NOVEL NEXT In the previous incarnation, as a landscape photographer, He Bai spent all his life exploring around, which brought him into contact with mountains, rivers and people who had same hobby. As a man of means, he was so self-willed to have hired a distinguished assistant at a high price to help him deal with external affairs since he won fame. Therefore, he was totally unaccustomed to any big occasion, and the grandest event he had experienced in the last life was nothing more than the International Photography Awards Ceremony, during which he received an award and made a causal acceptance speech on stage… Shamefully, the speech was written by his assistant.
A beam of light focused on him. When he took a step forward, the light moved ahead in the meanwhile.
Under the stage sat a large crowd of well-known actors, singers, popular celebrities… as well as those old artists who had been on good terms with Mr. Jia, bosses, screenwriters, producers and investors of major entertainment companies/ brokerage houses/record corporations/TV stations, and a variety of businessmen who had cooperation with Jia family… Most of all, there were definitely some photographers who were of high prestige in the entertainment circle…
He Bai dared cast no glance at the auditorium. Anyone who sat there was richer and prestigious than he, thus much more qualified to have a ‘casual’ speech on stage. In contrast, He Bai, a sheer newcomer to photography, seemed not to achieve an acceptable standard.
Jia Beilei stood on the stage staring at him smilingly, and the host, even not knowing him, looked friendly with an expectant face.
He Bai threw a quick glance at the auditorium when he stepped on the stage. When the light beam disappeared from his head, he forced a polite smile, went forward and held Jia Beilei in a tender embrace. Then he shook hands with the host and took the microphone from him. Turning around to face the audience, He Bai comforted himself:
It doesn’t matter. Those people were neither stars nor giants but some obscure models, the thing in his hands were no microphone but a camera, and the reason why he came on stage was to communicate with his ‘models’ so that he could spot the best angle for shooting.
“Good evening, everyone.” The tension was gradually eased, and He Bai’s smile became natural, “I’m He Bai, the costume photographer for Little Mermaid of Ika Costume. It’s both my great honor to have taken a birthday photograph for Miss Jia yesterday and to be recognized now.”
He Bai turned around to look at Jia Beilei when he took out a handkerchief-folded rose from his pocket and handed it to her with a gentleman’s etiquette, “Happy birthday. May you stay beautiful forever.” When he was dressed before, he got bored and fiddled with the handkerchief, only to find it difficult to restore it to the former state. He had no choice but to fold the handkerchief in the shape of a rose and stuff it into the pocket. Fortunately, he did so, or he would find nothing to ease the embarrassment.
Well dressed, He Bai looked like a refined elite. He slightly bent down, his hands stretching ahead. The dress sleeves were rolled up a little, revealing the white shirt cuffs and his delicate wrists, which looked so charming that anyone would like to give a touch.
Surprised at the flower in He Bai’s slender and white hands, Jia Beilei ran her eye over his face and hands when she cheerfully grabbed the flower and pounced on him excitedly, “Oh my god, how handsome and romantic you are! Thank you! I was wrong. You are not a prig like my brother. Instead, you are much more romantic than him. If only you were my brother!”
The guests were shocked and burst into sincere laughter.
Jia Zehang’s face fell. He was on the verge of rushing to the stage.
Covering her face and bending down, Yang Fu laughed so much that she nearly cried when she saw the reaction of her future sister-in-law, “Ha, what a lovely girl Lei is. Ha-ha, Mr. He’s face goes pale. He must be scared. A poor guy, ha.”
Jia Zehang took her in his arms and patted her on the back to get her breath back, replying, “Beilei is more than willful. There’re so many guests today. Rumors about her will certainly go around tomorrow, and those newsmen are surely gonna report the thing as exaggerative as possible!”
“Don’t be angry. There’re a large number of celebrities here. As long as one of them posts a Weibo to praise Beilei for her forthrightness and commends those two for their instant friendship, the reporters are unlikely to cook up fake news. If they dare to, they’ll be scolded.” Yang Fu was more philosophical about it than Jia Zehang, and she continued to soothe him, “You’ve worried too much. Considerable big bosses sit under the stage, so how come reporters write without basis at the risk of ruining their career? Besides, don’t you Jia family have the ability?
Jia Zehang calmed down, and his anger subsided as he saw He Bai try to make up for his sister’s ‘brave utterance’ with a joke and the flexible response of the host, while his face was still sullen.
“What a little devil she is to call a random stranger brother while me, a prig!”
Seeing him jealous of He Bai, Yang Fu couldn’t help laughing again. She wasn’t in conscience tell him that Mr. He was not ‘randomly chosen’. If he were less young and more mature, many would lose their heart to him. Fortunately, Lei didn’t understand love now, or things would be hardly wound up.
Jia Beilei’s words made He Bai relaxed a lot. He took up the thread of the conversation to stabilize the situation, and expressed his good wishes for Ica’s Little Mermaid brand and gave a brief publicity. When all this was finished, He Bai seized an opportunity to get off the stage.
After a hesitation, he went to Mr. Jia’s table and made his farewells.
“My driver is at your service.”
Unexpectedly, Mr. Jia did not ask him to stay but arranged a car to drive him to campus.
“You’ve been busy with Lei’s photograph. It’s time for you to have a rest.” Mr. Jia was very considerate to arrange a waiter to pack He Bai’s things up. Having a short conversation with him, Jia ordered Jia Zhang to send He Bai out of the door.
“You must be tired these days.” Jia Zhang patted him on the shoulder, took out a red gift box and put it in his hand. He Bai intended to refuse it while Jia Zhang prevented him and said, “Yi ka sent a team over with an eye to publicizing their brand on the party. I gave Yi Ka what they wanted, and Yi Ka paid for it. Everything was settled, so I didn’t go any longer. But your situation is different. You come for Beilei only, so please accept the pay you deserve.”
The box felt quite heavy. There must be piles of money inside. He Bai felt it inappropriate and continued to say, “Mr. Jia, you don’t have to. I took pictures of Miss Jia with the purpose of compensation…”
“The one that needs to compensate Beilei is Saint Elephant, not you.” Jia Zhang squeezed the box into his hands and retreated, with his hands at the back. He gestured towards the car, “It’s quite embarrassing to tug each other at the gate. Just take it as the reward for that set of party photo. I’ll be angry if you refuse it again.”
Hearing Jia Zhang’s words and seeing someone was about to come out, He Bai had no choice but to accept it and thank Jia Zhang again.
“Uncle Jia gets it. Welcome to our house when you are free.” Jia Zhang smiled, and he looked warm and friendly.
He Bai was stunned by his self appellation. Then he responded smilingly and got into the car.
It’s nine o’clock when He Bai arrived at the dorm. He removed the dress and tie, took out the gift box and unpacked it carefully. One, two, three, four, five stacks… There was also a shopping voucher of a chain store, whose face value was unknown, as well as a bunch of bits and pieces the birthday gift box originally held.
He Bai worked for two days and earned fifty thousand yuan, which was enough for his tuition and living expenses in the next two years… It was generous of Jia family to pay him so handsomely.
He Bai heaved a sigh of relief and gave his forehead a rub. He took a chocolate ball from the gift box and ate one, reclining in a chair with his eyes closed.
The entertainment circle was a sheer vanity fair piled up with money… He wondered how on earth Di Qiuhe, the childish guy, lived an easy life in it. It’s quite amazing. Was he surrounded by something like ‘main character halo’?
… Maybe he wasn’t. After all, no main character would die so young like him.
Lost in thought, he actually fell asleep in the chair and waked up until he turned over and rolled to the ground at midnight. Then he took a bath in a daze and climbed to the bed to continue his sleep.
Probably because he stayed up late, or falling to the ground affected his sleep quality, or perhaps he thought about something during the day, He Bai couldn’t sleep well when he lied on the bed and had been constantly dreaming.
‘The lights on a clock tower were shining, that familiar figure falling, and a white arm slowly retracted. Then the picture changed suddenly where Di Chunhua cried her heart out in despair. A fit of dizziness overwhelmed He Bai when the picture switched again… a ward, a middle-aged man who was ill in bed, and a hysterical middle-aged women standing in front of the bed.’