Chapter 100

Su Jinglan’s unilateral decision didn’t disgust Ning Jiuwei at all. Instead, it brought a sense of stability to Ning Jiuwei’s heart and solidified the bond between them.

~~~

On the bustling street filled with endless traffic and pedestrians hurrying to and fro, Ning Jiuwei glanced out the car window past Su Jinglan’s shoulder. She leaned closer to Su Jinglan, steadying herself with the handle of her suitcase.

Su Jinglan’s breath caught. Her unguarded heart suddenly raced, the steady thump evoking memories branded into her skin. She couldn’t help but fixate on those soft lips.

“Has President Su checked today’s almanac? It’s not an auspicious day to meet the parents.” Ning Jiuwei’s refusal was gentle. Su Jinglan, who had been suppressing her heated emotions, couldn’t help but chuckle. The warmth pooling in her chest transformed into a deep smile. She itched to ruffle Ning Jiuwei’s hair, as if doting on a daughter, but restrained herself, merely pinching her fingers lightly. “Then I’ll pick an auspicious day, select the perfect date and time, and bring Teacher Ning home.”

Ning Jiuwei gazed into Su Jinglan’s eyes, offering no comment.

That lingering gaze was too tempting. Su Jinglan held her scorching breath, her tight throat bobbing with a soft swallow—the sound crystal clear in the enclosed car.

She leaned slowly toward Ning Jiuwei. Ning Jiuwei didn’t pull away. Instead, she cupped Su Jinglan’s face with her free hand, halting her advance.

“You have something weighing on you.” Su Jinglan’s micro-expression training was impeccable; she excelled at masking her feelings. Ning Jiuwei had only glimpsed her true reactions during moments of deep intimacy. Drawing on her insight and recalling Su Jinglan’s demeanor back in the Teachers’ Office, she pressed, “Can you tell me?”

Su Jinglan remained silent. Ning Jiuwei smiled. “It seems I shouldn’t have told you why I went to see the psychologist. It does involve you, but the real cause isn’t you. Don’t carry it in your heart anymore.”

Su Jinglan had always been steadfast in her convictions. As Ning Jiuwei pondered, the only thing capable of unsettling her was this psychologist business.

Having been counseled by the psychologist countless times, Ning Jiuwei had become something of an expert herself. Without Su Jinglan volunteering anything, she gently guided her emotions. “You’ve received my honest confession. Do you know what that means?”

Su Jinglan followed her lead, and the knot in her heart unraveled like clouds parting to reveal the sun. “It means you truly like me. No matter what I do, you’ll tolerate me and forgive me.”

As expected of a president. Ning Jiuwei felt neatly outmaneuvered. With words like that out in the open, she could never stay mad at Su Jinglan.

“Not necessarily.” Ning Jiuwei set aside her psychologist role and followed her own principles.

Her heart now unburdened, Su Jinglan shed her lingering fears of Ning Jiuwei leaving. Ignoring the stares that might peer through the windshield, she looped an arm around Ning Jiuwei’s neck and kissed her boldly.

Like a bird skimming across the water’s surface, the kiss lingered, leaving ripples that spread outward. Ning Jiuwei’s chest tingled with numbness, her entire heart melting away. Su Jinglan arched a playful brow, her spirits soaring. “I’m your girlfriend now. You have to pamper me and love me.”

Was this the feeling of being in love? Like warm sunlight bathing her from within, bright and comforting.

Ning Jiuwei’s lips curved upward uncontrollably. “Does President Su remember the DM Banquet?”

Su Jinglan could never forget an event that had slapped her in the face. Every word Ning Jiuwei had ever spoken was etched crystal clear in her mind. “Designer Ning is now my girlfriend. In time, she’ll become my fiancée—tied to me for life, inseparable in heart and soul.”

The mention of the banquet reminded Su Jinglan of the Quarterly New Product Launch. Wen Wanyuan’s name was on the guest list, and the invitation should already be in her hands.

“Designer Ning, has that Miss Wen from your family told you she received our company’s invitation to the Quarterly New Product Launch?”

The question carried a subtle probe—one careless word, and she’d tumble into Su Jinglan’s trap. Ning Jiuwei smiled to herself, not denying that Miss Wen was family. “She’ll attend the New Product Launch, as well as the banquet afterward.”

“I didn’t quite catch that. Could Designer Ning repeat it?” Su Jinglan’s smile brimmed with menace, laced with jealousy anyone could read.

“My family only has Miss Su—no Miss Wen.” Ning Jiuwei smiled as she picked up her phone. “My childhood friend got the invitation. She’ll be there.”

The phone screen lit up with a message from Shi Wanxu. Ning Jiuwei made no effort to hide it, opening and reading the text right in front of Su Jinglan.

Too many people orbited Ning Jiuwei. Su Jinglan felt as if someone could steal her away at any moment—especially Shi Wanxu, the psychologist, whose status and circumstances gave her an unfair edge. If she wanted to, she could drag Ning Jiuwei straight into the abyss.

“You took the initiative to message Doctor Shi?” Su Jinglan had sharp eyesight and spotted the timestamp above the message. The realization hit her even harder.

Ning Jiuwei smiled and hummed in affirmation. “I wanted to meet up with her and have a heart-to-heart, but not anymore.”

A pang tightened in Su Jinglan’s chest. The root of Ning Jiuwei’s desire to confide in Shi Wanxu lay with her—if she hadn’t come to find Ning Jiuwei, her girlfriend might have ended up in someone else’s arms.

Su Jinglan stared intently at the screen, devouring every word of their back-and-forth exchange. To spare her the eye strain, Ning Jiuwei kindly tilted the phone for a better view.

Shi Wanxu had to be at the hospital that afternoon, leaving only the evening free to meet Ning Jiuwei. Su Jinglan frowned and interjected into their conversation: “Evening meetups usually come with ulterior motives. Doctor Shi inviting you to her place—does she plan to keep you there for breakfast?”

“Breakfast?” Ning Jiuwei thought Su Jinglan had misspoke, but Su Jinglan stated it with utmost seriousness. “Yes, breakfast.”

Not explicit enough, Ning Jiuwei pondered for a few seconds before catching on. “I won’t be staying over at her place.”

“You’re going to her house?”

Ning Jiuwei let out a helpless chuckle and turned down the evening meetup.

No sooner had she sent the message than Shi Wanxu replied, as if she’d prepared it while Ning Jiuwei was typing: I’ve gathered some psychology experiment documents. Help me analyze and organize them tonight?

Ning Jiuwei had an interest in psychology, and Su Jinglan’s heart leaped into her throat. Catering to someone’s hobbies was a classic pursuit tactic—clearly, Shi Wanxu had designs on her.

Only Ning Jiuwei truly knew what piqued her interest. If Su Jinglan weren’t here right now, she might have agreed to meet. But with Su Jinglan by her side, psychology paled in comparison.

Ning Jiuwei found an irrefutable excuse to decline Shi Wanxu. “Sorry, Doctor Shi, I have a client meeting tonight. Next time, when there’s a chance, I’ll help you sort them out.”

They exchanged a couple more messages before Ning Jiuwei ended the chat and casually set her phone in the cup holder.

Su Jinglan was pleased with the rejection of Shi Wanxu, but Ning Jiuwei’s client meeting that evening stirred mixed feelings. As president, she should be thrilled by an employee’s dedication; as girlfriend, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of resentment.

She kept her grievances to herself.

“Which client is Designer Ning meeting tonight? As far as I know, the only ones we need to contact right now are Miss Shen and Miss Ye.” Su Jinglan glanced toward Silver Prosperity Building. “Didn’t Designer Ning come here to see Miss Ye? Why not head up?”

They’d already met during the day—no need for another that evening.

“Tonight, I’m meeting a Miss Su.” Ning Jiuwei’s gaze softened, her tone toward Su Jinglan mirroring the professional warmth she used with clients. “Not sure if she’ll want a custom piece from me here. To be precise, she’s a potential client.”

Who around Ning Jiuwei bore the surname Su? No matter—Ning Jiuwei’s “Miss Su” was her. Su Jinglan agreed on the spot. “She does.”

“How does President Su know?” Ning Jiuwei deadpanned the nonsense. “I’m only meeting her tonight to discuss the specifics of the custom design and her detailed requirements.”

“Ning Jiuwei, do you know a second Su?”

Ning Jiuwei chuckled lightly. “Chairman Su.”

With Chairman Su ruled out, that left only herself. Su Jinglan was certain “Miss Su” meant her—until Ning Jiuwei rattled off a litany of Su-named people like she was reciting a menu. Left uninterrupted, she could’ve gone into the double digits.

“I never realized Designer Ning knew so many Sus. Guess I was being presumptuous.” Su Jinglan masked her emotions, leaning back calmly in her seat. She turned her gaze forward, fixing on a white sedan in the parking spot ahead, as if she had no desire to speak to Ning Jiuwei anymore.

A blaring horn pierced the air outside the window, pricking Su Jinglan’s heart just the same.

Ning Jiuwei laughed beside her, savoring the temper tantrum Su Jinglan reserved solely for her. Teasing someone you liked brought an indescribable thrill.

“I was making it up. Aside from Chairman Su, the only one I know is you, President Su.”

Su Jinglan’s expression remained impassive as she teased back: “Looks like Designer Ning doesn’t just dislike her Su-surnamed boss—she’s not fond of Su-surnamed clients either.”

Ning Jiuwei: “…”

Women held grudges, and Su Jinglan—with her elephant memory—was no exception. She remembered every word.

This incident had been water under the bridge, yet here it was, dredged up again.

“Sorry, Miss Su, for the poor customer experience. This design session is on the house—no fees whatsoever. I’ll cover the materials personally. How does that sound?”

Su Jinglan couldn’t help but laugh. “When did you turn into customer service?”

“Just now. Exclusive service for you alone, Miss Su.” Ning Jiuwei buckled her seatbelt, started the car, and pulled away from Silver Prosperity Building.

Su Jinglan knew the route to Xitang Mansion like the back of her hand. Ning Jiuwei was taking her home.

After stepping through the front door, Ning Jiuwei instructed Su Jinglan to wait for her in the lobby while she headed to Room 2201—a space Su Jinglan had never entered before.

When Ning Jiuwei emerged, she held a Huanghuali Burred Wood Box in her hands. Its irregular, chaotic grain patterns formed a uniquely exquisite design. Su Jinglan knew a thing or two about wood, and she recognized that the box Ning Jiuwei carried was extraordinarily valuable and rare—one gram of its wood was worth four grams of gold.

“Designer Ning, are you giving this box to me?” Su Jinglan showed no reserve toward Ning Jiuwei whatsoever.

Ning Jiuwei passed the box over. “Open it and see.”

What kind of treasure deserved to be housed in such an extravagant wooden box? Su Jinglan opened it slowly. Nestled inside was a beautifully round pearl, its grand and distinctive flame patterns sweeping across its surface in a pink shade lightly touched with orange—an absolutely breathtaking color.

“Is this a pink pearl?”

“It’s a Conch Pearl, nurtured within a Queen Phoenix Conch.” Ning Jiuwei gazed at the Conch Pearl cradled in Su Jinglan’s palm. “A Phoenix Conch requires tremendous fortune to produce even one. Worldwide, fishermen retrieve no more than two thousand Conch Pearls each year, and those reaching gem quality can be counted on one hand. The one President Su holds now is the sole perfect specimen I’ve acquired by sheer coincidence over all these years—one that truly satisfies me.”

It resembled a phoenix soaring through the nine heavens, its fiery patterns blazing with radiant splendor. Su Jinglan’s heart raced with excitement as Ning Jiuwei told her, “I hope President Su finds it satisfactory as well.”

~~~