Autumn winds blew, filling the city with golden hues, leaves fell, and then gradually became bare. A casual breath on the road would manifest as white mist, and winter had arrived unnoticed.
Wen Ziyu's surgery was a great success. His health improved day by day, and Li Qiuyun's spirits lifted as Wen Ziyu recovered. Faintly, her youthful beauty could be seen again. Wen Yan officially resigned from the company and became a freelance designer, leveraging her previous reputation to secure numerous commissions.
She did not hide her divorce from Leng Xunze from Li Qiuyun.
Although Li Qiuyun was regretful, Wen Ziyu had awakened, so she didn't say much more.
After a period of recuperation in the hospital, Wen Ziyu was discharged. Wen Yan rented a beautifully situated three-bedroom apartment. She worked with exceptional dedication, and clients were delighted with her designs. Li Qiuyun cooked for them, managed the household chores, and even took on odd jobs at home when she had free time.
Their lives seemed to be returning to normal, peaceful and warm.
Yet, on certain nights, amidst thunder and lightning, she would involuntarily curl into herself, the figures in her mind refusing to fade.
Therefore, when the opportunity for advanced studies at the Fashion Association was offered to her, Wen Yan accepted without hesitation.
Leaving Hai City.
Perhaps, she could leave behind those painful memories.
...
Time slipped by, and a year had passed.
The grand hall was ablaze with light, and shadows danced beneath the crystal chandeliers, luxury evident everywhere.
A beautiful silhouette detached itself from the crowd, walking with elegant steps towards the entrance. She leaned against a woman and said somewhat petulantly, "This is the first time I've worn high heels for so long; I'm exhausted."
"You," Bai Quan lightly tapped the girl's forehead. "As a leader in the fashion industry, you can't even wear high heels. It's understandable if you couldn't before, but now that you're opening your own studio, these are things you need to learn."
Wen Yan chuckled playfully, "Alright, I'm starting to practice now."
As she spoke and steadied herself, she suddenly bumped into someone.
"Ah—"
The woman, somewhat angered, exclaimed, "Don't you have eyes?"
Before Wen Yan could speak, Bai Quan stepped forward to shield her. "Miss, you weren't looking where you were going either when you walked over."
The woman became annoyed. "Are you blaming me? Do you know who I am?"
"I believe everything has its reasons, and for us, it's even more so, isn't it?" Bai Quan said softly.
"You two, I can't argue with you, but you just wait!" The woman, furious, turned and left.
Wen Yan frowned slightly, not expecting to face such trouble so soon after arriving in the capital.
"It's alright. Usually, people like this are just ignorant. Don't worry, we must never be weak in how we handle things, or we'll only be bullied," Bai Quan advised.
Six months prior, Bai Quan had already established her company in the capital.
She had then consistently urged Wen Yan to open a studio in the capital, offering to invest. Hai City's economic development truly couldn't compare to the capital; to make money, one had to come here. After much deliberation, Wen Yan finally agreed.
Furthermore, Wen Ziyu's condition had stabilized, and he had gone abroad to study medicine.
Li Qiuyun had moved with Wen Yan, but she rented a small place for herself and opened a flower shop.
Her life was quite leisurely.
"Mm, thank you for your guidance, President Bai," Wen Yan said with a bright smile. It was hard to imagine that Bai Quan, who had revolved around her family just a year ago, was now so poised. However, she still worried, "You've been here all year; what about your children?"
She could disregard her husband, but she couldn't abandon her children.
Bai Quan replied, "I go back every two or three days. With Rong Beifeng there, the children won't be in any danger."
Wen Yan saw the longing in her eyes.
She gently patted her shoulder.
"Alright, let's head back too. We've had enough fresh air."
At the banquet, Wen Yan knew quite a few people. She was beautiful and young, with her own career, making her popular with some. Her conversations were always appropriate and comfortable, making others feel at ease. As she was chatting with Miss Liu and others, a haughty voice suddenly intruded.
"Brother, it's her!"
The woman's sharp voice was hard to ignore.
Wen Yan instinctively turned her head, only to be immediately captivated by the person beside her.
The world seemed to fall silent. As those eyes, as dark as obsidian, swept over her, a flicker of surprise crossed his gaze.
It had been too long.
So long that Wen Yan almost didn't dare to recognize him.
The man before her, tall and powerfully built, was dressed in a custom-made black suit with a white shirt underneath. Such a simple combination was worn with aristocratic elegance, and his perfect inverted triangle physique exuded a potent masculine aura.
His handsome, sculpted features remained unchanged. After a year's tempering, he appeared even more mature, his charm radiating irresistibly. Those calm, indifferent phoenix eyes were enough to make countless women scream.
When he was still in Hai City, she had seen this face countless times, but this was the first time she saw him in a bespoke suit at a banquet. At this moment, they were close, yet there was a vast distance between them, like a chasm.
Wen Yan found herself foolishly amused, wondering why she had ever thought Leng Xunze would be an ordinary person.
His aura was innate, a noble bearing that radiated from his very core, impossible to conceal.
The woman beside him bore a resemblance to him.
So, she was Leng Xunze's sister.
No wonder, she indeed had the right to be proud.
She expertly concealed her shock and looked at Miss Leng, saying softly, "Miss Leng, what can I do for you?"
"Stop pretending! You weren't making that face when you bumped into me earlier!" Leng Bairui said haughtily and imperiously. "Now that you see my brother, you're putting on a show of being a lady?"
"Miss Leng, that's not quite right. I have always been this way, so there's no pretense. If Miss Leng is still concerned about what happened earlier, whether it was me who bumped into you or not, I apologize."
With that, she bowed deeply.
She appeared to be making a concession for the sake of peace at the banquet.
The people around them felt a pang of sympathy.
Leng Bairui was known for her arrogance, while Wen Yan was gentle and demure, her clear, bright eyes pure and straightforward. To see her being so troubled, they couldn't stand it and their gazes towards Leng Bairui changed.
Leng Bairui was arrogant but not foolish. Noticing the shift in everyone's expressions, she was almost driven to anger. She turned to her brother and complained, "Brother, this woman is a white lotus. I want her kicked out of the banquet!"
Leng Xunze's cold, indifferent gaze fell upon Wen Yan, as if it had substance, carrying a hint of chill. Wen Yan trembled inexplicably.
Her face remained calm and composed, but her fingers clenched tightly.
So, this was a Leng family banquet.
Leng Bairui looked at her triumphantly, expecting her brother to utter a word and have her expelled, to see her white lotus act!
She detested white lotuses the most!
Especially beautiful white lotuses.
But her brother stared at her for a long time without reacting. Leng Bairui felt an inexplicable unease. Especially since the woman's pure beauty was something to be wary of. She looked at Leng Xunze and was about to speak when the man finally said:
"Miss Wen, let's not make a big deal out of it. An apology should suffice."