Ning Jiuwei had a light appetite and preferred to keep her mind sharp with a touch of hunger, so she continued her work and breezily told Wen Wanyuan to leave.
“Miss Wen, see yourself out. I won’t walk you.”
Compared to how she might treat a real client, Ning Jiuwei’s attitude bordered on rude, but Wen Wanyuan didn’t feel slighted at all. On the contrary, she loved how Ning Jiuwei dropped the formalities with her—reserving that kind of candor for those who truly mattered.
Wen Wanyuan flopped onto the desk like an adorable corgi puppy, reaching out to tug at Ning Jiuwei’s sleeve. “Ah Mu, come eat with me.”
Who could resist a beautiful woman acting this cute and coquettish? Wen Wanyuan was certain her expression had Ning Jiuwei on the ropes.
With her sleeve pinned, Ning Jiuwei couldn’t flip through her documents. She traced the slender arm across the desk to Wen Wanyuan, who blinked lightly—equal parts endearing and enticing. Ning Jiuwei let out a helpless chuckle. “Find someone else to go with you. I really don’t have time.”
“Not even for a quick meal? Does that mean you don’t love me anymore?” Wen Wanyuan gave the sleeve a gentle shake. “Just one dinner, or else I’ll head to your place tonight, crawl into your bed, and refuse to leave.”
Smiling, Ning Jiuwei gently removed Wen Wanyuan’s hand, her tone warm but utterly devoid of romance. “No time.”
“Fine then. I’ll wash up nice and fresh, and deliver myself right to your door.”
They had known each other for years, so Ning Jiuwei knew exactly the kind of person Wen Wanyuan was. Words like that were just playful banter; she didn’t take them seriously and simply smiled. “Sure.”
~~~
Wen Wanyuan pulled an exquisite jewelry box from her bag—dark red velvet emblazoned with the DM logo—and handed it to Ning Jiuwei.
“I designed it. It’s launching next month.”
Handing over something that wasn’t even out yet? Ning Jiuwei accepted the box and opened it. Nestled inside was a platinum necklace, its square pendant featuring an intricate openwork fish that seemed to leap and swish its tail with lifelike vigor.
“Designer Wen, aren’t our companies competitors? What if your boss finds out you’re giving away a new design before release?” Ning Jiuwei lifted her gaze from the pendant, her eyes carrying a knowing glint.
Wen Wanyuan circled the desk to stand behind Ning Jiuwei, lifting the open box and deftly hooking out the necklace with one fingertip. “If she asks, I’ll just say you’re my girlfriend and that I’m poaching you for DM. Ah Mu, do you know what this necklace is called?”
Ning Jiuwei tilted her head. “What?”
“Honestly, I haven’t decided yet.”
Ning Jiuwei glanced sideways at her as Wen Wanyuan unclasped the necklace, draping her long arm around Ning Jiuwei’s neck. “We prototyped five after finalizing the design drawings. This one’s numbered S1.”
Wen Wanyuan brushed Ning Jiuwei’s long hair aside to one shoulder, baring the fair, sensitive nape of her neck. The fingertip securing the clasp brushed her skin by accident, and Ning Jiuwei—unaccustomed to anyone touching her there—instinctively gripped Wen Wanyuan’s wrist.
Undeterred, Wen Wanyuan’s nimble fingers snapped the clasp shut perfectly. She leaned in with a grin. “It looks stunning on Designer Ning.”
Ning Jiuwei dipped her head slightly, pinching the pendant for a closer look. “How about ‘Fish Leaping from the Abyss’?”
“‘Kite Soaring to the Heavens, Fish Leaping from the Abyss.'” Wen Wanyuan draped herself fully around Ning Jiuwei’s neck, beaming with delight. “Not bad at all, Ah Mu—you always come up with the perfect names. My boss would settle for something tacky like Love Fish or Auspicious Flying Fish.”
The two designers chatted animatedly, blissfully unaware of Su Jinglan in the President’s Office across the way. Her face had turned ashen, her grip on the pen white-knuckled, work the furthest thing from her mind.
~~~
Ning Jiuwei pried Wen Wanyuan’s arms loose, swiveling her chair to face her sideways. “Before the new product launches, should I keep this necklace hidden?”
“Exactly—tuck it under your clothes where no one else can see.” As Wen Wanyuan reached for the collar, Ning Jiuwei swiftly blocked her hand and tucked the pendant away herself. “I’ll take the necklace. Thanks, Great Designer Wen.”
Slanting sunlight streamed through the window, catching Ning Jiuwei just so and making the platinum necklace gleam with dazzling light. Wen Wanyuan stole several lingering glances before finally departing.
Finally gone.
Teetering on the brink of losing control, Su Jinglan set down her pen, pressed a hand to her forehead, and closed her eyes.
Could liking someone really spark jealousy this fierce?
Su Jinglan exhaled heavily, forcing down the wild, jealous frenzy churning inside her, bit by bit.
They’re just friends. Friends exchanged gifts all the time—it was perfectly reasonable. Ning Jiuwei saw Wen Wanyuan as a friend, nothing more.
She repeated the reassurance in her mind, then abruptly lifted her head. Ning Jiuwei might view it as mere friendship, but what about Wen Wanyuan? Who could say she didn’t harbor the same special feelings for Ning Jiuwei that Su Jinglan did?
A wave of crisis crashed over her. Su Jinglan shot a covert glance across the room, overwhelmed by a desperate urge to close the distance.
But she had no excuse to approach—not yet.
Su Jinglan picked up the fountain pen again, her fingertips pinching the barrel.
The cool metal pressed against her heated fingertips. Amid her swirling thoughts, an excuse came to mind.
The office door was closed. Maintaining proper etiquette as the superior, Su Jinglan knocked before entering.
“Designer Ning, the company is releasing the quarterly new products next month. I just took over the Design Department, and I need some suggestions from you.” Su Jinglan handed the folder to Ning Jiuwei.
Inside the soft leather folder lay the final drafts of design drawings for the quarterly new products, submitted by the designers. After careful evaluation and screening by the Design Director, five designers’ works had passed the initial review and been sent to the president for the final decision.
Ning Jiuwei opened the folder, unclipped the design drawings, and spread them across the desk.
When she had been appointed Chief Designer, her desk had been custom-built to the widest standard: 2.6 meters long and 90 centimeters wide, with ample surface space for all sorts of items.
“Which designer’s work does President Su think aligns with market trends and holds commercial value?” Ning Jiuwei asked.
The merits of a design were subjective, shaped by individual tastes. Those in leadership positions needed a broad vision to grasp the big picture and sharp instincts to judge the market, sifting out products that would truly sell.
When it came to work, Ning Jiuwei upheld her professionalism—neither dodging responsibility nor overstepping into decisions.
Su Jinglan had come prepared. Before seeking out Ning Jiuwei, she had pored over the five designers’ drawings and could answer without hesitation. “Designer Jiang’s piece this time is captivating. Drawing from the phoenix as its inspiration, it evokes an ancient mythical aura. The pendant alone symbolizes rebirth from flames, while two joined together depict phoenixes soaring in flight—perfect for singles and couples alike.”
Having assessed Jiang Shiyao’s design, Su Jinglan picked up Designer Qi’s from beside it. “I’ve reviewed Designer Qi’s past submissions. Her work always tracks the latest trends with a strong commercial edge, and this one’s no exception. Picking hers for the quarterly release guarantees solid sales.”
Jewelry demanded constant innovation—fresh twists on familiar materials to lure buyers. Sales were the ultimate priority, driving profit for the company.
Su Jinglan set aside those two drawings, stacked the remaining three, and slipped them back into the folder.
The next quarter’s new product came down to a choice between Designer Jiang and Designer Qi.
“With our production capacity, we could easily run lines for both products at once,” Ning Jiuwei said, mindful of her role as Chief Designer rather than a decision-maker. She offered her thoughts and nothing more. “Designer Qi has a following among consumers; her pieces always sell well. Designer Jiang has broken free from her usual safe style this time—worth giving her a shot.”
As she spoke, Ning Jiuwei didn’t notice Su Jinglan drawing close, near enough to touch.
Su Jinglan held the two design drafts. She laid them on the desk, braced her hands on the edge, bent at the waist, and turned her head to confer with Ning Jiuwei. “I’ve considered producing both, but per company tradition, quarterly new products stick to a single release.”
Her gaze locked intently on Ning Jiuwei. Each breath carried the crisp, alluring cedar white musk scent from Ning Jiuwei’s skin, seeping into Su Jinglan’s racing heart and drawing an unwitting swallow.
The motion was unmistakable. Ning Jiuwei clenched her fist, unwelcome images flickering through her mind.
Focus. Work.
She reined in her thoughts. “Design Department decisions are yours to make, President Su. Tradition holds unless you say otherwise.”
“Mm.” Su Jinglan nodded, her smile rich with intent. Her eyes swept the desk and paused on the remote control tucked in the corner—within easy reach.
She snatched it up and aimed at the glass walls, pressing the button to frost them over. Then she locked the office door with the remote.
The sealed space invited a flood of fantasies. Ning Jiuwei had just banished her stray thoughts when Su Jinglan’s actions reignited them—memories of being pinned to the bed, that near-kiss hanging in the air.
Su Jinglan’s eyes returned to Ning Jiuwei, remote still in hand. She pressed again, and the blinds descended from the top of the glass walls, shrouding the frosted panels completely.
Electronic frosting made the glass walls transparent or opaque on command, but nothing beat physical barriers for a true sense of privacy. Su Jinglan set the remote down gently, draped herself over the back of Ning Jiuwei’s chair, and resumed their talk of quarterly products.
“The design drawing Jiang Shiyao turned in this time—you revised it for her.” Su Jinglan stated it plainly, no question mark needed.
Ning Jiuwei had helped Jiang Shiyao revise her design drawings, and Jiang Shiyao had treated her to a meal in return. Su Jinglan knew every detail of the matter, but only the two women involved truly understood just how extensively Ning Jiuwei had reworked those drawings.
Ning Jiuwei had the distinct sensation of being interrogated. She steadied her nerves and regarded Su Jinglan with calm composure. “What do you mean by that, President Su?”
Su Jinglan’s fingertips drummed a steady rhythm against the supple leather back of her chair, each soft tap echoing in Ning Jiuwei’s chest. Her heart pounded faster despite her efforts to control it, the weight of Su Jinglan’s presence pressing down on her like an invisible force.
The Former President had never made her feel this way. There was something in Su Jinglan’s speech and mannerisms, in the commanding aura that radiated from her, that belied her official title. She didn’t seem like a Business Division President merely transferred from the group headquarters—she carried herself like the ruler of the entire corporation.
Ning Jiuwei lowered her gaze, her parted lips drawing in deeper breaths as she desperately tried to ease the suffocating tightness in her chest.
Su Jinglan ceased her tapping and curved her lips into a gentle smile. “Designer Ning, you’re so selfless—helping others refine their design drawings without expecting anything in return. As president, I can’t simply ignore such dedication to the company. I want to understand it clearly.”
Ning Jiuwei’s breath hitched unevenly. She bit the inside of her lip. “I only offered a few suggestions. The actual modifications were all Little Jiang’s own ideas.”
Su Jinglan tilted her head down slightly. “Is that so, Ah Mu?”
Ning Jiuwei’s heart lurched violently. Her eyes, which had been dodging away, now swung back to Su Jinglan of their own accord.
~~~
