Can't Hide My Love for You - Chapter 34

The requirements for attending the Gris Fashion Gala as a “Friend of the Brand” were simple on the surface but difficult in practice.

“This is the jewelry the brand has prepared for you for the event. They expect you to successfully ‘recommend’—meaning sell—at least one piece,” Li Wenjing explained.

“Wait…” Cheng Yixin was bewildered. “I thought I just had to take a few photos?”

“Do you think they’d let you wear jewelry worth hundreds of thousands just for a selfie?” Li Wenjing massaged her temples. “Capitalists don’t give handouts. To put it nicely, they’re inviting celebrities for promotion. To put it bluntly, you’re there to be high-end sales reps.”

Li Wenjing then gave her a crash course on the hierarchy of fashion endorsements: “From highest to lowest, it goes: Global Spokesperson, Asia-Pacific Spokesperson, Greater China Spokesperson, China Region Spokesperson, Full-Line Ambassador, Series Ambassador, Product Ambassador, and finally, Friend of the Brand.”

“You’re just at the entry level,” Wenjing continued. “Whether you move up depends on your performance tonight. If the sales are good, Gris has even promised to custom-fit your high-fashion gowns for future awards ceremonies.”

Adults choose the latter, but Yixin felt nervous. “The main buyers at these galas are wealthy socialites. They usually prefer handsome young male stars. I don’t exactly have an advantage there.”

“Didn’t you say President Chi is attending?” Li Wenjing teased with a wink. “Just ask her. She’d definitely buy whatever you’re wearing.”

“Don’t treat her like a sucker,” Yixin muttered, looking at the photos of the jewelry. None of them really seemed like Chi Yi’s style anyway.

The Ten “Starry Sky Bears”

Back at the office, Chi Yi found a large cardboard box on her coffee table.

“What’s this?” she asked her assistant, Siwen.

When Siwen opened the box, she blinked in surprise. Ten “Starry Sky Bears” were neatly packed inside. There was no card, but the recipient was clearly Chi Yi.

“I didn’t buy these,” Chi Yi said, looking at the mountain of bears. Then, a realization hit her, and she broke into a smile. “I think I know who bought them.”

Chi Yi sent a WeChat to Cheng Yixin, inviting her to a movie. Yixin replied that she was stuck at a company gathering, but added: If President Chi comes to pick me up, maybe I can leave early.

Later that day, Chi Yi reviewed a proposal for a charity school her foundation was building in a remote mountain area. The project was nearly out of funds, and they needed a charity auction to buy supplies. The problem? As a low-profile private foundation, they didn’t have the celebrity connections to get free promotion or donated items.

The Drive Home

At 9:00 PM, Yixin slipped out of her gathering and into Chi Yi’s Maybach. Chi Yi handed her a cup of sobering tea.

“I didn’t drink,” Yixin said, though she took the tea. She noticed Chi Yi looked exhausted. “Did you just finish work?”

“Yeah, a long meeting.” Chi Yi pulled up a photo on her phone. “I received a package today. Ten identical bears. No note. Do you know who bought them for me?”

“No idea,” Yixin lied shamelessly. “Probably one of your ‘sweet younger sisters.'”

“Is that so?” Chi Yi teased. “She must be very generous. These bears are expensive.”

“You seem quite excited about it,” Yixin narrowed her eyes dangerously. “Sorry to burst your bubble, but there’s no younger sister. Just an older one.”

“Oh, so it was Cheng Laoshi?” Chi Yi’s eyes danced with mischief. “No wonder these bears smell so… sour. Like vinegar.”

Yixin pinched Chi Yi’s cheek. “Stop fantasizing about other sisters.”

“It’s fine,” Chi Yi whispered, smiling. “The one I fantasize about is you anyway.”

The playful atmosphere was shattered when the driver, A-Tao, slammed on the brakes. A-Tao panicked, apologized profusely, and explained that the car in front had thrown trash out the window.

Yixin noticed Chi Yi had gone stiff. Siwen immediately turned off the overhead light and spoke to Yixin to distract her. When they reached the residential complex, Chi Yi hurried inside.

Yixin sensed something was wrong. She doubled back and overheard Siwen firing the driver.

“Siwen, was it really just because of the brakes?” Yixin asked.

Siwen looked at her sadly. “Many people envy her for having everything, but they don’t realize she actually has nothing.”

Yixin found Chi Yi standing by the pond in her yard, looking lonely under the moonlight. She walked up and hugged her from behind. Chi Yi jumped, her body tense until she realized it was Yixin.

“I decided I want to watch TV after all,” Yixin said softly. “You haven’t taught me Cantonese lately.”

Chi Yi relaxed. “What do you want to learn?”

“How do you say ‘Go home’?”

“Faan uk kei,” Chi Yi replied.

“Then let’s ‘faan uk kei’ and watch TV,” Yixin said in her clumsy Cantonese. Chi Yi finally laughed.

The “Eight Percent” Mystery

A few days later, the Future City mall announced a massive “80% Off” (20% discount) sale for the entire mall, including luxury brands.

The internet went wild. Fans noticed the date of the sale—the 8th—was exactly the 5th anniversary of Cheng Yixin’s debut.

[Comment]: “If this is real, I’m staying in this ship forever! Chi Yi is paying for the discounts out of her own pocket. If this isn’t a gift for Yixin, I don’t know what is!”

The frenzy even reached Chi Yi’s own employees. They were all scrambling to request the day off to go shopping. Chi Yi, seeing the stack of leave requests, simply declared: “Everyone can have the 8th off, as long as your work is finished by the 9th.”

The Gris Gala

On the night of the gala, Chi Yi received a call from her uncle, Feng Tianyuan.

“Yi Yi, I heard you’re at the Gris gala tonight. Your aunt is there too. Our anniversary is coming up—see what she likes and buy it for me. Don’t let her know it’s from me; I want it to be a surprise.”

Chi Yi agreed. She checked the data Siwen sent over regarding Cheng Yixin’s jewelry for the night. Yixin would be showcasing a pearl necklace with a green emerald pendant set in white gold. Elegant, dignified—perfect for a high-society lady.

As Chi Yi’s Maybach arrived at the venue, the flashing lights of the paparazzi intensified.

Another car pulled up behind them, and Lu Qing stepped out.