130: I've gotten up in the middle of the night several times to draw design drafts.

She had already meticulously prepared her makeup and outfit.

However, for the final hairstyle, the coordination of the overall look, and even that finishing touch of divine inspiration, only Tony could give her enough confidence.

With any other stylist, no matter how good their technique, she always felt a lack of that soulful connection. To stand out and outshine everyone on a star-studded red carpet, the difficulty would undoubtedly increase significantly.

“So... Tony, can you really not make an exception?”

Yang Mi's tone was almost pleading, forming a subtle contrast with her usual queenly image.

“How about this? You go pick up your important client first, and I can wait here.”

“As long as... as long as you can finish my styling before 7 PM, I'll make it in time!”

“Please, Tony. For tonight's occasion, if you aren't at the helm, I really won't feel confident...”

Hearing Yang Mi lower herself so much on the phone, even making a humble plea, Tony's heartstrings were tugged.

He wasn't cold-hearted, and having worked with Yang Mi for many years, they shared a certain bond.

He knew deep down how anxious Yang Mi was and how much importance she placed on tonight's gala.

To be fair, if it weren't for Lei Jun's sudden return, he would never have acted this way.

He quickly weighed the timing in his mind.

Go to the airport to pick up Lei Jun, return to the salon, then do Lei Jun's hair... He always pursued perfection for Lei Jun's styling, so it wouldn't be a short process.

Doing Yang Mi's hair after that... the schedule would be extremely tight, almost down to the wire, but it wasn't completely impossible. It would just be very exhausting for him, requiring every minute to be precisely managed like a military operation.

“Sigh...” He sighed softly to himself.

Since Yang Mi had put it that way and humbled herself so much, it would be somewhat unreasonable to refuse again, especially since they would still be seeing each other in the industry.

Moreover, he understood a female star's obsession with a perfect image on an important occasion.

“Alright, Sister Mi.” Tony finally relented, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness and seriousness. “I'll try to arrange it. I'll return as soon as I pick up the person. You can come... a bit later in the afternoon, but I can't guarantee a lot of spare time. We must cooperate efficiently.”

“That's wonderful! Thank you, Tony! I will definitely cooperate fully!” Yang Mi's voice was instantly filled with gratitude and relief.

After hanging up, Tony rubbed his temples and instructed his assistant, “Aside from Yang Mi's appointment being moved to 'to be determined,' cancel all the others.”

The assistant saw that his mentor had ultimately accepted Yang Mi's appointment. Though the process was convoluted, he also breathed a sigh of relief; at least they avoided completely offending this big star.

He immediately went into action, handling the follow-up matters for the cancellations.

Tony didn't delay any further. He grabbed his car keys and quickly left the salon with his assistant, driving toward Longcheng Airport.

If one were to judge Tony's taste solely by his usually refined and slightly feminine demeanor, they might assume his vehicle would be some kind of elegant coupe.

However, when he and his assistant arrived at the underground garage and that rugged, powerful vehicle came into view, the contrast would instantly shatter everyone's perceptions.

It was a meticulously modified Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG. The matte black paint made it look like a crouching beast. Its boxy, imposing body, high chassis, and thick off-road tires all showcased a powerful dominance that ignored all terrain.

He nimbly pulled open the door and sat in the driver's seat. Those slender fingers, usually dedicated to sketching hairstyles and applying makeup, now firmly gripped the thick steering wheel with movements that were smooth and full of power.

The engine let out a low, majestic roar, like an awakening giant beast, instantly echoing through the underground garage.

With a focused gaze, Tony maneuvered this beast into the flow of traffic.

He enjoyed this experience of extreme contrast... In the salon, he was an artist creating beauty, meticulous and pursuing the ultimate.

But when he held the G63's steering wheel, that feeling of controlling a powerful machine at high speeds could release the hidden, unknown wildness and power within him.

This domineering vehicle seemed to be the externalization of his other side, carrying him to meet the existence that held a unique position in his heart.

As the vehicle merged onto the highway leading to the airport, Tony's heart had already flown toward the flight about to land.

He looked forward to seeing that moonlight-like silver hair again soon, along with that face that could inspire his infinite creativity... The plane landed smoothly at Longcheng Airport.

Tony had long been waiting expectantly at the arrival gate. When that familiar, cool, and outstanding figure appeared with the crowd, his eyes instantly lit up, and his inner excitement was almost uncontrollable.

He hurried forward to meet her, his voice carrying undisguised joy: “Miss Lei, you've finally arrived!”

“It's been nearly a month. I've been looking forward to your return every day. My heart felt empty, like something was missing!”

Lei Jun was amused by his enthusiasm and lightly patted the back of his hand with her fingertips: “It’s only been a month, is there any need to be this excited?”

“Of course there is!” Tony dramatically clutched his chest. “My inspiration almost dried up this past month. You don't know—without you to let me create, I find even styling other clients to be dull and tasteless.”

“Honestly, I've been dreaming about how to style your silver hair all month. I even got up in the middle of the night several times to draw design sketches.”

Lei Jun looked at the emotionally expressive stylist before her. His eager eyes and blunt words were somewhat amusing, but they also brought a faint sense of warmth.

She smiled slightly and responded in kind, “Tony, it’s been a long time. I missed you too.”

These words were half polite and half sincere.

However, to Tony, this simple response sounded like heavenly music!

He felt as if he had been struck by a massive wave of happiness. The corners of his already upturned mouth almost reached his ears.

His heart bloomed with joy.

“Miss Lei said she missed me! She actually said she missed me! This means she felt my skill and my dedication!”

“It was worth it. Canceling all those appointments and even nearly offending Yang Mi—it was all worth it!”

“I knew we were soul-compatible partners!”

But this ecstasy only lasted for a few seconds. When he leaned closer and his professional habits made him subconsciously start to scrutinize Lei Jun's face and that silver hair he treated like a treasure, his expression suddenly underwent a dramatic change.

First came a shock like a pupillary earthquake, followed by an unbelievable heartache.

“My... God!”