The next few days felt like a blur for Su Nian. After her conversation with Lu Cheng, she had been left alone with her thoughts, torn between the truth he had revealed and her growing feelings for him. She couldn't deny that the moment she met him, something inside her had clicked, something deep and undeniable. But the weight of his family's manipulation and the way their marriage had started made her question everything.
She had spent the last few days trying to push those doubts aside, focusing on her work and the upcoming events that awaited her at the academy. But no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept drifting back to Lu Cheng—his words, his sincerity, and the way his eyes looked when he said he would wait for her.
And then, just as she was beginning to feel like she might have a handle on her emotions, things took an unexpected turn.
It was an unusually quiet afternoon when Su Nian found herself in the design studio, sketching new ideas for her upcoming project. The silence was comforting, allowing her to focus completely on her work. However, that peace was broken by the sound of heels clicking against the floor—a sound she immediately recognized.
Before she could turn around, a familiar voice cut through the air.
"Well, well, if it isn't Su Nian, the 'lucky girl' who landed herself a billionaire husband."
Su Nian's heart skipped a beat as she slowly turned around. Standing in the doorway was none other than Camila, her face framed by her usual arrogant smile. But today, there was something different in her expression. There was a certain smugness in her eyes that unsettled Su Nian.
"What are you doing here?" Su Nian asked, her voice steady despite the knot forming in her stomach.
Camila walked into the room, her gaze sweeping over the sketches on the table before settling on Su Nian. "I just thought I'd drop by and congratulate you on your victory. But I suppose it's not just your talent that got you where you are, is it?"
Su Nian stiffened, clenching her fists. "What are you insinuating?"
"Oh, don't play coy," Camila said with a sneer. "Everyone knows the only reason you're at this academy is because you've got a rich husband pulling strings for you. It's pathetic, really."
Su Nian's breath caught in her throat. She had heard the rumors, of course, but hearing them from Camila's lips made them feel even more real. "I didn't get here because of him. I got here because of my talent."
Camila raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a mocking smile. "Sure, sweetheart. Keep telling yourself that."
Su Nian took a step forward, her eyes narrowing. "Why are you really here, Camila? Did you come to gloat?"
Camila's smile faltered, and for a brief moment, Su Nian saw a flicker of something in her eyes—something like regret. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by her usual cold demeanor.
"I came because I'm concerned," Camila said, her voice lowering. "About you. About your marriage."
Su Nian's heart skipped a beat. "What about my marriage?"
Camila leaned in slightly, her voice almost a whisper. "You really have no idea, do you? You think Lu Cheng is the perfect husband, but there's something you don't know. Something that will change everything."
Su Nian's mind raced. "What are you talking about?"
Before Camila could respond, the door to the studio opened, and a voice Su Nian would recognize anywhere called out, "Camila."
Both women turned to see Lu Cheng standing in the doorway, his eyes hard as stone. His gaze flicked briefly to Su Nian before settling on Camila, a quiet tension between them.
"Is there something you need?" Lu Cheng's voice was cold, but there was an underlying edge to it that made Su Nian's heart race.
Camila didn't flinch, but Su Nian could see the way her lips pressed into a thin line. "I was just leaving," she said, her eyes meeting Su Nian's one last time before she turned and walked toward the door.
As soon as Camila was gone, the room seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Su Nian's thoughts were spinning, her heart pounding. There was something off about the way Camila had spoken to her, but now, with Lu Cheng standing in front of her, all those feelings melted into confusion.
Lu Cheng stepped closer to Su Nian, his brow furrowing slightly as he regarded her with concern. "Are you okay?"
Su Nian didn't know how to respond. Her thoughts were still on the conversation with Camila, and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. "I'm fine," she said, her voice steady. "But what did she mean? What did she mean about my marriage?"
Lu Cheng sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. "She's trying to manipulate you, Nian Nian. She's been trying to cause trouble for us since the moment we met. But you don't need to listen to her. There's nothing you should worry about."
Su Nian looked at him, searching his face for the truth. "But why would she say those things? Why does she keep coming after me?"
He hesitated, his eyes clouding for a moment. "Camila has her own issues. She's always been... possessive. And she hates the idea of anyone taking what she believes belongs to her."
Su Nian's heart raced. "And what does she think she has a claim on? You? Our marriage?"
Lu Cheng's gaze darkened, and for a moment, Su Nian saw a flicker of something in his eyes. It was like a warning, a secret he was holding back. But just as quickly as it appeared, he masked it with a smile.
"She doesn't have a claim on me," Lu Cheng said firmly, reaching out to take her hand. "And she certainly doesn't have a claim on our marriage. Don't let her get into your head, Nian Nian."
But Su Nian wasn't sure if she could let it go that easily. Camila's words had planted a seed of doubt in her heart, and she didn't know how to erase it. The nagging feeling that Lu Cheng was hiding something, something important, wouldn't go away.
That night, Su Nian lay in bed, her thoughts tangled and restless. The confrontation with Camila had left her feeling unsettled, but it was Lu Cheng's cryptic words that kept her awake. What was he hiding? And why did he seem so distant all of a sudden?
She closed her eyes, but the doubts lingered. Could she trust him completely? Or was there more to this story than he had let on?
The following day, things only became more complicated when she received an unexpected phone call from someone she never expected.
"Su Nian?" the voice on the other end said, hesitant yet firm. "I'm Lily. Lu Cheng's ex-fiancée."