Later on, Yan wasn’t even sure how she left the Han Group building or how she had returned home. However, when she arrived home and finally sat down, she still felt as if nothing that happened today was real. Maybe this is all happening in my dream. Otherwise, why would Han Qing ask me if I like the gift in such a gentle tone? He sounded like a boyfriend pampering a girlfriend in a loving tone. In fact, he sounded extremely loving. How useless am I? My determination crumbled when I heard that. I couldn’t even answer him, so I turned around to flee. By the time I ran out of the Han Group building, I realized that I still had my arms wrapped around the box.
She was extremely excited and opened the box carefully, noticing that it was a pure white dress designed in a style similar to that of a wedding gown. She took the dress and ran into her room before checking her reflection with the dress in front of the mirror and just couldn’t stop admiring how beautiful the dress was.
Yan had been in the fashion design industry with Han Muzi for a very long time, hence, she knew most of the famous designers. She recognized the dress immediately as one from a famous designer from W Country. The designer’s work favored women designs and he had a prominent personal style as well. He never catered to the mass market—in fact, he has mentioned before that he only designed clothes for young girls. He did not have a fetish nor was he malicious toward women from other age groups.
On the contrary, it was because his fiancée passed away at 18 years old due to cancer. That beautiful young woman fought cancer for three years, but she passed away in the end. She wore the dress designed by the designer when she passed on and he thought that it was the end of his world at that time. He was sure that he would never design another dress.
However, his beautiful fiancée had told him, “My darling, your designs are the best in the world. I don’t have any regret passing away while wearing the best designer’s dress. You shouldn’t abandon your career for me because you are a designer with a soul. That is why you should never give up in the future.” Later, the designer explained that his fiancée loved his work. They were, in fact, betrothed to each other from a very young age, as they were best friends since childhood.
Rumors had it that his original plan was to have his fiancée wear a wedding gown that was personally designed by him once she became a legal adult. After that, he’d marry her at her most beautiful age. The designer always ended up in tears at the mention of his late fiancée. He claimed that his fiancée was a beautiful and kind woman. She clearly suffered from cancer, but she always lived her life with a smile. She knew that the designer loved designing, so she insisted that he never give up—even when she was on the brink of death. The designer felt as though he had wronged his fiancée, but he did not want to disappoint her.
Yan felt helpless when she first learned about this story because it happened to the designer forty years ago. The designer was now an old man and he never married. He still designed dresses until now, and he had been designing wedding dresses for young girls all the while. He was adamant on keeping his promise to his late fiancée, persisting to the end until his death.
Yan lamented when she recalled the designer’s story. It isn’t so bad if I didn’t have him as a comparison. In comparison, I believe that I’m happier than him. At least I’m not separated from the person whom I love by death. I suppose that would be the most horrible thing. Does it prove what Lin Xuzheng and Su Jiu said now that Han Qing gave this dress to me? Maybe… I am special to him. My hard work did not go to waste. Maybe I should give it a shot for the final time. This time, I want to conquer his heart.
…
It was during dinnertime that Luo Huimei realized her daughter kept snickering while keeping her head bowed. Yan seemed distracted and she held onto her bowl of rice while having the occasional spoonful. She seemed oblivious and uninterested in the dishes that Luo Huimei spent a long time cooking. Luo Huimei squinted at Yan before tapping Yan’s bowl with her chopsticks.
Yan snapped back to reality while blinking innocently at Luo Huimei. “Mom, what is it?”
“Are you unhappy with the dinner I prepared tonight?”
“Huh?” Yan looked bewildered while she shook her head. “I am not unhappy about it. Why do you ask, though?”
“If you’re not unhappy, why aren’t you eating it?” Luo Huimei pointed at the dishes on the table. Then, she looked at Mr. Zhou. “Well, Zhou, please stop being so engrossed with your meal. Can you please pay some attention to your daughter? Just look at how thin she has become, but she’s only having rice without the dishes. Can you please be concerned about her?”
Mr. Zhou asked reflexively since he was accused out of nowhere, “How am I not concerned about my daughter? It’s trendy among young women nowadays to lose weight. I figured she thinks that she’s fat and that is why she wants to be thinner.”
Mr. Zhou never wanted to control his daughter too much now that she was an adult and he was sure that she had her own opinions. I controlled Yan too much in the past and that caused me to be estranged from my daughter for five years. That is why I believe that Yan should do whatever she wants as long as she is happy. Nevertheless, he advised her since he needed to appease Luo Huimei, “Yan, you should take good care of your health even if you’re trying to lose weight and stay in shape.” Then, he placed a piece of meat on Yan’s bowl of rice.
Yan wasn’t aware that she didn’t take any meat if her father hadn’t reminded her. Hence, she immediately devoured the meat that Mr. Zhou placed in her bowl for her to avoid Luo Huimei’s nagging. “Mom, I’m not unhappy with the food you prepared. They are delicious. I was just distracted by some matters. I’m sorry.”
“Is that so? Why don’t you tell us what’s on your mind? Are you having a relationship that you’re hiding from us?”
Yan almost choked on her food. “Mom! No!”
“No? In that case, why are you giggling the entire night? Do you think that I am inexperienced? You’re spouting lies.”
Yan was rendered speechless by Luo Huimei’s response. “I’m not in a relationship!” Nothing is even confirmed. I’d love to share the happiness of my relationship with my family, but the main thing here… is that I’m not even sure about it. “Mom, just hang in there. I’ll inform you both once I’m really in a relationship.” In the end, Yan gave in and offered a hint of details.
Luo Huimei’s eyes twinkled brightly when she heard that. “Oh, in that case, does it mean that there is hope this time? Who is it? Do I know him? How is he? Is he handsome? How is his family background? I’m telling you right now that you must not choose a handsome man with a bad personality nor would I accept a man who gambles and causes domestic violence…”
Yan was at a loss for words, feeling that she shouldn’t have said anything at all. Judging by Luo Huimei’s personality, there was a chance that she would annoy Yan from now on. “Mom, please stop asking these questions. I told you I’m not in a relationship right now. I will inform you after I’ve settled down because I’m not planning to date right now. However, I’m not rejecting the possibility if the opportunity presents itself. I didn’t mean that I found someone.”
“What did you say? Are you saying that you haven’t found a man?”
Yan nodded and she placed her bowl down to avoid any further questioning from Luo Huimei. “I’m full. You two should enjoy dinner.”
After Yan left, Luo Huimei smirked at her empty seat. “Damn it, that little girl. How dare she lie to me! Does she think that I’ve never been in love before? She was smiling like a fool but claims she doesn’t have a boyfriend.”
Mr. Zhou answered her, “She is your daughter. Don’t be so harsh on her…”
