"Damn it, I'm so tired." She let out a sigh and then flopped heavily onto the bed. Staring straight up at the ceiling, she couldn't help but curse, "A bunch of lecherous old men. Pah!"
Gong Ming replied casually, "You knew what their intentions were, yet you still rushed over. What was your motive?"
Yin Yiyan's voice was muffled, with a hint of helplessness. "What else could I do? Take a look at me from head to toe. What capital do I have to make them nod and agree?"
There were indeed some good bosses who were sincerely interested in the capabilities of her team, but such people were in the minority.
All she could do was navigate through the chaos without getting entangled.
"Aren't you afraid of making a mistake one day?" Gong Ming said coldly, his eyes and eyebrows showing no emotion. "One day, if you fall into a nest of thieves, you won't be able to climb out."
Hearing this, Yin Yiyan sat up on the bed, her back against the headboard. Her face, pale after removing makeup, looked bloodless.
She smiled coquettishly. "What should I do then? If I don't do this, how can I start my studio? Where will the orders come from? Or can Mr. Gong help me?"
Gong Ming fell silent, his lips pursed tightly.
It wasn't that he couldn't help, nor that he didn't want to.
He knew she wouldn't accept his help.
"Is all this really that important to you?" Gong Ming pondered for a moment and then asked.
"Of course!" Yin Yiyan blinked, and her eyes seemed to gather all the light at once. "My goal is to create my own design brand and build a clothing empire that everyone loves and chases after!"
The way she looked so radiant was as if she was standing at the top of the world.
This was her dream and what she had been striving for all her life.
Gong Ming looked at her.
She always seemed to be like this, constantly moving forward and running, regardless of the consequences, for everything she wanted.
He had seen people like this before.
Such people were the most crazy, but when they fell, they would also fall the hardest.
Her eyes were clear and bright, showing the pride and confidence unique to Yin Yiyan. The way she was shining made people unable to help but submit.
"Then, what if I say I don't like you being like this?"
Gong Ming took a deep breath and said softly, "I don't like the way those people look at you, and I don't want you to stumble one day."
Yin Yiyan had long expected him to say this.
No man would be willing to watch the woman he loved run around, let alone hope that she would be in danger.
But she had no choice.
"I will never give up my dream for a man."
Yin Yiyan blinked, full of pride. "If you're worried about me, you can protect me, but don't strangle my dreams."
She was a free and unruly thorn. The more you suppressed her, the sharper her thorns would be.
Gong Ming was silent for a moment.
"Okay."
It was just one word, but it was his promise.
He would protect his flower well.
Hearing this word, Yin Yiyan also smiled. Her smile was so bright that it almost shone into his heart.
He finally knew what he had been missing and longing for all these years.
Those crescent - shaped eyes seemed to drill straight into his heart.
---
As promised before, Ning Anmiao was going to go back to her parents' home with Lu Yan this weekend.
This was basic etiquette and the proper attitude.
This time, Lu Yan didn't forget the rules either, but he was much more generous than before.
Apart from the daily necessities, there were also some valuable items, which filled the entire living room of the Ning family.
Ning Zhijing was no longer so resistant. He stroked the jadeite tobacco pipe that Lu Yan had personally handed over and couldn't put it down. "Xiaolu, where did you get this?"
Lu Yan always managed to surprise him.
This was a gift that showed he had put his heart into it, and he liked it very much.
Lu Yan nodded slightly, with a gentle and modest smile. "I have some friends who like to tinker with these things. I'm glad you like it."
Bai Jiaying on the side was not happy. She walked over, closed the wooden box containing the tobacco pipe, and confiscated it directly. "Smoke less. You're already old, and you're still addicted to this. You're so useless."
The usually proud Ning Zhijing had to shrink his neck at this moment and whispered, "Your mom is always like this. She's too strict about health. I even have to smoke secretly."
Lu Yan could relate. "Indeed."
Ning Anmiao also didn't let him smoke. He couldn't even remember when he last smoked.
The mother - daughter pair were quite similar.
Ning Anmiao usually showed a bit of consideration and virtue in front of Lu Yan. But as soon as she returned to the Ning family, she immediately turned back into a little girl and started to act coquettishly in front of her parents.
Ning Zhijing and Bai Jiaying were used to this and just smiled indulgently at her, allowing her to make a ruckus. They were all smiling.
Lu Yan sat on the side, watching the harmonious scene of their family. The ice in his heart began to melt quietly.
"Xiaolu, I'll cook today. What would you like to eat?"
Bai Jiaying had just washed some fruits for Ning Anmiao and brought them over. Then she looked up at Lu Yan. "Tell me something you like. Don't always say what Miaomiao likes."
This left Lu Yan at a loss for words.
He was stunned for a moment and then looked at Ning Anmiao.
Ning Anmiao blinked, opened her mouth to catch a piece of orange from Bai Jiaying's hand, and said indistinctly, "Just say it. What do you want to eat? Don't be polite."
Lu Yan thought for a long time before slowly saying, "Dumplings. Is that okay?"
The moment he said it, he was a bit unsure.
Lu Yan didn't know what he liked, but in his memory, on important days when he was a child, every household would make dumplings.
"Dumplings?" Bai Jiaying repeated. Seeing this, Lu Yan immediately changed his words. "Is it too much trouble? It's okay. I don't really want to..."
"How did you know I bought minced meat today?" Bai Jiaying said with a smile. She immediately stood up, tied on an apron, and said, "I bought it early this morning. The meat is still very fresh. I'll go make dumplings now!"
As she passed by Lu Yan, she casually stuffed the remaining piece of orange into his mouth. "That brat thinks it's sour. She's so picky. You try it."
Before Lu Yan could react, the fragrance of the orange filled his mouth.
It wasn't sour at all. The sweet juice spread between his lips and teeth, and there was an indescribable feeling.
That natural and amiable intimacy was strange yet warm.
It took him a long time to react.
At lunchtime, Ning Zhijing began to give a long speech. From time to time, he would comment on Lu Yan's work and give him some suggestions and opinions.
His tone was completely from the perspective of an elder, without any self - interest or ulterior motives, sincerely offering help.
Lu Yan was flattered.
This kind of emotion was so pure and sincere that he was a bit overwhelmed for a moment.
During dinner, Ning Anmiao asked him with a smile, "Is my dad annoying? He actually talks a lot."