Roommate Won't Spoil His Pretty Boyfriend? Fine, I'll Do It - Chapter 13

There was a small table beside the photo studio, just large enough for two people to sit.

Mu Nian opened the pink lunchbox brought by Bai Shijin, and the wave of appetizing food aromas made his stomach rumble.

Bai Shijin cautiously asked once more, “Brother Mu, is Qinfan really alright? You two quarreled because of me. I feel a bit uneasy.”

Chewing his food with his cheeks puffed out, Mu Nian replied, “Don’t think about it, it has nothing to do with you.”

Bai Shijin curved the corners of his lips while Mu Nian looked down to eat. Sensing that the sowing of discord was going well enough, he prepared to take the next step. He glanced around the studio with a look of curious interest and asked, “Brother Mu, what are you all doing here?”

“The company is lacking a model, so we’re holding auditions and recruitment.”

“It looks quite interesting,” Bai Shijin asked. “Are you finished?”

Mu Nian nodded. “Yes, it’s already over, but it was basically a waste of effort. We couldn’t pick out a single suitable person all afternoon, and somehow Ye Qinfan ended up performing the best out of the bunch.”

Bai Shijin let out a soft oh, then asked, “Then what are you going to do now that he got mad and ran off?”

“He’s just acting spoiled. He knows what he’s doing. After letting off steam for a couple of days, he’ll be fine.”

No matter how many hints Bai Shijin dropped, Mu Nian failed to say what he wanted to hear. Deciding to drop the beating around the bush, Bai Shijin asked directly, “Brother Mu, do you think I meet the recruitment standards?”

Mu Nian paused. “You?”

If it were Bai Shijin, that would be even better. Not only did he meet the height requirement, look handsome, walk gracefully, and have broad shoulders and long legs, but the crucial part was that his temper was good and he could be easily molded.

Bai Shijin said, “I’m quite interested. Can you let me try? I don’t need a salary, and if I fail the audition, that’s fine. If I pass, just consider it helping you out, Brother Mu.”

Mu Nian blinked his eyelashes and smiled. “If you really pass, how could I not pay you a salary? This isn’t some shady company. Your conditions are so good, I’m certainly willing to let you try, but you’re still in school. Won’t this delay your classes?”

“It won’t,” Bai Shijin said firmly. “I’ll use my free time, it won’t interfere with my studies, I promise.”

“A verbal promise isn’t enough, you have to bring out something tangible to make me believe you.”

The corners of Bai Shijin’s mouth curved upward. “How come it was so smooth when Ye Qinfan wanted to be your model? When it comes to me, I have to pull out proof.”

Mu Nian replied, “He’s at the bottom of his class, and I can’t control him anyway. Instead of letting him waste time skipping class to hang out at internet cafes, it’s better to let him do a part-time gig here to keep busy. You look very well-behaved, don’t learn from him.”

Hearing this, Bai Shijin leisurely took out his phone, opened his photo album, and showed Mu Nian his trophies, medals, and award certificates. “Don’t worry, Brother Mu. I am number one.”

“You’re that impressive?” Mu Nian was truly looking at Bai Shijin in a new light, feeling as though he couldn’t find a single flaw in this kid. “Then I can rest assured. I’ll have them record a test clip for you right now.”

Mu Nian stood up, and Bai Shijin instinctively grabbed his hand.

Mu Nian’s fingers were cool, and the moment Bai Shijin’s warm palm grasped them, it transferred that heat right to his fingertips. Both of them froze for a second.

Bai Shijin hurriedly let go, feigning composure. “Let’s finish eating first. I’m right here, I’m not going to run away.”

Mu Nian rubbed the back of his neck and sat back down. “Right.”

In the other corner of the photo studio:

Su Yi and the other employees were hiding sneakily behind a reflector panel, standing on the absolute front lines of gossip.

Su Yi narrowed her eyes and asked, “Why are my esteemed colleagues all keeping silent?”

The cameraman replied, “Director Su, you are the trusted wet nurse by the emperor’s side. Since you aren’t speaking, how dare the likes of us open our mouths?”

Su Yi nodded sagely and analyzed, “The emperor has he committed adultery in broad daylight?”

“Audacious!” the makeup artist hissed sharply. “Director Su, watch your words! If the emperor hears this, the light punishment will be losing your head, and the heavy punishment will be getting banished from the Forbidden City!”

Su Yi instantly covered her mouth.

Watching Mu Nian and Bai Shijin laughing and talking from a distance, the cameraman sighed. “Looks like Imperial Concubine Qin has been cast into the cold palace.”

The wardrobe teacher scoffed, “If you ask me, isn’t everyone in this palace born to serve the emperor? Didn’t you all just hear the emperor say that Concubine Qin is lazy and won’t serve the emperor, and instead makes the emperor serve him? A concubine like that deserves the cold palace.”

Su Yi was relatively close with Ye Qinfan, so she felt they were going a bit too far and spoke up to defend him. “You’re still holding the milk tea Concubine Qin bought you, don’t be so quick to switch sides.”

The wardrobe teacher replied, “Well, I can just finish drinking it.”

Su Yi retorted, “You’ve already finished drinking it clean.”

The lighting technician chimed in, “Although I really like Concubine Qin, I’m sorry this time I’m standing with what’s that guy’s name again?”

Su Yi supplied, “Just now the emperor called him Shijin, Concubine Jin.”

“Oh right,” the lighting technician continued. “I’m on Concubine Jin’s side. Concubine Jin is truly too beautiful, no wonder the emperor’s affections have drifted.”

“Damn it! Damn it! They’re holding hands!”

Director Su burst into tears. “Heavens, looks like this time Concubine Qin is truly finished!”

After finishing his meal, Mu Nian looked around the photo studio and couldn’t find a single soul. He shouted out, “Su Yi, Su Yi?”

Hearing him, the cameraman shoved Su Yi. “The emperor is calling you. Go report for duty quickly, watch your head.”

Su Yi was pushed out from behind the reflector panel like a magic trick.

Mu Nian frowned. “What are you guys hiding over there for?”

“Emperor no, Brother Mu, Brother Mu,” Su Yi chuckled awkwardly. “We were just playing house, it’s lively when there are more people.”

Used to Su Yi’s eccentric behavior, Mu Nian didn’t react much and said on his own accord, “Tell whoever’s hiding to come out and shoot a test clip for Shijin.”

Su Yi’s breath hitched. “Are you really going to depose Concubine Qin?”

Mu Nian was puzzled. “What?”

Su Yi said, “Brother Mu, Qinfan was just acting in the heat of the moment. To put it bluntly, he was just jealous of you, which I think is understandable. Are you really going to replace him?”

Mu Nian replied, “He ran off before signing the contract, you can be sure I won’t let that slide.”

Bai Shijin took off his jacket, revealing only a white hooded sweatshirt underneath, which made his face look even more tender and harmless. He walked over and smiled at Su Yi. “Sister Su, I’m not trying to snatch anything from Qinfan, I just want to give it a try. If you all aren’t satisfied, you can stop at any time, I don’t want to waste everyone’s time.”

Su Yi’s heart was pierced by that title of sister. Sorry Qinfan, you’ll just have to stay in the cold palace a bit longer.

Su Yi’s expression shifted in an instant as she picked up her walkie-talkie and barked orders. “All departments in position, camera check equipment, turn up the lights, heads of the makeup and wardrobe departments come over and take him away.”

The wardrobe teacher raised a weak hand. “President Mu, your boyfriend took the sample outfit away, which set are we trying?”

Mu Nian let out a soft scoff, having completely forgotten about that detail.

Seeing Mu Nian in a bind, Bai Shijin took the initiative to say, “Brother Mu, I’ll just go in my own clothes.”

Mu Nian didn’t speak, but Su Yi chimed in, “Ah? Wouldn’t that be unfair to you? Clothes can enhance your aura, you know.”

Bai Shijin smiled. “I don’t need it.”