Shen Youjin stood at the door. After watching Bai Yueheng drive away, she glanced at the watch on her wrist. It was almost time to get off work.
"The person in charge of the Bai family came to our studio in person. Should I say you've got great influence or that you're unlucky?"
Ling Qiuqiu appeared beside her out of nowhere. She stared meaningfully at the direction where Bai Yueheng's car had disappeared and quipped.
Shen Youjin just smiled it off. "Neither. It's just good luck."
"Hmm?" Ling Qiuqiu was confused.
"If the Bai family really takes their engagement photos at 'Chasing Light', the beneficiary won't be just me, but also the studio." Shen Youjin curled the corners of her lips. "Let's pray that what Bai Yueheng said is true!"
Ling Qiuqiu was a bit surprised. "Your first love is getting engaged to someone else and asks you to take their photos. Aren't you even a little sad?"
Even if you've completely fallen out of love, it's hard for most people to remain completely unmoved when something like this happens to them.
"A little." Shen Youjin turned her head and looked at Ling Qiuqiu honestly. "But if I can't find love, I can't give up making a living because of it, right?"
Thinking of what Li Nanchuan had said to her that night, she was just glad she hadn't believed him. Dissolving this arranged marriage wasn't as simple as Li Nanchuan had said.
Bai Yueheng had even come to the studio today. Love alone was clearly not enough; it would always be defeated by reality.
"The logic is sound." Ling Qiuqiu frowned. "But watching someone you once loved deeply marry someone else and have children must be painful, right?"
Ling Qiuqiu hadn't seen Li Nanchuan since she came back, but just from the rumors, she knew what kind of person he was.
For someone who had grown up in a world of etiquette and rules, it was already a miracle that he had been with Shen Youjin. Would such a thing happen a second time?
If it did, it would surely be terrifying.
"It's okay. It'll pass." Shen Youjin smiled, and her tone suddenly became light. "By the way, do you want to go for barbecue? I know a great place."
Ling Qiuqiu was slightly stunned. Her innocent and pure eyes were as lively as a fawn's. Shen Youjin was looking forward to her answer.
For some reason, at that moment, it was hard for Ling Qiuqiu to say no.
Fortunately, at this time, the receptionist girl walked out. "Sister Youjin, the barbecue restaurant has been booked! We can go there right away."
Ling Qiuqiu let out a sigh of relief. It was good that she wouldn't be alone with Shen Youjin.
"Okay." Shen Youjin replied, then looked at Ling Qiuqiu again. "It was a last - minute decision. I forgot to tell you. Come with us. It'll be so boring going home alone, right?"
Ling Qiuqiu agreed. But just as Shen Youjin was about to go back to get her bag, Ling Qiuqiu suddenly remembered something.
"Didn't you used to avoid these kinds of food to stay in shape?"
Shen Youjin paused and smiled lightly. "I couldn't eat them in the first twenty years, and I might not be able to in the next twenty. So in these few decades in between, I should eat what I want. After all, I can't let my taste buds suffer all the time."
After saying that, she walked gracefully into the studio, leaving Ling Qiuqiu standing there alone, muttering to herself, "Why does she seem like a different person?"
It was well - known in college that Shen Youjin was extremely self - disciplined. She wouldn't even touch such food if it was offered to her.
She even had a fixed sleeping schedule and would never stay up late.
But now, Shen Youjin seemed like a completely different person.
Ling Qiuqiu felt something was off, but she couldn't find any evidence.
After work, a large group of people headed to the barbecue restaurant.
Less than half an hour after they entered, Shen Youjin received a WeChat message from Bai Beichen asking if she was still busy.
"Busy."
She replied with just this one word and then put her phone face - down. She took a piece of lettuce from an employee, wrapped a slice of freshly grilled beef tenderloin, and popped it into her mouth. She didn't want to deal with the man at all.
The ingredients here were very fresh. Maybe the baby in her belly liked them too, because her appetite was twice as good as usual.
Just as she was enjoying her meal, Shen Youjin's phone rang. She didn't even need to look to know it was Bai Beichen calling.
She initially didn't want to answer, but Bai Beichen was so persistent that on the second call, she got up and found a quiet place to answer.
Ling Qiuqiu watched her leave with the phone and shook her head. Relationships were so troublesome. Even after breaking up, he still bothered her. She couldn't even enjoy a meal in peace!
"Sister Qiuqiu, you've been abroad all these years. Have you ever dated a foreign hunk?"
Someone asked Ling Qiuqiu curiously, and the others immediately perked up and looked at her.
"No." Ling Qiuqiu shook her head without hesitation. "I support domestic hunks."
Moreover, she had been busy with study and work. Where did she have the mood for such things?
If she had to say someone she had a crush on, it would be...
She shook her head. Forget it. From the moment she came back, there was no possibility for them.
At the same time, Shen Youjin stood outside the barbecue restaurant, a shocked look on her face.
"What? You want to move into my place?"
Bai Beichen immediately responded on the phone, "Sister, I can cook. I can make whatever you want. I'm worried about you living alone as a girl."
His words sounded nicer than a song. They had lived together before. Why was he only worried now?
"No way." Shen Youjin refused without thinking. "I have bodyguards to protect me, and I can hire a nanny to cook. Bye."
She hung up the phone right away. She thought Bai Beichen had some urgent matter to tell her, but it turned out to be this.
Most likely, he had been stimulated by the opening event and felt a sense of crisis. But wanting to move in with her was just a pipe dream.
Moving in with her without any proper relationship. Did he think there weren't enough rumors about her already?
Most importantly, she was pregnant now, and her home was the only safe space for her. She didn't want it to be invaded.
Just as she was about to turn around and go back, her phone rang again.
She frowned and was about to hang up, but then she saw that it wasn't Bai Beichen, but Gu Zhiyuan.
Thinking of the pearl necklace he had sent her last time and the information he had told her, she hesitated for two seconds and then answered.
"Xiaojin, where are you?"
"What's the matter?" Shen Youjin's tone was cold. "I'm busy."
"You don't even want to say one more word to me?" Gu Zhiyuan's long fingers tapped on the table. "What if I get the pearl earrings back for you?"
Hearing about the pearl earrings, Shen Youjin just paused for a moment, but her attitude didn't change.
"No need. I'll figure it out myself. Thanks!"
She ended the call without waiting for his answer. This time, she was smarter and turned off her phone directly.
She hated it when people talked about things during a meal. It really ruined her appetite.
On the other side, Gu Zhiyuan listened to the shutdown prompt on the phone. A flash of coldness passed through his eyes, disappearing in an instant.
Her temper was really getting worse. She wouldn't have dared to treat him like this before!