When Emir returned to the dressing room, he found Ember standing in front of the mirror, carefully fixing her hair. Her fingers moved with quiet frustration as she muttered, "The crowd made my hair a mess... There are so many girls who want to be his girlfriend, but why me?" She seemed lost in thought, completely unaware that Emir had already entered the room.
He stepped silently behind her chair, his movements deliberate and smooth. Gently, he placed his hand on her shoulder, his touch warm and reassuring. Leaning in close, he whispered softly, "Because you are the most precious one to me."
Ember froze, her cheeks instantly flushing a deep shade of pink. She avoided his gaze, her heart racing as she fumbled to change the subject.
"What are you both talking about?" she asked, her voice betraying her nervousness.
Emir straightened up, a small smile playing on his lips. "It's just related to today's shoot," he said nonchalantly.
"So, you're the model for today's shoot?" Ember asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Yes! You guessed it right," he replied with a playful grin. Then, glancing at the clock, he added, "I'll go and get changed. It's getting late. If anyone calls or tries to enter, just make sure they don't."
"Hmm," Ember murmured in response, still trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling within her.
As Emir disappeared into the changing room, Ember found herself unable to shake the strange thoughts circling in her mind. Why did everyone call him Dylan? His name was Emir—at least, that's what he had told her when they first met. Yet, this wasn't the first time she had heard someone refer to him as Dylan. Each time, she had brushed it off, convincing herself that he would explain everything when the time was right.
But now, the constant confusion was becoming unbearable. It was as if this place carried secrets she wasn't meant to understand. Her head throbbed with unanswered questions, and she resolved to confront him about it—when they were alone, at home. For now, she decided to push the troubling thoughts aside.
Lost in her own mind, Ember didn't notice Emir reemerging from the changing room. He paused for a moment, watching her with an amused expression as she stood there, clearly distracted.
Then, with a swift motion, he flicked her forehead lightly.
"Ouch! That hurts!" Ember exclaimed, snapping out of her thoughts. She turned to face him, a pout forming on her lips as she rubbed her forehead.
Emir chuckled, his voice rich with amusement. "That's what you get for thinking too much," he teased, his gaze softening as he looked at her.
Ember felt her heart flutter once more, caught between the whirlwind of her emotions and the lingering questions that refused to leave her mind.
"so, What are you thinking?" Emir's voice broke through the silence, his eyes studying Ember with gentle curiosity.
"Nothing," she replied quickly, masking her emotions. It wasn't the right time to voice her concerns, not now when everything felt so chaotic.
Emir tilted his head slightly, not entirely convinced. "So, how do I look?" he asked, stepping closer and spinning lightly as if to show off.
"You look good," Ember said absentmindedly, her thoughts elsewhere. She hadn't even taken a proper look at him, her mind a whirlwind of questions and unease.
Before Emir could tease her for the lackluster response, a knock on the door interrupted them.
"Who?" Emir called out, his voice firm.
"It's the hairstylist, sir," came the reply from outside.
As the hairstylist entered, Ember couldn't hide her surprise. She glanced at Emir her brows furrowing slightly. Why a hairstylist? she thought. She had assumed it was just a casual photoshoot. But then again, Emir was no ordinary model; his popularity seemed to draw an almost magnetic attention wherever he went.
Emir caught her puzzled expression and smirked. "See how much attention your boyfriend is getting from the college?" he teased, his tone playful.
The word boyfriend always caught Ember off guard. Her cheeks warmed, and she looked away, flustered.
As the hairstylist began working on Emir's hair and applying makeup, Ember's thoughts drifted again. Why do they need makeup for him? Isn't he already perfect—fresh and ready as he is?
Her gaze lingered a little too long, and Emir noticed.
"Why are you staring at me?" he asked with a knowing smile.
Startled, Ember blinked rapidly, shaking herself out of her daze. "Who's staring at you?" she said, her tone defensive as she tried to relax her expression.
Emir chuckled, clearly enjoying her reaction. "I can tell you're blushing," he teased, his laughter soft yet full of mischief.
Ember's face turned even redder. Embarrassed, she quickly averted her gaze, pretending to focus on anything but him.
Once the hairstyling and makeup were complete, Emir dismissed the stylists with a casual wave. "You can go now. Let me know when the set is ready."
The room grew quiet again as the door closed. Emir turned his attention back to Ember, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Don't tell me you like my hairstylist," he said with a mock-serious tone.
"No!" Ember blurted out, her voice filled with indignation. Her heart raced as a thought crossed her mind: How could I like someone else when you're here?
Emir burst into laughter, his rich voice filling the room. "I'm just teasing you," he admitted, grinning.
"You always do that to me," Ember sighed, crossing her arms in mock frustration.
Another knock on the door cut their moment short. "Sir, the set is ready. You can come now," came a voice from outside.
"Okay," Emir called back.
As he prepared to leave, Ember watched him, her heart caught between the joy of his teasing and the growing uncertainty she felt about everything else.
Just as Emir was about to leave, he paused at the door and looked back at Ember. His tone was warm yet firm as he spoke. "Ember, if you want to see the shoot, you can come outside. If you don't want to, you can stay here. Just don't go anywhere."
"Okay," Ember replied, her voice soft.
Emir grinned, stepping halfway out of the door before turning to say, "I'm leaving, baby. Bye."
Ember's eyes widened as she shot back, "I'm not your baby!" Her irritation was evident in the sharpness of her words, though her flushed cheeks betrayed her flustered state.
Emir laughed, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Yes, you are," he teased, touching both his ears with mock innocence, his signature playful smile lighting up his face.
"Emir!" Ember shouted in exasperation, but before she could say anything more, he waved at her, adding a cheeky wink as he walked out.
When Ember finally gathered herself and emerged from the dressing room, she was greeted by the bustling scene of the photo shoot. Crew members rushed around, adjusting lights and props, while the photographer prepared the camera. Her gaze immediately sought out Emir, and there he was—already standing in the frame, his posture relaxed yet commanding.
The shoot began, and Ember tried to take a proper look at him. But as the session continued, she found herself unable to tear her eyes away. Emir was captivating. His black hair fell perfectly in soft waves, complementing his bright brown eyes that seemed to sparkle under the studio lights. His fair skin looked flawless, and the soft, confident smile on his lips made her heart skip a beat. Even in his uniform, he exuded a charm that felt almost unreal.
Ember felt her heart race as emotions swirled inside her, leaving her both awestruck and flustered. She sighed softly to herself, whispering under her breath, "Ugh, too hot..." Her cheeks burned with a blush she couldn't control. Embarrassed, she held her face in her hands, lightly tapping her cheeks to shake herself out of the dreamy haze.
Before she could fully regain her composure, the photographer's voice cut through the air. "Miss, come. It's time for your photo with sir."
Ember blinked in confusion, her heart skipping a beat. "Who's going to do the shoot with Emir?" she wondered aloud, glancing around.
The girl took a step closer to the shooting area, and Ember's uneasiness grew. Each echo of the footsteps seemed to tighten the knot in her chest, shattering the calm she had felt moments earlier while watching Emir.
"Cheng Xiao! Why is she...?" Ember's voice in her mind was laced with disbelief and irritation.
Her annoyance bubbled over as she observed the girl approaching the set. "Why am I getting angry just looking at her? It's so irritating to see her here," she thought, unable to even look directly at Cheng Xiao.
When she noticed Cheng Xiao standing beside Emir, her face flushed—not from embarrassment this time, but from anger.
Emir noticed Cheng Xiao approaching and greeted her with a polite, "Good afternoon."
Cheng Xiao leaned closer to him, her voice low and familiar as she whispered, "Long time no see. Why haven't you been coming to college? You never used to take holidays. But now that she's here, you suddenly seem to have disappeared."
The closeness between the two didn't go unnoticed by Ember, and it only fueled her frustration. She couldn't hear their conversation, but the sight alone was enough to make her blood boil.
Emir, however, didn't miss the shift in Ember's expression. His eyes flicked to her, standing a short distance away, her annoyance and displeasure written all over her face. A thought crept into his mind, and it made him chuckle quietly. "Is she jealous?" The idea amused him more than he expected, filling him with a strange sense of happiness.
Cheng Xiao, noticing his sudden laugh, tilted her head. "Why are you laughing all of a sudden?" she asked, her tone curious.
Emir's smile lingered as he replied, "It's not your concern." His gaze remained fixed on Ember, who was still glaring at the scene in front of her.
The shoot soon began, and the air filled with the rhythmic clicks of the camera. Emir and Cheng Xiao took their positions, moving seamlessly under the photographer's direction. At first, the shots were standard, but soon, the photographer added props to the set—books, tables, and chairs—to create a classroom atmosphere.
"Closer," the photographer instructed, his voice sharp. "Nice."
In the scene, Cheng Xiao held an open book while Emir leaned in slightly, focusing on the page. The setup seemed innocent enough, but to Ember, it looked far too much like intimate couple photos.
She clenched her fists, unable to stand it any longer. Her chest burned with irritation, and she muttered under her breath, "What even is this? Why does it feel like they're shooting a college romance?"
Unable to bear the sight any longer, she spun on her heels and walked toward the dressing room.
As she walked, she muttered to herself, her tone both frustrated and firm. "Ember, don't look back. Just keep walking. Don't bother with what's happening there... It doesn't matter."
But no matter how much she tried to convince herself, the emotions swirling in her chest refused to settle.
Meanwhile, Emir noticed Ember leaving. His focus wavered, and he found his gaze following her instead of staying on the set. "Where is she going?" he wondered, feeling a strange tug of concern.
The photographer noticed his distraction and called out, "Dylan, what are you doing? You're not even looking in the frame."
Snapping out of his thoughts, Emir quickly came up with an excuse. "I think everyone's getting tired. Can we take a break?" he suggested, his tone calm but insistent.
The photographer hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay, let's call it a break," he announced to the team.
As the crew began to scatter for the break, Emir's thoughts lingered on Ember. Her sudden departure left a pang of unease in him, and he couldn't help but feel the urge to follow her.
When Ember returned to the dressing room, she shut the door behind her and let out a frustrated sigh. She began pacing back and forth, muttering to herself. "Why am I getting angry?" The images of Emir and Cheng Xiao standing so close during the photoshoot flashed vividly in her mind, making her chest tighten.
"I can't take it anymore. Why? Why am I getting mad when I see them together? It's just a photoshoot... isn't it? But I can't stand it. Am I... am I jealous of her? No, no, no! That can't be it. Why would I be jealous? I'm the one Emir likes... right? Yes, yes, of course, I am," she reassured herself, though her voice trembled with doubt.
Her thoughts spiraled further as she stopped pacing and stared blankly at the floor. "But why does he like me? Cheng Xiao is so much more beautiful and mature than me. She's graceful, confident... and me? I'm just clumsy and plain. What rubbish am I even thinking? Ugh, I need to stop this. If I keep going like this, I'll lose my mind. Emir, you're driving me crazy!" she said aloud, scratching the back of her head in frustration.
Suddenly, a burst of hearty laughter broke the silence, startling Ember. She spun around, her eyes widening in shock. Emir was leaning against the doorframe, trying to stifle his laughter but failing miserably.
Ember's heart sank as her thoughts screamed, "Oh no! Did he hear all that nonsense I just said?" Her face turned crimson as she nervously asked, "Why are you laughing?"
Emir, still chuckling, was lost in his own thoughts. "My baby is too cute when she's jealous. This was just a photoshoot, and she's already so insecure. If she ever saw me with supermodels or actresses during shows and movies, how would she react? That would be a sight to see!"
When Ember noticed he wasn't answering, she asked again, "What are you thinking?" Her voice was hesitant but firm.
Emir finally looked at her, his smile softening. "Seeing you jealous makes me happy," he admitted, his grin spreading ear to ear.
Ember's cheeks flushed a deeper red as she avoided his gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "Emir..."
"Hmm?" he responded, tilting his head slightly as he observed her reaction.
"Nothing," Ember mumbled, her eyes darting around the room. Trying to change the subject, she quickly asked, "Is your shoot done?"
"Not yet," Emir replied. "It's just break time."
"Oh," she said softly, fidgeting with her fingers.
Emir took a step closer, his expression turning gentle. "Let's eat something. It's late, and you haven't had anything since breakfast," he said, his concern evident in his tone.
"Okay," Ember agreed, nodding without hesitation.
Emir picked up his phone and called his butler, Mr. Feng. When Mr. Feng arrived with their lunch, Ember looked at him and asked politely, "Did you eat lunch, Mr. Feng?"
"No, not yet, ma'am," the butler replied with a polite bow.
Before Ember could say more, Emir spoke up. "Go and eat something. You always do that, you need to take care of yourself , you are getting older " he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Mr. Feng smiled and nodded. "You both enjoy. I will take my leave," he said, excusing himself from the room.
As the door closed, the tension between Emir and Ember eased slightly. They sat down to eat together, but Ember's mind still lingered on the earlier moments, her heart silently battling emotions she was too afraid to admit.