After returning to her desk, Li Man sat down. A few minutes later, Zhao Su pushed the door open and peeked in. Li Man glanced at her and said, “Come in, and bring the drafts with you.”
“Alright.” Zhao Su left for a moment and returned a minute later, placing the design drafts on Li Man’s desk. Li Man flipped through them — mostly small pieces like brooches and earrings — with only one full set of designs. Zhao Su hesitated for a moment and said, “Recently, clients’ demands have decreased. They haven’t been ordering as much.”
The reality was that there were fewer clients willing to purchase full high-end sets. That’s how this circle worked — trends shifted. Previously, people rushed to spend money, hoping to build connections and walk away with beautiful jewelry. Who wouldn’t want that? But now, those same clients had become tough to deal with, and their time was more precious than ever.
Scheduling a meeting to discuss their needs dragged on and on — busy here, busy there — some even complained that visiting the studio interrupted their skincare routines.
Zhao Su didn’t dare say too much — being too blunt wouldn’t help.
Li Man didn’t respond immediately. She looked through the designs again and again before finally saying, “Remember to respect the clients’ requests.”
Zhao Su nodded.
Li Man set the designs down and handed them back to Zhao Su. “Ask the HR manager to come in.”
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Soon after, the sounds of disbelief came from outside.
“So we can’t even speak the truth now? If you’re so confident in your abilities, why fire us?”
The commotion eventually died down.
The two were gone.
The office, like a sealed box, fell silent again. Those who remained kept their heads down and worked without a word.
The apartment in Washington was remodeled according to Wen Yang’s ideas. A Western-style island counter was added, with an integrated refrigerator and a relocated wine rack near the balcony. The dining and cooking areas felt more spacious. The living room remained unchanged — a long sofa with a rug, a projector, and large windows that flooded the space with light when open but ensured privacy when closed.
The revised design replaced the old one, and the renovation resumed.
Chen Chang, one of the workers, studied the blueprint. “This version feels more lived-in. The old kitchen was just for show.”
Wen Yang smiled, handing out drinks to the team. “Thanks for your hard work, everyone.”
“You’re too polite, Wen Yang.”
“Thanks! You always bring us drinks.” The workers laughed and teased her.
Wen Yang smiled faintly.
She pulled Chen Chang aside to discuss a few details, emphasizing some important points. Chen Chang listened and asked, “Are you going to be busy soon? No time to check in?”
Wen Yang chuckled. “I’m heading to Hong Kong for a client.”
“Oh, got it. Don’t worry — I’ll take care of things here.”
“Thanks, really appreciate it, brother.”
“Don’t mention it.”
After spending a bit more time at the site, Wen Yang left at sunset, stopping to buy groceries before heading home.
When Yu Qing returned, carrying her laptop, she sniffed the air and said, “Smells amazing!”
Wen Yang set the table. “Wash your hands.”
“Got it.”
After dinner, they cleaned up and sat on the couch. Yu Qing, still tapping away at her laptop, asked, “Did you buy your ticket yet?”
Wen Yang had just confirmed her payment. “Just did.”
“What time?”
“Arriving at 3 PM.”
Yu Qing looked up. “Are you sure you don’t want Tao Li and me to come along?”
Wen Yang glanced at her laptop screen. “You’re so busy — how could you go? I’m the only one in the studio with free time right now.”
“Free? You’re the star of the studio. The two deals you closed are worth more than five of mine combined,” Yu Qing joked, nudging Wen Yang with her foot.
Wen Yang laughed softly, nudging her back. “Stop teasing me.”
“I’m not teasing! I’m serious. Your two clients signed right away. Meanwhile, mine — ugh — I have to send extra gifts and follow up constantly.”
Wen Yang knew Yu Qing had been struggling with a demanding client lately. She reached over and massaged Yu Qing’s shoulders.
Lu Zhan’s home was about to enter the measurement stage, so Wen Yang needed to visit Hong Kong. Ideally, she’d bring Yu Qing or Tao Li along, but Yu Qing was tied up with a client requesting a modern Chinese design, and the deal was at the deposit stage — too important to step away from. She also had two other clients, including Xu Xu’s project, that needed close attention.
Tao Li, on the other hand, was constantly on-site at renovations.
Dragging either of them to Hong Kong just wasn’t practical, so Wen Yang decided to go solo. Besides, she was used to handling things on her own.
After booking her ticket, Wen Yang got off the couch and packed a simple suitcase in her bedroom.
Yu Qing poked her head in. “Don’t rush back — stay an extra day if you can.”
“Got it. Do you need me to buy anything?”
“No need. We bought plenty last time.”
Wen Yang hummed softly in response.
The next morning.
Wen Yang carried her suitcase to the studio, handling some work while she was there. When the time was right, she headed to the high-speed rail station. By the time she entered the station, it was lunchtime, so she ate a meal box on the train and then opened her laptop to work on some video editing.
Her phone buzzed beside her.
She picked it up and swiped the screen.
Fu Xingzhou: What time will you arrive in Hong Kong?
Wen Yang blinked in surprise — how did he know?
She replied: Around 3 PM.
Fu Xingzhou: I’ll pick you up and take you there.
Of course, it must have been Mr. Lu who told him.
Wen Yang responded: Thank you, Mr. Fu. Sorry for the trouble.
Fu Xingzhou: Have you eaten?
Wen Yang: Yes, I ate on the train.
Fu Xingzhou: Alright.
By the time the train pulled into Hong Kong, it was just past 3:10 PM. Wen Yang stepped out, pulling her suitcase behind her. The traffic was heavy, but she quickly spotted Fu Xingzhou standing by his car. He was dressed simply — a white shirt and long pants — and was putting his phone away as he walked toward her.
It had been a few days since they last saw each other at the exhibition. He’d gone back to Hong Kong that same afternoon.
Fu Xingzhou took her suitcase and, without a word, handed her a cup of milk tea.
Wen Yang was surprised — she was actually quite thirsty — so she accepted it with a soft “Thank you, Mr. Fu.”
Fu Xingzhou glanced at her, his voice cool and steady. “Why didn’t you mention you were coming to Hong Kong?”
Caught off guard, Wen Yang sipped her milk tea and met his gaze. “I’m here for work. I didn’t want to bother you.”
“You’re not bothering me. You don’t have to worry about that.”
She took another sip and nodded slightly. “Mm.”
Seeing her reaction, a faint smile tugged at the corners of Fu Xingzhou’s mouth. Without lingering, he led her to the car — they couldn’t park there for long. He opened the door for her, and Wen Yang bent down to get in. After loading her suitcase, Fu Xingzhou slid into the driver’s seat.
He didn’t even need to ask for her permission anymore.
Ever since the photography exhibition, he had a sense that Wen Yang was open to giving him a chance. He wasn’t sure what had changed, but the fact that she was willing was enough.
In Hong Kong, the steering wheel was on the right side of the car. Wen Yang hadn’t noticed much last time since she sat in the back, but being in the passenger seat now, she could really feel the difference.
The milk tea he got her was unsweetened — a classic Hong Kong-style milk tea, rich and strong. Still, Wen Yang was parched, so she drank quite a bit in one go.
She asked softly, “Where’s Mr. Lu’s place?”
“Near Victoria Harbour.”
Wen Yang nodded. “The lighting must be great, then.”
Fu Xingzhou replied calmly, “It’s not bad.”
The white sedan drove into a residential complex and parked in the garage. Wen Yang finished her milk tea just as they arrived. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she followed Fu Xingzhou out of the car and into the elevator.
They rode up to the 28th floor.
As soon as the elevator doors opened, they saw Lu Zhan leaning against the doorframe, sunglasses perched on his nose. He blinked playfully. “Wen Yang, we meet again.”
Wen Yang smiled. “Hello, Mr. Lu.”
Lu Zhan grinned. “When are you going to drop the formalities? Just call me Ah Zhan. Or if that’s too much, call me Third Brother(Lao San) — I’m the third kid in the family.”
Wen Yang blinked, chuckled softly, and stepped inside.
The apartment was a large flat by Hong Kong standards — over 200 square meters. The wall tiles had been removed, exposing the bare concrete underneath. The view was stunning — the windows faced Victoria Harbour, with the sea breeze drifting in.
Wen Yang put down her bag and turned to Lu Zhan. “I’ll start taking measurements now.”
Lu Zhan had left space for an island counter, which was still intact. He leaned casually against it, nodding and making a “go ahead” gesture.
Wen Yang gave a slight smile, then got to work. Since she was alone, she had to measure and record everything herself. Fortunately, she had all her tools. She tied her long hair into a neat bun and focused on her tasks, dressed in comfortable pants and a white blouse with a subtle princess-style flair.
She looked neat and sharp, yet still retained a touch of femininity.
Fu Xingzhou finished his call and walked back inside. Lu Zhan was leaning against the kitchen island, watching Wen Yang for a moment before shifting his gaze back to Fu Xingzhou. Narrowing his eyes, he said, “No wonder you’ve been going to Nancheng all the time lately.”
“Since when?”
Fu Xingzhou stood next to the island, his eyes also on Wen Yang. “Probably around the second time we met.”
“And when was that?”
Fu Xingzhou didn’t answer.
Lu Zhan squinted at him.
Honestly, it was kind of surprising. He always thought Fu Xingzhou wasn’t the type to fall for anyone.
As his friend, Lu Zhan didn’t feel any jealousy — he knew that a woman like Wen Yang wasn’t someone to be taken lightly. At the same time, neither was Fu Xingzhou. In a way, they matched.
Last time, when they measured the apartment, Yu Qing was there to guide Wen Yang. This time, she handled everything herself.
As she wrapped up, Lu Zhan and Fu Xingzhou gave her a hand with the final touches. She packed her tools back into her bag and was about to stand up when Fu Xingzhou naturally reached out to steady her.
Wen Yang softly said, “Thank you, Mr. Fu.”
Lu Zhan, still leaning on the island, noticed the exchange — he clicked his tongue twice in his head.
Fu Xingzhou then asked, “What would you like for dinner?”
Wen Yang took a sip of mineral water, thought for a moment, and replied, “Anything’s fine. You decide, Mr. Fu.”
“Alright.”
By then, the sun was setting, casting a warm glow outside the windows. With her bag over her shoulder, Wen Yang followed the two men out of the apartment. Lu Zhan locked the door behind them and glanced at his phone.
“How about Western food?” he suggested. “There’s a pretty good place nearby.”
Wen Yang smiled. “Sounds good.”
In the elevator, Lu Zhan shot a quick look at Fu Xingzhou, then pulled out his phone. He opened Fu Xingzhou’s chat and typed:
Lu Zhan: I’m not being a third wheel, am I?
Fu Xingzhou glanced at the message, gave Lu Zhan a sideways look, then calmly slipped his phone back into his pocket without replying.
Lu Zhan: …
Sansukini: I think the problem with Li Man is that she’s too proud and full of herself. Well, it takes two to tango and it’s the same with marriage. You have to compromise. I’m not saying the woman has to compromise all the time, but maybe be assertive instead of just lamenting the fact that your spouse was not (intimate/romantic/sweet). The fact is that Fu Xingzhou was forced by his family to marry and he considered it as a business marriage.
So now, he’s pursuing Wen Yang and it is something that he’s doing based on his own desire and volition so he’s working to make it work by often travelling to where she is. There is sincerity in his pursuit. Maybe, if Li Man also tried to pursue her cold CEO husband, it would have worked on her favor too.
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So when she got divorced? Hhehehe