Ning Anmiao sat in her seat, watching as one after another of the contestants got up from their positions. Only then did she notice something was wrong.
"The time is running out. I have to find 'Miaomiao'," she murmured in a panic.
Suddenly, a sense of unease washed over her. At the thought that 'Ning Anmiao' might be absent from the upcoming competition, she felt a groundless panic.
What on earth was Lu Yan doing?
He knew very well how much she valued this competition. He had readily agreed at that time, but now, where was he?
Ning Anmiao stiffened, her eyes turning cold.
"Don't worry. For such an important competition, Miaomiao will surely show up later," Jiang Qiwei said. Naturally, she knew what had happened, but she didn't show it. Instead, she pretended to look worried.
"I just talked to the staff of the scoring group in advance and asked them to put Miaomiao last. I hope it's still in time," she said in a soft, gentle voice.
Her considerate words calmed Ning Anmiao, who had been unable to listen to anything. "Thank you," she replied absent - mindedly, then quickly lowered her head and desperately called Lu Yan.
However, the phone just rang and rang with no answer.
Ning Anmiao's trust in Lu Yan gradually faded. She tightly pursed her lips. The clear - featured face of 'Lu Yan' was now tense, with a cold expression.
Her mind was in a complete mess, and she didn't know how to sort it out.
Was Lu Yan doing this on purpose?
Was he like her father, not liking her to pursue her favorite career and just wanting to keep her under his control?
Seeing the cold face of 'Lu Yan' since earlier, Jiang Qiwei guessed that he must be disappointed in Ning Anmiao. A smug look appeared on her face.
Obviously, after the unpleasant incident at Lu's mother's house last time, Ning Anmiao was worried about the stability of her marriage, so she specially asked Lu Yan to attend this competition.
She wanted him to see her shining points and thus save their marriage.
Jiang Qiwei would never give Ning Anmiao this chance.
Who would like someone who was irresponsible and inattentive?
Soon, one after another, the contestants finished their design introductions, and finally it was Jiang Qiwei's turn to take the stage.
She gracefully got up, looking relaxed. Before leaving, she gently patted 'Lu Yan's' shoulder and whispered, "It's my turn, Lu Yan."
What she meant was that she hoped Lu Yan would pay more attention to her performance.
'Lu Yan' just let out a muffled grunt, a mere perfunctory. She was now so irritated that she had no time to care about anything else.
Thinking that Lu Yan might have deliberately been absent from her competition, her heart felt as if it was being tightly squeezed, and an indescribable sense of suffocation welled up.
Why?
In her mind, she recalled again and again Lu Yan's expression and demeanor when he knew she was doing design. There was clearly no huge reaction.
Even that day, he had expressed his appreciation for her qualification.
Was all this just her wishful thinking and self - deception?
Was Lu Yan also like Ning Zhijing, wanting her to be obedient and under his control?
He clearly knew what she hated the most!
---
Inside the women's restroom.
Although Lu Yan knew that someone had deliberately locked him in here, thinking of how much Ning Anmiao valued this competition, he composed himself.
"Is there anyone outside?" he called out several times, but there was no response.
The competition should have started for a while. Everyone should be sitting in the venue lively, and the possibility of someone coming out to use the restroom was very small.
In the whole space, Lu Yan could only hear his own voice, using Ning Anmiao's voice, constantly calling for help.
Each time he called, his heart sank a little more.
Lu Yan sneered. He didn't know whether he should sneer at Jiang Qiwei or at himself.
If it was Miaomiao who was trapped in the restroom now, how would she react?
This was a competition she valued highly, but she was deliberately locked in the restroom. She could only watch helplessly as she missed what she wanted, but was powerless.
For no reason, the image of her with tears in her eyes appeared in his mind.
She looked so pitiful.
In his memory, Miaomiao rarely cried.
She had always been very strong. Only when she was driven out of the Ning family that time did she cry until her eyes were swollen like walnuts, hiding in his arms and sobbing constantly.
With red eyes, she repeatedly asked him if he would also abandon her in the future. She looked just like a homeless stray cat.
That night, he couldn't control his male instincts and took her.
Soon, he fulfilled his promise to Ning Anmiao and they got married quickly. However, they didn't hold a wedding, but just had a secret marriage.
There were quite a few rich people in the circle who had secret marriages. Ning Anmiao had been cultivated with an elegant and refined personality since childhood and didn't care about such superficial things.
He always thought that he had given Miaomiao everything she wanted and that his ability was enough to protect her.
But the reality gave him a heavy slap in the face, making him finally understand that in this relationship with Miaomiao, he had actually done nothing.
...
After a moment of self - reflection, suddenly a man's voice came from the door of the restroom: "Miaomiao? Is that you, Miaomiao?"
It was a very gentle and elegant male voice, a very familiar one.
Lu Yan was silent for a few seconds. Without caring about anything else, he cleared his throat and said, "It's me. I've been locked in here."
Anyway, getting out of here was the most important thing first.
...
Soon, after being rescued, Lu Yan finally knew why this person's voice was so familiar.
The person who rescued him was Jiang Zhou.
"Miaomiao, why are you..." Jiang Zhou looked at 'Ning Anmiao' with disheveled hair and a somewhat embarrassed look. There was full of doubt in his heart, but seeing her bad complexion, he didn't ask any more.
Lu Yan didn't have time to deal with Jiang Zhou here. He just whispered "Thank you" and then ran towards the competition venue.
If he rushed there quickly, maybe it was still in time.
In order not to let the look of disappointment appear on Miaomiao's face, he quickened his pace and didn't even have time to catch his breath.
Watching the beautiful back disappear, Jiang Zhou frowned slightly.
Just now, why was Miaomiao's tone so distant when she talked to him? It was as if they were just strangers who had just met.
He stroked his chin, speculating in his mind that maybe it was because they hadn't seen each other for a long time and this little girl was just shy.
Thinking of this, he also quickly followed.
At the same time, in the venue.
"Let's welcome this year's most promising and influential designer, 'YAN'!"
Thunderous applause erupted in the venue. Everyone craned their necks, eager to catch a glimpse of this rising - star designer.
The applause lasted for more than twenty seconds, but still no figure appeared.
The host stood on the stage with a stiff smile on his face. His eyes scanned all the seats, but he never saw anyone who seemed to be going on stage.
Could it be that 'YAN' wasn't present at the venue today?
People also realized the problem. The sound of applause gradually died down. Many people looked at the venue in confusion, and some even showed their disappointment directly on their faces.
The famous designer 'YAN' had actually flagrantly been absent!