"Grandma always says that once my brother and I successfully have a child, she'll let our parents come home. Actually, that's just an excuse. Our parents have been out there for decades, it's time they came back. If you can't keep getting pregnant, then we need to find another way. When we were kids, Lanlan was sent to stay with Grandma for a while. This time, our parents sent Lanlan back with exactly that in mind—if Grandma softens her heart for Lanlan's sake..."
"Maybe, if Grandma relents, our parents can come back." He Yining looked at Shen Qi pleadingly: "Xiao Qi, I know this is unfair to you. But my parents have really been out there for decades, and I truly, constantly hope our family can finally be reunited."
"So, you've decided to sacrifice me, haven't you?" Shen Qi looked at He Yining calmly: "Then I understand."
"What do you understand!" He Yining's phoenix eyes held a trace of anger: "You're overthinking again!"
Shen Qi lowered her gaze, avoiding He Yining's eyes, and said softly: "I didn't get pregnant, I'm sorry. You have your thoughts, and I have no right to interfere. Just let me know what you need me to do, and I'll do my best to cooperate. I don't have the right to be willful, I have no choice."
He Yining looked helpless.
"Dare you say it's not true?" Shen Qi countered: "Compared to Cui Yuelan, she can bring your parents back faster, while I can't. So, you've chosen Cui Yuelan."
"That's not how it is." He Yining suddenly raised his voice: "You and she are completely different! You're my wife, she's my sister—how can you compare?"
"Wife? Sister?" Shen Qi let out a soft laugh, her eyes moist as she looked up at He Yining: "Do you really see her as a sister?"
"Of course!" He Yining replied irritably: "I'm not as promiscuous as you think!"
Shen Qi looked at him skeptically: "Really?"
"I knew you'd overthink!" He Yining sighed, gently kissing Shen Qi's forehead: "That's why I came back specially, to explain it clearly to you!"
"And what about her?" Shen Qi pressed on: "Does she only see you as a brother?"
He Yining pinched Shen Qi's nose: "We're already married, don't you trust me?"
Only then did Shen Qi show a hint of a smile.
"He Yining, do you like me?" Shen Qi couldn't help asking.
"Yes." He Yining admitted without hesitation.
His little angel, the one he'd searched for eighteen years!
How could he not like her?
How could he not care?
"Then, will you stay with me forever and ever?" Shen Qi's eyes lit up as she looked at He Yining.
"Yes." He Yining answered firmly.
He never wanted to be separated from his little angel!
No one could do that!
"Then, do you love me?" Shen Qi finally asked the question.
He Yining just laughed.
Was she still hung up on this?
Did it even need asking?
The answer was obviously yes!
Just as He Yining was about to answer, his phone suddenly rang at that awkward moment.
He glanced at the number and said to Shen Qi: "Alright, I need to go. Remember, stop overthinking, okay?"
He Yining quickly kissed Shen Qi's forehead, then turned and left.
Shen Qi stared blankly at his retreating figure.
He hadn't answered the question.
Did he love her, or not?
After the fashion show, Shen Qi's mood had noticeably improved.
Charles didn't ask, but he could see the brightness return to her eyes.
Even though the show had ended abruptly, Mr. Charles still brought Shen Qi plenty of materials for her to study and reference.
Two days later, Feng Manlun came by again.
But this time, he wasn't here to visit—he was asking for Shen Qi's help.
"Xiao Qi, you've got to help me this time." Feng Manlun walked in with a grimace: "I just invested in a big-budget film, but the lead stylist suddenly fell ill. I've contacted a few others, but everyone's schedules are full. Xiao Qi, give me a hand!"
Shen Qi was taken aback: "But I've never worked on a film set before! I have no experience with movie makeup."
"Didn't you intern with a crew back in school? I've seen your work, it's absolutely fine." Feng Manlun said confidently: "I trust you!"
Shen Qi was doubtful: "I'm not sure about this. I mostly do banquet makeup. You should find someone else."
Feng Manlun put on a deliberately pitiful tone and expression: "Xiao Qi, help your senior out, just this once. Besides, the filming location is beautiful. You like sketching, don't you? You'll only be handling the lead actors' looks—others have their own stylists. Once you're done, you can go paint!"
That last sentence finally piqued Shen Qi's interest.
"What kind of film are you making?" Shen Qi asked curiously.
Feng Manlun smiled leisurely: "I bought the rights to a web novel, a xianxia theme. The locations are all stunning—mountains, water, trees, flowers. I've invested a hundred million just on the sets."
Shen Qi's eyes lit up.
A xianxia drama?
The sets would indeed be beautiful.
Many crews save money by relying on post-production CGI.
But the effect of real location shooting is something no computer graphics can match.
Just then, Mr. Charles walked in from outside and said: "That sounds quite promising. Xiao Qi, even though you're set on becoming a designer, that doesn't stop you from diversifying. If you can pick up another skill, your future achievements might be even greater. This is a great internship opportunity."
Mr. Charles offered his very balanced opinion.
Since even Mr. Charles said so, Shen Qi had no more reservations and agreed on the spot.
The moment Shen Qi nodded, a sly glint flashed in Feng Manlun's eyes.
Now that Shen Qi had agreed to join the crew, Feng Manlun didn't linger and took his leave.
"Teacher, why did you encourage me to go?" Shen Qi asked Charles after Feng Manlun left.
"You've been unhappy here. Why not go out and clear your head?" Charles looked at her kindly: "Maybe a change of scenery will lift your spirits."
Shen Qi thought about it.
Staying in H City really hadn't been making her happy.
Even if He Yining said she and Cui Yuelan were different, even if he didn't have those feelings for Cui Yuelan, seeing her flaunt herself every day was still annoying.
"Besides, you're still young. Learning more skills won't hurt." Charles continued: "You never know which path will feed you in the future. If one road is blocked, you'll have others to fall back on, so you won't be cornered."
Shen Qi realized he was right.
If she couldn't be a stylist, she could be a designer. If that didn't work out, she could do on-set makeup—her skills were still there!
Shen Qi nodded: "I understand."
Mr. Charles was truly looking out for her.
Still, Shen Qi found it odd. Feng Manlun, as the heir of the Feng family, had plenty of profitable projects to manage. Why was he so focused on a single film shoot? Was he really that idle?
Couldn't he just delegate finding a stylist to his staff?
Or had he noticed she was down lately and deliberately made a film to cheer her up?
No, no. That couldn't be it.
He wasn't that bored.
At that moment, Feng Manlun was on the phone while driving: "Kexin, stay calm! That Cui Yuelan won't succeed."
On the other end, Feng Kexin was crying messily: "Brother, you were the one who insisted on sending me to America. Now look—there are more and more bitches around He Yining!"
Feng Manlun continued to soothe her: "Think of it this way. You lie low for now, let Shen Qi take out all your rivals for you, and then you swoop in and reap the rewards."
Feng Kexin asked skeptically: "Really?"
"Of course it's true. If you don't trust others, don't you trust your brother?" Feng Manlun said, his face utterly devoid of sincerity.
"Fine, I'll trust you this once." Feng Kexin hung up.
Putting away his phone, a mocking smile curled at the corner of Feng Manlun's mouth.
What was a sister?
Just another pawn in his game.
But buying that web novel and turning it into a film had already broken his usual pattern.
He didn't know why his brain had short-circuited and made him buy it.
He just felt that the days he'd spent visiting graves with Shen Qi had been the happiest of his life.
Instinctively, he wanted to recreate that experience.
By the time he realized it, he'd already done it.
He wouldn't deny that his heart soared when Shen Qi agreed to join the crew.
He wouldn't deny that he'd initially approached Shen Qi to hurt He Yining.
But at this moment, he was suddenly unsure.
The news of Shen Qi joining the crew didn't spread widely. He Yining seemed busy lately too.
So, it wasn't until Shen Qi dragged her suitcase out of H City that He Yining found out she'd gone far away.
The day before filming started, Feng Manlun personally picked up Shen Qi and flew her directly to the location on his private jet.
Since it was a xianxia film, the location was set in a bamboo forest in a southern city.
When Shen Qi arrived, she found it was indeed a scenic spot with mountains and water.
Perfect for sketching.
As the big boss himself, Feng Manlun's personal stylist was treated with utmost respect by the entire crew. Everyone proactively greeted Shen Qi.
Dressed in loose casual wear and without any airs, no one in the crew recognized her as the much-talked-about president's wife of the He Group.
Soon after joining, Shen Qi got inspired and sketched a few image concepts for the lead actress.
The actress loved them all and begged Shen Qi to draw each one.
Shen Qi got into the spirit and actually did a full look for each design, taking photos and sharing them for everyone to decide.