CH 3

Alex walked around the photo studio but did not find her there. Finally, he found her at the end of a corridor and intercepted her in front of the bathroom.

“Sister Liu! Sister Liu!” Alex hurriedly called her.

“Hey, Alex huh!” Liu Chan Yue had a smile on her slightly chubby face, making her look like a peaceful older sister. If he were to judge from that, she looked more approachable than the cold and sharp Guo Zhi.

However, Alex had worked under her, so he knew exactly how picky and harsh she was. He did not dare to let down his guard because of her kind appearance.

“Sister Liu, about last month’s Weifang project and April’s Yashida project’s pay, the financial department said that they still have not received the bill for payment. Did you happen to forget about it because you were very busy?” Alex said nicely.

“I really forgot… these days, I have been very busy, working day and night.” Liu Chan Yue smilingly said, “how about eating together tonight and going back to find the bill…”

As she said that, she patted Alex’s strong chest, her palm inadvertently brushing over his firm abdominal muscles and touching them. Her gaze on Alex was a bit hot and ambiguous.

Alex paused. Seems like… Da Wei really… guessed right on spot.

The meaning portrayed by this woman through her body language and eyes was very clear.

“Then I will wait for you in the afternoon after the shoot is done?” Alex asked.

Liu Chan Yue revealed a satisfied smile.

After going back to the photo studio, the afternoon resting period was not over yet. Alex fumbled through his pocket and took out a cigarette. The studio had equipment, so smoking was prohibited. Alex squatted against the wall by the door and smoked.

His pose resembled the ones done by the bad boys found in manga that gave off a sense of decadence and rebellion. The only thing he missed was the brightness that a child of his age should have.

Suddenly, there was the sound of rapid footsteps approaching. Alex moved his head sideways and saw a pair of slim and straight legs wrapped with cropped pants and that wore flat shoes coming out of the studio and walking over until it was facing the opposite wall.

“I saw it! …no, no one gave me a call today. …maybe he didn’t like me, it’s not as if I am some peerless beauty. …I haven’t said anything though! My manners were impeccable! Truly impeccable. …I clearly conveyed that I wanted to date and showed that I had the will to get married!”

Alex smoked his cigarette, looking at Guo Zhi’s back.

Liu Chan Yue was a little fat, and yet liked to use tight clothes to reveal curve lines by lifting her front and sticking out her back. Guo Zhi, on the other hand, wore a three-quarter sleeve top with cropped pants and flat shoes. They looked very comfortable, but because of the straight lines of the design, people could only see that she was very slim and tall and could not see if she had curves. They were in a working environment, so although her clothing concealed her gender, it was not important because it was convenient.

While Alex was thinking, he heard Guo Zhi saying: “…I really didn’t do anything wrong! If I am lying, then I will become a dog!”

He could not stop himself from laughing with a ‘pfft’ sound.

After he stopped laughing and wanted to run away, it was already late. Guo Zhi heard the activity behind her back and immediately turned around. She looked at Alex with widely opened eyes.

Alex rapidly looked at the ceiling.

Guo Zhi walked away with her cell phone in hand: “Ah? There’s still another one? …No, mom! It’s enough for this month! …Another blind date and I will puke! Next month! Let me meet the next one next month! …No, no! Let’s wait for this one to reply first, okay? Maybe he liked me! …”

Leftover woman— — This word appeared in Alex’s mind.

leftover woman: term used for women who still have not married in their late twenties in China

How old is she? Looking at her, she seems younger than Liu Chan Yue by a lot… probably more than ten years, right? While he was thinking, Guo Zhi hung up her call. With hands folded, she looked down at Alex who was squatting on the floor.

Alex snuffed out his cigarette, stood up, and smilingly said: “Sister Guo.”

“Have I seen you before?” Guo Zhi asked. In the morning, he directly called her “sister Guo”. It obviously showed that he recognized her.

“I have seen you before. I worked with sister Liu for two projects before.”

“Liu Xi?”

“Sister Liu Chan Yue.”

Guo Zhi hummed a sound when she heard that perturbing name. It carried a bit of understanding, a bit of disdain, and a bit of an ‘I see’ feeling.

Alex noticed something wrong but did not ask.

“In the future, don’t eavesdrop on other people’s calls.” Guo Zhi rolled her eyes.

Alex was not afraid of her. When he saw her in the morning, he was still scared of her. After meeting her, he noticed that she was a thoughtful person that was able to think about buying breakfast for other people. Although she was very strict during the shoot, that only applied for work. Not to mention, she raised him from being part of the background to being one of the main characters. During lunch, he also noticed that team members were very close with her. That kind of feeling came from the inside. The team she led was very united.

Because of the environment he was raised in, Alex was very conscious of other people’s words and expressions. Even though Guo Zhi had rolled her eyes while telling him to stop eavesdropping in the future, he could feel that she was not angry, which was why he only kept a smile on his face.

As the saying goes, do not slap a smiling person. When the boy was not talking, he had an air of decadence. When he smiled, there was a bit of sunniness, making his face look better. Guo Zhi’s eyes flickered.

Alex noticed something, so he smiled even sweeter: “You are wronging me sister Guo. I was already there when you came out and stood there to take the call. I really didn’t eavesdrop intentionally.”

The handsome boy’s smile was too sweet. Facing such a handsome face, Guo Zhi could not hold back and revealed a slight smile. After glancing at him one last time, she went back to the studio.

That glance inadvertently revealed a hint of charm. It differed from the impression he had of her.

Last night, when Da Wei had asked him who the editor was, he did not remember her name and blurted out ‘the one that looks like a tomboy’. Before, he had only brushed past Guo Zhi and known that she was a senior editor from K company. He barely knew anything about her. The image he had of her stopped at her outer appearance.

Guo Zhi… is a pretty woman. Alex thought. Perhaps it was because of the way she dressed. In his impression, every time that he had seen her, she was dressed androgynously. Since her hair was not long, and during work, she tied it into a small bun, it made her seem even more like a boy.

Alex’s mind was floating, and while pondering about that, he entered the studio.

The afternoon’s shoot went smoothly, and everyone finished work without working overtime.

Because his work progressed well today, Alex was in a good mood. He waited under the shadow of a tree in the parking lot for half an hour until a car stopped in front of him. The window rolled down and revealed Liu Chan Yue’s smiling face: “Alex.”

Alex threw the cigarette butt to the floor and got into her car.

“Sister, my…” He was thinking about his payment.

“Don’t be in a hurry, don’t be in a hurry.” Liu Chan Yue smilingly said, “we still haven’t eaten, let’s go, this sister will take you to dinner.”

As she said so, she touched all over his firm arm muscles. Alex obediently closed his mouth.

That night, Alex returned to the underground bedroom at midnight.

The next day in the morning, he arrived at the photo studio, and without surprise, Guo Zhi was the first one there again.

“Sister Guo, morning.” He already did not have the cautiousness of the previous day and went to get his breakfast by himself.

“Morning.” Guo Zhi was still looking at the proposal plan. She lifted her head to look at him and suddenly said: “Alex, come here.”

“Mm?” Alex was biting on half a tea egg. He hurriedly stuffed it into his mouth and walked in front of Guo Zhi, “Wut’s wrung sheeshte Gu? (What’s wrong sister Guo?)”

Guo Zhi carefully looked at him and asked him while frowning: “Why do you have dark circles under your eyes?”

Alex almost choked to death because of half a tea egg and beat his chest hard. Guo Zhi quickly unscrewed a bottle of mineral water, handed it over, and patted him on the back.

After waiting until he was okay, Guo Zhi asked: “Went to play last night?”

Alex embarrassedly replied: “Mm… slept a little late.” People say that women are like wolves in their thirties and tigers in their forties. He personally experienced it.

Guo Zhi was a little angry.

“What’s wrong with you?” She scolded, “Getting enough sleep during working periods is the most basic professional skill, don’t you know that!” In fact, these types of small flaws could be retouched later, but what made Guo Zhi angry was his unserious working attitude.

Just yesterday, he believed that ‘she isn’t that scary’. Today, he thoroughly learned a lesson. Alex lowered his head and depressingly said: “I’m sorry…”

In fact, he knew, and he always paid attention to that. However, Liu Chan Yue prevented him from getting his money, and since he was carrying a debt, he got anxious and could not care about other things. He never thought that Guo Zhi would be so sharp, noticing it from one glance.

Da Wei said it already, if you work properly, everything will be fine, if you don’t work properly, then expect to be in trouble.

Truly on mark.

“Alex.” Guo Zhi’s face was sullen, “if this is your working ethic, then we won’t have the opportunity to work together in the future.”

Alex hurriedly said: “Sister Guo, I will be careful in the future.”

The nervousness and worry in his eyes were real. After all, he was still a child with no experience. All the things in his heart were written on his face. Looking at the handsome little face that had the word ‘anxious’ written over it, Guo Zhi’s heart softened.

“Your condition is pretty good. Work properly and you will succeed in the future.” After scolding, she gave compliments, “Alex, you have to be serious, okay?”

Alex’s eyes brightened, and the lifelessness disappeared, as if a breath of life was given to them. After listening to the scolding, he obediently went to a corner to eat his remaining breakfast.

He really is still a child. Guo Zhi thought.

She rubbed her hands and thought about the feeling of the elasticity from his back muscles that she felt when she patted him. Her gaze was unfocused.

A young boy’s body, it really… makes people ravenous…

Women huh, are like wolves in their thirties and tigers in their forties. Guo Zhi was already 28. She was only a step away from her wolfish years.

She recalled for a moment. The last time she engaged in sexual activities seemed to have been three or more months ago. No wonder her mood was unstable and was feeling restless. This type of matter that was considered a basic human necessity had to be relieved, otherwise it would be bad for the body and mind.

After the project ended, she would have to relief herself.

Who should I find? She thought… …how about giving a call to Lin Bo? Or… Xue Yu? No, no, Lin Bo is in better shape, he has abs…

No, no, no, what are you thinking? First, let’s finish the project at hand and then I’ll think about it!

Guo Zhi shook her head and threw away her messy thoughts. She flipped through the pages in her hand and unconsciously found Alex’s information. She glanced at his birthday.

What?

No wonder he seemed like a child! He really was a child! I was right in believing that he wasn’t very old.

Turns out he was only 19!

Alex silently ate his breakfast. When he lifted his eyes, he saw sister Guo suddenly turn her head to glance at him.

Her gaze carried a little bit of helplessness, it also seemed… as if there was a bit of… kindness? Alex almost choked again.