I've been busy making the garments for the competition entries lately. I finally managed to get back to a normal routine, but now I'm back to being stressed again. With work and competition matters piling up, I can only squeeze out my rest time.
She always had a quick dinner at the cafeteria, and by the time she got back it was late at night. The whole room was quiet, with only the light left on in the entryway, as if waiting for her to come home.
Su Mo would always wait for her to come back before going to sleep, but Jiang Jianhuan was always too tired after taking a shower and would often fall asleep after saying only a few words.
"I was wrong." Jiang Jianhuan readily admitted her mistake, snuggled up to him, and hugged him.
Su Mo was helpless.
"By the way, don't you think there's something off about Zhao Zhao and Bai Qiu?" Her face was full of keen observation, making Su Mo even more helpless.
"You're only just realizing this?"
"?Um???"
"Do you think Bai Qiu, given his personality, would casually agree to let a strange woman stay at his house?" Su Mo pondered for a moment before finally settling on the simplest and most understandable opening.
Jiang Jianhuan was indeed surprised. "Isn't this only because of you?"
"...I don't have that much face."
"So you're saying Bai Qiu likes Zhao Zhao?" Jiang Jianhuan still found it hard to believe, her eyes widening slightly.
"...I don't know." Su Mo patted her head and slid her hand down.
"You seem to be in good spirits today."
"Huh? What? No... I'm so tired." Jiang Jianhuan was on the verge of tears, but after struggling symbolically for a couple of moments, she gave up in despair.
"Don't take too long... I have to go to work tomorrow, sob..."
As the year draws to a close, the winners of the National Fashion Design "Gold and Silver Awards" competition have been announced. The gold award went to a veteran designer who has participated countless times, competing every year, and finally fulfilled his long-cherished wish this year.
Jiang Jianhuan saw his name next to the silver award winner. After the initial excitement, surprise, and thrill, a slight sense of disappointment followed, but it was quickly interrupted by cheers from the side.
"Oh my god! Jianhuan! You actually won an award!!!" Xu Xue jumped up, and then everyone else noticed.
"That's really impressive. Winning a silver medal on your first try is already amazing."
"Even rounded up, it still won the gold medal."
"Treat us to a meal! Treat us to a meal! Treat us to a meal!!"
Things eventually took this turn. After treating Jiang Jianhuan to a hot pot meal, everyone reluctantly dispersed. As the noise in the office subsided, Jiang Jianhuan's gaze inadvertently swept over Zhou Ran in front of him, then quickly stopped.
Something flashed through my mind.
She bent down again and carefully examined the list of winners, looking at each award winner from gold to silver—
No, none at all.
Zhou Ran's name was not mentioned in any of the prizes, whether it was the third prize, the special prize, or the encouragement prize.
A complex feeling welled up in his heart. Although Zhou Ran hadn't achieved a very good ranking in the past, he had always managed to win one or two of these marginal awards, so he wouldn't have to go home empty-handed like this year.
Xu Xue was still suppressing her excitement as she whispered to her about the awards when Jiang Jianhuan gently shushed her, gesturing to Zhou Ran ahead.
She glanced at it and then quietly fell silent.
If it were a previous competition, it wouldn't be so bad, since the two of them hadn't competed on the same stage. But this time, Jiang Jianhuan, as the junior, actually won the award, while Zhou Ran missed out. Being in the same office, it was inevitably a bit awkward.
Therefore, the atmosphere afterwards was eerily quiet.
The dinner party was moved to Friday afternoon. Because of the experience last time, Jiang Jianhuan said from the beginning that she would not drink alcohol, thus deterring those people from having any ulterior motives.
Even so, Jiang Jianhuan was still forced to drink a glass at the end. Due to the atmosphere and everyone's happiness, taking advantage of the fact that it was the weekend the next day, they all indulged themselves and many people downed their drinks on the spot.
Jiang Jianhuan still paid the bill, saw them to their car, and was the last to leave.
Fortunately, someone came to pick her up today as a free driver.
Jiang Jianhuan opened Su Mo's car door at the corner. The area was secluded with few pedestrians, and the black car was very inconspicuous. Jiang Jianhuan remained unnoticed throughout the entire process, from the moment he got in to the moment he entered the car.
She leaned back in her seat and let out a soft sigh.
"Drinking again?" Su Mo turned the steering wheel onto the main road, glanced at her, and asked.
"Just a little bit," Jiang Jianhuan whispered, holding up one finger. She looked just like she used to when she was drunk—endearingly silly. Su Mo smiled.
The car drove home smoothly. Jiang Jianhuan, smelling faintly of alcohol, took a shower and crawled into bed, feeling drowsy.
But Su Mo kept pestering her to talk, deliberately whispering in her ear in a low, husky voice, letting his warm breath seep in.
Are you drunk?
"No." Jiang Jianhuan burrowed deeper into the blankets like a hamster hibernating, covering her ears.
Su Mo sidled up to her and hugged her again.
"Then I'll test you."
"Hmm..." Jiang Jianhuan replied perfunctorily with her eyes closed.
"who I am?"
“Su Mo”.
Who is your favorite person?
"...It's you."
Su Mo smiled with satisfaction, kissed her ear as a reward, and continued to coax her.
"Will you only love him for the rest of your life?"
Yes, yes, yes.