They were only one step away from the elevator.
Hearing the voice, with its standard English pronunciation, Huo Rou felt a pang of annoyance.
"Rose, is it really you!" His Chinese was a bit awkward, but it didn't diminish his joy. "I've been looking for you for so many years!"
The man, beaming with joy, strode towards Huo Rou.
Looking at Huo Rou's face, he became hesitant.
Seeing his uncertain expression, Huo Rou felt a sense of relief. In her childhood, her face was more like her father's, with a hint of heroism, but as she grew, she became more and more like her mother.
Qin Ningyi hadn't even recognized her, and she figured Zhou Wu probably hadn't either.
"You've mistaken me," she said, lowering her voice slightly, and smiled as she explained.
Zhou Wu didn't believe her. He had seen her countless times in his dreams, and for so many years, he had been searching for that voice, that silhouette.
Only Wang Wanrou's voice bore some resemblance to hers, which was why he had tacitly allowed her to speak with him.
And now, even though Huo Rou had deliberately lowered her voice, ...
Zhou Wu cautiously turned to stand behind Huo Rou again, gazing at her back.
He was sure, he hadn't mistaken her. In those days, he often chattered around her, and she, finding him noisy, would always turn her back to him. He had seen it so many times, he couldn't forget.
"You are Rose, even though your appearance has changed a bit, you can't fool me," Zhou Wu's deep eyes revealed a smile, and his face broke into a grin.
The women in the entire hall went wild.
"Ahhh! Zhou Wu is so handsome when he smiles!"
"He's killing me, I thought he was only cool, but he's even more handsome when he smiles."
"Now I truly understand why everyone says he's a muse for inspiration!"
...
Qin Ningyi's face darkened. This man knew Huo Rou.
Qin Feiwu, who had rushed in behind them, was also stunned. The man who had been like a silent Buddha just moments ago had completely transformed upon seeing Huo Rou. That smile was too brilliant.
Wang Wanrou was so shocked that she almost broke her slender heels today. How could Zhou Wu smile at her?
"Zhou, you're so fast!" Wang Wanrou smiled brightly and walked up to him.
He must not have seen her, that's why he was like this. She was the one with the best relationship with Zhou Wu!
Zhou Wu had given her his private number, and he occasionally asked her to speak Chinese for him to listen to. He clearly had an interest in her, which was why he agreed to come to China!
That's right, Zhou Wu liked listening to her talk!
Wang Wanrou began to prattle, "Let's go upstairs first and look at our latest design sketches and sample garments."
"Aren't you curious about our domestic designers?"
"I'll take you to the design department, and also show you my work environment in China. It's quite good..."
"Shut up," Zhou Wu's pronunciation wasn't standard, but his annoyance was evident in his eyes. "Rose doesn't like people to be noisy, so stop talking."
Huo Rou shot him a cold glance. He knew she didn't like noisy people, so why was he coming over?
"I..." Wang Wanrou felt extremely wronged. Wasn't it Zhou Wu who had said he liked her talking in the first place?
The beautiful woman was on the verge of tears, but Zhou Wu was indifferent.
His pale blue eyes were solely focused on Huo Rou.
"Rose, you should have told me earlier that you were here, and I would have followed you. You made me wait for so many years in the US..."
Huo Rou's brows furrowed. This person still couldn't use words correctly. "Followed" was the right word, not "tracked."
Zhou Wu moved closer to Huo Rou, looking as if he wanted to circle around her.
Qin Ningyi glanced at this person buzzing around like a fly around someone else's property, feeling displeased. He gently pulled Huo Rou closer to him.
"Do you know him?" he asked, tightening his grip on Huo Rou's hand.
No wonder she wanted to go upstairs as soon as she got out of the elevator. She knew him?
Huo Rou felt the strength in Qin Ningyi's hand and nodded helplessly, softly reassuring him, "We know each other, sort of."
Hearing her speak in her normal voice, the light in Zhou Wu's eyes grew brighter.
"I knew it was you, Rose! You, your voice, I wouldn't mistake it. I've dreamed about it so many times!"
Huo Rou touched her forehead. A nightmare.
"Rose, are you working here after returning to your country?" he continued to lean in eagerly and excitedly.
"What about the future? Will you go back?"
"If not, I'll join you too. We'll win together!"
His Chinese was awkward, but when he spoke to Huo Rou, he couldn't help but want to say more Chinese words to let her hear the results of his "private tutoring" over the years.
"But, after so many years, with your talent, how are you still... still, a chicken... nameless chicken?"
The incessantly talking Zhou Wu faltered for a moment, and his words caused everyone to freeze.
What was he saying?
What chicken?
What name?
The surrounding staff felt a sense of disillusionment. Their idol's filter was about to be shattered by his stuttering.
"Unknown," Huo Rou completely gave up struggling, accepting the reality of being entangled by Zhou Wu. She translated for him with a blank expression.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Zhou Wu exclaimed happily, slapping his thigh. "That's it! You still understand me!"
Seeing Huo Rou's displeased expression, he suddenly thought of something and frantically explained, "I've been studying Chinese diligently! Really, listen to my accent now, it's much more standard!"
"Let me say a few more words to you. Listen more. My fans say my voice is pleasant to hear."
He looked at Huo Rou with anticipation.
Camera flashes erupted. Qin Ningyi glanced sideways. To avoid unnecessary trending topics, he finally said with a cold face, "Let's go inside and talk."
He put his arm around Huo Rou and entered the elevator. Zhou Wu, looking displeased at his hand, also followed.
Qin Feiwu felt as if she were walking on clouds, looking at Huo Rou with disbelief as she was squeezed into the elevator.
Zhou Wu called Huo Rou, Rose?!
The name Rose was known to every aspiring designer. This name was special to Zhou Wu, and it was special to them as designers.
Rose was like a massive boulder pressing down on all young designers. Everyone aspired to surpass her one day and become her!
Qin Feiwu stared at Huo Rou, her gaze becoming increasingly shocked. Then, refusing to believe it, she searched on her phone for the designer competition where Rose and Zhou Wu had achieved legendary status.
The designers appeared with their models. The young Zhou Wu had a youthful face, but he was tall and handsome, with eyes like sapphires, clear yet profound.
The designer who appeared beside him seemed even smaller in comparison. That designer always appeared with half a mask, revealing a pair of eyes as deep as a cold abyss.
She was not at all suppressed by Zhou Wu's aura.
Everyone marveled at her talent, and the modeling industry lamented her height.
Qin Feiwu slowly raised her phone, comparing it to Huo Rou's eyes.
Looking at them, they really were very similar.
That impatient feeling was especially similar!
So, the Rose she had always strived to be was actually by her side all along?
She had even put the dress she designed on Huo Rou. Was she doing this in front of her idol...
"Are you, Rose?" Qin Feiwu asked Huo Rou softly, holding her phone.
"Of course!" Zhou Wu boasted from the side. "How could I not recognize her?"
Huo Rou rubbed her temples and nodded.
Wang Wanrou keenly observed the change in Qin Feiwu. She had been anticipating Zhou Wu's arrival to promote her brand, but now his attention was entirely on Huo Rou.
And Zhou Wu was the same!
Who was Rose? Was she very famous?
Although Wang Wanrou was studying design, she hadn't delved into many things. At this moment, she was pushed to the back of the elevator, looking confused. Only after Qin Feiwu and Zhou Wu escorted Huo Rou out of the elevator did she manage to squeeze out.
"Who is Rose?" Qin Ningyi, out of the loop, asked casually as he watched Assistant Lili bring tea into Qin Feiwu's office.