Shanghai Airport
Shen Zhaoning pulled her suitcase toward the arrivals area.
Today, she wore a dark green one-shoulder short-sleeved maxi dress. The silk fabric swayed gently with her steps, shimmering with an understated yet luxurious sheen.
It not only perfectly outlined her slender waist and graceful curves but also accentuated her snow-white skin, giving her a stunningly cold and elegant appearance.
Her long, wavy hair exuded femininity, and the lines of her shoulders and neck were as beautiful as a swan’s. The pearl necklace around her neck added the perfect finishing touch to her simple yet elegant outfit.
Just then, a young girl with a backpack, looking flustered and panicked, rushed past her like a whirlwind before Shen Zhaoning could react.
With a dull thud, the girl’s knee accidentally collided with Shen Zhaoning’s suitcase, causing it to lose balance and tip heavily to one side before crashing to the ground.
“Ah! I’m so sorry, so sorry! Sister, I was running to catch my flight and was going too fast.”
The young girl, her face pale with fright, quickly stopped in her tracks and turned around.
Beads of sweat dotted her forehead, and her eyes were filled with anxiety and guilt. Without even catching her breath, she bent down to help Shen Zhaoning lift the suitcase back upright and steady it.
Shen Zhaoning swayed slightly from the sudden impact. Looking at the panicked girl, who was still panting as she spoke, the sharp words she had been about to utter were swallowed back at the last moment.
“It’s fine, catching your flight is more important,” Shen Zhaoning said, gently waving her hand.
“Thank you, sister! You’re so kind!” The young girl looked as if she had been granted a reprieve, her face breaking into a grateful, relieved smile.
Without another glance back, she sprinted toward the security checkpoint, leaving behind only a youthful, energetic silhouette.
Just as Shen Zhaoning was about to turn and leave, her gaze inadvertently swept over the VIP exit not far away.
In that instant, her footsteps seemed to freeze in place.
It was him.
Fu Huaixu wore a black shirt with the top two buttons undone and his sleeves rolled up, still as arrogant and untamed as ever. Time had been kind to him, leaving no trace of its passage.
Having shed the youthful softness of his earlier years, his features were now sculpted into perfect, handsome maturity.
Beside him walked a strikingly beautiful woman, the two of them walking side by side.
Just as Shen Zhaoning was about to avert her gaze and flee, the woman beside him suddenly stumbled, losing her balance with a startled cry. Fu Huaixu seemed to react instinctively, reaching out to steady her arm.
In that moment, Shen Zhaoning felt as if an invisible hand had clenched her heart, and her breath caught for half a beat.
Even though she knew this woman might be his fiancée or even his wife, even though she knew their relationship had ended long ago, seeing this scene with her own eyes still brought a wave of piercing pain crashing over her.
Five years had passed, and she was truly pathetic for still holding onto any lingering feelings for him.
Not wanting to see what would happen next, she quickly lowered her head, pushed her suitcase, and turned to leave.
At the VIP exit, after steadying herself, Chu Lingyi’s eyes reddened slightly as she seized the opportunity to act coy.
“Brother Huaixu, I think I twisted my ankle… It hurts a little…”
Chu Lingyi hoped Fu Huaixu would help her walk or, even better, carry her outright.
However, Fu Huaixu simply released his grip, his face devoid of any extra expression. He turned to look at his special assistant behind him, his tone so flat it betrayed no emotion: “Assistant Lin, help her walk.”
After saying this, he didn’t even glance at Chu Lingyi before turning and walking away.
Chu Lingyi stood frozen in place, her expression barely holding together. She could only watch awkwardly as Fu Huaixu’s resolute figure retreated, a flicker of loneliness and resentment flashing in her eyes.
Shen Zhaoning strode quickly out of the airport exit, pulling out her phone to call her assistant.
“Ms. Shen, I’m already waiting for you at Exit 3, and the car is parked right nearby,” came the crisp voice of her assistant, Su Yue, over the phone, carrying the unique drive of a recent college graduate.
“Good, I’ll be right there.”
Shen Zhaoning took a deep breath, forcibly pushing down the scene she had just witnessed, and merged into the crowd with her suitcase in tow.
A black Maybach sat quietly by the roadside. Su Yue stood by the car door, scanning the area. When she spotted Shen Zhaoning, she immediately took her suitcase.
“Ms. Shen, you’re finally here!” she said, simultaneously opening the rear door.
Shen Zhaoning smiled at her, bent down to get into the car, and leaned back against the seat, closing her eyes. Yet, Fu Huaixu’s stern face involuntarily flashed through her mind.
“Ms. Shen, would you like to go to the hotel first to rest?” Su Yue asked from the driver’s seat as she started the car.
Shen Zhaoning opened her eyes. “No, let’s go to the exhibition venue first.”
Tomorrow was the new product launch for the “Dream Wings” jewelry exhibition series. Since this was the first time the exhibition was being held in Shanghai, she needed to personally inspect the venue setup to ensure everything was flawless.
“Understood, Ms. Shen.”
An hour later, at the exhibition venue.
Inside the vast exhibition hall, the lights shone brilliantly, and each meticulously designed piece of jewelry sparkled in its display case. Shen Zhaoning carefully inspected every corner, from the angle of the lighting to the arrangement of the display stands, from the positioning of security to the flow of guests.
“Ningning-jie,” Lu Wan, the lead designer of the “Dream Wings” jewelry series, hurried over to greet her. “You’re here! The exhibition venue is all set up. Please let me know if there’s anything that needs adjusting.”
Shen Zhaoning gave a soft “mm” in acknowledgment and focused once more on her inspection. Lu Wan followed closely beside her, earnestly explaining the design concepts behind the exhibition layout.
After completing her rounds, Shen Zhaoning stopped in front of the central main stage, finally allowing a faint, satisfied smile to appear on her face.
“Well done,” she said, turning around with a tone that was both sincere and affirming. “The attention to detail is excellent, even better than I expected.”
Lu Wan’s face lit up with a proud smile. “Thank you, Ningning-jie! I’m so grateful for the opportunity to take charge of this exhibition.”
Lu Wan was a junior Shen Zhaoning had met after transferring to Kyoto University. Back then, when they chatted, Shen Zhaoning discovered that Lu Wan shared strikingly similar views on jewelry design, feeling that they both held the same perspectives on the craft.
So, after establishing her own studio, Shen Zhaoning brought Lu Wan on board. Over the years, through hard work, Lu Wan had risen to become the chief designer at Wilder.
Shen Zhaoning nodded, her gaze sweeping once more across the dazzling exhibition hall.
“Everyone has worked hard. Let’s do one final check tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll give everyone a pleasant surprise.”