CHAPTER 100: CHAPTER 96 IT REALLY IS A BLOW TO MORALE

Long Bing’s lips curved into a graceful smile that adorned his face. He put on his coat without taking any further steps toward her, stretched both hands along the easel, looking at her from his advantageous position, and quickly glanced at the person on the drawing board.

Qi Longbing slightly furrowed his brow. "Xiao Mo, how can you make President Qi look so ugly?"

Hua Xiaomo didn’t take kindly to that. She could handle any criticism, but not doubts about her professional skills, especially since she studied art. Such a comment was truly disheartening.

"President Qi... I haven’t finished yet, okay?" Hua Xiaomo said, looking at his handsome face and trying her best to ignore everything below his neck.

The two conversed across the drawing board.

"Then continue painting!" Qi Longbing said with a laugh.

"You... you should sit back down on the sofa; it’s better," Xiao Mo suggested, pointing at the sofa.

THUMP! The Mineral Water bottle fell from Hua Xiaomo’s hand to the floor.

Qi Longbing was startled and instantly released his hold.

"Ah, my water..." Hua Xiaomo didn’t think much of it and immediately squatted down. But as she picked up the Mineral Water bottle and raised her eyes, she saw the spot that was supposed to be as serene as still water. He had somehow moved close to the drawing board.

Qi Longbing had only intended to tease her, but had he scared her instead? That was too unusual. Weren’t girls usually supposed to close their eyes or cry out of shyness when scared? Ha-ha, but it would be quite a spectacle if Hua Xiaomo ever did start crying!

He looked over at her, his voice a bit hoarse. "Can you... still paint?"

"Paint... wait, just a moment, just a moment..." Hua Xiaomo finally snapped back to her senses. She quickly steadied herself, grabbing the bottle of Mineral Water to take an eager gulp. "COUGH COUGH COUGH..."

A painful coughing fit caught in her throat. She frowned, clutching her throat tightly.

Unexpectedly, Qi Longbing was already beside her, kneeling down. He gently patted her back, hoping to ease her cough...

With just that pat, Hua Xiaomo flinched away as if startled and reflexively snapped, "Don’t come near me!"

This left Qi Longbing feeling quite awkward. He looked at her without saying anything for a good while.

Hua Xiaomo seemed to realize something was off, feeling a slight burning on her cheeks.

Damn it, why did she say that? Their current relationship was painter and model, all for the sake of art. And Qi Longbing was her model for the first time...

The words "I’m sorry" were about to leave her lips when suddenly, his magnetic voice, low and somber, drifted through the air. "To you, am I just some kind of monster?"

Qi Longbing watched her, the constant smile in his eyes now somewhat uncertain and clouded.

Especially since he was now squatting so beautifully before her.

Right now, from any angle, he was the epitome of male perfection, so stunningly handsome that he defied description.

His face was breathtakingly beautiful. A gentle smile graced his features, and his eyes, so full of life—his dark eyes, when slightly narrowed—were like smiling crescent moons, softly illuminating one’s soul and making her heart pound. This feeling welling up... was it real? That faint blush alone could stir anyone... It reminded her of rose petals; how beautiful that face was, simply gorgeous. She thought her drawing of him turned out quite well. Despite his earlier words, the ’him’ in the painting was truly excellent. She felt her painting was very good; the essence and spirit, every nuance of his expression, were all captured in it. It gave her an incredibly good feeling.