96. Cutting It Close
Early in the morning, Ling Ning got up, feeling motivated. After all, there was work to do today, and work meant earning money. Who wouldn’t be enthusiastic about making some cash?
The night before, she had slept soundly, holding her daughter close—something she hadn’t done in a long time. When the alarm went off in the morning, she was reluctant to get up, but she couldn’t let it wake her daughter. Plus, she had work to do today, so she gritted her teeth and got up anyway.
After getting everything ready, Ling Ning grabbed her bag and headed out the door. As soon as she got downstairs, she saw Xia You standing by the gate, clearly having waited for quite some time.
The moment she saw Ling Ning, Xia You locked her phone screen and walked up to her, smiling brightly. “Ling Ning, you’re finally out~”
“Why are you so early?” Ling Ning was just about to call Xia You. She had woken up early today, factoring in Xia You’s arrival time, but she hadn’t expected Xia You to show up this early.
“No, I’m not~ I just got here.”
“Liar~ Look at your hair—it’s still a bit damp.”
“Eh?!” Xia You hadn’t expected her damp hair to give her away. She instinctively hugged her head, looking pitifully at Ling Ning.
Ling Ning smiled helplessly. “Why didn’t you just come up and wait?”
Xia You mumbled something and then lowered her head, looking like a child who had just been scolded.
Ling Ning was helpless when it came to Xia You acting like this. She could only reach out and gently pat Xia You’s hair. “I wasn’t scolding you, alright? Don’t think too much about it. Come on, let’s get some breakfast. I know a great place nearby—my treat.”
Xia You felt Ling Ning’s gentle hand on her head and even leaned into the touch slightly. For some reason, Ling Ning suddenly felt like she was petting a puppy.
Shaking her head to rid herself of that amusing thought, Ling Ning took Xia You by the hand and led her out of the complex.
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Thanks to the extra time they’d gained by Xia You arriving early, they had plenty of time for a leisurely breakfast before taking the subway to Central Park. Since it was early, the subway wasn’t crowded, making it a more affordable option.
When they arrived at Central Park, there was still half an hour before the scheduled time. Ling Ning wasted no time finding a bench and laid her head on Xia You’s lap, closing her eyes to rest. She was starting to enjoy Xia You’s lap more and more—it was getting harder to leave once she was settled.
Xia You looked down at Ling Ning and gently brushed a few stray hairs away from her face. As long as Ling Ning was around, Xia You felt at peace—like she didn’t need to think too much. As long as Ling Ning was there, everything felt right…
“Ling Ning…”
Xia You gazed at Ling Ning’s tempting lips, feeling a sudden urge to kiss her. But now the park was gradually filling with people, and Xia You reluctantly gave up on the idea.
“Giri Giri Eye, Ikenai Borderline…♪”
After a while, Ling Ning’s rest was interrupted by her ringtone, a song she had recently set after finding it online. She thought it was strangely addictive, so she downloaded it as her ringtone.
“Hello, Ling Ning? I’ve arrived at the park. Where are you?” The voice of He Miaomiao came through as soon as Ling Ning answered.
“Me? Just walk straight after you enter the park—you’ll see me by a big rock,” Ling Ning said after scanning her surroundings.
“Okay, wait for me there. I’ll be right over.”
Ling Ning got up and stretched lazily just as He Miaomiao came over, carrying a bunch of equipment with a few assistants in tow.
“You’re early, Ling Ning~ Who’s this?” He Miaomiao asked, glancing at Xia You curiously.
“This is my good friend, Xia You. She came to keep me company.”
“Oh~ Well, let’s get started then. We’re on a tight schedule today. Sister Zhou, I’ll leave the costume to you. Xiao Liu, take care of the makeup after Ling Ning changes. Uncle Zhao, please get the equipment ready.” He Miaomiao didn’t seem to mind the extra person, quickly diving into her work.
Since there was no changing room in the park—there were barely any buildings at all—Ling Ning had to change in the car. Fortunately, it wasn’t parked far away, or it would have been a hassle.
Once she was done changing, it was time for makeup. Xiao Liu, the makeup artist, was a young, fashionably dressed girl. Although she was called “young,” she was actually quite a bit older than Ling Ning—if you didn’t count her previous life. Xiao Liu’s makeup skills were highly proficient, which was helped by Ling Ning’s good skin. With flawless skin, there were fewer imperfections to cover, which made the makeup process simpler.
“Wow, Ling Ning, your skin is amazing! How do you take care of it? Tell me, please~” Xiao Liu asked enviously while applying the makeup.
“It’s not that great, really. I just… balabalabala~” Ling Ning quietly repeated the skincare tips Qin Qing had given her, watching Xiao Liu nod so attentively it seemed like she might take notes.
With the makeup done, the photoshoot began.
Since people in Tianchao loved to watch a spectacle, and Ling Ning was undeniably attractive, a crowd quickly formed. Some even thought she was a celebrity. Initially, He Miaomiao tried to keep the crowd at bay, but as more people gathered, there was little she could do.
This was Ling Ning’s first outdoor shoot, and the growing crowd made her nervous. The pressure built up, and mistakes followed one after another, forcing He Miaomiao to call for a break.
Ling Ning took the bottle of water Xia You handed her and took a sip. She knew she was making mistakes—up until now, all her shoots had been indoors, with only Qin Qing and He Miaomiao present at most.
“Sister Miaomiao, give me a moment,” Ling Ning said, turning to He Miaomiao.
He Miaomiao looked at her and nodded. She wasn’t surprised by Ling Ning’s performance—after all, indoor and outdoor shoots were entirely different. If this had been a regular shoot, Ling Ning’s work so far would have been sufficient. But today, they were shooting for next month’s “Goddess” magazine, so everything had to be perfect.
Using a newcomer like Ling Ning was a risk, and if they couldn’t deliver results, it would be hard to justify. But He Miaomiao wasn’t worried. She trusted her own instincts—Ling Ning had the talent and potential. She was confident she wasn’t mistaken.
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Author’s Note:
Just to say it again, making the protagonist earn money is not just filler (lol).