Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Zhuang Nainai was feeling very pleased with herself. Then, Si Zhengting tugged on her hand and stood up, saying, “Please enjoy yourselves. Due to her current condition, my wife cannot physically exert herself. Thus, we’ll be leaving first. Let’s have another reunion again if there’s an opportunity to do so in the future.”
He uttered these polite words expressionlessly. However, everyone present felt that what he said was honest, and it put them at ease. They also did not feel as though he was looking down on them.
Then Si Zhengting addressed Manager Wang again. “Get a better private room for everyone so that they can enjoy themselves to their hearts’ content.”
“Understood. Rest assured, Mr. Si, I’ll ensure that all your guests will feel at home,” Manager Wang hurriedly replied.
Si Zhengting nodded, then led Zhuang Nainai out of the room.
Zhuang Nainai increased her walking speed, trailing after him, but after taking two steps, she felt that something seemed a little off.
Oh?
Teacher Zhao Ming had told her that he had something to say to her, didn’t he?!
She was already close to the exit, but Zhuang Nainai slowed down and said to Si Zhengting, “Si Zhengting, I…”
“You can’t over-exert yourself. You can have fun with them tomorrow.” Si Zhengting lowered his voice, speaking gently to her. That way he looked at her… was somewhat similar to how he used to look at her five years ago when they were still in high school.
Zhuang Nainai was a little dazed as she looked at him, a faint warmth spreading across her heart.
She pursed her lips and laughed happily. She didn’t know why, but after what had happened that day, she felt closer to him.
She nodded, then explained, “It’s this, Teacher Zhao had something to say to me. I came for the reunion to hear what he had to say.”
After hearing this, Si Zhengting raised his brows. He turned back and saw that Zhao Ming had walked out of the room.
The three walked out of the private room and stood in the doorway, intending to have a conversation there.
Zhao Ming stood in front of Zhuang Nainai, staring at her for a moment before finally sighing. “Zhuang Nainai, I’ve seen some design drafts from the Imperial Group recently. I thought that the drawings were similar to your style, and so I started thinking about you. Now that you’re all grown up, I think that it’s time for me to tell you some things.”
All grown up? Tell her things?
Zhuang Nainai stared at Zhao Ming in confusion.
Then she heard Zhao Ming say, “Do you remember me asking you to join the Starlight Design Competition back in college?”
Zhuang Nainai nodded. Of course she remembered that. Back then, Teacher Zhao had said that joining the competition would be a means of paving her way into the industry. Even if she didn’t manage to win, once she returned, there would be a greater chance of her being able to transfer to the fashion design major.
However, after that competition, Teacher Zhao had suddenly distanced himself from her and started becoming cold toward her. He had even glared at her furiously during a period of time.
She remembered that she had trailed after him, asking him about the results of the competition. However, Teacher Zhao Ming had glanced at her and smirked, then said in a poisonous tone, “You’re thinking of winning a prize? Do you think you have that kind of talent?”
Zhuang Nainai would be lying if she said that she wasn’t hurt by his words. However, Teacher Zhao Ming was her senior. She wouldn’t be so calculative about it.
But why was he bringing this matter up after all these years?
Zhao Ming saw her dazed expression and sighed. “The work that you had used to enter the competition was deemed to be plagiarized; thus, the judges had actually disqualified you from the competition. I was afraid that you were too young to withstand the criticism and backlash from the public, so I’d kept the matter under wraps.”
After she heard this, Zhuang Nainai’s eyes widened. “Was that why you thought that there was something wrong with my character and treated me so coldly afterward?”
Zhao Ming looked awkward as Zhuang Nainai accurately identified the reason for his hostile attitude toward her. Then, he coughed and said, “I didn’t know this back then, but now I feel that I have wronged you.”
