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Xu Mingyue held Qin Yi’s hand, staring in disbelief at the woman holding the camera.

Under the studio spotlights, Lin Qiao was focused on her camera, looking professional and confident—a stark contrast to the woman who used to be perpetually silent, with eyes only for the Qin father and son.

Xu Mingyue turned to look at the man beside her. As she expected, Qin Tianlang was also stunned. This Lin Qiao, dressed simply in a white T-shirt and jeans with her hair pulled into a high ponytail, was nothing like the woman who used to wear her hair long and soft. She was a version of Lin Qiao he had never seen before.

Qin Yi was also involuntarily drawn to her. His mother seemed to be glowing. But remembering the daily diet of fried chicken and burgers, he quickly snapped back to reality and tightened his grip on Xu Mingyue’s hand. Auntie Mingyue was so much better; it was wonderful that his mother didn't come home!

Lin Qiao didn’t spare a single glance for the three who had intruded into the studio. She continued her shoot. Xu Mingyue glared at her intently. How could the Qin Jewelry shoot be handed over to Lin Qiao?

Since returning from the Wester Academy, Xu Mingyue had been arrogant and demanding, unable to land the high-profile commercial contracts she felt she deserved. This shoot for Qin Jewelry had been a subject of intense speculation in the photography circle. Once it became known that Bai Xin’s studio had secured the contract, everyone waited to see who would be the chosen photographer, as working for Qin Jewelry was a stepping stone to greatness. Hearing that Qin Chen would be at the trial shoot today, she had determined to secure an opportunity for herself. She had manipulated Qin Tianlang, who was currently stressed by the Lin family’s pressure, by claiming she was a close friend of the Lin heiress and could help mediate, which was how she convinced him to bring her here. She never expected the photographer to be Lin Qiao!

At that moment, Bai Xin pushed the door open. "Qiaoqiao, I brought milk tea."

Seeing Qin Tianlang and his companion, Bai Xin frowned. "What are you two doing here?" She inserted a straw into the milk tea, handed it to Lin Qiao, and turned to them. "You aren't here to cause trouble for Qiaoqiao, are you? She’s my best friend, and I won’t let anyone bully her!"

Xu Mingyue finally breathed a sigh of relief. So, Lin Qiao only got this project because of her connection to Bai Xin. Lin Qiao watched Xu Mingyue’s reaction with amusement, as if enjoying a brilliant piece of theater.

Xu Mingyue spoke up: "Miss Bai, I have never heard of Lin Qiao doing photography. Qin Jewelry is a major brand; isn't it inappropriate to entrust such a massive project to a novice?"

Bai Xin frowned. "Do you think you can do better than our Qiaoqiao?"

Xu Mingyue said reservedly, "Nepotism is never a good thing." The implication was clear: Lin Qiao only got the job through connections. "Miss Bai, I previously had my resume sent to you. I just graduated from the Wester Academy and am the closing disciple of Dr. Witz. I didn't expect you to choose Lin Qiao after all."

Wester Academy was the dream destination for any photographer, admitting fewer than twenty students a year. Dr. Witz was a world-renowned female photographer with countless international awards.

The staff nearby began to whisper, "I didn't think Sister Qiao was here because of connections." "Even Dr. Witz’s closing disciple isn't qualified to shoot for Qin Jewelry, yet someone unknown gets it just by pulling strings."

Mu Rongrong clenched her fists nearby. These people! They were praising Sister Qiao earlier, and now they were bad-mouthing her!

Bai Xin remembered Xu Mingyue’s resume; her portfolio was mediocre at best. Lin Qiao remained silent, watching Xu Mingyue. Just as Xu Mingyue expected her to be quiet and long-suffering as she used to be, Lin Qiao handed over her camera.

"Since you’re unconvinced, let’s have a competition."

Xu Mingyue hesitated. She hadn't expected Lin Qiao to dare challenge her after knowing her background. "Fine, let’s compete. If you lose, give the Qin Jewelry shoot to me."

"Agreed," Lin Qiao said instantly.

Xu Mingyue let go of Qin Yi’s hand. In front of Lin Qiao, she crouched down and said gently to the boy, "Auntie is going to take some photos. Give Auntie a kiss for luck, okay?"

Qin Yi immediately wrapped his arms around her neck and planted a big kiss on her cheek. He said loudly, "Auntie Moon, you're the best! You’ll definitely win!" His mother knew nothing; she had some nerve trying to compete with Auntie Moon. Fortunately, he hadn't called her "Mom" since arriving. If people knew he was Lin Qiao’s son, he would be so embarrassed.

Xu Mingyue was satisfied. She turned and handed her handbag to Qin Tianlang. "Tianlang, hold this for me."

Qin Tianlang took the bag and whispered, "Mingyue, I believe in you. Good luck." He was confident in her ability. Since it involved Qin family assets, he wouldn't allow Bai Xin and Lin Qiao to mess things up.

"Ugh, scumbag!" Bai Xin glared at the pair.

Lin Qiao didn't care. She realized now that Xu Mingyue was an attention seeker, which actually brought her some amusement.

Xu Mingyue picked up her camera and adjusted the settings. She looked up and asked, "Who will be the judge?"

"I will."

A deep, magnetic male voice came from behind. Qin Chen’s tall figure appeared at the studio entrance; it seemed he had been watching the drama for a while. The man walked in unhurriedly. Qin Chen was dressed in a dark, custom-made suit that radiated luxury. He was exceptionally tall, the suit perfectly highlighting his broad shoulders and narrow waist. Although there was a smile on his lips, he carried an overwhelming sense of oppression and detachment; his presence was extraordinary.

The noisy atmosphere came to an abrupt halt. Qin Tianlang was slightly stunned; he reflexively stood straighter and respectfully called out, "Uncle."

Qin Chen nodded slightly. Seeing Qin Chen, Xu Mingyue quickly approached him and introduced herself. Qin Chen nonchalantly twirled the watch on his wrist and said in a cool tone, "Great masters produce great students. Miss Xu, I look forward to your performance."

Xu Mingyue glanced triumphantly at Lin Qiao and began her shoot. She took a few test shots, adjusted the lighting and camera parameters, and then shot the final images. Once finished, she handed the camera to a staff member to transfer to the computer.

The photos were displayed clearly on the giant screen. The jewelry looked magnificent. Seeing the admiring gazes of the crowd, Xu Mingyue grew excited. She was going to win!

She handed the camera back to Lin Qiao. "Your turn."

Lin Qiao took the camera and set it aside. "I don't need to take any more shots. There's no point."