Ning Jiuwei didn’t refute her. A suppressed smile lingered in her gentle eyes as she returned to her office.
She hadn’t gone to class today, so Shi Wanxu had messaged to check on her. Ning Jiuwei glanced across at the opposite office. Su Jinglan had regained her mask of composure, coldly and arrogantly flipping through the documents on her desk. Ning Jiuwei gave Doctor Shi a brief explanation that she had something to handle and promised to make up the class next time.
Shi Wanxu taught four sessions a week, two at a time—skipping this Monday’s meant repeating the same material later anyway.
At ten-thirty, the directors from each sub-division in the Design Division gathered for their regular meeting, and today the chief designers from every department were required to attend as well. Ning Jiuwei had always skipped them when possible, leaving Director Zhang to report on her team’s progress.
Director Zhang was all too happy to cover for Ning Jiuwei. Every quarter, they exceeded their targets with custom orders, and she would rattle them off with boundless pride.
“Designer Ning isn’t coming to the meeting?” As she passed Ning Jiuwei’s office, Su Jinglan paused at the door. Dark emotions churned in her gaze, and her tone carried clear dissatisfaction with Ning Jiuwei’s usual habits.
Ning Jiuwei smiled and nodded. “I’ve got work I can’t step away from. Director Zhang will report for me.”
Tan Yushu hugged her stack of documents tighter and quietly slipped back to her desk.
If President Su liked Designer Ning, then why the poor attitude? If she didn’t… Tan Yushu had caught her beaming gently at Designer Ning more than once. Propping her chin on her hand, Tan Yushu stared at her computer screen, trying to puzzle out what the higher-ups were thinking.
Su Jinglan narrowed her eyes at Ning Jiuwei. “What kind of work? Reviewing your class notes?”
She couldn’t go two sentences without mentioning Shi Wanxu. Jealousy was about to drown the whole office.
Ning Jiuwei stifled a laugh. She quickly schooled her expression, grabbed her tablet, and rose from her chair. “I’ve had a new idea for the custom design. Would President Su like to take a look?”
“No time. I’ve got a meeting.” Su Jinglan stood ramrod straight, her face a mask of calm as she strode toward the conference room.
A few paces behind trailed Ning Jiuwei, wearing the familiar gentle smile. Her gaze ahead just happened to land on Su Jinglan’s back.
The conference room hummed with lively chatter. After a weekend apart, everyone had plenty to talk about. Hearing the voices from afar, Su Jinglan glanced back at Ning Jiuwei. As she drew near, she murmured, “You go on ahead.”
“Not going in together?” They should either enter side by side or have the designer go first—never leave the president waiting inside.
Su Jinglan’s eyes remained still as a pond. “No.”
Assistant Lin was the only other person in the corridor. Ning Jiuwei seized the moment, grasping Su Jinglan’s hand for a quick pinch. As she pulled away, her fingertip trailed deliberately across her palm, her smile loaded with meaning.
That single touch was enough to stir an unwilling reaction in her body. Su Jinglan tamped down the heat flaring in her chest and teased in a low voice, “What’s gotten into Designer Ning? Getting so bold?”
A smile curved her lips. Assistant Lin, standing nearby, could only gape in shock.
President Su sure knew how to flip the switch.
Ning Jiuwei just smiled enigmatically and headed into the conference room.
Zhang Xiaoyue had come prepared to report for her precious chief designer, so Ning Jiuwei’s arrival caught her off guard. She yanked out the chair beside her. “Designer Ning, sit here.”
Qi Mingqin occupied the seat on the other side. With her senior designer title, she seemed poised to edge Ning Jiuwei out.
“Designer Ning actually had time to come herself today?” The moment Ning Jiuwei sat, Qi Mingqin flashed a smile and made small talk. It sounded innocent enough, but the subtext dripped with reproach.
Ning Jiuwei returned a mild smile. “Doesn’t Designer Qi have time too?”
Every other department had sent their director and chief designer. Jewelry Design Department had brought the director and a senior designer instead. Called out like that, Qi Mingqin read too much into it. Her cheeks burned.
How ironic for the unqualified to “have time” for a meeting.
She mulled over a few comebacks, but none packed a punch. Qi Mingqin clamped her mouth shut, unlocked her tablet, and scanned the meeting materials instead of digging her own grave.
Designers from the other departments rarely saw Ning Jiuwei. They sized her up openly and covertly, curiosity plain on their faces.
Director Zhang deserved credit for that. In every meeting, she hyped Ning Jiuwei to the heavens and called her “baby” to the other directors’ faces. With their baby on the Jewelry Design team, KPIs were a non-issue.
“Since you’re here, you can report for yourself today.” Zhang Xiaoyue preferred paper and pen for notes, her materials printed out. She fished the chief designer’s progress report from the stack and handed it over, her indulgence for Ning Jiuwei coming straight from the heart.
No other designer got that kind of treatment.
Ning Jiuwei glanced at the conference speech script and lightly furrowed her brows. What was with this string of effusive compliments? She shot a questioning look at Zhang Xiaoyue, who raised an eyebrow in silent reply.
The two exchanged meaningful glances just as Su Jinglan walked in a moment late. A chill flickered in her eyes as she took her seat at the head of the table with a sour expression.
Her arrival hushed the entire conference room. All eyes turned to her at once. In a voice as cold and clear as ice, neither rushed nor languid, Su Jinglan opened the meeting. “Everyone’s here. Let’s get started.”
The routine meeting followed its usual order, beginning with the director of the Advertising Design Department. Li Yao wore two hats: she was the director of the Promotion Department, overseeing product marketing and publicity, and also the director of the Advertising Design Department, managing ad collaborations with external companies and vetting internal ad designs.
The Advertising Design Department had no chief designer. Once Li Yao finished reporting on progress, the next director took over. When the Interior Design Department came up, Ning Jiuwei’s gaze shifted to its chief designer.
Wei Lu, the chief interior designer, had studied architecture at Jianglin University. A few years older than Ning Jiuwei, he was her alumnus.
He had once leveraged their shared school ties to cozy up to her, calling her “Junior Sister” with overly familiar warmth and urging her to address him as “Senior Brother.”
Ning Jiuwei spared him only a single glance before returning her attention to the meeting documents.
Wei Lu’s deep, resonant voice carried a faint regional accent. Proud by nature, he never let it undermine his sense of stature. Spotting Ning Jiuwei today, he lit up like a peacock unfurling its tailfeathers, preening for her benefit throughout his report.
Ning Jiuwei had never been interested in him before—and now she was less so than ever. She scanned the report Zhang Xiaoyue had prepared, though her thoughts strayed to the head of the table, her peripheral vision flicking toward Su Jinglan now and then.
No one noticed her discreet attention; Ning Jiuwei concealed it masterfully.
When the Jewelry Design Department took its turn, Zhang Xiaoyue outlined the team’s overall status. On private commissions, she detailed the orders currently in progress. At the end, she turned to Qi Mingqin. “How are things with the custom work on Designer Qi’s plate?”
The question landed with Qi Mingqin, who handled the quarterly and annual new product lines for the mass market. Her reputation had drawn high-end clients who insisted on her personally. With Ning Jiuwei seated right beside her, she puffed up her stats, folding in some leads that were still in negotiation.
Zhang Xiaoyue knew every designer’s workload inside out—and so did the president. Su Jinglan listened impassively, giving nothing away.
As Qi Mingqin neared the end, Zhang Xiaoyue frowned and gave her a subtle shake of the head. Years of working together made the signal crystal clear. Qi Mingqin’s heart sank, but she pressed on seamlessly. “We’ve locked in the partnerships, but we haven’t signed the contracts yet due to scheduling. By signing date, Miss Zou’s and Mr. Xie’s commissions will count toward next month’s figures.”
Zhang Xiaoyue let out a quiet breath of relief. The president saw through everything like glass; they couldn’t afford a slip-up in front of her.
Ning Jiuwei’s turn came next. Zhang Xiaoyue brimmed with enthusiasm, her eyes alight, nearly slipping and calling her “baby.” “Designer Bao—Ning, how are those custom collaborations coming along?”
Su Jinglan’s ears were sharp; she caught that “Bao” loud and clear.
She herself hadn’t dared call Ning Jiuwei “baby” in a room full of people, yet here Zhang Xiaoyue was, flaunting it.
Ning Jiuwei reported straightforwardly. Shen Lanyan’s and Ye Sinian’s commissions alone were worth ten ordinary ones combined. Shen Lanyan’s design was nearly done—just needed final approval on the draft at handover. Ye Sinian’s had no design yet. For new commissions, Assistant Tan was vetting prospects.
“There are twenty-three custom clients queued up total. Once screened, I’ll pick the best fits and sign contracts.”
It was enough to make anyone green with envy. While Qi Mingqin hustled to drum up VIPs through pitches and networking, Ning Jiuwei simply cherry-picked from those beating down her door.
With her report wrapped up, Ning Jiuwei added, “That’s the full rundown.”
Zhang Xiaoyue couldn’t let it end without praise—it just didn’t sit right. She shifted in her seat, compliments spilling out effortlessly. “Our Designer Ning has already smashed this year’s targets. High-end custom revenue is up 367.5 percent from last year. With Ning Jiuwei in the Jewelry Design Department, President Su, you can rest easy. She’s a genius—maximizes every minute, and clients rave about her pieces…”
The praise-fest was barely underway, like the opening of a thousand-word treatise, when Ning Jiuwei—cringing under the spotlight—couldn’t take another second. Goosebumps prickled her skin. Hidden by the conference table, she nudged Zhang Xiaoyue’s leg: enough already.
Su Jinglan was rather enjoying the flattery by proxy and wished it would go on, but Zhang Xiaoyue clammed up.
Su Jinglan didn’t just enjoy the praise from afar—she stepped in personally. “I’ve already witnessed Designer Ning’s talent firsthand. Designing a satisfactory piece in just a few minutes, with such exquisite concepts and delicate brushwork—to this day, Designer Ning is the only one who’s truly captured my heart.”
Those final words sent shockwaves through the entire room.
Was this a public confession? Hadn’t the rumors claimed that Designer Ning had offended President Su, that President Su disliked her and was secretly making her life difficult?
Ning Jiuwei remained utterly composed, her expression betraying no surprise at President Su’s declaration.
Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, the frantic thuds reverberating through her bones and muscles to ring in her ears. Heat surged through her body, barely containing the fierce longing within, but she couldn’t let it show in front of others. She masked her true reactions with her usual gentle smile.
During the rest of the meeting, Ning Jiuwei found it impossible to concentrate. Seated at the head of the table, Su Jinglan let her gaze linger boldly on Ning Jiuwei, her eyes occasionally flickering with amusement.
The moment the meeting adjourned, Ning Jiuwei slipped away. She left alongside Zhang Xiaoyue, who felt compelled to give her a gentle warning—not to place too much faith in others’ words.
“Baby, some things are hard for me to say outright, but I worry you’ll drop your guard if I don’t. The truth is, some people might profess to like you and claim you’ve moved them, yet harbor private resentments.” Zhang Xiaoyue leaned in to whisper to Ning Jiuwei. “From now on, whenever you head out, stick to excuses like meeting clients or reviewing documents. Don’t let slip that you’re off to class or handling personal errands.”
The implication was unmistakable—it was a direct jab at Su Jinglan, President of the Design Division.
Ning Jiuwei smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Director Zhang. I get it.”
“Good. Just keep it between us—you’re my precious baby. I can’t afford to lose you.”
Zhang Xiaoyue glanced over her shoulder to ensure they were alone, then headed back to her Design Director’s Office with peace of mind.
As long as no third party had overheard, their words were safe from reaching the president’s ears.
She had no inkling of the private bond between Ning Jiuwei and Su Jinglan. Zhang Xiaoyue’s remarks made it clear that Su Jinglan had vented dissatisfaction to her face. Once back in her own office, Ning Jiuwei stood by her desk sipping water, her lips curving into a subtle smile as her gaze drifted toward the opposite side.
When Su Jinglan returned, she intended to cross over and ask exactly what Su Jinglan had said to Zhang Xiaoyue.
Su Jinglan soon arrived, accompanied by someone in a mask. A low-pulled hat concealed their face. After entering the office, they stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, speaking quietly with Su Jinglan.
“President Su, Ning Jiuwei would never like you.”
~~~
