The sleek, modern campus of the fashion academy was alive with the hum of students, each working on their personal projects, each driven by their own ambitions. Su Nian stood in front of her design table, fabric swatches scattered around her, her focus absolute. But her mind kept drifting, not just to the designs, but to the growing tension she felt both in the academy and at home. The pressure was starting to feel heavier than she anticipated.
It was late in the evening when Lu Cheng walked through the door of her apartment, his presence filling the room with a quiet strength. Su Nian had just finished a long day of lectures and was trying to wrap her head around a new design concept. Her eyes were tired, but there was a spark in them when she saw him.
"You're here," she smiled, a little tired but happy nonetheless.
Lu Cheng, dressed in a tailored black suit, walked over to her and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. "How was your day?" he asked, his voice low and comforting, as if he could sense the weight pressing down on her.
Su Nian stretched her arms, trying to push away the exhaustion. "Busy. But good. Just... a little overwhelming." She hesitated, trying to find the right words. "There's a lot of pressure, Cheng. Some people here don't think I belong."
Lu Cheng's expression hardened, a protective gleam in his eyes. "Ignore them. They don't matter. You've earned your place."
But Su Nian wasn't so sure. She felt the eyes on her—some full of admiration, others of envy. The whispers in the hallways, the sideways glances. It was hard to ignore, especially when the doubts crept in.
The following week, during a group meeting for an upcoming fashion show, Zhang Lei—one of the students who had shown interest in Su Nian—approached her again. This time, he was more persistent. He stood too close, his cologne thick in the air.
"Su Nian, we should really work together more closely. You have an eye for details, but with my connections, we could make something truly spectacular. Think about it." His words were smooth, too smooth, like a well-rehearsed line.
Su Nian took a step back, her instincts immediately on high alert. "I'm fine on my own," she replied, forcing a polite smile. "Thank you, but I'm focusing on my own designs."
Zhang Lei's eyes didn't leave hers, and there was a challenge in his gaze. "We both know you can only go so far on your own. The real connections come from working with people who can help elevate you."
Su Nian felt the stirrings of discomfort. She wasn't interested in anyone who saw her as a stepping stone, and she wasn't going to let herself fall into that trap. But before she could respond, the unmistakable sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway. Lu Cheng, who had been keeping a subtle eye on her from a distance, appeared at the door.
His gaze immediately locked on Zhang Lei, cold and calculating, as though he were assessing a threat.
Zhang Lei straightened, the shift in the room's energy palpable as Lu Cheng's tall figure entered. His dark eyes flicked over Su Nian for a split second—checking, ensuring she was fine—and then turned to Zhang Lei with a cool but sharp look.
"I don't believe we've met," Lu Cheng said, his voice smooth but carrying an undercurrent of authority that made Zhang Lei stiffen for a moment.
"I'm Zhang Lei, a student here," Zhang Lei replied with a forced smile, trying to mask the unease that came from standing in front of a man who exuded power effortlessly. "I've heard a lot about you, Mr. Lu."
Lu Cheng's lips barely lifted in a smile. "Is that so? Su Nian is my wife," he said casually, his words as gentle as a feather but cutting like a blade.
Zhang Lei blinked, clearly taken aback by the sudden revelation. He looked at Su Nian with a flash of surprise, but she simply stood there, her back straight, trying to ignore the awkwardness swirling around them.
"I didn't realize," Zhang Lei muttered, his charm faltering for a second. "Well, I'll let you two be."
As he walked away, Lu Cheng's gaze lingered on his retreating form, his expression unreadable.
Later that evening, as they sat down to dinner, an air of tension hung between them. Su Nian, her fork poised in mid-air, broke the silence first. "You didn't have to step in like that."
Lu Cheng's eyes darkened. "I don't trust him. I don't like how he's been around you."
Su Nian sighed, setting her fork down. "I can handle myself. You don't need to protect me from every little thing, Cheng."
Lu Cheng's jaw tightened at her words. "It's not about protecting you from little things, NianNian. It's about making sure no one takes advantage of you." He leaned in slightly, his eyes searching hers. "I can see when someone has ulterior motives."
Su Nian's heart softened, and she reached across the table to take his hand, feeling the tension in his fingers, the fierce protectiveness that ran deep in him. "I know. But I want to stand on my own. You've already done so much for me."
Lu Cheng's grip tightened on her hand, his eyes dark with frustration. "And I will always do more. But you don't have to be alone in this, NianNian. You don't have to bear the weight of everything by yourself."
Her breath caught in her throat. It wasn't just about the designs, the school, or the competition—it was about him. His love, his care, his protection. She could see it in the way his jaw clenched, in the way he watched over her every move.
For a moment, the world outside faded. There was just the two of them, tangled in a delicate balance between independence and love.
The following days at the academy became a delicate dance. Su Nian's designs garnered more and more attention, and with it came the scrutiny and whispers of her peers. Some admired her, others envied her. The pressure was rising, and with it, her relationship with Lu Cheng began to feel strained in ways she hadn't anticipated.
Su Nian was determined to prove herself on her own, but she also couldn't ignore the subtle jealousy she saw in his eyes when other men spoke to her, or when she was praised too much by others.
She couldn't help but wonder: Was she pushing him away by trying to stand on her own? Or was it simply his overwhelming desire to protect her?