Although Song JinXing left the mountain as early as possible, it started snowing heavily after driving for a while. The mountain road was already difficult to navigate, and with the heavy snow, visibility became extremely low, slowing down the driving speed.
Song JinXing drove very carefully, so by the time he got back to the city, the sky had completely darkened.
When waiting at a red light, he turned his head and asked, "Do you want to grab some dinner before heading home?"
Zhong Ruanxing shook her head, "We ate too much barbecue up in the mountains, I'm not hungry at all." She looked back at Zhong You, who had fallen asleep again in the child seat, "Let's just go home directly."
Seeing the shallow fatigue on her face, Song JinXing didn't say anything more. He drove them directly back home. He stopped the car on the street outside the residential compound. Zhong Ruanxing put on her hat and mask. The fuzzy knitted hat made her usually bright and striking beauty appear much softer, adding a touch of cute charm.
"Thank you for today, I had a great time."
Song JinXing looked at her and suddenly reached out towards her. Zhong Ruanxing was startled and reflexively tried to avoid him. He gave a helpless laugh, and plucked a pine needle from her hat, probably picked up when they were in the mountains.
He said in a low voice, "Go home, get some good rest."
Zhong Ruanxing couldn't keep up her cold face anymore after looking at him a few times. Finally giving in, she said in a slightly stifled tone, "Fine, as long as you know how to take care of yourself."
Song JinXing's smile made his usually sharp features appear exceptionally gentle, "I won't overexert myself, it's very important...work."
Zhong Ruanxing knew nobody could interfere with this man's decisions. She huffed, "I can't be bothered with you!"
After speaking, she got out of the car in a huff and went to the back to carry Zhong You out. Song JinXing also got out of the car. Still with a cold face, Zhong Ruanxing said, "Bye!"
Just as she was about to leave, he ruffled her knitted hat. She turned her head, meeting his deep gaze that seemed to contain some helpless concession, "Don't be angry, I'll take good care of myself."
Zhong Ruanxing immediately couldn't maintain her cold attitude anymore. After looking at him a few more times, she finally gave in and said somewhat glumly, "Fine, as long as you know."
Song JinXing said gently, "I understand."
Zhong Ruanxing's face regained its smile, "Then I'm going. Drive carefully."
He smiled and nodded, "Go home."
Zhong Ruanxing kept looking back as she left.
After getting home and taking a shower, she received a message from him before getting into bed:
- I'm home.
Zhong Ruanxing grumbled to herself inwardly, why does it sound like he's reporting in. She sent back a sticker expressing "Congratulations on your safe landing".
After that, it seemed Song JinXing became very busy. There were indeed a lot of things to handle at the company before the new year. But he still didn't miss the daily good morning and good night messages.
Zhong Ruanxing became a complete layabout at home, even giving up on exercising every day. She just lay around waiting to be fed by Zhong You and dad.
It was really setting an example as a last-minute rush job.
The day before yesterday of new year's eve, Ran Ting called her in pleasant surprise, "Ruanxing, there's a business opportunity asking to collaborate with you! If you agree, we can finalize it tomorrow."
Zhong Ruanxing was puzzled, "Right before new year's? What business would come looking for me now?"
Ran Ting said, "It's a nationwide personal art exhibition tour, hoping you can shoot a poster for them. The job is very simple, can be done in a morning. And they're offering a good price. I looked up this exhibition online, it's quite well-known in the industry, a high-end art exhibit. It would also be good for your image."
Faced with such a great business opportunity delivered to her doorstep, Zhong Ruanxing immediately agreed.
After hanging up, she started a 3-hour workout right away, trying to lose the extra weight she had gained over the past few days.
She was really setting an example for making up for lost time.
The client said they would provide styling and costumes, so Zhong Ruanxing went without makeup the next day, just wearing a mask as she headed out for the job.
Ran Ting and the driver came to pick her up. On the way, Ran Ting showed her the contract. It wasn't until Zhong Ruanxing saw the signature on the last page that she realized the client was "Bai Yinyue".
Seeing her artist suddenly freeze while staring at the name, Ran Ting panicked, "What's wrong? Is there an issue with the contract? Or a problem with the client?"
Zhong Ruanxing slowly regained her composure and smiled while shaking her head, "No problem, nothing's wrong."
She trusted Bai Yinyue's character, but still couldn't figure out what she was trying to do with this stunt.
Oh well, she would find out Bai Yinyue's intentions when they met.
The agreed photography location was at Bai Yinyue's exhibition hall. Zhong Ruanxing didn't even know she was in the arts before this - she had assumed Bai Yinyue was just a rich heiress. She was surprised to find out that Bai Yinyue already had such high achievements in the art world.
When they entered the hall, Bai Yinyue was indeed waiting there. Seeing Zhong Ruanxing, her smile seemed natural, with no sign of abnormality. "Miss Zhong, we meet again."
Ran Ting was a little surprised, "You know each other?"
Bai Yinyue smiled and said, "I'm Miss Zhong's fan, which is why I asked her to shoot the poster for the exhibition."
Zhong Ruanxing: "..."
Alright, if you say you're a fan then you're a fan.
After greeting the staff, Bai Yinyue took Zhong Ruanxing around the exhibition hall, "For this shoot, I wanted to convey the inner world of visitors resonating with the artworks when they come to see the exhibition. Miss Zhong can take a look at the paintings first to get a feel for it."
Zhong Ruanxing had never done such a cultured activity of visiting an art exhibition before. Looking at the snowy white hallway now, with painting after painting framed on the walls, she really felt a sense of awe. Turning to Bai Yinyue, she asked, "Did you paint all of these?"
Bai Yinyue generously replied, "Yes, this is my personal touring exhibition."
Zhong Ruanxing sincerely praised her, "You're so amazing."
Bai Yinyue laughed, "I've been learning to paint since I was little. When someone focuses on doing one thing from childhood through decades of their life, they have a high probability of success. Moreover, I also had the backing of family status. Miss Zhong is also amazing as an actress. We have both made achievements in our own fields."
With Bai Yinyue's personality, it really was difficult not to like her.
If not for the secret of their body swap, perhaps she really could have become friends with Bai Yinyue. But for now, Zhong Ruanxing could only maintain a client-contractor relationship, listening as Bai Yinyue explained the mood behind creating each painting, to get inspiration for the poster shoot.
After going through the entire exhibition hall, Bai Yinyue was clearly in a very good mood. "I can see that Miss Zhong genuinely likes my paintings."
Zhong Ruanxing nodded earnestly, "Of course, your works and your personality are both free and unrestrained, I especially like them."
Bai Yinyue looked at her, eyes brimming with ardent joy, "Hearing you say that makes me very happy."
