That handsome face that could cause a nosebleed just by looking at it floated through her mind.
Gu Xiaoer massaged her temples with a headache, one hundred thousand yuan, when would she be able to pay it all back.
The ringtone of her phone sounded, like in a dream, yet also as if it resided in reality.
Groggily grabbing the phone, she opened one eye and glanced at the screen, the name displayed made Gu Xiaoer instantly snap back to reality.
The business-bad and freaking expensive, crappy headliner!
If the contact name length wasn't limited, she could have added even more words, like heartless scoundrel or dark-hearted schemer.
Gu Xiaoer threw a guilty glance at Lele who was changing clothes in the dormitory, then she scurried on tiptoe to the bathroom to answer the call.
"What do you want, calling me?" she said with an unfriendly tone.
The voice on the other end was as enthralling as a cello, intoxicating, "Where are you?"
They say when a man asks you where you are, the subtext is always "I miss you." Gu Xiaoer wasn't that vain, she thought, he must be checking up on her, seeing if she was working hard, trying to earn money.
"I have classes today, I'm at school."
"Nanyi? I'll pick you up after school," Han Luoli said in a good mood.
Thinking of the man's flashy car and his scream-inducing handsome face, Gu Xiaoer was filled with inner rejection. She had always been low-key and didn't want to become the talk of the school. She definitely didn't want to tarnish her reputation by being pointed at for being kept, especially not right before graduation.
Although, she was the one who ruthlessly ditched her benefactor, still owing a hefty amount of cash.
"No need, no need, I won't be going back tonight." There was an art exhibition in the afternoon, and she didn't know what to expect.
"Then, should I come to see you?"
"That's not necessary either, I'm really busy today. Don't you have work? Better get busy with that," Gu Xiaoer quipped and promptly hung up the phone.
Joking right, why should I clear up my whereabouts to you, do I no longer have any freedom?
No sooner had she finished this call than Ai Le already appeared behind her, all inquisitive, "Who were you calling?"
"Huh?" Gu Xiaoer jumped in surprise, "No one, just a friend's call. I'm job searching, you know."
Ai Le was full of suspicion, carrying a bag and placing it on the dormitory table.
"Can't afford to dine out at small restaurants, let's just get some delivery!"
As they ate and talked, "Xiao Er, when I went downstairs to pick up the delivery, I saw a notice on the board looking for temporary workers. It seems they need a batch of models, with same-day pay. Do you want to call and ask?"
The moment Gu Xiaoer heard about a chance to make money, she perked up, but then quickly furrowed her brows in thought.
"Modeling, huh? Is there a risk of being harassed?" Gu Xiaoer thought to herself, sometimes she could be quite sharp.
"The little foodie is starting to think?" teased Ai Le, "It's the design institute that's looking for people, not some nightclub. I heard it's not the kind of place just anyone can enter. Even if they were looking, they wouldn't be interested in someone as unromantic as you!"
Gu Xiaoer nodded in relief, it seemed to make sense, but why did it feel a bit off?
"Then I'll go downstairs to check it out right now, before they hire everyone."
"There's a phone number!"
Ai Le rolled her eyes at her and handed over the phone, giving Gu Xiaoer the number she snapped a picture of.
"Oh, okay! Thanks, babe!" Gu Xiaoer sent a flying kiss and scurried off to make the call without even finishing her meal.
Ai Le just shook her head, speechless.
...
For the afternoon exhibition, Gu Xiaoer was actually reluctant to go. There were fewer than a hundred students in her morning class, and the full-bellied professor kept withholding any substantial content; she figured the exhibition wouldn't be much different.
Dragging their feet, Ai Le pulled her to the exhibition hall when it was almost two in the afternoon.
As they passed the front of the administrative building, Gu Xiaoer suddenly stopped in her tracks.