After examining all the details and annotations of the pearl necklace, Wen Ran felt it was truly worthy of collection both in terms of quality and design.
Her gaze shifted to the lower right corner of the display case as she frowned slightly: "Why isn't there a price tag here?"
All the other jewelry pieces had estimated prices in that corner.
"Because it's not for sale," came a helpful explanation from behind her.
Not for sale?
Wen Ran let out a soft "Oh," suddenly recalling the filigree incense box that had also been labeled non-saleable.
Disappointment colored her voice as she complained with personal emotion: "Then why display it at all?"
A light chuckle sounded from behind.
Wen Ran finally came to her senses.
As her mind cleared, her other senses returned too.
She caught a faint whiff of cedarwood fragrance.
Wen Ran's heart gave a violent tremor as her back stiffened ramrod straight.
She subtly raised her eyes to look at the reflection in the display case glass.
The man stood diagonally behind her right shoulder, his broad-shouldered stature making her appear petite and fragile in comparison.
And what was that expression on his face?
That half-smile, as if he'd caught sight of something amusing.
One second...
Two seconds...
Three seconds...
Wen Ran held her breath and forced herself to turn around calmly, meeting his gaze: "Good day, Mr. Yan."
Yan Wangshu raised an eyebrow towards the display case: "You seem to have objections about the exhibition layout?"
Wen Ran stubbornly denied in a small voice: "Not at all."
"Then explain..." Yan Wangshu deliberately slowed his speech, "why display jewelry that's not for sale here."
Her original complaint was being thrown back at her verbatim.
Wen Ran's eyes swept across the hall: "Exhibition halls exist for display. These pieces belong to 'Carlisle', so naturally they should be shown in 'Carlisle's exhibition space."
Yan Wangshu drew out an "Ohhh" that gave no indication of whether he approved this answer.
Wen Ran took a deep breath and added: "Therefore, regardless of sale status, their presence here is justified."
This time Yan Wangshu appeared satisfied, smiling as he touched his nose.
She'd started as the complainer, yet ended up arguing the opposing view.
Wen Ran suddenly realized she'd suffered a dimensionality reduction strike, all from him uttering just one sentence.
What kind of man was he really?
Their first meeting showed a distinguished gentleman.
The second revealed a decisive entrepreneur.
Now he was childishly teasing her.
Wen Ran's brows knitted slightly as she turned her face away.
Yan Wangshu's gaze swept over her features: "What are you doing here?"
Having clearly seen her with Chen Xing when meeting Mrs. Wang earlier, he obviously knew she was a design department employee.
Remembering Li Wan's warning, Wen Ran instinctively glanced around - the reception team had already disappeared.
So he wasn't asking why she was present, but why an ordinary employee would violate company protocol by lingering here.
"Mr. Yan, our department has a designer named Li Wan who was supposed to assist Mrs. Wang with stone selection. But she had a medical emergency last night. Since it was quite serious, Teacher Chen brought me to receive Mrs. Wang this morning."
Wen Ran pretended to misunderstand his question while subtly explaining Li Wan's predicament.
Hearing this response, Yan Wangshu nodded as if in approval.
Wen Ran relaxed slightly at this.
But Yan Wangshu chose this moment to lower his gaze, his eyes sharper than before: "Pleading for her?"
Wen Ran froze.
Yan Wangshu's tone remained light but carried undiminished authority: "That wasn't my question."
Under the exhibition hall's bright lights, Wen Ran felt her thoughts laid completely bare.
A flush rose to her cheeks: "My apologies, I lost track of time admiring the jewelry."
She lowered her head, left arm crossing her torso to grip her right elbow - a defensive posture.
Had he frightened her?
Yan Wangshu suddenly recalled Shi Ze's words from that day.
— Are you sure it wasn't you who scared her off later?
He quickly reviewed their car encounter. She'd initially been proactive, even enthusiastic. Her attitude changed after his phone call regarding Xu Yuling.
So when she mentioned coming to Shanghai for work, she meant joining 'Carlisle' - already knowing Xu Yuling would be her direct superior.
So it really was his handling that had frightened her?
When Yan Wangshu remained silent, Wen Ran finally looked up at him.
Her eyes still held residual embarrassment from being exposed, quickly averting after one glance: "Mr. Yan, if there's nothing else, I'll return to work now."
Yan Wangshu gave an acknowledging "Hmm."
Wen Ran nodded with a polite half-bow before turning to leave.
Returning to the office, Wen Ran happened to see Li Wan emerging from Chen Xing's office red-eyed, as if she'd been crying again.
Not feeling close enough to inquire, Wen Ran focused instead on worrying about her earlier performance before Yan Wangshu. Could such a minor mistake get her fired?
After a while, she reasoned with herself: If termination was inevitable, there was nothing she could do. Moreover, baseless anxiety was the most worthless emotion.
What would come would come.
Still, having secrets around someone always made one more prone to nervousness.
Wen Ran resolved to avoid him when possible.
Following Avy's advice, Wen Ran had been diligently building her professional image through overtime work. Tonight she stayed late working on design sketches inspired by afternoon inspirations.
When she finally looked up, the office was empty.
A tap on her keyboard illuminated the screen - 9:17 PM in the lower right corner.
Wen Ran shut down her computer, packed her drawing tools, and stood with her bag when she noticed another still-lit workstation.Li Wan remained.
As Wen Ran quietly pushed in her chair, Li Wan suddenly turned: "See you tomorrow, Wen Ran."
"Tomorrow," Wen Ran responded gently, sensing her colleague's goodwill.
She walked several steps before turning back.
Perhaps it was having overheard Li Wan's phone call with her mother that morning that resonated deeply.Having spent years abroad with busy parents, Wen Ran understood maintaining relationships through gifts rather than presence. She too had once told her mother "I'm fine, don't worry" while hospitalized with fever.
Hearing returning footsteps, Li Wan looked up: "Forget something?"
Wen Ran shook her head, sitting down directly beside Li Wan: "How's it going?"
At these simple words, Li Wan willingly shared her plans.
She opened a document: "I've reviewed the afternoon stone inventory and selected these."
Wen Ran watched Li Wan scroll through multiple pages.
After a moment's thought, she cautiously offered: "Isn't this too many options?"
"Mrs. Wang is extremely picky. I always provide more quantity and quality than other clients receive. Still can't understand why she never finds satisfaction."
This was conventional logic - more choices for picky clients.
But Wen Ran disagreed: "More isn't necessarily better..."
She worried if offering opinions was too presumptuous.
After all, they weren't close.
"Hmm?" Li Wan shook Wen Ran's arm: "Go ahead."
Wen Ran spoke softly: "Carlisle's stones are top quality. Presenting too many excellent options can actually make choosing harder."
Li Wan paused, eyes lighting up: "That makes sense!"
She immediately began eliminating options.
Wen Ran noticed the IV marks on her hand: "Don't you need to go for your hospital infusion?"
"Mhm."
"This can wait."
"It's fine, this won't take long." Li Wan kept her eyes on the screen: "You should head home, it's late."
Seeing her absorption, Wen Ran hesitated: "Let me accompany you to the hospital."
Li Wan paused mid-click, then smiled: "Okay."
She began haphazardly stuffing items into her bag: "Let's go."
At the hospital, after Li Wan's IV started, Wen Ran bought congee with thick straws, having noticed Li Wan hadn't eaten.
Wen Ran herself settled for late-night convenience store oden, adding chili sauce to hers.
The spicy aroma made Li Wan comment: "You added chili?"
Wen Ran nodded: "I like spicy food."
As she ate a fishball, Li Wan found this dichotomy amusing - thoughtful enough to bring bland congee for a patient, yet eating fragrant spicy food beside her."Wen Ran," Li Wan suddenly said.
"Yes?""I told Chen Xing today that I'll resign if I can't satisfy Mrs. Wang."
"...""Let's toast - to me succeeding."
Wen Ran clinked her oden cup against Li Wan's congee container.
Li Wan eyed the food: "Give me a fishball?"
Wen Ran refused flatly: "No."
Li Wan: "..." So much for camaraderie.
The taxi ride home passed midnight.
Through the window, neon-lit streets streamed by. A bar district throbbed with life - these revelers forever vibrant.Wen Ran recalled Li Wan's group chat complaint two days prior about feigning illness to avoid Mrs. Wang. Yet when truly sick, she'd feared losing the assignment.
At a red light, Wen Ran saw a drunk youth vomiting by a tree.Perhaps these nightlife enthusiasts weren't truly happy.
The taxi soon reached her apartment.As Wen Ran paid and walked towards her complex, a sharp honk pierced the night.A man's voice shouted: "Hey!"
Turning, she saw a black sedan parked roadside, a square-faced man in black approaching.Wen Ran quickened her pace.
"Don't you remember me?" the man called loudly.
Wen Ran paused, studying his familiar features.
The man strode closer: "I've waited here forever, thought I'd missed you."
Suddenly, Wen Ran sprinted towards the complex gates.
She remembered - this was the taxi driver she'd reported.