Jiang Qiwei watched the couple leave with her own eyes, her gaze fixed on Lu Yan's broad back, reluctant to look away.
She was now very interested in Lu Yan.
Remembering what Lu's mother had said, Jiang Qiwei felt more confident about herself.
She could tell that although the couple seemed harmonious, there always seemed to be a distance between them. When they went back to the room just now, Lu Yan didn't even hold Ning Anmiao's hand.
They were a fake couple. Sooner or later, just as Lu's mother had said, they couldn't escape the fate of divorce.
---
After returning to the room, Jiang Qiwei picked up the list of the ten short - listed contestants again. Remembering what "Lu Yan" had said just now that "Ning Anmiao" was also on the short - list, she couldn't help but feel suspicious.
She knew all the well - known designers in the industry, and she had never heard of Ning Anmiao before. So there was only one possibility, which was that she didn't use her real name.
She checked one by one, and there was only one designer named "YAN" left. She had never seen this person in person.
Could it be that Ning Anmiao was "YAN"?
Jiang Qiwei's face suddenly turned green. She couldn't believe this fact!
It was impossible, absolutely impossible!
"YAN" was a rising star in the fashion design industry. She had never shown her face, but her designs were always excellent. Even Jiang Qiwei herself was a fan of YAN and often bought her designs.
She had thought that a great designer like YAN would be an elusive existence, but it turned out that this great designer was...
Ning Anmiao?!
Jiang Qiwei covered her chest in disbelief. Her chest heaved up and down, and it was hard for her to accept this fact for a moment.
There must be something wrong, there must be a problem somewhere!
She closed her eyes and remembered what Lu's mother had said.
"She's just a country girl. She's been staying at home for the past few years. She's inexperienced and easy to manipulate."
Inexperienced?
Could an inexperienced person design so many excellent styles and be sought after by so many luxury brands for cooperation and signing contracts?
This was simply a fantasy!
She suddenly realized that Ning Anmiao was not an easy opponent.
She was so low - key in her actions, which obviously meant she was calm - headed. And she had managed to hide her identity from Lu's mother for so many years. It seemed that it wouldn't be easy to snatch Lu Yan from her.
Thinking of this, she couldn't wait to take out her phone and immediately called "Lu Yan". She wanted to confirm whether Lu Yan himself knew Ning Anmiao's real identity!
The phone rang twice and was quickly answered.
"Hello?" It was "Lu Yan"'s voice on the other end of the phone, "Miss Jiang?"
In just a short while, the address had become more distant.
Jiang Qiwei's body stiffened for a second. She tried to calm herself down and said casually, "Lu Yan, I didn't ask clearly just now. Is Miao Miao also short - listed?"
"I didn't see her name on the list. Did she use a stage name?" Her voice was soft and very pleasant, "If I know her, I can arrange for her to be on stage with me later."
Hearing this, Ning Anmiao was stunned. Her eyebrows twitched, and she instinctively refused, "I'm not very sure. I'm just accompanying her to this event this time. You probably don't know her."
She wasn't exactly lying. She had never shown her face in public as YAN, so how could she be known to Jiang Qiwei?
Ning Anmiao had been worried that Lu Yan might mess up at a critical moment. But as long as he followed the competition process, it shouldn't be too difficult for him.
If Jiang Qiwei suddenly got involved, in case something unexpected happened on stage, she would have nowhere to cry.
To be on the safe side, it was better not to let Jiang Qiwei affect Lu Yan.
Hearing this, Jiang Qiwei felt half at ease.
She could tell that Lu Yan didn't know Ning Anmiao's real strength as a designer. Presumably, this was also the first time for Ning Anmiao to come.
Now, she was relieved.
After chatting briefly with "Lu Yan", Jiang Qiwei looked at the hung - up phone and squinted her eyes dangerously.
Sorry, Miao Miao.
Today's design competition in Jiangzhou was not Ning Anmiao's turf, nor would it be "YAN"'s.
It was her, Jiang Qiwei's turf.
...
The next day.
When they arrived at the competition venue, Lu Yan suddenly said that he wanted to go to the restroom before going on stage and would be back soon.
Ning Anmiao sat in her assigned seat. She was so nervous that she couldn't help rubbing her hands together, and her eyes kept looking at the people coming and going.
Ten minutes, twenty minutes, thirty minutes...
As time passed by, the competition was about to start, but Lu Yan still didn't come back.
"Did he eat something bad yesterday?" Ning Anmiao frowned slightly. Seeing that he still hadn't returned, she got up to go to the restroom to look for him. But just then, she was stopped by Jiang Qiwei.
"Lu Yan, I'll give a serious design speech later."
She naturally sat in the seat that was supposed to be for "Ning Anmiao", smiling brightly, "You'll cheer me on, right?"
"Lu Yan" nodded perfunctorily, but his eyes kept scanning the venue, looking for a familiar figure.
Where on earth had Lu Yan gone at this critical moment!
Jiang Qiwei was good at reading people's expressions. She felt that "Lu Yan" was absent - minded. She pursed her lips and smiled, as if to comfort him, "You're looking for Miao Miao, aren't you?"
"Lu Yan" nodded. There was worry in his eyebrows, "I don't know where she is. I'd better go and look for..."
"No need." Jiang Qiwei pressed "Lu Yan"'s shoulder with one hand and made him sit back in the chair.
"According to the rules, the contestants will be called to the backstage in advance to wait for the order. Presumably, Miao Miao is already waiting backstage. Don't go and disturb her, or she might get nervous."
Jiang Qiwei spoke very smoothly, without any trace of lying.
Was it really so?
Ning Anmiao was half - believing and half - doubting. But seeing that Jiang Qiwei didn't seem to be lying, she finally had to sit down. She took out her phone and sent a message to Lu Yan.
"Are you already backstage?"
The message was like a stone sinking into the sea. There was no response at all.
Ning Anmiao looked at her phone with no reply. For some reason, her heart was beating wildly. She always felt that something was going to happen later.
On the other side.
Lu Yan crossed his arms in front of his chest and coldly looked at the locked restroom door. His face was gloomy and dangerous.
He had waited in the restroom for a long time, but no one came in to open the door for him.
It turned out that someone had put a sign saying "Under maintenance, out of service" at the entrance of the restroom. Of course, no one would go in.
The phone showed no signal. It should be that someone had turned on a signal jammer, deliberately preventing him from contacting the outside world.
Obviously, someone had deliberately designed to trap him here.
His patience was gradually wearing out.
"Jiang Qiwei."
He said calmly, spitting out these three words between his lips and teeth. He had already come to a conclusion in his heart.