On Qi Siran there was always that barely perceptible edge—malice so thin it could be mistaken for a breeze. Yet when she smiled, she could just as easily pass for a sheltered little princess, naive about the world. Wen Yin found herself unable to decide which mask was truer.
“Since you came, take a good look around,” Qi Siran said to Wen Yin with a polite curve of her lips. “My mother told me you design for Shaohua. This show might spark something different for you.”
Her smile was small, but there was a thread of mockery sewn into it. Wen Yin caught the quick flash of disdain in her eyes.
“Some of these pieces were only approved for display with a lot of effort. You probably don’t get access to things like this in your day-to-day,” Qi Siran added, her tone pointed. She let her gaze settle on Wen Yin, thinly cloaked in condescension.
Shao Yinan heard the implication loud and clear. He hadn’t expected Qi Siran to single Wen Yin out like this—after only two brief encounters. The strange, prickly feeling had started as soon as the two women stepped into his family’s villa.
“It’s just a piece of jewelry,” Shao Yinan said smoothly. “If Ying likes something, I can have it arranged for her. Isn’t that better than making her the center of everyone’s attention?”
That diffident defense left Qi Siran a little off balance. Wen Yin smiled softly. “That’s kind of you, Miss Qi. But every designer is different. I don’t really have plans to branch into jewelry at the moment.”
She didn’t want to waste breath on a sparring match. By now it was clear: Qi Siran harbored some antagonism toward her.
Qi Siran saw Wen Yin’s quiet acceptance and, despite Shao standing by Wen Yin, she pushed down the small irritation rising in her chest. “It’s good to broaden your horizons,” she said with a hint of hauteur that came naturally to her. Even in heels she still stood a head shorter than Wen Yin—yet she tried to assert dominance with attitude, which looked oddly laughable.
“There’s even a collection here by the internationally renowned designer EternalLove,” she went on, chin lifted. “He hardly ever shows his work to the public.”
Her words had two clear aims: to show that the Qi family had clout—able to bring such a name—and to remind Wen Yin that there were layers even within the elite. The Qi and the Wen worlds, she meant, were not the same.
At the mention of the name, something like recognition sparked across Wen Yin’s face. She lowered her lashes; the shadow they cast made her expression unreadable.
“Done talking?” Shao Yinan asked softly, noticing Wen Yin’s silence and stepping in to steer them away from the awkwardness. Qi Siran had been clinging to him since childhood; he’d never taken a shine to the neighborly attentions. Today she was particularly tiresome, chattering at him in bursts.
“I’ve got things to do—bye.” Qi Siran read the irritation in his eyes and, not embarrassed, made a graceful exit with her friends. From the corner of her eye she flicked a glance at the quietly thoughtful Wen Yin. So this woman shouldn’t be underestimated—someone who’d stood out on a dating reality show in under half a month wasn’t exactly harmless.
Even as she joined her group, Qi’s gaze drifted back occasionally, measuring, curious. Wen Yin, arm looped through Shao Yinan’s, followed him through the stream of greetings that trailed in their wake. It was as if Shao’s presence lent her an extra layer of prestige tonight. Qi Siran tightened her grip on her champagne glass without showing it—if she was standing beside Shao now, who was to say she would remain there tomorrow?
A middle-aged man holding a flute of champagne moved toward them, calling out, “Shao, long time no see.” Shao didn’t even spare him a glance. Instead, he threaded his fingers through Wen Yin’s arm and said quietly, “Come with me, Ying.”
Before the general manager reached them, Shao had already steered Wen Yin away.
In the lounge, Wen Yin sucked in a small breath. The stilettos were beautiful—but merciless. The skyscraper heels had rubbed raw skin into blisters, then into broken flesh. Every step had been an exercise in endurance; by now the back of her heel was a painful smear of blood and torn skin.
Shao’s expression dropped cold for a moment as he reached for her. He cleaned the wound with careful hands, pressed a plaster over it, then looked up, his dark eyes grave.
“This hurt a long time ago—why didn’t you tell me?” His voice was controlled, but he sounded hurt. From the pale blister to the raw spot, it was obvious the injury hadn’t been recent. A small blister turning to open wound meant she’d been suffering for at least an hour. He couldn't imagine she’d been bearing that alone.
Wen Yin blinked. Her deer-like eyes glistened; there was a sliver of hurt in them, as if something in his tone had surprised her. The lights above threw tiny shards of shine into her pupils, and her voice came out soft, almost fragile. “Because you were busy earlier.”
Shao’s tone hardened. “So you just endured it?”
His almond-shaped eyes were stormy when he looked at her. “If I hadn’t noticed—how long would you have kept going? We’ve been together this long. Haven’t you learned to rely on me?”
By the last words his voice had a tremor in it and the rims of his eyes were faintly red. Wen Yin hadn’t expected such a sharp, raw reaction. Seeing the wetness at the edge of his eyes, she froze for a second, unsure.
“It’s not that—I can handle it myself,” she said, and impulsively reached to hug him. He slipped away almost imperceptibly, a sign that he was truly upset.
Shao shut his eyes briefly, then opened them again. “My little girlfriend,” he said, voice rough with feeling. “I want you to depend on me more.”
He closed his long-fingered hand over hers. The warmth of his palm flowed into her, heating something tender and guarded inside her chest until it loosened.
His eyes were bright with unshed tears. For a moment Wen Yin didn’t know what to do; then, before she could think it through, she pressed her lips to the corner of his eye—a small, reckless kiss.
“Shao Yinan,” she whispered, breath warm against his skin. “I love you. I love you the most.”