Chapter 201 Riding in my ex-boyfriend's car
Startled by the sudden noise, Shang Wu turned around.
A pink Volkswagen Beetle with a rental car sign crashed solidly into the passenger side of her car.
Shang Wu's heart sank, and she immediately went to check.
Two girls who looked like college students got off the Beetle in a panic.
Seeing the dented car door and scratched paint, they turned pale with fright and repeatedly apologized, "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry, sister! We didn't mean to! We just got our driver's licenses not long ago..."
Shang Wu frowned, but seeing that the other party was indeed not doing it on purpose and was sincere, she quickly calmed down.
She didn't blame them. She immediately took out her phone to take photos to preserve evidence of the scene, and then decisively dialed the traffic police and the car rental company's insurance number.
Throughout the entire process, Shang Wu remained exceptionally calm and rational, which gradually calmed the two panicked girls down.
Traffic police arrived quickly, inspected the scene, and determined that the other party was fully responsible.
After Shang Wu finished communicating with the car rental company and completing all the formalities, he turned around and saw two girls crying on the phone with their families.
The two of them will have to pay a considerable amount for the car rental company's repairs, and the Maserati she drove this time will also have repair costs that are unaffordable for ordinary people.
Shang Wu was silent for a few seconds. "Fine, let's leave it at that. I'll let the rental company process the insurance normally, but I'll cover the difference in repair costs myself. I don't need any extra compensation from you. Just drive more carefully in the future."
The two girls could hardly believe their ears. They stood there for a few seconds before hanging up the phone, bowing repeatedly to express their gratitude and shedding tears.
Shang Wu waved her hand, said nothing more, and watched them carefully drive away.
After all that commotion, she lost all interest in going for a drive.
The car was damaged and couldn't be driven, and she didn't want to drive back to the hotel to deal with the aftermath.
Shang Wu took out her phone, ready to call a ride-hailing service to go home.
The viewing platform was sparsely populated with vehicles at night, and the streetlights were dim.
She kept her head down, working on her computer, waiting for an order to be placed.
Just then, a bright headlight appeared from afar.
The black Cullinan silently parked in the parking space not far from her.
Shang Wu subconsciously looked up.
The car door opened, and a tall, familiar figure stepped out.
It was Lu Rang.
He seemed to have just finished a social engagement, or had come from somewhere else.
With his suit jacket casually draped over his arm and two buttons of his shirt undone, revealing his smooth collarbone, he exuded a more relaxed and aloof air compared to his cool demeanor at dinner.
He also saw Shang Wu standing alone by the roadside.
Their eyes met once again under the silent night sky.
This time, there was no one else around, neither Lu You nor Cheng Zhou.
Only the sound of the sea breeze whistling past could be heard.
Shang Wu's fingers tightened slightly as she gripped her phone.
How come... I ran into him again?
Shang Wu was somewhat surprised, but seeing that it was getting late and there was an important second round of matches tomorrow.
It's not easy to get a taxi here, so she hesitated for a moment before taking the initiative to step forward.
Lu Rang was about to get into the car when he heard footsteps. He turned his head to look at her, his eyes appearing even more profound and unfathomable in the night.
"Lu Rang".
Shang Wu tried to keep her tone calm and natural. "My car was hit earlier, so it's not convenient for me to go back to the hotel to deal with it. It's also hard to get a taxi here. I wonder if I could hitch a ride?"
After she finished speaking, she felt a little uncertain.
Given his aloof attitude at dinner, he would likely refuse outright.
Lu Rang looked at her without saying a word, his face expressionless.
Just when Shang Wu thought it was hopeless, he simply withdrew his gaze, bent down, and got into the car first.
He neither agreed nor refused, as if he hadn't heard.
The driver in the driver's seat was quick-witted and immediately smiled and said to Shang Wu, "Miss Shang, please get in the car, it's on my way."
Shang Wu breathed a sigh of relief and thanked her in a low voice.
She opened the passenger door and got in.
She really didn't want to sit in the back seat next to Lu Rang; that would only make the atmosphere more awkward.
Seeing that she chose to sit in the front, Lu Rang in the back seat seemed to glance at her.
By the time Shang Wu looked over, he had already leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and was pretending that she didn't exist.
The carriage was quiet, with only the deep rumble of the engine and the faint sound of waves outside the window.
The air seemed to freeze, and every second felt incredibly long.
Shang Wu sat upright, staring straight ahead, trying to minimize his presence.
In the midst of this suffocating silence, Lu Rang suddenly spoke without warning.
His voice was deep, with a hint of barely perceptible coldness.
"Are you in contact with that Cheng Zhou?"
Shang Wu's heart skipped a beat, and her hand gripping the bag strap tightened instinctively.
He did ask, just as expected.
She recalled his cold demeanor at dinner, and his intimacy with Lu You, and a strange emotion welled up inside her.
Shang Wu tried to use the same posture she had used before to push him away.
But when she tried to speak, she found that she couldn't muster that fierce spirit, and in the end, it just turned into a somewhat dry response.
"This doesn't seem to be your business, does it?"
She paused, then added, "I'm not a nun, it's normal for me to start meeting new people, isn't it?"
After speaking, Shang Wu held her breath, waiting for his reaction.
However, there was no sound behind him.
Lu Rang seemed to have asked the question casually, and after receiving an unimportant answer, he fell silent again.
Shang Wu could even see in the rearview mirror that his eyes were still closed, and there seemed to be a tiny wrinkle between his brows.
Apart from that, there was no other emotional disclosure.
What is he thinking?
Shang Wu couldn't figure it out at all.
This unpredictable feeling bothered her more than outright disgust.
The rest of the journey was spent in this extreme repression and silence.
The car arrived at the hotel.
Shang Wu thanked the driver in a low voice, then turned and walked quickly into the hotel lobby without saying goodbye to Lu Rang.
Throughout the entire ordeal, Lu Rang neither opened his eyes nor uttered a single word.
It was as if that brief conversation had never happened.
...
The next morning.
Shang Wu adjusted her mindset and prepared to head to the competition venue.
She had just opened the door when she was surprised to see Cheng Zhou waiting outside, with a bright, even romantic, smile on his face.
"Good morning, Awu!" Cheng Zhou's voice was a few decibels louder than usual, and his eyes were sparkling as he looked at her.
Shang Wu was somewhat baffled.
"Cheng Zhou? What are you doing here so early?" And why are you smiling so strangely?
Cheng Zhou chuckled, leaned closer, and spoke with a hint of smugness and surprise.
"Still pretending? Miss Lu called me last night specifically to say that you think I'm quite good and are seriously considering getting to know me. She told me to be more proactive and seize the opportunity! Ah Wu, I really didn't expect you..."
Shang Wu was stunned for a moment.
Lu You called Cheng Zhou and said she was considering contacting him.
She only said this to Lu Rang, just a casual remark in the car on the way back last night.
So, it was Lu Rang who told Lu You? That's why Lu You was so enthusiastic about trying to match her up with Cheng Zhou.
It seems that Lu Rang has truly let her go.
The kind that you wouldn't even glance at.
Shang Wu twitched the corner of her mouth and strode towards the elevator: "I'm going to be late for the competition, I'll go first."
Cheng Zhou was still calling out from behind, "Hey? A-Wu? Wait for me! I'll take you there! Let's have breakfast together..."
Shang Wu seemed not to hear him and quickened her pace.
...
The second round's theme was improvisation.
The challenge is immense.
Shang Wu forcibly suppressed the chaotic thoughts of the previous night and focused all her attention on creating.
Inspired by a butterfly emerging from its cocoon and a broken chain, she used an extremely complex metal weaving technique to design a jewelry set full of power and beauty.
Without a doubt, Shang Wu's design once again amazed the audience, winning unanimous high scores from the judges and firmly ranking among the top in the points list.
After the competition, before Shang Wu could even recover from the joy of success, Lu You greeted her with a smile.
Shang Wu glanced at Lu Rang beside her; he looked somewhat tired.
"Ms. Shang, congratulations, another brilliant performance."
Lu You enthusiastically took her arm, her tone leaving no room for refusal, "We absolutely have to celebrate properly this time! Ah Rang and I happen to know a great private restaurant, how about we join us?"
Shang Wu instinctively wanted to refuse.
She really didn't want to face Lu Rang's unpredictable indifference and the unpleasant aftermath of last night.
She looked at Lu Rang, hoping he would act indifferent as before, giving her a reason to refuse.
However, Lu Rang merely glanced at her indifferently, offering no response whatsoever, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, as if everything was entirely up to Lu You.
This tacit approval made it even harder for Shang Wu to refuse.
Left with no other choice, she could only be half-dragged by Lu You to that upscale private restaurant located in a deep alley.
The private room was elegant and tranquil.
During the meal, Lu You continued to lead the conversation, praising Shang Wu's designs and chatting about interesting industry anecdotes, creating a seemingly harmonious atmosphere.
Lu Rang still rarely spoke, simply eating in silence. Occasionally, when Lu You looked at him, he would very naturally serve her food and water, his behavior considerate, yet carrying a sense of detachment.
After a few rounds of drinks, Lu You seemed to be in even higher spirits.
She smiled and twirled the wine glass in her hand.
Under the light, a flash of light suddenly appeared on the ring finger of her left hand.
It is a diamond ring with a simple design, yet extremely dazzling.
Shang Wu's gaze was subconsciously drawn to that light.
When she saw the design of the ring, her breath caught in her throat.
That ring...
The design of that ring was exactly the same as the one Lu Rang had prepared to use to propose to her.
She would never admit her mistake.
Lu You noticed Shang Wu's face turn pale instantly and her gaze freeze.
She seemed to just realize what was happening, smiled shyly, and proactively extended her hand to show it off.
Lu You said sweetly, "Look at me, I've been so busy chatting that I haven't officially told Miss Shang yet that A-Rang and I are engaged. This is the engagement ring he gave me. Isn't it pretty?"
As she spoke, she glanced happily at Lu Rang beside her.
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