C13

Ye Ziyan shot Ye Tian's retreating figure a venomous glare, gathered her skirt, and stormed back to the car. "The photographer makes me sick. Without the right mood, I can't produce good shots. I'm done for today."

"Ms. Ziyan, the contract explicitly states that there will be consequences for breaching it..." The assistant's words were cut short by a sharp slap from Ye Ziyan.

"Do you think I need reminding? Just do your job and follow orders without all the chatter!" Already fuming, Ye Ziyan slapped her assistant to release some of her frustration. The thought of the breach of contract penalty only soured her mood further.

"Get the makeup artist. We'll resume shooting once I'm done with my makeup," Ye Ziyan commanded irritably. The assistant scurried off to comply.

She thinks she deserves photos? Ye Tian isn't even in her league. She can wait!

The makeup touch-up turned into an hours-long affair, stretching from ten in the morning until well into the afternoon.

Celebrity tantrums were nothing new at New World, but Ye Ziyan was the first to pull such stunts with the backing of Gu's. No one dared to openly criticize, though every crew member was silently seething.

Ye Tian, on the other hand, was unfazed. Shang Yuvyuv joked that Ye Ziyan was so enraged by her that she turned purple and even went on strike, seemingly unafraid of New World's retribution.

The relationship was collaborative, after all. But Ye Tian hadn't anticipated that someone with a fiery temper and a bit of authority would drag Ye Ziyan's assistant aside and give her a piece of their mind. "Do you think your artist is some kind of goddess? If she doesn't want to shoot, she can leave. New World is teeming with talent. She's not some precious, untouchable gem. If we don't start filming in five minutes, expect a breach of contract notice tomorrow!"

The assistant, not daring to relay the message verbatim, gently coaxed Ye Ziyan out of the car.

With a scowl, Ye Ziyan reluctantly stepped out of the vehicle.

Once she was successfully engaged to Gu Qinian, she'd show Ye Tian who dared to underestimate her! Especially that Ye Tian who couldn't recognize a good thing if it hit her in the face. She wouldn't be satisfied until she put her in her place!

"Alright, let's get those lights on and get ready." After a bit more prep, the shoot was finally on track. The cold, overcast day provided a backdrop of blue-grey mist that sparked quite a bit of inspiration in Ye Tian.

"Let's have the model lift her skirt slightly. We need a bit more of that 'Demon Envoy' vibe in the shot," Ye Tian directed as she reviewed the images.

The photo editor sat by the computer, nodding approvingly at each image that came through. The shots were excellent, saving her from the dreaded overtime photo editing sessions.

"Stop, the photographer's clothing is throwing off my mood," Ye Ziyan abruptly called out, leaving everyone puzzled. Was the photographer's attire really affecting the model, or was this just unprofessional behavior?

Ye Tian understood the subtext. The shoot location was in a remote area near the sea, and it was particularly chilly and dreary that day. She had sneezed several times during a break, likely prompting Ziyan's targeted comment.

Several people seemed ready to interject, but Ye Tian stopped them.

"Hold on, I'm suddenly not feeling well. Let's take a break. I'm pretty exhausted anyway."

Just as Ye Tian had removed her coat and was ready to resume shooting, Ye Ziyan interrupted again. She sauntered over to Ye Tian with a smirk and said, "Photographer Ye, you really shouldn't wear your coat. It's hideous and makes me nauseous. I'm worried that if I have to keep looking at it, it'll sour my mood and I won't be able to shoot. It's getting dark soon, and you wouldn't want to make the whole crew work late just because of you."

By this point, it was clear to everyone that Ye Ziyan was deliberately provoking Ye Tian.

"Disgusting? Are you pregnant and trying to trap someone into marriage? Or are you planning on having an illegitimate child because they don't want you?" Ye Tian shot back sharply. She wasn't about to let herself be pushed around. She wouldn't be seen as an easy target.

Upon hearing the whispers, the people nearby began to buzz with speculation about the recent rumors involving Gu Qinian and her supposed pregnancy.

Curious glances were cast toward Ye Ziyan's abdomen, sparking a fresh wave of gossip.

Ye Ziyan's face darkened with rage, steam practically billowing from her ears, yet she found herself unable to offer any explanation. All she could do was shoot a resentful glare at Ye Tian.

After what felt like an endless and excruciating break, Ye Tian found the evening breeze in A City to be unexpectedly unforgettable. Ye Ziyan, yawning, stepped out of the car to commence another round of filming.

Triumph gleamed in Ye Ziyan's eyes, causing Ye Tian considerable discomfort. Fine, if you're going to make my life difficult, you're not going to enjoy yours either!