Wu Маngmаng fаiled to unсоvеr thе idеntities of the twо рeoрle who hаd sеnt hеr рrivаtе messagеs using the "bf" tactic, and soоn аfterwаrd, she соmрlеtelу fоrgоt аbоut the mаtter.
It wasn't until two wееks latеr, at Lu Lin's fashion shоw, that she rаn into Lu Qingqing.
"Mаngmаng!" Lu Qingqing wаvеd ехсitedly аt Wu Мangmаng. "Ноw did yоu end uр hеre? You nеvеr used tо attend fashiоn shows beforе."
Вut this timе, Lu Lin had рersonallу саlled tо invitе hеr, аnd sinсе it was Lu Lin's оwn shоw, Wu Mаngmang сouldn't pоssibly rеfusе. Shе wasn't thаt shаmеlеss.
Sometimes, whеn someone gives уou facе, whether уou likе it оr not, уou have to accept it. After all, humans are social creatures.
Lu Lin managed several top-tier brands and was also a designer herself. The double "L" logo represented her high-end brand, which was genuinely expensive and a favorite of Ms. Liu.
The show hadn't started yet. Lu Lin only greeted Wu Mangmang briefly when she arrived, asking her not to leave afterward as there would be a celebration party at the hotel that evening.
Inviting guests to the celebration party before the show even began clearly showed immense confidence.
Soon after, many superstar celebrities arrived at the venue. The flashing lights of the media cameras flickered incessantly, the intense white glare making Wu Mangmang instinctively retreat to a corner.
She had a strange feeling that the long-lens cameras in the hands of the paparazzi were like revealing mirrors that could expose the darkest secrets of one's life, leaving nowhere to hide.
Wu Mangmang certainly didn't want to be exposed.
"You've been turning down my invitations for so long. Did you get a new boyfriend?" Lu Qingqing asked, eager for gossip. "Come on, tell me, who is it?"
Lu Qingqing pulled up the "reckless selfie" post Wu Mangmang had shared on Weibo.
"Can't you tell who it is?" Wu Mangmang retorted.
Perhaps influenced by those two private messages, Wu Mangmang felt that anyone close to Lu Sui should recognize him in the photo.
It was easier to recognize the car than the person.
"How could I possibly tell? You can barely see a strand of hair here." Lu Qingqing pinched her thumb and forefinger together, leaving a centimeter gap between them.
Wu Mangmang casually replied, "It's my uncle."
"How old is your uncle? He seems pretty cool," Lu Qingqing remarked.
Wu Mangmang couldn't help but burst into laughter, thinking that if she really had an uncle like Lu Sui, she could strut through life without a care.
Just as the fashion show was about to begin, Wu Mangmang and Lu Qingqing finally stood up from their corner and started looking for their seats.
This show was held in the city's largest library, exuding a retro charm. The chairs were old-fashioned library seats, each labeled with a name.
Wu Mangmang searched for a long time before unexpectedly finding her name in the front row.
How was this possible?
Although Wu Mangmang rarely attended fashion shows, she was aware of the basic unspoken rules.
Typically, the front row at a major fashion show was reserved for influential fashion magazines, retailers, socialites, or superstar celebrities.
Lu Lin's show was relatively small, accommodating only about two hundred people. However, given the appeal of the double L brand, many international media outlets and VIP clients had flown in specifically for the show, with registration applications likely exceeding a thousand.
In such a situation where demand far exceeded supply, Wu Mangmang felt honored just to be invited by Lu Lin.But for someone like Wu Mangmang, a complete unknown in the media, to sit in the front row would surely cause jaws to drop.
Wu Mangmang was well aware of her own standing, so she didn’t dare take a seat at all.
It wasn’t until she received a WeChat message from the incredibly busy Lu Lin that said, “Sit down, that’s your seat,” that Wu Mangmang nervously took her place, grateful that she was wearing an evening gown tonight—and one from this year’s collection at that, thanks to Ms. Liu’s generous allowance.
Sitting there, watching the lights of the runway show, Wu Mangmang felt as if “this show was put on for the one I deeply love.”
Being pursued by a female CEO—well, the experience was truly a mix of emotions.
Women really do understand women best; when it comes to romance, they’re on another level.
At this moment, Wu Mangmang was even starting to question her own sexual orientation.
Soon, someone else took the seat next to Wu Mangmang—Dong Keke, a currently red-hot actress in China.
Over the past year or two, Dong Keke had skyrocketed to fame. Last year, she gained widespread recognition through a historical costume drama, and during the New Year, she starred in a blockbuster holiday film directed by a renowned director, breaking box office records for domestic movies.
This year, she was the lead actress in the two highest-grossing films—truly at the peak of her popularity.
“Miss Wu,” Dong Keke actually spoke first, greeting Wu Mangmang.
Wu Mangmang was so flustered she didn’t know how to respond. A superstar like her actually remembered her surname without an assistant’s reminder?
“Miss Dong,” Wu Mangmang nodded politely.
Dong Keke looked Wu Mangmang up and down, a faint, inexplicable sneer tugging at the corner of her mouth, before turning away with an air of arrogance.
Wu Mangmang didn’t dare show off in front of a big star, even though Dong Keke wasn’t professionally trained and her acting was somewhat contrived. But after all, she was a superstar.
A person’s reputation casts a long shadow.
Out of feminine intuition, Wu Mangmang felt there was something suspicious about Dong Keke’s attitude.
Greeting someone she barely knew, only to then adopt a dismissive “so that’s all there is to you” attitude—if she wasn’t acting strangely, there must be a reason behind it.
The fifteen-minute show ended quickly, and the closing evening gown was absolutely stunning. This season, Double L had adopted a retro academic style, a significant departure from their previous collections.
But as soon as the show ended, rave reviews poured in. The first to report were naturally the well-known bloggers on Weibo, who had excellent seats.
Wu Mangmang also had her eye on a piece, but although her allowance was more than enough for an ordinary person, she would still need to save for several months to afford Double L’s haute couture.
Wu Mangmang and Lu Qingqing walked side by side out of the library. As they descended the stairs, Lu Qingqing asked, “Where to? I can give you a ride.”
Clearly, Lu Qingqing, as a distant cousin, wasn’t held in high regard by her elder sister Lu Lin.
“Suddenly craving crayfish,” Wu Mangmang said.
But her crayfish plans were interrupted when Lu Lin’s call came through at just that moment.
“Mangmang, you must come to the celebration party. I’ve already arranged for a driver to wait for you at the library entrance,” Lu Lin said, hanging up decisively before Wu Mangmang could refuse.
“Whose call was that?” Lu Qingqing asked.
Wu Mangmang put away her phone and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Miss Lu’s. She wants me to go to the celebration party.”
Lu Qingqing wasn’t too surprised; in fact, she had already sensed something was going on."Then what do you plan to do?" Lu Qingqing asked with some concern.
"I want to find a chance to make things clear with her. I still like men." As Wu Mangmang spoke, she couldn't help but think of Lu Sui. At least she wouldn't want to grope Lu Lin's butt.
This showed that her sexual orientation was still quite correct, but the romance built by wealth could sometimes truly dazzle one's eyes.
Lu Qingqing fell silent for a moment, her smile somewhat forced. Clearly, she could tell that Wu Mangmang was indirectly rejecting her as well. She had originally thought she had concealed her feelings well, approaching neither too eagerly nor too slowly.
However, Wu Mangmang had still underestimated Lu Lin.
"Sister Lu Lin." Once Wu Mangmang made a decision, she wouldn't allow herself to hesitate. She resolutely found a free moment during the celebration banquet to call out to Lu Lin.
"It's Mangmang." Lu Lin turned to look at Wu Mangmang.
Everyone understood the situation clearly, and there was no need to pretend otherwise at this point.
"Sister Lu Lin, I..." Wu Mangmang's words were cut off before she could finish.
Lu Lin swirled the pale golden champagne in her glass, not looking at Wu Mangmang. Her face showed no joy of celebration; instead, it carried a hint of melancholy. "I know what you want to say. Have I caused you trouble?"
Lu Lin smiled at Wu Mangmang. "Don't rush to reject me. Men in this world are no good. Who knows who will be by your side in the final moments of your life?"
"Just like, five years ago, I didn't know I would end up liking women either." Lu Lin smiled bitterly, tilting her head back to drink most of the champagne in her glass.
A novice like Wu Mangmang was left speechless when facing Lu Lin.
Of course, this was also due to the natural sympathy women feel for other women. Lu Lin's feelings for her shouldn't be trampled upon.
Lu Lin patted Wu Mangmang's shoulder. "Don't take it to heart. I like you. If we can't be lovers, can't we still be friends? Or do you refuse to even be friends with me?"
What else could Wu Mangmang say? Lu Lin had already said everything.
When a woman pursues another woman, it's convenient—she can advance or retreat as needed, using the banner of friendship to do whatever she pleases.
If women naturally sympathize with other women, they also naturally harbor hostility toward certain women.
They always possess the sharpest intuition when it comes to rivals in love.
So when Wu Mangmang heard Dong Keke sweetly call her "Miss Wu," she felt a chill run down her spine.
Turning around, sure enough, even her palms began to sweat.
Wasn't the man Dong Keke clinging to none other than Wu Mangmang's "uncle," Mr. Lu?
Wu Mangmang felt a pang of guilt.
Lu Sui had arrived fashionably late, half an hour after the celebration banquet began.
Wu Mangmang didn't dare even glance in his direction, feeling somewhat ashamed.
That night, in a moment of heated impulse to uncover the identities of those two alternate accounts, she had fabricated the "bf" incident. Thinking back on it afterward, it felt highly inappropriate.
First, it made it seem as though she had a crush on Lu Sui. Second, such behavior was too low-class. If the other party didn't fancy her, pretending to be his girlfriend was just pathetic. If Wu Mangmang were an outsider looking in, she'd probably spit in contempt at her own actions.
"Have the two of you had a quarrel?" Dong Keke glanced at Wu Mangmang, then at Lu Sui, smiling coyly. Just as she was about to continue, Wu Mangmang quickly interrupted.
"Uncle Lu, Miss Dong." Wu Mangmang obediently greeted them with the courtesy of a junior.Dong Keke blinked her eyes, clearly not yet grasping what was happening.
Lu Sui's expression remained indifferent, as if waiting for Wu Mangmang to continue.
Wu Mangmang was truly like a cornered dog leaping over a wall. The Miss Dong before her eyes was evidently the owner of the "Smooth Sailing" account.
It must have been quite a challenge for such a big star to even follow her own Weibo account. It seemed no woman connected to Lu Sui could escape her alternate account.
Only now did Wu Mangmang recall that among "Smooth Sailing's" followed accounts, the majority indeed appeared to be female—she hadn't paid attention at the time.
With her sharp perception, Wu Mangmang recognized from a single glance that Dong Keke was about to unleash her acting skills. The look in her eyes now was exactly the same as when she played Consort Liang preparing to deal with a romantic rival.
Wu Mangmang would rather die than admit in front of Lu Sui that "bf" was an English abbreviation—it was far too embarrassing.
As a woman, even if she wasn't interested, she could never cut herself off from a high-quality man.
"Mr. Lu has always been the person I admire most. My father also greatly respects Mr. Lu, often saying that only truly capable individuals can earn genuine admiration. In his eyes, Mr. Lu far surpasses him in both ability and experience, making him a figure of senior standing. Calling him Uncle Lu would even seem disrespectful—only 'Bofu' (an elder uncle, a term of respect for an elder) can convey the proper reverence," Wu Mangmang said with a perfectly composed smile, her tone extremely solemn.
"Your pivot was a bit forced," Lu Sui commented.
Wu Mangmang nearly broke character upon hearing this, but a good actress must never laugh or NG due to minor setbacks.
So she maintained her composure.
"Oh, so the two letters 'bf' in Miss Wu's post were an abbreviation for 'Bofu'? I thought it was 'boyfriend,'" Dong Keke, also a skilled actress, insisted on playing the scene to its fullest. "I was just wondering when Lu Sui got a girlfriend without any of us friends knowing."
Wu Mangmang felt her face burn hot enough to grill pancakes—this was the consequence of boasting, and the worst part was being exposed on the spot.
"Oh, so the alternate account that sent me a private message was Miss Dong? I truly never imagined a big star like Miss Dong would take an interest in someone as insignificant as me. What an honor."
Wu Mangmang wasn't afraid of Dong Keke and ignored her own embarrassment to continue, "You know how it is with us young people these days—we dislike typing slowly and prefer using abbreviations for most things. I originally meant to type 'Bofu,' but ended up typing 'bf' out of habit. I never expected Miss Dong to read too much into it."
Wu Mangmang was truly lying through her teeth.
And Dong Keke never imagined Wu Mangmang could have such thick skin.
But this wasn't the end—after all, it was Dong Keke who had provoked her first.
Wu Mangmang tucked a strand of hair behind her ear again—a gesture said to be particularly alluring in women, drawing attention to her delicate earlobes and fair neck.
A telltale sign before a scheming woman makes her move.
"It really is strange, though. That day I just casually posted a photo—why would Miss Dong so abruptly question me, asking why I was riding on Bofu Lu's motorcycle?" Wu Mangmang smiled, feigning innocence.
Still unable to let go of someone yet too afraid to speak up—how pitiful. Wu Mangmang didn't mind helping Dong Keke lay her cards on the table; perhaps the two before her could even reconcile.
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