CHAPTER 213: CHAPTER 215: ASTONISHING EVERYONE WITH HER SKILL

In the office, photographers were chatting about the shoot, comparing the photos they intended to submit, and speculating about who might attract Hanyu’s favor.

Fang Luohua walked over to Su Xingyu’s desk with a cup of coffee and asked with a grin, "Xingyu, how did your photos turn out this time? I saw you heading to the grove with Xia Ling that day, and later rushing to meet an imperial styling team... You didn’t happen to photograph Xia Ling, did you? If so, you must have hit the jackpot this time."

His joking question drew everyone’s attention.

That day, Xia Ling’s styling team made quite a stir, and everyone guessed whether Su Xingyu had convinced Xia Ling to model for her. However, most found it hard to believe. Xia Ling’s appearance fees were sky-high, and the company didn’t cover them. What would Su Xingyu pay with? Plus, it wasn’t just about money. Xia Ling’s team was reputedly picky with announcements; anything less than a big project wouldn’t catch their eye. Even if Su Xingyu knew Xia Ling—well, it seemed they were quite familiar—it didn’t mean Xia Ling would model for her.

A group of people were already buzzed with curiosity and eager to know the answer.

They gathered around and asked, "So Xingyu, did you photograph Xia Ling afterwards? It’s hard to believe, that young princess is notoriously picky and difficult!"

Su Xingyu smiled, since it wasn’t a secret or anything, and she directly pulled up the photos on her computer: "Yes, it’s Xiaoling. Although she’s not a professional model, she has a great sense for the camera, surpassing most professional models. You can take a look. I’m just about to send them over to her."

Frames of images appeared on the computer screen.

Su Xingyu’s photos were excellent, with outstanding composition and lighting capturing the autumn afternoon’s brilliance at the lakeside forest—like a poem, painting, or dream. A girl, along with her flawless fiery-red horse... Their harmony with nature was stunning, as if the girl had been born from the depths of the tranquil lake, untouched, unaware of the world’s dangers.

The girl was reaching out to stroke the horse’s mane, looking up towards the bits of gold interspersed with green among the treetops, the misty light enveloping her, making her appear as if she too were a beam of light.

According to Xia Ling’s dedicated photographer, Erikson, Su Xingyu’s photos captured a kind of mysterious sanctity and purity in Xia Ling.

There was silence in Blade Group’s office as all the photographers were stunned by the photos, unsure how to describe them in words.

Su Xingyu said, "That’s the charm of a good model."

This remark brought everyone back, and Fang Luohua was the first to speak: "The charm of a good model? Xingyu, you’re too modest! These photos stand out even among Xia Ling’s numerous striking photo shoots!"

"Yeah, yeah," many chimed in, "Xia Ling’s style is typically bold, and under her usual photographer’s lens, there’s a striking and aggressive allure. But Xingyu, these are different; these are softer than her usual style, and very... sacred," they thought of this adjective, "evoking a feeling of inviolability."

Su Xingyu smiled, "This pure feeling suits the environmental theme well."

Everyone nodded in agreement, full of admiration, and even Yun Xi and Xia Ranran, Zhuang Heng’s staunch followers, couldn’t say anything harsh.

After browsing the images, Fang Luohua sighed, "I thought I could try for Hanyu’s pick this time, but who knew you’d show up, Xingyu? You’re just a one-star photographer, yet your photos are so impressive. How can anyone else compete?"

Others chimed in with sighs, "That’s right, Xingyu with these photos, we can forget about competing. Are you really just a one-star?"

Su Xingyu laughed again, "Maybe I can level up next year?"

One photographer complained, "What do you mean maybe? I think it’s definite. Blade Group should revise its system; not everyone should be rated as one-star on entry. This makes us complacent and underestimating. I think you might even reach five-star level, Xingyu. Hao didn’t perform as well this time." The Hao he referenced was a five-star photographer.

Hao laughed and patted his head, "Why use me as an example? By your logic, Xingyu could even win a Gold Star Award. Miss Zhuang, a Gold Star photographer, was overshadowed too this time, wasn’t she?"

"Did you see the photos Miss Zhuang took?"

"No, she left early after injuring her face, didn’t she?"

At this point, an eerie silence enveloped the office, and many cast strange looks at Su Xingyu.

Su Xingyu: "Why are you looking at me? Is there a flower on my face?"

One photographer spoke to her in a complex tone: "Xingyu, are you very familiar with Xia Ling? This time Xia Ling took Miss Zhuang’s spot and even hit her. Be careful of Miss Zhuang causing trouble for you."

Su Xingyu then understood their meaning; after this incident, she and Zhuang Heng had completely fallen out, and it seemed even superficial niceties were impossible now. But that’s fine, masking her true feelings had never been her forte, whereas Zhuang Heng often used hypocritical gestures to annoy her. Ending the pretense made things simpler for her.

She said easily, "Trouble? Let her try."

Beside her, Yun Xi couldn’t hold back any longer, and sarcastically said, "Su Xingyu, do you think having Xia Ling as support means you can be fearless? Miss Zhuang will be the future Mrs. Lu! You dared to take her spot and collaborated with outsiders to scar her face, just wait, Mr. Lu won’t let you off easily. You might be fired tomorrow!"

Su Xingyu scoffed, "I’m sorry, I don’t know who started the rumor about Zhuang Heng being Mr. Lu’s future wife. Was it Zhuang Heng herself? I advise you to focus on your own work and stop jumping to conclusions. There’s really no certainty where Zhuang Heng will end up marrying!" Today, she felt rare confidence to say such things after Lu Shifeng commented on Zhuang Heng: "That’s her future in-law’s concern, and I have no interest at all," reassuring her that he won’t marry Zhuang Heng. Even if Zhuang Heng posed demurely, Lu Shifeng said no meant no.

Yun Xi merely chuckled, "Besides Miss Zhuang, who else could befit our Mr. Lu, you?"

Nearby, Xia Ranran and a few photographers laughed aloud; one of them accidentally met Su Xingyu’s gaze and quickly apologized, "I’m sorry, sorry, haha, Xingyu, I didn’t mean it, but this is just too funny, haha, haha, hahaha..." Su Xingyu marrying Lu Shifeng? What a joke, that was far too improbable!