Chapter 42

Yun Chun’s words left Zhu You momentarily stunned. She quickly recovered, staring at Yun Chun’s face and enunciating each word clearly: “I’m not Lu Qingxue’s girlfriend.”

The smile lingered at the corners of Yun Chun’s mouth.

But when Zhu You’s next question came, that smile froze for a moment. Zhu You asked, “Then are you still her wife?”

Yun Chun’s arms were still propped against the doorframe. A gust of wind blew through, reminding her that she wasn’t just being watched by Zhu You—Lu Qingxue stood right behind her.

Yun Chun arched an eyebrow. “Of course.”

The words were already out; she couldn’t just take them back. That would make the whole “wife” thing seem far too frivolous.

The breeze brushing past her ear carried a light, tinkling laugh like tiny bells.

Heat crept into Yun Chun’s cheeks.

Zhu You kept staring at her, then tossed out a cryptic remark: “Sister Qingxue will be thrilled to hear that.”

Yun Chun’s brows furrowed slightly. She was about to ask what Zhu You meant when a phone rang between them, interrupting her.

Zhu You answered the call, replying in Italian a couple of times—it seemed like work-related business. Before turning to leave, she said to Yun Chun, “I’ll be back.”

Without giving Yun Chun a chance to respond, Zhu You slipped away like a wisp of smoke.

Yun Chun’s arms, braced against the doorframe, began to go numb, as if they wouldn’t move.

Oh.

Not just her arms—her legs felt numb too, and her feet.

Especially her neck, which felt too stiff to turn backward. Especially knowing Lu Qingxue was standing right there behind her, watching.

Finally, Lu Qingxue’s voice came from behind her. “No one’s outside anymore. Aren’t you going to turn around?”

Yun Chun’s hand, hovering awkwardly in midair, rubbed the tip of her nose before she lowered her arm, shook herself, closed the door, and turned.

Lu Qingxue stood there, a smile playing at her lips, watching her calmly.

Those clear eyes held a magnetic pull that drew people in.

Lu Qingxue didn’t move from her spot. Yun Chun stepped forward until she was right in front of her. They locked eyes for a moment, but Yun Chun’s gaze darted away in panic. She coughed lightly. “Ah! I haven’t finished my coffee yet.”

She moved to pick up her coffee cup.

But as soon as she lifted her foot, someone tugged at her sleeve.

Turning her head, she met Lu Qingxue’s smiling eyes, brimming with warmth.

Before Lu Qingxue could say anything, Yun Chun surrendered first. “I can explain.”

Lu Qingxue released her grip on Yun Chun’s sleeve. “Explain what? It’s just the truth.”

The heat that had just faded from Yun Chun’s cheeks flared up again. She scratched her jaw. “…Yeah, I guess so.”

Lu Qingxue let out a soft chuckle. “I just didn’t expect you to admit it in front of someone else.”

Yun Chun made a small sound. “It wasn’t exactly admitting it. They kept calling you their girlfriend, and that doesn’t look good for your reputation.”

She continued, “I just wanted to… wanted to…”

Wanted to tell all those people claiming Lu Qingxue was their girlfriend that she wasn’t theirs—she was Yun Chun’s?

Wanted to stop them from tarnishing Lu Qingxue out of their infatuation?

Before Yun Chun could find the right words, Lu Qingxue’s watery eyes shimmered. “Wanted to stand up for me?”

“You knew Little You was a reporter. By telling her that, maybe she’ll spread the word that I have a wife. Then those people who spout nonsense will think twice next time, and no one will believe the rumors anymore?”

That was exactly it.

But—Little You? It sounded like Lu Qingxue was pretty familiar with her!

Yun Chun: “…Mm.”

“What if Little You asks for proof? How would you prove to her that you’re my… wife?” Lu Qingxue drew out the last two words leisurely, like fish leaping from the lake surface and splashing back down, sending ripples of water droplets onto Yun Chun’s skin, leaving damp spots.

It felt like those damp ripples had splashed right into her heart too—ambiguous and hazy. Yun Chun’s ears felt drunk, burning hot and red.

Her hand rubbed the back of her neck. Mm, even her neck was hot.

Lowering her hand, Yun Chun lifted her eyelids. “No proof needed.”

She echoed Lu Qingxue’s words: “It’s just the truth.”

Yun Chun let out a light hum. “I’m too lazy to prove myself to her. She can believe it or not. Even if she doesn’t say anything, I’ve got it ready. If anyone else rings the doorbell later, I’ll say I’m your…”

She couldn’t quite say those two words. Pausing, she went on, “Judging by how they’re knocking one after another, once I say it, news of our relationship will definitely reach your suitors’ ears. Next time someone claims you’re their girlfriend, they’ll have to think of me.”

Sure, her actions might look no different from theirs in those people’s eyes. But who cared? She was the one living in Lu Qingxue’s home. She could put on all the airs of the lady of the house, right?

Lu Qingxue gazed at her. “What about you?”

“Me?”

“They’re all prominent figures in Milan. Your work will inevitably cross paths with them in the future. If you say that, they’ll link you with me, and our names might end up stuck together.”

To Lu Qingxue, tying a living person to a dead one felt like Yun Chun was getting the short end of the stick.

But Yun Chun didn’t mind at all. She grinned. “Then I can bask in your fame a little.”

Love was always about owing something. Even though Lu Qingxue knew associating with her could open doors for Yun Chun, she still felt guilty.

Right now, though, Yun Chun’s vibrant expression infected her, and Lu Qingxue laughed despite herself. “That’s it?”

Yun Chun stared at Lu Qingxue intently and said softly, “That’s it.”

She wanted to say: That’s more than enough. You’ve done so much for me already. Compared to that, what have I done?

Sunlight flowed quietly between them.

The motes in the air delicately traced the peace of the moment.

“Little Darling.”

Lu Qingxue called out, and Yun Chun immediately replied, “No need to thank me. It’s what I should do.”

A laugh sounded in her ear, along with Lu Qingxue’s lazy chuckle. “Who said anything about thanking you?”

Lu Qingxue gazed at her, tilting her head slightly. “What I meant was: Can I take this to mean you really care about my affairs?”

Yun Chun didn’t hesitate. “Of course!”

“So you care a lot about who I like—who I really want to know about?”

Oh right! She’d forgotten about that!

Yun Chun blinked pleadingly. “Who is it?”

“What will you do once you know?” Lu Qingxue asked.

“Will you get jealous?”

Jealous?

Yun Chun froze.

Why would she get jealous?

Whoever Lu Qingxue liked was her business. Yun Chun just wanted to know out of curiosity.

Curious what that person was like—tall or short, fat or slim, what they looked like…

Yun Chun’s lashes fluttered, blinking away the surprise in her eyes. She pursed her lips. “No.”

It was the expected answer. Lu Qingxue’s eyes showed no ripple of emotion. Instead, she teased Yun Chun. “Mm, then I won’t tell you.”

“Why?”

Lu Qingxue replied, “Because I want to see you get jealous.”

It was as if the sun had been blocked; the light dimmed, casting shadows over Yun Chun’s brows, making them look furrowed in confusion. She asked again, “Why?”

But this time her voice was softer, as if she were asking Lu Qingxue—or maybe herself.

“You’ll have to figure that answer out yourself,” Lu Qingxue said slowly, a smile playing on her lips. “Think whatever you want.”

Those words again.

Before Yun Chun could ponder it, the stylist Li Yimeng arrived.

Hearing her introduce herself, Yun Chun’s only thought was: Finally.

The doorbell had rung countless times, and this was the first one she could actually welcome inside.

Over the next hour, Yun Chun had a simple chat with her. Li Yimeng was of Chinese descent and spoke Mandarin, so communication went smoothly.

During that time, Yun Chun brewed her a cup of coffee using the beans Lu Qingxue had ground.

As she took the coffee, Li Yimeng smiled. “You like coffee too? Director Lu used to love it.”

Hearing her mention Lu Qingxue, Yun Chun’s heart stirred. She asked, “Have you worked at SNOW for many years?”

“Yeah. I joined right after graduation—four or five years now, I think.”

“Then are you… close with Director Lu?”

“Of course.” Li Yimeng caught the implication in Yun Chun’s words. “Is there something you want to ask me?”

Yun Chun paused, then smiled and shook her head. “No.”

What she wanted to ask, Li Yimeng wouldn’t know.

Li Yimeng nodded. “Feel free to ask anytime.”

She smiled at Yun Chun. “I’ve wanted to work with you for a while now. Seeing you today fulfills a little wish of mine.”

Her gaze settled on Yun Chun, full of praise. “Just like Director Lu said—you’re perfect for modeling.”

Being “suitable” for modeling was the highest compliment from a designer like her.

It was a simple phrase, but coming from someone so strict about proportions, “suitable” carried real weight.

Clothes could transform endlessly, and so could models. To call someone “suitable” meant they were born for it.

Yun Chun was surprised. “She… mentioned me?”

“Yeah, Director Lu has praised you more than once.” Li Yimeng smiled. “I’ve never heard her speak so highly of a model before.”

As she spoke, Li Yimeng gestured to the three dresses she’d brought, each handled like a priceless treasure. These were the ones Yun Chun would wear tomorrow.

“And these three dresses,” Li Yimeng said, “Director Lu designed them specifically for your measurements.”

Yun Chun was astonished. “Me?”

“Yes, back when Director Lu was designing them, I was right there assisting her, and she said it herself. But who would have thought…” Li Yimeng’s expression dimmed. “What a twist of fate.”

She spoke softly. “The dresses were finished, but the person…”

A heavy atmosphere hung around Li Yimeng. She caught sight of Yun Chun from the corner of her eye and realized it wasn’t right to sink into gloom like this all of a sudden. Suppressing the melancholy in her heart, Li Yimeng flashed a smile at Yun Chun. “So when I heard General Manager Mo say you’d be participating in Fashion Week as a member of SNOW, these three gowns came to mind right away. I applied to the board and retrieved them from the vault, thinking that if you wear them tomorrow, maybe Director Lu will catch sight of them. Even if she doesn’t, with the dresses on you, her efforts won’t have been wasted, right?”

Yun Chun’s heart stirred with emotion. She nodded faintly. “Mm.”

Li Yimeng took a sip of her coffee. “From your very first magazine spread, Director Lu’s attention on you was plain for everyone in the company to see. After all, we rarely debut newcomers. Using you back then struck us as a bold move, but you proved her judgment spot-on in the end.”

“Every quarter, the company puts forward new models—for inspiration, or to settle on runway looks, that sort of thing—and during that time, she didn’t need any of those recommendations…”

Li Yimeng’s voice bloomed like summer flowers. “You were her first choice.”

Yun Chun stared in a daze at the figure seated on the sofa. Ever since Yimeng had arrived, Lu Qingxue had been sitting there quietly, watching them. It was as if she had never left—as if she were still right there, watching Yun Chun slip into one gown after another that she had crafted with her own hands. Just like she had told Yun Chun: she wanted to see her take those designs to grander stages. The look in her eyes was one of unmistakable, profound appreciation.

Li Yimeng gazed at Yun Chun, reminiscing about Lu Qingxue through her. As she watched, she finally gave voice to the feelings she had buried in her heart for so many years. “Qingxue really likes you.”

She had meant to stick with “appreciates,” but the word “likes” felt more right on her tongue.

In that instant, sunlight pierced the sky.

The clouds veiling the sun vanished in a flash.

Yun Chun’s heart pounded.

In the stifling air, she suddenly understood what Lu Qingxue had meant.

Lu Qingxue had told her to think whatever she wanted. So could she allow herself to believe, just maybe, that the person Lu Qingxue liked—

Was her?