Chapter 282 - Picture Battle

"...." Tyler got caught off guard. Is this... Kris? Wait... when did Kris start texting him....? Since the beginning? Or just now? Or... What the hell?

Tyler flexed his arm and sent a picture back with that. What he got back was another picture of what seemed to be Kris' arm. The good news this time was that theirs was similarly the same. He grinned.

Lena: R we going to flex bank accounts next?

"..." Tyler knew he would lose on that... but now he was sure it was Kris texting.

Instead, Tyler knew what to do so he can win the next round. He posed his handsome face for a selfie. Snapped and sent.

Kris saw the photo and made an ugly face. Isn't this what people call a selfie picture? 

Kris turned the camera and took a photo of himself. However, when he looked at it... he was.. let's just say it was not a very good selfie. A portion of his head was cut off and that smile... what kind of smile is that?!

After a few minutes of nothing getting sent back, Tyler grinned even wider.

Tyler decided to call "Lena" right this moment to find out.

As the phone rang, Kris laughed. He walked out to the living room and woke Lena up.

Lena yawned and rubbed her eyes.

"Your mistress is calling you." Kris handed the phone over to Lena.

She stared at the caller ID and picked up the call.

"Hello?"

"Lena?" Tyler was expecting Kris to answer the phone.

"What? You called me just to ask that?" Lena felt annoyed. She could have slept a bit longer.

She looked at Kris who was putting on his shoes. 

"I ordered some food. It's here and I will go pick it up." He talked softly and Lena nodded.

"Um... did you get my texts...?"

"What?" Lena was confused.

As Lena continued to talk, Kris got into the speed elevator. He was in a good mood. He looked at his reflection from the window and tried to pose some selfie face and practice on his smile for the camera. As he got out to pick the food up, he was whistling and even tipped the delivery guy a handsome fee.

When he came back Lena was just ending the call with Tyler.

"Ok, thanks. See you then."

Kris glanced at Lena when she said "See you then." but then continue to walk over to the dining table to set the food up.

Lena noticed that Kris came back, but she was still browsing her text messages, reading the crazy thing Kris was sending. She almost choked on her saliva when she saw the stupid pictures.

She noticed that Kris did not send a selfie back to Tyler but the picture he snapped was still saved in her photos. Of course, if Kris sent that horrible selfie back, he would have lost shamefully.

Lena walked into the dining room and lean against the wall, watching Kris set up the table.

"Are you not going to tell me about it?"

"About what?" Kris ask.

Kris was didn't even care to delete the messages between him and Tyler. After all, there is nothing he really needed to hide from Lena.

"You suck at taking selfies."

"No I don't. You're camera just sucks. You need to get a new one."

"Mhm...." Lena replied. "What were you doing to compare next? D*ck size?"

Kris instantly glanced up at Lena and smiled. "Why didn't I think of that?" 

Lena rolled her eyes. "Just don't use my phone for that next time."

They both ate together and then when it was time to leave, they separated. James came and picked up Lena while Kris drove to work himself that day. 

Lena did not go to the company that day but instead the Grand Hall where the fashion show would be. She made sure everything was perfectly set up for tomorrow. The PR team was ready for handling the drama that was sure to come.

LUX's team would be arriving tonight in City A. She already has a team to pick them up and take them to their hotel.

Lena was staying at a hotel for the night instead. It would be easier to manage her schedule the next day if she was closer to the Grand Hall.

The next day, Lena was up early to get herself ready. It was another day where getting her hair and make-up done was going to take her entire morning. Beauty is a pain. 

When she was done, she arrived at the event early with Angel Reynolds. As expected, the reporters were stacked. There was a leak of information to them already about the possible dupe that SHYNE did. 

Everyone did not ask any questions about it though as they want to see the result before making real accusations.

No one knew that Kris and Lena "made up." Kris was going to inspect the Casino in City B with Collin and the Huang's team which include Becca. So, he was not going to be at the release with Lena.

It already caught on very early when no one says that the handsome boyfriend of Miss. Shen was not at the event. 

"Mr. Li is busy?" Madam Zhao asked Lena.

"He is. The grand opening for his partnership business is opening in City B soon so he needed to go in for an in-house inspection."

"I see." Madam Zhao smiled. "My husband and son also had something busy today, but they pushed it back. How about you join us for a celebratory dinner later?"

Madam Zhao as hinting how good her son, Ming Zhao was. Lena just smiled and kindly accepted the invitation. Madam Zhao was already put into a rough situation with the leak of their product, so Lena should be kind.

Finally, the event was starting. The three partners walked up to the stage together. Each making their welcoming and open statement for the guests.

The first set was exactly the set that was leaked and released last week already. Only a few reporters had access to the live fashion. Many of the guests were older women as that is the brand that SHYNE represents. 

As the next set continued, Kiera came to the tell Lena that there was trouble at the back. Immediately, Lena excused herself from the audience and went backstage with Kiera.

"What is it?" Lena asked.

"The main model for set 3 sprained her ankle."

"How did that happen?"

"She went to use the bathroom and met some unpleasant guests. The guests were already removed from the area."

When Lena arrived backstage, Madam Zhao was already there as the guests and fashion dresses were her part.

"Her ankle is badly sprained, she won't be able to walk the stage." Madam Zhao spoke.

"And the backup?"

"We can't find her..."

Funny. Lena looked around to see if there was someone suitable for the replacement.

"How about Miss. Shen walk the stage?" Madam Zhao suggested.

"Huh? Me?"

"Yes. The dress is not anything too fancy as we are displaying the pieces of jewelry not the dress, so walking should be fine."

"That's true.... but, how about Madam Zhao go instead?"

Everyone went silent and looked at Lena. Did she just tell the artist to walk the stage herself?

"Madam Zhao must be more experienced than I am on a catwalk. Likewise, I think you will represent not only your brand by SHYNE's as well."

"Hmmm.." Madam Zhao thought about it. It had been ages since she walked onto the stage as a model. These days, older people were not entirely considered "models" but what Lena said was indeed correct.

"Miss. Shen is right. Prepare the dress for me." Madam Zhao smiled. She felt like she was younger already.

As Madam Zhao was preparing to walk the stage, Lena made sure that the model who got injured was sent to the hospital to get her ankle examined. Likewise, the replacement model would also get punished for breaking the contract with them.

Lena continued to stay backstage to make sure everything was going well for the third and final grand walk. Madam Zhao was the first to walk the stage and everyone was amazed. It was definitely an unexpected change of plans that created a more positive image of the brand.