Willing to Be for Her - Chapter 12

The sandalwood on the table exuded a tranquil, heavy fragrance. Luo Xuan finally noticed the stiffness and stinging pain in her fingers.

Instinctively, she hid her hand behind her back. Chi Li’s indignant voice continued to pour from the phone.

“Xuanxuanxuan, let me tell you, this is definitely Luo Wei’s doing! Her popularity has been declining lately, and there’s talk of replacing her as the lead in that drama with someone else.”

Luo Xuan scrolled through the comments under the trending topic. If this was Luo Wei’s goal, she had certainly achieved it.

Rainbow Cake: They’re such a perfect match! Restrained CEO x Beautiful, Strong, and Tragic Actress. Giving her only a single Buddhist bead—isn’t that a clear declaration that she’s his one and only?!

Eighth Day of the Week: Too bad there’s no photo of the CEO. I’d love to see how handsome he is! Our Luo Wei is so A-list and stunning!

“Xuanxuanxuan, why aren’t you saying anything? Don’t scare me! Should I come over and keep you company?”

“I’m not a child. You don’t need to worry,” Luo Xuan reassured Chi Li, her bl00d dripping onto the floor like blooming flowers. “You should focus on preparing for your interview next week. It’s your dream company, after all.”

Over the phone, the two women went back and forth several times. After Luo Xuan repeatedly emphasized the importance of Chi Li’s interview, Chi Li finally hung up, reluctantly.

The room fell silent again. Luo Xuan gripped the small carving knife in one hand, desperately trying to calm herself, but her breathing grew tighter, drier, and heavier.

In the small room, Xia Zhiwan finished admiring Luo Xuan’s wood carvings once more. “Luo Xuan, the invitation to become a sculptor at the art museum still stands. I truly value talent.”

“Sister Zhiwan, I haven’t thought that far ahead.”

Xia Zhiwan handed Luo Xuan a late-night snack and said softly, “Don’t you want more people to appreciate and admire your wood carvings?”

Luo Xuan fell silent. Her mother had been a skilled sculptor whose work had garnered significant attention in the industry, but after getting married, she gradually faded into obscurity.

*My mother must have regrets,* Luo Xuan thought.

“You can think about it some more. You love wood carving, and it can bring you wealth and recognition. That’s not corruption, but validation,” Xia Zhiwan chuckled. “Just give it some more thought.”

After Xia Zhiwan left, the studio filled with wood carvings fell silent again. Luo Xuan toyed with the mask in her hand, the lamplight illuminating her young, gentle, yet lost and world-weary face.

The carving knife danced ceaselessly between her jade-like fingers, a faint sense of confusion lingering in her heart.

Ning Yiqing must have seen the trending topic too. Luo Xuan repeatedly tapped her phone, unsure whether to text her and, if so, what to say.

Opening their text conversation, Luo Xuan continued to fidget with her phone, finally sending a single “?”.

*Texts can’t be unsent,* Luo Xuan thought, covering her face in frustration. Ning Yiqing hated wasting time, and sending such a meaningless symbol was simply…

Before Luo Xuan could finish berating herself, her phone vibrated.

Ning Yiqing: *Can’t sleep?*

Luo Xuan quickly replied: *Just bored, scrolling through my phone.*

Ning Yiqing: *Go to bed early. Don’t overthink things. We’ll see each other tomorrow. Be good.*

Though Ning Yiqing’s response was vague, Luo Xuan felt the stone lodged in her chest slowly sink to the bottom, leaving only faint ripples.

It seemed this was just a minor incident, not worth dwelling on.

The next day, the workshop was filled with bartending equipment, glasses, and ingredients: a bubble machine, a smoking gun, crystal glasses, and various spices and fruits like lemons, grapefruits, cinnamon, and maple wood.

Chi Li passed by and mixed herself a lemon cola. “You’re meeting President Ning today,” she remarked, sipping her drink. “You look much better than before.”

Luo Xuan hung a phoenix mask and a colorful pinwheel outside the door. The pinwheel spun in the breeze, its motion resembling the fluttering wings of a phoenix about to take flight, shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight.

“Is it that obvious?”

“Definitely! What’s that called? Spring fever,” Chi Li said, biting her straw as she walked away. “I won’t disturb you any longer.”

Luo Xuan: “……”

That evening, fireworks erupted across the river, filling the sky with dazzling bursts of light. Each glittering spark bloomed into a radiant cascade, falling and rising again in an endless cycle.

Until damp raindrops began to fall on the faces of everyone gazing up at the spectacle.

The fireworks and light rain illuminated Luo Xuan, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across her clear, exquisite face. She pulled out her phone to capture the moment, then frowned, realizing she hadn’t added Ning Yiqing on WeChat, making it difficult to send the video.

Ning Yiqing, let’s add each other on WeChat. I have something to show you.

Xiao Xuan, I’m sorry, I have a last-minute engagement. We’ll have to postpone our meeting.

Luo Xuan stared blankly at the message, her head bowed. Amidst the dazzling, vibrant lights, she looked like a small, deactivated robot.

Nearby, under the brilliant glow of streetlights, a refined and elegant woman stood beside a luxurious black car with a silver roof. Her right hand was wrapped with snow-blue Buddhist prayer beads, her tall, jade-like figure radiating a natural nobility and aloofness in the rain-drenched twilight, making her seem distant and unattainable.

The entire Luo Family emerged from the opulent restaurant, holding umbrellas to greet her. Luo Wei stepped forward with a warm smile, approaching Ning Yiqing.

Luo Xuan watched silently as the two women stood beneath the same umbrella, the restaurant’s warm light enveloping them like a misty halo.