"I told you to go back and rest not because I'm firing you. I just want you to clearly understand your position. 'The leading bird gets shot at.' I don't think I need to teach you this principle, right?"
Tian Danni said all this earnestly and gently.
This was a rare occasion when she was in a good mood.
In the past, she would have started an argument.
Susan wasn't an obstinate person. After deeply feeling Tian Danni's concern, she sniffed and rubbed her eyes, then silently nodded.
"What are you doing?"
Xiao Shujing was so startled that she almost dropped her phone into the sink. She put her hands behind her back, looking nervous. "I... I'm just out here to get some fresh air."
Bo Jingyu stared at her with a skeptical look in his eyes.
She looked guilty, unnatural, and didn't dare to meet his gaze.
Just then, Su Minghan came out of the bathroom and immediately saw him.
"Um? Are you here to use the toilet too?"
Bo Jingyu replied calmly, "No. The staff member who came in to serve tea just spilled it on my clothes. I'm here to wipe it off."
He shook the water off his hands and took the tissue Xiao Shujing handed him. He said with a mischievous smile, "I have to say, it was a good thing that tea was spilled!"
"That Li Rui guy holds grudges even for such a trivial matter. Not only did he not serve good tea, but he also used this tongue - numbing stuff to entertain us. It's simply the behavior of a petty person who doesn't know how to show hospitality."
"We're still in someone else's company. Stop blabbering," Bo Jingyu said coldly, then turned his gaze to the phone in Xiao Shujing's hand.
Su Minghan was his good friend for many years. How could he not notice such a look in Bo Jingyu's eyes? Worried that he would say something hurtful again, he spoke up first to help her out.
"I'm not wearing any clothes with pockets today, so I asked her to hold it for me."
Bo Jingyu just grunted in response.
"Where are you going later? Do you need a ride with me?"
He shook his head. "No. I'm going to the hospital."
Su Minghan patted him on the shoulder understandingly. "You've been working hard. If you need any help, just say the word. I'll fly there in a helicopter right away."
Only then did a faint smile appear on Bo Jingyu's face.
"I'm leaving."
After watching his back disappear from sight, Su Minghan turned to the person beside him and said, "Let's go too. I'll take you back to school first."
"Wait a minute." Xiao Shujing blurted out before her brain could even think.
Su Minghan looked back at her. "What's up?"
"Just now... I... I..."
This feeling of guilt was just like the time when she framed Shen Ximan. She had difficulty breathing, and her heart was pounding irregularly.
"Are you feeling unwell?" He noticed her strange behavior.
Xiao Shujing didn't dare to look up or meet his eyes.
Since they were in the meeting room just now, Li Xiaoru's doubts were not unfounded. She had indeed received a notice from Juan Yi to go for body measurements.
And it was indeed scheduled for tomorrow.
But when Xiao Yang told her that Tian Danni had specifically asked her to take her place, her unrelenting self - esteem flared up.
She always felt like it was a hand - out.
It was just a cover photo shoot. Was it really necessary to make such a big deal out of it?
When Xiao Shujing was shooting for international magazines, Tian Danni was still a stunt double abroad! When she went out with Li Xiaoru for body measurements just now, her mind was filled with such jealous thoughts. She was even startled by herself.
So when Tian Danni called just now, she answered it instinctively, as if this was the only way to show her closeness to Su Minghan.
Now that she wanted to explain, she stammered and didn't know where to start.
She wasn't without guilt, but she didn't regret it either.
Was it wrong to love the person she loved and keep others away?
"Xiao Shujing, what are you up to this time?"
Su Minghan's cold voice pulled her back to reality.
There was no tenderness, no concern. All there was was the seriousness of a boss towards a subordinate.
"I just wanted to say that there's been a little hiccup with the public - service advertisement, but the specific time has been set. It will be past the due date in a day or two," Xiao Shujing made up an excuse.
It seemed that they could only talk about work now.
Su Minghan nodded. "What about your aunt?"
"I go to visit her every day after I finish shooting the assigned content. She's not as emotional as when I first saw her. I'll communicate with her slowly."
"That's good. You're a star who can take on important roles and can complete the assigned work independently. You can handle these things on your own in the future. There's no need to report them to me one by one."
He still had a cold look on his face and was about to leave.
"Minghan! I have something else to say," Xiao Shujing called out directly for the first time.
Although her voice wasn't loud, it was enough to surprise him.
Su Minghan stared at her, stunned for a few seconds.
"Do you still have something to say?"
"There's a design - department competition at the university tomorrow evening. I'll be a judge. Will... you come?" She looked at him expectantly.
Her eyes were eager and impatient. His heart wasn't unmoved. This pitiful look in her eyes made her look like a wronged puppy.
If it were in the past, Su Minghan would definitely have agreed.
But now, he was more worried about the fact that Tian Danni had been delayed and hadn't come to Juan Yi. He left in a hurry because he wanted to go and check in person.
Xiao Shujing felt her heart sink when she saw his hesitant expression.
He could talk and laugh with others, with Bo Jingyu, but he was cold to her. It wasn't like this before.
He used to be so good to her! When did it start to change?
Was it when Shen Ximan suddenly appeared? Or when Tian Danni got ahead of her?
"Tell me the specific time."
These words from Su Minghan had rekindled the dying embers in Xiao Shujing's heart. But the next sentence extinguished the spark.
"I'll try to come." Try...
She shivered inside.
"Okay, I understand." The result of her mustering up the courage was just a "try".
Boom!
There was a flash of lightning outside, and dark clouds gathered.
Seeing that the weather was bad, Su Minghan said, "I'll take you back first."
"No need. Xiao Yang is waiting for me downstairs," Xiao Shujing said with a dead - looking face.
"Can you stop being so childish? You still have to come for body measurements tomorrow."
"What does it matter to you?"
She tilted her head back with red eyes. "What's our relationship anyway? Why do you even care whether I'm being childish or not?"
Su Minghan looked at her in confusion. "Can you please talk properly?"
"I am talking properly. It's you who's being persistent and asking for an explanation," she knew she was making mistakes, but she just kept making them.
"Fine. If you delay tomorrow's progress, you'll have to bear the consequences yourself!"
His temper flared up. He rushed into the elevator without looking back.
The pattering rain hit the window and formed water droplets. The gentle breeze blew aimlessly back and forth, and soon whipped up a storm.
Xiao Shujing stood downstairs of the Juan Yi company and looked up at the heavy rain.
"Why did I argue with him? Why did I make him angry..."
She mumbled with pursed lips, blaming herself extremely.
"Obviously this was the only chance. Why didn't I cherish it..."
She held back the tears welling up in her eyes, slowly lifted her feet and left. The cold raindrops hit her body without any mercy. Taking this opportunity, Xiao Shujing began to sob softly.