10 – Mr. Wen, is it you?
On Christmas Eve, a light snow fell in Shanghai, leaving a thin, shallow layer on the ground.
Wen Man was invited to attend a fashion gala.
Ever since Wendy posted on Weibo last time, it sparked a small wave of trending topics. Perhaps the fashion industry realized that Wen Man, this red rose, was a rare and dazzling presence in the circle. Invitations and gifts poured in, almost overwhelming the doorstep of Wen Man’s talent agency.
Of course, some netizens weren’t convinced, clinging to the accusation that Wen Man had “interfered with the film emperor’s relationship,” criticizing her from the entertainment industry all the way to the fashion world.
Initially, fashion brands hesitated to send their PR representatives to extend invitations, wary of Wen Man’s reputation among netizens. But Wendy, a perennial icon in the fashion industry, went all out to champion Wen Man.
—One day, she posted a photo of herself dining with Wen Man; the next, she shared Wen Man wearing a gown from a renowned brand; and the day after, she uploaded a makeup trial shot of Wen Man.
Finally, the brands couldn’t hold back any longer.
Because Wen Man’s transformative power was simply too remarkable. In every one of Wendy’s Weibo posts, Wen Man’s style was strikingly different, yet she flawlessly embodied each one.
With Wendy’s unwavering support, Wen Man had now officially stepped into the fashion circle.
Wen Man was genuinely grateful to Wendy from the bottom of her heart.
Inside the fashion gala venue, Wen Man had just walked the red carpet and was using a marker to sign her name on the signature wall.
As she signed, her hand trembled slightly—a tremor of excitement.
It wasn’t that Wen Man had never walked a red carpet before, but this was her first time at such a prestigious fashion industry gala. It meant she had climbed another step higher within the circle.
This subtle sense of achievement stirred no small waves in Wen Man’s heart.
Now, she sat in a corner of the gala, holding a glass of red wine and taking small, careful sips, one after another. Quietly and discreetly, she celebrated herself. The cheers in Wen Man’s heart were audible only to her.
She made no deliberate effort to curry favor with the fashion industry’s elite, nor did she proactively hand out her business card to any brand.
Wen Man knew opportunities had to be earned, but she didn’t want to pursue them on such an occasion. Today, she was here simply to broaden her horizons and celebrate this small victory.
By the time Wendy, the social butterfly, returned from mingling around the gala, Wen Man was already tipsy, her cheeks flushed and her eyes glazed with a hazy look.
Wendy stepped forward, patted Wen Man’s face, and lifted her chin toward the light. “My goodness, how much have you had to drink?”
Wen Man felt she was only slightly buzzed—at least she could still see Wendy clearly. She wasn’t drunk yet.
“Not much, just four glasses of red wine.”
Wendy gave her a thumbs-up. “Don’t tell me you didn’t know there’s a celebration banquet later.”
Wen Man blinked. She truly hadn’t known—no one had told her.
Wendy leaned against the wall nearby, picked up a glass of champagne, took a sip, and whispered to Wen Man, “I feel like you’re different today. You’re not smiling, but I can tell you’re happy.”
Wen Man was stunned for a moment, then burst into a soft laugh, covering her lips as she nodded repeatedly. “Yes, I’m so happy.”
Wendy knew exactly why she was happy and shook her head helplessly. Pressing the champagne glass to her lips, she sighed, “What a silly goose.”
Wendy could tell that Wen Man had a solid foundation; she was naturally suited for the entertainment industry. Though she hadn’t achieved great fame, all she needed was a stepping stone.
Having climbed her way up in the fashion world, Wendy had mentored people who now filled half the industry. She didn’t mind being that stepping stone.
This could be considered a way to help others fulfill their potential.
Inside the celebration, the lights were dazzling, and Wen Man felt her eyes blurring from the glare.
Unable to bear it any longer, she straightened up and carefully smoothed out her gown. “I’m going out for some fresh air.”
Wendy nodded, seeing that her steps were steady and not stopping her.
Wen Man walked out of the celebration and made her way to a nearby fountain. As the winter wind blew, she shivered.
Inside, Wen Man hadn’t felt any discomfort, but once outside, the wind seemed to bring on a wave of tipsiness. Her head spun, and her vision blurred.
Suddenly, a man’s voice came from behind her. “Wen Man?”
Wen Man froze and turned to look.
In the next second, her brows furrowed tightly, her expression darkening. The good mood she’d had all evening vanished in an instant.
It was Jiang Jin.
Jiang Jin studied Wen Man before him, especially when she turned around. For a moment, he was utterly captivated.
Wen Man was stunningly beautiful, dressed in a red gown that accentuated her graceful figure. Today, her hair was styled in loose, voluminous curls. As she turned, a strand of hair fell across the bridge of her nose, holding Jiang Jin’s gaze.
The moment Wen Man saw Jiang Jin, her expression turned icy.
She had nothing to say to this hypocritical, two-timing man.
“That outfit suits you perfectly today.”
Jiang Jin looked at Wen Man, not holding back his praise.
He stepped closer, looking down at her. “Did you miss me?”
Wen Man stared at Jiang Jin wide-eyed, her expression filled with disbelief. “Are you insane? Wasn’t it enough to throw cold water on me online? Do you have to come here and disgust me in person?”
Jiang Jin paused, then said, “It was just a publicity stunt with her. The company wanted to promote her. I didn’t expect you to react so impulsively. I didn’t contact you just to avoid suspicion…”
Wen Man raised her hand, cutting him off.
“Mr. Jiang, I hope you understand that we’ve already broken up. Whatever is going on between you and someone else has nothing to do with me.”
With that, Wen Man turned to leave.
Jiang Jin grabbed her wrist, trying to pull her back.
But Wen Man reacted violently, shaking off his hand and shouting sharply, “Don’t touch me!”
Jiang Jin had never been treated this way. Instantly, his expression darkened as he glared down at Wen Man, his voice cold.
“Wen Man, what’s with the attitude? Do you realize that with your status, being with me was already you reaching above your station? Now that you’ve got one foot in this industry, what’s with the false purity act?”
Wen Man trembled, a wave of nausea rising within her. She bent over, dry heaving, her breath forming mist in the cold air. The exposed skin on her body flushed slightly, making it hard to tell whether it was from the cold or from anger.
Jiang Jin knew Wen Man disliked being touched by men, but he hadn’t expected her reaction to be so intense.
Now, with Wen Man dry heaving in front of him, he felt utterly humiliated.
Just as Jiang Jin was about to erupt in anger, a voice called his name from behind.
It was Hu Lingyu.
Jiang Jin couldn’t afford to keep arguing with Wen Man, so he turned and left.
Finally, the surroundings fell silent.
Wen Man’s nausea still wouldn’t subside. She couldn’t tell whether it was from the drunkenness or from the places Jiang Jin had touched. Crouching on the ground, she kept rubbing the spots where Jiang Jin had made contact, filled with disgust.
The drunkenness gradually intensified, and Wen Man’s vision began to spin. She hadn’t realized the red wine’s aftereffects would be so strong.
Suddenly, a wave of warmth enveloped her as a coat was draped over her shoulders, carrying a faintly familiar scent of cedar.
She looked up, and a figure vaguely appeared before her, blurry and indistinct.
Wen Man couldn’t make out who it was, but instinctively, she asked,
“Mr. Wen, is that you?”