After Bankruptcy, the Billionaire Asked Me to Marry Him!
Chapter 330: Looking Ahead is the Right Reasoning

Chapter 330: Chapter 330: Looking Ahead is the Right Reasoning

"Lizi, didn’t you say you two... don’t know each other?"

But it doesn’t look like that, does it?

As they walked to the dining area and sat down, Wan Mingyi glanced at Luo Changchuan, who was surrounded by the new designers, then turned back to look at Ye Li with an amused expression.

Ye Li smiled, "Maybe because I’ve studied him before."

Studying design is like learning how to draw; you just sketch randomly during the beginning stages.

But once you dive deeper, you start researching major designers or artists from various schools of thought, analyzing their works to grasp their ideas and inspirations at the time.

The more you learn, the more enlightenment you gain, and your own design or art improves significantly.

"As for Luo Changchuan, he’s talented, has great operational skills, and even has the face and body of a supermodel..."

Nodding in the direction of the tall and striking figure at the buffet table, Ye Li chuckled, "When I studied his works, guess what I found out?"

Wan Mingyi blinked, wearing an expression of "Don’t tell me—how could I possibly know?" curiosity.

Ye Li smiled wider, "He worked part-time as a model during college."

"Just a model, so what’s the big—"

Before finishing her sentence, she caught Ye Li’s wide, sparkling eyes and looked shocked. "No way?"

"Oh, way. Please make good use of the Internet."

Seeing Luo Changchuan walking over to them, Ye Li coughed lightly and lowered her head to concentrate on her food.

Luo Changchuan sat down next to Wan Mingyi with a casual demeanor.

A sudden wave of warmth surged to Wan Mingyi’s face. Just as she was about to point out that no one invited him, her gaze followed his and landed on Chen Jiayuan a few steps away.

Shooting him a glare, Wan Mingyi turned back with a grin to Luo Changchuan, "Thank you!"

???

Ye Li glanced at Wan Mingyi and then at Luo Changchuan, and a thought popped into her head.

Could it be... that these two have something going on?

Hating people who lack tact the most, Ye Li would never be that kind of person herself.

Finishing the small, diverse selection on her plate with a few bites, Ye Li smiled gracefully and politely, "You two, enjoy!"

Then, with poise, she got up and left.

Wan Mingyi: ...

Luo Changchuan: ???

"Considering I’ve helped you out several times before, would you mind if I ask you something?"

Luo Changchuan asked.

Her heart thudding wildly, Wan Mingyi nodded.

Luo Changchuan raised his chin slightly, "Including the time when I scouted new designers and today, I’ve met her twice in total. Why does it feel like every look she gives me is filled with disdain? Did I offend your boss somehow?"

Her racing heart calmed down, and Wan Mingyi chuckled, "I asked her that too. She said she studied both domestic and international designers, and you were one of them. Maybe because of all that research, she feels an odd sense of familiarity with you... as if she’s known you for years."

Because she feels familiar, her sharp tongue comes out without hesitation?

Somehow convinced, Luo Changchuan accepted the explanation.

Meanwhile, Wan Mingyi giggled to herself.

One was a renowned industry talent, great at marketing and spotting new stars.

The other was a rising star who’d made it to the semifinals, with looks, charisma, and creative skill all in spades.

In the warm midday sunlight, sitting by the window, these two handsome individuals seemed to radiate an aura, drawing second glances from everyone in the restaurant.

At a nearby table, Chen Jiayuan was gripping his fork so hard it was about to bend.

He’d initially thought women only mention breaking up to demand attention. A few days later, when they cooled off, he could coax them back.

But Chen Jiayuan hadn’t expected Wan Mingyi to be so resolute—and so quick to act.

Breaking up with him hadn’t been long ago, yet she already had a fiancé, and it was someone like Luo Changchuan.

Part of him felt like her knowing Luo Changchuan just didn’t make sense, as if it were the biggest bug in the system.

Another part of him couldn’t deny the reality of what was happening before his eyes.

Chen Jiayuan’s expression darkened to the extreme.

The food he was chewing suddenly turned tasteless. He didn’t even realize what he had eaten, how he left the restaurant, or how he aimlessly drifted back to the event hall.

As applause thundered, Chen Jiayuan snapped back to reality and saw that the large screen was now displaying reviews of each entry piece by piece.

When the works from Shiny Studio came up, Chen Jiayuan sat up straighter.

1, 2, 3...

Every time a piece appeared, Chen Jiayuan tensed up.

Finally, a familiar design popped up on the screen.

Perhaps because the morning had passed, his nerves weren’t as taut now.

The afternoon atmosphere in the hall was much more relaxed. Whenever a new entry appeared on the screen, the surrounding designers would eagerly exchange opinions.

When his piece was displayed, his sharp ears caught phrases like "brilliant" and "amazing," and a smug smile crept onto Chen Jiayuan’s lips.

But turning back, he met the cold gaze in Wan Mingyi’s eyes.

Feeling a pang of guilt, Chen Jiayuan quickly looked away.

"Sister Mingyi, what’s wrong?"

The mood had been good up until now. The two of them had even pretended to play judge, guessing which submissions passed or failed. But now, Mingyi’s entire demeanor had turned icy.

Glancing at the newly passed design stamped with a green seal, Ye Li quickly pieced it together, "Chen Jiayuan’s?"

Wan Mingyi nodded, "Plagiarizing bastard!"

You can know someone’s face but not their heart. In their three years together, Wan Mingyi hadn’t been on guard against Chen Jiayuan. On the contrary, she’d gone out of her way to help him because he was her boyfriend.

What she hadn’t anticipated was that during those three years, every offhand idea she mentioned, every casual sketch she drew, had been retained by him—and now paraded as his own work.

The piece he’d titled "Smoke and Rain in Jiangnan"? She had given him that name. Even the choice of gemstones and unique features in the design had come from her discussions.

Otherwise, how could she have recognized it as his work at a mere glance?

On one hand, the fact that he’d used her creativity highlighted that, in his eyes, she already had the talent and ability of a jewelry designer. She ought to feel proud.

But on the other hand, she couldn’t help the wave of disgust that rose in her chest.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. For a fleeting moment, she wished for a time-travel machine to slap some sense into her past self!

All that time and energy spent assisting a scumbag—couldn’t she have done something better instead?

Might as well call herself an idiot!!!

Several more designs had rotated on the large screen, but Wan Mingyi remained seated upright, staring blankly forward—a clear sign that she was zoning out, and fuming.

Thinking about "Lovesickness" and then glancing at the furious Wan Mingyi, it wasn’t hard to figure out what had happened.

"Sister Mingyi, don’t be angry, don’t be angry..."

Ye Li patted Wan Mingyi’s hand. "The preliminary round allows free creation, so he managed to pull off something spectacular. But in the semifinals and finals? That’s another story."

"Life is so long. There will be plenty of opportunities to crush him later. Let’s save our energy and not waste it on anger!"

Wan Mingyi snapped out of her thoughts.

She had fallen into another trap of her own making!

Her relationship with Chen Jiayuan was over. Whether he wanted to plagiarize or was a dazzling genius, it was his business—what did it have to do with her?

If she kept focusing on him, on the traces of herself left in his work, then her perspective and ambitions were just that narrow. How could she grow like this?

Her dreams were as vast as the stars and deep as the oceans, a dazzling kingdom of jewelry waiting to be built. Looking to the future was the only way forward!

With that thought and a deep breath, the oppressive weight on her chest evaporated, and Wan Mingyi turned to Ye Li with a nod. "You’re absolutely right!"

Just as she spoke, the large screen flickered, and a new piece appeared for everyone to see.

After a brief silence, the hall erupted in chatter.

Wan Mingyi’s eyes widened in surprise as she turned to look at Ye Li.