Jiang Ruoning began rummaging through her memories for everything she could recall about this longtime fan, but it was futile. She couldn’t even remember when it had started. Back at Del, there were so many gifts and flowers with every appearance that she wouldn’t have noticed this fan—except for a few private events. Even when she returned backstage, there was still a bouquet waiting for her, accompanied by printed text.
Nowadays, hardly anyone used printed cards anymore; most were handwritten blessings. That’s why it stuck in Jiang Ruoning’s memory so vividly.
But she had never thought deeply about it. In fact, if it weren’t for today’s sudden inspiration—and her mind being full of Shi Sui—she never would have connected it to her.
And yet, it really was her.
Jiang Ruoning pressed down on her slightly reddened eyes, touched up her makeup, took a few deep breaths, but still couldn’t hold back: 【What else have you done?!】
She’d better come clean, or else every little thing dug up later would be settled one by one!
Shi Sui lowered her gaze. The phone screen’s brightness was dimmed, casting a dark glow that matched Jiang Ruoning’s message, as if pulling her back to those dark, hopeless days sustained only by faint longing. Shi Sui: 【Nothing else.】
Jiang Ruoning didn’t believe it: 【Really nothing?】
Shi Sui: 【Really nothing.】
Seeing those three words eased Jiang Ruoning’s agitated emotions a bit. The rest of the event went exceptionally smoothly. When she returned backstage to change, she overheard Wu Jie chatting with another manager about a group dinner that evening.
As she removed her earrings, she turned her head: “Group dinner?”
Wu Jie nodded. “President Li invited everyone to dinner tonight to celebrate the event’s success in advance.”
Today was the first show, with two more to follow. Logically, they should have done it yesterday, but many models hadn’t arrived yet without schedules, so it got moved to today. Jiang Ruoning pursed her lips: “Oh.”
Wu Jie noticed her displeasure. “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Ruoning brushed it off: “Nothing.”
She had just planned to sneak out for a quiet dinner with Shi Sui alone.
Wu Jie lowered her voice: “Will President Shi be going?”
Jiang Ruoning’s voice softened, sounding more petulant than stubborn: “How would I know if she’s going or not.”
Wu Jie stared at her and chuckled. Jiang Ruoning’s cheeks flushed bright red under her gaze, her eyes shimmering. Yu Ling walked up behind her: “Ning-jie, you ready?”
Jiang Ruoning said: “Almost.”
Liu Wenxiu had already tidied up and was waiting for her. Jiang Ruoning noticed another woman standing beside her—tall, with straight black hair, no makeup, a blank expression, drooping brows, looking in a foul mood with a gloomy aura. Jiang Ruoning recognized her.
Yuan Min.
Liu Wenxiu had mentioned on the way here that she was her new roommate. They’d exchanged brief greetings before going on stage. Jiang Ruoning didn’t know her well. Unlike Yu Ling, who was chatty and friendly, Yuan Min was more reserved, keeping everything bottled up inside. But she seemed close to Liu Wenxiu.
Jiang Ruoning wiped her mouth and walked over to them: “Heading back to the room?”
Yu Ling nodded. “Yeah, to change first. What about you, Ning-jie?”
Jiang Ruoning didn’t really want to change; the gown she had on now was handmade by Shi Sui. But dinner was still a ways off, and she had nowhere to go, so she nodded reluctantly: “I’ll go back to grab something.”
Yu Ling walked beside her and linked arms with her, feeling the fabric. “Whoa, Ning-jie, your dress is so soft and comfy!”
Hearing this, Liu Wenxiu reached out and touched the hem. Jiang Ruoning glanced down. Influenced by Shi Sui, she was now extra sensitive to others touching her— not because of their intentions, but because Shi Sui couldn’t see it. They meant nothing by it.
But of all the bad luck, just as Liu Wenxiu touched her hem, Jiang Ruoning spotted Shi Sui.
Shi Sui emerged from the showroom. From afar, she saw Jiang Ruoning surrounded by people, with Liu Wenxiu reaching out to grab her hem. Her gaze fixed on Jiang Ruoning. Jiang Ruoning heard Liu Wenxiu say: “It’s really nice. The material’s top-notch, so soft and fluffy. Ruoning, what brand is this?”
Jiang Ruoning’s eyes met Shi Sui’s. She saw her walking over and froze for two seconds.
Shi Sui reached them just as Jiang Ruoning said: “A friend made it.”
After blurting it out, Jiang Ruoning inexplicably felt guilty and averted her eyes from Shi Sui. Yu Ling spotted her and greeted: “President Shi!”
Even knowing Shi Sui had a girlfriend, Yu Ling had only expressed admiration without confessing, so the atmosphere stayed cordial. Shi Sui’s voice was gentle and soft: “What are you talking about?”
Her eyes fixed steadily on Jiang Ruoning.
Yu Ling explained: “We were saying Ning-jie’s dress fabric is amazing. Too bad it’s ‘custom-made.’”
Jiang Ruoning smiled to ease the awkwardness.
Shi Sui: “Made by a friend?”
Jiang Ruoning nodded: “Yeah, a friend.”
Shi Sui said: “That friend must be quite skilled and an outstanding designer. If there’s a chance, I hope Miss Jiang can introduce her to our company.”
The words were so formal. Jiang Ruoning hadn’t realized Shi Sui was such a good actress—self-praising in front of everyone without batting an eye. Her toes nearly dug through the floor as she forced a gritted-teeth smile: “Sure, definitely.”
Shi Sui’s phone vibrated. She nodded to the group: “Sorry, I need to take this call.”
Jiang Ruoning and the others headed toward the elevators. Near the entrance, she glanced back at Shi Sui, who stood there taking the call. Her expression wasn’t stern, but serious and composed, paired with her crisp white shirt—an air of refined elegance.
I love her so much.
Jiang Ruoning suppressed the urge to rush over. She heard Yu Ling sigh: “She’s so gorgeous.”
Liu Wenxiu teased: “Gorgeous doesn’t mean she’s yours. She has a girlfriend.”
Yu Ling let out an “Aww”: “Just appreciating, pure appreciation. Besides, I never thought I could win President Shi.”
Jiang Ruoning asked: “Is she hard to chase?”
Yu Ling said: “Ning-jie, you have no idea. Back in Linping, tons of people chased her—especially once they knew she liked women. Just in our company, more than I can count on one hand. She’s hot, rich, good-tempered… We adored her. We even had a little group chat back in Linping discussing her every day.”
Jiang Ruoning really hadn’t known Shi Sui was so popular in Linping. Sour bubbles bubbled up in her heart, rolling around.
Liu Wenxiu said: “Too bad she wasn’t into you all.”
Yu Ling clutched her chest: “Wenxiu-jie, don’t rub salt in the wound.”
Liu Wenxiu added: “But President Shi’s always been above reproach. Never any scandals.”
Yu Ling thought for a moment: “Maybe she had a girlfriend back then.”
Everyone looked at her.
Yu Ling shrugged: “Just a guess. I remember one company event—my colleague was super bold. After it ended, she rushed up to confess to President Shi, but Shi Sui said she already liked someone.”
Liu Wenxiu nodded: “So that’s why she turned down the blind date with Director Xu back then? Because she had a girlfriend?”
Yu Ling clapped: “Makes sense.”
Jiang Ruoning scratched her head, wanting to say something but couldn’t. Her eyes met Yuan Min’s, who stood beside Liu Wenxiu. Jiang Ruoning gave an awkward smile; Yuan Min nodded slightly, seemingly uninterested in their topic, lost in her own world.
On the way down in the elevator, Yuan Min even went to the wrong room. Jiang Ruoning called out: “This one’s it.”
Yuan Min snapped back and walked over, looking dazed.
When Jiang Ruoning returned to the room, she was still a bit worried about Yuan Min’s state and kept an eye on her. But once inside, Yuan Min buried herself in bed without changing, exposing only her face as she lay on her side, sleeping deeply. Jiang Ruoning, not wanting to wake her, moved quietly—but opening the closet still did.
She apologized: “Sorry, I’ll be quick.”
Yuan Min said: “It’s fine.”
She asked Jiang Ruoning: “Were you just on the phone with your girlfriend?”
Jiang Ruoning froze: “Uh, no—I mean, yeah.”
She stammered, unsure how to respond. Yuan Min didn’t dwell: “I got up to use the bathroom and overheard a bit. Is your girlfriend in the industry?”
Jiang Ruoning replied: “Kinda. She’s not a model.”
Yuan Min’s voice was soft: “You really like her, huh?”
Jiang Ruoning felt awkward: “That obvious?”
Yuan Min said: “You smile whenever I mention her.”
Jiang Ruoning touched her cheek; her mouth was grinning wide. She let out a dry laugh.
The room fell quiet for a moment. Jiang Ruoning thought of Yu Ling’s words, wanted to ask but felt it intrusive. Yuan Min spoke first: “I really like my girlfriend too.”
Jiang Ruoning paused for two seconds: “Did you two fight?”
Yuan Min said: “No, we broke up.”
Jiang Ruoning was stunned for two seconds; she hadn’t expected Yuan Min to be so direct. She nodded: “What happened?”
Yuan Min’s voice was calm and even: “She didn’t like my job. I didn’t like her interfering too much.”
Jiang Ruoning didn’t know how to respond. She didn’t like her girlfriend interfering with work, nor being interfered with herself. In theory, they agreed—but Yuan Min clearly hesitated, tangled in pain. There was a knock at the door. Jiang Ruoning glanced at Yuan Min and called out: “Coming.”
Yu Ling and Liu Wenxiu stood outside the door and asked her, “All done?”
Jiang Ruoning said, “I’ll just wash my face, be right there.”
