Chapter 6

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A few days earlier, Shen Lanyan had been resting at home, so Ning Jiuwei would have had to go there if she wanted to see her. Today, however, Tan Yushu had contacted Ah Xiao to schedule a meeting, and Shen Lanyan needed to take costume fitting photos, which meant Ning Jiuwei had to come to Jin Ying Building if she wanted to see her.

The building buzzed with people streaming in and out—almost all of them from the entertainment industry. Ning Jiuwei pulled the car up to the entrance and let Tan Yushu head inside alone.

“No need to rush back to the company after signing the contract,” Ning Jiuwei said. She gripped the steering wheel with one hand, checked the time, and added to her assistant, “Head back in three hours.”

“What about you?” Tan Yushu unbuckled her seatbelt and glanced toward the building’s entrance.

It was her first time at a place like this, and she felt a mix of excitement and nerves. Celebrities were everywhere here—who knew how many of her on-screen crushes she might spot once she went inside.

Leaders didn’t owe their subordinates a report on their whereabouts. Ning Jiuwei gave a faint smile. “I won’t be waiting for you here. Just grab a cab back on your own.”

“Got it.” Assistant Tan nodded vigorously.

After stepping out of the car, Assistant Tan checked the contents of her handbag to make sure she had everything she needed, then waved goodbye to Ning Jiuwei.

Ning Jiuwei nodded back and hit the accelerator.

She had only driven a few meters when her phone rang.

The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number, but the voice on the other end was all too familiar, laced with a teasing, playful chuckle.

“Designer Ning, why don’t you come on up? I’ll treat you to some coffee today.”

It was Shen Lanyan—she must have gotten the number from Assistant Tan. Ning Jiuwei paused for several seconds, her warm voice flat and emotionless. “I have a client meeting today. No time.”

Shen Lanyan stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows on the 15th Floor, her eyes fixed on the familiar black Mercedes-Benz with its standing emblem in the wide plaza out front. A thornless pink rose dangled from her fingers. “What client could possibly be more important than me? I’m waiting for you upstairs. See you soon, Designer Sister.”

Without giving Ning Jiuwei a chance to refuse again, Shen Lanyan hung up.

Ning Jiuwei sat there speechless for a moment before pulling into a parking spot.

The moment she stepped into the building, Assistant Tan waved at her, beaming as if she’d just spotted her lover. Shen Lanyan’s assistant stood beside her, mask covering her face, with only her eyes visible as she watched from a distance.

With someone familiar there to greet them, the front desk and security waved them through without a word. Ning Jiuwei glanced at the massive electronic billboard on the lobby wall and caught sight of Shen Lanyan’s latest perfume endorsement ad.

Those seductive eyes seemed infused with the perfume’s heady scent, setting every viewer’s heart racing.

Ning Jiuwei was the lone exception. She frowned faintly in distaste and headed toward Ah Xiao.

As she drew near, Ah Xiao explained, “Sister Yan was worried you two might have trouble finding the place, so she asked me to wait here.”

In truth, it was to make sure Ning Jiuwei showed up. If she didn’t, there’d be no point in Assistant Tan going upstairs.

“Right this way, Designer Ning.” With so many elevators in the building, Ah Xiao led her to the VIP Elevator to avoid any run-ins with other celebrities that might cause a scene.

Shen Lanyan was riding high as an A-list actress these days, trailed by a horde of assistants. Ah Xiao, the one she trusted most, naturally drew glances from the others. They encountered no celebrities in the VIP Elevator, but a few rookies were waiting when the doors opened.

“Sister Xiao, got a new talent in tow? Off to see Teacher Shen?”

It was the usual casual chit-chat. Ah Xiao didn’t deny it and simply nodded.

Ning Jiuwei kept her gaze straight ahead, ignoring the bevy of pretty young women they passed.

“This one’s got some ice-queen vibes, huh? But damn, she’s stunning.” The girls whispered behind them as they headed into the lounge.

This was Shen Lanyan’s private lounge, complete with sofas and tea tables, plus an inner bedroom and bathroom for changing and makeup.

Shen Lanyan had the coffee ready and was waiting with a radiant smile for Ning Jiuwei to arrive.

“Hello, Miss Shen.” Ning Jiuwei stepped inside and saw that Shen Lanyan was alone—no assistants or stylists in sight.

“Designer Ning.” Shen Lanyan’s long hair fell in voluminous waves, her lips painted a vivid red, and she wore a sleek, tailored wool coat that screamed character costume.

High heels put her a few centimeters taller than Ning Jiuwei. As she approached, the hand at her side lifted, her smile bold and unrestrained. “Pink roses—for my designer.”

Ning Jiuwei knew exactly what pink roses symbolized and promptly passed them along. “Little Tan loves pink roses. Little Tan, say thank you to Miss Shen.”

She turned to Assistant Tan as she spoke.

Tan Yushu flashed an obedient smile and reached out. “Thank you, Miss Shen.”

It was the first time Shen Lanyan had ever had flowers rejected like that, and her interest in Ning Jiuwei only deepened. She glanced at the pink roses now in Assistant Tan’s hands, smiled, and invited Ning Jiuwei to sit for coffee.

“No sugar, no milk. Should be just to your taste, Designer Ning.”

Ning Jiuwei was as meticulous as a hair’s breadth, quick to notice the subtlest details. Shen Lanyan had phrased it uncertainly, but the smile in her eyes affirmed that this was indeed her preference. Clearly, Shen Lanyan had looked into her.

At the company, Ning Jiuwei drank her coffee black—no sugar, no milk. But when she went to a coffee shop alone, she added both.

“Thank you.” Ning Jiuwei didn’t take a single sip. She pulled the custom contract from her assistant’s handbag and got straight to business. “The custom contract is all prepared. It’s based on the company template and can’t be altered. I had it stamped and signed before coming over. Miss Shen, please review it. If everything looks good, just sign on the client’s side, and it’ll take effect.”

Ah Xiao took the contract and passed it to Shen Lanyan. Shen Lanyan flipped through it casually. When she spotted the hefty design fee, she lifted her gaze and smiled.

Tan Yushu had been watching Shen Lanyan the whole time. That smile sent her heart racing, her hands clenching nervously on her knees.

Shen Lanyan said nothing. She simply reached out to Ah Xiao, who understood at once and placed a pen in her hand.

“I’m really looking forward to the ring Designer Ning creates for me.” Shen Lanyan signed all three copies, kept one for herself, and handed the other two back to Ning Jiuwei.

“I’ll deliver the design drawings on schedule.” Ning Jiuwei rose to take her leave. “I won’t disturb your work any longer, Miss Shen.”

“Designer Ning, please wait.” Shen Lanyan had no intention of letting her slip away so easily. She grabbed her phone and stepped up to Ning Jiuwei, making an offer impossible to refuse. “Now that the contract is officially in effect, let’s add each other on WeChat for easier communication.”

Shen Lanyan pulled up her own QR code, putting the ball in her court.

Ning Jiuwei had two WeChat accounts—one personal, one for work. She scanned the code and, right in front of Shen Lanyan, sent a friend request from her work account.

“Let’s add the other one too.” Shen Lanyan’s eyes were sharp; she’d clearly seen that Ning Jiuwei had tapped her WeChat secondary account. “The number I used to add you, Designer Ning, is my personal one. I hope you’ll return the sincerity.”

Without hesitation, Ning Jiuwei switched to her personal account and added Shen Lanyan.

“You’re such a good girl, sis.” Out of nowhere, Shen Lanyan leaned in close. The rich scent of her perfume enveloped Ning Jiuwei’s breath. Ning Jiuwei met her gaze calmly. “Goodbye, Miss Shen.”

Once they were out of the Jin Ying Building, Tan Yushu patted her chest in lingering fear.

Shen Lanyan was terrifying. The way she’d looked at Designer Ning—like she wanted to devour her right then and there.

Were all actresses this seductive?

Tan Yushu sneaked a glance at Ning Jiuwei’s reaction. Ever since they’d left the lounge, Ning Jiuwei hadn’t said a word. Her calm, unruffled expression and steady gaze gave nothing away about her thoughts on Shen Lanyan’s behavior.

Ning Jiuwei knew her assistant was sizing her up. She unlocked the car doors and scrapped her earlier plan to head back to the company in three hours. She was going now.

The routine meeting was already underway.

With Ning Jiuwei as the only no-show, she had no intention of joining midway. After returning to the company, she holed up in her office and stayed there straight through till the end—never once stepping out.

When the Design Director learned Ning Jiuwei was back, she came looking for her.

She closed the door carefully before approaching Ning Jiuwei’s side to speak. “Designer Ning, you’re lucky you skipped the meeting today. This new president is no picnic—sharp and ruthless in her words and actions. She knows our entire Business Division inside and out. She even shook up the yearly strategic plan and issued new directives. And get this: she sat there stone-faced the whole time, staring right at me over and over.”

Zhang Xiaoyue was in her forties, a veteran of the corporate trenches. She wasn’t the type to bare her soul lightly, much less badmouth a superior. She had her reasons for coming to Ning Jiuwei with this.

Ning Jiuwei didn’t rush to respond. Her face showed little emotion. After a brief pause, she replied to Director Zhang, “Thank you for having my back, Director.”

“No need to stand on ceremony, Designer Ning.” Having extended the favor, Director Zhang was pleased. “You’re our linchpin. Of course I’d look out for you. You can’t just up and leave us.”

As long as Ning Jiuwei was around, they’d hit every performance target, and her director’s seat would stay rock-solid.

Once the director left, the president arrived.

The same “ruthless and aloof” president her director had described entered Ning Jiuwei’s office with a gentle smile. She even knocked politely before coming in.

“I heard you went out to meet a client. Was it Lanyan?” Su Jinglan spoke to Ning Jiuwei with the door still open.

Ning Jiuwei stood to answer President Su’s question. Their interaction carried an obvious chill—a deliberate distance. “Sorry, President Su. My client meeting was scheduled right during your meeting time. I’ll have Little Tan grab the minutes for me.”

“When did you head out this morning?” Su Jinglan disliked this sense of distance. She picked a topic that might bridge the gap and ease the tension.

“Around six in the morning, President Su was probably still asleep, so I didn’t say goodbye in person.” Ning Jiuwei smiled mildly, her tone calm and even. “Does President Su have any instructions for me? If not, I’ll get back to my drawings.”

Su Jinglan pulled out her phone, and Ning Jiuwei’s heart skipped a beat. She had a bad feeling about this.

In the next instant, that foreboding proved all too accurate. Su Jinglan opened WeChat and said, “I added all the directors and chief designers as friends during the meeting. Designer Ning wasn’t there at the time.” She held her phone out to Ning Jiuwei. “Let’s add each other now.”

Ning Jiuwei: “…”

Ning Jiuwei hesitated before taking out her own phone and scanning with her work account.

Su Jinglan’s eyes drifted to the screen, where she immediately spotted the familiar profile picture at the very top of the chat list. She kept her expression neutral and waited until the friend request went through before speaking up. “You’ve added Shen Lanyan?”

“Mm.” Ning Jiuwei replied, “It’s more convenient for work matters.”

“I don’t want to be like her.” Su Jinglan pulled up her QR code business card once more. “I want to add Designer Ning’s private WeChat account.”

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