Lin Wei came to Tianyue Hotel for dinner, and Shi Sui knew about it, but Shi Sui really had no idea that Jiang Ruoning was also coming for dinner. This caused her to keep getting distracted. Even while sitting across from Du Youran and eating, her mind was full of thoughts about Jiang Ruoning.
How had Jiang Ruoning come here?
She had just been with her manager and assistant.
Was she here to discuss a collaboration?
With whom?
Shi Sui instructed Jiang Nuan, “Go check it out…”
Jiang Nuan glanced at her as her voice suddenly trailed off. She widened her eyes, still waiting for further instructions, but Shi Sui shook her head.
She remembered.
Today was the Fengshang photoshoot.
Jiang Ruoning had told her about it on the day of the acupuncture session, mentioning that she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to move properly during the shoot. Had her shoot gone smoothly today? Shi Sui suddenly wanted to know.
But it felt like a thousand mountains and rivers separated them.
They had severed their only connection.
She hadn’t received even a single word of information.
She thought she had gotten used to it by now—after all, these past few years had been just like this—but apparently, she hadn’t. She still hated this feeling of delayed news, as if no matter how she chased, she could only see a blurry shadow ahead.
She really wanted to grab hold of Jiang Ruoning.
Just now.
When Jiang Ruoning had lightly grasped her hand.
She really didn’t want to let go.
Shi Sui’s expression darkened. Ai Wen and Du Youran exchanged a glance, and Ai Wen stood up proactively. “President Shi, is the food here not to your taste? Shall I arrange something else for you?”
Du Youran chimed in, “Yeah, how about we switch to another place?”
She looked toward Shi Sui.
On the previous two occasions, she had only caught a distant glimpse of Shi Sui. The second time they met, she had casually held her cup and approached Shi Sui as if it were nothing, but she still hadn’t dared to get too close. Now, she sat right beside Shi Sui, with faint wisps of a subtle fragrance drifting in the air.
She wondered what perfume Shi Sui used.
It smelled so good.
She was really tall, with a perfect figure. Even in a simple professional suit, it perfectly outlined her body curves. Her shirt collar was unbuttoned at the top two, revealing a slender neck and the faint outline of her collarbone. She wore a silver necklace around her neck; the overhead light fell vertically on it, refracting at the edges of her skin, which gleamed like the finest satin—delicate in tone and shimmering with luster.
Her skin was surprisingly flawless.
Even more radiant than hers, and she soaked in spas every day.
Shi Sui heard their words and furrowed her brows. “No, the food is fine. I was just thinking about some company matters and got a bit annoyed. Sorry about that.”
Ai Wen let out a dry laugh.
But Du Youran spoke up first. “What’s going on with the company? Is the project not progressing smoothly?”
Her question made Ai Wen frown.
Du Youran hadn’t used to be this forward. She had always looked down on dining culture and put on airs during meals with clients. Even when eating with Lin Wei, knowing that Lin Wei saw her as small-time and unable to carry a brand like Less, she had just sneered and muttered under her breath, “What a joke.”
She came from a good family and had been pampered like a little princess since childhood. Even after entering the industry, she got first dibs on resources. Back when Jiang Ruoning was under her, what upset her wasn’t Jiang Ruoning’s career success—it was jealousy over why all the prime resources went to Jiang Ruoning first.
So she pressured herself.
But even after arranging top resources for Du Youran, she ended up slacking off.
Not today, though.
Today, just changing outfits in the studio, she had switched three times, as if nothing satisfied her. Afraid Du Youran would overhear, her assistant had whispered, “Ai Wen-jie, is Youran going on a date?”
Yeah, she didn’t look like she was here to dine with a business partner at all. She was completely immersed in her own world, as if she were on a date.
That was why the full glam.
That was why the meticulous makeup.
And now these blunt words.
Fortunately, Shi Sui didn’t mind. Ai Wen glanced at Shi Sui’s face and saw her give a faint smile after Du Youran’s words, so she breathed a sigh of relief.
Shi Sui said, “It’s not going too smoothly. This afternoon, President Lin came to see me and said she wanted to collaborate with Miss Du as well.”
Du Youran glanced at Ai Wen.
Neither had expected Lin Wei to approach Shi Sui about this. They had always heard that the two chief agents didn’t get along, so they naturally assumed Lin Wei and Shi Sui wouldn’t share information.
Ai Wen reacted quickly. “We’ve only had a couple of meals with President Lin. The collaboration details are still under discussion.”
Shi Sui’s tone was indifferent. “Is that so? That’s too bad, then.”
“Not at all.” Du Youran looked at Shi Sui. “President Shi, you know we’ve always wanted to work with you. When President Lin invited us, we thought it was on your instruction—that’s why we came.”
Ai Wen didn’t entirely approve of her jumping in like that, but she couldn’t disregard Du Youran’s face. Besides, between Shi Sui and Lin Wei, the choice was obvious.
She had to offend one of them anyway.
It was impossible to offend Shi Sui.
Ai Wen said, “Exactly, President Shi. You’ve always been our top choice for collaboration. President Lin can’t compare to you.”
What did Lin Wei hate most?
Being compared to Shi Sui.
That nauseating feeling ingrained in her memory from childhood surged up again. Standing at the doorway, she desperately wanted to barge in and slap Ai Wen and Du Youran!
But she held back, standing there for a few seconds, clenching her fists tightly.
Her body was taut like a string about to snap.
Shi Sui caught a glimpse of the doorway with her peripheral vision. After entering earlier, she had deliberately left a gap in the door, enough to hear the sounds from outside.
Now that the shadow in the door crack was gone, Shi Sui turned her head and said to Jiang Nuan, “Go take a look outside.”
Jiang Nuan grabbed her phone from the table and said to Ai Wen and Du Youran, “Sorry, I need to step out for a call.”
Du Youran was entirely focused on Shi Sui and didn’t even glance at Jiang Nuan. Ai Wen offered, “You can take the call inside.”
Jiang Nuan smiled. “It’s fine.”
It wasn’t really about the call anyway.
She wanted to see Lin Wei lose her composure.
She felt like a pervert for it.
But she remembered the first time she met Lin Wei, when that woman had looked down at her condescendingly and said, “Oh, when did Shi Sui pick up an extra dog?”
She had been so furious back then that she laughed and barked “Woof!” at Lin Wei. To this day, she still remembered Lin Wei’s jaw dropping in shock.
That had been hilarious.
Was she today furious enough that her jaw wouldn’t close too?
Jiang Nuan opened the door and walked out. She spotted someone standing down the hallway and approached respectfully. “President Lin, what a coincidence.”
Lin Wei turned her head. Jiang Nuan stood behind her, head lowered, eyes downcast. Without even seeing her face, Lin Wei knew she was smiling.
A very smug smile.
Lin Wei’s nails dug into her palm. She said, “Coincidence? Jiang Nuan, drop the act in front of me. You think I can’t tell that Shi Sui deliberately scheduled this dinner with Ai Wen for me to run into?”
Jiang Nuan looked up. “President Lin, you…”
She had suddenly gotten smart.
Lin Wei met her gaze and sneered coldly.
If Shi Sui hadn’t reconnected with Jiang Ruoning, she might have believed Shi Sui was genuinely considering switching models and meeting Ai Wen with real intent to collaborate.
But she knew Shi Sui had already linked up with Jiang Ruoning.
How could she possibly collaborate with Ai Wen now?
Ai Wen and Du Youran, those two idiots, still thought Shi Sui was coming around. She was just using them as pawns—disposable ones at that.
People that stupid.
Didn’t deserve to work with her.
This had nothing to do with whatever they were just discussing.
Lin Wei brainwashed herself with a reasonable excuse, dismissing Ai Wen and Du Youran.
Jiang Nuan saw that although Lin Wei had seen through Shi Sui’s intentions, her expression was still full of hatred and disgust.
Shi Sui had achieved her goal.
Jiang Nuan lowered her head. “President Lin, you’re so sharp. Nothing gets past you.”
Lin Wei caught the sarcasm in her words and laughed. “You’re right, Jiang Nuan. When it comes to Shi Sui, nothing stays hidden from me.”
Her demeanor shifted from extreme anger as she looked at Jiang Nuan.
Jiang Nuan felt Lin Wei had reverted to that first meeting—looking down condescendingly, full of disdain. “Jiang Nuan, do you know why Shi Sui wants to collaborate with Jiang Ruoning?”
Jiang Nuan frowned.
Lin Wei said, “No way, she didn’t tell you? Then she’s really—” She gave Jiang Nuan a pitying look. “Not treating you like a friend at all.”
Jiang Nuan stared straight at her, her eyes clear and piercing.
Lin Wei continued, “As expected, she just sees you as a dog by her side. Jiang Nuan, why not come over to my side?” She feigned warmth. “After all, being a dog for anyone is the same. I’d treat you way better than she does.”
This woman was still the same infuriating self!
The anger Lin Wei provoked in Jiang Nuan oddly subsided at those words.
Calling her a dog?
Child’s play.
When her parents divorced as a kid, unloved by either, she heard far worse from relatives on both sides. Classmates even called her a stray dog to her face because no one wanted her.
She curled her lips and leaned in toward Lin Wei.
Lin Wei frowned.
The sudden closeness was oppressive. Lin Wei instinctively wanted to step back half a pace, but Jiang Nuan advanced a full step. Lin Wei watched her features sharpen into focus—each lash distinct, her eyes deep and reflecting faint shadows. The move was so abrupt that Lin Wei froze in place.
Jiang Nuan leaned right up to her and suddenly barked, “Woof!”
Lin Wei’s heart pounded in fright!
She glared at Jiang Nuan irritably, shoved her away, and snapped with furrowed brows, “Stay away from me!”
It would be odd if Jiang Nuan listened, but she didn’t press closer. Instead, she said to Lin Wei, “Didn’t you just tell me to be your dog, President Lin? Dogs like sticking to their owners. Do you want me to stick to you?”
Lin Wei’s ears turned red with rage, her eyes blazing with fury. If eyes could talk…
It would be profanity.
Jiang Nuan was satisfied.
The retort in her eyes carried poise, which only made Lin Wei grit her teeth harder. She took a deep breath and said to Jiang Nuan, “Don’t get too smug too soon. If I were you, I’d be doing everything to stop Shi Sui from collaborating with Jiang Ruoning right now.”
