After several consecutive days of rushing to meet deadlines, Lin Chaochao’s head was about to explode.
She wanted to stand out in this selection, to earn everyone’s recognition, and to make Huo Nanting acknowledge her as well.
So she kept revising until she was satisfied with the result. The design drawings were due in the afternoon, and Lin Chaochao wanted to show them to Alice one more time in advance.
When Alice saw Lin Chaochao’s design, she found it quite bold. The center stone of the diamond ring was shaped like a rose, symbolizing romance and love, surrounded by a halo of pavé diamonds like a sky full of stars embracing the main stone, giving the wearer a sense of being cradled in someone’s hands—offering security and strength.
The design was simple and elegant, yet far from ordinary.
Alice nodded with evident satisfaction. “Not bad. You really didn’t disappoint me.” In truth, Alice came across as someone cool and hard to approach, but Lin Chaochao always felt she was a person of integrity—cold on the outside, warm within.
After receiving her supervisor’s approval, Lin Chaochao walked back to her workstation with a spring in her step. She hoped the afternoon would bring good results.
Soon, the time arrived. The design department gathered for another collective meeting. Lin Chaochao realized she hadn’t seen Huo Nanting in days.
At this moment, watching the man sit steadily in the main seat, exuding an air of cool, noble elegance, with his high-bridged nose, thin lips slightly pursed, and sharp, piercing eyes…
As the design team members presented their work, the man always managed to pinpoint problems in concise terms, striking right at the core without showing any mercy.
Everyone listening felt their scalps tingle, their nerves growing more frayed by the minute.
Lin Chaochao was the third to present. When she introduced her design, Huo Nanting asked a few tricky questions, but she answered them all with professional expertise.
After all the design proposals had been presented, everyone cast anonymous votes to determine whose design would be selected as the winner.
There were eight people in the design department. Three votes went to Lin Chaochao, two to Haili, and the rest were scattered among others. Without a doubt, Lin Chaochao took first place.
No one raised any objection to her victory—they were all genuinely convinced.
Huo Nanting looked at her and said, “Congratulations, Miss Lin. Well done. I hope everyone will continue to work hard.”
She met his gaze, smiled softly, and said, “Thank you, President Huo. And thank you all for yielding the win to me.”
After the meeting ended, she took advantage of some free time to call her best friend and share the joy. The two decided to find a place to celebrate that evening.
They went back to Blue Bar.
Given her unpleasant experience last time, Lin Chaochao decided not to wear a skirt and chose a more conservative outfit today.
Skinny jeans, an off-shoulder silk blouse revealing one collarbone, a delicate pendant necklace around her neck, and her lustrous hair flowing loose—it actually made her look even more alluring and captivating.
The neon lights flashed in vivid colors, and the night, along with the alcohol, made people let loose. The two of them ordered their signature cocktails again.
After a few drinks, they made their way to the center of the dance floor, letting themselves go completely to the music.
With her beautiful face, captivating figure, and years of dance training from childhood, Lin Chaochao moved through the dance floor with effortless grace and bold charisma. She radiated a mesmerizing charm that drew the eyes of many men.
What she didn’t know, however, was that in a corner of a private booth on the second floor, someone was watching her intently.
It could be said that from the moment Lin Chaochao walked into this bar, the man had noticed her. He just hadn’t expected this woman to have such a seductive side.
A thought flashed through Huo Nanting’s mind: this version of Lin Chaochao wasn’t something he wanted others to see. He truly wanted to hide her away and savor her slowly, dancing only for him alone.
Huo Nanting raised his glass and drained it in one gulp, a devilish smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
This woman was indeed very special—so special that he, who never meddled in others’ affairs, had voluntarily driven her home, and his eyes couldn’t help but keep following her.
Beside him, He Zheng noticed his good brother’s distraction and followed his gaze downward, catching sight of Lin Chaochao.
“Whoa, isn’t that one of the two girls who got harassed last time? And you said you weren’t interested in her. Your eyes are practically glued to her. Want me to call her up for a chat?”
“No need.” Huo Nanting’s two-word reply revealed nothing more.
He Zheng, being perceptive, didn’t press further. He knew Huo Nanting well—the man never stuck his nose into other people’s business unless he wanted to. And he especially enjoyed the process of things. Top-tier hunters always did their own hunting.
Looks like he’d taken an interest.
After dancing for a while, Lin Chaochao and Su Jiani grew tired and returned to their seats to rest, ordering two more drinks. Tonight had been thoroughly enjoyable—she’d been buried in design work for the past two days with her head spinning, and now she could finally relax.
The two of them were simply too beautiful and too eye-catching.
A handsome guy nearby came over to strike up a conversation. “Hey beautiful, could I get your contact info and get to know you?”
“Sorry, my phone’s dead.” Lin Chaochao declined politely.
The guy left looking disappointed.
All of this was observed by Huo Nanting.
“Hey Chaochao, you’ve been working at the company for so many days now—any promising prospects there?” Su Jiani teased.
“Oh, stop it. I’m busy every day just keeping up. I don’t have the headspace to think about anything else.”
“Come on, you’re twenty-seven, gorgeous, with a great figure and an excellent career. There are plenty of handsome guys abroad, and you didn’t fancy any of them. Don’t tell me you don’t like young hunks—do you prefer the older daddy type?” Su Jiani asked with a mischievous grin.
“I haven’t met anyone who makes my heart race. I don’t want to settle.” Lin Chaochao answered seriously.
That’s what she said, but what she was actually thinking about was Huo Nanting’s face. She admitted that Huo Nanting fit her aesthetic perfectly. If she were to look for a partner based on someone like him, it would truly be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
“Jiani, the man who helped us out of that situation here last time is my big boss. He’s the young master of the Huo Group.” Lin Chaochao told her matter-of-factly.
“What? He’s that low-key young master? By the way, I never asked—had you two met before that?” Su Jiani asked.
“We actually did meet in the States. I accidentally wandered into his private pool and twisted my ankle…” Lin Chaochao recounted everything that had happened between them to Su Jiani in full detail.
Su Jiani patted her chest and assured her, “Based on what you’re telling me, he’s definitely into you. Ten to one odds.”
“Don’t tease me. Who is he, and who am I? I wouldn’t even dare to think about it. Besides, at the time I didn’t even know his name,” Lin Chaochao said with a self-deprecating laugh.
“What’s wrong with you? You’re beautiful, have a great figure, are talented in many ways, and come from a happy family—what’s there to be ashamed of?” Su Jiani retorted.
“If you meet someone you like, don’t overthink the rest. Being bold in pursuing happiness isn’t wrong. After all, you’re already 27—you don’t want to end up alone for the rest of your life, do you?”
Su Jiani continued to preach her set of Su-style theories.
Lin Chaochao wanted to say, is that really so? Do you really not have to consider family background?
Maybe he only helped me out of gentlemanly courtesy. There’s no point in thinking about something that has no future. She ended the topic.
“Forget about me—today we’re drinking until we’re drunk, since we both have tomorrow off.”
…
As time passed, they really did drink quite a lot. Lin Chaochao’s tolerance for alcohol wasn’t as good as Su Jiani’s.
She now felt dizzy, as if she were stepping on cotton.
Taking advantage of the moment Su Jiani went to the restroom, Lin Chaochao staggered over to settle the bill on her own, nearly falling over.