My Possessive Boss Is Unexpectedly Needy - Chapter 32

Chapter 32

The next day, Yu Zining was woken up early to get his makeup done.

Today was the design competition—the very one for which Feng Nuan had stolen the blueprints. Yu Zining followed Lu Yeyan into the car. Since their recent falling out, they had barely spoken. It wasn’t that Yu Zining truly wanted this cold war, but since he intended to take this step toward independence, he had to slowly adapt to life without Lu Yeyan. He couldn’t let the man remain a habit.

In the car, Lu Yeyan glanced at the silent, head-bowed Yu Zining. He pulled a jewelry box from his pocket and held it out.

“Put it on,” Lu Yeyan said, his gaze lingering on Yu Zining’s bare wrist.

Yu Zining felt no major emotional stir. He obediently opened the box to find a simple, elegant bracelet. Without a word, he put it on. This gesture clearly put Lu Yeyan in a better mood, as he reached out to grasp Yu Zining’s slender hand.

“A new product from the company?” Yu Zining asked flatly. In his mind, the only reason for such a display was to use him as a walking advertisement for the jewelry.

Lu Yeyan’s expression darkened. “Can’t you think of it as anything else?”

Yu Zining didn’t reply, gently withdrawing his hand from Lu Yeyan’s large palm. He looked closer at the bracelet. The agate stone on it wasn’t particularly flashy, and the piece looked as though it had some history to it. Did Lu Yeyan really just give this to me as a gift?

Yu Zining turned to look at him, but Lu Yeyan was staring out the window, his eyes an unreadable abyss.

…

They soon arrived at the competition venue. Li Ruixi was already backstage making preparations.

“Sister Ruixi, the President and the Madam have arrived!”

Li Ruixi nodded at her assistant. Out in the hall, Lu Yeyan led Yu Zining to their seats in the front row. Moments later, several people sat down next to them. It was the Ou Group.

He Yilun happened to sit right next to Yu Zining. He smiled and said, “Long time no see!”

Yu Zining lowered his eyes. Lu Yeyan, looking like a predator sensing danger, glared at He Yilun and pulled Yu Zining up.

“It has been a long time,” Lu Yeyan said with a fake smile. “Let me introduce you. The gentleman sitting next to President He is the famous Chairman of the Ou Group, Mr. Ou Fucheng. And beside him is Mrs. Ou.”

Ou Fucheng gave a thin smile. “No need for formalities, President Lu. I’m just here to see the strength of you young people. I’m old; I’m just a spectator.”

“Mr. Ou, you joke. You are as vigorous as ever.” Lu Yeyan smiled, but his eyes betrayed a deep-seated hatred for the man. He then swapped seats with Yu Zining so that he was the one sitting next to He Yilun.

Ou Fucheng glanced at Yu Zining. For some reason, the “woman” looked familiar to him.

Lu Yeyan smirked and addressed He Yilun. “President He seems a bit too attentive toward my wife.”

He Yilun cocked an eyebrow. “Oh? President Lu, setting your relationship aside, she and I are acquaintances as well.”

Lu Yeyan’s fists clenched. His voice was low and dangerous. “Perhaps President He has forgotten the previous lesson.”

He Yilun’s smile flickered. He glanced at Ou Fucheng before whispering, “Don’t get ahead of yourself, President Lu. Today is the true battle of strength. It’s not yet decided who will have the last laugh.”

…

The judges took their seats, and the host began the ceremony. Yu Zining sat prepared to watch the show, but Li Ruixi’s assistant suddenly ran out from backstage to Lu Yeyan’s side, looking frantic.

“Something’s wrong,” she whispered. “The competition garment… there’s a problem!”

Lu Yeyan frowned. He grabbed Yu Zining’s hand and headed straight for the backstage area. As they left, Ou Fucheng smirked at He Yilun. “There are some things you still need to learn.”

“How did you do it?” He Yilun asked, confused.

“Money makes the world go round,” Ou Fucheng replied. “That model is my person.”

He Yilun was stunned. Ou Fucheng’s reach was even longer than he thought—stretching right into Lu Yeyan’s inner circle.

…

Backstage, Li Ruixi’s gaze faltered for a second when she saw Lu Yeyan holding Yu Zining’s hand.

“What happened?” Lu Yeyan asked.

“The model just put it on, and somehow, the pearls on the back suddenly unraveled and fell off,” Li Ruixi explained. Everyone stared at the damaged dress.

The model was sobbing. “I didn’t even move! What do we do?”

Lu Yeyan, however, remained calm. “Is there no way to fix it?”

Li Ruixi shook her head. “The design is too complex; it’s all interconnected. With one element missing, the rest looks like a mess.”

“Go change,” Lu Yeyan told the model. “We’re not using this one.”

Yu Zining stared at him in shock. He knew this was the result of months of hard work for YIY. Was it just going to be ruined like this?

While Li Ruixi scrambled for an alternative, Lu Yeyan spoke up. “I have a vintage gown here. See if you can modify it.”

As if on cue, Shen Ziqi appeared at the door with a long garment bag. Li Ruixi pulled out the dress, and her eyes widened. “Is this… ‘White Lover’?”

White Lover was the masterpiece of the famous 20th-century designer, Ran. Legend said she created it to commemorate her own love, and that any couple it was gifted to would grow old together. It had been bought by a tycoon decades ago and had vanished from the world ever since.

“This is our only option now,” Lu Yeyan said. “Modify it.”

Yu Zining looked at Lu Yeyan anxiously, gesturing: The time is so short, isn’t this impossible for her?

Li Ruixi caught his eye. “Don’t worry, Madam. Since Yeyan trusts my ability, I naturally have confidence in myself. Just watch.”

Without another word, she picked up the scissors. She quickly transformed the sleeves into a fashionable off-the-shoulder style, pinned a blue flower at the waist, and adjusted the hem into a seductive, asymmetrical slit.

Yu Zining was mesmerized. He realized he had been worrying for nothing—Li Ruixi was a true professional.

Lu Yeyan gently put an arm around Yu Zining’s waist and whispered into his ear, “Are you worried about my safety?”

The warmth of his breath against Yu Zining’s ear sent a sudden wave of confusion through his heart.