Chapter 127

Zhou Sheng noticed that Chi Wanzhao was distracted at work today. She kept checking her watch, her expression solemn, as if weighing something important.

When he delivered documents to the president's office, he murmured, "President Chi, is something wrong?"

Chi Wanzhao looked up at him and shook her head. "It's nothing."

Zhou Sheng lingered by her desk, and after a moment, she said, "Find out which director HG is using for this ad campaign. Have Tong Yue send me the detailed materials for this shoot."

Zhou Sheng bowed his head. "Understood, President Chi." With that, he left the office.

Chi Wanzhao stared at her phone.

At noon, she called. Kong Xiyan's tone was as usual, telling her everything was going smoothly, but she remained uneasy.

If shooting an ad really was this smooth, what was Guan Xiaoying's game?

Could she have truly had a change of heart and arranged such a good resource for her?

Impossible.

There had to be a reason, and Xiyan just didn't want to say.

She knew her temperament well—if she could handle it herself, she would never want to trouble her.

But she—didn't mind being troubled.

Zhou Sheng soon found the information. He hurried into the president's office and announced, "President Chi, I found it."

"This is the detailed content of HG's ad this period."

"Also... the director team HG hired this time is Xinhui's Director Wei."

Chi Wanzhao stood up. "Who?"

Zhou Sheng lowered his head. "It's Wei Haoran."

Chi Wanzhao tilted her head at him, her gaze like sharp blades, each glance piercing Zhou Sheng and sending chills down his spine. He bowed his head with guilt. "I'm sorry, President Chi. This time it was my oversight."

After all, Director Yu had always been the collaborator with HG, never changing, until this year. Director Yu said he was going abroad and couldn't fit the schedule, so he specially recommended Director Wei to HG.

And he had actually overlooked this point.

After the new year, President Chi deliberately had Jiang Yuan take over many of his tasks. He understood that President Chi actually wanted him to watch over the missus, yet now such a big incident had happened right under his nose. He could hardly escape blame.

Chi Wanzhao furrowed her brows and no longer looked at Zhou Sheng, her tone icy as she said, "Prepare the car."

Zhou Sheng glanced at his watch. "But President Chi, we have a video conference at three."

Chi Wanzhao turned to him and said coldly, "Cancel it."

Seeing her rising anger, Zhou Sheng stopped arguing, bowed his head, and said gravely, "Yes, President Chi."

With that, Chi Wanzhao stood up. Just as she was about to leave the office, she thought of something and turned back to Zhou Sheng. "By the way, have Jiang Yuan contact President Wei. Tell him I'm very interested in that cooperation he proposed before."

"Have him come to the studio to discuss it."

Zhou Sheng nodded. "Understood."

Chi Wanzhao said, "Let's go."

She left the office without looking back, and Zhou Sheng made two phone calls in quick succession. By the time the two reached the ground floor, Lu Han had already driven the car to the company entrance.

March weather was gradually warming, the sunlight gentle, tender buds sprouting green, and an unknown floral fragrance drifting in the air.

Because this shoot's main setting was a school, they had rented a university in City B. Kong Xiyan left the studio and saw that the set had already been cleared of onlookers, with warning signs far off and a few security guards patrolling back and forth.

She searched the set and spotted Wei Haoran standing in front of the camera, speaking. His features were effeminate, exuding a softness. Maybe because she had preconceptions against him, everything about him seemed off.

But even if she disliked it, she couldn't change it.

She still had to negotiate with him. The clothes he'd had the stylist bring didn't fit this ad shoot at all.

Kong Xiyan stood there for a long time without moving, until Fu Qiu couldn't hold back and asked, "Sister Kong, should we go over?"

"Mm."

"Let's go."

Kong Xiyan replied calmly, her expression unchanged. She walked up to Wei Haoran and called, "Director Wei."

Wei Haoran pretended to just notice her, a smile on his lips, and said, "Miss Kong."

Then he slapped his own head and said without much sincerity, "Oh dear, look at me, my memory always fails. Shouldn't I call you Mrs. Chi now?"

"Right?"

He curled his lips, but there was no mirth in his eyes—only a cold glint.

Kong Xiyan met his gaze with a frank smile. "President Wei may address me however you wish. I'm here now to discuss the wardrobe for the ad."

"If I'm not mistaken, the theme of HG's ad is confidence, and before that, the image I'm supposed to portray is a female student lacking self-confidence."

"Director Wei, don't you think the clothes you had your stylist design are so revealing that they contradict the theme?"

Wei Haoran looked at her impatiently. "Is Mrs. Chi teaching me how to direct?"

Kong Xiyan: "I wouldn't dare."

Wei Haoran's smile faded. "If you know you wouldn't dare, why aren't you going to change? How I shoot is my business, and how I design is between me and HG. You just need to obey and act well—wear whatever you're told."

He then frowned and shouted across the set, "Stylist!!"

"Where the hell is the stylist?! No makeup, no wardrobe change—what's going on? Do you know what time it is? Do you all not want to wrap tonight?"

Kong Xiyan's face subtly darkened as she stood before him. Fu Qiu snapped at Wei Haoran, "Director Wei, what do you mean? Sister Kong is supposed to play a college student, not some bar hostess. These clothes—how are they any different from wearing nothing?"

Hearing her words, Wei Haoran sneered and stared hard at her. "What are you?"

"Who are you to tell me how to direct?"

"Clothes?"

"What's wrong with a little skin? If you don't want to wear these, then don't come out to shoot!"

He then glared at Fu Qiu. "If you don't understand art, shut up. Now, are you the director or am I? Birds of a feather flock together."

Fu Qiu ground her teeth in anger, glaring at Wei Haoran. "You!"

Kong Xiyan grabbed her wrist. "Enough."

Fu Qiu was still furious. "But Sister Kong, look at him!"

So arrogant!

Utterly contemptuous!

Fu Qiu was fuming, her eyes locked on Wei Haoran's face, wishing she could bore holes into it.

Wei Haoran, under her gaze, wore a mocking expression, not even bothering to look at Kong Xiyan, and merely said, "If you don't want to shoot, then leave. The set has no place for irrelevant personnel."

"Security!"

"Security!"

Kong Xiyan, facing the domineering Wei Haoran, gritted her teeth and said, "I'll shoot."

"Why wouldn't I? Having Director Wei personally direct is my honor—how could I refuse?"

Fu Qiu quickly grabbed her wrist. "Sister Kong!"

Kong Xiyan patted her hand and said to Fu Qiu, "Let's go. Time to change."

She narrowed her eyes, curled her lips, and a chill rose in her gaze.

Wei Haoran smiled. "Mrs. Chi is indeed wise."

Kong Xiyan didn't reply, simply turning to head back.

As she and Fu Qiu hadn't yet left the set, they saw Chai Yin emerge gracefully in full makeup. She wore a white sleeveless dress with a V-neck, revealing her fair, slender neck, adorned with a delicate chain that rested on her collarbone—exquisite.

The dress was fitted at the waist, making it look impossibly thin, with a ruffled hem embroidered with green accents at the edges, adding a touch of brilliance to the entire garment.

Chai Yin's temperament leaned cold, and with the meticulous makeup, it added a sense of distance.

She could only be admired from afar.

Not desecrated.

The crew on set all paused their work to look, except Kong Xiyan, who glanced briefly and looked away. Fu Qiu couldn't help muttering, "Hmph, not even half as pretty as Sister Kong. What a waste of such a nice dress!"

Kong Xiyan turned to her. "Let's go."

Fu Qiu looked at her worriedly. "Sister Kong, you're not really going to wear those clothes, are you?"

Kong Xiyan's bright eyes held a faint, cold gleam. "Of course not."

Fu Qiu nodded at that.

The two hadn't yet moved when nearby staff murmured, "Wow, really beautiful. But I wonder what Kong Xiyan will wear."

"You haven't heard? Her assistant just said she's wearing the bar girl outfit."

The two spoke right next to Fu Qiu, who glared at them before turning back to Wei Haoran. The man who had just sneered at them was now beaming like a blooming flower, all fawning.

What a repulsive sight!

Fu Qiu was so angry she couldn't hold it in. She stomped over to Wei Haoran and gritted out, "Director Wei, look at Miss Chai's outfit, then look at Sister Kong's. We're not asking for equal treatment, but at least they shouldn't be worlds apart. You..."

"Worlds apart?"

Wei Haoran pointed at her and laughed. "Hey, little assistant, have you ever heard the saying: clothes make the man?"

"You!"

Fu Qiu was so enraged her eyes bulged, and she couldn't even speak. Whispers surrounded them, along with malicious laughter.

"Well said."

Applause rang out from the scene. Everyone turned to see a woman standing cold and aloof under a tree, not far away. They could clearly see her lips pressed thin, her side profile tense, exuding an aura of icy chill.

She turned her head and said to the man beside her in a low voice, "Director Wei's words have enlightened me."

"Like people, like clothes."

"In that case, my wife, Chi Wanzhao, isn't worthy of Xinhui's clothes."

"Isn't that right, President Wei?"

Her tone was gentle, unhurried, yet it sent chills down everyone's spine.

Chi Wanzhao's gaze swept over every person on set. The vast set fell silent, everyone instinctively shrinking back. Even Wei Haoran, who had been arrogant moments before, couldn't help but look toward his brother.

Then his face paled.