RITM - 47

Chapter 47: The Fifteen-Sided Mirror - Awakening (4)

Seeing her face turn as red as a ripe tomato, his lips curled into a confident smirk. Just as he prepared to press further, he suddenly heard her let out a sharp cry and leap up. A wave of excruciating pain hit him below the belt. To borrow a phrase from Haruki Murakami, it felt like “the world had come to an end.” His mouth opened, but no sound came out. Within seconds, he collapsed to his knees, clutching himself in agony.

It was that line—”you’ll never have to work another day in your life”—that transformed Xiao Lajiao from a shy girl back into Kick-to-the-Groin Girl. She had always prided herself on being independent, refusing to rely on her family, and despised hearing such patriarchal remarks. She glared down at him coldly: “Do that again, and I’ll report you for sexual harassment.”

Lu Xiren had anticipated the beginning of this story but not its ending. In unbearable pain, he pointed a trembling finger at her, watching her walk farther away. A terrifying realization dawned on him: Lu Xiren, the veteran of the dating scene, had been… rejected before he even managed to hand over the flowers.

---

Recently, Luo Wei’s heart had naturally been heavy with sorrow, but she had discovered a new breakthrough in her career—a bittersweet antidote to her troubled personal life. This breakthrough was none other than Xie Xinqi’s shockingly low emotional intelligence.

As the daughter of a famous wealthy businessman in Gongzhou, Xie Xinqi was astonishingly ignorant of business. Not only did she possess the talent of an artist, but she also had the temperament of one—whenever money was mentioned, she acted as petulantly as a kindergarten child. On the eve of Xie Xinqi’s new product launch, Luo Wei had already heard rumors swirling around Cici: Xie Xinqi had designed an emerald-and-cultured-pearl necklace and earring set with an exorbitant production cost, intending to make it the flagship product. Its price was several times higher than that of all competing products on the market. No matter how much pressure the company executives put on her to revise the plan and cut costs, she refused to compromise, even threatening to resign or withdraw Xie Corporation’s sponsorship. Even more baffling was her insistence on not using a top-tier actress as the product spokesperson. Instead, she invited a relatively unknown ballet dancer famous only in France, claiming that only her movements could perfectly interpret the artistic meaning of the piece. Rumor had it that Cici’s internal discussions were heated, and no one knew what the final decision would be. But for Luo Wei, Xie Xinqi’s naivety and impulsiveness were more than enough. She had already begun drafting a preliminary plan for Mélanie Green’s new product campaign.

“What? Design another high-end jewelry collection?” The designer was so startled that he adjusted his glasses nervously. “But, Miss Luo, our scale and reputation in the industry... aren’t exactly ideal. Mélanie Green is already a second-tier brand, and this initial transformation coincides with Xie Xinqi’s launch. It just feels like...”

Luo Wei smiled brightly. “I’m just saying we should prepare a second plan—I haven’t made any final decisions yet. Are you really this afraid? Is this kind of overwhelming fear and lack of confidence something they teach at Istituto Marangoni?”

“O-of course not, but...”

“Believe in yourself. You’re a talented designer—you’re just not as high-profile as Miss Xie. Remember, we’re aiming for luxury. Replace all gemstone materials with the best quality. Minor adjustments are up to you—I’ll handle the rest.” Luo Wei patted her chest confidently and winked at the designer.

She walked out of the studio alone, lost in thought for a long time before dialing a number she hadn’t called in over a year. In the empty corridor, she listened to the ringing tone and the uncertain sound of her own footsteps until finally, a voice on the other end said, “Hello.” She stopped, gazing at her reflection in the shop window beside her, practicing a perfectly affable smile. “Hey, Jianian, it’s been a while since we last talked. What have you been up to?”

“What do you want?”

Su Jianian sounded distant, but upon closer inspection, there was an unnatural edge of forced strength in his tone, indicating he was putting on a brave front. Reassured, she continued: “Of course, I only contact my good friends when there’s something good happening. To repay you for helping me find a job last year, I’d like to offer you an easy way to make some money—be the spokesperson for Mélanie Green’s new collection. What do you think?”

“I’m not interested.”

“You’re an artist. If you don’t endorse fine jewelry, are you going to endorse carbonated drinks instead?”

“Anything else?”

“How about this: let’s make a bet. If I win, you agree to take on this job. If you win, I’ll do one thing for you unconditionally. Doesn’t that sound like a fair deal?”

“...What kind of bet?”

“I bet that after you endorse us, Mélanie Green’s performance will surpass Cici’s.”

“You’re twisting concepts here. Besides, why should I care whether Mélanie Green performs well or not?” After hearing Luo Wei chuckle lightly, Su Jianian fell silent for a long moment before finally replying in a cold, detached tone: “Let me think about it.”

“Alright, the fact that you’re willing to consider it means I still have a chance. I’m already touched.”

After hanging up, Luo Wei didn’t have to wait long before receiving a text from Su Jianian. Its content surprised her: “There’s nothing I need you to do. Forget it.”

She had expected him to at least demand something impossible, but he was proving to be more difficult than anticipated. Still, she had another plan brewing.

The opportunity came on September 29th, at the wedding of an elementary school senior. The groom was Su Jianian’s classmate, and Luo Wei had managed to sneak in through Xiao Lajiao’s connections—this was her chance to persuade Su Jianian again.

Clearly, the newlyweds hadn’t considered the weather when deciding to hold their wedding indoors. On the day of the wedding, a typhoon swept across Gongzhou from the northern hemisphere. The city’s towering skyscrapers stood firm like a steel jungle, but the parks transformed into real-life versions of Ruisdael’s oil paintings, with massive trees bent nearly parallel to the ground. Then, the rain clouds became the painter’s hand, and the typhoon acted as countless white brushes, streaking dense raindrops across the gray sky, creating a web of desolation. Luo Wei got out of a taxi at the hotel entrance, pushed her way into the chapel with the crowd, and took her seat next to Su Jianian and Xiao Lajiao, presenting her invitation.

Su Jianian harbored resentment toward her, his attitude lukewarm and his conversation sparse. She keenly sensed that he didn’t truly dislike her, so she clarified that He Yingze’s intervention on her behalf was purely out of old friendship. Seeing him begin to waver between doubt and belief, she pulled out her ultimate weapon—their childhood memories—and recounted various embarrassing moments from their youth, carefully avoiding any mention of business collaboration. Before long, he softened, his lips unconsciously curling into a faint smile; soon after, he chuckled softly. Finally, with Xiao Lajiao’s encouragement, she seized the opportunity to snap a selfie with Su Jianian.

Thrilled with her success, she got up to leave and send work emails, only to spot a familiar figure in the distance.

It was He Yingze!

Only then did she belatedly remember that the groom had been one of Xiao Ying’s followers during his school days, even teasing her and Xiao Ying back then. A sudden surge of joy overwhelmed her heart—a feeling so familiar. Back in elementary school, whenever she spotted someone resembling Xiao Ying among the older students, she would experience this same rush of emotion, even before confirming it was him.

But her excitement quickly faded when she noticed a woman holding his arm—it was Ni Lei. Their linked arms exuded intimacy and ease, completely unlike the stiff atmosphere that always surrounded her and He Yingze.

Suddenly, she understood what it felt like to have her heart hollowed out—not inch by inch, but in an instant. She had always known their relationship status, but since moving in with He Yingze, she hadn’t seen Ni Lei, causing the reality of his relationship to fade from her mind.

He had a girlfriend—Ni Lei was his girlfriend. Realizing this truth, she felt not only sadness but also an inexplicable fear. When Ni Lei inadvertently caught her gaze, her first instinct was to flee. But Ni Lei called out to her: “Luo Wei? Luo Wei! Over here!”

He Yingze turned his head as well. He wore a casual black suit and a light purple shirt, with a simple wristwatch, yet he appeared far more elegant than the male guests adorned with bow ties and flowers. Even from afar, she could feel the icy weight of his gaze. Unable to meet his eyes, she forced herself to approach them, her gaze wavering as she greeted them awkwardly. Ni Lei remained warm and friendly, and he showed no discomfort, though his eyes remained fixed on her, deep in thought.

“You’re here too,” his voice drifted down to her. As it reached her ears, her earlobes burned with heat.

“Y-yes...” She felt as if she were stripped naked and thrown into a marketplace, able only to lower her head and respond briefly, unable to regain her usual cheerfulness. Memories flooded her mind—the countless moments she had fallen for him, their kisses, and that night when they had slept back-to-back on the same bed. She felt guilty toward Ni Lei and ashamed to face He Yingze. She felt like a morally condemned villain.

No. In truth, she was nothing—she hadn’t even been given the chance to hear him say, “I like you.” He had never belonged to her in the first place. Memories and self-deceptive ambiguity couldn’t stand up to reality. She had merely magnified her own feelings, imagining herself as the heroine of his story.

Whether it was her vague first love for him or her sympathy for his past, these were all her emotions. They had nothing to do with him.