Su Qiao was brought in by their client, Cheng Yu. The staff in the studio treated him politely.
Seeing him enter the dressing room and sit next to Qi Feng, they assumed they already knew each other and did not stop him.
Several stylists were doing Qi Feng’s hair while smiling and said, “Teacher Su, your presence here adds to the pressure on us.”
“It’s alright, please continue,” Su Qiao said.
Su Qiao sat next to Qi Feng, looking at the boy in the mirror, and said with a smile, “I came to see Qi Feng.”
Qi Feng, looking at Su Qiao in the mirror, calmly asked, “Do you need something from me?”
Su Qiao observed the boy, “You have a good temperament. I was just thinking of asking you to model for my next season’s clothing.”
Qi Feng countered, “Teacher Su, didn’t you say I don’t fit your design style?”
This was what Su Qiao said to Qi Feng that day in the Donghai Investment Conference Room.
“How could that be?” Su Qiao pretended to be innocent and continued with a smile, “Our temperaments are very alike. You definitely suit my designs.”
After he said this, the stylists, in surprise, simultaneously commented, “Wow, you two do indeed look alike.”
“Similar facial features, similar temperament, and both have a beauty mark, what a coincidence.”
“Both so handsome and good-looking.”
…..
Fang Cheng stood aside, frowning.
No one would be happy to see their partner’s ex-boyfriend, let alone an ex-boyfriend who looks a lot like themselves.
But Fang Cheng did not care whether Pei Yan had a relationship with Su Qiao before. What mattered was that Su Qiao was obviously provoking by saying these things! Intentionally provoking before Qi Feng’s shoot!
He was furious and wished he could cover Su Qiao’s mouth and throw him out.
But if he did that, it would only bring bad attention to Qi Feng. All he could do was to worryingly watch Qi Feng, hoping he wouldn’t be affected by this green tea person.
He saw Qi Feng, with clear eyes and a smile, look back at Su Qiao and calmly say, “Yes, if we look so alike, it’s easy for people to see us as reflections.”
“I wonder if Teacher Su has had this kind of experience when designing clothes. Having an ideal style in mind, but not being able to bring it to life.”
“In a daze, finally seeing a dress outside that resembles your ideal, and then realizing it’s not your ideal, just a reflection.”
“Has Teacher Su ever encountered this kind of situation?”
The boy tilted his head, subtly raising his jaw as he questioned Su Qiao, his curved peach blossom eyes exuding a hint of allure, like moonlight shining into a deep pool, flickering with dark and sharp light.
Fang Cheng didn’t understand his meaning but seeing Qi Feng’s reserved manner mixed with arrogant momentum, he knew he was directly overwhelming Su Qiao.
Sure enough, Su Qiao’s face stiffened.
He had come here with a purpose to provoke, his words filled with deep meaning. He would certainly have a deeper understanding of Qi Feng’s words.
Was Qi Feng saying that he is his own reflection?
Or… was it the opposite?
Looking at the boy’s bright, mocking eyes, Su Qiao suddenly felt flustered.
Could he be Qi Feng’s reflection?
Did Pei Yan know Qi Feng before he met him in high school and thought of himself as a reflection? Was it actually Qi Feng whom Pei Yan had been seeking all along?
How… how could it be possible?
He wanted to deny it.
But thinking of Pei Yan’s attitude towards him and his protection of Qi Feng, Su Qiao panicked.
If it were true, how embarrassed he would appear in front of Qi Feng.
Su Qiao looked up in the mirror at Qi Feng and himself.
While Qi Feng looked calm and elegant, with a slightly mocking smile, he… was in a daze.
He completely lost.
No! Su Qiao suddenly realized it and regained his composure.
Qi Feng was intentionally saying that, really… almost fooled by him.
With a forced smile, Su Qiao replied, “I haven’t encountered that situation because whenever it’s a style I idealize, I personally design it. However, some brands in A City have secretly imitated my style and created mirror-image designs that resemble mine.”
He then smugly added, “I plan to establish my studio in A City. Before long, Danna.Su’s brand will be known throughout S City. I bet those imitations will be exposed as well.”
He leaned closer to Qi Feng and inquired slyly, “Do you think people will criticize those who previously bought mirror-image clothing after seeing my designs?”
He wanted to build his reputation in S City, and at the same time, the rumor that Pei Yan liked him could spread along with his reputation.
At the right time, he would release the news of Pei Yan being together with Qi Feng.
In this way, Qi Feng’s appearance would become the focus of public opinion. Everyone would say that Pei Yan was with Qi Feng because he couldn’t forget about himself.
‘Stand-in’, ‘fake’, and such rumors would follow Qi Feng for life. Artists care most about their reputation, and so does Qi Feng. If he wants to stay in the entertainment industry for a long time, he cannot let such rumors exist.
Su Qiao looked triumphant, “You’ve already gained a lot. It’s time to learn when to let go. This way, you can leave with dignity.”
Su Qiao approached Qi Feng, slowly raised his finger to his lips, and said, “Qi Feng, it’s time for you to leave.”
He wanted to threaten Qi Feng to leave Pei Yan in this way.
Even if he couldn’t have him, he didn’t want anyone else to either.
If Su Qiao had hinted vaguely before, now he was being straightforward in his threat and challenge.
Fang Cheng’s blood pressure soared as he watched Su Qiao’s triumphant face. He felt especially sorry for Qi Feng; hearing those words must be tormenting.
He looked at Qi Feng.
To his relief, Qi Feng was not at all affected by Su Qiao.
“Teacher Su is overthinking,” the boy said with clear eyes and a smile, noble and gentle. “A reflection is just a reflection and cannot replace the charm of the original. People in A City have their own discerning abilities. After seeing imitations, they can judge them. So… you don’t need to worry about being imitated.”
His clear voice, like cool water, sent a chill through Su Qiao.
Qi Feng wasn’t at all afraid of his threat and even dared to bring up the issue of imitation?!
No, he must be pretending.
Hmm, you can pretend.
“Is that so? Then, let’s wait and see,” Su Qiao sneered and turned to leave.
—
The shoot began.
Under the guidance of the staff, Qi Feng walked towards the bright, dazzling stage.
He had previous experience with shoots.
However, the requirements for endorsing a financial company were fundamentally different from those of Yipin Men’s Wear, which pursued the charm of clothing.
He needed to convey a sense of affinity and trustworthiness that would attract investors and the market. So, from the moment he accepted Donghai Investment’s endorsement, he began studying all the promotional photos of the artists who had endorsed financial companies, analyzing their experiences and the market effects in order to deduce the facial expressions, postures, and subtleties.
Before today’s shoot, he had practiced countless times in front of the mirror and taken hundreds of selfies with his phone. He already knew how to face the camera and control his expressions.
Now, standing on stage, he was composed and at ease. Seeing the photographer’s impressed and satisfied expression and the continuously clicking shutters, he knew this shoot was going smoothly.
Backstage.
Su Qiao and Cheng Yu sat in the lounge, watching the radiant boy on stage.
Su Qiao’s hands clenched tighter, his knuckles turning white.
Before the shoot, he had said those things to Qi Feng not only to threaten him but also because he didn’t want Qi Feng to get into the right frame of mind. As a fashion designer, he often watched his models strut down the runway. So, he understood the difficulty of suppressing facial expressions when angry, jealous, panicked, or depressed.
Under the bright stage lights and high-resolution cameras, his facial expressions would be magnified several times, so even a slight change in expression could affect the result.
He was delighted to bring some difficulty to Qi Feng’s shoot.
However, he was completely disappointed.
Qi Feng on stage was confident, dignified, elegant and charming.
His aura surpassed that of any model he had ever used.
Cheng Yu’s knowing eyes seemed to sprout invisible vines that were frantically entwined around the dazzling boy on stage.
He said, “Su Qiao, do you know how you’ve lost? Trying to defeat him with such little cleverness? Impossible, you don’t even know… who he is.”
Su Qiao replied, “So what? Sooner or later, people will know that he is my stand-in.”
Cheng Yu retorted, “What’s the matter? Can’t stand it anymore? Do you want to expose them? Are you not afraid of Pei Yan catching you?”
Su Qiao pursed his lips and remained silent.
Cheng Yu chuckled, “Near No. 35, Area E, of the underground parking lot of the community, around 6 p.m., you may have a chance to see Pei Yan and Qi Feng get off the car at the same time.”
—
After the shoot, Cheng Yu wanted to treat everyone to dinner.
Qi Feng was wary of him and politely declined. After bidding farewell to others, he returned to his car with Fang Cheng.
Fang Cheng finally had the chance to be alone with Qi Feng, and he couldn’t help but be angry. “Xiao Feng, Su Qiao deliberately tried to unsettle you during the shoot. Don’t take his words to heart.”
“You’re right. I think he’s just a fake. Even though he is an internationally renowned designer, his character is terrible!”
“He also dared to threaten you. Don’t worry about his words. If he dares to expose your relationship with Mr. Pei, Mr. Pei won’t let him off, and his fate will be like Ning Yufei.”
“I know.”
Looking out of the window, Qi Feng calmly asked, “Has my house been tidied up?”
Fang Cheng was surprised but then remembered that Qi Feng had mentioned going back home.
He tentatively asked, “It’s almost ready. Are you really going back home? You know… regarding Su Qiao and Mr. Pei…”
“It’s not related,” replied Qi Feng in a calm voice. “Hurry up. Before Pei Yan gets off work, I’ll go to his house and bring back my things.”
Fang Cheng, “Okay.”
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