Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
“The contract will be for two years. This much,” He Wei gestured at Yun Xiangxiang.
He actually didn’t expect the negotiations to go to this number. He paid more importance to the fame it would bring than the reward.
Austin was reluctant to agree before Yun Xiangxiang came. He Wei felt that he wasn’t too willing.
Yun Xiangxiang brought a surprise for him and them by herself. She didn’t just understand the philosophy behind the jewelry; she even expressed it with her body.
MonRoe’s identity as a top brand; Percy’s fondness toward her. The combination of these conditions stacked the recompense to this number.
“No, Brother Wei. I didn’t have the chance to do anything,” Yun Xiangxiang couldn’t express anything but gratitude toward He Wei. “With this, I can clear my debt to you.”
It was only clearing the debt. She had paid a third of it before this. As for the remaining two thirds of the debt, after deducting tax and giving half of it to the company, Yun Xiangxiang still had to fork a few million out to be able to just clear her debt with He Wei.
She was still a pauper. She still had to work hard to be able to pay Song Qian and Ai Li!
It wasn’t the first time Yun Xiangxiang nagged about paying him back. He Wei didn’t reject it anymore. It was obvious that Yun Xiangxiang was loath to owing anyone anything. If paying her debt could make her feel relaxed, then he’ll just let her be.
Yun Xiangxiang’s phone rang just as the car was stopping in front of the hotel. Going by the ringtone, it was Song Mian who was calling.
“Xiangxiang, is today okay?” Song Mian’s voice came through.
“Sure. Where are you?” Yun Xiangxiang had some free time in the afternoon. She would start shooting for the promotional video and advertisement tomorrow.
“Send your location to me. I’ll come pick you up,” said Song Mian.
“Okay,” Yun Xiangxiang hung up and sent her location to Song Mian on WeChat. She turned her head sideways and told He Wei, “Brother Wei, you go back to the hotel first. I have to meet a friend.”
“You have friends here?” He Wei wasn’t trying to interfere in Yun Xiangxiang’s life, but he was responsible for her safety.
“He’s the one who recommended Ai Li and Song Qian to me. Ai Li will be together with me,” Yun Xiangxiang explained.
He Wei hesitated for a moment before dropping Yun Xiangxiang and Ai Li off while he drove to the parking lot.
Around five minutes later, a low-profile black Lamborghini stopped in front of Yun Xiangxiang.
It was a sports car that only had the driver’s seat and one passenger seat. Yun Xiangxiang noticed that the driver was Song Mian in casual attire.
“You’re very safe, because I am here,” Song Mian turned his head sideways and smiled at Yun Xiangxiang.
Yun Xiangxiang thought about how inconvenient it would be if there was someone else besides them in the issue they were going to talk about. She asked Ai Li to go back while she got into the car herself.
Song Mian didn’t bring Yun Xiangxiang to any high end Western restaurants or luxurious places. He instead drove her to an elegantly beautiful bungalow with pristine surroundings.
“This is where I live. I know you like Chinese cuisine. Give me a chance to show you what I can do.”
“You even know how to cook?” Yun Xiangxiang was surprised.
To her, Song Mian was someone who wouldn’t concern himself over mortal affairs. He was like a young noble that sprung out of an ancient family; respectable and elegant.
“I am a human too,” He seemed to see through what Yun Xiangxiang was thinking. “A modern human.” Song Mian emphasized.
Yun Xiangxiang pursed her lips into a smile and followed Song Mian into the house.
There was no extravagant refurbishment with the house. Blue and white were its main colors. It made people think about blue skies and white clouds. It was refreshing, capacious, and free.
Various ingredients were already sprawling on the kitchen counter. All of them still unwashed.
Yun Xiangxiang tied her hair up in a bun and took off her jacket before coming into the kitchen to help. She already noticed that there was only Song Mian and herself here.
Song Mian didn’t stop her. He even gave her some work to do. Both of them didn’t talk much when they were preparing the ingredients. Yun Xiangxiang noticed how Song Mian was holding the knife when she was washing her hands. She also noticed that Song Mian was chopping fluidly.
She leaned against the wall while looking at his figure that was standing in front of the chopping board. He should be 1.88 meters tall. The upper half of his slender body was slightly arched. Even the sight of him with his head lowered to concentrate on chopping the vegetables was as pleasing to look at as a man in a painting.
“How many dishes do you want to make?” Yun Xiangxiang took a glance. There were abalones, shark’s fins, sea cucumbers, pork bellies, duck meat…
“I’m only making one,” Song Mian smiled mysteriously at Yun Xiangxiang.
Yun Xiangxiang thought that it was weird that so many ingredients would only be used for one dish.
She suddenly reacted and asked hesitantly,”Y…you are not making Buddha’s Temptation[1], are you!”
“This is my first time cooking for you. Naturally I will serve you with the best dish I can make,” Song Mian nodded. “And we just happen to have an afternoon’s worth of time.”
No wonder Song Mian started his preparations so early, “Ac…actually, you don’t have to trouble yourself…”
This was too lavish. Yun Xiangxiang only heard of this dish in her previous life. She couldn’t even afford it with her financial status.
She thought that nobody would be able to recreate the ancient flavor. She would rather go without tasting Buddha’s Temptation and kept longing for it than having a counterfeit, so that it wouldn’t affect its holiness in her heart
“As long as you like it, I won’t feel troubled even for my whole life.” Song Mian’s glittering eyes gazed at Yun Xiangxiang deeply.
Yun Xiangxiang felt her face getting scalding hot from his gaze. She didn’t know how to take it from there. Song Mian must have known why she came here, so he didn’t hide anything anymore, “I’ll go have a glass of water.”
Yun Xiangxiang swiftly went to the living room after she mumbled an excuse. She was really thirsty though. She sat on a chair in the dining hall after she filled a glass with water. She was a little messed up right now.
She couldn’t move an inch not because she fell for him. Song Mian was like a god who stood atop of everything. He could have gotten everything he wanted just by willing it. But he didn’t. He didn’t coerce her into anything. What he said wasn’t any kind of solemn pledge, but Yun Xiangxiang could truly feel his sincerity.
His every word came from the most earnest feelings in the depths of his heart.
He wasn’t being curious about her all of a sudden; nor was it limited to her being slightly different to other women.
He was clear about his feelings and gave his best to pursue her.
A perfect man wasn’t seductive. A perfect man who got serious was the true lethal temptation!
Yun Xiangxiang suddenly found herself unable to say anything about declining him. She had always known that everyone was equal. She had always put Song Mian and herself on the same line of human rights. However, she now felt that it would be a grave sin if she turned him down.
She thought that she didn’t have the right to refuse the wholeheartedness of such a man.
She felt absolute sincerity and respect from Song Mian.
It was the best treatment a man could give to a woman.
It pierced directly at a woman’s tender heart. Even Yun Xiangxiang couldn’t bear to reject it.
But she was someone who was mature enough to know that the reason she couldn’t reject him stemmed from the vanity and greed that any normal human would have. It wasn’t because she truly liked Song Mian.
She had to keep her cool. She couldn’t allow herself to trample on Song Mian’s innocent feelings.