Chapter 78

“No.” Xi Ze replied calmly without a second of hesitation.

This answer made Ming Yu slightly shocked. He lightly placed the small bowl on the table and asked in a confused manner. “You know a lot about my itinerary and even knew what happened when I was recording on the island. This...” Ming Yu paused before continuing. “Yes, is this what Sister Du told you?”

Xi Ze shook his head. “She didn’t say you were sick.”

“That means Sister Du told you other things.”

Ming Yu didn’t think much about this issue because in certain aspects, he also had a strong desire for control. Assuming that he was a designer and Xi Ze the model he was interested in, Ming Yu would also use various means to make Xi Ze care about him. Ming Yu might be even more intimate than Xi Ze was now.

As long as the other person wasn’t malicious and cared for him, Ming Yu didn’t mind the man’s actions of having informants. His morale requirements weren’t high.

Xi Ze stayed silent and didn’t answer.

Upon seeing this, Ming Yu understood the other person’s words by default. He didn’t care too much and kept talking. “Since you know the situation of my jobs, you should know that I endorsed the Nideland Smoke perfumes. Isn’t the promotional effect very good?’

“I know.” Xi Ze lightly nodded and handed the porcelain bowl to Ming Yu. “Eat the porridge.”

Ming Xiaoyu, “...Weren’t we talking?”

Xi Ze who was still holding the bowl. “We can talk while you eat.”

Ming Xiaoyu, “...!!!”

Ming Yu felt that it was strange to listen to this man’s words and to talk about such a serious topic when eating glutinous rice porridge! Sometimes he would take a few sips, put down the porridge and speak a few words, then eat from the bowl again!

Ming Xiaoyu thought, ‘I don’t look solemn at all!!! （┙>∧<）┙へ┻┻’ But Ming Xiaoyu, do you think that sitting in bed and talking about serious matters is solemn...

“Then this matter has nothing to do with you. Did Shen Xiang assist in the publicity?” Ming Yu thought carefully before saying, “In fact, there is a loophole in what you said. My current momentum is good, but it isn’t enough to make Shen Xiang promote me to this extent. Brother Zhao said that Shen Xiang pays attention to the Muse models according to rating. Can you tell me what level I am at now?”

Xi Ze didn’t expect the youth to unexpectedly cut to the key part of the problem. He was startled and stared seriously into the youth’s eyes.

This contact gave Xi Ze a deeper understanding of Ming Yu.

This youth was quite clever and intelligent.

The two words weren’t repeated. Ming Yu’s IQ was high and his memory was good. He had a wide range of knowledge for a model and a first-class sense of aesthetics. This intelligence was supplemented by Ming Yu’s cleverness. His emotional quotient was high, he carefully observed small details and he had a good grasp of human nature.

If Ming Yu had questioned his level of concern a few months ago, it would’ve been impossible to ask Xi Ze in person. It was because at that time, their relationship wasn’t close enough. He paid close attention to human emotions.

Now Ming Xiaoyu knew that Xi Ze would happily answer this small question.

It also indicated that Ming Yu’s heart treated Xi Ze in a manner different to the vast majority of the world, maybe even everyone else.

The handsome and noble man couldn’t help feeling good as he thought this. His lips curved and he whispered, “The same level as me.”

Ming Yu was stunned when he heard the words, his spoon even freezing in the air. It took him a moment to digest the meaning of ‘The same level as me.’ Then Ming Xiaoyu frowned and asked, “Xi Ze, aren’t you too good to me?”

Xi Ze made a surprised expression. “How?”

Ming Yu replied, “...Isn’t it?”

Let’s put aside the level of concern in the company. Just look at the bowl of porridge and side dishes in front of him. Even if they weren’t made with Xi Ze’s own hands, he had ordered the take away. At the same time, Xi Ze stayed at his house since morning and took care of him until now.

If this wasn’t ‘good’, then what could be considered good?

Xi Ze didn’t immediately answer the youth’s question. His black eyes were like deep pools as he quietly stared at Ming Yu. The emotions in his eyes were very complex, but Ming Yu didn’t avoid the other person’s gaze. Rather, he calmly confronted it.

The two men watched each other for a long time before Xi Ze whispered, “Well, I guess so.”

Ming Xiaoyu, “...（/=＿=）/～┴┴”

Hey, you are a little irritating today!!

Xi Ze was probably aware of the youth’s gloomy mood but couldn’t help smiling as he used his chopsticks to help Ming Yu with a few dishes. He held the vegetables and said quietly, “I have been telling you from a long time ago that you are my muse, my source of inspiration. The picture I drew of you earlier, I got a good inspiration from it. Perhaps you can see the clothing in the next Ji and Ya show. And if you agree to be my model, I will treat you better than I am now.”

Ming Yu heard this and subconsciously asked, “Is it only if I become your model?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Xi Ze’s hands paused during the motion of selecting vegetables. After a short time, he shook his head and said, “There is another way that I can treat you 10,000 times better than ‘being my model’.”

Ming Yu didn’t ask and XiZe didn’t say anything more.

Ming Yu still had a bit of a cold and his appetite wasn’t very strong. If the porridge and side dishes hadn’t been too delicious, he wouldn’t have eaten so much. Once Ming Yu’s stomach felt full, Xi Ze removed the dishes. Ming Yu smiled and asked, “This restaurant’s food is really good. Where did you order it from Xi Ze?”

Xi Ze was startled by the words. He turned seriously and emphasized, “I, made, all, of, it.”

Seeing that this man insisted ‘the food was all his own’, Ming Yu could only nod helplessly. “Yes, you made it.”

Xi Ze, “...”

As Xi Ze was walking towards the door, the youth’s low and hoarse voice suddenly rang out in the room. “Xi Ze, I really want to thank you.”

Xi Ze’s footsteps suddenly paused. He turned to look at the youth behind him raising an eyebrow and asking, “Are you thanking me for making such a delicious meal?”

Under the bright and dazzling lights, the pale youth’s lips slightly curved, looking like a splendid spring flower, a type of sick beauty. He coked his head and solemnly continued, “It isn’t just for these things, but all the things you have done. Whether I know it or not, thank you.”

The words made Xi Ze feel startled for a very long time. Then he gave a low laugh. “A long time ago, I said I wouldn’t accept verbal thanks.”

Ming Yu asked, “...Ah?”

“What practical actions are you planning to use to thank me? For example, being my model?”

“...I’ll take back my thanks.”

***

His sickness came and went quickly.

Maybe it was because Xi Ze really took care of him. Ming Yu didn’t know what Xi Ze did, but he woke up feeling a lot better. The next day, there were no symptoms apart from some dryness in his throat.

Xi Ze was very busy but the next day, he still came downstairs to measure Ming Yu’s temperature. After confirming that there was no fever and his physical condition was much better, Xi Ze assured Ming Yu that he could freely move.

Ming Yu looked at the man’s serious appearance and couldn’t help murmuring, “Are you sure your surname isn’t Wang...?”

The confused Xi Ze, “?”

“Huaxia has an old saying: If you have difficulties, I will help. I live next door and my surname is Wang.’”

Xi Ze, “...”

The old Huaxia saying, “...”

After lunch, Mr. Xi, who might be surnamed Wang, left Ming Yu’s house first in order to let him rest. But Ming Yu wasn’t a person who could be still. He had two or three days of rest and felt that his body was completely good. Thus, on Zhao Rui’s advice, he attended a fashion show organized by a fashion magazine.

Occasionally, magazines would hold fashion shows and invited several good fashion brands to display a series of clothing. The one that Ming Yu attended was the exclusive fashion show of his old collaborator, Character.

Unknowingly, Ming Yu had acquired quite a high status in the industry.

In particular, the recent Nidelan advertisements overwhelmed people’s attention. Once Ming Yu entered the fashion show’s venue, many celebrities in the industry wanted to talk to him. Luo Ru smiled from beside him and accepted the business cards.

Once the fashion show was about to begin, Ming Yu found that sitting behind him was unexpectedly Wu Yuzhen!

Sir Wu was just as handsome as he was six months ago. Ming Yu chatted with him for a while before the fashion show began.

Half a year ago, Wu Yuzhen and Liu Qian were considered the best performers in the fashion industry in recent years and Ming Yu could only occupy a small section with them in Character. This indicated the reputation of the other party. Today, when Character sent an invitation to them, Ming Yu’s seat was placed in front of Wu Yuzhen. This showed how the world had changed in six months.

Small companies had the advantages of small companies, but large companies also had the advantages of large companies.

In a small company, Wu Yuzhen could get all the best resources and opportunities. In a big company, if Ming Yu had no strength and didn’t try hard to go up, the good resources wouldn’t come to him.

However, once in a big company, the resources obtain were incomparable to the small companies.

Once the fashion show ended, Ming Yu invited Wu Yuzhen to attend his birthday dinner next month. Wu Yuzhen easily smiled and agreed. There was no need to have too many barriers between friends. Ming Yu might’ve risen quite rapidly in the past half a year and surpassed Wu Yuzhen, but Wu Yuzhen didn’t mind it.

Only a small and weak-minded person would envy the growth of others instead of working hard.

After the fashion show ended, Ming Yu thought up a plan to change houses.

TL: From Hahachn’s Internet Slang Glossary: Next door+Old Wang. Mr. Wang who lives next door. This Internet slang term has two meanings: 1) The secret lover of one’s wife. 2) Someone else’s husband whom a woman often deems better than her own. She often annoyingly compares her own husband with that alpha male neighbor/friend/acquaintance hoping to inspire the husband to catch up with the “role model.”