CHAPTER 206: CHAPTER 208: THE MOST DAZZLING MODEL

Zhuang Heng cleared his throat, realizing that staying any longer would only embarrass himself further. He excused himself to Xia Ling, citing an urgent matter, and quickly picked up his camera and slipped away from the crowd.

Xia Ling still felt unsettled and shouted at his retreating figure, "Exactly! How can you be the Blade Group’s chief? Hurry up and hand that title over to Xingyu!"

Zhuang Heng’s steps faltered slightly before he hastened his pace, vanishing from everyone’s view.

The crowd remaining at the scene felt a surge of respect for Xia Ling; never before had anyone managed to make Zhuang Heng lose face like this! Furthermore, they admired Su Xingyu, an ordinary girl who had the courage to stand against Zhuang Heng.

Many of Blade Group’s photographers, who previously admired Zhuang Heng without question, now found their admiration chipped away by this incident. Whether it was Zhuang Heng pretending to know music or being unprofessional and careless during photography; it made people feel she wasn’t as perfect as she appeared on the surface.

It’s easy to establish an idol, but a collapse takes just an instant.

A photographer approached Su Xingyu, extending goodwill: "Xingyu, I see you haven’t found a model yet? How about teaming up with me for some photos?"

Several models who had just rejected Su Xingyu now snapped out of it and approached her: "Sorry, Miss Su, I was really busy earlier and couldn’t accept your invitation, but I’m free now. Please photograph me."

"Photograph me."

"Photograph me."

Su Xingyu was surrounded by them, but in her heart, she knew clearly that these people weren’t necessarily giving her face; rather, they valued her close relationship with Xia Ling.

Ah, Xia Ling! The super diva of the entertainment industry! Any news she makes ends up as headlines, so it’s understandable that people want to connect with Xia Ling through her. However, Su Xingyu dared not cause Xiaoling any trouble; this girl was too innocent, and despite having Pei Ziheng and Chu Chen’s protection, Su Xingyu still worried she might be deceived and taken advantage of.

She smiled and declined the photographers and models, "No need, I have my own way to take pictures."

Those around her looked disappointed, each regretting how stupid they were to initially reject Su Xingyu.

While Xia Ling, with her strikingly beautiful eyes, looked at her, "Xingyu, those people just refused to be your models? Why? That’s too much!"

"Because..." Su Xingyu didn’t mind much, casually pointing to the disheveled Su Xingqi next to them, "They listened to her provocation and teamed up to bully me."

"That’s just too much!" Xia Ling had an explosive temper, immediately raising a riding crop and pointing at Su Xingqi, loudly saying, "All of you listen up! From now on, do not take a single picture of this woman, got it?! If there are any previous ones, destroy them! I’m going to blacklist her, yes, blacklist her!"

She said the words "blacklist" with impressive conviction.

Su Xingyu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry; this girl was truly uninhibited.

The photographers exchanged glances, but just as those models felt it wasn’t worth angering Zhuang Heng over Su Xingyu, now these photographers believed it wasn’t worth upsetting Xia Ling over Su Xingqi. They dispersed silently, some searching for angles, some arranging equipment, completely ignoring Su Xingqi.

Su Xingqi felt her heart grow cold, realizing her photoshoot was completely ruined today. She dared not take issue with Xia Ling and could only bow her head and slip away from the lawn in defeat.

Once everyone had dispersed, Xia Ling complained to Su Xingyu, "Why is your work such a hassle? What’s your husband doing? How could he just watch you get bullied?"

Su Xingyu said, "He doesn’t know."

"He’s such an idiot!" Xia Ling had always been at odds with Lu Shifeng, and had no reservations about criticizing him. After venting, she pointed proudly at Chu Chen and several black-suited bodyguards beside him and said to Su Xingyu, "Look, Ziheng assigned me so many people, it’s so impressive, nobody would dare bully me! And this isn’t even work time, during work, you’d see a whole fleet of follow photographers, makeup artists, and assistants!"

Su Xingyu said, "I’m not used to having so many people."

If she wanted, Lu Shifeng could assign her a whole bunch of bodyguards, but she worked hard to conceal her identity just to lead a normal life like any ordinary person, right?

Looking at Xia Ling’s lifestyle, could that be considered normal?

"Really... suit yourself," Xia Ling lost interest in pursuing the topic, tapping the African drum a few times before perkily saying, "Do you need a model? Should I be your model? For free! Xingyu, I’m telling you, I’m quite the pro at modeling, countless people line up with money yet can’t hire me! Right, Chu Chen?"

Next to them, Mr. Chu looked at Su Xingyu, "The photoshoot results must be vetted by me before publication."

Su Xingyu understood and nodded. For someone like Xia Ling, the viewership for any random photo would be staggering, so naturally, everything had to be scrutinized.

Still, confident in her photography skills, she smiled and said, "Alright Xiaoling, but let’s be clear, it’s really free? Don’t regret it later, I can’t afford to pay you so much." Given her current financial situation, hiring someone like Ouyang Yi would be bankrupting, and although she didn’t know Xia Ling’s invitation rates, they certainly wouldn’t be cheaper than Ouyang Yi’s.

"Really! Free, free!" Xia Ling said happily, and then added as if realizing something was off, "Wait, your husband’s so wealthy, how come..."

"I never use his card," Su Xingyu explained.

Xia Ling misunderstood her meaning, already resenting Lu Shifeng, erupted, "Lu Shifeng is such a bastard! ... Ah."

After shouting, she suddenly thought of something, frightfully covering her mouth.

Su Xingyu: "..." She recalled telling Xiaoling to keep her identity a secret!

Xia Ling, feeling guilty, glanced at her and then turned to say, "Can you guys pretend you heard nothing?" Fortunately, only Chu Chen and the bodyguards were nearby.

Chu Chen was surprised internally, but nonchalantly glanced at Su Xingyu, realizing she was actually the Lu Family’s young madam. No wonder Xia Ling knew her. Being Pei Ziheng’s confidant, he’d heard Pei Ziheng mention how the quiet young master of the Lu Family had secretly married an ordinary girl, but he didn’t expect to encounter her here.

Looking at her demeanor, she seemed to have married Lu Shifeng quietly? So low-profile.

While turning these thoughts over, Chu Chen nodded to Xia Ling: "Relax, me and Lei Zi won’t say anything."

He then bowed respectfully to Su Xingyu, "My apologies, Mrs. Lu."

Su Xingyu was not accustomed to such formalities, "No need to be so polite, I’m friends with Xiaoling."

"Courtesy cannot be neglected," Chu Chen smiled gently, voice soothing.

He felt fondness for this Lu Family’s young madam—knowledgeable and sensible, now that’s what normalcy looks like. In contrast, his own boss’s adopted girl? If she didn’t leave a mess for ten days, that’d be impressive.

In Chu Chen’s heart, he was truly envious of the Lu Family.