Chapter 321 – My Dear CEO Wife -The Design Competition (21)
On the screen, accompanied by a rapid “da-da-da” sound, a dark shadow flashed past behind the protagonist.
Bai Tang squeezed the popcorn bucket so hard it burst, sending snacks scattering all over the floor.
“It’s okay, don’t be scared.” Wen Changhe lowered the armrest separating them and pulled Bai Tang into his arms. “Let’s stop watching and go home.”
“N-no, we can’t…” Bai Tang protested between sobs. It was the first date he had planned himself—he couldn’t let A He leave with a bad impression.
The world was vast, but Tang Tang was the most important. Wen Changhe could only sigh helplessly—Tang Tang was scared yet refused to leave.
They were seated right in the middle of the theater, the best viewing area.
Since Bai Tang kept flinching and gasping, it might disturb the others.
Wen Changhe apologized to the people nearby and led Bai Tang to the very last row.
Once again, he lowered the armrests between their seats, wrapping one arm around Bai Tang and covering his eyes with the other. “If something scary comes up, I’ll block it for Tang Tang.”
Bai Tang sniffled, “Y-you have to remember that, hic…”
The couple’s “sister fans,” who had come specifically to see them, kept glancing back from time to time. But with the theater so dark and their seats too far away, they couldn’t see clearly.
Still, judging by the two silhouettes merging together, there was no doubt—they were hugging.
Hugging! As expected, suspense films were perfect for couples.
The girls began to imagine a whole eight-hundred-word romantic scene in their minds.
Cuddling in the dark, maybe even kissing—thoughts instantly turned rosy.
Especially when they occasionally heard the pair whispering softly from the back row, the girls couldn’t stop grinning. (They swore they were pure-minded—really!)
Finally, the movie ended. The lights came on, and the two in the back row—especially the boy in Wen Changhe’s arms—were both blushing red.
It wasn’t what the girls imagined at all. He was red from fear… and from being smothered.
Terrified, Bai Tang wished he could disappear entirely into Wen Changhe’s embrace. He even grabbed Wen Changhe’s hand to press it over his face—covering his whole face, so much that he could hardly breathe.
Naturally, he overheated; not even the theater’s air-conditioning could cool down his rising temperature.
“All done now. The movie’s over. Today’s date was fun—let’s go home.” Wen Changhe gently wiped the sweat from Bai Tang’s forehead.
Bai Tang nodded and followed Wen Changhe out. When they passed their original seats, the floor was littered with spilled popcorn and soda.
“What a mess! Who throws trash around like this—no manners at all,” grumbled the janitor, broom in hand.
Since Wen Changhe and Bai Tang had come down from the back row, the cleaner didn’t realize it had been them.
The cleaner’s job was to tidy up the theater after every movie ended.
Wen Changhe took Bai Tang by the hand and left. As for making the cleaner work overtime to clean up their mess, the wealthy President Wen simply said he’d ask the cinema manager to give her a raise
This theater, after all, was owned by the Wen Group—compensating the cleaner was no problem at all.
When the two returned home, Bai Tang filled the bedside table with his “spoils of the night.” Except for the space where he and Wen Changhe’s pillows were placed, there wasn’t a single empty spot left.
Bai Tang stuffed a little squirrel plush into Wen Changhe’s arms. “This one’s me,” he said, holding a small silver wolf plush of his own. “And this one’s you. Look—I’m hugging all of A He!”
The boy’s eyes curved with laughter. Wen Changhe took the little silver wolf from Bai Tang’s hands and said, “That one’s the small version. This is the big one.”
Then he pulled Bai Tang’s hand around his waist. “I want Tang Tang to hug me to sleep.”
“Okay~” Bai Tang kicked off his shoes and slipped under the covers. Just like Wen Changhe said, he rested Wen Changhe’s head on his own shoulder and even patted the back of his head at the end. “Go to sleep now. You still have work tomorrow. Good night~”
Wen Changhe couldn’t help laughing, but still played along. “Alright. Good night, Tang Tang.”
Work was tiring enough as it was, and after tonight’s date, the little squirrel was completely out of energy. He soon drifted into a deep sleep.
Once Bai Tang was asleep, Wen Changhe shifted positions, pulling him into his chest. “Sweet dreams, my Tang Tang~”
Peaceful, gentle days always passed quickly. Thanks to Bai Tang’s outstanding learning ability and his imaginative ideas, he was granted special permission to join the Wen Group’s international design competition team—becoming the youngest member on the team.
Though Bai Tang lacked work experience, his ideas were always uniquely fresh. He could see angles others overlooked.
On the day of the competition, Wen Changhe flew with the design team to City Y, where this year’s contest was being held.
Before the event began, Manager Luo patted Bai Tang’s shoulder. “Don’t be nervous. Just think of the judges as colleagues from another department dropping by for a visit.”
It was a young team overall—aside from one designer surnamed Chen, none of them had ever participated in an international design competition before.
Designer Chen said, “The judges will only score and comment after the designers finish their work. They won’t speak while you’re creating, so don’t imagine it to be too scary.”
Backstage, Wen Changhe came to cheer everyone on. “Do your best—if you succeed, great. If not, don’t put too much pressure on yourselves.”
He was speaking to the whole team—but especially to Bai Tang.
Ever since Bai Tang joined the design team, the closer the competition drew, the more nervous he became. He would often wake up in the middle of the night, shake Wen Changhe awake, and start discussing details about his design drafts.
Wen Changhe never lost patience. He carefully explained design principles, helped Bai Tang refine his sense of aesthetics, and watched with growing heartache as the dark circles under Bai Tang’s eyes deepened day by day. Still, he didn’t stop him—this was something Bai Tang cared deeply about, something he wanted to do. Wen Changhe couldn’t bring himself to clip Bai Tang’s wings when he was trying to fly.
“I know, I’m not scared. When do we go on?” Bai Tang said with a smile. But the slight tremor in his hands betrayed him—he wasn’t nearly as calm as he claimed.
“Come on, you guys are the best.” Wen Changhe, as the leader of the Wen Group’s design team, was like the team’s coach. He wouldn’t personally take part in the design work, but he stayed close by to offer guidance and support.
The backstage area was crowded with teams—people coming and going constantly.
Suddenly, a new team entered. At the front was a woman strutting in with an air of arrogance—none other than Zu Shuang, now dressed in glittering jewels.
Her appearance had changed dramatically from a few months ago—richer, yes, but also tackier.
Zu Shuang’s looks leaned toward delicate and gentle; she suited fresh, elegant, or artsy styles. Opulence didn’t suit her at all—she didn’t have the aura to carry it. Dressed in a custom red mermaid gown and wearing an imperious expression, she was the very definition of gaudy.
When Bai Tang’s group saw Zu Shuang, she naturally noticed them as well.
The moment she thought of the compensation money Bai Tang had extorted from her, her heart ached.
The two groups came face-to-face. Zu Shuang gave a cold snort.
“Wen Changhe really went all out—spending so much just to sneak you into the team to slack off?”
Now that she had the Liu Corporation behind her, Zu Shuang was no longer afraid of the Wen Group.
“Maybe you should look at yourself first,” the little squirrel shot back sharply. He’d always disliked this so-called heroine of the world.
Just then, Wen Changrou returned, carrying three bottles of mineral water. “I’m back—”
The backstage atmosphere was tense, like an arrow drawn and ready to fly.
Zu Shuang turned to her and forced a smile. “Hi, long time no see, Rou Rou.”
Although Wen Changrou came from a wealthy family, she was down-to-earth and easygoing. Unless it was a formal event, she dressed however she felt comfortable. Today she wore a simple white T-shirt and jeans—after all, she wasn’t competing herself, just running errands and helping out, so there was no need to dress up.
“I have absolutely no desire to see you.” Wen Changrou’s face was expressionless. What rotten luck—of all people to run into at an international design competition, it had to be her.
“Is it New Year’s today?” Wen Changrou suddenly asked.
Everyone looked puzzled, but still answered her question.
“No, there are still a few months to go before New Year’s.”
Wen Changrou tilted her head. “That’s strange, then. This is the backstage area for an international competition—why is there a red envelope here?”
The group froze for a second before bursting into laughter.
Dressed head-to-toe in red, with glittering jewelry all over her, Zu Shuang really did look like a giant red envelope—one of those loud, tacky ones, too.
Zu Shuang trembled with anger. “You—!”
Not only the Wen Group team, but even members of the Liu Group team behind her couldn’t hold back their laughter. They had been doing fine before she parachuted in. If she had been competent and talented, they might have accepted her leadership—but instead, she was all talk, no skill, and always the first to shirk responsibility when things went wrong. None of them respected Zu Shuang, but because of upper management’s orders—and because they didn’t want to lose a well-paying job—they had no choice but to endure her.
“Stop laughing! Anyone who laughs again will have half a year’s salary deducted!” Zu Shuang shouted, her voice shaking with rage.
The Liu team members immediately stopped laughing and exchanged looks. Their eyes all said the same thing—if she really docked their pay for half a year, they’d quit on the spot.
They worked to earn a living—if there was no money, or worse, if they had to pay to work, who in their right mind would stay?
The Liu Group designers’ eyes flashed with mockery, while the Wen Group designers kept laughing openly.
Zu Shuang jabbed a finger at Bai Tang, her sharp manicured nail almost poking his nose. “You—ah!”
She suddenly clutched her hand in pain, glaring venomously at Bai Tang.
Wen Changhe stepped protectively in front of him. “Don’t make me break my rule about not hitting women. Try pointing at Tang Tang again and see what happens.”
Everyone has principles—but principles aren’t unbreakable. If Wen Changhe ever caught Zu Shuang deliberately targeting Bai Tang again, breaking his own rule would only take a moment.
“Gege saikou!” (“Big brother is the best!”) Wen Changrou looked at him with open admiration. To stand up and protect the one you love—how manly!
Someone dared to pick on Bai Tang, and Qiu’er was the first to object.
He pulled out a long-unused straw doll and began writing Zu Shuang’s name on it. Just as he was about to jab it with a thick needle, Xiao A stopped him.
“Don’t,” Xiao A said calmly. “If you stick her now and she suddenly feels unwell during the competition, she’ll have an excuse to frame Tang Tang. She could claim that Tang Tang did something to her backstage.”
Qiu’er thought about it and realized that made sense. “Then what do we do? We can’t just let her get away with it, can we?”
Xiao A, unbothered, pulled out a bad-luck talisman. “Don’t worry. If someone gets sick, they can accuse others of sabotage—but if they just start having bad luck, well… they can only blame themselves.”
Author’s Note:
Xiao A saikou! (“Xiao A is the best!”)