"Shujing? Shujing!"
She gave a start, her shoulders twitching. She replied blankly, "What's up?"
Su Minghan looked at her with concern. "You seem so absent - minded. Did you hear what I just said?"
"Sorry. The school group just announced the results of a minor exam. My score isn't ideal. What did you say just now?"
"Your aunt's condition has been brought under control. The dean has put her under special care. We don't need to worry about those previous problems when we visit next time. Of course, if you don't want to go, it's okay. After all, it's a charity activity, and anyone can do it."
"No, I'll keep going."
Xiao Shujing's expression was complicated. "The more difficult things are, the more I should persevere. I believe I can do it well."
Su Minghan pinched her cheek affectionately. "You're amazing."
"Mr. Su, I have something to tell you."
Seeing her pre - occupied look earlier, he could more or less guess what it was. "Sure, go ahead. I'm listening."
"That Mr. Xue just now is actually related to Shen..."
Before Xiao Shujing could finish, the office door suddenly opened.
"Mr. Su, something's wrong! Your car..."
The school principal wiped the sweat from his forehead anxiously and said in a hurry.
Su Minghan immediately got up and rushed to the window. His new car, parked not far from the school gate, was billowing thick black smoke.
He quickly dialed the phone. "What's going on?"
Assistant Jiang was in a complete mess. "Mr. Su, I'm still investigating the cause. We're not sure yet what triggered it."
"My new car! What could be wrong with a new car!"
While watching Su Minghan arguing on the phone, Xiao Shujing's phone buzzed a few times. Her pupils shrank, and cold sweat broke out on her forehead.
"Don't try to play any tricks under my nose. If you dare to say a single word about what happened before, I'll ruin everyone you care about."
The note name - Mr. Xue.
Inside the advertising shooting studio, Tian Danni was aching all over from exhaustion.
Susan quickly handed her a water cup.
"Isn't the air - conditioner on? It's so hot!"
"My dear sister, it's so cold these days that you'll get goosebumps even in a short - sleeved shirt. Who would turn on the air - conditioner?"
Tian Danni frowned. "But I'm working in the studio. I should be given special treatment. If it's like what you said, everyone would slack off."
"Ms. Tian." The director rubbed his hands and came over with a big smile.
"What is it? Don't tell me I have to do another set."
"No no no, your state today is perfect!"
"Then what do you want from me? I'm so tired." Tian Danni raised her head proudly.
"It's not me. It's the manager of Ahairei who wants to see you."
The director's eyes narrowed into slits with a smile, looking just like a weasel.
She thought for a while in her mind and didn't recognize any such manager.
But since it was someone sent by Ahairei, it wasn't appropriate to be negligent.
"Take me there."
In the small tea room, the fragrant smell of tea was wafting in the air.
It was as if one was in a wooden house deep in the bamboo forest, leisurely savoring the vicissitudes of life.
"I've seen all your works. I quite appreciate them."
Xue Xiaoqi took a sip of tea and nodded in admiration.
"This Maojian tea tastes good. Would you like to try it?"
Tian Danni looked at this elegant and beautiful woman in front of her, a bit confused about her purpose of coming here.
"Did you come just to drink tea with me?"
Xue Xiaoqi chuckled. "No wonder you're known as the 'sweet and spicy wild pony' abroad. You're so straightforward, and your working style is quite unique."
"Then I won't beat around the bush. I'm here to talk about cooperation with you."
She was taken aback. "Cooperation?"
To receive an invitation for cooperation from Ahairei was even more difficult than finding a needle in a haystack. Now that the opportunity was right in front of her, Tian Danni hesitated. Was this offer a blessing or a curse?
"Do you really think the last endorsement and this photo - shoot were just coincidences? Or do you think you're so talented that you can outshine everyone?" Xue Xiaoqi hooked her lips meaningfully, with a hint of teasing in her words.
This made Tian Danni feel a bit disappointed and even thought she was being humiliated.
"What do you mean?"
Xue Xiaoqi took out a ticket and pushed it in front of her.
"The anniversary celebration on Victoria Island. You've never performed on stage abroad."
Her pupils widened in shock, and she remained silent.
"As long as you cooperate with me, I'll make you famous overnight."
Tian Danni was shaken.
After struggling abroad for so many years, just because she had no backer or background, she missed the opportunity to walk on the stage at the anniversary celebration.
If she had been able to perform on that stage, she would definitely have been one of the top models.
But because of her failure to be selected, Tian Danni had to give up her dream and was packaged as a singer and actress by the company. She had been persevering until now.
"May I ask what your purpose is for doing this?"
She smiled self - deprecatingly. "You could have easily found Xiao Shujing for this opportunity. She's more popular and has more traffic than me now."
Xue Xiaoqi raised her eyebrows indifferently. "I like competition. The winner takes all. You don't need me to teach you this truth."
"Moreover, I'll offer the same treatment to both of you. Whether she wants to keep climbing up is her business, and whether you want to see the scenery at the peak is yours. Ahairei only needs the strong and the wise."
After saying that, she poured another cup of tea and sighed regretfully.
"It's a pity that this tea can't stand the change in temperature. Once it gets cold, it loses its mellow flavor. If you re - heat it, it will be completely ruined."
Xue Xiaoqi stood up. "I'm looking forward to your reply."
Tian Danni's mood was mixed.
How could she not understand such an obvious truth?
Ahairei wanted to see her and Xiao Shujing compete openly and secretly, and then choose the most suitable person for long - term cooperation.
It was a life - and - death game.
The winner would enjoy supreme glory.
The loser would have to survive on meager popularity.
Just thinking about the incident of Xiao Shujing snatching the endorsement made Tian Danni resentful.
She knew that Su Minghan had suppressed the matter abroad.
From the moment she fled back, she was doomed to be humble.
"Danni?" Susan walked over quickly. "Why are you sitting here alone in a daze? I saw that woman who came to find you just left."
"I want to ask you something."
"Go ahead."
Tian Danni said seriously, "If you were given a chance to walk on the world's T - stage abroad, would you prefer to continue developing in the country or take a risk and give it a try?"
"Of course, I'd go abroad! Such a great opportunity doesn't come to everyone," Susan was puzzled. "Why do you suddenly ask this? Could it be that the woman just now came to talk to you about this?"
"Yes, she was sent by Ahairei."
"My goodness, our Danni is really making progress!"
Susan was so excited that she almost jumped up. "I've always known that it's harder than climbing to heaven to get the favor of that side! You must seize this opportunity. If you let it go, you won't be able to get it back even after ten years of hard work!"
"Um... I see."
Tian Danni replied with a worried frown.