Nathaniel Fu kept his eyes on the documents in his hand, not even sparing her a glance, as if she were nothing but air.
The luxury car was already in motion, but Celia still chased after it. Seeing the man's cold, detached expression, she clenched her fist and shouted, her voice trembling with fury,
"Mr. Fu, I didn't expect you to be so… cowardly!"
At that, Nathaniel finally lifted his dark, handsome eyes to look at her.
It was only a fleeting glance, but it was enough to freeze the blood in her veins.
Without a word to her, he turned instead to the man in the front seat. His voice was sharp, edged with displeasure.
"Song, can't you even get rid of one person?"
Secretary Song stiffened, clearly caught in the crossfire. "…Yes, President."
A moment later, the car surged forward, roaring down the road, leaving Celia standing in the dust.
She stopped in her tracks, her shoulders slumping as the exhaustion and humiliation hit her all at once. What could she possibly do? He refused to let her compete!
And yet, she couldn't stop thinking about that glimpse she had just caught—he wasn't wearing the silver bell bracelet. He hadn't worn it in Yecheng either. Mr. Jiang couldn't have been wrong. Then where was it? Without getting close to Nathaniel, she had no way of finding out.
The thought was driving her mad.
Just then, two figures appeared.
"Celia, I heard you registered for the fashion competition?"
She looked up—standing in front of her was Yara Lu.
Beside Yara was her best friend, Xia Ling, the daughter of the Xia family. Xia Ling had porcelain-pale skin and striking features. She studied fashion design and had also signed up for the competition.
Though the Fu family's event was being promoted as open and competitive, Yara had already decided that Xia Ling would be the winner. The competition was little more than a platform to boost her friend's reputation.
Xia Ling's lips curled in a sneer as she looked Celia up and down. "Aren't you the so-called prodigy from Tsinghua University? And yet you're scrambling to design a wedding dress for Yaoyao?"
Celia's eyes brightened. She had been wracking her brain for a way forward, and here the two of them had walked straight to her. She lifted her chin, her voice calm but cutting.
"This competition is the talk of the entire capital. It's the perfect chance to make a name for myself. Why wouldn't I enter? Unless, Xia Ling… you're afraid I might actually beat you?"
The taunt hit home. Xia Ling's face flushed red as she snapped, "You think you can outshine me? Yaoyao, if she's that desperate, let her compete. She'll only embarrass herself."
Yara, however, was secretly pleased. She hadn't expected Celia to throw herself into the fire like this. Wasn't this the perfect chance to humiliate her?
After all, in the end, the decision lay in Yara's hands.
Her scarlet lips curved into a mocking smile. "Celia, you chose this path yourself. Don't come crying when you regret it."
But Celia only smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons. "Regret? Don't worry—I won't."
That evening, Yara brought Xia Ling to the Night Club. She had heard Nathaniel would be there tonight, and she intended to speak to him about Celia.
Pushing open the door of the luxurious private room, Yara entered with an air of practiced intimacy.
"Nancheng, why didn't you bring me along when you came here?" she asked sweetly.
Inside, Nathaniel was lounging on the sofa beside Zane Song. Another man sat near him—someone Yara hadn't expected to see.
Jin Han, the young master of the Jin family, was Nathaniel's childhood friend.
The Jin family was one of the most powerful in the capital, and Jin Han—its eldest and only son—had taken the reins two years ago. He had spent the last two years overseas, expanding the family's businesses, and had only returned to China today.
He was refined and strikingly handsome, his gold-rimmed glasses adding to his scholarly air. He carried himself with the quiet poise of a man born into privilege.
Yara paused for a beat before her lips curved into a charming smile.
"Brother Jin Han, when did you come back?"
Jin Han's thin lips lifted in a faint smile. "I received your and Nathaniel's engagement invitation while I was abroad. Of course I had to return. Congratulations, Yaoyao—happy engagement."
Sweetness bloomed in Yara's chest. With both Nathaniel Fu and Jin Han—the two most sought-after men in the capital—standing at her side, what woman wouldn't feel adored?
Jin Han's words fell lightly, but his sharp gaze didn't miss the subtle stiffness in Nathaniel's posture.
While Yara was busy basking in the sweetness of his blessing, Jin Han leaned back against the sofa, swirling the wine in his glass. His voice was casual, yet probing.
"Nancheng, you don't look very pleased tonight. What's weighing on your mind?"
Nathaniel's expression was unreadable. He set aside the documents in his hand, his tone low and detached.
"Nothing worth mentioning."
But Jin Han had known him for too many years to be fooled. He caught the faint flicker in Nathaniel's eyes—the kind of flicker that only appeared when a certain woman's name was involved.
Jin Han's lips curved ever so slightly. He didn't expose him, only chuckled as if amused by some private thought.
"It seems, brother, that even the man everyone else sees as untouchable isn't as indifferent as he pretends."
Nathaniel didn't reply. His silence was answer enough.