The last sentence, spoken very softly, was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating unexpected ripples.

The expected sarcastic remarks did not materialize.

Lu Rang's body stiffened for a moment.

Shang Wu could even clearly see that a very faint blush was rapidly spreading across the base of his ears, and his pale profile also showed a hint of unnaturalness.

He abruptly looked away from her, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily.

The aggressive, icy aura from before vanished instantly, replaced by an unusual silence.

Shang Wu was stunned.

Lu Rang frowned slightly and said in a harsh voice, "What nonsense are you talking about? You can leave now."

Shang Wu blinked.

What's wrong with him? He's blushing so much he doesn't even dare to look at her.

Shang Wu stood there, momentarily forgetting to move, staring blankly at Lu Rang's still reddened earlobes.

"Aren't you leaving yet? Are you waiting for me to kick you out?"

Lu Rang's voice came again, with a hint of tension that was barely perceptible.

Shang Wu suddenly came to her senses, her feelings a complex mix of emotions.

She pursed her lips, ultimately said nothing, and turned to leave the suite quickly.

The door closed gently behind me.

Shang Wu stood in the empty and quiet corridor.

Lu Rang's reaction to being exposed replayed in her mind like a slow-motion video.

Could it be that he really...?

An absurd yet unsettling thought popped into her head uncontrollably.

Is Lu Rang not as completely disgusted with her as he appears on the surface? Perhaps he even cares a little?

But as soon as the thought arose, Shang Wu forcibly suppressed it.

No, that's impossible.

Shang Wu instantly regained consciousness.

Who is Lu Rang?

He has clear likes and dislikes, and his boundaries are distinct; he sees things in black and white.

If he really had feelings for her, given his personality, he would never have agreed to get engaged to Lu You, much less treat her with such a cold attitude.

She must be overthinking it.

Perhaps his emotional distress was simply due to the pain from his wound, or perhaps he was simply taken aback by her bold question and found it absurd.

Shang Wu took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her chaotic thoughts, burying the unwarranted speculation, and turned to walk towards the elevator.

She returned to her floor, and Cheng Zhou was indeed still waiting at her door, looking worried.

"Awu, are you alright? Did he do anything to you?" Cheng Zhou rushed forward to check on her anxiously.

"I'm fine." Shang Wu shook her head, her voice weary. "He just had a sore wound and was in a bad mood, so he said a few harsh words. He's resting now."

Cheng Zhou, however, was not so easily dismissed. He keenly noticed the unusual dazedness in Shang Wu's expression and frowned: "Is that really all? Ah Wu, tell me the truth, is he using some other means to harass you again?"

No, absolutely not.

Shang Wu immediately denied it, her tone even a little harsh, "He and Lu You are already engaged, and I broke up with him a long time ago. Cheng Zhou, don't make wild guesses. I'm very tired today and want to rest."

She didn't want to talk about Lu Rang anymore.

Seeing her obvious evasive attitude, Cheng Zhou's eyes darkened, but he ultimately didn't press her further. He simply told her to get some rest and to do her best in tomorrow's competition.

The finals were on the second day.

Shang Wu tried her best to clear her mind of all chaotic thoughts and devote herself wholeheartedly to her design.

Perhaps because her emotions found an outlet, her design burst forth with amazing inspiration, ultimately winning first place.

Holding the trophy and listening to the applause around her, Shang Wu's mood finally brightened a bit.

After the awards ceremony, she returned to the hotel, only to find Lu You, who had rushed back home, looking travel-worn, at her room door.

"Awu! Congratulations! First place is amazing!" Lu You offered her congratulations with a beaming smile.

"Thank you, Sister You," Shang Wu replied with a smile, but she was a little puzzled.

I left in a hurry last night, and now I'm showing up here again as if nothing happened.

She couldn't help but admire Lu You's energy management skills.

After exchanging pleasantries, Lu You affectionately took her arm: "You won such a big award, we have to celebrate! I'll treat you to a big meal tonight, you can't refuse! Oh, by the way,"

She excitedly mentioned, "I saw your final design, and it has great commercial value. My own company is looking for a designer for a new collection. Are you interested? We can talk about it in detail."

Shang Wu's heart sank slightly.

At this moment, Lu You's enthusiasm and invitation seemed to have a different color on her mind.

She didn't want to be pushed around and always have intricate connections with Lu Rang, nor did she want to get caught up in this tangled mess of entanglement anymore.

Shang Wu maintained a polite but distant smile, gently withdrawing her hand: "Thank you for your kindness, Sister You, I appreciate it, but there's no need for a celebration. I'm a little tired and want to rest early. As for the cooperation..."

She paused, then said firmly, "I currently only want to focus on my independent designs and have no plans to collaborate with other brands at the moment. I'm sorry."

Her refusal was clear and direct.

A hint of surprise flashed in Lu You's eyes, as if she hadn't expected Shang Wu to reject her so decisively.

Just then, out of the corner of her eye, Shang Wu caught a glimpse of Lu Rang standing at the corner of the corridor not far away, clearly having overheard her words.

His face darkened almost instantly, his dark eyes swirling with unfathomable emotions, and the atmosphere around him was frighteningly oppressive.

He stared at her as if she had committed some heinous crime.

Shang Wu's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively avoided his gaze.

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