Siheyuan: tomb robbing? I am serious about hunting.

Chapter 1064 Cup

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the blinds, casting long, thin streaks of light on the floor. Su Wan sat at her desk, her fingertips lightly brushing against the red certificate of honor. The gold-embossed words "Best Screenwriter Award" on the cover gleamed in the light. This was the honor she had earned after countless nights and revising the script more than a dozen times, but she didn't feel the excitement she had imagined. Instead, she felt an inexplicable sense of emptiness. There was a knock from the courier outside, and Su Wan got up to open the door. When she signed for it, she noticed that the color of the envelope was particularly bright, a bright red with a circle of gold patterns on the edge, which looked very festive. After closing the door, she returned to her desk and carefully opened the envelope. A red card fell out, with two names printed on it - Lin Shen and Li Ran. The gold-embossed font gleamed in the sunlight, like two dancing flames, burning her eyes. The date and location were written on the lower right corner of the card: the sixth of next month, to be held at a hotel in Lin Shen's hometown. Su Wan's fingertips trembled slightly as she held the invitation. The red card burned her palms like a branding iron. She remembered that there was an unopened letter in her mailbox when she left home that morning. It must be this one. It turned out that he was getting engaged to someone else after all. The awards ceremony was to be held at 7 p.m. at the Grand Theater in the city center. Su Wan started preparing two hours in advance. She opened her closet and took out the rented dress. It was lavender, and the hem was embroidered with tiny pearls that reflected a soft glow under the light. She had gone to three dress shops to find it. It was expensive and cost almost half of her prize money. She fumbled with her makeup in the mirror. It took her several tries to get the eyeliner right, and she tried many lipstick colors before finally settling on a bean paste color that looked gentle yet elegant. She looked at herself in the mirror, feeling both strange and familiar. The girl with a plain face and canvas shoes seemed to have been left in the past. Before leaving, Su Wan hesitated for a moment, but still put the red invitation into her handbag. She didn't know why she brought it with her, perhaps to give herself a reason to give up completely. Outside the theater, a bright red carpet was laid, and both sides were filled with reporters and fans. The flash lights kept flashing like stars in the sky. Su Wan took a deep breath, lifted the hem of her skirt, and walked onto the red carpet step by step. Her heart was beating fast, her palms were sweaty, but her face was trying to maintain a calm smile. When she entered the theater, it was already full. The lights on the stage were dazzling, reflecting the excited smiles on everyone's face. Su Wan found her seat and sat down, her eyes subconsciously searching the crowd. Just when she was about to give up, her eyes fixed on the first row. Lin Shen was sitting there, wearing a well-ironed black suit, his hair was meticulously combed, revealing a smooth forehead. Next to him sat a girl, wearing a white dress, her long hair flowing freely. A delicate diamond necklace shimmered in the bright lights. Su Wan knew without even asking: it was Li Ran. Li Ran was talking to Lin Shen with her head tilted to the side, a sweet smile on her face. Lin Shen also tilted his head slightly, his eyes gentle, a tenderness Su Wan had never witnessed before. At that moment, Su Wan felt as if something had gripped her heart, the pain so intense that she could barely breathe. The awards ceremony began, the host delivering witty remarks and the audience roaring with applause. As each award was announced, Su Wan grew increasingly nervous. When she heard "Best Screenwriter Award – Su Wan," she froze for several seconds before reacting. Congratulations poured in from the crowd. She stood up, skirt lifted, and walked onto the stage. The spotlight shone on her, warm and dazzling. She accepted the trophy, walked to the microphone, and took a deep breath. The audience was a sea of ​​black, and everyone's eyes were fixed on her. Su Wan's gaze passed through the crowd, landing once again on Lin Shen in the first row. He was looking back at her, his expression a complex mix of surprise, guilt, and a subtle hint of dejection. "Thank you to everyone who supports me," Su Wan's voice trembled, her hand gripping the trophy shaking slightly. "Thank you to my family, my friends, everyone who has ever helped me." She paused, her gaze still fixed on Lin Shen. "Especially... the one who once said he'd support me forever." As soon as she finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted from the audience. Su Wan saw Lin Shen's body stiffen, his expression strained. Li Ran, as if sensing something, gently touched Lin Shen's arm and whispered something. Su Wan bowed deeply to the audience, then turned and walked off the stage. Returning to her seat, her heart still pounding, her face devoid of joy. She knew her words were meant not only for Lin Shen, but also for her past self. After the awards ceremony, Su Wan didn't leave immediately. She wanted to find a quiet place to spend some time. As she reached the hallway, a familiar figure stopped her. It was Lin Shen. He held a bouquet of red roses, their petals still drenched in water, looking incredibly vibrant. "Congratulations," Lin Shen's voice was a little hoarse, his eyes filled with mixed emotions. Su Wan looked at the roses in his hand, then glanced at Li Ran, standing not far behind him. A faint smile played on her lips. "Thank you." Lin Shen handed the roses to her and whispered, "I'm sorry." Su Wan took the roses and inhaled them. The fragrance was rich, yet a little pungent. "There's nothing to be sorry about," she said earnestly, looking up at Lin Shen's eyes. "You just forgot that there are no princes or princesses in the stories I write." She handed the roses back to Lin Shen and turned to leave. "Su Wan..." Lin Shen called out, his voice pleading. Su Wan didn't look back, but quickened her pace. She could hear Li Ran's voice behind her: "Ah Shen, we should go. Mom and Dad are waiting for us." As they left the theater, a light rain began to fall. The raindrops were fine and cool as they fell on her face. Su Wan raised her head, looked at the gray sky, and let the rain wet her hair and cheeks. She walked to the trash can on the side of the road, took out the invitation in her hand, and threw it in together with the bouquet of red roses. Seeing them wet by the rain and gradually becoming blurred, Su Wan felt a lot more relaxed. She took out her mobile phone, opened the ticket booking app, and booked a flight to the south. The roses shone faintly in the dim light. Su Wan looked at it, feeling mixed emotions. She remembered that when she bought this bottle of perfume, the clerk smiled and said that this was a new model and many couples would buy it as a gift for each other. She foolishly thought at the time how happy Lin Shen would be to receive it.