After the whole fiasco with the Jiang family, they took heed and disappeared from my sight...for now.
I went back to my busy schedule but the studio was too quiet.
It wasn't the comforting kind of quiet, but the kind that is heavy, like something that is holding its breath.
I had just set my tablet down,when a thread draped across a mannequin started glowing.
At first, it had the original color of silver, but bit by bit, it started pulsing gold, as if reacting to something I wasn't aware of.
"Nova...?" I murmured, my voice unusually low. "You are too quiet for someone who enjoys narrating everyone's mistakes."
'Nothing much host. I am just watching. The fabrics aren't reacting to your emotions anymore, but they are remembering.'
"Remembering?" I frowned, analyzing the threads. "But that's not...fabrics don't remember Nova."
'Naturally, normal fabrics don't, but don't forget host. You alongside the space are not normal.'
I froze. "You are talking about my mother."
The thread suddenly flickered, as if agreeing.
'Bingo! You get a little star for your sharp mind. However, I won't say more because you are not ready.'
Tsk!
Typical Nova. He says a million words when you need none of them but none when you need them. His silence only comes when I need answers.
One of the fabric shifted, but this time, it hummed faintly, as if absorbing the beautiful moonlinght that was spilling in through the glass windows.
The scene was so beautiful but hold on...did it just exhale? Or was I harbouring hallucinations from all the nighters I had just pulled?
I had already taken a step to observe them from a closer range, only for the door behind me to be knocked.
A presence I didn't realize I had missed since the gala graced my vision.
The moment the door clicked open, Lu Jinghao slid in.
"Working late... again?"
I turned my head faster than I would love to admit, my shaky hand automatically hiding the glowing fabric behind one of my sketchbooks.
"For a major CEO, you sure are terrible at respecting private spaces. Also, don't CEOs have tight schedules?"
Jinghao just stood there, staring at me in amusement. His grey shirt was as usual rolled up to his elbows, hands tucked in his pockets.
"Look who is talking. I have heard that you haven't left this studio in days."
"Lies. And I'm perfectly fine."
His judgy eyes glanced at the untouched food neer my laptop before he spoke again.
"And what is your definition of fine?"
"I'm functioning just okay," I said stiffly, his hard gaze making me feel like he was seeing through me.
His lips twitched. " Correction. You are barely functioning."
There was something disarming about this man when he wasn't behind his CEO desk. In my presence, his aura is quieter. It's less corporate, with a sprinkle of gentleness.
The faint scent of his office clung to him, mingling perfectly with his sweet cologne.
He looked around my studio, carefully observing everything.
From my scattered sketches, to the soft hum of the sewing machines, to the faint glowing of my fabrics and threads, his gaze didn't seem to miss a thing. "You know.. this place feels so alive," he finally spoke.
I hesitated before replying."Of course it does. My studio is built from big dreams."
He smirked faintly. "And a sprinkle of obsession for perfection."
'Oh host! Your man is definitely flirting. That too in a CEO coded manner.'
I subtly coughed, ignoring the snide remark."So did Mr. CEO come to check on me or to critique my mental state?"
"Neither." He leaned against my desk, sexily crossing his arms. "I just came because Zeming told me you might not have had dinner. And because..." He paused, as if carefully chosing his words. " I haven't seen you since the gala, where you looked really tired."
Well, to me that almost sounded like love and concern.
'Duh! Because it is stupid.'
I didn't answer him as I turned back to my glowing thread, pretending as if it required my full attention. (It did in some way.)
"You can leave. Beauty sleep won't create any design I desire."
He moved closer, his feet suddenly stopping right behind me. I could feel the inviting warmth radiating off him.
It was so steady that I was tempted for a second to dive into it. "Why are you saying that knowing it's not a good thing?"
I didn't answer him, but my heart seemed to be betraying me. It was beating too loud for the quiet environment.
The thread on my hand stole his attention as he glanced at it.
"Wow...what is that?"
"Just an experiment."
"Just? It's...glowing."
"I know. Just some light reactive material."
"Jiang Rui," he spoke softly, "I have seen and worked with light reacting materials. I am pretty sure they don't breathe."
His words made me freeze.
His tone might have been just curious, nothing accusing, but the way he uttered the word breathe, made me feel a twist in my stomach.
A twist that comes when someone discovers a truth that can't be shared.
'Don't panic host. Just relax. Sometimes humans are like cats. They easily get distracted with shiny objects.'
"Nova...you are a cat."
'I am aware host.'
Tsk!
I forced a light laugh before speaking out loud. "You seem to be imagining things Mr. CEO."
"Well, Am I?"
The curious man reached out, his beautiful fingertips brushing the edge of my glowing thread, making the entire fabric pulse out brighter than before.
As if to tease him, the glow suddenly traveled up his fingers, shimmering like liquid gold.
We both gasped, causing it to dim out as sudden as it had brightened up.
Lu Jinghao pulled back slowly, reluctant to do so, staring at his hand as if it had just betrayed him. "Did you just see..."
"No." I blurted out a bit too quickly in reply. "Nothing just happened."
"Jiang Rui."
"That was a static reaction," I replied, turning away. "Nothing to worry about. You should probably g..."
"Static doesn't look like that Jiang Rui."
He didn't sound angry, but the intensity his gaze carried was sharp enough to cut thick air. I could feel his curious gaze pressing me, akin to weights against my spine.
Finally, I sighed in a defeated tone. "Curiosity isn't for you. Some things just... don't need explanations."
He studied me for a long moment, and to my surprise, nodded in a dismissive manner. "All right. I get you."
Huh?
That was it?
He didn't have demands, or any interrogation?
His curious self just... accepted it?
I turned slowly, carefully studying him as he tucked his hands into his pockets once again. "You...you're not going to ask more questions?"
He gave me a faint smile. "I am a decent man Jiang Rui. If this is something you can't tell me, then that means it's not something I should know. At least for now..."
'Uh oh...host! Just look at that trust! That level of restraint! He is so emotionally grown I might cry on your behalf!'
I ignored Nova, putting my focus on Lu Jinghao's expression. He look so calm and quiet, but that didn't mask the faint curiosity he had.
He glanced at my mannequin again.
"Whatever this is, don't let anyone take it away from you because it is so beautiful..." he said quietly, and for a moment I couldn't breathe.
I might not know Lu Jinghao well, but I know he didn't just mean the fabrics. He meant my dream, the piece of me that is buried in every stitch. He meant the madness that was currently driving me to work this late.
When he finally left, after insisting for three times in a row that I eat something, I sat down, thin sweat on my forehead, as my heart tried to calm down.
The studio seemed to hum differently now. The atmosphere was so warm and soft, casing the fabric to shimmer in bright gold.
As I was observing the sudden bright shimmer, I caught a flicker of something across my mirrored wall.
A reflexion, not any other reflection but my mother's reflection. It looked like a faint, blurred memory of her.
"M...mom?" I whispered shakily.
Upon hearing my voice, the reflection smiled and faded.
'Host the space is reacting because the fabric is bound to your bloodline but reacting to Lu Jinghao? That's new...and strange.'
I swallowed hard. "What do you mean Nova?"
'I mean that he is not just drawn to you emotionally, there might be other legacy links between you two. Only time will tell.'
"That's straight up crazy!"
'Well, that's magic.'
The glowing thread brightened once more, as if speaking to me, or agreeing with Nova. The more I stared at it ,the more realization dawned on me.
This space wasn't just my mother's inheritance. It was a bridge that connected memories are right now, it could be connecting souls. And somehow, Lu Jinghao just touched it.
"Huh. What an interesting story this is about to be!" I laughed out dryly as I dimmed the lights.
The next morning, I found a cup of coffee already on my desk before I arrived.
There was no note or message. Just straight up black coffee.
'Fun fact host. Emotional caffeine delivery is the first stage of a romantic relationship.'
I rolled my eyes at his words, but this betrayed the small smile tugging at my lips.
"Shut up Nova."
'I can detect you are in denial host. Should I perhaps order you some flowers for confessions later on?'
"Nova..."
'Fine. You win host. But I'm keeping the receipts...just in case...'