Indeed, she was quite fond of him, after all, the Jiang Lai in front of him now was like a damned fairy, unlike her previously timid self. She was still very beautiful, but her beauty now carried a sharp edge, tempting him to touch, only to mercilessly wound him all over.
But today, Jiang Lai was exceptionally obedient, although she would still cry for comfort, it was better than biting with her teeth.
So delicate.
Shen Liao looked at Jiang Lai cradled in his arms, feeling this way not for the first time.
"Shen Liao..."
Jiang Lai suddenly murmured sleepily.
Shen Liao looked at her.
"You're so bad."
Jiang Lai's voice carried a sobbing tone, as if she had suffered quite some grievances.
After crying for a while, she fell into a deep sleep, leaving Shen Liao sitting next to her, lost in thought.
He seemed a bit cruel to Jiang Lai.
She was just a simple girl, liking him wasn't wrong, but his intentions towards her weren't pure.
Shen Liao, who usually took comfort in the fact he was keeping Jiang Lai, now felt some guilt and tenderness.
He completely forgot that previously he merely treated her as an eye-catching tool, giving her so much money as a reward for her youth.
This mindset persisted until now; Jiang Lai cried in her sleep, and the original sense of justification completely vanished, replaced by some pity.
That day, he didn't leave, staying by Jiang Lai's side and sleeping through the night.
Early the next morning, just as he opened his eyes, he saw Jiang Lai greet him with a bright smile, followed by a passionate good morning kiss.
The newly-awakened man's gaze darkened, holding Jiang Lai's head down, continuing to wrap her up like a pancake.
At the peak of indulgence, Shen Liao even felt that if this life continued, it might not be so bad.
——
A call from Light Sensing Game came through.
Jiang Lai's design draft broke through the siege and emerged from over ten thousand submissions, becoming the image design for Wasteland Queen Ophina.
The director of the design department personally contacted Jiang Lai, inviting her to the headquarters of Light Sensing Game.
Jiang Lai took a taxi over that morning, and the company headquarters was in the city center. Once upstairs, Director Xu Guang received Jiang Lai.
"Wow, I didn't expect you to be so young and beautiful."
"You're also young and promising."
After a round of pleasantries, Xu Guang asked her.
"Regarding Ophina's image, there's one thing I'm particularly curious about, those very minute details on her such as the unique letters on her earrings and the old scars on her boots, and her face that isn't particularly flashy, even a bit ordinary, yet under these details she appears so wildly alluring. How did you come up with these?"
Jiang Lai looked at the design draft and smiled slightly, speaking slowly.
"I reviewed your previous promotional materials to understand the game's background and general worldview. On the wasteland, the mighty rule, and Ophina is a flower grown from the barrenness, watered by blood, trained by cold winds and scorching heat, she should be a rose born against the odds under mediocrity, wild and decadent. These details merely help everyone better understand this Wasteland Queen who grows towards the sun."
Xu Guang listened and nodded repeatedly.
"Great, excellent, wild under mediocrity, a rose growing in barrenness, that's exactly the Ophina I want!"
Just like that, Jiang Lai successfully signed with Light Sensing Game and became their original illustrator.
"You can come when you want, or you can work from home; an original illustrator's creative inspiration comes from the place most familiar to them. You can choose yourself. As for the treatment, rest assured, our Light Sensing Game's treatment has always been top in the industry, it definitely won't disappoint you."
Jiang Lai signed a three-year contract with them, also taking home over a million in bonus.
"Oh, by the way, the nationwide fall survival competition is being held right here in Jiang City, you can check it out if you have the time."
"Sure, thank you, Mr. Xu."
"How did you get here?"
"Oh, I took a taxi."
Xu Guang smiled, stood up, and opened the door.
"Where do you live?"
"Xuhui Center."
"What a coincidence, I live on the same road, let me take you home, we can chat more about the image draft along the way."
With such an offer, Jiang Lai couldn't refuse, and she was directly dropped off at the doorstep of the villa complex in Xu Guang's car.
"I live nearby too, it looks like I'll be seeing Miss Jiang often in the future."
Xu Guang's tone was gentle, his demeanor elegant, and the way he looked at Jiang Lai carried some unique warmth; it was clear he was interested in her.
Jiang Lai certainly noticed, but didn't mention it.
"Thank you, Mr. Xu, I'll treat you to a meal next time."
"How about this time?"
Jiang Lai looked at him in confusion.
"I'm attending a banquet tonight, on the ship by the sea in Jiang City, I just happen to be short a female companion, I wonder if Miss Jiang is free tonight."
"Sorry, I still have some work to finish..."
"Oh that's quite alright, it's not an important banquet anyway, I can attend alone, you focus on your work."
After Xu Guang left, Jiang Lai was just reaching her doorstep when a sinister voice came from beside her.
"That car just now wasn't cheap, anyone with a plate of four eights in Jiang City isn't ordinary. Jiang Lai, you truly have skills, clinging to my brother here, and still keeping your options open over there?"
Upon hearing this sarcastic voice, Jiang Lai's hands itched.
Looking at Shen An opposite, she walked straight through the door.
"If you've got something to say, spit it out, if not, clear off."
A dismissive remark yet again angered Shen An, he clenched his fists staring at Jiang Lai's back, and thinking of his true purpose, he suppressed his fiery rage.
"I don't care to banter with you, this is my brother's house, I can come whenever I want, can you do anything about it? Aunt Liu, make me a bowl of noodles!"
At the dining table, Jiang Lai continued eating her salad while scrolling through Weibo, coincidentally coming across people in the circle recommending her to attend the upcoming comic convention at the city expo center.
Shen An, sitting opposite, occasionally glanced at her, the eyes behind his glasses seemed to spell out the words "ill intention" directly.
"My brother is attending a banquet tonight."
Jiang Lai glanced at him, continued eating, not intending to respond.
"Banquets of such level require female companions, I see the time is nearing, aren't you getting ready?"
"Female companion?"
"Yes, right on the ship Jufang by the seaside, everyone important in Jiang City will be attending, you're my brother's girlfriend, surely he's told you, right?"
Jiang Lai looked at him, her eyes hiding a smile, but a trace of doubt and unease flashed across her face, then she replied stiffly.
"Of course, he already told me."
"Then why aren't you leaving? I heard it's a charity banquet, shouldn't you dress grandly?"
Jiang Lai quickly blinked, seemingly thoughtful, and replied perfunctorily.
"I'll go upstairs and prepare."
Seeing this, Shen An's lips curled into a triumphant smile.