Chapter 124

Winnie's gaze darkened slightly, and she spoke slowly, "You and your ex seem to get along well, don't you?" Van immediately sensed her misunderstanding and gently shook his head. "She..." He was about to explain when she interrupted him. "Winnie," someone called her name. Both of them looked up to see Aaron standing in front of them, his posture graceful, eyes deep and warm. Clearly, he was the next award presenter. Winnie froze for a moment, surprised to run into him here. Quickly adjusting her emotions, she gave a smile that returned to its usual warmth. "Hello Aaron." Aaron glanced at Van before politely nodding in his direction, then focused back on Winnie. "You did a great job on stage just now." The compliment carried a touch of elder-like concern, as if Aaron had been a mentor to her, offering guidance and care. Winnie slightly raised her hand and humbly replied, "Thank you." Van stood silently to the side, his gaze unwavering, his expression still calm and composed. However, the atmosphere around them seemed to grow slightly tense. Aaron looked at Winnie, a hint of softness in his eyes. "How have you been? It's been a while since we last met." "Aaron," Winnie interrupted him with a light smile, pressing her lips together. "I should head in now. I can't delay any longer, the cameras will be coming this way." Aaron paused for a moment, as if realizing something, and nodded slightly. "Alright, see you another day." The two of them passed each other, one moving ahead of the other, their steps not quite in sync. Winnie's smile remained in place, but inside, she couldn't help but feel a stir of emotion. Van followed closely behind, pausing slightly as he watched Winnie's back. His eyes seemed to hold a glimmer of expectation, waiting for her to glance back or slow down to invite him along. But Winnie didn't look back, nor did she stop. Her steps were firm, as though she no longer cared about the playful interaction between Van and his ex. As Winnie settled into her seat at the venue and looked around, she realized the seat next to her was still empty, which made her realize that Van hadn't arrived yet. She took out her phone, opened SnapChat, and sent him a message: Did you leave already? The schedule for the Celestial Excellence Awards is quite tight, with the acting awards and technical awards being alternated. The biggest suspense, of course, is the Best Picture award, which will be announced last. It's only nine o'clock, so there's still a long way to go before the ceremony ends." On stage, Aaron looked graceful and spoke humorously, earning bursts of laughter from the audience. Winnie held her phone, waiting for a few minutes before finally receiving Van's reply: I'm outside smoking. The camera panned across, and she quickly slid her phone into her evening bag, regaining her composure. Her expression became focused and serious. As the award ceremony progressed, the Best Cinematography award was finally announced, and the applause was overwhelming. She quietly stood up and slipped out through a side door. The air outside carried the warmth and humidity of the night, with a dampness that felt like the herald of spring, faintly scented with the fragrance of fruit trees. She pushed open the glass door and walked out onto the terrace. The terrace was empty, with only a half-smoked cigarette butt extinguished in the corner ashtray. Winnie leaned against the railing, feeling the warm night breeze, and dialed Van's number. The line was quiet, and Van's deep voice came through. "What's wrong?" "Did you leave?" she asked. "I left." Winnie hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit confused, and asked again, "Did you really leave?" "I really left." She was about to say something else when suddenly a deep voice sounded from behind her, "The night's a bit chilly." Winnie was startled and turned around to see Aaron, who had just stepped off the stage, standing there. She quickly gripped her phone, her finger slipping across the screen, mistakenly thinking she had hung up the call. After a brief moment of composure, Winnie forced a smile that seemed a bit unnatural. "Hi, Aaron." Aaron gave a slight smile. "I saw you coming off the stage. I thought I'd get some fresh air and have a cigarette." He held out a cigarette towards her. "Want one?" Winnie shook her head. Aaron chuckled lightly. "I didn't think you smoked. When did that happen?" He paused for a moment, his eyes softening. "It seems like it's been two years since we've talked face-to-face, hasn't it?" "It's been a while," Winnie replied softly. Aaron lowered his voice and asked again, "How have you been?" "Pretty good," Winnie answered hurriedly. "Really? I heard the rumors about you and Wyatt have been going around for a while. Everyone thought they were true." "They're completely false." "I was actually a bit concerned," Aaron said, his tone tinged with some concern. Winnie quickly interrupted, eager to change the topic. "How's your wife? At the last dinner, you said she was pregnant with your second child and had been struggling with morning sickness." Aaron paused for a moment, took a drag from his cigarette, and his eyes grew complex. "She's fine. She doesn't really mention you anymore."