Chapter 25 Filming with Him
If you refuse at this point, it will look like you're playing hard to get.
When Xia Li agreed, her original intention was simply to complete the task. Taking photos of anyone was fine, and corporate portraits were even simpler. Just set up the backdrop, turn on the lights, and you wouldn't even need to adjust the parameters much. One photo after another would be taken in no time.
They're not like models or minor celebrities, who are picky and demanding, constantly touching up their makeup or complaining about certain angles. Even though they're already very thin, they still struggle internally and have recently gained a pound.
The next day, after accompanying Ji Ling to the location and completing the preparations, just as a shooting session was about to end, the cold white light on the screen was suddenly interrupted by shadows, and as the camera moved up, a familiar face appeared.
Her breathing stopped, she could barely catch her breath, and her fingers suddenly froze in mid-air.
The man, dressed in a dark suit, looked exceptionally noble. His cold, sharp features, magnified by the camera, were so perfect that it was impossible to look away.
She had no idea beforehand. She didn't expect Ji Ling to be there, and that she wanted to take a picture of him.
It's hardly a photo shoot; it's more like an assembly line process. Once one is finished, the next one moves on, and nothing else is needed.
The knuckles that pressed the shutter button were sweaty from the heat, leaving a faint fingerprint on the small button.
Xia Li pressed the button gently, producing a crisp sound. The moment the screen lit up, she couldn't help but stare at that familiar face and take a half step back.
At this moment, Ji Ling tilted his head slightly, still looking calm and composed. The difference was that there was a faint smile in his eyes, which was captured at that moment, and the camera left a small mark on it.
Xia Li noticed a few streaks of light refracted from the reflector on the ends of his hair, so she shifted her gaze from the screen to Ji Ling, who was standing calmly in front of the camera not far away. Coincidentally, Ji Ling was also looking at her at that moment. In the instant their eyes met, the words she wanted to say got stuck in her throat, and she couldn't utter a single word.
Whether it was because Ji Ling was embarrassed or because something else was on her mind, she turned her head away shyly, a blush spreading across her ears.
If it were social distancing, these subtle changes would probably not be noticeable, but they happened to appear in the viewfinder, which surprised Xia Li.
Xia Li raised an eyebrow slightly, her gesture meeting Ji Ling's meaningful gaze.
She gently pointed to her forehead and told Ji Ling, "My hair is a little messy."
Actually, the hair wasn't messy; what was messy was the gaze that met when we looked at each other, and the strong, constantly beating hearts.
After understanding, Ji Ling ran her long, slender fingers over the ends of her hair, but she went in the wrong direction, messing up her originally meticulous hairstyle and making it look messy, less ascetic and more wild.
Xia Li quickly stopped him and called out from a short distance, "The other side."
Ji Ling, somewhat impatient, brushed it away to the other side.
It's a complete mess.
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Xia Li gently rubbed her forehead and sighed softly. It was fortunate that Ji Ling was the last one; if he had been stuck in the middle, who knows how much time would have been wasted.
She walked quickly toward Ji Ling, her heart still pounding, making her steps a little unsteady. Fortunately, it wasn't obvious; only she knew that she had lost her footing.
"You..." She leaned close to Ji Ling's face, but swallowed her words.
Being so close, the aggression and oppression emanating from the man before her was incomparable to anything she saw on screen; beneath his gentle, watery eyes surged a turbulent storm.
Just as Xia Li was about to take out a mirror for Ji Ling to tidy up, Ji Ling spoke, his clear and cold voice coming as if right next to her ear, extremely close, as if they were talking in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"You help me, I can't do it right."
She rarely saw Ji Ling so direct; their interactions were mostly tentative. Just as she touched the edge of his circle, she worried that her actions might displease him, so she awkwardly withdrew her boldly extended reach, burying it deep in her heart.
Seeing that Xia Li remained silent, Ji Ling glanced at her directly, narrowed his eyes slightly, and whispered, "What's wrong?"
After regaining her senses, Xia Li waved her hand and quickly explained, "It's nothing, it's nothing."
Ji Ling's gaze remained fixed on her, constantly scrutinizing her face.
The subtle change seemed to see right through her: "Didn't you say your hair was messy? I asked you for help, but you didn't."
They provoke you and then refuse to take responsibility...
Xia Li didn't think much of it, nor did she understand the underlying meaning in his words. She just felt something was off; judging from Ji Ling's description, it seemed like the problem was on her side.
She didn't think much of it, but instead raised her hand and gently stroked Ji Ling's slightly messy hair, which was mostly messed up by Ji Ling herself. Her movements were gentle and natural, as if they came from instinct.
A faint, sweet fragrance wafted to her nose, lingering around her. She couldn't help but think that it was April, the season when pomelo blossoms were in bloom. Had Ji Ling gone to the pomelo orchard? Otherwise, why could she smell that familiar fragrance every time she got close, like a poison mixed with honey, tempting her to fall deeper and deeper into its allure?
Their breaths mingled, so close they were almost intimate, and the air was thick with a heart-pounding emotion, as if time itself had stood still.
The moment her fingertips touched the strands of hair, Xia Li didn't feel anything was amiss. Everything was done in a businesslike manner. Only after she finished did she realize her lapse in composure. She deliberately distanced herself, averting her gaze from Ji Ling, and said softly, "It's done."
Ji Ling's dark, almost greenish pupils reflected her flustered appearance. A faint smile unconsciously curved his lips, only to vanish in an instant. He replied, "Let's go film."
Xia Li nodded and returned to the camera.
The moment the lights came on, accompanied by a crisp "click" from the camera, it was like a heartbeat that had been missed.
Ji Ling looked up, his gaze passing through the lens and striking her eyes directly. In that moment, only the two of them remained in the world, and the surrounding noise was shut out.
The air was thick with heated, almost scathing exchanges, as if a gentle touch could ignite a spark of intimacy.
The last photo was taken for him.
The last photo was brought by him.
Xia Li originally planned to leave after the shoot to go back and do some simple photo editing.
Ji Ling came over and helped her pack her things, casually mentioning, "Come to my office to edit the photos later."
It was another tone that brooked no refusal.
She didn't want to compete; it didn't matter where she got it repaired. Unfortunately, she hadn't brought her computer and was afraid she wouldn't be able to go. So she lowered her eyes and replied with a look of regret, "I only brought my camera; I don't have a computer, so I'm afraid it won't work."
Ji Ling didn't see anything wrong with it: "Use mine."
Xia Li was a little confused. After all, it involved privacy, so it might not be safe. She was about to refuse when she thought that Ji Ling might be lending her a work computer, so she didn't say anything more. Instead, she nodded and followed Ji Ling into the elevator to go to other floors.
Ji Ling has recently taken to holding her hand and doing anything together, no matter the occasion.
At that moment, his strong hand came up again, holding her slightly cool knuckles, the movement so natural as if he had practiced it a thousand times.
Xia Li froze, her eyelashes trembling slightly as she looked up, her eyes filled with helplessness. She tried to move her fingers, but they were gripped even tighter.
The man remained calm, seemingly unaware of anything wrong with it, as if the touch and connection between palms was as ordinary as breathing, nothing to be mentioned.
The dark gray carpet swallowed the sound of shoes rubbing against the floor. Xia Li followed Ji Ling to the office and casually put the door handle on.
Ji Ling's office had a designated rest area. She saw his knuckles pressing on the dark-patterned wall panel on the left, the wooden door slowly sliding open, and finally stopping in the lounge behind the door.
"The computer is on the table," Ji Ling said, pointing to the desk next to the French windows.
Xia Li nodded in response, picked up her camera, and walked inside. Her gaze didn't wander around, but went straight to the desk, and she casually asked, "What's the password?"
Ji Ling replied, "There is no password."
Xia Li nodded in agreement.
She herself doesn't have the habit of setting passwords, but that doesn't apply to everyone. For example, Ji Ling, in her opinion, is a very meticulous person who does things meticulously.
From this perspective, since Ji Ling isn't worried, I have nothing to worry about either. I can use it without worry. I'll handle things officially; she doesn't have the habit of prying into other people's privacy unless she sees it unintentionally.
After all, everyone has a desire to explore the unknown. Taboos and the urge to explore drive us to take the next step.
So after exporting the photos and doing some simple processing, she found a strange folder on the screen.
To reiterate, she genuinely doesn't have a habit of prying into other people's privacy unless it's an accident, and the name of this folder is simply too suggestive.
Her first thought was the He family, her father.
He couldn't really be considered her father, since she had always referred to him as "Mr. He" since she was a child.
Suddenly remembering the "equivalent exchange" that Xia Qingqing had mentioned during their last meeting, she picked up the USB drive she was carrying. She held it between her fingers for a moment, then sighed and gently placed it on the table beside her with a click. It was exceptionally small.
As for the public opinion surrounding it, she already knew who ultimately quelled it.
That person wasn't good with words, but he was willing to help her. Their relationship wasn't ideal. She still owed him an "I'm sorry" that was eight years overdue, and a "thank you" that was somewhat necessary at the moment.
If given the chance, she would like to find a free afternoon, when they both have enough time and are in the right mood, so that they can sit together in the small pavilion in the courtyard. She would like to solemnly say the words she has always wanted to say.
Thank you, Ji Ling.
After finishing her work, Xia Li was about to shut down her computer and leave when her knuckles accidentally touched the keyboard and opened the file.
A dense mass of black text, marked with colorful annotations, and neatly arranged photos flooded her eyes.
She wanted to pretend she didn't see it, but she couldn't help but care.
The contents of the first page were indeed as she had expected, related to the He family, and consisted of some less-than-glorious aspects of their lives. It seemed that this was the kind of information Xia Qingqing wanted.
She glanced at the USB drive she had casually placed on the desk, but didn't pick it up. Instead, she silently scrolled through the mouse, and as if possessed, continued looking at the computer screen...
And I also inadvertently witnessed the Ho family's collusion with others to embezzle money.
She suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest and a ringing in her ears.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
