Lin Jiayi's eyes widened: "I was hoping to be your neighbor, but it looks like that's not going to happen."
Ling Shuangjiang asked, "Did your dad suspend your card again?"
Lin Jiayi nodded: "Yes, because I refused the blind date he introduced me to. In a fit of anger, he cut off all my credit cards."
"I have some money here." Ling Shuangjiang handed him a card. "You can use it first."
Lin Jiayi waved her hand: "No need. I haven't cashed the check my mom secretly gave me yet. I'll cash it when I have time. It can last me a while."
Ling Shuangjiang invited him to sit down and went to make him coffee.
Lin Jiayi suddenly said, "Shuangjiang, did you know that Shang Qi has also returned to China to develop his career?"
Ling Shuangjiang paused, then said lightly, "I don't know."
Lin Jiayi felt a burning hatred for Shang Qi whenever he was mentioned.
"I wonder what this young master is thinking. I heard he was already a high-level executive at a luxury brand while still studying. Why did he suddenly come back to China to develop his career? What will he do without his powerful father?"
Ling Shuangjiang handed him the coffee: "Other people's business is none of our concern."
Lin Jiayi sneered: "I've been waiting for the day he gets his comeuppance, because I still vividly remember the slaps my father gave me."
Mentioning this unpleasant matter also made Ling Shuangjiang feel very uncomfortable. That dark past kept surfacing in her mind.
He coaxed Lin Jiayi, gently pinching his cheek: "Alright, let's not talk about him anymore, it's bad luck."
“Yes, it’s bad luck.” Lin Jiayi, holding a cup of coffee, began to stroll around Ling Shuangjiang’s new house.
Although he was happy for Ling Shuangjiang's move to her new home, Shang Qi still reminded him of that unpleasant memory.
The university they attended was very famous in the UK, and its art department was among the best.
Originally, Ling Shuangjiang was eligible for postgraduate admission based on her excellent undergraduate grades. However, Shang Qi, through his family connections, successfully altered her social practice credits. Furthermore, he used many dirty tricks against Ling Shuangjiang during her final project exhibition in her junior year. Ultimately, he successfully secured her postgraduate admission, while Ling Shuangjiang lost her postgraduate admission due to a major mistake.
Ling Shuangjiang was very depressed during that time. He kept encouraging her, telling her that even if she didn't get a guaranteed admission to graduate school, she could still get in through her own abilities.
Ke Ling Shuang suddenly became very resistant to painting, and even almost developed psychological problems.
In the first semester of her senior year, Ling Shuangjiang gave up the postgraduate entrance examination and prepared to return to China early.
On the day Ling Shuangjiang's report exhibition went wrong, he asked his father for help, but his father refused to help, and in desperation they started arguing.
That's how Lin Jiayi got that slap.
Shang Qi comes from a well-off family; both his parents are entrepreneurs with extensive connections in the UK, so securing a guaranteed admission spot wouldn't be difficult for him.
But the problem is that ever since Shang Qi was in the same class as Ling Shuangjiang, he has always regarded Ling Shuangjiang as a thorn in his side.
His goal wasn't just to get the graduate student spot; he wanted to make Ling Shuangjiang's life miserable.
Although Ling Shuangjiang's family was well-off, she was destitute and alone in faraway England.
Because of Shang Qi, he suffered a great injustice.
He had asked Shang Qi why he was targeting Ling Shuangjiang, but Ling Shuangjiang hadn't told him.
"Sigh!" Lin Jiayi had drunk three or four cups of coffee and was basically half full. He had things to do that evening, so he said goodbye to Ling Shuangjiang.
Ling Shuangjiang was left alone at home, and he suddenly felt a little uneasy. Coupled with what Lin Jiayi had said, it reminded him of the unpleasant things that had happened between him and Shang Qi, making his chest feel heavy.
Because of Shang Qi, he almost gave up painting.
The two should have little interaction this time that Shang Qi returned to China.
Holding the coffee, his fingers trembled uncontrollably.
He took a long breath to calm himself down and decided to take a shower first.
The sound of water filled the bathroom. Ling Shuangjiang stared at the wall and closed her eyes.
Before I could even dry my hair, Li Man called.
The two began discussing the itinerary.
During this time, Xie Wang sent him several messages.
[Danger! Important things to note for male students living alone.]
[After seeing this, shouldn't you, living alone, be on your guard?]
[A detailed list of dangers that men living alone may encounter; please save this if you read it.]
Ling Shuangjiang laughed as she discussed things with Xie Wang.
Finally, Xie Wang told him that he needed to go on a business trip for three days, and the appointment at the riverside restaurant on Friday would be postponed.
Ling Shuangjiang recalled the dense black circles again. Lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, she slowly dispelled her worries and smiled.
—
Over the past two days, Ling Shuangjiang has begun to adjust to living alone. Although it sometimes feels empty, fortunately the environment is nice, and he is very satisfied with everything in his home.
Lin Jiayi would occasionally come over to have dinner with him. When she learned that Xie Wang was away on a business trip, she teased him about how eager he was to see his husband.
That day, Ling Shuangjiang received a new notice.
He Chun's new season of advertisements is about to be filmed. Because of the change in the senior management in China, they need to go to He Chun's domestic headquarters in the afternoon to film and meet the new president.
The weather is terrible today. Cold air has swept across the entire North China region, and even wearing a thick sweatshirt is not enough to keep out the cold.
It seems winter is really coming soon.
Upon arriving at the studio, Ling Shuangjiang swiftly began applying makeup and changing clothes. He was shooting the advertisement alone; Wen Nuan was not present.
The background scenery is an autumn street scene with drizzling water stains on the ground, which looks like a scene after rain.
The director had worked with Ling Shuangjiang once before and knew the angles of his close-up shots, so he slowly explained the story behind the shots to him.
It was a crisp early autumn morning, and he was strolling alone through the streets, enjoying the languid atmosphere. Suddenly, a heavy rain began to fall. He stopped in front of He Chun's shop and had a beautiful encounter with one of its employees.
The script was fine, but when Ling Shuangjiang changed into a thin white shirt, he realized he was a little cold.
It's almost November now, and the temperature is very low.
In addition, the temperature in the studio was deliberately set very low to accommodate the actors' makeup, and the surrounding air was cold.
As soon as Ling Shuangjiang's fingers touched the water, the icy temperature made him feel extremely cold.
He moved into position in advance to get a better shot.
The camera started rolling, and he stood in the middle of the street corner, jogging in the light rain.
Soon, his hair and clothes were completely soaked, and the cold air seeped in through his clothes, making him feel chilled to the bone.
Upon arriving at Hechun's store, he shielded the emails with his hands above his head and looked at the camera.
The final scene of this episode focuses on his slightly damp black hair.
Li Man immediately came forward with a scarf: "Put this on quickly."
Ling Shuangjiang walked up to the director and asked, "Do we need to film it again?"
The director smiled approvingly: "No need, you acted very well."
"I think we need to reshoot; the rain was too light and didn't feel realistic."
Just as Ling Shuangjiang was about to speak, a familiar person walked towards them. The employees present all stood up: "President Shang."
Shang Qi smiled and said, "Let's reshoot quickly, it won't take up your time."
Li Man's eyes were full of confusion, but because Shang Qi was the president of He Chun, she dared not say anything and could only take Ling Shuangjiang to change clothes.
"Is this new CEO really that picky?"
Ling Shuangjiang changed into a white shirt: "Maybe."
Filming continued, and Shang Qi, sitting next to the director, slightly raised his chin: "I think your standards are a bit low. That last take was clearly subpar, yet it passed? How can we trust you with our most important advertising campaigns if this continues?"
The director glanced at Ling Shuangjiang, who was shivering slightly in the downpour, and remained silent.
Shang Qi joined He Chun's domestic headquarters three days ago as the CEO. It is said that Shang Qi is only 23 years old and has not yet graduated, but he has already made a name for himself at He Chun's headquarters, rarely attending classes, and has become a rising star in the fashion circle at home and abroad.
The torrential rain poured down on Ling Shuangjiang's head, and water quickly seeped into the studio floor.
Clutching the emails in his arms, he tried his best to maintain a relaxed expression as he jogged to the front of the Hechun store.
The director frowned and asked, "Is this okay?"
Shang Qi frankly said, "I feel like it's still missing something."
Beside her, Li Man looked at Ling Shuangjiang with concern. In this cold weather, someone must have opened the studio window; it's no wonder she got sick.
This Shang Qi looks at Shuangjiang with the eyes of someone who is her enemy, as if there is some grudge between them.
Ling Shuangjiang's phone kept flashing, and Li Man realized it was Xie Wang calling.
She said indignantly, "Mr. Xie, it's me. Shuangjiang is filming."
Xie Wang: "Oh, I'm back in China. I was thinking of taking Shuangjiang out for dinner tonight. Does he have any plans for tonight?"
Li Man stared at Ling Shuangjiang, who was undergoing the fifth round of treatment in the pouring rain, suppressing her anger: "I'm afraid it's not possible anymore. Shuangjiang is getting sick from all this torment."
Xie Wang: "What do you mean?"
Author's Note:
I need a nutrient solution!
Chapter 43 Who Dares to Touch My Wife!
The black sedan quickly turned around, and Xie Wang's expression grew increasingly cold as he listened to the voice coming from the Bluetooth headset.
"We're filming the seventh take now. Shuangjiang has already started coughing. It's very cold here, let alone if we get wet," Li Man reported to Xie Wang in detail.
Xie Wang's expression was icy: "Is this the set of He Chun's advertisement shoot?"
Li Man nodded: "Yes."
Xie Wang: "Stop filming, wait for me to get there."
Upon hearing this, Li Man hesitated: "President Xie, Shuangjiang is still a newcomer, we can't do this."
"I understand." Xie Wang's heart tightened slightly: "Is that person the CEO of He Chun in China?"