Two Faced Lover - Chapter 19

19: Standard Room

Upon arriving in Shen City, after a quick lunch, Bo Mingyan followed Meng Xuran to a hotel suite near the film studio, where they met the director, costume designer, and screenwriter of the Assassination.

The director was very fond of Meng Xuran’s designs and showered her with praise. Meng Xuran stood by with a faint smile, responding with effortless grace.

“Like father, like daughter—they say a tiger father doesn’t sire a dog. Both of President Fu’s daughters are exceptional, each more remarkable than the last.” the costume designer chimed in.

The smile on Meng Xuran’s face faded slightly. “You flatter me. Compared to them, I still have a ways to go.”

She picked up her cup and drained the remaining water.

Bo Mingyan stood up and reached for the teapot on the center coffee table.

“Not at all—” The costume designer clutched her cup and glanced up at Bo Mingyan, who was refilling the water. “Thank you.”

The topic was effectively cut short.

Bo Mingyan refilled everyone’s cups, moving around the room before finally stopping beside Meng Xuran.

As she took the cup, her fingertips brushed against Meng Xuran’s.

At that moment, Meng Xuran looked up at her. Bo Mingyan’s movements paused briefly, her gaze and fingers both shifting away.

Half a cup of warm water—just the right temperature.

Meng Xuran’s long lashes fluttered slightly as she steered the conversation back on track. “Let’s bring out the design drafts and see if there are any revisions the experts would suggest.”

“Alright.” Bo Mingyan responded, retrieving a document folder from her bag.

The discussion lasted until four in the afternoon. Midway through, Meng Xuran received a call—Gu Yuwei’s meeting would wrap up around 5:30. Since the two locations were far apart, they didn’t linger after the discussion and immediately headed to Huafeng Tower, where the magazine office was located.

In the reception lobby on the first floor of Huafeng Tower, Gu Yuwei’s assistant and the magazine’s deputy editor-in-chief, Wei Lan, were already waiting.

As soon as Meng Xuran and Bo Mingyan came into view, Wei Lan hurried over enthusiastically, ushering them toward the elevators.

From the lobby to the elevator, Wei Lan kept up a steady stream of small talk with Meng Xuran.

Half of her words circled around borrowing clothes for collaborations, while the other half were attempts to persuade Meng Xuran to spare an hour for an exclusive interview.

Between the lines, she was subtly probing Meng Xuran’s willingness to cooperate.

Meng Xuran responded ambiguously—neither agreeing nor refusing.

Her hands were clasped behind her back, her right gripping her left forearm.

Her left hand, hanging loosely by her side, held her bag, fingers idly playing with the pearl chain—tapping, twisting, never pausing.

Perhaps she was growing impatient from waiting, or perhaps she simply disliked this kind of back-and-forth.

Bo Mingyan averted her gaze and glanced at Gu Yuwei’s assistant beside her. The girl looked young—aside from a brief self-introduction earlier, she had stayed quiet, occasionally checking her watch.

The elevator arrived, bringing a crowd of people, temporarily interrupting Wei Lan and Meng Xuran’s conversation.

Once inside the elevator, Bo Mingyan noticed the assistant checking her watch again. Raising an eyebrow, she asked casually, “Is Ms. Gu available now?”

“They were shooting the third set of photos when you arrived. Not sure if they’ve finished yet. We have to leave for the airport afterward.” the assistant murmured, stealing a glance at Meng Xuran. “Time might be a little tight.”

Meng Xuran replied coolly, “Just taking measurements. It’ll only take a few minutes.”

“The shoot won’t take long—Ms. Gu has great features and a strong presence in front of the camera.” Wei Lan cut in. “You’ve got the looks too, Ms. Meng. If you ever do a shoot, it’d be quick. Wouldn’t take much time at all.”

Meng Xuran responded indifferently, “I’ll give it a try when I have time.”

No one knew when that “time” would be.

Meng Xuran had a habit—her tone shifted with her mood. When pleased, her voice lifted; when displeased, it dipped.

Bo Mingyan arched a brow and, before Wei Lan could speak again, turned to Gu Yuwei’s assistant. “I looked up Ms. Gu’s profile earlier online—she’s allergic to acrylic fiber, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right. A lot of sweaters use that material, don’t they?” The assistant continued when Bo Mingyan nodded, “Ms. Gu breaks out in rashes if she wears it. Pure wool is fine, though.”

Bo Mingyan opened her phone’s notepad and pressed further, “Aside from that, is she allergic to any other fabrics, dyes, or metal accessories?”

“For metal, she can only wear pure silver or gold—anything else gives her a reaction.” The assistant thought for a moment. “Nothing else comes to mind. I’ll double-check with her later and send you a summary, okay?”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.” Bo Mingyan said gently.

With the conversation diverted, Wei Lan fell silent. Meng Xuran’s hands, previously behind her back, moved to her front. She studied Bo Mingyan’s profile for a moment, then curled her lips into a faint, silent smile.

After exiting the elevator, Wei Lan led them to the photography studio, then took a phone call and excused herself, leaving first.

Gu Yuwei wasn’t in the studio.

The assistant went in to speak with a short-haired woman, then glanced outside several times with an uneasy expression. After a moment, she came out and said, “I’m really sorry—Ms. Gu is doing an interview right now. I’m afraid you’ll have to wait a little longer.”

She carefully studied Meng Xuran’s reaction and added, “It won’t take long!”

In The Assassination, the female characters’ costumes were primarily qipaos, which required custom tailoring. Worried that the measurements provided by the celebrity’s team might be inaccurate, Meng Xuran always took them herself. She knew all too well that if they missed this opportunity, rescheduling would be even more troublesome.

Like it or not, they had no choice but to wait.

After standing for a while, Meng Xuran said, “Come with me to the restroom.”

Bo Mingyan froze.

In her youth, she’d been too proud; later, too withdrawn. Bo Mingyan had always been one to walk alone. To this day, she still didn’t quite understand why some women needed company just to visit the restroom.

“Alright.” Bo Mingyan said.

The floor’s restroom had only two stalls, both empty. They each entered one.

When Bo Mingyan emerged and approached the sinks, the stall door behind her opened. The crisp click of high heels grew nearer until Meng Xuran took position at the adjacent sink.

The sound of two streams of water merged into one.

Unable to hold back, Bo Mingyan asked, “Why don’t you want to collaborate with the magazine?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to. I used to want it quite badly, but they looked down on me back then. When I started my company, I wanted to rely on myself, so when Moment was established, I didn’t say a word to my dad. In the eyes of outsiders, Moment was just a small company founded by some unknown designer, and we often hit walls when seeking collaborations. After my Four Seasons collection came out, my dad thought I had proven my capabilities, so he revealed my identity. After that, things started to change.”

Meng Xuran’s clear voice mingled with the sound of running water. Her slender, jade-like fingers flicked at the water droplets, and she said with nonchalance, “I’m just… a little vindictive.”

“The magazine’s circulation and advertising rates rank in the top five domestically, and its influence is significant. Borrowing outfits for an exclusive interview could help more people understand your designs and creative philosophy.” Bo Mingyan turned off her faucet. “It’s like a megaphone—you can use it to announce to everyone that you’re an outstanding individual, independent of your father.”

She dried the water droplets from her hands, paused for a moment, then added, “But if you really don’t want to, then just follow your heart.”

Meng Xuran froze.

She had rejected many olive branches extended by companies that once looked down on her. Others said it was because the little princess held grudges and wanted to make those people regret their past arrogance.

But that wasn’t the case at all. She just couldn’t tell whether the change in their attitudes was because they had witnessed her talent or because of the backing she now had.

From the mirror, Bo Mingyan caught sight of Meng Xuran turning off the faucet and slowly drying her hands with a paper towel. Her eyes were downcast, lost in thought, as if pondering something.

A droplet of water hanging from the spout finally fell, blooming into a tiny splash against the drain.

Since Meng Xuran didn’t respond, Bo Mingyan assumed the topic had ended there.

Not long after they left the restroom, Gu Yuwei finished her shoot. Her looks were in the same vein as Meng Xuran’s—classically elegant with an Eastern charm—but with a cooler edge.

After taking measurements, Bo Mingyan remembered Zhou Wenlin’s request and stopped Gu Yuwei to ask, “Ms. Gu, could I get your autograph?”

Gu Yuwei replied, “Sure. Where would you like it?”

Meng Xuran, who had been rummaging through her bag for her phone, lifted her eyes slightly at the question.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Gu Yuwei take the pen from Bo Mingyan’s hand. Bo Mingyan held out her sketchbook for Gu Yuwei to sign, tilting her head slightly to the side.

Meng Xuran’s brows furrowed faintly. She lowered her head and began typing a message to Lu Shan.

Bo Mingyan glanced at her, then let her gaze drop to the carpet.

Sure enough, the hair tie had fallen out when Meng Xuran took out her phone.

After Gu Yuwei finished signing, she left first.

Bo Mingyan walked over to Meng Xuran, bent down, and picked up the hair tie from the carpet. “Put it away properly.”

“My bag’s too full—there’s no room.” Meng Xuran stretched the hair tie and slipped it onto Bo Mingyan’s wrist. “You hold onto it for me.”

Bo Mingyan: “…Why don’t you wear it yourself?”

No sooner had she spoken than Meng Xuran fished out another hair tie from her bag and looped it around her own wrist. Then, with a little shake of her hand, she gave Bo Mingyan a look that said, See? Happy now?

“…”

Then that would free up space in the bag for it.

Bo Mingyan opened her mouth, about to say exactly that—but then she noticed Meng Xuran studying her thoughtfully, and the words that came out instead were: “What?”

“Didn’t peg you for the fangirl type,” Meng Xuran said, turning toward the elevators. “You like Gu Yuwei?”

Bo Mingyan followed. “That was for Wenlin’s daughter. She’s a fan.”

Meng Xuran let out a long, drawn-out “Ohhh,” her steps suddenly lighter.

They stopped at the elevator bank.

Bo Mingyan asked, “Are we heading back now?”

“Nope.” Meng Xuran pressed the call button. “I just scheduled an interview with Wei Lan for tomorrow. We’re staying an extra day.”

Bo Mingyan didn’t see how that involved her. “So… I go back alone?”

Meng Xuran turned and fixed her with an indignant glare. “You were the one who talked me into doing the interview, weren’t you?”

Bo Mingyan: “…I guess?”

“Then you have to stay with me.” Meng Xuran stated it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“…” Well, she’s not wrong.

Just then, Meng Xuran’s phone buzzed.

Bo Mingyan heard her tsk softly and glanced over.

Their eyes met—then darted away.

Meng Xuran held down the voice message button: “Never mind. Consider it cost-saving for the company.”

After sending it, she tilted her head at Bo Mingyan. “You’re fine with sharing a twin room tonight, right?”

Bo Mingyan: “…”

You’re already stooping to “save company money”—like I have a choice?

Meanwhile, Lu Shan stared at her phone, where the chat log read:

[Little Boss Meng]: Book me a room near Huafeng Tower.

[63]: Done. [Photo]

[Little Boss Meng]: Why a twin room?

[63]: You said just one room?

[63]: Should I cancel and rebook? Like usual—one luxury king, one standard double?

The last message was Meng Xuran’s voice note.

Lu Shan listened to it once, scratched her head, then played it again.

Her conclusion: The Little Boss must’ve worked herself into delirium today. Nothing about this is normal.