Chapter Seventeen: Close Your Eyes

Yuan Xiangdie was among the last to leave the venue, having been surrounded by several madams who made it impossible for her to move. For a moment, she truly underestimated the fierce competitiveness of these women—even Julie had put on the airs of a renowned designer’s daughter moonlighting as a model. The once rounded little belly was drawn in flat again, holding her breath with all her might just to save face.

“I’ll get in touch with you later then, take care,” Yuan Xiangdie said, removing her mask and rubbing her sore mouth. The two young women exchanged a glance, smiles spreading across their faces. Were it not for the inappropriate setting, they might have embraced and screamed with excitement.

“We did it, we’ve taken the first step! We actually received five orders at once, and counting the previous set, we’ve already covered our costs!” Julie had nearly bankrupted herself in her quest to find the best possible materials for these designs. She wouldn’t dare touch her mother’s national-treasure-level fabrics.

“This is wonderful. Now we’re finally on track. We’re no longer just an obscure little shop,” Yuan Xiangdie rejoiced from the bottom of her heart for what she and Julie had achieved. As long as they had business, they could slowly expand their market, and one day, they would become Xiangfang’s most dangerous rivals.

Just as they were rejoicing, a furious shout erupted ahead. The voice, the tone, were so familiar that Yuan Xiangdie didn’t even need to think to know who it was. She pressed a finger to her lips, signaling for silence.

Julie, unfamiliar with this woman, was just about to ask who was causing the commotion when she saw her friend signaling her to keep quiet, eyes darting meaningfully.

“Don’t say a word. Yuan Yao’er is up ahead,” she whispered. Only then did Julie, pitifully, realize and cover her mouth with both hands.

Lowering her voice, she murmured, “Looks like she’s managed to rile Xi again. Otherwise, that brat would never have left her behind like that.” Julie was quite confident in her assessment.

Yuan Xiangdie had been absent from this social circle for a long time, and her recent reappearance had been orchestrated deliberately by Yuan Yao’er, hoping to embarrass her. Had it not been for Lu Yuan’s timely intervention, she truly wouldn’t have known what to do.

“I doubt it. Yuan Yao’er always uses that tone when she calls people. Perhaps it’s Yuan Wan’s real backer, or maybe just another lover,” Yuan Xiangdie had long given up correcting the wild ideas that popped into Julie’s head. With a sidelong glance, she quietly led her away, not sparing another look for the woman standing coldly at the roadside, buffeted by the wind.

To Yuan Xiangdie, Yuan Yao’er was just another obstacle to overcome. One cannot live forever in the past. She had long since moved on, now more concerned with tracking down the delinquent who had assaulted her in prison and caused her to miscarry. She needed to ask, face-to-face, what her unborn child had ever done to deserve such a fate, to be snatched away so cruelly and senselessly. This was a knot in her heart that, if not untied, would never let her rest easy.

On the other side, the once gaudy red suit had been replaced with a long black overcoat.

Tian Xiaomeng knew the president would definitely attend the show today, so she had especially prepared the black overcoat. Yet now, she didn’t dare turn her head or look in the rearview mirror. Who would have guessed that their usually stiff and proper president could actually pull off such a flamboyant red? If it weren’t for the time and place, she herself might have been smitten.

Jin Yuan kept glancing at his assistant in the mirror, seeing her sneak peeks at him. At first, he thought something was on his face, but after checking, realized it was his outfit.

“Is it that funny?”

“Not at all, how could it be funny? Boss, you look good in anything—even pajamas. You’re the most handsome man in the world!” Her flattery was first-rate, regardless of how fresh or stale the lie was; the priority was to please the boss, for her own survival depended on it.

“Not funny at all.” Tian Xiaomeng could only force a couple of awkward laughs while driving—a smile uglier than a grimace. Whatever the boss required, they had to do. If they ever displeased him, life would become unbearable.

“Boss, we really don’t have any such design studio under our command, and it’s impossible any outsiders are offering haute couture through us,” Tian Xiaomeng explained. But at the moment, the president was lost in the memory of a beautiful woman’s advice. Yuan Xiangdie was indeed stunning—a swan-like neck, butterfly-shaped back, skin as fair as snow, and a mane of ebony hair so soft and glossy she was every man’s moonlit goddess.

Yet today, the goddess hadn’t let down her hair; she’d worn a wig instead.

“Buy up all the Xiangfeng suits in the city, and get every black short wig as well…” What kind of assignment was this? Tian Xiaomeng despaired—why her? As if being bossed around all day wasn’t enough, now, as a driver, she had to deal with wigs too.

“Understood, President.” Orders were orders, no matter how absurd. She wondered if he’d succeeded at the fashion show today. Even those around them were anxious over such matters.

Meanwhile, Xiaowei sat sulking on his little bed, fuming. Neither of the adults kept their promises. Dad always said that if he counted to a hundred, Dad would appear, but he’d already counted several hundreds, and still no Dad. Only when he was alone did Xiaowei show such childlike innocence; usually, he’d check his watch or phone for news.

Julie, looking odd, scooted her seat away a bit, leaving a space big enough for someone to sit between them. Yuan Xiangdie was puzzled—Julie had only invited her, hadn’t she? Why did it feel like there were so many people looking for her?

“If you have something to do, go ahead… Don’t worry about me.” Normally, this place was hard to book, but today, the crowd seemed twice as large as usual. And why did someone look so familiar? Could it be Jin Yuan?

Yuan Xiangdie was suspicious but unsure; from Julie’s expression, that person was definitely not welcome. Jin Yuan had always been restrained, yet something about this woman drew him in like a moth to a flame.

If Yuan Xiangdie knew she was thought of this way, she’d probably be delighted. “Oh my god, such a handsome man, and he praised me!” She’d take a screenshot and post it to her social media to commemorate the moment. It was rather silly; nowadays, there were other ways to show off. Yuan Xiangdie wasn’t totally out of touch—even after years away, she’d seen enough ads to get the gist. Still, having been away from society for so long, she feared she’d never fully catch up, no matter how much she tried to reacclimate.

These two had actually met before, though the little woman had completely forgotten. Only the president remembered, if only vaguely. Every time Jin Yuan thought of it, he’d drink tea obsessively, trying to hide the memory—a chapter best left in darkness.

Watching the neon lights flicker in the rearview mirror, she reflected that a few years ago, nights like this were ordinary enough. But after all that had happened, to be able to drive and wander safely through such streets was a luxury.

“My god, that’s fifty million! How many zeros is that? If that money landed in my hands, I’d be rich!” Yuan Xiangdie exclaimed to herself, half excited, half in disbelief.

She truly wanted to keep it, but honesty won out. The check, with its signature and amount, was made out by Xi, lying there on the road. Yuan Xiangdie was not one to pocket what wasn’t hers; she turned it over to the police.

“I found this Xi check at the intersection just now,” she told the officer on duty, who was impressed by her sharp eyes. Having done her good deed, she skipped away, leaving the large sum behind—whether it was dropped intentionally or by accident, it was a hefty amount.

But she hadn’t expected to run into someone she detested on the way home—Yuan Yao’er, who seemed to haunt her like a ghost. And the man driving her wasn’t easily identifiable, his long bangs covering his eyes, though his car was certainly expensive.

“Well, well, isn’t this my dear big sister? What are you doing here all alone? It’s so unsafe at night,” Yao’er said with a familiar look of schadenfreude.

“No need for your concern. Just a few more steps and I’ll be home. You’d best worry about yourself and how to—”