Rose Thorn

Chapter 4 · The Trap Within

Lin Wanqing stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of Wanqing Design Studio, fingering the freshly printed bidding proposal for Gu Jewelry's most anticipated project: the "Stellar" haute couture series. Winning the bid would not only elevate the studio's international profile but also shatter its label as a "Lin family appendage".

"Miss Lin, Miss Su is here with samples," assistant Xia Xia said warily.

The door swung open as Su Manni clicked in on ten-centimeter heels, slamming a velvet box on the table. When the lid flipped, Lin Wanqing sucked in a breath—the prototype brooch for "Stellar" lay inside: black diamonds set in thorn vines coiling around a half-blooming rose, identical to the design draft locked in her studio safe.

"Wanqing, I'm so impressed," Su Manni's burgundy nails trailed over the brooch. "How did this design—never seen by Mr. Gu—end up in my hands?"

Lin Wanqing's pupils shrank. She'd locked the draft in the safe three days ago, when Su Manni was supposed to be at Paris Fashion Week. Unless...

"Did Shen Yanzhi give it to you?" she blurted.

Su Manni's lashes fluttered, then she laughed. "Shen Yanzhi said a 'kept parasite' like you doesn't deserve original designs. He also said..." She leaned close, "Mr. Gu paid your father's surgery fees because you resemble a toy he played with three years ago."

Lin Wanqing's temple throbbed. Recalling Gu Chengyan's words "I want to reach you, but fear hurting you" and the painting he'd bid on for her, her throat tightened.

"What do you want, Miss Su?" she forced herself to stay calm.

"Simple." Su Manni shoved the brooch into her hand. "Hand over the 'Stellar' project, and I'll make Shen Yanzhi apologize at the launch."

"What if I refuse?"

Su Manni's smile turned cold. "You know my uncle sits on Gu's bidding committee. If your proposal is rejected, what will Mr. Gu think? Since he values 'interests', he might decide..." She paused dramatically, "you're just a pretty face."

At 3 PM in Gu Group's penthouse bidding room, Lin Wanqing stood before the projector, sweat beading her forehead. After her presentation, Chen Zhengxiong—Su Manni's uncle and vice president of the Jewelry Association—tapped his pen.

"Creative design, Miss Lin," Chen said, pushing his glasses. "But black diamonds are costly, market acceptance is unproven. Miss Su's plan uses common pink diamonds, with higher profit margins."

Lin Wanqing scanned the screen—Su Manni's "Pink Diamond Rose" brooch mirrored her "Black Diamond Thorns" in every detail except the center stone.

"Vice President Chen," she interjected, "when you mention 'market acceptance', do you mean European royal clients?"

Chen started.

"Last week, while accompanying Mr. Gu to meet Geneva's royal jewelry advisor, they specifically stated: 'Black diamonds symbolize tenacity, thorns represent protection—such designs befit royalty.'" Lin Wanqing played a video: Gu Chengyan handing her design draft to the advisor, debating in English whether the rose thorns should curve up or down.

"Additionally," she switched to charts, "Black diamonds' rarity boosts 'Stellar's' collection value by 40%. According to Gu Private Bank's survey, high-net-worth clients prioritize 'uniqueness'."

Scattered applause rose. Lin Wanqing saw Gu Chengyan leaning against the back door, a ghost of a smile on his lips.

"Miss Su's plan is safe but uninspired," he said. "Miss Lin's design embodies Gu's 'break conventions' ethos."

Chen turned red. Before he could retort, the door opened and silver-haired Jean-Pierre—the Geneva advisor—entered.

"I anticipate seeing 'Thorn Rose' in person," the elder said in French. "Mr. Gu, your wife is remarkably talented."

That night at Gu Manor, Lin Wanqing stood in the studio doorway as Gu Chengyan revised her design.

"You knew Su Manni would interfere?" she asked.

He lowered his brush, holding a photo—of her sketching sunflowers on his studio wall three years ago, a thief's silhouette hidden in the drawing.

"When you stole my portrait three years ago, I knew," he approached, thumb brushing her teardrop mole. "You always say you'll 'defeat me', but you can't even see who your enemies are."

Remembering Su Manni's words about Shen Yanzhi, Lin Wanqing grabbed his wrist: "Are Shen Yanzhi, Su Manni, and Chen Zhengxiong connected?"

Instead of answering, he pulled her close, breath tickling her ear. "You looked just like age 18 today—holding a palette knife to my wrist, saying, 'I'll make you remember me'."

Her face burned. She recalled that stormy night, bursting into his studio with a knife, only to be pinned against the wall, blade tip at his collarbone scar: "Gu Chengyan, watch me win."

"You have won," his voice grew husky. "The day you put on that black diamond ring, you won."

Her phone vibrated: "Lin Zhengxiong recovering well, discharge tomorrow." She looked up as Gu Chengyan gazed at her ring, eyes softer than ever.

"Mr. Gu," she kissed his chin, "tell me now—why choose me back then?"

His hand found her waist, pulling her against him. Moonlight spilled over their intertwined hands, the black diamond catching light—matching the "Exclusive to Lin Wanqing" he'd written on her sketchpad at 18.

"Because your eyes hold fire," he said. "When you charged into my studio with that knife three years ago, I knew—this fire would burn through all lies."