"Darling..."
As the delicate voice sounded, the pretty woman clinging tightly to Luo Changchuan’s arm outside the restroom subconsciously let go.
Six eyes t—three people froze simultaneously.
Wan Mingyi hadn’t expected the stern and commanding female judge she saw on the panel to reveal such a clingy, spoiled side in private.
Luo Changchuan hadn’t expected to run into so many acquaintances just by stepping out to use the restroom.
Wen Zhiyi hadn’t expected this, either—the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
She glanced at the ivory-white cocktail dress worn by Wan Mingyi, the woman who had just presented her with an award.
Then, she looked at Luo Changchuan, his face rigid, clearly not wanting to say much to her.
Wen Zhiyi’s complexion paled slightly. "You... you two..."
Wan Mingyi stepped forward and held onto Luo Changchuan’s arm. "Darling, you and Ms. Wen..."
"Are ancient history—it’s long been over!"
Rather than responding to Wan Mingyi, the words seed directed at Wen Zhiyi.
Luo Changchuan turned to Wen Zhiyi, whose face was frozen in shock, and said, "You’ve been moving forward, and so have I. In this world, whether it’s career or love, timing is everything. No one stays in the sa place waiting for you forever. Neither did I! ... From the day you chose to leave, we were already finished. Besides..."
Exhaling lightly, Luo Changchuan continued in a low voice, "Ask yourself—did I not wait for you? From the day you walked away to the mont I told you I wasn’t waiting anymore, those three years... did you ever think about coming back? Since you chose your dreams over , then I gave up. I wish you success and smooth sailing in the future."
With those words, Luo Changchuan took Wan Mingyi’s hand and walked away.
The sharp click of high-heeled shoes ca running after them but stopped a few steps later.
Wan Mingyi turned her head to see Wen Zhiyi staring blankly at Luo Changchuan’s retreating figure, tears shimring in her eyes.
Before her teary gaze could crystallize and fall, the ringtone of a phone sounded. Wen Zhiyi sniffed and quickly answered the call.
She spoke in a foreign language—Wan Mingyi didn’t understand a word.
Accompanied by Wen Zhiyi’s departing silhouette, a faint weight settled in Wan Mingyi’s heart.
So are infatuated with love.
And then there are won who prioritize their careers.
Beyond the people directly involved, who could understand better what they’ve gained or lost?
But if we’re talking about Luo Changchuan...
If it were her in Wen Zhiyi’s place, would she give up her pursuit of career success?
Wan Mingyi didn’t know.
The crisp night breeze brought her back to her senses—she realized she had already walked out of the art museum.
Warmth enveloped her shoulders—Luo Changchuan had taken off his suit jacket and draped it over her.
"Thank you."
Wan Mingyi thanked him, noting the subdued expression on his face as she softly suggested, "You still love her, don’t you? And now that she’s back... maybe you could try again... give her a chance, and give yourself a chance. Don’t you think—?"
Before she could finish, she was t with Luo Changchuan’s icy gaze.
Wan Mingyi clamd up instantly.
Luo Changchuan spoke in a low voice, "Excellent suggestion. Don’t make another."
"..."
Wan Mingyi tightened the jacket around her shoulders, searching for sothing to say. "Star Studio only won a silver prize this ti. Won’t your boss give you grief over that?"
Luo Changchuan said nothing.
Wan Mingyi brainstord desperately. "I heard you started out as a print model. Why didn’t you keep going with that path? You could’ve made it to the Paris Fashion Show by now."
Still, Luo Changchuan remained silent.
Wan Mingyi gave up.
"Thanks for your jacket..."
She removed the jacket and stuffed it back into his arms, gesturing toward the reception hall. "I’ll head back to the party now. If you’re feeling upset, find a way to manage it yourself."
She turned to leave but was imdiately pulled back by Luo Changchuan.
"Such a small person but with such a temper!"
He shot her an annoyed glance before shaking out the jacket and draping it back over her shoulders. "Who said I’m upset? And besides, I’m a grown man—if I were upset, I’d have my own ways to deal with it. Why would I need you, a woman, to rack your brains soothing ?"
In a flash, he had reverted to the playful, unfazed Mr. Luo of before—no trace of the somberness he showed earlier when facing Wen Zhiyi.
Wan Mingyi heaved a sigh of relief. "You should’ve told sooner—pulling such a long face scares people!"
"Co on, I’m treating you to a drink to celebrate your newly paved lane!"
Luo Changchuan strode forward, heading directly toward the parking lot.
She looked back toward the reception hall.
Then at Luo Changchuan.
Wan Mingyi followed him, pulling out her phone and sending Ye Li a ssage as she walked.
More than thirty minutes later, Wan Mingyi and Luo Changchuan were seated in a cozy booth at a quiet bar.
The first drink—celebrating Wan Mingyi’s bronze prize win.
The second drink—celebrating Ye Li’s Studio’s success.
The third drink...
Holding the glass aloft, seemingly out of things to celebrate, Luo Changchuan chuckled bitterly before clinking glasses with Wan Mingyi. "To leaving behind the past and embracing a new life."
Wan Mingyi’s gaze flickered.
At the restroom doors earlier, Luo Changchuan had spoken with frigid detachnt, saying he’d waited three years before deciding not to wait anymore.
But now, he toasted to leaving the past behind and embracing a new life.
Was it possible, then, that if Wen Zhiyi had chased after him just now... they would’ve rekindled their love?
Thinking this, she couldn’t help but ask aloud.
Wan Mingyi quietly observed Luo Changchuan.
Beyond the shimring reflections on the water’s surface, her eyes settled on the silhouette of a girl playing the piano on a distant island. Luo Changchuan remained silent for a long mont before speaking. "Back then, I was a print model; she did jewelry design. Once, she told she didn’t want doing comrcials and being called ’darling’ by so many won, nor did she want entering the entertainnt industry, fearing I’d be exploited behind the scenes..."
As if recalling the past, Luo Changchuan shook his head and laughed.
Then, his smile gradually faded. "Later on, I gave up my agency contract with the dia company and taught myself jewelry design. I thought sharing the sa goals, the sa interests, would keep us together for the long haul. But as you can see..."
He spread his hands, tilted his head back, and drained his drink. "So my advice? No one should let their emotions dominate their rationality—not won, not n!"
Wan Mingyi hadn’t expected this casual drinking session to reveal an entire love story. She laughed. "You helped last ti; now I’ve helped you. So... we’re even, right?"
Even?
His eyes briefly skimd over the radiance in Wan Mingyi’s liquor-ward gaze. Luo Changchuan didn’t reply, only smiling slightly.
Taking his silence as agreent, and seeing he wasn’t reaching for his glass to toast, Wan Mingyi finished her drink herself.
By the ti they left the bar, it was nearing midnight.
The Rolls Royce pulled into Wan Mingyi’s residential complex, stopping right at the entrance. As she leaned over to unfasten her seatbelt and get out, Luo Changchuan glanced down at her high heels. "Which building? I’ll take you to your doorstep."
She paused for a mont before replying, "Building 9."
The car eased inside, stopping in front of the building.
Before Wan Mingyi could thank him for the ride, she noticed Luo Changchuan smirking, his eyes fixed straight ahead at the windshield. "Wan Mingyi, look—this isn’t sothing that can be evened out!"
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