Chapter 94

Vibe editor Fiona finally stepped onto the red carpet, and the host smoothly shifted the focus to her. Winnie let out a sigh of relief, waiting for Fiona to finish signing, then the two of them took their usual photos together and walked down the final stretch of the red carpet. At the entrance to the interior of the venue, Wendy and the magazine's PR staff were waiting, holding a beige shawl, ready to lead Winnie to the dressing room to change into her indoor look. Wendy quietly hinted, "Do you think Mr. Marlowe is watching your red carpet appearance?" "No," Winnie answered decisively, then turned to stop a server and pick up a glass of ice water. "He said he doesn't have time." Wendy was about to lose her temper. "You can't trust a businessman's words! He doesn't have time, but he will definitely make time!" Winnie looked at her outfit, slightly uncertain. "...It's okay, right?" Wendy spoke earnestly, "Are you sure? Millions of people are watching at the same time." Winnie's heartbeat suddenly skipped, and she lowered her head, nervously glancing around. She flicked open the silver butterfly clasp on her evening bag and quickly pulled out her phone. There were no new messages. She let out a sigh of relief and opened the chat with Van, hesitating slightly before asking: I've finished the red carpet. What are you doing? Van: I'm letting myself think things through. Winnie's head suddenly jolted, and her heart tightened. Her phone slipped from her hand and fell heavily onto the carpet. She stood frozen for a few seconds, almost dazed, and followed the PR team to the exclusive makeup room. As soon as she entered, she immediately stopped Anne and her assistant from coming forward and urgently dialed the phone. "Hello." Winnie asked cautiously, "Mr. Marlowe, did you watch the whole thing?" "I only watched the part when you made your entrance," Van's voice had a playful tone. Winnie's brief relief vanished, and she unconsciously leaned against the wall, rubbing her hand against the carpet, feeling a bit embarrassed. "You said you weren't going to watch..." she murmured under her breath, her complaint tinged with a hint of helplessness. She quickly changed the subject, asking somewhat coquettishly, "So, Mr. Marlowe, now that you've watched, what do you think?" Van flicked his cigarette out and replied calmly, "As a gentleman with a strong sense of morality and clear boundaries between work and personal life, I think you looked stunning tonight, impossible to look away from." Winnie was slightly taken aback, and the turmoil in her heart slowly began to settle. "Then... what if you weren't such a gentleman, moral, and clear about business and personal matters?" she suddenly asked, almost mischievously. Van chuckled softly, his gaze carrying a tender undercurrent. "Just wait for me." Winnie's golden hair shimmered under the lights as she stepped into the banquet hall, looking like a forest queen from a fairy tale—elegant yet unrestrained, radiating an aura of ease and confidence. The dinner was arranged in round tables, with PR leading Winnie to the main table. In the center of the table, blue hydrangeas bloomed, filling the air with a soft fragrance, and a faint mist lingered, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. Each seat had a card clearly marking the guest's name, arranged meticulously, with everyone placed according to their rank and relationships. Winnie glanced around and saw Fiona, Ivy, several magazine executives, sponsors, and the Best Actor Aaron seated at the main table. It was clear that these seats were carefully planned, and she was not here because of her own connections. The atmosphere grew livelier, and Mia was the last to arrive, quietly pulling out the chair next to Winnie and sitting down. That was Fiona's seat, but the editor-in-chief was busy greeting guests and hadn't come over yet. "Hi, Winnie," Mia greeted politely. Winnie was always considerate of the younger colleagues at her company, her smile warm and caring, completely different from how she interacted with others in the industry. She nodded gently. "I saw you go up on stage just now. You did great, much more relaxed than last time." Mia was slightly taken aback, then lowered her head. "I'm still far from it. David says I'm not confident enough and wants me to learn from you." Winnie shook her head with a smile. "There's nothing to learn. Just practice, and it gets easier. I was even more nervous than you when I started. I couldn't even hold my hands still in front of the signing wall, let alone walk the runway." Mia smiled, but there was a hint of melancholy in her eyes. "You have such good things, but it seems like you don't really appreciate them." Winnie picked up on the subtlety in Mia's words and calmly asked, "What do you think I have that I don't realize? Is it about Wyatt?" Mia lowered her head, biting her lip, hesitating for a moment before speaking. "Mr. Robinson says... I look like you did when you were younger." Winnie glanced at her, her gaze lingering slightly as she silently considered what Mia meant. Mia wasn't like Winnie; her face was softer, more delicate, suited for period dramas. That's why she rose to fame quickly, even though she wasn't at the top of the industry, her fan base was vast. The company had crafted her image as a lively, sweet girl, with a touch of innocence. Mia watched her, then slowly said, "He says I'm like you were back then—young, full of ambition, and unwilling to lose." Winnie was momentarily stunned but nodded. "He's right." Mia curled her lips into a smile and said casually, "He likes you, but you don't care because he can't help you get into high society. To you, he's just a servant for the rich." Winnie couldn't help but laugh. "Mia… You just started out in the industry. If you've figured all this out now, what will you do in the future?" Mia's tone suddenly grew firm. "Mr. Marlowe and I have danced together." Winnie froze for a moment, then coldly said, "Stop." Mia wasn't intimidated by her coldness. Instead, she continued to speak, unbothered. "I just think Mr. Marlowe is too high-level. People have to climb the ladder step by step. Compared to him, Mr. Robinson is more down to earth." She lowered her head, gently twisting the napkin, her eyes slightly glazed. "Winnie, you've always said Mr. Robinson isn't a good man, but I thank you for that. For me, the man who can help me go further is the good man." Mia stood up, then leaned in and hugged Winnie as she left. "See you on set." Winnie frowned slightly. See her on set? Mia had just become famous not long ago—how would she end up on the same set as herself? But in such a noisy environment, there wasn't much time for her to think about it.