Two Faced Lover - Chapter 24

24: Mindful

By the time they returned to Nanquan City in the afternoon, it was almost three o’clock. While waiting for the elevator at the company building, Meng Xuran received a phone call. She answered but didn’t speak, listening silently as the other person talked.

Bo Mingyan noticed a slight lift at the corners of Meng Xuran’s brows, a flicker of novelty flashing across her expression.

The person on the other end of the line must be quite familiar with Meng Xuran.

When the elevator arrived, Meng Xuran gave Bo Mingyan a look, and understanding the cue, Bo Mingyan took the elevator upstairs first.

Back in the design department, Bo Mingyan handed Gu Yuwei’s autograph to Zhou Wenlin.

Ava and Liu Yang swiveled their chairs over, craning their necks to admire the autograph before turning to Bo Mingyan.

Despite one being responsible for the male lead’s suits and the other for the female lead’s wedding dress—both working with celebrities of higher status than Gu Yuwei—they acted as if they had never seen a real-life star before, eagerly crowding around Bo Mingyan to gossip.

“Is Gu Yuwei as beautiful in person? Even prettier than on TV?” Liu Yang asked.

Liu Yang’s assistant, Tong Shiyi, chimed in, “Sister Mingyan, did you take any photos?”

“They say Gu Yuwei has a powerful backer, acts all high and mighty, and throws her weight around.” Ava said. “What’s her temper like? Didn’t give you a hard time, did she?”

“She didn’t give us any trouble. Her temper was fine, and she’s quite beautiful. I haven’t seen her dramas, but she’s probably better-looking in person. Photography wasn’t allowed, so I didn’t take any.” Bo Mingyan answered each question before sitting at her desk. While tidying up, she noticed two boxes of chocolates on the table. “Did someone get married?”

“Those are from the two new models the company hired.” Hu Jingjing said, her eyes sparkling at the mention of the models. “One’s handsome, the other’s gorgeous—so good-looking!”

“Got any photos?” Ava lamented. “Ugh, I was on leave that day and missed them!”

The company’s models were usually hired to photograph the online store’s clothing for official images, which had little to do with the haute couture team.

Bo Mingyan wasn’t particularly interested in the two models. But she couldn’t resist Ava’s enthusiastic invitation to admire the photos on Hu Jingjing’s phone together.

“Here, this is the male model.” Hu Jingjing swiped the screen.

Ava was disappointed. “Pfft—you’ve got no taste, girl. This is what you call handsome? Just a pretty boy who hasn’t grown into his looks, zero masculinity.”

Bo Mingyan’s pupils contracted as she stared at the screen.

What a small world. The “pretty boy who hasn’t grown into his looks” in Ava’s words was none other than He Chencheng, whom she had run into the day before in Shen City.

“There’s also the female model. Wait, let me find a front-facing photo. She’s really pretty—huh? I thought I took one.” Hu Jingjing pulled her phone back, scrolling through it. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted two people stepping out of the elevator and immediately pointed. “Hey, that’s the female model over there.”

From that distance, their faces were indistinguishable.

Ava patted Bo Mingyan’s shoulder. “Come on! Let’s go to the break room to get water.”

Bo Mingyan hadn’t fully processed the news that He Chencheng was the male model. Though confused, she followed Ava anyway.

Once in the break room, Ava pulled Bo Mingyan behind the door to peek outside, muttering under her breath, “Damn…”

Bo Mingyan followed Ava’s gaze.

Across the hallway, Meng Xuran walked ahead, her face expressionless, the usual “aloof” mask back in place. She tilted her head slightly, her red lips parting as she spoke.

“What made you decide to come here and be a model?”

Her mood seemed quite good—her tone was light and lilting.

“Boredom. I’ve hit a creative block with my new story, so I thought I’d come here for inspiration. Maybe even snag a designer to illustrate for me.”

The young woman following behind wore one of Moment’s best selling online store outfits. She looked about the same age as Meng Xuran. Though not stunningly beautiful, she was still quite pretty, with pleasant features.

The woman looked familiar. Bo Mingyan frowned, trying to recall where she’d seen her before, but couldn’t place her. She kept staring, unmoving.

Meng Xuran glanced at Gu Miao. “So how did the story you went abroad for inspiration turn out? Make any money?”

“I dropped it. Ended up wasting a thousand on the cover and travel expenses.” Gu Miao suddenly looped her arm around Meng Xuran’s, resting her head on Meng Xuran’s shoulder and whining theatrically, “So I came crawling back for you to take care of me.”

Meng Xuran scoffed, as if repulsed by the contact. She used her index finger to push Gu Miao’s head away and pulled her arm free.

At that very moment, Meng Xuran sensed Bo Mingyan’s gaze and turned toward the break room.

Bo Mingyan subconsciously pressed her lips together.

Before she could look away from their intertwined arms, Ava yanked her toward the water dispenser.

“Hurry, let’s get water and go back.” Ava urged.

Bo Mingyan absently replied, “Mm.”

Lush green plants by the break room door swayed slightly, obscuring the view.

Gu Miao asked, “What are you looking at?”

“Nothing.” Meng Xuran withdrew her gaze pensively, pushed open her office door, and stepped inside with Gu Miao trailing behind.

Back at her desk, Bo Mingyan took a slow, deep breath and refocused on work. She clicked open a file and sent it to Hu Jingjing’s account, instructing, “Jingjing, we need to change the fabric. Look for these colors I just sent you and find matching fabric samples for me.”

Hu Jingjing worked efficiently, quickly compiling the fabric swatches and handing them over. “Sister Mingyan, after you finish the chocolates, can I have the boxes?”

Bo Mingyan glanced at the two heart-shaped boxes on her desk and handed them both to Hu Jingjing.

Hu Jingjing blinked. “You’re giving me the chocolates too?”

“Yeah,” Bo Mingyan said flatly. “I don’t like eating chocolate.”

Hu Jingjing looked surprised. “You’re always eating candy—I thought you had a sweet tooth.”

Bo Mingyan parted her lips but didn’t respond.

She did have a sweet tooth and usually liked chocolate. But she minded who these chocolates came from—because they were from He Chencheng.

What about the other box? A little voice in her head asked.

Bo Mingyan closed her eyes, pushing away the thought, unwilling to dwell on it.

The owner of the other box was currently sprawled lazily on the sofa, watching the boiling water in the teapot on the coffee table as she rambled about her experiences abroad.

“I went overseas mainly to find a fling, with inspiration as a side quest. Damn it, she slept with me and then ran off. I’m gonna track her down.”

Just then, Lu Shan walked in with documents for Meng Xuran to sign and nearly dropped her jaw at Gu Miao’s blunt confession.

“Track her down… to get slept with again?” Meng Xuran delivered the provocative line with her usual icy composure.

Lu Shan quietly picked her jaw back up.

As she approached the desk, Meng Xuran’s eyes fell on the two boxes of chocolates. She turned to Lu Shan. “Who got married this time?”

Lu Shan glanced at Gu Miao. “They’re from Gu Miao and the new male model.”

“That male model started the gifting trend,” Gu Miao explained with a shrug. “I couldn’t let him win.”

Meng Xuran teased, “People might think it’s your wedding candy.”

“Wedding candy my ass.” Gu Miao retorted, deftly changing the subject. “Enough about me—how’s your progress? Need any help?”

Meng Xuran ignored her and handed the two chocolate boxes to Lu Shan. “You can go now.”

Sensing a more private conversation was about to happen, Lu Shan took the chocolates and hastily retreated.

After leaving the office, Lu Shan beelined for Hu Jingjing’s desk. “Hu Liuri, Little Meng gave me her two boxes. Here’s one for you.”

“Sister Mingyan already gave me two. You keep them.” Hu Jingjing cradled her two boxes like treasures, showing them off to Lu Shan.

Ava cut in, asking Lu Shan, “That girl who went into Little Meng’s office just now—does she know her?”

Bo Mingyan stared at her computer screen, but her hand on the mouse stilled, ears subconsciously perking up.

“You mean Gu Miao? She’s Little Meng’s best friend. She used to come by all the time to hang out, but then she went traveling abroad and stopped visiting.” Lu Shan explained.

The words “Gu” and “abroad” clicked in Bo Mingyan’s mind, and she suddenly remembered—Gu Miao was the person who had shown her and Lu Yo the apartment on the day they rented it.

Back then, Gu Miao had short hair, which was why Bo Mingyan hadn’t recognized her immediately.

It also dawned on Bo Mingyan that the night she picked Meng Xuran up from the bar, Meng Xuran had mentioned going to meet a friend who had returned from abroad. That friend must have been Gu Miao.

The image of Gu Miao clinging to Meng Xuran’s arm flashed through her mind again.

A lump of discomfort settled in her chest, stifling.

Even if she didn’t want to dwell on it, she had to admit—she minded.

The moment this realization surfaced, Bo Mingyan’s heart skipped a beat, as if something had lightly scratched at it.

Had it been so long since she’d been close to someone that Meng Xuran merely hugging her yesterday and sharing a bed had dredged up the possessiveness she’d buried deep inside?

She had learned long ago that even her mother wouldn’t belong solely to her—let alone a close friend.

Hell, she wasn’t even sure if she and Meng Xuran could be considered friends.

The closeness she’d felt during their business trip these past two days now seemed to have cracked open, letting in a draft.

Wind rushed through the open window, carrying the early autumn chill.

Bo Mingyan took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes. When she put them back on, her gaze was once again emotionless.

The moment Lu Shan left, Gu Miao turned into a broken record. “Need help? Need help?”

“You’re so annoying,” Meng Xuran said coldly, flipping through documents. “No.”

“You sure?” Gu Miao couldn’t resist pouring cold water. “Don’t come crying to me later if you scare her off again and end up never—”

Meng Xuran’s expression darkened. Her usually soft eyes fixed on Gu Miao, icy and unblinking.

If looks could kill, Gu Miao would’ve been riddled with holes.

“I’m just looking out for you. As a writer, I’m great at this stuff! Plus, I’ve got tons of real-life experience!” Gu Miao boasted proudly. But when she peeked at Meng Xuran and saw her silent, frosty glare unchanged, she wilted.

“Fine, have it your way.” Gu Miao grumbled. She’d been talking nonstop and poured herself tea, gulping half of it down. “Don’t come crying to me later.”

“Wahhh, she doesn’t want me, she rejected me, wahhh, I’m so good, so pretty, so adorable, gentle, generous…”

Gu Miao mimicked Meng Xuran’s tearful, snotty meltdown from years ago, fake-sobbing dramatically. Mid-performance, she noticed Meng Xuran walking over with a face like ice and wisely shut up, scooting to the opposite side of the sofa.

Meng Xuran sat in the spot she had just vacated, poured tea into the cup in front of her, and handed it to Gu Miao: “Let’s talk.”

There was a distinct air of interrogation about it.

Gu Miao accepted the teacup with trepidation, slightly dazed: “Talk about what?”

A faint blush spread across Meng Xuran’s porcelain-like face. She bit her lip and slowly uttered four words:

“Practical experience.”