Chapter 12: Reserve

Jiang Ruoning had no idea her heartbeat could race like this. She wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol fueling it, but her heart thumped like a fish that had just leaped out of the water—wild and frantic, each beat slamming against her throat. Jiang Ruoning slowed her breathing and noticed Shi Sui releasing her wrist. She took half a step back, creating some distance between them. Shi Sui asked with concern, “Are you okay?”

“No.” Jiang Ruoning didn’t even know what had just happened, but she went with the flow, pretending to be calm and composed. “I’m fine, thanks.”

Thanks for what?

She didn’t know.

Anyway, Shi Sui wouldn’t harm her.

The thought came out of nowhere. They’d only known each other for two days—how could she be so sure Shi Sui meant no harm?

Was it because this woman looked so kind?

Jiang Ruoning glanced at Shi Sui from the corner of her eye, taking in her slightly turned profile. Her features stood out more clearly now—the perky nose tip and thin lips especially.

That face didn’t match “kind” at all.

It was downright heart-disturbing!

After mulling it over, Jiang Ruoning figured it was because Shi Sui had helped her at the airport, sparking subconscious fondness. Plus, Shi Sui was so attentive and considerate that she’d let her guard down and fallen easily.

If her colleagues at the company found out, their jaws would drop.

She was notoriously picky at work.

They’d introduce someone, and she’d find a reason to pass.

Too far away—not suitable. Wrong work hours—not suitable. Personality mismatch—not suitable. Values clash—not suitable.

Once, a colleague introduced someone who seemed perfect in every way.

She tried dating them for two days and ended it with, “Just doesn’t feel right.”

Her colleague wanted to strangle her!

Jiang Ruoning thought of this and suddenly let out a chuckle. She cleared her throat to cover it up. Shi Sui was still watching her, so Jiang Ruoning said, “I’m going to the bathroom.”

Shi Sui replied, “I’ll go with you.”

Jiang Ruoning felt the conversation rang familiar, but the last time someone had accompanied her to the bathroom was back in school. Fortunately, Shi Sui followed. Jiang Ruoning realized she’d left her bag behind. The thick booze scent and stuffy air inside had made her rush out, forgetting her bag—and her phone—in the private room.

Outside the stall, Shi Sui seemed to be washing her hands, the sound of running water whooshing loudly.

It drowned out Jiang Ruoning’s voice.

She tried calling out tentatively again. “Shi Sui.”

Like summoning courage.

Shi Sui turned off the faucet.

Jiang Ruoning fidgeted. “Um—”

Before she could finish, a hand slid under the stall door, holding a sanitary pad.

Jiang Ruoning: !!!

She felt like Shi Sui was a mind reader in her gut!

She’d only wanted her to call a server.

How did she know?

Jiang Ruoning closed her eyes.

In Shi Sui’s eyes, she must seem like such a scatterbrain. She changed and stepped out of the stall, trying to salvage it. “Actually, I’m not usually like this.”

Shi Sui looked at her with a very faint smile. Jiang Ruoning found herself detecting gentleness in that smile.

Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.

Self-seduction was a bad idea!

Shi Sui’s voice was normal. “Like what?”

Jiang Ruoning paused. “Forgetful.”

So she knew she was forgetful.

And here she was, being forgetful again.

Shi Sui’s eyes felt a bit swollen. She lowered her gaze, her eyelids covering her dark pupils and the shimmering moisture. She was silent for a moment. “I get forgetful too.”

Jiang Ruoning didn’t buy it. “Really?”

She couldn’t imagine it. Shi Sui seemed like the epitome of efficiency and success.

Shi Sui explained, “Occasionally.”

Jiang Ruoning washed her hands. “I get it.”

Everyone had their little flaws.

Once they’d wrapped up the topic, two servers entered the bathroom. Jiang Ruoning dried her hands, stepped aside, and they both left. She asked Shi Sui, “Are you heading back?”

Shi Sui pointed upstairs.

Jiang Ruoning asked, “You live upstairs?”

Shi Sui said, “I have some unfinished business, so I’m staying here tonight.”

Jiang Ruoning replied, “That’s nice.”

Shi Sui asked, “Nice how?”

Jiang Ruoning hemmed for a few seconds. “Convenient.”

Shi Sui laughed, amused. Jiang Ruoning looked up and saw her relaxed features, her eyes especially bright and sparkling, like they held moonlight.

So beautiful.

Jiang Ruoning had never considered herself the type to be swayed by looks.

But in that moment, her heart really wavered.

Shi Sui asked softly, “Want to come up?”

Jiang Ruoning’s wavering heart crashed to the ground. She tensed up entirely, stammering, “Huh? Up… upstairs?”

Shi Sui said, “You drank quite a bit. Want to rest up there for a bit?”

Jiang Ruoning replied, “I’m not done yet.”

Shi Sui nodded, her tone warm. “Okay, then. When you’re finished, I’m in 803.”

Jiang Ruoning neither agreed nor refused, just gave a dry laugh. Zhao Miaomiao emerged from the private room and spotted her right away, waving enthusiastically. “Ning-jie!”

Shi Sui turned and saw her too. “Go ahead and get back to it.”

Jiang Ruoning smiled. “See you later, then.”

Shi Sui watched her back as she walked into the private room, chatting softly with the person beside her, head lowered.

Only when Jiang Ruoning was out of sight did Shi Sui turn away. Her phone had been blown up by Jiang Nuan’s calls.

Four missed calls.

As soon as she picked up, Jiang Nuan demanded anxiously, “Where is she? You didn’t seduce Ying Jinan, did you?”

Shi Sui finally couldn’t hold back and muttered under her breath, “Nuts!”

Jiang Nuan grumbled, “I’m just worried about you.”

Shi Sui laughed in exasperation.

When Jiang Nuan was about to clock out, she’d heard some gossip from who-knows-where that Ying Jinan was great in every way except she was a total flirt. Unreassured, she’d come to the hotel with Shi Sui after work, planning to size her up over dinner. But Ying Jinan never showed—though it wasn’t exactly a no-show, since her assistant hadn’t confirmed, only saying “if she’s free.”

So Shi Sui had no choice but to go find her at the pool herself.

Jiang Nuan had to rush back for work and, fearing Shi Sui might get taken advantage of, bombarded her with calls.

Shi Sui said, “Thanks for worrying. Ying Jinan isn’t like that.”

Jiang Nuan asked, “You know her?”

Shi Sui replied, “We’ve had dinner once.”

Jiang Nuan let out a huge sigh of relief. “You have a connection with her—why didn’t you tell me?”

Shi Sui reached the elevator and watched the floors descend. “Just a one-time thing. Not really a connection.”

Jiang Nuan pressed, “Then—”

Shi Sui stepped into the elevator. “Alright, hanging up. I’ll tell you after I meet her.”

Jiang Nuan sighed helplessly. “Fine.”

Before hanging up, Jiang Nuan added quickly, “Oh, right—one more thing.”

Shi Sui asked, “What?”

Jiang Nuan said, “Ai Wen from Del wants to treat you to dinner.”

Shi Sui frowned slightly. “Dinner?”

Jiang Nuan explained, “It’s about a model under her. She wants to do LESS’s winter show.” She emphasized, “As the lead model.”

Shi Sui was silent for two seconds. “She wants to be our winter show lead?”

The lead model was the core of the brand’s runway show—opening and closing, wearing the season’s signature designs. Jiang Nuan knew Shi Sui had always planned to collaborate with Ying Jinan’s studio for the winter show designs. From what she’d seen, the model Ai Wen recommended matched Ying Jinan’s style in looks and vibe.

Acceptable.

Jiang Nuan asked, “Want me to send you the model info from Ai Wen?”

Shi Sui said, “No need.” She insisted, “We’ll use Jiang Ruoning.”

Jiang Nuan understood.

Jiang Ruoning wasn’t one to swallow her pride. When she’d discovered Ai Wen using her position to promote a newbie, she’d caused a scene at the company and online. That was one reason her bookings had dried up for the past six months.

No brand wanted an emotional, drama-stirring model.

Even if it wasn’t her fault.

But if she struggled, Ai Wen’s newbie fared worse—no fans, no foundation, no connections. Few in the industry spoke up for her; it was only Ai Wen’s face-saving that got her a few shows and gigs in half a year.

All things considered, Jiang Ruoning was the better pick. Plus, earlier that evening at dinner, when Jiang Nuan opened the door and saw Jiang Ruoning standing with Shi Sui, she figured they knew each other from before—even if Shi Sui had never mentioned it. Seeing her decisively refuse now, Jiang Nuan said no more.

Shi Sui hung up, returned to her room to change, and headed to the fifth-floor pool.

Downstairs, the toasts continued. Jiang Ruoning was starting to feel tipsy; she hadn’t pounded drinks like this in ages. At her old agency, Ai Wen dragged her to tables often, but her stomach was weak, so she drank little. Back then, with her fame, brands didn’t push her. Now it was different.

At the new company, Jiang Ruoning sensed Wu Jie deliberately shielding her—skipping avoidable events. But her position in the circle had changed, so she still had to sip occasionally. Tonight was all because Li Jinyan was a booze hound; they catered to her and had no choice.

At 9:30, the dinner showed signs of wrapping up.

Wu Jie, still eager, said, “Director Li, there’s KTV upstairs. We could…”

Li Jinyan raised a hand; she wasn’t into other entertainment. “I’ll skip KTV. You go ahead.”

She glanced at the two team leads.

The leads were sharp—where the boss didn’t go, they wouldn’t either. They made excuses about prior commitments and suggested next time.

Wu Jie said, “Alright, I’ll walk you to your car.”

Jiang Ruoning followed.

She wasn’t blackout drunk, just pleasantly buzzed—cheeks flushed, eyes watery. After Li Jinyan got in the car, she glanced at Jiang Ruoning again. At 5’11” with sloping heels, in a emerald green midi skirt and pale yellow blouse, her figure was flawless—vibrant, bright, slender, and straight.

Prime material.

Jiang Ruoning caught her gaze and gave a polite smile.

Li Jinyan nodded and told Wu Jie, “See you.”

Wu Jie replied respectfully, “See you.”

The car drove off.

Wu Jie exhaled in relief, looking relaxed. She turned to Jiang Ruoning. “You did great today.”

Jiang Ruoning rubbed her abdomen.

Wu Jie asked quickly, “Stomach hurting?”

Jiang Ruoning shook her head, not wanting to worry her. “Probably ate too much. Just full.”

Wu Jie offered, “Want me to drive you home?”

“I…” Jiang Ruoning said, “I have something else.”

Wu Jie suggested, “Have Xiao Zhao go with you?”

Zhao Miaomiao stepped forward.

Jiang Ruoning said, “No need. I’m just going up to say hi to a friend.” She took her bag from Zhao Miaomiao and told them, “You two head back first.”

Wu Jie, concerned, asked, “You okay alone? Especially after all that drinking.”

Jiang Ruoning assured her, “Really fine.”

Wu Jie probed, “Friend—guy or girl?”

Jiang Ruoning said, “Girl. Miaomiao saw her before dinner.”

Zhao Miaomiao exaggerated an “ohhh.” “Her, huh.”

Jiang Ruoning nodded.

Seeing they knew her, Wu Jie dropped it but cautioned, “Be careful on the way home.”

Jiang Ruoning smiled. “Got it, Wu-jie.”

After seeing them off, Jiang Ruoning headed to the elevator and pressed 8. Room 803.

The elevator descended; she turned right. Fourth door.

Jiang Ruoning hurried to the door, hand raised to knock. But as her fingers extended, she froze.

Wasn’t she being too unrestrained?