Was that… a compliment?
Hailey Tang blinked, stunned.
Had Ethan Yu just praised her?
She lit up like someone had flipped a switch inside her. "So you're saying… my sketches are actually good? I'm really going to get the five million?!"
Ethan glanced up, only to meet her beaming smile head-on.
Her eyes were bright—no, sparkling. Big and clear and black like polished obsidian, but somehow there were stars in them too. It was like someone had caught a tiny galaxy behind her irises.
And for a second, Ethan completely blanked out.
"Hey!" Hailey waved a hand in front of him. "Answer me! Can I win or not? Five million bucks—is it mine?!"
Ethan's lips twitched into a faint smile. "You care about the money that much?"
"Of course! I wouldn't have touched a pencil if it weren't for that five million!" Hailey couldn't hide the joy bubbling out of her chest. "So?! Is it mine or not?"
She looked at him like a puppy that had just learned how to sit—expectant, bright-eyed, tail practically wagging.
And then it happened.
His heartbeat—steady, precise, cold as a metronome for thirty years—just… stuttered.
Skipped a beat. Or maybe two.
Ethan stared at her, brows slightly furrowed, then let out a low, bewildered chuckle.
What the hell was wrong with him?
Was he sick? Delirious?
Because for one horrifying second, he'd just thought she looked… adorable.
Adorable.
He mentally smacked himself. Nope. Not going there.
Hailey misread his dazed expression completely and got nervous. "Hey—say something! Can I win or not? If I can't, just tell me. Rip the Band-Aid off."
Ethan gathered his thoughts, adjusted his expression, but couldn't quite wipe the amused glint from his eyes. "Maybe. If you hand over both of your designs, I'll make the call and get you the five million."
Hailey's eyes went wide. She clapped both hands over her face, then let out a joyful squeal. "Yes! Yes! YES!"
She practically did a little jig in place.
This was it—her first real achievement! Her first time winning something so big!
And on top of that… she'd gotten Ethan Yu's approval?
That was like finally unlocking an achievement after fighting the final boss a hundred times. The rush was unreal.
Ethan stood there, arms folded, just watching her laugh.
Watching her lose her mind from happiness.
For some reason, the corners of his mouth twitched again, and this time he didn't stop it.
He smiled—just a little.
She looked like a kid who'd won the lottery and didn't even know how to spend it. It was ridiculous. Immature. Loud. Dramatic.
And yet…
Weirdly infectious.
"Hailey," he said eventually, trying to sound composed, "how long are you planning to laugh like that?"
Hailey froze, mid-snort. "Oh, right! Hold on—I'll go grab the second sketch!"
She dashed up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
A minute later, she came thundering back down and practically threw the second folder into his hands. "Here you go! Both designs are yours now. Five million and we're square!"
She was glowing. Positively glowing.
Ethan opened the second folder, scanning the contents slowly.
Hmm.
Same vibrant creativity. Same bold instincts.
But still…
He clicked his tongue and gave her a look. "Your designs are definitely… unique. But let's be honest, they're also full of flaws. A lot of the elements are impractical, and the rough sketches are super immature—there's no internal structure, just flashy exteriors. Giving you five million for this is honestly highway robbery."
Hailey didn't bat an eye. "Whatever. You already agreed, so cough it up."
Ethan raised a brow. "That desperate for money?"
She smirked. "Yup. Got any complaints?"
He snorted. "Considering we used to be married, if you were really struggling, I could help. I wouldn't mind lending a hand."
His tone was casual, but the implication was clear: if she needed that five million for some emergency, he was willing to be generous.
But Hailey caught on right away—and dismissed it without hesitation.
"I'm not begging," she said coolly. "Thanks for the offer, but this isn't about needing your charity. I just want to prove a point. I want certain people to know I'm not worthless."
Her voice didn't tremble, but there was something raw behind it. A trace of the old wounds she'd buried, now starting to heal.
Ethan was caught off guard.
He stared at her for a moment, then broke into a wry smile. "Are you trying to prove it to me?"
She lifted her chin, smug and proud. "That's right. I told you I'd slap you in the face with success. And look at me now."
Ethan didn't even feel insulted.
He actually found it… entertaining.
So this was her plan all along?
Throw herself into his field, beat him at his own game, and rub it in?
He crossed his arms and tilted his head. "If you really did design all this yourself, then I'll admit—it's impressive. You clearly think outside the box. But if you didn't…"
He trailed off, waiting.
Hailey's confidence faltered for a split second.
Uh-oh.
She had borrowed some of his ideas—okay, maybe more than a little—for the first design. And she'd absolutely watched his old lectures and flipped through his discarded concepts for inspiration.
But the second sketch?
That one was hers.
It had taken her hours of caffeine-fueled insomnia and brain-frying trial and error, but she'd made it from scratch. No cheating. No copying.
"Even if I borrowed a little," she said, lifting her chin again, "I still improved it. And the second one? That's all me."
Ethan narrowed his eyes slightly.
That defiance, that fire…
He didn't know whether to be annoyed or intrigued.
"So you admit it?"
"Nope," she said with a grin. "I admit nothing. Prove it."
He stared at her for a long moment.
Then, to her surprise, he chuckled.
"You're unbelievable."
"I know."
"You're also stubborn, overconfident, and dangerously underqualified."
"I know."
"…But maybe," he added, holding up the folder, "that's not always a bad thing."
Her heart skipped a beat.
Or maybe two.
Hailey looked away, suddenly finding the wallpaper extremely fascinating.
Crap. Why was her heart doing that thing now?
They were just talking about sketches. About money. This had nothing to do with anything emotional.
Nope. No way.
And yet…
The look in his eyes when he'd said that last line—like she was worth something?
It sent her pulse off the rails.
"You okay?" Ethan asked, noticing her weird silence.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm great." She cleared her throat and grabbed a throw pillow, clutching it like a lifeline. "Totally fine. Just… digesting the fact that you owe me five million. You might want to set up a payment plan."
Ethan rolled his eyes, but he didn't argue.
"Don't worry," he said. "I always pay what I owe."
Hailey flashed him a grin. "Good. I'll even accept direct deposit."
He smiled—just a little.
And for the first time in a long time, neither of them had anything left to argue about.
Not for now, anyway.