Chapter 18 Group Photo of the Big Snow
Shi's father finally agreed to Shi Yin's request.
She attended the press conference.
Give her the opportunity to participate in the New Year project.
After that, Shi Qinghe's legs started to hurt again. The doctor rushed over, and everyone in the house gathered around her. Shi Yin stood at the entrance of the living room, looking expressionlessly at the couple who were extremely worried about their daughter, and then quietly left.
A north wind blew in the evening.
Shi Yin walked out the door, the cold wind blowing in her face. For her who was afraid of cold, every winter was not easy. She gathered her light-colored coat and dove into the wind.
There was a private tree-lined path leading from Shi's residence to the downtown area. Shi Yin walked along it without stopping. As she heard a car horn in the middle of the road, she also saw a large LED screen in the distance showing the work that Shi Qinghe had entered into a national fashion design competition two years ago, winning first prize and appearing on the cover of a Paris fashion magazine.
These design drafts are all from Meng Xi.
Shi Qinghe's assistant.
If you think about it, Meng Xi is half Shi Yin's senior. When she went to the United States as an exchange student, studying in the Design Department of University of Miami, she saw Meng Xi's hand-drawn sketches among the excellent works of the past. A person's style rarely changes drastically; even if they try to hide it, certain characteristics will still stand out.
Every piece Shi Qinghe releases bears the hallmarks of Meng Xi. Meng Xi is her lifeblood, providing her with a constant supply of design drafts. Anyone who wants to bring Shi Qinghe down must start with Meng Xi.
"Want to go downtown, little sister? It's only ten dollars."
A taxi drove over.
The driver greeted her warmly, trying to get her as a customer. Shi Yin shook her head and stayed where she was, about to send a message to her friend Mo Li when she heard a beep.
The sound of car horns came along with the headlights.
Shi Yin, thinking she was blocking the road, instinctively moved aside. Unexpectedly, the car drove straight toward her, stopping just ten centimeters from the road. The next second, the passenger window rolled down, and through it, Han Zhan's face, unmistakably, stared into Shi Yin's bewildered eyes.
She was stunned for a moment.
Han Zhan imitated the taxi driver's tone and said, "Let's go home, little sister. It's free. No charge."
Shi Yin: “…”
She descended the steps, opened the car door, and climbed into the passenger seat. The Cullinan pulled away from the street, weaving through the bustling metropolis. Han Zhan glanced at her as he drove, noticing her reddened ears and silently turning up the heat.
"Is the car I gave you difficult to drive?" he asked.
"very good."
"Am I a bad person?"
"No."
"The car is good, and the person who delivered it is good, so why not drive it?"
"..." Shi Yin raised her eyes and glanced at him, and said honestly: "I don't have any assets in my name, and I don't have much savings after just graduating. If I drive a Porsche Macan back to the Shi residence, my parents will know about my relationship with you."
"I see, it turns out I'm the one who can't stand it."
"That's not what I meant."
Han Zhan raised his eyebrows and pretended to be melancholy to tease her: "Han Xin, the real Han Xin is not to make a big fuss."
Shi Yin: “…”
Seeing her stumbling over her words and her hesitant manner, which looked rather pitiful, Han Zhan stopped teasing her. When they stopped at the intersection and waited for the red light, he reached into the back seat and grabbed an LV blanket, draping it over her legs. "You're afraid of the cold, so try not to go out as much in winter. The servants at Beishan Villa are all paid regularly. As the mistress of the house, you can just give orders directly. There's no need to do everything yourself."
Shi Yin said, "Today is the Big Snow solar term."
Han Zhan: "Any explanation?"
"Auspicious snow indicates a good harvest. Every year during the Big Snow solar term, our family will have a reunion dinner, which symbolizes good health for the family in the coming year. We also take a family photo. We didn't take one today because since my sister injured her leg, I haven't been in any family photos."
"Aren't you going home for a reunion dinner today?"
"Well, my dad asked me to attend a press conference to clarify rumors about my sister and maintain her image."
Han Zhan laughed out loud.
It seemed that this result had been anticipated.
The traffic light in the distance turned green, and he stepped on the accelerator to drive through the intersection. As he drove, Han Zhan once again tilted his head to look at the person beside him. The lights were off inside the car, only the neon lights from outside shone through. The afterglow of the light fell on her face, flickering, illuminating her small nose and the lonely look in her lowered eyes.
After driving a little further, Shi Yin realized this wasn't the way back to Beishan Villa when she saw the corner tower of the IFS shopping mall. She turned to look at the driver. Han Zhan said nothing, simply pulling into the IFS underground garage.
The two took the elevator upstairs.
Entered a restaurant.
This was one of the few high-end, membership-only Chinese restaurants in China, called Qinyuanchun. She had been there several times, on Shi Qinghe's tenth birthday, when she was admitted to Peking University, and when her work graced the cover of Paris Fashion Week. The Shi couple had reserved the entire restaurant and paid for every patron's bill, a truly lavish affair.
Therefore, the moment Shi Yin stepped into the restaurant, the receptionist recognized her. He quickly stepped forward and asked, "Miss Shi, did you come here to reserve a table and order food?"
Han Zhan frowned.
The manager, who was not far away, immediately ran over, kicked the receptionist away, and before his displeasure became apparent, he apologized first: "I'm sorry, Mr. Han, he doesn't know the rules. Your Zhaixing Pavilion private room will remain here. Should we still serve you the previous dishes?"
Han Zhan ignored the manager and asked Shi Yin, "Wife, what do you want to eat?"
"I'm fine with either."
"Okay." Han Zhan smiled and touched her head, then instructed the manager: "Serve the restaurant's signature dishes. Please invite the photographer into the private room so my wife and I can take a photo together to commemorate the Big Snow Festival."
"OK."
The manager breathed a sigh of relief after watching the distinguished guest enter the restaurant and walk away. He turned around and slapped his apprentice, scolding him, "How many lives do you have to live to offend Han Zhan?"
"Master, that person is from the Shi family. Isn't she here just to run errands for Miss Shi? Every time the Shi family comes, it brings several times more sales to the restaurant. I was so happy for a moment... I didn't know she would become Mr. Han's wife... Every time she came before, she always stood in the corner and couldn't even be in the photo..."
I haven't seen her for a while, and she has transformed into Mrs. Han.
-
Shi Yin was surprised to run into Han Zhan on the street. Entering the private room at Zhaixing Pavilion, the Chinese restaurant's professional photographer took a photo of the two of them. When the frame containing the photo was placed in her hand, she was even more stunned.
Shi Yin looked down at the photo.
Very well shot.
It combines portraits with the night view outside the window.
As she regained her composure, a Napoleon dessert cake was handed to her. The cool white porcelain plate touched her skin, and Shi Yin suddenly came back to her senses. Her almond-shaped eyes raised and met the man's obsidian eyes. Then she heard Han Zhan's gentle voice, like coaxing a child: "Wife, let's take photos together during the Big Snow solar term in the future. Auspicious snow indicates a good harvest. I wish us a harmonious relationship and a prosperous family in the coming year."
He still had his usual frivolous tone.
Smiling expression.
The smile in his eyes was so thick that it obscured his true charm, making it impossible to see through him or guess his inner thoughts. But this time, Shi Yin sensed that he was serious. He seemed to be genuinely treating her to dinner, taking photos, and imitating her words in an attempt to use a new life to turn over her unhappy past.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
