Chapter 41: Willing to Put Effort Into Herself

A mature man would never let tears well up in a girl's eyes.
Therefore, Lü Yao did not hesitate—
"Pia!"
Encouraged personally by Lü Yao, Zhou Bella quickly got down to work. Lü Yao also threw himself into the task, picking up his camera and snapping away.
Three hours later, Lü Yao finished today's photoshoot.
Being a model is actually quite tiring.
Especially for a genre like seductive lingerie that aims to highlight curves, valleys, and contours.
Yet, after the shoot, Zhou Bella did not feel tired at all; instead, she was exceptionally spirited.
Having been personally motivated by Lü Yao, Zhou Bella felt in front of the camera as if every click of the shutter pressed directly against her heartbeat.
So Zhou Bella stood up and said, "I'll change out of the sample and take a shower while I'm at it."
Lü Yao made an "OK" gesture and continued previewing the photos in his hand.
As Zhou Bella walked into the bathroom holding her everyday loungewear, her heart pounded wildly. In the end, she did not close the bathroom door completely, leaving a crack open.
Soon.
Lü Yao in the living room heard the clear sound of running water coming from the bathroom.
Huh?
He just glanced back and saw the gap Zhou Bella had left behind.
This was a hint; if he went in right now, something would definitely happen.
Want him to make the first move?
Lü Yao chuckled.
His experiences across past and present lives had long allowed him to thoroughly practice the "three no's" principle—no initiative, no responsibility, no refusal.
So Lü Yao very calmly withdrew his gaze.
Inside the bathroom, even amidst the rushing sound of water, Zhou Bella could clearly hear the beating of her own heart.
She was somewhat afraid that the door would actually be pushed open, yet somewhat afraid that it wouldn't be pushed open.
Waiting and waiting.
Zhou Bella never saw the bathroom door change in the slightest.
Consequently, Zhou Bella was suddenly overcome with a sense of loss.
She looked down at her own body; her wheat-toned skin was smooth and delicate, and her curves were quite nice.
Yet she really was a bit too thin...
Thinking of what Lü Yao had told her yesterday, Zhou Bella instantly pumped herself up: "Zhou Bella! Work hard on fitness!"
A dozen minutes later, Zhou Bella emerged with damp hair, and handed the just-worn, still vapor-warmed sample back to Lü Yao.
Lü Yao casually packed it away: "Then I'll head back first."
Zhou Bella: "Auw..."

Once Lü Yao truly left her home, Zhou Bella instantly felt an empty void in the bottom of her heart.
...
Lü Yao did not go home, but went instead to the studio.
His studio was also located in Jiang'an District, inside a startup incubator park here.
Considering that the product master images also required space for shooting, Lü Yao had rented a fairly spacious office area. After a simple renovation, he was ready to begin operations.
When Lü Yao arrived at the studio, Xu Ziqiao was already there.
Seeing Lü Yao walk in, Xu Ziqiao bounded up with a "swoosh": "How come you haven't replied to any of my messages these past few days? So unbrotherly!"
Lü Yao said with a straight face, "I was working. Empty out all the smut filling your brain."
Xu Ziqiao said wretchedly, "Then let me use those samples!"
If Lü Yao wouldn't take him along, he could shoot by himself!
He had already prepared his camera.
But those exclusive samples were not available online yet.
To satisfy his photographic dreams, Xu Ziqiao had even specifically searched around the internet.
However, the online lingerie styles fell far short compared to the improved designs by Lü Yao. Having his aesthetic standards elevated to another level, Xu Ziqiao could no longer look down on those ordinary items.
Lü Yao chuckled: "Those samples were just worn and haven't been washed yet."
Xu Ziqiao frowned in thought: "Isn't that even better?"
Lü Yao: "Get lost!"
He put on a serious expression: "Once the products officially launch, use your account to place an order, and then show them off to your gang of scoundrel friends to guide them to place orders in our shop."
This was also a method of early Taobao operation.
Combining hidden promotions with fake orders could easily propel the shop into a larger traffic pool.
Afterward, relying on the advantages of product design and the stimulation from buyer show reviews, there would be no worry about a lack of future orders.
Xu Ziqiao wailed mournfully: "We have to wait that long?!"
Lü Yao smiled: "Let me reiterate, we are starting a business here, understand?"
"Understand, understand, understand~"
Xu Ziqiao replied perfunctorily.
What does a rich second-generation heir know about starting a business?
He was starting a business with Lü Yao mainly because it was fun.
Especially since Lü Yao had promised to let him impersonate a girl to act as the shop's customer service, and the reason he was so willing to be customer service was because it allowed him to observe firsthand perks.
After a purchase, guide the customers to post pictures for good reviews and cash refunds!
This feeling of peeping into other people's private lives under disguise made Xu Ziqiao feel rather thrilled.
Most importantly!
Lü Yao had also painted a grand vision for him—the people buying ammunition from this kind of shop might not all be men; there would also be plenty of girls.

And girls who would proactively purchase this type of product tended to have open minds and decent looks.
Xu Ziqiao could obtain firsthand contact information!
Lü Yao remembered that later on, a male online seller of women's lingerie managed to flirt successfully with a female customer who had long been purchasing E-cups at his shop.
This filled Xu Ziqiao with boundless motivation!
Judging by his long experience in flirting with girls, the hardest step in approaching a girl was often the very first one.
As long as you had the contact information, figuring out how to respond afterward was relatively simple.
Therefore, Xu Ziqiao was now even more eager than Lü Yao for the shop to start operations soon.
Ignoring Xu Ziqiao, Lü Yao began to throw himself wholeheartedly into photo retouching.
Before long, Xu Ziqiao wandered behind Lü Yao and let out an exclamation: "Holy crap! Did you shoot this? Bro, your photography is this high-level? Teach me, won't you?"
Xu Ziqiao didn't know how to retouch photos.
Yet he possessed a heart that loved photography.
Lü Yao said flatly, "Holler again and I'll throw you outside!"
...
Lü Yao was busy at the studio until five in the afternoon. After a short break, he hurried over to NFA for work.
Just as his performance for the day ended, Lü Yao suddenly received a long-awaited message from Sister Wang: "Off work yet? I'll come pick you up."
Lü Yao smiled: "Alright."
Lü Yao packed his things, slung his messenger bag over his shoulder, and waited for Sister Wang by the roadside.
Ten minutes or so later, Sister Wang's Porsche pulled up right at the entrance of NFA.
The flirtatious red exterior of the Porsche attracted the gazes of quite a few people, and as Lü Yao opened the front passenger door and sat inside, many young men and women near the nightclub curiously peered into the car.
Inside the car.
Sister Wang turned her head from the driver's seat to look at Lü Yao, complaining somewhat resentfully: "If I don't look for you, you wouldn't think to look for me more often?"
Lü Yao smiled: "If you look for me, I'll definitely reply, but I never know if you'll reply to me."
Sister Wang chuckled and sighed: "You~"
She opened her arms across the center console to hug Lü Yao, and said softly with a hint of grievance: "I've missed you."
Lü Yao let out a sigh of relief and also said softly: "That's good."
"I thought I was the only one secretly missing you."
This sentence was true, though only to a certain extent.
Yet even if Sister Wang knew these were sweet words Lü Yao used to coax her, she still felt very happy.
At the very least—
He was willing to put effort into her.