"Alright, when did you become so long-winded? I know, I'll be careful. But I'll still support her if I should, you must come then."
"I promise I will."
Su Su hung up, satisfied, thinking that Shi Shi and Huo Zheng were indeed getting closer. If Shi Shi could marry Huo Zheng, then Huo Zheng's lifelong event would finally be settled, and he wouldn't pester her anymore.
Tian Yi wouldn't be jealous about this matter anymore. She couldn't help but smile looking at the invitation in her hand, thinking she needed to find a way to be their divine helper.
...
Sophie's personal press conference was held as scheduled in a small exhibition hall.
Su Su treated it as if it were her own personal press conference, closing the studio for the day and bringing all her colleagues to the event to help.
The exhibition hall was decorated with classical paintings and calligraphy, with wallpapers featuring blue and white porcelain patterns, making everyone's eyes light up as soon as they entered.
This scholarly charm, combined with Sophie's fashion designs, made the press conference unique and highly acclaimed.
As models showcased Sophie's designs on stage, the audience applauded continuously. Su Su was genuinely happy for her, always being the most enthusiastic clapper.
Tian Yi, sitting next to Su Su, finally couldn't help but hold her hand when she was about to clap again and said, "Doesn't your palm hurt? Can't you rest for a while? With so many people clapping, it won't matter if you miss one."
Su Su pulled her hand back and said with a smile, "Why are you like this? Didn't you see Sophie's press conference was a success? Can't I be happy for her?"
"Of course, we are happy for her." Tian Yi said, glancing at the sponsor sitting in the front row, closest to the stage, and asked curiously, "Sophie's sponsor this time is in the calligraphy and painting business in Lancheng? They run several galleries and are members of the Calligraphy and Painting Association?"
"I'm not too sure." Su Su kept her eyes fixed on the models walking the runway and wasn't very concerned about this sponsor.
When the press conference first started, she had greeted this calligraphy and painting merchant. She found him to be very scholarly and knowledgeable about painting, so he must be in this line of business.
Tian Yi said, "But I've never heard of such a calligraphy and painting merchant in Lancheng. Could they be from out of town?"
"Are you also very familiar with the calligraphy and painting business? You don't seem to collect much calligraphy and painting yourself." Su Su said nonchalantly.
Tian Yi explained, "I don't care for these pretentious things, but that doesn't mean no one I know likes them. Of course, I come into contact with them occasionally."
"Oh, I'll ask Sophie about it in detail after the press conference." Su Su whispered, "She prepared this press conference all by herself. She wants to prove her abilities, and I haven't helped her much."
"You invited most of the people, didn't you? You've generously invited everyone from your network." Tian Yi couldn't help but say, "You are both designers, colleagues, but also competitors. Don't you have any reservations?"
Su Su saw the final model appear on stage and said with emotion, "I might have reservations about others, but I don't overthink things with Sophie. Considering the suffering she endured to help me, how could I bear to treat her as a competitor?"
Tian Yi secretly held her hand and said in her ear, "I understand, but look, Sophie is finally achieving something on her own. The past is the past."
"Yes." Su Su joined the audience in clapping enthusiastically.
Finally, Sophie appeared on stage with all the models to thank the guests. The host handed her the microphone, asking her to talk about her creative inspiration.
At this moment, Sophie seemed like a different person, speaking eloquently and gracefully on stage.
As she spoke, the large screen behind her lit up, displaying pre-made slides.
Following her speech, some of her design drafts appeared on the screen.
When she spoke about the design of the mandarin ducks playing in the water on the finale qipao, which was inspired by the yearning for beautiful love between men and women.
The screen behind her began to show photos of couples in affectionate moments. However, when a clear photo was frozen on the screen, it caused an uproar in the audience.
Su Su stared at the photo, stunned and disbelieving.
It was a photo of her and Yang Sijie. She was sitting on Yang Sijie's lap, and he held her in his arms, playing with her hair with his fingers. They looked at each other with deep affection.
People in the audience began to whisper.
"Isn't the woman in the photo designer Gu, Mrs. Qin?"
"Yes, and the man with her isn't Mr. Qin!"
"What's going on? They look quite affectionate. Mrs. Qin is actually having an affair with another man..."
Sophie, standing on stage, seemed to hear the murmurs from the audience. She quickly turned to look at the big screen, her face also filled with shock. She hurriedly said, "How could this happen? This photo isn't in my slides."
Su Su felt frozen in her seat as if she had been acupunctured, like a lifeless statue, her face ashen.
Tian Yi remained expressionless, his emotions unreadable, whether it was anger or shock.
Sophie on stage, flustered and at a loss, shouted, "Staff! What are you doing? Why haven't you turned off the screen? Turn it off quickly!"
But instead of turning off, the screen displayed another photo, this one showing Su Su and Yang Sijie in an even more intimate pose.
On a spacious sofa, Yang Sijie was pressing down on her, looking at her with affectionate eyes, his lips almost touching her neck.
Su Su gasped, not daring to look at Tian Yi, who was sitting right beside her, feeling as if the end of the world had arrived.
Several more photos of her and Yang Sijie were shown in succession. She no longer had the courage to look at the big screen on stage.
Almost everyone in the audience was looking at her, pointing and whispering.
She wished she could escape immediately, but her legs felt as if they were cast in lead, completely lacking strength.
Sophie on stage stomped her feet anxiously. Finally, the large screen went black.
"I'm sorry, everyone, please be quiet. These photos are all fake, they were deliberately synthesized!" Sophie explained with a trembling hand holding the microphone, "Please don't believe those photos. Thank you all for coming to my press conference..."
Tian Yi appeared unusually calm. He took Su Su's hand and said, "Your hands are too cold. Let's go back."
Su Su lowered her head, no longer hearing what Sophie was saying on stage. She couldn't believe Tian Yi was still willing to hold her hand and looked at him with shame and embarrassment.
Tian Yi gave her a smile and repeated, "Let's go back."
Su Su felt her almost frozen heart warm up again, and she nodded.
Tian Yi helped her up with force and led her out of the exhibition hall amidst the judgmental gazes of the crowd.
Su Su used her last bit of strength to walk out of the exhibition hall and get into Tian Yi's car. She could no longer hold back her tears.
Tian Yi reached out to wipe her tears, but she dodged him, sobbing, "Don't touch me, don't you think I'm dirty?"