Mixed Chapter 2
byProving Her Worth
That Star Bracelet was Chi Nuan’s gift to Song Shixue for her 28th birthday.
She examined it closely; the bracelet looked almost exactly as it did when she first gave it to Song Shixue. It bore no signs of age. However, perhaps due to the fact that it was purely handmade back then, it still retained many imperfections. It wasn’t perfect, but the love Chi Nuan poured into the gift was.
She blinked, her resolve wavering slightly.
“Chi Nuan, please don’t leave,” Song Shixue’s voice was tinged with a choke.
Chi Nuan looked confused, her tone icy: “Song Shixue, you’re asking me not to leave, but weren’t you the one who ran away first?”
“I’m sorry, Chi Nuan… I…”
I’m sorry. Always ‘I’m sorry.’ Besides those three words, Song Shixue offered no further explanation.
She really wanted to ask Song Shixue, if ‘I’m sorry’ could solve all problems, then what was the point of having police?
Chi Nuan felt both powerless and irritated. She interrupted Song Shixue sharply, “Stop talking. I don’t want to hear it.”
Chi Nuan’s extreme reaction couldn’t be blamed; Song Shixue’s departure had simply been too sudden. She had even unilaterally deleted all of Chi Nuan’s contact information.
In the past three years, Chi Nuan had drunk until her stomach bled countless times; she had sent tens of thousands of messages to that red exclamation mark; she had even gone to Rongcheng and searched all over Hangcheng without finding any trace of Song Shixue.
How could she simply forgive Song Shixue just like that?
Could cruelty and love truly coexist?
“Chi Nuan, let’s go back to the Photography Studio, okay?” Song Shixue dropped her usual refined, aloof tone, becoming warm and gentle.
This was the usual ‘tactic’ she used to coax Chi Nuan.
Chi Nuan’s eyelashes trembled, and her voice instinctively softened by a fraction, “Let go. I really need to go home.”
“Oh dear, could it be that you can’t photograph our little Xue well and are looking for an excuse to run away?” A sharp, grating voice came from a distance—it was Song Shixue’s assistant.
Song Shixue frowned and looked at him, “Why did you come down?”
“If I didn’t come, should I just watch you get bullied?”
Chi Nuan was thoroughly annoyed, watching his flamboyant and affected mannerisms. Every now and then, he’d push the pink frames perched on his wide nose with a flick of his effeminate hand.
“Tsk, disgusting!”
“Hey, who are you calling disgusting, you Angry Dragon!”
Song Shixue grabbed the assistant’s floral shirt: “Enough!”
The assistant looked puzzled. He put his hands on his hips, bent down slightly, and stared at Song Shixue in disbelief, “What is wrong with you today? Usually, when you encounter people like her, you always take my side!”
Chi Nuan couldn’t tolerate his tone for a second. “What do you mean, ‘people like me’?”
The manager scrutinized Chi Nuan from head to toe. “Just someone who lacks talent but has a huge temper!”
This was the first time Chi Nuan had heard anyone question her ability, and it actually made her laugh from anger.
Chi Nuan no longer wanted to go home; she immediately turned and headed for the elevator.
Song Shixue was extremely displeased with her assistant’s actions. Her expression was cold, and her tone was full of reproach, “If you speak to her like that again, don’t expect a bonus this month!”
“Hey! Little Xue, I was sticking up for you! A woman’s heart is truly a needle at the bottom of the sea!”
Song Shixue walked quickly ahead. The assistant, who was stout, had to gasp for breath after just two steps, utterly exhausted.
Chi Nuan returned to the Photography Studio, her face full of resentment. “Are the sets ready? Lighting? Everyone, hurry up and move!”
Xiao Li saw Director Chi return and immediately rushed over: “Director Chi, you’re back.”
“Yes, go prepare quickly.”
No one dared to slack off, and they swiftly returned to their respective posts.
The assistant crossed his legs and sat on the sofa. “I want to see what kind of rubbish she can photograph.”
When Chi Nuan saw Song Shixue, the fire on her head seemed to subside a little. “Teacher Song, please go get your makeup and styling done first.”
Song Shixue nodded and was led to the dressing room by Xiao Li.
Chi Nuan looked toward Song Shixue’s assistant, their eyes sparking with hostility. It felt as if a major battle was about to begin.
Chi Nuan sat on the opposite sofa, adjusting the camera parameters. She would photograph Song Shixue to her absolute perfection.
Song Shixue emerged from the dressing room.
She was already exquisitely beautiful, and now, with the transparent butterfly wings decorating her back, she looked even more ethereal. Even the surrounding staff stopped what they were doing, their lips slightly parted, their gazes fixed on Song Shixue.
When Chi Nuan saw these people staring at Song Shixue with such blatant admiration, a strange pang of jealousy struck her heart.
The assistant scurried back, his hand held in an affected gesture, showering her with compliments: “Oh my, oh my! Our little Xue is too beautiful! She’s simply a fairy descended to the mortal world! Isn’t that right, Butterfly Fairy?”
As Song Shixue’s assistant walked past, he conveniently blocked part of the view. Several staff members seized the opportunity to raise their phones, hoping to snap a few pictures.
Unfortunately, one of them hadn’t turned off their flash, and Chi Nuan immediately glared at them.
“This is a workplace. No photos allowed. I expect those who just took pictures to delete them immediately!”
A chill ran down the spines of those individuals. To keep their jobs, they were very compliant. Within moments, there was no trace of Song Shixue left in their photo albums.
Chi Nuan directed Song Shixue to the pre-arranged set.
Song Shixue blended perfectly with the flowers and foliage, making her look even more like a “green butterfly” yearning for freedom and rebirth.
This perfectly echoed the theme of Song Shixue’s comeback art exhibition—Spring.
With the arrival of spring, all things are reborn.
Chi Nuan guided Song Shixue through her poses and expressions, based on the theme and style.
She had photographed Song Shixue privately many times before. No one was more familiar with Song Shixue’s emotions, and no one was more familiar with Song Shixue’s body.
Song Shixue always looked at Chi Nuan through the camera lens. The emotions in her eyes were complex, but every time, she delivered exactly what Chi Nuan needed.
Their cooperation was exceptionally seamless.
In truth, this photoshoot shouldn’t have taken them very long. But as it neared its end, both of them deliberately slowed the pace, and they both knew exactly why.
They managed to stretch the time from two in the afternoon until seven in the evening.
Song Shixue returned to the dressing room to remove her gear. Her assistant walked toward Chi Nuan, yawning and full of provocation: “Finished? Can we take a look? Let me admire your perfect rubbish technique!”
“Apologies, we need to wait for Teacher Song to come out and view them together.” Fortunately, Chi Nuan was in a relatively good mood right now, otherwise, she would have torn into the effeminate yet burly man in front of her.
“Hmph, now it’s ‘Teacher Song’ every other word? Did you forget how you treated her just now?” The assistant rolled his eyes at Chi Nuan.
The assistant spotted Song Shixue’s figure and shouted loudly, “Little Xue, hurry over! Let’s look at the proofs together!”
Song Shixue approached slowly, holding her dress. Chi Nuan inserted the card reader into the computer’s USB port and opened the corresponding file manager.
All the photos were displayed, and there were virtually no wasted shots. Every single image was perfect, regardless of the angle.
Chi Nuan didn’t say anything, focusing only on the expression on Song Shixue’s manager’s face—embarrassment.
“Ah… well… *cough*, they’re alright.” The assistant’s face was flushed red. He genuinely hadn’t expected Chi Nuan to be so skilled.
Chi Nuan spun around in her office chair. “Stubborn to the end!”
At this point, the assistant was powerless to refute, so he could only endure it.
“Director Chi’s photography skills have certainly improved,” Song Shixue admired Chi Nuan when she was working, both in the past and now.
Chi Nuan didn’t respond. She packed all her photography equipment into her backpack, ready to go home.
Song Shixue walked up beside her. “Director Chi, could we exchange contact information?”
“Didn’t Teacher Song delete me a long time ago? What’s the point of adding me back now?”
Chi Nuan’s eyes were filled with indifference.
She ignored Song Shixue, walking ahead without looking back or showing any lingering attachment.
“Chi Nuan…”
“You’re acting so strange today, Little Xue! Let’s hurry up and leave too.” The assistant wiggled his hips as he walked out.
Chi Nuan, what do I need to do to earn your forgiveness?