10. Go to Repulse Bay
Chen Lier brought him risotto, a creamy mushroom risotto made with pearl rice, shiitake mushrooms and bacon. It was smooth and thick, and still warm to the touch.
She knew his taste well and knew that he might not even eat when he was busy, so she often prepared food for him. When he received the meal she carefully prepared, he would always stop what he was doing and eat it in front of her.
"Is it delicious?" Chen Lier liked watching him eat.
"Everything you prepare is delicious." Deng Shilang put down the spoon.
Chen Lier smiled with satisfaction, "Do you know what I like about you?"
"Watch me work."
"And eating." Deng Shilang chuckled after hearing her habit of being easily happy.
After finishing the meal and cleaning up, Chen Lier did not disturb him from working, but studied tomorrow's shooting plan by herself.
Deng Shilang received another email from Tracy. She confirmed with him that the cocktail party would be held in the Financial Conference Hall of HKEX, where Diamond Company would express its gratitude for the listing and celebrate the completion of the initial H-share issuance. She then listed a lot of information, such as the VIPs invited by Diamond Company must include the listing sponsor, advisory team and other financial elites. Now she needed a list from the exchange.
Deng Shilang mentioned earlier that the person attending the reception on the HKEX side has an important title and is enough to hold the scene together with the Chairman of the Securities and Futures Commission. Others do not have to be present. Both parties can follow up here and hand over the work, and go directly through the financial review and execution process.
Tracy understood that he meant his overtime was over. Since they were friends who had interacted many times before and even drank together at the bar after work, she simply skipped the email and went straight to WhatsApp to show her favor. Deng Shilang had just closed his laptop when he received her request for help, which was completely unbusinesslike, unlike the email.
【Tracy】: Although it’s very urgent, I have a personal request.
DChayden: Go ahead.
[Tracy]: There was a private gathering before the cocktail party. The European importer who was working with the diamond boss happened to be in Hong Kong, so they took the opportunity to socialize. They hired a model to wear the diamonds for promotional photos, and then held a party in Repulse Bay.
【DChayden】：What do you need me to do.
Tracy: Everyone knows you're a great bartender. I'd like to ask you to go mix cocktails at Repulse Bay this Saturday. I'd also like to ask if Li'er can spare some time to film the event. The importer originally wanted to bring their own people, but they couldn't come, so they contacted us.
Deng Shi read the rest of the sentence aloud, then stood up and found Chen Li'er on the sofa. He asked her to sit on him, put his arms around her from behind, showed her his phone screen, and said affirmatively, "I remember you're not free the day after tomorrow."
Chen Lier nodded and said politely, "Besides, I don't accept any unprepared shoots."
Deng Shilang, knowing her work ethic well, turned down Tracy's offer on her behalf. He wasn't busy on Saturdays, and bartending was a small matter; he could agree to her urgent request. As for the photographer, Tracy asked if there were any other options. He thought of Yao Ling, so he told her to ask Liang Litang, and he would do his best to help.
That night, Tracy found Yao Ling's Instagram account through various connections. As a last resort, she contacted this photographer, whom she had never met before.
Yao Ling had already heard about this from Liang Litang. She was still at Aunt Qiuping's house, with tiramisu bought from the supermarket in front of her.
Liang Litang ate a spoonful of cake nearby. Seeing Yao Ling reading a message, he encouraged her, "Promise her. Tracy usually doesn't ask for favors. If she does, there's no other way. Besides, you can earn some extra money, and it's money from Repulse Bay."
Yao Ling put herself in the other person's shoes. If Tracy's offer was acceptable and the workload was normal, she would accept the job, provided she was informed of the shoot requirements the night before and that she would only bring a camera and a laptop, no reflectors or flash. If that wasn't possible, there was no need to negotiate; she had every reason to refuse while on vacation.
Tracy received the quotation and conditions. Half an hour later, she gladly accepted it after getting approval from her boss. They thus reached a cooperation intention and could immediately send the shooting requirements to Yao Ling.
Before going to bed, Deng Shilang received a thank-you emoji from Cui Xi. He knew without hesitation that Yao Ling agreed.
It was Saturday morning, the sun was shining brightly and the traffic was very busy.
Yao Ling was carrying her things downstairs when she ran into Deng Shilang at the intersection. He was leaning against a car, holding a glass of iced Yuanyang. He was wearing sunglasses and a Penn grey hooded sweatshirt. The same pair of Air Jordans she had often seen him wear when she was in school were on his feet.
"What are you doing here?" Yao Ling stopped there and asked from a few meters away.
Deng Shilang came over, took her things and put them in the trunk, "Let's go to Repulse Bay." He opened the door for her, raised his chin, let her get in the car, and then walked around to the driver's seat.
Yao Ling sat down and saw him handing her a bag of Ovaltine. She took it as she always did, put a straw in it, took a deep sip, and then held it in her hand.
"How did you know I was going to Repulse Bay?" she asked, looking at the road ahead.
"Tracy is my friend. She approached my girlfriend to take a photo, but was rejected. Now she's looking for you."
Yao Ling laughed and joked to herself: "So I'm the backup."
"Whatever you think." Deng Shilang drove forward and passed the tunnel. If there was no traffic jam, he would reach Repulse Bay within half an hour.
The car drove to Repulse Bay and stopped in front of a villa according to the address shared by Tracy.
The shadows of the trees swayed, the water shimmered, and the outdoor swimming pool, clean as a leaf in winter, was swept clean. They arrived at the villa entrance and were led by someone, one to the bartending area while the other waited for the model in the living room.
Only then did Yao Ling realize that Deng Shilang came to Repulse Bay to help the VIPs there make cocktails.
At 10 a.m., model Valentina appeared in full makeup, wearing a pearly white halter dress, a shimmering diamond necklace and earrings, and spoke English with a thick Italian accent. Yao Ling spoke a few words in Italian to Valentina, who was pleasantly surprised and began to communicate in her native language, her camera performance becoming more fluid and natural.
Yao Ling took the model and her assistant to shoot outdoors, moving from the shade of the trees to the Repulse Bay Beach. She was basically outside the whole time and didn't return to the villa until two o'clock in the afternoon. But her work was not over yet. The VIPs were partying, and she had to find a quiet room to process the photos.
She was so busy that she was immersed in her work and only went downstairs when she was thirsty. When she entered the cocktail area, she happened to see Deng Shilang chatting and laughing with some people.
After a long, busy day, Valentina found Yao Ling at the door, smiling warmly and inviting her to play. She had already changed and brought a swimsuit, and invited her to the indoor heated pool to enjoy the view. The pool's single-sided glass faced outward, offering a spectacular view of the sunset and the shoreline of Repulse Bay.
Yao Ling closed her notebook and felt tired. She liked to balance work and rest, so she changed into her swimsuit in her room, not wanting to treat herself badly. She put on one of her own clothes and went to the bartender's area to get a drink. Seeing no one, she slowly walked to the pool.
It's called work, but in fact it's just the rich people in the rich area paying for them to go on vacation.
The scenery at around 5 or 6 in the evening is stunning. The setting sun over Repulse Bay, a rosy crimson, rests on the shore. Flocks of seabirds fly by, as if swiftly fleeing the sunset's broad arms. A DJ plays music, and a group of people sit by the window, playing with bubble rings and spraying each other with water guns. Others lounge side by side by the pool, drinking and chatting. The mingling of Chinese and foreigners creates a vibrant and vibrant sunset.
Yao Ling stood barefoot by the pool, arms folded, taking a sip of wine to try to warm herself. Not far away, Deng Shilang nimbly jumped into the pool and swam a lap. He swam to the edge very close to her, emerged from the water, and deftly brushed his wet hair. Then he saw her standing there.
"If you're afraid of the cold, come down." Deng Shilang said to her while lying by the pool. He always remembered that she was afraid of the cold.
Yao Ling stood on tiptoe to test the water's temperature. It was indeed constant, much more tolerable than a cold breeze. She undressed in front of him, revealing a simple bikini with black straps that accentuated her fair skin. With her straight shoulders and slender waist, she squatted down to place her wine glass, her breasts becoming even more alluring with the movement.
Yao Ling went into the water, and the water reached her chest. She didn't use a rubber band to tie her hair, so she just tied it with a bracelet. The ends of her hair were dripping slightly, and she turned her neck to the side and twisted it gently.
Valentina saw Yao Ling, threw a ball, and waved in the water: "Come and play games with us. Ask your friends to come too."
Yao Ling shook her head politely. She was too lazy to socialize. Seeing that she had someone to accompany her, Valentina let her go.
"She is my client." Yao Ling said to Deng Shilang while standing in the water.
"I know." Deng Shilang looked at her and asked, "Are you done?"
He was taller than her, and even in the water he was looking down at her. He had taken off his shirt, and his broad shoulders were so close to her that she couldn't help but think of how she used to cling to that spot and have him hold her when they made love.
"I'm done, what about you?"
"I cleared out half of the wine rack." Deng Shilang found it funny when he thought about what happened during the day.
Yao Ling said "oh", turned around and drank the wine.
Soon, a tall, blond, blue-eyed man approached Deng Shilang and asked him to play water polo. He didn't refuse and swam over with him. Valentina noticed Yao Ling was alone and enthusiastically invited her to join. The blond, blue-eyed man's name was Luca, and he was Valentina's romantic interest. They were a pair, so Yao Ling and Deng Shilang could play mixed doubles water polo.
Deng Shilang knew Yao Ling had no interest, but she came anyway, so he asked, "Do you know how to play?"
“I have.”
"Stand next to me." He smiled, "They will definitely stand one night. They just told me the rules. It's very chaotic. The two of us have to win."
"What if I lose?" Yao Ling had actually thought of the consequences.
Deng Shilang's voice was very calm: "We mess around."
He was a skilled player in high school, captain of the school team and a top-ranked player, even in water polo. He won the first few games. After she started at Milan, she also had freshman activities, which forced her to socialize and hang out with her classmates. Her skill level was average. The two of them, one in front and one behind, crushed the other team.
After Luca and Valentina lost, Deng Shilang and Yao Ling did not need to punish them. They played freely, passing wine mouth to mouth, and doing all kinds of tricks.
The night was cooling, the wind growing colder. Yao Ling sneezed unexpectedly, and a ball came flying towards her, but she missed it. They lost.
"Lose, lose." Luca whistled.
Deng Shilang admitted defeat, but still had to explain: "Rosalie was afraid of the cold, it wasn't a technical error."
Valentina swam over, handed her a glass of wine, and whispered gracefully to Yao Ling. Yao Ling frowned at first, then smiled helplessly, unable to say anything about their teasing.
Yao Ling was someone who would accept defeat. She held the glass of wine, walked towards Deng Shilang, and first declared, "Don't look."
Before Deng Shilang could react, she finished speaking and poured a whole glass of wine onto his chest. The wine flowed down, and she put her arms around his shoulders in front of the two people who had won a game, gently placed her fingers on his back, then lowered her head, stuck out her tongue, and licked the wine off him.
Her lips touched his chest muscles. The wine was ordinary champagne. The Giovanni scent on his body became very faint in the swimming pool. She licked it and sucked it from time to time. If they insisted on seeing her tongue swirling, then she would swirl it without any scruples.
Deng Shilang looked at her tied-up hair and felt her breasts being licked by her tongue, wet and warm. Her bikini straps slipped down, and he heard the booing and patted her back to stop them: "That's enough."
Yao Ling raised her head, and her gaze stopped at her moist lips. She asked, "Didn't you just listen to me? What are you looking at?"
"I heard it." Deng Shilang acted as if nothing had happened and continued, "Still playing? If not, go upstairs."
"I don't want to play anymore." Yao Ling ended the game with one sentence.
*
risotto: rice, stew
Kam: Awkward
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