you can touch it and feel the power! With muscles like this, no matter how domineering the prince is, the guards can overpower him. Come on, touch it!"
"Ah, this..." Hu Xin'er swallowed nervously, "Listen to me, this is not a question of strength."
Erdong was determined to overwhelm the prince today, and he posed in various ways to show off his muscles. In the end, Hu Xiner had no choice but to stretch out a finger and slowly approached his well-developed muscles with trembling hands.
Erdong's face was full of anticipation.
"What are you doing?" Mu Qing appeared at the door and happened to witness this strange scene.
He quickly stepped forward to block Hu Xiner. When he saw the comic on the table, he already understood most of it, because he was watching Hu Xiner the whole time while she was drawing.
But he couldn't help but feel jealous: "This guard is strong but has a simple mind. What's the use of his martial arts skills? I think it makes sense for him to be overwhelmed!"
"What are you…saying?" Erdong almost cursed at him, but luckily he held it back. "If this happened in real life, a pretty boy like the prince would never have the upper hand!"
"The prince won by his intelligence. He is the absolute hero. Have you ever seen a story where a reckless man is the protagonist?" Mu Qing retorted sharply.
"You said I'm a reckless man?" Erdong was furious. He obeyed Mu Qing's orders, but as a royal guard he also had dignity.
Mu Qing spread his hands innocently: "No, I'm just talking about the characters in the comics, don't take it personally."
"You are clearly making indirect accusations!" Erdong said, then suddenly remembered his identity and took a deep breath.
He was afraid that he would knock Mu Qing to the ground before he completed his mission of protecting Mu Qing.
"You're so emotional, and you still say you're not a reckless man?" Mu Qing laughed provocatively.
The two grown men were bickering like elementary school students, leaving Hu Xin'er speechless.
She had no choice but to secretly tell Erdong: "If this book sells well, I'll let you be the 'top' of the next one!"
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