Chapter Fifteen: Shyness and Tenderness

To obtain the most comprehensive information, Yuan Yao’er left no stone unturned, flitting about the hall like a socialite in her element. Yet, someone noticed something unusual—ordinarily, this young lady was surrounded by a variety of people. Even at the most superficial level, there should have been a circle of men about her. But tonight, in such a grand setting, she was seen drifting from group to group like a moth drawn to a flame.

“Oh my, Miss Wang, your necklace is stunning tonight.”

“Mrs. Liu, it’s been ages since you last visited our shop.”

“Mr. Dai, your companion is truly beautiful. The necklace looks even more exquisite on her—I simply adore it.”

Men might bask in the flattery from such a goddess, but the women at their sides had a different view. They knew well enough that their presence was simply a decorative accompaniment. It was obvious that this woman had ulterior motives, her words laced with subtle barbs. She dangled their men with compliments, but never offered anything in return—wasn’t that the very definition of a backup plan?

Mr. Dai—Dai Puze by name—was accompanied by his fiancée. Their relationship was amiable enough, but not driven by any great passion; if not for family reasons, they would likely have had little to do with each other.

“Miss Yuan, you’re too kind. Tonight you outshine everyone in the room; it’s impossible to look away,” Dai replied.

That was quite the statement—it truly made one feel that the goddess of the night was impossible to ignore. For a socialite like her to be so dazzling at an event of this caliber was only to be expected.

Even Situ, who wasn’t fond of her, couldn’t object—once the boss had spoken, his word was law.

As for Yuan Xiangdie, she paid little heed to these antics. If that woman wanted to be the center of attention, so be it.

She kept her mask in place, her gaze lingering on the petite woman beside her, who had somehow produced a bag of chips and was now munching away in blissful distraction.

Yuan Xiangdie quietly snatched the chips from Julie’s hands, making as little noise as possible to avoid the rustle of the cheap packaging disturbing the sensibilities of those present.

“Eat a little less, or you’ll burst out of your dress,” Yuan Xiangdie advised kindly. Julie had already suffered enough to squeeze herself into tonight’s gown—she’d even skipped dinner.

Now, seeing her precious snack confiscated by this heartless woman, she looked up, eyes wide and pitiful, like a puppy abandoned by its owner.

“I starved myself just to fit into this dress and keep you company tonight. Is this how you repay me, you heartless brute?” she protested dramatically.

Her performance was so convincing that, had Yuan Xiangdie not known her so well, she might have relented and returned the chips.

“Oh, give me a break. How much have you eaten already today? And have you forgotten what size this dress is? Just the other day you told me your waist had grown thicker.”

The mention of her waistline was Julie’s fatal weakness. Though it was usually of little consequence, sometimes she modeled for her mother, a perfectionist obsessed with making her daughter the top model in the field. Because of this, she also held Yuan Xiangdie’s design talent in high regard and, even after Yuan’s imprisonment, allowed Julie to visit as family during visiting hours, facing no objection from home.

At the mention of her mother, Julie lost all appetite, glancing ruefully at the rolls forming at her midsection. She grumbled under her breath, “It’s all Mom’s fault. She dragged me to that all-you-can-eat barbecue the other day, and after stuffing ourselves, she still insisted on piling up more food.”

In truth, her mother had barely eaten anything herself, but seemed perfectly content just watching others enjoy the meal.

Yuan Xiangdie smiled quietly. Julie’s mother had been indulging her daughter’s cravings, knowing that soon a turning point would come—the upcoming modeling competition could not afford any mishaps this year, and Yuan Xiangdie was determined to be there in person to cheer Julie on.

Suddenly, the lights in the venue dimmed, plunging the room into a hush. Situ, resplendent with a pair of immense fan-shaped wings, took the stage—he truly was a walking mannequin. Aside from being a bit of a fool, he met every one of Julie’s criteria for an ideal partner.

With microphone in hand—he preferred to host his own fashion shows rather than let other emcees steal the limelight—he addressed the audience.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my fashion show. Tonight, you’ll see a selection of my exclusive collection, and, more importantly, the stage belongs to the rising stars of our domestic fashion world.”

That final announcement sent a wave of excitement through the crowd. Many of the newcomers present were either fresh graduates or young designers who had earned their place here through sheer determination.

Situ found them intriguing and had sent out invitations; these designers had been overjoyed to attend.

“Tonight’s event is strictly confidential. If any lady, gentleman, or madam takes a liking to a piece, please proceed backstage to speak with our staff. They’ll connect you directly with the designer, or you’re welcome to mingle and make acquaintances here.”

He winked playfully in the darkness. This matchmaking-like event was, in fact, a carefully orchestrated plan by the executive team to help their CEO get closer to Yuan Xiangdie.

“Let’s celebrate!” he exclaimed.

Thunderous music filled the hall as models in both opulent gowns and sleek casual wear paraded through the aisles, evoking the energy of a Victoria’s Secret show. Julie was utterly enthralled, her passion ignited by the parade of classic designs returning to the stage—even the usually reserved Yuan Xiangdie could not resist the infectious atmosphere. Though she refrained from joining the dancers on the floor, she could not help but sway gently with her wine glass in hand.

“That’s Master Brown’s classic spring collection! Oh my god!” she squealed, clutching Yuan Xiangdie’s arm and shaking it in excitement as a pink ensemble appeared. Few recognized it—Master Brown was a niche designer abroad, and if not for Situ’s open-mindedness, this spring collection might never have made it to the show. Finding someone who shared his taste made Situ all the more delighted.

“My god, I can’t believe I’m seeing Master Brown’s classics in person!”

Julie was beside herself, gripping Yuan Xiangdie and shaking her arm until she nearly lost composure.

To Julie, it was almost as if Master Brown himself had appeared on stage. Her eyes were glued to that outfit, utterly entranced. Yuan Xiangdie watched the ecstatic woman with a hint of amused disdain, finally pulling her back to her senses.

“Snap out of it. There are even more outstanding pieces coming up—the preview just showed there are still two or three of Master Brown’s golden spring casuals. If you don’t want to miss them, you’d better keep your eyes on the runway.”

It was true—anything by Master Brown was Julie’s weakness. Only Yuan Xiangdie could calm her so quickly, reducing her to a docile child.

Julie had grown from a novice to someone who could distinguish the release dates of different designs, but her adoration for Master Brown had never wavered. For reasons she herself could not explain, she was simply captivated by his work. Yet, to her regret, Master Brown had announced his retirement this year and disappeared from the public eye.

Tonight, Jin Yuan had also come prepared, donning a flamboyant red suit that Situ had picked just to tease him—garish on anyone else, but on a handsome man like Jin Yuan, it radiated raw charisma. Even behind a mask, he could easily spot Yuan Xiangdie in the crowd; it was as if he had a radar tuned exclusively to her—perhaps borrowed from his own child.

In the midst of the dancing crowd, he finally saw her—in a sharp suit, surrounded by too many people for his liking. Would it not have been better to avoid the crowd? Wasn’t it uncomfortable?

A wave of irritation swept over him, and his commanding presence became palpable. Those nearby, sensing his connection to Situ, the host, wisely stepped aside—no one wanted to cross the event’s organizer.

A path opened up before him, but neither Yuan Xiangdie nor Julie, lost in the music, noticed right away. By the time Yuan Xiangdie realized, it was too late—they were the only ones left blocking the way of the man in the red suit.

“My apologies,” Yuan Xiangdie said, pulling Julie back a step. But Jin Yuan had not come to put distance between them; he reached out and took her by the hand.

“I came to find you,” he said, his deep voice resonating like a cello, clear and unmistakable even amidst the clamor of the show.

Yuan Xiangdie froze, a little skeptical—how had she heard him so clearly in such a noisy place? She could not explain it, but the words rang out unmistakably.

“And what is it you want with me?” she asked.

Jin Yuan glanced at the little woman beside her, who was still swaying wildly to the music.