Chapter 32: Like a Fairy
Saturday. Jiang Qiao came to Jiang Zhixu’s workplace without telling her.
“Little Jiang, there’s a really pretty girl in the shop today,” someone said.
Jiang Zhixu responded casually: “Really?”
“Like a little fairy, wearing a white dress. She’s absolutely stunning. She said she’s waiting for someone. Why don’t I ever get fairy-like girls waiting for me?”
Hearing this description, Jiang Zhixu immediately thought of Jiang Qiao. She abandoned adjusting the camera and ran downstairs.
“Hey, Little Jiang, you know her? Why are you running so fast?”
As soon as Jiang Zhixu got downstairs, she saw Jiang Qiao sitting there. She wore a white dress that fell just below her knees, her black hair flowing over her shoulders. She sat very straight, absorbed in reading her book.
Jiang Qiao was always immersed in her own world like this, as if everything around her was irrelevant.
“Qiao Qiao!”
Jiang Qiao looked up, delighted to see Jiang Zhixu: “Xu, are you off work?”
Jiang Zhixu checked her watch and smiled: “Not many customers this morning, not much shooting to do, so I can leave now.” She turned to the young man behind her: “My friend’s here, I’m going to lunch.”
The young man wore a white shirt, light jeans, had chestnut-colored hair, peach blossom eyes, and gold-rimmed glasses. His smile was as warm as spring: “Sure.”
Jiang Qiao held up two cakes: “I brought you cake.”
They both loved taro mille crepe cake, but sadly the shop downstairs had moved away years ago, and they never found one as good.
Jiang Zhixu took the cakes: “Thank you, my dear. Come on, let me treat you to something delicious.”
Jiang Zhixu took Jiang Qiao to a restaurant specializing in health soups with good food. She ordered pork bone and yam soup and several dishes Jiang Qiao liked, then handed the menu to the server.
“How is it? Is there a lot of pressure here?”
Jiang Qiao shook her head: “It’s fine.”
“Lots of homework?”
Jiang Qiao smiled: “I’ve finished it all.” Then asked: “Are you tired working here?”
Jiang Zhixu fed the first bite of cake to Jiang Qiao: “It’s okay. The boss is someone I know – the one you just saw. He’s a friend’s friend named Yao Jinghe. He’s nice but rarely around. Usually, the master photographer guides me.”
Jiang Qiao ate the cake: “That’s good then.”
Speaking of work, Jiang Zhixu looked troubled: “We’re missing a model for an upcoming shoot. It’s worrying. The original model canceled, and I can’t just grab random beautiful women off the street to photograph.”
Jiang Qiao couldn’t help laughing: “Well, you could.”
She asked: “What kind of photos are you trying to take? Why so worried?”
Jiang Zhixu thought for a moment: “We need someone stunning and bright, with a hint of heroic spirit in their features, for a traditional Chinese-style photoshoot.”
“Xu, have you considered being the model yourself?” Jiang Qiao looked very serious.
“Qiao Qiao, don’t tease me.” People often told her she had the right looks to be a model rather than a photographer, but Jiang Zhixu knew she became awkward in front of the camera, not knowing what to do with her hands and feet. She preferred photographing others.
“Xu, I’m serious. You should really try.”
Their food arrived while they were talking. Jiang Zhixu served Jiang Qiao some soup: “Try the soup, it’s quite good here.”
“Okay.” Jiang Qiao took a few sips: “It is good.”
After eating, Jiang Zhixu had to return to work. Jiang Qiao sat nearby reading, just like when she used to do homework while waiting for Jiang Zhixu to finish work.
Si Hai glanced at Jiang Qiao reading quietly and whispered: “Little Jiang, could you introduce me to your friend?”
“Get lost, my little one is still in high school and headed for a top university. Don’t get any ideas.” Jiang Zhixu glared at him.
“Alright.” Si Hai looked at Jiang Qiao regretfully.
…
“Tomorrow’s the deadline for photos, and we still don’t have a model.” Si Hai was worried sick. He looked at Jiang Zhixu in her floral shirt and straight pants with her striking features, and said mischievously: “Little Jiang, how about you try?”
Jiang Qiao looked up from her book: “Xu, you really should try.”
Before Jiang Zhixu could respond, Si Hai pushed clothes into her arms: “Little Jiang, go try them on.”
When she emerged, everyone was stunned. Jiang Zhixu had striking features to begin with, and in the red hanfu, she looked otherworldly, as if the clothes were made for her. They’d thought she might suit modern styles better, but in traditional dress, she had a completely different appeal.
Jiang Qiao evaluated seriously: “Beautiful.”
Yao Jinghe’s eyes showed surprise: “Nice. It’ll be even better with makeup.”
After makeup, Jiang Zhixu wore the red hanfu with her hair in a high ponytail tied with a red ribbon, adding heroic spirit to her features. Her fox-like eyes were captivating, though she remained stiff before the camera.
Jiang Qiao put down her book and whispered something in her ear.
The next moment, Jiang Zhixu’s expression became serious, almost expressionless. Her fox eyes gave her features an air of cold beauty. Holding a bow, she truly looked like a fierce female general in red.
After the shoot, Si Hai secretly asked Jiang Qiao: “What did you tell her earlier?”
Jiang Qiao just smiled and said it was a secret.
Everyone gathered around the camera to admire the stunning photos.
Jiang Zhixu said to Yao Jinghe: “I need a raise, being both model and photographer.”
Yao Jinghe smiled: “Of course.” He looked at her probingly: “Have you considered becoming a model?”
Jiang Zhixu shook her head: “Not for now. This was just to help out.”
Yao Jinghe looked somewhat disappointed but thought there was still time: “Alright, your photography skills are good too.”
Jiang Zhixu proudly replied: “Naturally.”
…
In the evening breeze, Jiang Zhixu cycled with Jiang Qiao riding along.
“Someday I’ll earn lots of money and pick up my little one in a luxury car.”
Jiang Qiao’s voice carried a smile: “You will.”
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