Compared to the danger of being held captive once again by Li Junxin, being mistaken as Ying Yun’s girlfriend and thus losing romantic opportunities was hardly worth mentioning.
Although Yang Xueyi reported it to the police, Li Junxin had already fled, so there was no hope of catching him immediately.
Fortunately, things finally took a turn for the better afterward.
Yang Xueyi was lucky enough to never run into Li Junxin again, and even after some time had passed since the garden party ended, she still didn’t see him.
She had initially worried that Li Junxin would somehow find out where she lived and come to stalk her.
But by chance, when Yang Xueyi mentioned Li Junxin to Qiao Qianqian, her words completely dispelled all of Yang Xueyi’s fears.
“Li Junxin? You won’t be seeing him anytime soon.”
“That guy, I don’t know who he pissed off, but not long ago he got beaten up. The people who did it were especially arrogant—they beat him right at his doorstep. That day, he came home drunk in the early morning hours, so there were no witnesses on the road. Plus, the stretch of road has no surveillance cameras, and the streetlights were out, so it was pitch black. He was so drunk he couldn’t even tell who hit him.”
“The ones who beat him seemed to be pros—especially precise. They hit him on all the painful spots, but not a single bone was broken. It wasn’t enough to qualify as a legal minor injury.”
Qiao Qianqian was naturally unsympathetic and downright gleeful: “I heard he got slapped more than a dozen times, and each slap was so hard his whole face swelled up like a pig’s head. He was totally humiliated, couldn’t even show his face.”
“In short, it looks like he really pissed someone off. He can’t even stay in the country anymore. His dad hurriedly sent him abroad. He probably won’t be back for a long time.”
Yang Xueyi couldn’t wait to share this good news with Ying Yun.
“Ying Yun! Remember the wish I made last time? I hoped Li Junxin would get slapped and disappear! Evil-doers will bring about their own downfall! He really got beaten and shipped abroad! Oh my god! Is my mouth blessed or what? Every word I say is so accurate and powerful!”
Recently, Ying Yun had been inexplicably busy with night shifts to an absurd degree.
For a while now, he’d been coming home only after midnight.
It was only recently, as if after some major operation, that he managed to get home on time.
He probably treasured this part-time job she gave him very much because no matter how busy he was, he never missed washing the dishes once.
Good news lifted the spirits, and Yang Xueyi was already in a great mood.
She had just made another wish for a windfall and was surprised that it came true again.
She had just finished dinner when Qiao Qianqian brought her some good news.
“Weren’t you asking about part-time jobs last time? A bridal photography studio I work with needs a female model for some test shots. Want to give it a try? The male model they’re working with is super handsome!”
“I don’t care if the male model is handsome or not. I only care about the money. If it pays well, I’m in.”
After hanging up, Yang Xueyi noticed Ying Yun standing nearby.
Though poor, Ying Yun was still wearing his old clothes.
Unfortunately, the once expensive, meticulously buttoned cuffs were now rolled up, exposing part of his forearm—signaling just how much his circumstances had changed.
Ying Yun had just finished washing the dishes.
But even though he had just washed the dishes, standing off to the side, he still carried the aura of a young master.
Poverty hadn’t diminished his demeanor one bit.
Years of pampered luxury still showed in his every move, like he had never experienced hardship.
His pretentiousness was perfectly balanced.
“What male model?”
Ying Yun slowly rolled down his cuff and shot Yang Xueyi a warning glance.
Yang Xueyi wholeheartedly shared the news of her new part-time job, but Ying Yun’s reaction was far from pleased. Instead, his expression darkened immediately.
“Yang Xueyi,” he said coldly, “You’re not even married yet. Why are you taking wedding photos?”
“They’re not wedding photos, just bridal test shots!”
Yang Xueyi was annoyed.
“It’s basically the same as regular commercial modeling.”
“There’s a difference.”
Ying Yun pursed his lips in strong disagreement.
“How would your future partner feel seeing this? He’d be bothered.”
He paused and awkwardly added, “You know, some guys are petty and get annoyed easily. To avoid trouble, I suggest you just don’t do it.”
Yang Xueyi wanted to roll her eyes.
“I don’t even know where my future husband is. Why should he care?”
At that moment, Qiao Qianqian sent photos of the male model.
Yang Xueyi opened them and was quite surprised.
“He’s pretty handsome.”
She waved the phone at Ying Yun.
“Look, this is my wedding photo partner.”
She didn’t expect a response from Ying Yun, but unexpectedly, he came over, took her phone, and glanced at the screen with his usual disdainful look.
Then he tossed the phone back to her.
“Not impressive.”
If another man said that, it would probably mean jealousy, but coming from Ying Yun…
Yang Xueyi looked at his sharp, stern face and swallowed the words “You’re just jealous.”
Compared to Ying Yun, the guy really wasn’t much.
For Ying Yun, it wasn’t jealousy but simply stating the facts.
Yang Xueyi couldn’t argue.
She could only complain, “Maybe my future husband isn’t as handsome as him.”
“Not necessarily.”
Ying Yun’s voice was cold.
“Aim high. You have potential. Why settle for someone less handsome? Be responsible for your future partner. There are a lot of petty men out there. Just don’t do it.”
“I’m not using you as a benchmark. By average standards, isn’t he handsome? What do I lose? The important thing is, Ying Yun, this job pays!”
Although Yang Xueyi had joined Yi Yi Translation, as a newcomer, she didn’t yet have stable long-term clients.
So in her first month, she mostly earned just a fixed salary without commissions, limiting her income.
This part-time job was exactly what she needed!
“How much?”
“Ten a day, paid daily!”
As expected, the young master’s first reaction was to pull out his phone and try to transfer money to her.
But halfway through, realizing he was broke, Ying Yun hesitated.
Poverty breeds restraint.
Just when Yang Xueyi thought he would leave quietly, she saw Ying Yun rub his brow with a grimace, his face twisted in frustration.
“You’re taking wedding photos for only ten? I made two thousand just for that dance performance back then.”
No wonder bosses always prevent subordinates from knowing each other’s salaries…
Yang Xueyi was so pleased with herself that she forgot prices should remain equally opaque.
Sure enough, Ying Yun’s expression hardened into one that said he would never let this go easily.
Now that he was broke, he might even borrow the “rights protection” routine to demand money from Yang Xueyi.
But she had already spent the money on furniture, so refunds were impossible.
Yang Xueyi quickly came up with an idea.
“How about this, Ying Yun? You’re pretty good-looking too. Let me ask Qianqian if they still need a male model. Instead of the money just going between my pocket and yours, why don’t we join forces and make someone else part with theirs?”
She regretted saying this as soon as the words left her mouth.
Ying Yun was down on his luck, but he still carried the airs of a noble young master.
He had just scolded her for wanting to shoot wedding photos over ten bucks, saying it would upset her future partner.
There was no way he’d agree to expose himself on camera.
Especially since he was so devoted to his first love, there was no chance he’d agree to debut in a wedding shoot for ten bucks.
But to Yang Xueyi’s surprise, Ying Yun was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.
He averted his gaze, leaving only a profile: “Ten a day, paid daily, barely acceptable.”
Looking at Ying Yun’s sullen, ashen face, Yang Xueyi could see his sharply chiseled profile was forcing strength from within.
Look at what poverty had done to Ying Yun—he was bending just for a few meager coins!
Yang Xueyi felt a deep sympathy and immediately contacted Qiao Qianqian, but unfortunately…
“The original male model only wanted eight hundred. Ten is really impossible. They’re not that short on male models!”
Though the call wasn’t on speaker, Qiao Qianqian’s voice was loud and clear, so Ying Yun heard every word.
Yang Xueyi glanced awkwardly at Ying Yun.
Before she could say, “Maybe forget it,” Ying Yun snatched the phone away.
Oh no, the young master’s temper was definitely flaring.
He must think eight hundred is an insult and be about to curse!
Yang Xueyi braced herself to apologize to Qiao Qianqian when Ying Yun spoke first.
“Six hundred,” he said coldly, adopting the posture of a big shot about to close a billion-yuan deal but humbling himself.
“I’ll do it for six hundred.”
Three minutes later, the impoverished Ying Yun had successfully disrupted the market and entered the scene, about to earn his first pot of gold.
Originally, Yang Xueyi was eager to try the bridal shoot, but now she deeply regretted it.
At the bridal studio, dressed in the wedding gown prepared by the shop manager, Yang Xueyi looked in the mirror and felt a sudden urge to back out.
No one had told her the wedding dress would be so revealing…
The gown was a heavily embellished lace design with sheer fabric on the shoulders, elegantly off-shoulder to accentuate the lines, fashionable and ethereal.
But while the strapless dress looked fine hanging in the wardrobe, it had a very different effect once on her.
Though strapless, the fabric at the chest was boldly designed with a semi-transparent thin veil.
The waist was cinched tight, emphasizing her exaggerated hourglass figure.
“A real fairy descended to earth!”
Qiao Qianqian’s eyes lit up when she saw Yang Xueyi.
“Wearing it like this, no one can take their eyes off your chest!”
But in the next moment, Yang Xueyi realized Qiao Qianqian was just flattering her.