~~~
In the chat list of her personal account, Shen Lanyan’s stunningly beautiful profile picture sat quietly at the top. Ning Jiuwei casually scanned the code to add Su Jinglan.
For Ning Jiuwei, there wasn’t much difference between her work account and personal account.
But for Su Jinglan, the significance of the two accounts was worlds apart. Seeing Shen Lanyan’s profile picture made Su Jinglan’s breath hitch, and her grip on the phone tightened unconsciously.
“You added her on both?” Su Jinglan’s gaze fell on Ning Jiuwei’s exquisite and pretty face as she tried to read her attitude toward Shen Lanyan from her eyes.
Ning Jiuwei’s smile was perfectly measured, and when she mentioned Shen Lanyan, her tone was calm. “Yes, Miss Shen wanted to add my personal account so she could reach me anytime.”
Ning Jiuwei’s face remained unruffled, but only she knew the tumultuous, earth-shattering waves surging in her heart.
After adding WeChat, Ning Jiuwei slipped her phone into her pocket with both hands. Out of Su Jinglan’s sight, they trembled uncontrollably.
“Does President Su have anything else?” Ning Jiuwei lowered her voice slightly to steady it, concealing her emotions.
Her hint for Su Jinglan to leave was rather obvious. Su Jinglan remained poised—after all, Ning Jiuwei was right under her nose, and they would be spending the coming days in close proximity. She had plenty of opportunities to draw closer.
Su Jinglan smiled gently. “Nothing else. Carry on with your work.”
Just as she turned to leave, Su Jinglan seemed to remember something and paused. Looking back at Ning Jiuwei, she said, “If Shen Lanyan does anything inappropriate, Designer Ning can tell me. I’ll handle it for you.”
Once Su Jinglan had gone, Ning Jiuwei leaned back in her office chair, tilting her head and letting out a heavy sigh.
Shen Lanyan had already crossed plenty of lines—her words were bold, her actions blurring the boundary between client and designer.
The computer hummed quietly as it ran. Ning Jiuwei set the tablet aside and retrieved a sheet of drawing paper from the file cabinet behind her, preparing to sketch a diamond ring design by hand.
Drawing inspiration from the feel of their contact, Ning Jiuwei closed her eyes and recalled their first meeting. She fixed on the image of Shen Lanyan lounging lazily on the sofa in her pajamas, freezing the frame on her pose holding the wine glass.
A ring was an ornament for the hand. Shen Lanyan’s skin was like congealed jade, her fingers slender and pristine. No ring could overshadow her beauty.
Having envisioned the ring’s design, Ning Jiuwei opened her eyes and set pen to paper.
“Teacher Ning, are you busy?” A tentative voice drifted in from the doorway, interrupting her focused sketching.
Ning Jiuwei set down her pen and flipped the drawing paper face down on the desk. “Come in.”
“Teacher Ning, we’re releasing the quarterly new products next month. This is my initial design draft. There’s one detail I just can’t get right. Could you give me some pointers?”
The visitor was Jiang Shiyao, an ordinary designer in the Design Department. When she had first joined the company, she had called Ning Jiuwei “Designer Ning” politely. After receiving a few pointers, she switched to “Teacher Ning.”
Ning Jiuwei took the tablet and glanced at the design drawings. Jiang Shiyao had a professional design background with solid drawing skills, but her imagination lacked that spark of beauty, resulting in work that was competent yet unremarkable.
The quarterly new products were themed around Azure Flame. Designer Jiang was young and had never been in love, never experienced that scorching emotion. Her necklace design showed some novelty but failed to immediately evoke romance.
“The idea of shaping it like a phoenix is good,” Ning Jiuwei said, speaking like a patient teacher who praised before critiquing. She pointed at the pendant with the end of the tablet pen. “Try changing the phoenix with spread wings to a half-body phoenix holding a green jadeite stone in its beak—like after nirvana and rebirth, carrying its own heart to find its other half.”
Ning Jiuwei left it at that, offering inspiration without over-explaining, and handed the tablet back to Designer Jiang.
Jiang Shiyao’s eyes lit up with sudden understanding, her bewildered mind instantly finding direction.
She beamed, thanking Ning Jiuwei profusely. Admiration shone in her eyes, thick as the night. “Teacher Ning, Yuejun Square just opened a new private cuisine restaurant. The owner is my childhood friend, and it’s in soft opening these couple of days. Do you have time tonight to come try it out?”
“Next time.” Ning Jiuwei rarely attended social functions, and private gathering dinners with colleagues were almost nonexistent.
Across the entire Design Department, only the Director and her assistant, Tan Yushu, had ever shared a private meal with Ning Jiuwei.
Rejected, Jiang Shiyao didn’t leave. Her pounding heart spurred her on. “Teacher Ning, you’ve been the one teaching me ever since I joined the company. I’ve always wanted to treat you to dinner. You said ‘next time’ the last couple of times—please say yes this time.”
Jiang Shiyao had been quite introverted when she first arrived, timid and soft-spoken. She had grown bolder since, but she still said little. For her to speak so much now caught Ning Jiuwei off guard.
Ning Jiuwei kept her gentle smile. Seeing Jiang Shiyao’s eyes redden, brimming with nervous tears, she swallowed her refusal. “Alright, after work.”
“Thank you, Teacher Ning!”
It was clearly Designer Little Jiang who was supposed to treat her to dinner, yet she ended up being the one expressing thanks. Ning Jiuwei smiled faintly and nodded. “Go revise those design drawings.”
Jiang Shiyao’s joy was impossible to conceal, her face radiant like a spring pool in bloom as she returned to her workstation.
Tan Yushu noticed and called out to her. “Shiyao, did Designer Ning give you some candy? You’re beaming like that.”
“Yeah, super sweet.” Inspiration flooded Jiang Shiyao. Following Ning Jiuwei’s suggestions and picturing her smile, she threw herself into revising the design draft.
Assistant Tan hadn’t received any herself, yet Ning had given some to others. Jealousy bubbled up in her heart.
Su Jinglan left her office door ajar, her gaze drifting through the glass walls to land on Ning Jiuwei. She couldn’t make out their words, but she read them from their lip movements.
Dinner together after work?
Su Jinglan’s eyes narrowed slightly. She fired off a message to her assistant.
Two minutes later, the Design Division Executive Group received a notice from Lin Fengmian: Tonight, the President is treating all the directors and the chief designer to dinner. Directors, notify your designers accurately—no absences permitted.
Ning Jiuwei got the message from the Design Director and sneaked a glance toward the office across the way.
The transparent glass walls gleamed spotless, thanks to the cleaning staff, affording a clear view of everything opposite. Su Jinglan worked with her head down, pen in her right hand, approving files one after another.
That focused look drew the eye. Ning Jiuwei’s gaze lingered on the familiar face that now carried a hint of unfamiliarity. Strands of hair cascaded over Su Jinglan’s shoulders, a few brushing her temples, radiating a mature allure unique to women.
Sensing Su Jinglan about to look up, Ning Jiuwei ducked her head hurriedly, snatched up her tablet, and feigned deep concentration.
She missed the knowing smile in Su Jinglan’s eyes.
Ning Jiuwei texted the director back: She had an important appointment that evening and couldn’t make it.
The Design Director sighed in resignation. What could she do when her prized chief designer didn’t want to schmooze? Spoil her, that’s what.
She messaged Lin Fengmian: Assistant Lin, terribly sorry, but Designer Ning has to meet a key custom client tonight and can’t join the gathering dinner. I’ll down a few extra drinks this evening and apologize to the President face-to-face.
Everyone could attend except Ning Jiuwei. Once Lin Fengmian confirmed, she stepped out of the assistant’s office and headed into the President’s Office to report.
Su Jinglan fell silent, her expression turning grave.
Without Ning Jiuwei, the dinner meant nothing.
“Forget it. Handle the arrangements.” The invitation was already out there—canceling wasn’t feasible. Su Jinglan had a plan. “You go in my stead tonight. I’ve got something to handle and won’t be attending.”
“Understood. I’ll take care of everything.” Lin Fengmian was a pro at these situations; she could whip up airtight excuses without needing further direction from the President.
Quitting time arrived. Ning Jiuwei packed away her tablet. As she passed the open-plan office, she glanced at Designer Little Jiang’s workstation. Jiang Shiyao was all set and, catching the look, grabbed her bag and headed out.
“Teacher Ning.” It was Jiang Shiyao’s first time in Ning Jiuwei’s car—in the passenger seat, no less. Excitement shone from her face.
Buckling her seatbelt, she gave Ning Jiuwei the precise address. There were several Yuejun Squares; theirs was the glitziest one smack in the city center.
Ning Jiuwei drove steadily, treating her passenger like so much air. Jiang Shiyao’s nerves were obvious—she fidgeted with her hem, desperately hunting for conversation starters.
“My childhood friend dreamed of being a chef since she was a kid, and after all these years, she’s finally made it happen.” Jiang Shiyao swallowed to moisten her throat, then turned to Ning Jiuwei. “Teacher Ning, did you always want to be a designer?”
Streetlights were few and far between, the car interior dim. Ning Jiuwei schooled her features and replied gravely, “No.”
Jiang Shiyao sensed the atmosphere thicken instantly. Clutching her seatbelt, she ventured, “Teacher Ning, did I say something wrong?”
They hit a red light. Ning Jiuwei pulled to a stop and smiled at her. “Not at all. I know you’re just trying to chat. It’s fine—talk about whatever.”
Teacher Ning was too good to be true. Jiang Shiyao inwardly squealed the title a few times. Her next words came out stuttered, but no matter what she said, Ning Jiuwei always responded.
The evening rush was brutal. Ning Jiuwei circled twice before snagging a spot in the underground parking lot.
The new private cuisine restaurant was jammed, numbers already past a hundred. Jiang Shiyao led Ning Jiuwei over. The hostess greeted her affectionately as “Yaoyao,” skipped the queue, and ushered them straight in.
“The boss saved the best table for you. Head on in.”
“Let’s go, Teacher Ning.” The mall’s warmth had Jiang Shiyao’s ear tips turning pink.
They were just stepping inside when a clear, cool voice called Ning Jiuwei’s name from a distance.
No matter how much noisy chatter surrounded them, Ning Jiuwei could tell who was calling her without even turning around.
“What a coincidence, Designer Ning.” As she drew closer, Su Jinglan addressed Ning Jiuwei in a professional tone. “Here for lunch?”
The moment she spotted the new president, Jiang Shiyao froze in place. But this wasn’t the time to space out. She offered a cautious greeting. “President Su, hello. Are you here to eat too? Would you like to join us?”
Jiang Shiyao was just being polite. Even if she extended a warm invitation, the president would never dine with them.
Su Jinglan impassively glanced at Jiang Shiyao before turning to Ning Jiuwei. “Sure.”
~~~
Author’s Note:
President Su: How could my wife eat alone with someone else?
