Xingtu Advertising Company was located in an office building in the CBD of the capital city. Su Wanning sat at her workstation, absentmindedly sorting through documents. The conversation with Fu Sinian that morning kept replaying in her mind, especially that cufflink—it felt like a thorn lodged deep in her heart.
She hadn’t expected him to notice such a tiny detail, let alone question her directly. Fortunately, she had reacted quickly and brushed it off with an excuse. Still, the feeling of being scrutinized left her deeply uncomfortable.
“Wanning, you look great today.”
A voice carrying a hint of amusement came from behind her. Su Wanning turned around and saw Lin Yuwei, the head of the planning department, walking over with a cup of coffee. Lin Yuwei was two years older than her and had been with the company for seven years, climbing her way up to her current position through polished social skills.
“Director Lin.” Su Wanning forced a smile and continued arranging the documents on her desk.
Lin Yuwei leaned casually against the partition of her workstation, taking a slow sip of coffee as her gaze swept across Su Wanning’s face. “I have to say, CEO Fu really dotes on you. What skincare are you using? Your skin looks amazing.”
Su Wanning’s hands paused briefly, but she didn’t respond. In the past, hearing others praise how well Fu Sinian treated her would have filled her with joy, eager to share her happiness. Now, however, such words only stirred an inexplicable irritation within her.
Seeing her silence, Lin Yuwei leaned in slightly closer and lowered her voice. “But Wanning, don’t take this the wrong way—someone like CEO Fu must have plenty of women throwing themselves at him. You should keep an eye out.”
Su Wanning looked up, her brows knitting slightly. “What do you mean?”
“Just a reminder.” Lin Yuwei lowered her voice conspiratorially. “Last week at Platinum Yue Hotel, I think I saw CEO Fu having dinner with a very elegant female designer. They were chatting and laughing, looked quite close.”
Su Wanning’s heart sank instantly. Platinum Yue Hotel was one of Fu Sinian’s properties, and he often met clients there. But dining alone with a woman?
“It was probably just a work-related meeting,” she said, trying to sound composed, though her fingers unconsciously tightened around the edge of the documents.
Lin Yuwei smiled, her expression carrying an ambiguous undertone. “Maybe. But I know that woman. She’s Su Qingyuan, the founder of Qingyuan Design Studio. I heard she and CEO Fu are childhood friends. Standing together, they look quite well-matched.”
Su Qingyuan.
Su Wanning knew the name. Fu Sinian had mentioned her a few times before, saying they had grown up together. But she had never imagined they would meet privately like that.
Watching the subtle shifts in Su Wanning’s expression, a trace of satisfaction flickered in Lin Yuwei’s eyes. As if suddenly remembering something, she added casually, “Oh right, speaking of which, your high school classmate Gu Jingchen has been coming to our company recently to discuss a collaboration.”
Su Wanning’s head snapped up, a flicker of panic crossing her eyes.
Lin Yuwei pretended not to notice and continued in an admiring tone, “He’s gotten even more handsome. Very gentlemanly in both speech and manner. We had a meeting together yesterday, and he even asked about you, said it’s been a long time and that he misses you.”
Gu Jingchen…
The name was like a pebble thrown into the still water of her heart, sending ripples spreading outward. Memories from high school surfaced uncontrollably—the senior who always wore a gentle smile, the boy who had stepped in to protect her when she was bullied, the first person who had ever made her heart race.
But after graduation, he had suddenly transferred schools, and they had lost contact ever since. She had never expected that after so many years, their paths would cross again under such circumstances.
“He… he really asked about me?” Su Wanning’s voice softened unconsciously.
Lin Yuwei saw everything clearly, her smile deepening. “Of course. He even said he still remembers everything from high school, said you were especially cute back then.”
A faint blush crept onto Su Wanning’s cheeks, her heartbeat quickening. She recalled what Gu Jingchen had said when he drove her home a few days ago, “Wanning, after all these years, you’re still as beautiful as I remember.”
The way he had looked at her back then—so focused, so gentle—had made her feel as if she had been transported back to those youthful high school days. Her life with Fu Sinian had been stable and comfortable, but it lacked that thrilling, heart-racing feeling. And Gu Jingchen’s reappearance seemed to fill that missing piece perfectly.
“He’s just being polite.” Su Wanning lowered her head, hiding the flush on her cheeks, though a faint smile still tugged at her lips.
Lin Yuwei watched her reaction and knew her words had taken effect. She patted Su Wanning’s shoulder, her tone warm and persuasive. “If you ask me, a man like Gu Jingchen knows how to cherish a woman. Not like certain wealthy heirs—serious on the surface, but who knows how many secrets they’re hiding behind the scenes.”
The implication was obvious. How could Su Wanning not understand?
She thought of Fu Sinian’s cold, emotionless questioning that morning. Then she thought of what Lin Yuwei had just said—him dining with Su Qingyuan…
“I have a meeting. I’ll head out first.” Seeing her goal achieved, Lin Yuwei left gracefully with her coffee.
Su Wanning stood there, her emotions tangled. She took out her phone and opened her chat with Gu Jingchen. The last message he had sent late last night read, “Good night. I hope I see you in my dreams.”
At the time, the message had made her heart feel sweet and warm, as though someone finally appreciated her charm. But now, stirred by Lin Yuwei’s words, that message seemed to carry a deeper meaning.
Had she been too naive? Too trusting of Fu Sinian?
A man as outstanding as him—how could there not be other women around him? And as for herself… why shouldn’t she pursue the feeling of genuine excitement?
Her fingers hovered over the screen before she finally typed a reply, “Are you free after work today? I want to talk to you.”
After sending the message, she gripped her phone tightly, both expectant and uneasy.
Completely unaware that she was stepping, little by little, into a carefully laid trap.