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Having navigated the Entertainment Industry for over a decade, Liu Qingling had witnessed her share of celebrities trading subtle flirtations and lingering glances in public. But someone as boldly direct as Shen Lanyan? That was a first.
So Designer Ning had a lover who belonged to someone else?
Who else could it be if not Shen Lanyan?
Sister Ling was no stranger to years of watching couples feed each other dog food, and she didn’t mind another helping tonight. Ning Jiuwei was a designer whose beauty rivaled any star’s, and she paired perfectly with their Lanyan.
A smile curved her eyes as she sipped her wine, savoring the back-and-forth between this pair of smitten lovers.
“I don’t have a lover.” Torrid memories surged through her mind, but Ning Jiuwei maintained her calm facade. Her gaze locked onto Shen Lanyan—whose flawless makeup highlighted her captivating bone structure—while she carefully avoided letting her eyes drift toward the sofa.
Shen Lanyan had suspected as much, but hearing Ning Jiuwei admit it aloud set her heart racing with an itch she couldn’t ignore. A vivid, audacious idea wormed its way past her reason. She pressed closer to Ning Jiuwei, her cool and imperious voice dropping to a whisper in her ear. “Then how about I become your lover, sister?”
“Your agent is right here.”
Ning Jiuwei showed no flush of embarrassment, no hint of nerves. Sister Ling couldn’t help sighing inwardly: No wonder she’s Shen Lanyan’s girlfriend—talk about steel nerves.
“You two don’t need to test the waters with me.” Convinced they were an item, Sister Ling swirled her wine glass with leisurely satisfaction and addressed Ning Jiuwei. “I won’t stand in your way, nor will I cheer you on. Sister Yan is riding high in her career right now, so just keep things discreet. And if the paparazzi catch wind of it by accident? I can handle the fallout. Worst case, we let Sister Yan go public. She’s an actress who thrives on her roles, and the industry is full of young stars tying the knot.”
Liu Qingling lifted her glass, her smile rich with implication. “Isn’t that right, Sister Yan?”
Shen Lanyan clinked her glass against it. “Thanks, Ling Mom.”
Liu Qingling nearly choked on her wine. “Who’re you calling Ling Mom? Keep that up, and I’ll flip from fan to hater—sockpuppet accounts and all—spreading scandal rumors about you.”
After another sip, she remembered that Ning Jiuwei’s glass was now in Shen Lanyan’s hand. Liu Qingling grinned teasingly at the pair. “Need a fresh glass for Miss Ning? Nah, you’re good sharing the same one.”
Shen Lanyan glanced toward the sofa. Su Jinglan and Boss Lu were lost in their own world, hashing out the contract’s fine print—two presidents negotiating the details while everyone else played background.
“Sister Ling, as my agent, shouldn’t you go over and discuss the business terms yourself?”
Already shooing her away? Sister Ling set down her glass. “Message received. I won’t play third wheel to our Young Lady Shen. Just show up for dinner later—don’t make me drag you.”
Sister Ling claimed a seat near the bosses and seamlessly joined the discussion.
As Sister Ling walked off, Ning Jiuwei stole a glance at the sofa. Su Jinglan’s attention was fixed solely on Chaoxi’s boss, Lu Zhixi, oblivious to everything else. It was clear they went way back; the way Lu Zhixi looked at Su Jinglan carried emotions that went beyond mere business.
A woman as exceptional as Su Jinglan naturally drew admirers.
It would be strange if she didn’t.
Ning Jiuwei’s eyes dimmed. She was the strange one.
“Stealing looks at President Su?” Ning Jiuwei had been so absorbed that Shen Lanyan’s voice in her ear made her heart lurch.
They were standing so close that Shen Lanyan’s gaze drifted downward, catching a telling reaction. “I never imagined sister’s ears could blush like that.”
“It’s because Miss Shen is standing too close.” Stubborn to the end, Ning Jiuwei withdrew her gaze as if nothing had happened. She tilted her head slightly, eyeing Shen Lanyan—who was well past the bounds of polite distance—and said coolly, “What brings Miss Shen to a gathering like this tonight? Shouldn’t you be tied up with filming?”
“Then what brings Designer Ning here?”
Ning Jiuwei said nothing. Shen Lanyan arched a brow, her steady gaze warming like springtime. “I begged President Su to bring Designer Ning along. I wanted to see you.”
The private room held more than just the two of them, but Shen Lanyan pitched her voice low into a husky murmur. She swallowed deliberately afterward, the motion of her throat clear and audible, impossible not to imagine in more intimate settings.
One sentence had answered both questions.
Ning Jiuwei’s expression flickered, her racing heart slamming to a halt like it had been struck by a boulder—pain mingling with the stillness.
I’ve changed my mind. I want you by my side.
So it had all been lies. All because of Shen Lanyan?
Ning Jiuwei studied her closely. Shen Lanyan’s eyes didn’t waver or dodge; they seemed utterly sincere. In them, Ning Jiuwei saw her own reflection.
Sometimes liars overcompensated, locking eyes to feign honesty.
“When did Miss Shen ask President Su?”
Ning Jiuwei delved deeper into the topic, her sharp eyes missing no subtle change in the other woman’s demeanor. Whenever Shen Lanyan spoke, she could tell truth from lie by the tone of her voice and the flicker in her pupils.
“Last night,” Shen Lanyan confessed the details. “After wrapping up work last night, I headed home and ran into President Su downstairs. We rode the elevator up together and chatted about tonight’s dinner. I stopped by her place for a bit.”
Every word rang true.
A sudden chill of disillusionment washed over Ning Jiuwei, a familiar ache laced with belated despair that drowned her breath. It felt like sinking into dark water, vision fading as suffocation set in inch by inch.
Her body swayed on the verge of collapse, but Ning Jiuwei forced herself to look toward Su Jinglan and stay calm.
Su Jinglan and Lu Zhixi chatted and laughed amiably, seemingly oblivious to Ning Jiuwei’s presence in the private room. Did they expect her to keep Ning Jiuwei company? It hardly seemed necessary.
As Ning Jiuwei stared at Su Jinglan, Shen Lanyan poured a full glass of wine. Ning Jiuwei had a low tolerance—one glass was enough to strip away her self-control.
“Designer Ning, drink with me.” Shen Lanyan poured herself a glass about eight-tenths full and held the brimming one to Ning Jiuwei’s lips.
“Hasn’t Miss Shen forgotten? I can’t hold my liquor,” Ning Jiuwei said with a smile. She glanced at the amber liquid threatening to spill over but didn’t take the glass.
Her wariness was sharp; even this failed to lower Ning Jiuwei’s guard. Shen Lanyan set the glass on the bar and curved her lips into a shallow smile. “My Designer Sister, ever heard the saying that wine makes things more exciting?”
Ning Jiuwei replied deadpan, “I’ve only heard it makes people reckless.”
“Is that right?” Shen Lanyan braced her hand on the bar and leaned in close. “Want to find out with me, Sister?”
From the sofa, it looked like she was about to pull Ning Jiuwei into an embrace. Su Jinglan, who had been watching Ning Jiuwei all along, clenched her hands, the gentle smile on her face dimming.
Shen Lanyan lifted the glass to her lips, the vivid red of her lipstick brushing the rim as she tilted her chin. Her eyes, brimming with feigned affection, locked onto Ning Jiuwei’s while she slowly drank it down.
The ice in the whisky tempered the burn, the clear, translucent amber liquid—softened by a hint of red—gliding over her tongue before igniting a slow fire in her mouth. Deep in her role, Shen Lanyan felt a genuine stir of attraction toward Ning Jiuwei.
“Miss Shen, mind your words,” Ning Jiuwei said with a faint smile. “We’re just designer and client. You’re President Su’s friend—if not out of respect for me, then at least for her.”
The dinner hadn’t truly kicked off, so Ning Jiuwei retreated to the sofas and sat beside the reliably safe Design Director.
Of everyone present, ranked by safety, Design Director Zhang Xiaoyue topped the list.
Li Yao had organized the gathering, but Ning Jiuwei knew little about her. She ran the Promotion Department and rubbed elbows with all sorts daily—who knew if she traded influence for favors.
President Lu and Sister Ling were new faces to Ning Jiuwei.
And Su Jinglan? She was the biggest threat in the room.
“Excellent. Not just the Quarterly New Products endorsement—HS Jewelry’s brand ambassadorship goes to Miss Shen too.” Su Jinglan sealed the deal. “Two-year term. Standard clauses from prior contracts, plus one new: No dating or marriage during the partnership, or we terminate and seek damages from your agency.”
Shen Lanyan, approaching just in time to hear the draconian terms: “…”
If she could reveal her relationship with Su Jinglan right there in front of the boss, she’d throw herself into her arms, cling tight, call her “sister,” and beg for a clause tweak.
Lu Zhixi nodded with a smile. “Sounds good. We’ll go with President Su’s terms.”
Su Jinglan had made a rare concession on the revenue split—Shen Lanyan would pocket endorsement fees plus sales commissions. Romance ban? She was young; it was no hardship.
Sister Ling quietly wiped away a tear for the star-crossed pair. No wonder Designer Ning stayed so tight-lipped, denying any romance with Shen Lanyan. She must have known the endorsement terms were ironclad.
Secret relationships rarely lasted. Sister Ling stole a glance: Designer Ning gazed downward in silent grief, while Shen Lanyan stared at President Su, words trapped on her tongue, eyes shadowed with forbearance and pain as she fought the urge to look at Ning Jiuwei.
Sister Ling sensed the unraveling of a breakup.
Trivial matters shifted to the table. Li Yao summoned the server for dishes, and the group migrated from sofas to dining seats.
“President Lu, this dry red from Romanée-Conti Winery calls for a toast—such an honor collaborating with you and Miss Shen today.” Li Yao poured for President Su first, then Lu Zhixi and the others in proper order, deftly warming the mood.
Lu Zhixi sat beside Su Jinglan. Naturally, the boss’s first drink went to the boss. She raised her glass to Su Jinglan, her gaze burning as it fixed on Su Jinglan’s face. “President Su, to a pleasant partnership.”
“To a pleasant partnership.” The crisp clink of glasses rang out sweetly. Su Jinglan glanced sidelong at Ning Jiuwei with her peripheral vision before sipping her drink elegantly.
She hadn’t had a chance to chat with Ning Jiuwei yet, so Lu Zhixi naturally steered the conversation toward Ning Jiuwei across the round table. “Is Designer Ning friends with Lanyan? You two seem close.”
What a way to pick a topic—they were the pitiful little lovebirds you’d just torn apart. Sister Ling picked up a bite of food and stuffed it into her mouth to keep herself quiet.
Ning Jiuwei looked at Shen Lanyan. Shen Lanyan hadn’t yet pulled herself out of that flutter of excitement, and being looked at like that only made her heart race harder. “I commissioned some jewelry from Designer Ning. I’m her client.”
“I see.” Lu Zhixi took a keen interest in the subject and asked Ning Jiuwei about the commission. “When do you have time? Could you design a custom set of jewelry for me too, Designer Ning?”
Ning Jiuwei smiled and agreed. “President Lu is President Su’s friend. Anytime works for you.”
The others heard it as perfectly ordinary small talk, but to Su Jinglan’s ears, it carried a faint sour tang. Su Jinglan curved her lips upward and took a pleased sip of her wine.
Lu Zhixi raised her glass to Ning Jiuwei. “A drink, Designer Ning?”
“Designer Ning doesn’t drink.” Su Jinglan pressed down on Lu Zhixi’s arm, blocking the toast for Ning Jiuwei. “I’ll drink this one with you, President Lu.”
“Thanks, President Su, but it’s fine. It’s not every day I get to drink with such a beautiful boss like President Lu.” Ning Jiuwei picked up the red wine in front of her, her smile radiant. “To you, President Lu.”
Ning Jiuwei complimenting Lu Zhixi’s beauty caught Su Jinglan off guard. She failed to keep her expression neutral and lightly furrowed her brow. Ning Jiuwei’s smile bloomed sweetly, her gaze shifting to Su Jinglan for a brief pause before returning to Lu Zhixi’s face.
Lu Zhixi was older than Ning Jiuwei, so as long as she wasn’t surnamed Su or Ning Jiuwei’s boss, did that mean Ning Jiuwei might like her?
A stifled breath lodged in Su Jinglan’s chest.
“Take it easy—no need to drain your glass.” Lu Zhixi knew how to show consideration for the fairer sex and took only a shallow sip.
Ning Jiuwei didn’t want to owe Su Jinglan any favors. Now that Lu Zhixi had made it casual, Ning Jiuwei—who knew her own limits—took just a token sip.
The dinner stretched until ten o’clock, with the conversation roaming far and wide across the entertainment industry and business world. Ning Jiuwei had impressive self-control and only drank that one sip at the start. Su Jinglan and Lu Zhixi had quite a bit, while Sister Ling and Shen Lanyan were bottomless pits, getting both directors thoroughly tipsy.
“You okay, President Su?” In the business car on the way back, Ning Jiuwei handed a bottle of water to Su Jinglan.
Su Jinglan’s gaze burned with intensity as she stared at the face before her—the one that filled her heart, the one that haunted her dreams countless times. Her breathing grew heavy. She hooked her arm around Ning Jiuwei’s neck and pulled her close. “Doctor Shi, President Lu, Shen Lanyan—who do you like?”
“Su Jinglan…” The moment Ning Jiuwei uttered her name, Su Jinglan kissed her passionately, pressing her back against the car seat.
~~~
