Chapter 2

Chapter 2

One week later, I stood before the enormous full-length mirror in Lin Wei’s studio.

Staring at my reflection, I almost didn’t recognize myself.

Lin Wei had done my makeup herself. It was much more polished and intense than my usual look.

“Stunning,” Lin Wei said, arms folded as she admired her work. “If Fu Shiyu doesn’t take at least a few extra looks at you, I’ll seriously suspect he has some kind of hidden problem.”

The evening banquet was being held at a contemporary art museum on the outskirts of the city.

With the invitation Lin Wei had gotten for me, I entered without a hitch.

I soon spotted Fu Shiyu at the center of the crowd.

He was dressed in a classic black tuxedo, his posture tall and straight, speaking with several people who carried the same extraordinary presence.

I didn’t approach him right away.

Instead, I picked up a glass of sparkling water and slowly wandered along the corridor lined with suspended exhibits.

Time passed little by little.

I calculated when he might leave the inner circle for the lounge area or the terrace.

Sure enough, before long, he ended his conversation and headed toward the relatively quiet west terrace.

I set down my glass and followed him.

The terrace was spacious, with hardly anyone around at the moment.

He stood there alone, his back to the entrance, looking at a solitary stone lantern in the courtyard.

I took a deep breath and walked over.

My footsteps were light, but he still noticed. He didn’t turn around.

After a few seconds of silence, I spoke, making my voice a touch softer than it was at work.

“The colors in Erosion always feel contradictory. At first glance, they’re scorching and unrestrained, but the undertone is cold.”

Fu Shiyu seemed to pause. At last, he turned his face slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.

He recognized me. Or at the very least, I looked familiar to him.

“Jiang…” For once, he hesitated.

“Jiang Wan,” I supplied. “CEO Fu, I’m Jiang Wan from the group’s translation department.”

His gaze shifted slightly, and he gave a small nod in acknowledgment.

Nothing more.

Good. He hadn’t left immediately.

We stood there in silence for another moment.

I gently folded my arms around myself.

“It’s cold outside. CEO Fu, aren’t you going to put on a coat?” I asked softly, my tone carrying just the right amount of concern from a subordinate.

“I’m fine.” His answer was brief, his gaze returning to the courtyard.

“I remember CEO Fu doesn’t like places that are too noisy,” I said, as if talking to myself, yet also as if speaking for him to hear. “It’s peaceful here, at least.”

He didn’t respond.

I knew I couldn’t rush things. The groundwork was enough.

After a moment of silence, I turned to leave, only to stop again.

“CEO Fu, your tie is crooked.”

He raised his hand to touch it, but I blurted, “Don’t move.”

I stepped forward, my fingers lightly brushing the collar of his shirt as I adjusted the Windsor knot that wasn’t actually all that crooked.

My fingertips grazed his Adam’s apple.

His breathing stilled for an instant.

“There.” I took half a step back.

He looked at me, his gaze unfathomably deep.

“Jiang Wan.” The night wind made his voice sound very cold. “You’re very good at this.”

Those three words gave no hint as to whether they were praise or criticism.

With that, he turned and left the terrace.

I remained alone on the chilly terrace.

Slowly, I unclenched the fingers I hadn’t realized had tightened into a fist. My palm was faintly damp.

I knew that layer of hard ice had been cracked open by the slightest sliver.