Chapter 78

~~~

Ning Jiuwei walked out of the office, resisting the urge to glance at Su Jinglan. She methodically locked the door and left.

On her way, she ran into Qi Mingqin. Ning Jiuwei rarely interacted with her; at most, they exchanged nods when they crossed paths. Still, she knew Qi Mingqin’s designs inside and out—her drawing techniques, stylistic choices, and masterful use of color. From those design drawings alone, Ning Jiuwei could piece together a fair sense of the woman’s personality. As usual, she gave a nod and walked on by.

“Designer Ning.” Qi Mingqin broke from her norm and called out to her. “I hear you’re designing the annual new product too.”

Ning Jiuwei turned back. One look was all it took to spot the fire of rivalry in Qi Mingqin’s eyes—the burning ambition to crush her underfoot and claim the lead designer spot. It lurked behind her smile like a dagger poised to strike.

“Yes.” Ning Jiuwei recalled the idea she and Zhang Xiaoyue had tossed around once: if they needed to promote another designer to lead position, Designer Qi would be a good pick. In hindsight, though, she realized she’d named the wrong person. Jiang Shiyao was the real choice—professionally trained, hardworking to a fault, kind-hearted. Outshining Qi Mingqin was only a matter of time.

Her reply was curt, a single word, and she turned to go.

They weren’t far apart. Qi Mingqin shot out a hand and grabbed Ning Jiuwei’s wrist, her arched brows curved in a beaming smile. “Designer Ning, I can’t wait to go head-to-head with you.”

Ning Jiuwei glanced at the hand on her wrist, then wrenched free with a twist. She didn’t give Qi Mingqin the time of day.

Not even one extra word? Qi Mingqin seethed with fury. Why did Ning Jiuwei chat and laugh so easily with that newbie designer Jiang Shiyao, while treating her like dirt? The very word “competition” coming from her lips felt like begging for humiliation.

Ning Jiuwei took a few steps, then paused and looked back. “Designer Qi, any plans for tomorrow night?”

Qi Mingqin was still fuming when the question blindsided her, short-circuiting her thoughts. Ning Jiuwei waited patiently, her steady gaze giving nothing away. Snapping to, Qi Mingqin replied, “Inviting me to dinner, Designer Ning? I’m free.”

That answer drew a smile from Ning Jiuwei. It lit up her stunning features with a gentle, irresistible allure. Qi Mingqin’s heart skipped a beat—she hated admitting how effortlessly Ning Jiuwei had her hooked. But Ning Jiuwei only smiled, said nothing, and walked away. No dinner invite, no explanation for the question.

In the descending elevator, Ning Jiuwei texted the Design Director the same query. Zhang Xiaoyue’s reply couldn’t have been more different: she had plans tomorrow night, no secrets about it—dinner with President Su and the Head of the Promotion Department to hash out a business endorsement deal.

So why had Su Jinglan implied Designer Qi was going too?

Ning Jiuwei saw through it in an instant.

Quitting time hadn’t hit yet, but the underground parking lot was jammed. Ning Jiuwei took the long way to her car, eyes scanning the vehicles and plates on either side until she spotted Su Jinglan’s.

Su Jinglan owned several cars—three were parked here alone. One sat just two spots from Ning Jiuwei’s Mercedes with Standing Emblem.

She slowed as she passed in front, confirmed it was hers, and used the key fob to unlock it. She slipped into the back seat.

The front windshield offered no cover; anyone could peer right in. But the rear had shadows from the seats, plus privacy film on the side windows. Without a close look, no one would notice her there. Ning Jiuwei reclined against the seatback, got comfortable, and pulled out her tablet to sketch.

As the clock ticked toward quitting time, elevators dinged nonstop, spilling people into the lot. The office building’s elevators were zoned by department. Ning Jiuwei set her stylus down and watched the nearest exit.

Prime spots near the elevator area went to upper management—not every employee merited a company lot space. Su Jinglan was still a no-show when Design Director Zhang Xiaoyue emerged, bag slung over her shoulder, striding with purpose.

Ning Jiuwei flicked her attention her way. Zhang Xiaoyue halted at an empty spot, face twisting in disbelief.

She’d forgotten again—her car was up on the surface lot in front of the office building.

All that poise and networking savvy, and she still spaced on basics.

Zhang Xiaoyue stormed off to the first-floor elevator.

The underground parking lot emptied out, the clamor fading to silence as cars peeled away one by one—including the one slotted between hers and Su Jinglan’s. Ning Jiuwei tilted her head toward the president’s car, an odd hollowness settling in her chest.

“President Su, Designer Ning hasn’t left the company.” Lin Fengmian’s voice came from behind Su Jinglan. Every gate on the company campus tracked vehicles via the Smart Recognition System. Ning Jiuwei’s Mercedes had clocked in but never out.

The top-floor president’s office offered a broad view. The darkening night was mottled amid the glow of street lamps. Su Jinglan stood quietly before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the brilliant city lights. After a brief silence, she asked the person behind her, “Is she in the car?”

The question stumped Lin Fengmian. The car being there didn’t mean the person was inside. What could Designer Ning possibly be doing in there? It had been nearly two hours since they left the office.

“Not sure. Designer Ning’s car hasn’t moved.” Lin Fengmian turned to Su Jinglan. “Are you heading home tonight too, President Su?”

Su Jinglan took a long moment before replying. “Home.”

“Then I’ll go down and get the car.”

“I’ll go with you.”

They reached the underground parking lot. Su Jinglan glanced at Ning Jiuwei’s car. Her gaze pierced effortlessly through the front windshield, landing on the empty driver’s seat.

Suddenly, a light flickered on inside the car. Su Jinglan peered closer. The bright glow emanated from the back seat, where Ning Jiuwei sat sketching design drawings.

Ning Jiuwei hadn’t gone to dinner with Jiang Shiyao. She hadn’t left in Jiang Shiyao’s car either. Su Jinglan’s expression softened, a faint smile curving the corners of her eyes and lips.

But then she remembered turning down Ning Jiuwei’s offer to join her at tomorrow night’s business dinner. The smile faded from Su Jinglan’s face as she walked slowly toward her own car.

She reached the vehicle but didn’t hurry to get in. Instead, she opened the door, pulled out her phone, and began texting.

She could have done this from inside the car, but Su Jinglan chose to stand right there by the door. Strands of hair fell alongside her face as she bowed her head. She tucked them behind her ear and kept typing.

Assistant Lin, already buckled into the driver’s seat, stared in bewilderment. She couldn’t drive off without the president aboard, yet she didn’t dare prod her to hurry up. All she could do was grip the steering wheel and watch.

Why hasn’t she called out to me? Su Jinglan strained her ears for any sound from behind her. Could Ning Jiuwei really not be waiting for me?

Standing by the car for too long felt unreasonable. Su Jinglan set herself a limit: she’d count to ten. If Ning Jiuwei didn’t call her name by then, she’d get in.

She finished counting. The parking lot remained utterly silent. Forget Ning Jiuwei—even Assistant Lin in the car might as well have been an invisible wisp of air, utterly still and soundless.

She’d been fooling herself. Why would Ning Jiuwei wait for her? Su Jinglan slid into the car.

Through her window, Ning Jiuwei watched Su Jinglan in silence. Her heart pounded like a drum in the sealed confines of the car, vivid emotions flooding from her chest to every corner of her body. When Su Jinglan climbed in, Ning Jiuwei opened her door and stepped out from the back seat.

“President Su.” The familiar gentle voice reached her just as Su Jinglan moved to shut the door. Ning Jiuwei stood beside her own car. “Just getting off work?”

“Mm.” Su Jinglan tugged at her door, shifting it a few centimeters away. She paused and shot back, “Didn’t Designer Ning leave ages ago?”

“I got a burst of inspiration, so I sketched for a bit in the car.” Designers thrived on inspiration; when it hit, they drew wherever they were. Ning Jiuwei’s excuse was airtight.

Su Jinglan let out an “oh” and closed her door.

The car rolled past Ning Jiuwei. She sighed softly and leaned back into her seat.

She had never been good at navigating emotional matters. Su Jinglan’s demeanor had plainly reset the distance between them to strict boss and subordinate. Ning Jiuwei sat in her car, replaying yesterday word for word, not skipping a single detail.

She had identified the root of the problem, but there was no taking it back now.

Ning Jiuwei fastened her seatbelt and drove home.

Not far from the underground parking lot exit sat a black Porsche, melted into the night. Unless you looked closely, you wouldn’t spot it. When Ning Jiuwei’s car emerged, Su Jinglan’s heart, which had been in her throat, eased slightly.

Assistant Lin caught on late. “President Su, did you and Designer Ning fight?”

“Does it look like we fought?” Su Jinglan countered.

But it did—exactly like a pair of young lovers who’d quarreled, sulking as they circled each other in hopes of making up but fumbling for the right words.

Assistant Lin didn’t dare say it straight out. She phrased it delicately. “I don’t think Designer Ning was sketching in her car. I think she was waiting for you, President Su. But you clearly didn’t want to talk to her.”

Su Jinglan rolled down her window for fresh air and told Assistant Lin to drive.

She was convinced Ning Jiuwei had feelings for her. In the fine details of their time together, Ning Jiuwei’s indulgence and leniency were one of a kind. No one else could draw as near to her—living in her home, sharing her bed, tasting the soft give of her lips.

That conviction had faltered, just for an instant, yesterday.

Even now, Su Jinglan hadn’t quite steadied her emotions.

The car was nearing Fenglinwu Community when Su Jinglan, deep in thought, suddenly spoke up. She told Assistant Lin to head to Xitang Mansion instead.

Rush hour clogged the roads. Assistant Lin had just made a U-turn at the intersection when Su Jinglan changed her mind again—back home it was.

Assistant Lin raised no objection. Whatever the president commanded, she did without a hint of doubt.

At the entrance to Building A, they ran into Shen Lanyan climbing out of the black nanny car. She was dressed in an elegant, intellectual long skirt, a mask covering her face and a bucket hat perched on her head.

“Yo, President Su, fancy meeting you here.” Shen Lanyan waited for Su Jinglan in the foyer. The community’s security was ironclad—no need to worry about fans breaching the perimeter. She pulled off her mask, revealing her lush, bewitching features. She looked like a seductive siren, her eyes sparkling with allure.

Su Jinglan asked, “Wrapping up so early?”

“Yeah, light scenes for me today. Tonight’s all second male lead and second female lead stuff.” The two walked side by side toward the elevator. Shen Lanyan brought up tomorrow’s dinner. “Sister Ling’s meeting you tomorrow night to talk business endorsement. I’ll swing by if I have time.”

Su Jinglan gave a slight nod. Shen Lanyan pressed the elevator button and turned to her. “Will Designer Ning be joining us? It’s been ages since I last saw her.”

Su Jinglan seemed to think of something. She curved her lips into a smile at Shen Lanyan.

That smile usually meant trouble. Others might not know Su Jinglan well, but Shen Lanyan had some insight. She answered her own question to move past it. “Tomorrow’s dinner is all business. Designer Ning definitely won’t come. Sure, it’s been a while, but I’ve been slammed with filming lately. No time to wonder how her design drawings are shaping up.”

“Designer Ning will be there,” Su Jinglan said, her eyes deep and inscrutable. “I’ll need Miss Shen’s help with something then.”

Back home, Ning Jiuwei made a beeline for the bathroom to shower. Halfway through, a message from Su Jinglan popped up. Dripping wet, Ning Jiuwei grabbed her phone to check it.

Su Jinglan: Do you still need to accompany me to the dinner tomorrow?

Ning Jiuwei let out a speechless chuckle and typed back: Didn’t President Su say it wasn’t necessary?

“I’ve changed my mind.” Su Jinglan called her.

~~~