The sound of steady footsteps echoed through the corridor. George and Old Wang quickly extinguished their cigarettes, straightening up as they spotted the familiar figure approaching. “Young Master,” Old Wang greeted respectfully. “President Gavin,” George added, his eyes scanning behind Gavin in search of someone. When he didn’t see Liza, he couldn’t resist asking, “Where’s Madam?” Gavin’s expression darkened as he shot back icily, “Why do you care?” George blinked, his thoughts racing. Seriously? You ignored her, worried yourself sick, and rushed over here just to find her, but now you don’t want us to ask? Before he could respond, Liza appeared, descending the creaky stairs with her bag slung over her shoulder. The car she had driven earlier was nowhere to be seen. “Madam,” George said, stepping forward, “President Gavin is waiting for you in the car.” Liza paused, her brows furrowing slightly. “Why are all of you here? Is there some business deal happening?” Glancing around at the shabby neighborhood, George’s gaze then shifted to Gavin, who sat rigidly in the backseat of the sleek Maybach. George managed a polite smile. “Yes, business.” As Gavin’s assistant, George prided himself on quick thinking. Clearly, the president hadn’t told Madam why he was here, so there was no way he would spill the beans. Gavin was engrossed in his laptop when Liza slid into the backseat beside him. She briefly glanced in his direction but, seeing how focused he appeared, decided not to disturb him. Placing her backpack on her lap, she turned to George, who had taken over the driver’s seat. “What happened to the car I drove here?” she asked. “Old Wang is driving it back,” George replied smoothly, though his eyes flickered to Gavin’s face in the rearview mirror. The president looked broody, as though holding back a storm. Trying to lighten the mood, George asked casually, “Madam, do you know how to drive? That car isn’t exactly standard—it’s been heavily modified by the president. It’s not something most people could handle easily.” “A little,” Liza replied, her fingers absentmindedly brushing the straps of her backpack. “But I have to say, the modifications are quite impressive.” At that, Gavin let out a sharp, sarcastic snort. Startled, Liza turned to him, puzzled. Before the tension could escalate, George quickly intervened. “Madam, what brought you to this old part of town? It’s pretty rare for young people to visit neighborhoods like this.” “I came to meet with a teacher,” she explained simply. “A teacher?” George repeated, clearly intrigued. He knew Liza’s background wasn’t particularly urban, so he couldn’t help but wonder if this teacher had some connection to her past. “Was this someone from Li City University?” Before Liza could respond, Gavin suddenly spoke, his tone as cool as ever. “Oh, right. I nearly forgot—you’re a student at Li City University.” Liza blinked. Honestly, if you hadn’t mentioned it, I probably would’ve forgotten too. Her silence didn’t go unnoticed. George, on the other hand, was visibly surprised. “Madam, you’re a student at Li City University? That’s incredible! President Gavin actually has an event there in a few days—he’s supposed to be a judge for something. You could show us around! I’ve heard the university is absolutely stunning.” Before Liza could entertain the idea, Gavin shot the suggestion down with a sneer. “Why would I need her to give me a tour? I’m sure the university staff can handle that just fine.” George coughed awkwardly, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. Sure, President Gavin, pretend you’re not interested—but we all know the truth. George sighed inwardly. President Gavin, at this rate, you’re going to push your wife away with that attitude. Liza, however, seemed unfazed by Gavin’s peculiar personality. She lightly tapped his arm and asked casually, “What event are you attending at Li City University? I actually have an event there in a few days too. Maybe we can coordinate schedules—otherwise, I won’t have time to show you around.” Before Gavin could reply, George jumped in. “I believe it’s a fashion design competition. The university invited President Gavin to be one of the judges.” Each year, Stone Corporation recruited talent from Li City University, so the university always extended invitations to Gavin for their major events. But, in typical fashion, he had never accepted before. This time, however, George knew things were different. Mrs. Stone was a student there—there was no way President Gavin would skip this one.Gavin instinctively wanted to refute, to say he wouldn’t attend. But when he opened his mouth, no words came out. Just then, Liza hesitated and said, “A fashion design competition? That might actually be the same event I was invited to…” Her voice trailed off as she tried to recall. The university had emailed her about it, but she hadn’t paid much attention since she thought it sounded dull. George’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Madam, are you a fashion designer too? Could we see your designs in the competition?” Liza blinked, then shook her head. “No, I’m not a participant,” she said flatly, dashing his enthusiasm. Once they returned to Longwan Residential, Liza headed straight to the third floor. She rummaged through her inbox, finally pulling up the long-forgotten email from the university’s official account. The email read:Dear Miss Ruby co, Our university is hosting an upcoming competition for fashion designers, and we would be honored if you could attend as a judge. Your work is admired by our students, and having you share your expertise would be an incredible opportunity for them. It would truly be our privilege to have your guidance. Reading it again, Liza couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. The name "Ruby co" carried a legacy. Three years ago, Ruby co had burst onto the fashion scene, taking the world by storm. She won the highest accolade in the International Fashion Design Competition upon her debut, shocking the industry. Her designs were bold, elegant, and unforgettable. Each time a collection was released, it sold out within seconds. Prestigious fashion houses scrambled to collaborate with her, but her elusive nature made it nearly impossible. Ruby co kept a low profile, producing only a handful of designs each year. When choosing partners, she was notoriously selective, often leaving major brands torn between admiration and frustration. Liza’s finger hovered over the mouse as she reread the email. Should she accept the invitation? Or was it better to stay away from all the noise? She found herself caught in a dilemma, uncertain of what to do next.