novelraw Chapter 0119 The Red Dress
Chapter 0119 The Red Dress
It's almost the end of the year.
Limitless Group's annual gala is the most anticipated event in the entire business community of City A.
This time, Jiang Ci did not go alone as usual.
He ended the meeting early on Friday afternoon.
He took Wen Ning to the top-tier dress customization center in City A.
"The company's annual party is tonight."
In the car, Jiang Ci held Wen Ning's hand, his fingers gently stroking the cold smart watch on her wrist.
His tone was calm, yet it conveyed an undeniable decision.
"Come with me."
Wen Ning was taken aback.
"I?"
She looked at the scenery rushing past the car window, her voice low.
"I'm an assistant... if I go, shouldn't I wear my uniform and help out backstage?"
"Need not."
Jiang Ci turned to look at her, his eyes deep and possessive, almost obsessive.
"You are my date."
"The only one."
He wanted to bring her into the spotlight.
It wasn't to make her shine, but to tell everyone—this woman belongs to him.
……
Inside the haute couture store.
The decor here is extremely luxurious, and every dress is displayed in the window like a work of art.
The store manager had been notified long ago and cleared out all other customers in order to accommodate this important guest.
"Mr. Jiang, Mrs. Jiang."
The store manager greeted them respectfully (although they weren't married, Jiang Ci tacitly accepted this form of address).
"All the latest seasonal styles are here, all just flown in from Paris."
Rows of clothes racks were pushed out.
Most of them are white, champagne, or light blue fairy dresses.
Lace, feathers, tulle.
Elegant, dignified, and flawless.
It perfectly matches Jiang Ci's current aesthetic—he seems to be dedicated to dressing her up as a clean, gentle, harmless, and even "new" person with no past.
Jiang Ci sat on the velvet sofa to the side.
He didn't look at the dresses; his gaze remained fixed on Wen Ning.
"Give it a try."
He pointed to the white feather dress in the very center, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
"That suits you. You're very well-behaved."
Wen Ning walked over.
Her hand stroked the pure white feathers.
It's very soft and beautiful.
Like angel wings.
but……
Wen Ning's fingers tightened slightly.
Looking at the pure white dress, she felt a strange sense of rejection.
It's too clean.
It was as clean as a blank sheet of paper.
Does Jiang Ci's desire for her to wear this dress mean he wants to erase everything from the past?
He wanted to turn her into an obedient, flawless, beautiful doll that belonged only to him.
"I don't like this one."
Wen Ning suddenly spoke.
The voice was soft, yet stubborn.
Jiang Ci paused for a moment as he flipped through the magazine.
Why?
"Too bland."
Wen Ning turned around.
Her gaze passed over the row of white dresses and landed on a mannequin in the corner.
There hung a deep red velvet dress.
Its color is rich, like aged red wine, or like dried blood.
The dress features a retro square neckline, an open back design, and a very high slit in the skirt.
Extremely luxurious, and extremely alluring.
Wen Ning's heart skipped a beat.
This dress.
The "battle robe" she wore on that unforgettable night three years ago is about 80% similar to the one she wore then.
that night.
She was dressed in that striking red outfit, arm in arm with Zhou Xu, and under the dazzling lights, she threw that ruby necklace into the champagne tower.
Trample his dignity underfoot.
The red color of that night became Jiang Ci's lifelong nightmare.
Wen Ning looked at the dress.
A voice inside me was screaming: Choose it.
If you don't choose it, you can only obediently wear white, pretend that nothing happened, and pretend that they are a loving couple starting over.
But... that's fake.
The scars are still there, the chains are still there, and the hatred is still there.
She didn't want to play along with his "peaceful and quiet life" act anymore.
She wanted to tear away this veneer of feigned warmth.
She wanted to see what would happen when that "sinner" appeared before him again.
He still loved her after all.
Or... do you just want to control her?
"I want to try that one on."
Wen Ning suddenly raised his hand.
He pointed to that corner.
The store manager was taken aback, his expression turning somewhat awkward.
"Mrs. Jiang... that dress is a new style, but the color is too bright, and..."
Moreover, it looks a bit like something you'd wear for... a less-than-proper occasion, even a bit shady.
Jiang Ci also raised his head.
Follow her finger.
When that glaring red came into view.
His pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.
The fingers flipping through the magazine, in that instant, strained so hard that the knuckles turned white.
The air freezes.
Why?
he asks.
The sound was steady, yet it was like the calm before a storm.
"Isn't white nice?"
Wen Ning turned around and looked at him.
Her eyes were complicated.
There was love, there was guilt, but more than anything, it was a desperate attempt to test the waters.
"White is so cute."
Wen Ning smiled, a smile that carried a hint of her former spoiled nature, as well as a touch of self-mockery.
"Jiang Ci, you know him."
"I've never been a good kid."
"Besides, today is a victory celebration banquet, so red is a festive color."
She looked into his eyes and said stubbornly:
"I want to wear this."
"Didn't you say... as long as I behave and don't run away, you'd do whatever I wanted?"
Jiang Ci remained silent for two seconds.
He looked at the stubborn light in her eyes.
She was provoking him.
He's using his most painful memories from the past to provoke his present self.
a long time.
Jiang Ci closed the magazine.
"what ever."
He said it calmly, his voice devoid of emotion.
"As long as you like it."
……
Inside the changing room.
In front of a huge floor-length mirror.
Wen Ning changed into that red dress.
The velvet fabric clung to her curves, outlining her graceful figure.
Her originally pale skin glowed against the deep red, a breathtaking whiteness.
She looked at herself in the mirror.
In a daze.
It felt like I was back on that night three years ago.
That ruthless, decisive self who played the role of a "bad woman".
"They really look alike..."
She reached out and touched the mirror.
My fingertips are icy cold.
She looked at the alluring woman in the mirror, and her eyes reddened.
Aci.
This is the memory I leave for you.
This is also my most authentic evidence of guilt.
Do you still want it?
This is someone who is full of thorns and has hurt you deeply.
Do you really... want more?
She took a deep breath.
Wipe away the moisture from the corners of your eyes.
Turn around.
He reached out and pulled open the heavy velvet curtains of the dressing room.
"Splash—"
The curtain was drawn back.
The sunlight streamed in.
Jiang Ci remained seated on the sofa.
Upon hearing the sound, he instinctively looked up.
next second.
His movements froze completely.
Within sight.
It was a vast expanse of red.
The woman was standing there.
Red lips, snow-white skin, black hair.
The deep red dress seemed to burn like fire and flow like blood.
That kind of aggressive beauty, that kind of alluring charm tinged with a worldly air.
And that most painful scene deep in my memory.
Perfect overlap.
That was his nightmare.
It was the scene he saw countless times when he woke up in the middle of the night.
It was the image of her holding another man's arm, coldly telling him she was "annoyed".
"Is it pretty?"
Wen Ning lifted her skirt and twirled in front of him.
She forced a smile, trying not to show her weakness.
"Jiang Ci, I'm wearing red, don't I look a lot like...?"
She wanted to say, "Doesn't she look just like that bad woman from back then?"
But she didn't finish her sentence.
Because she saw Jiang Ci's face.
That face, which was originally calm and cold.
At this moment, all the blood had faded.
It turned as white as paper.
And in those eyes.
The original pampering and gentleness vanished instantly.
Instead.
It is an extremely intense, physiological aversion.
There's another kind...
A violent outburst on the verge of eruption after being deeply hurt.
"Take it off."
Jiang Ci spoke.
His voice trembled, as if it were being squeezed out from between his teeth.
Wen Ning was stunned.
The smile froze on his face.
"Wh...what?"
Jiang Ci suddenly stood up.
The magazine in my hand fell to the ground with a "thud".
He strode toward her.
Every step was filled with a suffocating sense of oppression.
His eyes were so fierce, it looked like he wanted to devour someone.
He was enraged.
I was completely enraged.
"I told you to take it off!"
He roared.
That wasn't a tone of negotiation.
That was an order.
It's out of control.