Stigma

The airport was filled with people. Wearing a lacy white dress and holding her pink suitcase, Eva Xu walked towards the exit.

It had been five years since she left China, but it seemed that she was fated to return.

As she looked around, her lips formed a grim line.

Things had changed. It definitely wasn't the same as before when she left this place. "Mommy, where are we going?"

Dark lashes framed the little boy's large eyes as he stared up at her. He looked so adorable that anyone would swoon at the sight of him.

If it weren't for her actually holding his hand, Eva Xu wouldn't believe that she had been a mother at her young age.

Under Jason Xu's expectant eyes, Eva Xu smiled. "Jace, we'll arrive home shortly. Plus, it isn't necessary for you to speak English, okay? It's time for you to practice your Chinese," she instructed gently, ruffling his short hair.

"I know you want to see the ferris wheel. How about we'll go there after settling our luggage?"

'Jace' was a nickname she had given him ever since he was born. The only dream she had for him was that he would grow up to be happy and healthy.

Jason Xu nodded and warmly shook her hand. He then pointed at the huge ferris wheel overlooking the entire city and said excitedly, "Mommy, is that the place where you and Daddy first met?"

Eva Xu flushed at the question. When the little boy questioned her about his father, she had no choice but to make up a story. She had said that they met on the ferris wheel, when in all honesty, she didn't know who his father was. If it wasn't for that night five years ago, Jason Xu wouldn't even be born.

Of course, staring into her young boy, she didn't regret any of it.

As soon as they booked a room in a hotel, her phone rang. She answered only to hear a familiar voice from the other end of the line. He was Jake, her teacher while she was studying abroad. Although he was already getting old, his style had always followed the trends.

"Eva, you still haven't found a stable job, right?" he said in fluent Chinese.

Glancing at Jason Xu's sleeping figure, Eva Xu tucked him in and walked to the balcony silently. "No, why?"

"I happen to have a friend who needs another designer. The salary's really good, but the competition is fierce. However, since I'm the one who taught you, you're very qualified for the job."

Jake was the one who had taken care of her back then. That was why she was close to him. Eva Xu had no reason for her to doubt the company Jake had introduced, so she smiled and agreed. When she searched up the company that Jake had mentioned, she found that it was indeed a very famous company. Without another thought, Eva Xu quickly booked herself an interview on the second day.

However, Jake was right to say that the competition was fierce. It seemed that she was also going up against Julia Zhu, another excellent designer. Jake had warned her that Julia Zhu was very manipulative. However, at the sight of her innocent face, Eva Xu couldn't help but to strike a conversation with her.

"You must be outstanding for Jake to choose you as his student, Miss Xu. For sure, you're extra qualified for the position," Julia Zhu complimented.

Eva Xu smiled faintly. "I'm flattered. Thank you!"

"Please prepare your own design drawings."

A man with a beer belly walked into the room. Everyone stood up to show their respects.

Eva was so nervous that her palms were sweating. She had always been like this ever since she was a child. Her heart would beat so fast as if she had just ran a marathon. She didn't even know how she could take on the pressure in the designing field.

Finally, it was time for the interview. With an uneasy heart, she entered the door. There were around three or four people at the other side of the table. A young man was sitting in the middle. His eyes were sharp so she didn't dare look up.

"Are you Miss Xu? Are you sure you've sketched these by hand?"

His voice was loud and clear. "Yes, I guarantee that they're all designed by me," Eva quickly explained.

However, as soon as she opened her mouth, everyone except the young man burst into laughter.

Her heart sank.

"Miss Xu, please have a look."

She raised her head and found that the young man was very handsome. He had large eyes and extremely muscled arms, but that wasn't the point.

She stared at the sketches that he was holding, and her eyes widened in surprise.

"It seems that you have a special understanding with your design." Seeing her wide and innocent eyes, Santosh Qiu couldn't believe that such a beautiful lady would have such disgusting intentions in her mind.

"No– no..." Eva tried to explain. Her face flushed in embarrassment. The naked pictures weren't the ones that she had submitted for the company at all. In fact, they were far from it!