Chapter 657: 413 Righteously affectionate teasing, unceasingly provoking_2
"Your mouth seems a bit dry, I’ll get you some water and reapply your lipstick," Tang Wan said as she walked toward the other side.
At this moment, Huo Qinqi was talking with Jiang Chengsi and the others. Before Tang Wan got close, she just glanced at him, their eyes met, and Tang Wan gave him a look. He found an excuse and followed her into the room, one after the other.
While Tang Wan was getting water for Shen Shuci, out of the corner of her eye she already noticed a tall figure approaching.
She was quite familiar with Huo Qinqi, as they often chatted when they met during Jiang Jinsang’s hospital stays. Still, she felt an immense pressure when he stood beside her.
No wonder the aunt was so nervous and uneasy.
"Do you need something from me?" Huo Qinqi got straight to the point.
"Huo Big Brother, when we take the pictures later, could you please be a little bit..." Tang Wan coughed, "don’t keep such a straight face. It will make her a bit nervous if you do that, please take care of her a little."
Tang Wan spoke rather tactfully.
"I understand."
...
However, during the subsequent photography session, everyone could feel that Mr. Huo was much more proactive than earlier, at the very least the two of them didn’t stand speechless and in utter awkwardness. Still, his face remained expressionless.
"Alright, now could all the gentlemen please lift their partners in a bridal carry? You all know how it’s done, right?" the photographer said with a smile.
One of the groomsmen perhaps underestimated the weight of the bridesmaid; he stumbled as he lifted her, nearly falling, which provoked laughter from the onlooking crowd.
Huo Qinqi watched their actions and, without waiting for Shen Shuci to brace herself, slipped one arm behind her waist and the other under the bend of her legs, lifting her effortlessly.
Off the ground, her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively clung to his neck.
The crowd around them was lively, and the focus of the discussion was either Qi Zeyan or Huo Qinqi.
Because he was expressionless, Shen Shuci also feigned calmness. In everyone’s eyes, these two were like emotionless machines under the photographer’s direction, arranging into various poses, which was actually quite amusing.
"Cough—" Jiang Chengsi, standing to the side drinking water, nearly choked upon seeing this scene, "Old Huo, the eternal bachelor, doesn’t feel a thing when holding a girl, look at his face, it’s as stiff as what?"
"People who don’t know might think he’s holding a block of iron. Can’t he show a little emotion?"
"The aunt is really to be pitied."
Jiang Jinsang glanced at him and said, "If he had feelings for the aunt and showed some expression, what do you think would happen?"
Jiang Chengsi was left speechless.
...
"Now, hold the waist of the lady and lean in a little closer. You don’t need to touch faces, I’ll capture the angle. This is the last group of photos, let’s hurry up," the photographer said with a laugh.
He had thought that the least cooperative person would definitely be Huo Qinqi and was afraid it would be a headache. He even thought about suggesting to Master Jiang if Huo was uncooperative, they should change the groomsman. But under his camera...
It seemed he was more proactive than the bridesmaid?
As soon as the photographer finished speaking, everyone cooperated willingly; though unfamiliar, it was inevitably a bit awkward. Even if they were just feigning closeness for the camera, it was still hard to avoid people breaking into laughter.
However, the current shoot was a close-up shot, and on the Xie Family’s side, they were ready to load Shen Zhixian’s dowry and other valuable items into the car. There were some precious items that needed to be handed over to the Jiang Family, so Jiang Jinsang and the others were not present at this time.
"Come on, everyone, get a bit closer," the photographer said with a smile.
The other groomsmen made the motions of embracing the waist, usually just lightly holding the bridesmaid’s back as a gesture. In this situation, who would really take advantage? Apart from the bride and groom, the only one really holding the waist was...
Huo Qinqi.
With practiced ease, his long arm stretched out and tightly embraced Shen Shuci’s waist, pulling her slightly, she stumbled into his embrace.
Shen Shuci felt a bit panicky. In front of such a large audience, under everyone’s scrutiny, what was this man trying to do?
"You seem to have been avoiding me?"
The distance between them was so close that with every enunciation and breath he exhaled, she could palpably sense it.
The crisp fragrance akin to a pine forest after snow from the man engulfed her limbs and torso. Along with his overly warm breath, every respiration was intensely thrilling.
"I haven’t."
"Because of the last time I kissed you?"
Shen Shuci frowned, kissed her and left, and now he dared to bring it up?
She met his gaze, glaring at him.
Shen Shuci believed that her eyes should be quite lethal; after all, she had often intimidated others this way in the past with great effect, but she forgot that the person standing in front of her was not just anyone...
With such a glare, not only would he not feel scared, but he would also find her appearance, like a little kitten puffing up in a tantrum and baring its claws, somewhat cute.
"How’s the cat?"
Shen Shuci frowned. His way of talking was all over the place, was he trying to change the subject with the cat?
"It’s doing fine." Her tone was hardly pleasant, clearly feeling stifled and frustrated.
"Are you angry?"
"I... hmm—"
Shen Shuci hadn’t finished her sentence when he suddenly tilted his head and pecked at her lips, they were already so close that any slight misalignment would easily lead to contact, and that proactive person was Huo Qinqi.
They were surrounded by people, could this man have gone mad!
Her heart pounded, her chest throbbed with its violent race, a wave of heat spread from her heart, reddening her skin, seeping onto her face, cheeks flushed with an indescribable charm.
She instinctively reached out to push him away...
"Right, just like that, stay still, don’t move!" The photographer was just getting the camera settled, taking shots one by one.
Shen Shuci had just made a move when she felt a strong force against her lower back, pressing her entire body tightly against him.
"Why are you acting like a cat..."
"Be good, he told us not to move."
Shen Shuci grew both frantic and annoyed, he hadn’t been like this before; where had he learned all these flirty lines!
"All done, thank you, everyone," the photographer breathed a sigh of relief, finally finished.
After the shoot, everyone slowly got into their cars, heading to the Jiang Family. Shen Shuci sat in Tang Wan’s car last, leaning back in her seat, her mind replaying the audacity of that man under the public gaze, feeling both embarrassed and agitated.
"Auntie, Huo Brother didn’t give you a hard time, right?" Tang Wan noticed her complexion wasn’t great.
"No," Shen Shuci’s voice was less than pleased.
Tang Wan exchanged a look with Jiang Jinsang, she looked exactly like someone who had been bullied.
...
Meanwhile, in another car, Jiang Shiyi was driving, Jiang Chengsi sat in the passenger seat, and the back was occupied by Huo Qinqi and Qi Zeyan.
"Huo, you looked too cold during the photoshoot. I think Auntie was pretty scared by you. She’s very young, just a little sister, can’t you be gentler with her?"
"Gentle?" Huo Qinqi raised an eyebrow.
"At least give her a smile, don’t be all stern-faced; we can’t stand it, let alone a young girl."
"Speak a bit softer, not so harshly, she’s not your subordinate, right?"
"Girls like it gentler. Look at Second Brother; he used to be so cold too, but see how different he is with his wife."
Jiang Shiyi didn’t interject, and Qi Zeyan, playing with his phone, didn’t dare to chime in. Then they heard Jiang Chengsi "instructing" someone on how to be gentle with young girls and how it’s easier to find a wife...
Jiang Chengsi thought, get him to find someone quickly, he wanted to follow and grab a marriage; it would be thrilling!
Little did he know, it would eventually end up in his own family, but that’s a story for another time...