Cold and aloof, not blending in with the mundane world, with a unique and elegant bearing.
This was how Su Minghan had always described Xiao Shujing.
It was also the reason why he had been in love with her for so long.
Tian Danni sized up the two of them, her eyes dimming. "What are you standing there for? She came specifically to find you."
"Okay."
He placed the empty can on the table and walked straight over.
"You're here."
Xiao Shujing nervously clutched the strap of her cross - body bag and nodded.
"You must have something to say. Come to my office with me."
Su Minghan sighed inwardly, anticipating her purpose. It was nothing more than resigning and saying she didn't want to continue in the entertainment industry.
Since she was so determined, he would just agree.
But at the thought of never seeing her again, he felt a pang of loss. A bitter feeling welled up in his chest, and he guessed it would take him several days to get over it.
"No," Xiao Shujing didn't move. Instead, she fixed her gaze on the woman directly in front of her. "I'm here to see her."
Tian Danni was taken aback and pointed at her own face. "Me?"
Xiao Shujing stepped forward, her eyes cold. "Can you give me the endorsement spot?"
As soon as she said this, everyone present was shocked.
"What... what do you mean?"
Tian Danni's face showed anger, and it seemed she was about to explode.
"Come here!"
Su Minghan quickly stepped forward and grabbed Xiao Shujing's wrist, determined to pull her away from this place where a war was about to break out.
"Stop! I haven't finished my questions yet!"
Tian Danni had been in a good mood, but this unexpected interruption made her hot - tempered nature flare up.
"Get out of the way."
His voice was low, and the storm in his eyes was brewing.
"No way! She has to explain this today!"
Susan disdainfully glared at the young assistant beside her and murmured in a sarcastic tone, "I never thought a famous and popular actress would be the type to steal someone else's hard - earned opportunity. How can someone with such character survive in the entertainment industry?"
"No... no, Shujing isn't like that."
Although she said so, she wasn't very confident in her heart.
During the previous phone call, Xiao Shujing clearly hadn't mentioned coming here or the endorsement.
"You're still defending her? The evidence is right in front of us!"
Susan rolled her eyes and pouted in dissatisfaction.
"I'll talk to her first and then explain the situation to you."
Since there were too many irrelevant people around, Su Minghan wanted to calm Tian Danni's emotions first to avoid making a bigger scene.
"Fine, you talk to her, but I won't give up on the endorsement!"
With that, she turned around and sat in front of the dressing mirror, angrily saying, "Do my makeup! Can't you see that General Manager Su is angry?"
"Yes, yes!"
The makeup artist and the people around immediately got back to work.
Xiao Shujing felt extremely guilty, but she couldn't take back her words.
In the office, Su Minghan let go of her wrist.
He paced back and forth with his hands on his hips, looking very agitated.
"What do you want to talk to me about?" She was the first to speak and face the problem.
"What do you think? Either you throw a tantrum and don't come, or you come and drop a bombshell on me! Xiao Shujing, what on earth do you want?"
Su Minghan was completely exasperated.
"Ahairei is a company I've always admired. I just want to take this endorsement opportunity to get in touch with them. There's no other reason."
Xiao Shujing still had a cold expression, but the guilt in her heart made it painful for her to even breathe.
"Juanyi has chosen Tian Danni for the endorsement, not you."
This was the first time he had spoken his mind so bluntly, and he warned himself not to make any more exceptions for her.
"I have popularity," she forced herself to say the words she hated the most. "If I were the one to endorse, the response would definitely be better than hers."
Su Minghan looked at her in disbelief, as if he didn't recognize her.
"Back then, Juanyi invited you to the fashion show, but you declined. Now you want to go back on your decision and regain their trust. How could it be that easy? Moreover, weren't you going to focus on your studies?"
The light in his eyes faded. "Since you've chosen your studies, just do your own thing well and forget about the endorsement."
Xiao Shujing watched his indifferent attitude, her eyes moistening.
"I want to fight for this last chance."
Su Minghan slapped the table, his eyes bloodshot.
"Have you had enough of this nonsense!"
This was the first time he had lost his temper with her like this.
"The entertainment industry isn't a place where you can come and go as you please! It's not easy for me to cultivate an artist. Could you please stop meddling?"
Xiao Shujing's nose turned red, and her pale face was blurred with tears.
"I'm sorry..."
Her voice was as soft as a mosquito buzzing in his ear, but Su Minghan heard it clearly.
Just as he began to regret losing his temper, he saw the faint mark on her sobbing profile.
He quickly walked over, pushed aside the hair by her ear, and softened his tone. "What happened to your face?"
Xiao Shujing was startled and stepped back, shaking her head.
"Nothing."
"Tell the truth. Don't make me repeat myself."
Looking into his concerned eyes, she finally couldn't hold back.
After her explanation, Su Minghan finally understood her pain.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Although Xiao Shujing had stopped crying, her eyes were still red.
"Under that situation, how could I dare?"
Their relationship had taken a nosedive after the stalemate. They were even worse than strangers, let alone her saying something as sentimental as being injured.
"I'm sorry. It's my fault. I didn't handle it in time."
Su Minghan was deeply self - reproachful. Although this one - sided love of his was doomed to have no result, he had dragged the innocent Xiao Shujing into it and then blamed everything on her.
And what had he been doing? Promoting a young star who had just returned from abroad, ignoring Xiao Shujing completely.
"The Juanyi endorsement spot is yours."
Tears glistened in Xiao Shujing's eyes. "But what about them?"
Su Minghan adjusted his state. "You don't have to worry. I'll handle it." The previous dispute had left everyone present resentful.
Tian Danni made frequent mistakes during the shooting. A task that should have taken only a few minutes ended up taking her half an hour.
"General Manager Su is coming."
Someone in the crowd said, catching her attention.
Watching Su Minghan striding over with a straight face, she didn't even want to get up. She sat arrogantly in her chair, drinking water.
"Come here. I have something to tell you."
Tian Danni bit on the straw, looking nonchalant. "Just say it here. Everyone wants to hear the final answer."
He frowned in annoyance. "Even you want to give me a hard time?"
"Even? What do you mean by 'even'?"
She stood up angrily and pointed outside. "It was clearly that woman who provoked me. Why are you blaming me?"
"Fine, I'll tell you here. The endorsement spot has been given to Xiao Shujing. You can go as her companion."
Everyone gasped in shock.
Susan sneered. "What a good trick!"
"Sister Shan, there must be some misunderstanding..."
Xiao Yang waved her hands, trying to explain in a hurry.