Guiying settled back against the seat and let the motion of the car carry him as the city blurred past in streaks of concrete and light. The weight of the morning clung to him, but he didn’t reach for it. Yilin’s hand had been small and careful when she closed it around the money, and Song Rongquan had remained in his corner in that ironed shirt, watching his children eat without moving to join them. Guiying understood houses like that. He’d grown up in one where you learned early that you weren’t the priority, and the lesson didn’t come all at once. It sank in gradually, quiet and constant, until it felt like the air you breathed.

He had set his boundary years ago. No children until he could provide for them, and not only because of money. He knew what he could give right now, and what he couldn’t, and he was still in the middle of building something from nothing. That had to come first.

The other memory rose anyway, uninvited. In his past life he had taken care of it himself, deliberately and without hesitation. The alternative was carrying Shen Zihao’s child, and that had never been an option. It had cost him everything, but he had made peace with the cost long ago. He kept it locked away, and he had no intention of opening that door today.

Guiying pressed his thumb against his ring once, let the thought pass, and said, "Haiyan, how long to Shanghai?"

"Thirty minutes, give or take," Haiyan answered, and Guiying nodded. That was enough for now.

The park looked nothing like a set. There was no staged backdrop or artificial greenery, only a real lake catching the midday light and old trees casting long shadows across grass that seemed almost too green under the clear sky. The brightness made sense of the location choice, and he could already see the photos working here.

The TongShu team met him the moment he stepped out of the car. Bai Zichen got to him first, taking his tote with the restless energy of someone who had been waiting too long. Pei Jiahao fell into step beside him with the schedule, and Lin Yansu scanned his face, adjusting for the outdoor light before saying anything. "You’re not late," Pei Jiahao remarked, and from him that was as close to a welcome as Guiying would get. "Traffic was kind," he replied.

Jiang Wenxi approached with someone beside her and made the introduction. "Mr. Tang, this is He Fangfang. She’ll be shooting with you today. She’s from our partner studio." He Fangfang stood a few inches taller than him, as most Alphas and Betas did, and she carried the height without making a point of it. Her blonde hair fell loose around her shoulders, and her violet eyes met his directly, unhurried and assessing. A small purple earring caught the light when she moved. She didn’t try to fill the space around her; she simply occupied it, complete and unapologetic.

"He Fangfang," she said, offering her hand. Her voice was warm and even. "I’ve heard good things."

"Tang XiaoYu," Guiying said, taking her hand. "Likewise." Her smile came easily, without performance. "I hope we can do good work together today," she said, and he answered, "So do I."

Her politeness was thorough, consistent, the kind that had been practiced until it felt natural. Guiying noted it and set it aside as Lin Yansu stepped between them with the first outfit draped over her arm.

The morning shifted into work, the park stayed bright and open, and the lake caught the light at an angle that made Shao Mingye stop walking.

He stood there for a moment, looking at it as if he had just been handed exactly what he needed.

Lin Yansu handed Guiying the first look, and he took it without a word, heading for the temporary changing area behind the screen near the treeline.

The outfit was light and easy — the striped tee, khaki shorts, white socks, the navy New Balance sneakers. He slung the beige canvas crossbody across his chest, checked himself once in the small mirror Lin Yansu had propped against a tree, and walked out.

He Fangfang was already ready.

The crimson red shirt hung open over the white crop top, the wide leg denim shorts sitting low, the black headphones around her neck. She was standing in the grass with her face turned up toward the sky and her eyes closed, just standing there in the sun like she had all the time in the world and was perfectly content with that.

She opened her eyes when she heard him and gave him a quick, appraising look.

"Oh this looks good on you. You remind me of my brother. I can see why they choose you, you really bring the younger vibe.."

Guiying didn’t know how to react. He did feel like a kid wearing this, but then again, this was something he could actually wear in the summer.

Fangfang smiled and fixed the shirt slightly.

"You should tousle your hair a bit. It gives you that wild, childish look.."

Despite saying ’you’, she did it herself.

After she placed her hands in her hands and stared at the grass.

"What are your thoughts? Do you see modeling as something you can do long term?"

Guiying didn’t have an answer for Fangfang’s question.

He only started because of the benefit he saw in the future.

As for having a passion for it, he didn’t know yet.

"I can’t say. I’ll need more time to decide.."

Fangfang smiled, staring at the sun, letting its light settle on her face.

"When I first started modelling it was because of a dare and I’m still following that dare. It would hurt my pride if I can’t become a modelling legend, I’m close but not quite there. You know, you’re first lucky to have a shoot partner as famous as I am. Even some of the A-list models don’t get that chance, yet you a mere D-lister got it.."

Fangfang didn’t want to tell him it was Shen Zihao that had personally given her the job. She knew his intentions and wanted to protect him from it.

"And what if you never become a modelling legend? What do you do then?"

Fangfang finally turned to face him, a bright confident smile appearing on her face.

"I will. Because I never quit, I He Fangfang will become a legend in the model world."