Chapter 54

Winnie tore open a bag of whole wheat crackers, using them to lightly brush away the lingering thoughts and feelings she wanted to avoid. She was concerned about water retention, so she had only had an iced Americano for breakfast and was now making do with just two pieces of whole wheat crackers to stave off hunger, eating less than the chickens in a grain field. The event venue was located in a high-end shopping mall in the city center, with a five-star hotel nearby. The area was filled with pink and white roses, and on a white display stand, the new fragrance line was showcased. As per the schedule, before the event officially started, Winnie needed to participate in some video and photo shoots to prepare content for later publication. After a while, another guest arrived—Evelyn. Evelyn was the spokesperson for the brand's entire product line, while Winnie had just completed her secondary contract and had only renewed her ambassadorship for the fragrance. When the two met, not only was there a noticeable difference in their titles, but their outfits also contrasted. "She's wearing next year's spring-summer off-season ready-to-wear collection," Wendy said to Yulia, furrowing her brows. "Didn't Elva say she wouldn't lend her off-season pieces?" "Evelyn insists on keeping up appearances and won't allow herself to fall behind," Yulia whispered to Wendy, not daring to speak too loudly. "She prepares for all her events with the highest specifications. If Elva won't lend it to her, she'll find a way to get it herself." As they gossiped, Evelyn had already walked over to Winnie, greeting her with a fake, elegant smile. "Hi Winnie. You're the most dedicated, arriving so early and making me look like I'm acting like a diva." Winnie returned her forced smile, pretending to be friendly. "Hi, Evelyn, you are the diva; you are not acting." In front of the cameras, they struck poses—one with her shoulders squared, the other with her waist pinched, playing the roles of the senior and junior, acting like long-lost sisters. After a while, the male guest also arrived, and the event began on time. The sound of camera shutters and flashes continued, and although this wasn't an open event, there were still plenty of invited collaborators and high-profile clients. Amid the orderly buzz, no one noticed the discreet sign for the Biomedical Industry Investment Summit standing quietly in the hotel lobby. Forty minutes later, the event concluded, and Winnie had been managing her expressions throughout, to the point where her face was nearly frozen by the end. Afterward, there was a small afternoon tea in the hotel. Everyone moved to the banquet hall, and the four celebrity guests were assigned a private lounge. They greeted each other half-heartedly, and Evelyn wrapped herself in a shawl, casually crossing her legs as she sat down. "Winnie, come here." Winnie sat beside her, tearing open the flower tea prepared by the brand, and picking up the lace-edged butterfly cup. Even though it had cooled a little, Winnie didn't mind, focused only on getting something in her stomach. "Evelyn, what is it?" she asked, sipping the tea. "That Van from the last dinner, do you remember him?" Evelyn lowered her voice. Winnie, absorbed in work, hadn't thought about anything else, but hearing Van's name caused a subtle sensation to stir within her. On a workday afternoon, she wondered what he might be doing. "Hmm, what about him?" Winnie replied, keeping her face neutral, though Evelyn's insinuating tone led her to already start forming some guesses. Was she about to talk about some tabloid gossip? Although Mr. Marlowe didn't seem the type to be obsessed with romantic relationships, maybe he had already been through it all. Winnie really couldn't imagine Van sitting in a nightclub, surrounded by women. "His...," Evelyn said mysteriously. "What?" Evelyn cleared her throat, then gently leaned in close to Winnie's ear. "Performance issues." Winnie nearly spat out her drink but managed to suppress it with every ounce of expression control she had. She grabbed a tissue to wipe her mouth, not daring to look at Evelyn. "How do you know?" "It's in the newspapers." Evelyn pulled out her phone. "I took a picture." The entertainment tabloids were as ruthless as ever, with the same familiar formula, the same familiar tone. No wonder the perfect marriage couldn't hold up, dysfunction pouring out like an open faucet—men's hidden pain, the young master's bitter, unspeakable sorrow. The words in the middle were bolded, highlighted, and exaggerated, crude yet with a touch of humor. Winnie's heart was pounding. She didn't focus on the words, though; instead, her eyes went straight to the accompanying photo. It was blurry, taken from some distance, probably sneaked from across the street. The image showed him with his arm around a woman's shoulder as they walked under the arcade of a street, next to a famous Japanese restaurant. The woman was wearing a white mask, looking so small in his arms. Perhaps sensing the paparazzi's lens, he slightly turned his face, looking directly at the camera, his smile directed at the woman, but his eyes were full of a stern warning. For a moment, Winnie couldn't figure out what he was thinking. For example, he always appeared in a suit, with Eric and bodyguards by his side. When Winnie saw the Japanese restaurant sign, the image of a young girl begging Van to eat the trendiest Japanese food immediately came to mind. Yet, she never expected him to actually go with his girlfriend to eat at such a fashionable, but for him, somewhat ordinary place. Another example, he always appeared so elevated, polite yet full of boundaries, but it turned out he could also casually wrap his arm around his girlfriend's shoulder. He looked completely relaxed, at ease, happy, and unguarded. Winnie realized that every time he appeared in front of her, he was the prince, the young master, a powerful, enigmatic figure. But in front of his girlfriend, he was something entirely different—he was just Van. Not the young master, not Mr. Marlowe, just Van. "Are you done looking? You've been staring for so long," Evelyn lightly pinched her arm. Winnie glanced at the words again, then back at Evelyn. "Who's that girl?" "His ex-girlfriend." Evelyn clicked her tongue in annoyance, "Where have you been looking this whole time? There's a silhouette of her with long hair. That's her, using a pseudonym for the interview. She's getting married, still a virgin, and the media's saying it's because he... you know."