Chapter 52: Chapter 52 - 52 Look at me like this 052

Chapter 52: Look at me like this, 052 Chapter 52: Look at me like this, 052 “Yes, yes, yes.” Zhao Qiansun’s attitude took a 180-degree turn. He carefully put away the documents while eyeing Fu Han up and down: “Miss Fu, so young and yet so extraordinarily talented. Our original intention was merely to dampen your edge a bit, but it seems the flood has washed over the Dragon King Temple.”

MORE: As Fu Han listened, something felt increasingly amiss. This was clearly a case of fighting fire with fire. Someone had used some method to prevent her from entering the finals, and now, He Xing had used the same method to help her advance. And from the way He Xing was acting, it was clear he was pressuring Zhao Qiansun to ensure she would hold the champion title.

She couldn’t just stand by and let this happen. She stood in front of He Xing, looking down at him from her higher position: “I’ll say it again, my affairs are none of your business. I’m here solely to ensure my work was fairly and justly considered for the finals.”

Zhao Qiansun looked from He Xing to Fu Han, his chubby face breaking into an ambiguous smile: “President He, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be taking my leave. You can stay here as long as you like. I assure you that no one will disturb you.”

He Xing nodded. His face was still expressionless, but his gaze had softened considerably compared to before.

Zhao Qiansun scurried off as if his feet were greased, moving faster than a rabbit.

In the vast Reception Room, only Fu Han and He Xing remained. She felt like a little white rabbit that had fallen into a wolf’s den. She hurried toward the door, not looking back as she said: “Well, then, I’ve got other things to handle, so I’ll be leaving now.”

“Wait a minute.” She was fast, but He Xing was faster. With long arms and legs, he blocked her way before she could reach the door: “I helped you out with such a big favor today. Don’t you think you should thank me?”

“Thank you?” The memory of He Xing’s conversation with Zhao Qiansun prompted an irrepressible disdain in Fu Han’s heart: “I thought only light could defeat the darkness, but it seems even deeper darkness can prevail.”

“What do you mean by that?” He Xing’s smile vanished like a receding tide, leaving his face expressionless once again, an all-too-familiar mask that seemed perennially affixed to his visage.

Fu Han took two steps back to widen the distance between them: “I’ve said it already. I just wanted to know if my exclusion from the race was fair and just. I don’t want you to use your resources to exchange for my entry pass.”

“Is there still a need to question? How could you possibly not make it to the finals?” He Xing sighed, attempting to speak in a calm tone: “All I wanted was to prevent any undue difficulties for you in the upcoming competition, nothing more.”

“But can you honestly say that after what you’ve done, that fat man wouldn’t hand me the championship?” Fu Han could barely hold back a laugh: “People like you with money, you always think of solving problems with money. How could you understand the feelings of us ordinary folks?”

“Is that how you see me?” He Xing stared at Fu Han, his face betraying a clearly wounded expression.

Bang!

Fu Han thought she heard the sound of something shattering. Her heart skipped a beat.

For a moment, she really wanted to apologize to He Xing.

Just like three years ago, whenever He Xing frowned, she felt as if she had committed a grave error, almost as if she should kneel down and beg for his forgiveness.

But she ultimately wasn’t the same person she had been three years ago. She bit her lip, with a bittersweet taste filling her mouth, steadied her mind, and walked past He Xing to leave on her own.

He Xing didn’t look back at Fu Han. He gazed at the empty Office, letting out a deep sigh.

At that moment, his spine, which never bent, suddenly curved, and he felt a sudden pang of desolation.

The jarring ring of the phone broke the silence in the Office. He Xing pulled out his phone to see it was a call from Liang Tao: “President He, the production studio issue has been settled. They’ve accepted our compensation proposal and are willing to let Fu Han take charge of the photography.”

He Xing straightened his back instantly, his voice returning to its usual calm: “Mhm, make sure all the required procedures are properly followed. There should be no mistakes.”

When He Xing left the Office, he was once again the sculpture-like and stunningly handsome He Xing, with a flawlessly expressionless face as if nothing had ever happened.

Yet when he left, he chose the VIP passage, avoiding the area where Fu Han and her group were.

…

Standing in front of Su Cheng, Fu Han’s heart was still racing uncontrollably, indescribably unsettled.

Seeing Fu Han approach, Su Cheng had been anxiously waiting and became excitedly restless, his eyes scanning her up and down: “How did it go? Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” Fu Han looked around and didn’t see Luo Qinghe, assuming he hadn’t come back yet. She cleared her throat and said: “Shall we wait in the car for Luo Qinghe?”

She really didn’t want to stay in the Hall any longer. He Xing might come by at any moment, and she truly didn’t want to see him now, more than ever before.

Su Cheng was always eager to comply with Fu Han’s requests, and immediately agreed without hesitation: “Good, I don’t want to stay here any longer either. I’ll send a message to Brother Qinghe.”

Inside the white Audi, Su Cheng sat in the driver’s seat, while Fu Han stayed in the back seat.

Her gaze drifted involuntarily around the environment outside as it was dusk again, but today the sky looked like rain, with gray clouds gathering above.

It felt like a storm was brewing, and because the Jiangshan Gallery was on top of the mountain, the sense of oppression seemed even more intense.

Annoyance began to rise within Fu Han, a feeling that had been persistent since she learned she didn’t pass the preliminaries, only now it was growing stronger.

Trying to distract herself, she spoke casually: “Su Cheng, is Luo Qinghe really just the president of the photography association? Why are people’s attitudes toward him changing so much?”

Su Cheng, who had been watching Fu Han through the rear-view mirror, was startled by her sudden question. His face blushed as he replied softly: “Brother Qinghe is amazing. He is actually…”

Before he could finish, a knock on the window sounded; lowering the glass revealed Luo Qinghe.

He courteously took the passenger seat, buckling his seat belt while asking, “What were you two talking about?”

Without hesitation, Su Cheng said, “We were discussing you…”

Inwardly, Fu Han couldn’t help but marvel at Su Cheng’s enduring innocence, despite his age. She quickly interrupted him: “We were discussing when you were coming back and if they would give you any trouble.”

“Trouble me? They don’t have the guts.” Luo Qinghe turned to give Fu Han a radiant smile: “I just checked the competition entries; there was a statistical error. You did pass the preliminary round, and they have already sent you an email. The final round is the strictest one yet, so you have to put your best effort in.”