Chapter 6: Setting Up Crane Ning’s Older Brother on a Date

A few minutes later, two words came back in reply.

"No."

"Would you like to think about it again?"

"No."

"..."

The situation had turned bizarre.

Zhang Hening held her phone, stunned into silence for a few seconds before she began to roll around on the sofa in a state of total breakdown.

Damn it, who is that scoundrel who snatched away my dearest best friend?!

...

Song Xi arrived at the company and completed her onboarding process. The new company was a photography studio with a high reputation, specializing in collaborations with major celebrities and influencers.

During her university years, Song Xi had been a freelance photographer, frequently taking on private bookings. She would post her finished work on social media to build her following.

Today was her first day, and since she hadn't taken any bookings or started working on actual sets yet, the HR representative told her to spend the time getting familiar with the studio environment.

The assistant assigned to her, Ye Zi, was currently taking her around to tour the various shooting stages, introducing them one by one.

"We don't just shoot celebrities and influencers; we occasionally work with business tycoons, too. If you're lucky, you might even run into the legendary 'CEO' types."

Song Xi chuckled. "Aren't CEOs just something from novels? Do they actually exist in real life?"

"They do, but they’re nothing like the ones in the books," Ye Zi whispered conspiratorially. "I saw one recently—six-foot-two, broad shoulders, narrow waist, with impeccable bone structure and a face as handsome as any celebrity. Most importantly, he was elegant, noble, polite, and well-mannered. He treated even the junior assistants with such genuine respect—not at all like those unhinged CEOs in novels."

"Are you sure what you saw was a CEO?" Song Xi asked, skeptical.

"Of course! I think he’s even a major shareholder in our company. You’ll see him next time; he’s truly captivating!"

Ye Zi was delighted to have someone to chat with and chattered away, sharing plenty of gossip.

The two reached Area C. Inside the set, a beautiful woman was sitting, dressed in a modern-style qipao. Her long hair was half-up and half-down, and her makeup was light and luminous.

The photographer snapped a few pictures, but she wasn't satisfied with any of them.

"It's too staged, it’s not natural," the beauty said. "I want something gentle and elegant for my blind date. You need to capture my true essence."

The photographer wiped sweat from his brow. "Understood, Ms. Lin. Let me try to find the right feel."

The beauty stepped back onto the stage and struck a pose.

Watching the beautiful woman and the lovely setting, Song Xi felt an itch in her hands; inspiration had struck. She pulled out her phone, adjusted the angle, and snapped a few quick shots, just to satisfy the urge.

Just as she was about to delete them, Ye Zi gasped beside her.

"Sister Xi, the photos you took are so beautiful! They’re so natural and moving—absolutely stunning!"

The woman on stage heard this, stepped down to take a look, and her beautiful eyes sparkled with amazement.

"Yes! This is exactly the effortless beauty I wanted!"

The beauty didn't care about composition or resolution; she only cared about how beautiful her face looked. She immediately pulled out her phone and said to Song Xi, "Miss, could you send these to me? I want all of them. I won't even ask for a refund from the photographer—I'm going to use these for my blind date and send them over right now."

Song Xi hesitated for a moment and looked at the photographer first. "Is... is this okay?"

"Yes, yes, absolutely!" The photographer nodded vigorously, feeling no jealousy at all. He had been shooting all morning and had produced over a dozen sets, but he had been struggling miserably. Now that he could successfully close this job, he was overjoyed.

Seeing that neither party objected, Song Xi sent the photos over. The beauty received them and, without even needing professional retouching, happily grabbed her bag and left.

Having accidentally shown off her skills on her first day, Ye Zi was incredibly impressed.

"Sister Xi, you should take some photos of me when you have time. I want to mooch off your talent and get some beautiful everyday shots too."

"Easily done," Song Xi said, patting her head. "Lead the way, let’s continue the tour."

"You got it!"

"Keep telling me about that charming six-foot-two CEO."

"You got it, boss."

By the end of the day, the two had become fast friends. Ye Zi had a great personality—simple, cheerful, and efficient—and Song Xi was very satisfied with the assistant the company had assigned to her.

Her best friend was here, her job was here... and her husband was here, too.

Beijing, it seemed, was not a bad place at all.

When she arrived at the He residence after work, Song Xi parked the car outside. As soon as she entered the small courtyard, she heard voices drifting from the room.

"Look, this is the match I picked out for your older brother. Graceful, elegant, gentle, and beautiful—a real qipao beauty. Isn't she lovely?"

The voice was familiar.

It was He Ning’s mother, Jing Rong. She was also a first-class performer at the National Peking Opera Theater, an artist, and a renowned *qingyi*.

When Song Xi was in high school, she used to watch her perform with He Ning. Back then, Mother Jing was breathtaking on stage; every movement was like a celestial being descending to earth. With such a beautiful mother, her children had naturally inherited her best features, all of them shining with their own brilliance.

Song Xi pushed the door open and greeted them with a smile.

"Hello, Auntie. Hello, Uncle."

"Is that Xi-bao home from work?" Jing Rong’s face lit up when she saw her.

On the sofa, Zhang Youqi also nodded in greeting. The two had retired a year ago and often traveled, rarely staying home; this time, they must have returned to push for a marriage.

Sure enough, a second later, Song Xi was pulled over and seated among a pile of photos.

"Xi-bao, help me take a look. Doesn't this young lady have a wonderful temperament? We’re looking to set up a blind date for Hening's brother, and we’d like your help in weighing in."