Chapter 39

Chapter 39

The moment Ye Zhiqiu decided to confront Zhou Lang, he had already prepared an escape route for himself.

In his previous life, Qi Yun had developed quite well, eventually surpassing the Jiang family in the fashion industry.

Jiang Nan was no longer the unattainable white moonlight for Qi Xin, and their interactions became increasingly frequent.

If initially, Jiang Nan only saw Qi Xin as a dog following him to highlight his superiority,

then later on, Qi Xin officially became a qualified backup in Jiang Nan's life.

Thus, after Jiang Nan’s reputation was ruined when he drugged Qin Jianhe, leading to the Jiang family's downfall under the Qin family's relentless retaliation, Jiang Nan turned to Qi Xin for comfort.

"He's tired; I want to give him a home." Qi Xin's words echoed in his ears once again.

It seemed as if he wasn't a person but an object, something that could be discarded when no longer wanted.

Even having his heart torn open didn’t seem as important as the simple phrase "I'm tired."

Lifting his hand to flick the ash off his cigarette, Ye Zhiqiu’s lips curled slightly.

The cold moonlight from outside shone through, casting a layer of silver frost over his eyes.

The white paper was filled with messy handwriting. The name "Qi Yun" was followed by several arrows, which led to the names of several factories.

All these were the names of new cooperative factories that Qi Yun had developed in his previous life.

Among them, a few specialized in Xiangyunsha, excelling in their craft.

Below Qi Yun, Zhao Keqi's name appeared on Ye Zhiqiu's review list for the first time.

Although he knew that most people who went to the boxing gym were wealthy or influential,

Ye Zhiqiu hadn’t expected such a coincidence—that Zhao Keqi’s father was the famous entertainment investor, Zhao Yunzhuang.

Zhao Yunzhuang was skilled at investing in period dramas, where Xiangyunsha was essential for the exquisite costumes.

Ye Zhiqiu crossed out Qi Yun and the factory names temporarily, leaving only Zhao Keqi’s name.

Then, he added the names of the three factories whose samples were sealed today.

He still needed to visit these factories; otherwise, how would Zhou Lang make his moves?

After reviewing the day’s events, the cigarette in his fingers had burned down to the end. He flicked the ash and extinguished the last ember in the ashtray.

He then placed the ashtray in a hidden spot under the desk.

Despite Ye Hongxian being an old smoker, he never allowed Ye Zhiqiu or Ye Zhixia to touch cigarettes.

At this age in his previous life, he smoked mostly out of curiosity and rebellion.

However, since it was only occasional, he didn’t become addicted.

His true addiction came during those desperate and dark times at the end.

But now, at the same age, the addiction from his past life seemed to have followed him.

Though not as intense, the occasional craving still emerged, making him feel restless.

Tapping his fingertips lightly on the cigarette box, Ye Zhiqiu put it away in a hidden corner of the drawer.

He then habitually opened his email and checked his phone for messages.

The group chat had been lively for a while. Li Shaojun and Jin Baobao wanted to set a date to celebrate his entry into Q.L.

Even Tang Yue offered to return to campus a few days early to join in the celebration for Ye Zhiqiu.

Ye Zhiqiu’s eyes held a smile as he slowly scrolled up.

He genuinely appreciated their sentiments, but he really had no time recently.

Still, he missed Jin Baobao and Li Shaojun.

After some contemplation, Ye Zhiqiu started typing on the screen.

"One Leaf Knows Autumn: I’ve been too busy lately, preparing for the fashion show. Time is tight, so let’s skip the celebration for now."

"One Leaf Knows Autumn: Besides, isn’t there going to be a birthday party for Baobao soon? We can celebrate then."

"Little Shao: My Lord Autumn has truly changed."

"Wealthy Treasure: Busy bee."

[One Leaf Knows Autumn: Who doesn’t have a bit of ‘I’m the best’ vanity? Anyway, this time on the runway, regardless of anything else, Q.L must come first.]

"Little Shao: Go for it, my lord."

"Wealthy Treasure: Go for it, my treasure."

Ye Zhiqiu suppressed a laugh, suddenly remembering the beef pot Qin Jianhe took him to on Valentine's Day.

He continued typing.

"One Leaf Knows Autumn: If you’re free tomorrow, we can have dinner near our company. There’s a place that makes amazing beef pot, and I’ll take you there to try it."

"Little Shao: Look at that, look at that. He’s inviting us to keep him company for dinner?"

"Wealthy Treasure: Are you that busy? You won’t be making us stay for dinner and then go back to work, will you? Why not celebrate tomorrow?"

"Le Le: I can't make it to the celebration tomorrow. Soybean crying.jpg"

"Zhao Cai Jinbao: It's okay. When you get back, you can treat Xiao Qiu to a meal at the school cafeteria."

Jin Baobao was kind and knew that Tang Yue came from an average background, so he suggested treating him at the school cafeteria. However, whether Tang Yue would appreciate it was another matter.

Ye Zhiqiu smoothly changed the subject.

"Yi Ye Zhiqiu: After dinner, I really do have to work overtime. Just let me know if you're coming or not."

"Li Shao: Come, come, come..."

"Zhao Cai Jinbao: Come, come, come, but if the beef brisket stew isn't good, I won't be happy."

"Yi Ye Zhiqiu: Alright, alright, alright. I'm going to take a shower and get some rest early. I need to visit the factory tomorrow."

"Zhao Cai Jinbao: Working sure is tough, Xiao Qiu."

"Li Shao: Go ahead."

Tang Yue's message popped up next, but Ye Zhiqiu didn't look at it.

He tossed his phone on the table and got up to enter the bathroom.

The next morning, as soon as he entered the office, Meng Da knocked on his door with two men and two women.

"The assistants have been selected for you," Meng Da said with a smile. "Are you satisfied?"

"Teacher," the four of them called out in unison to Ye Zhiqiu.

Ye Zhiqiu: ...

He felt embarrassed to say no.

If it were in his previous life, it would have been fine.

But now, he was just a few months shy of turning twenty, and everyone present seemed older than him.

The word "teacher" felt a bit heavy for Ye Zhiqiu.

"How about calling me Xiao Ye?" he said with a smile.

Upon hearing this, all four looked at Meng Da.

After a moment, they said in unison, "Teacher Xiao Ye."

Ye Zhiqiu: ...

"Alright," Ye Zhiqiu chuckled.

"I won't introduce them one by one," Meng Da said. "Let them introduce themselves."

"I'll go first," said a round-faced girl, stepping forward. "Hello, Teacher Xiao Ye. My name is Zhang Lan. I graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts and have been working at Q.L for a year, mainly in quality control. I am quite familiar with fabrics."

Seeing Zhang Lan introduce herself, the other three young people also introduced themselves to Ye Zhiqiu one by one.

Each had different positions and areas of expertise, showing that Meng Da had put considerable thought into their selection.

"Thank you, Teacher Meng," Ye Zhiqiu said gratefully again.

"So, how is it?" Meng Da asked, looking at the pile of Xiangyun silk on the desk. "Any suitable ones?"

"There are a few," Ye Zhiqiu replied. "I plan to start visiting factories today."

"Why do you need to do it yourself?" Meng Da said. "Just leave it to Xiao Zhang."

Zhang Lan had mentioned that she had worked in quality control for a year and was very familiar with fabrics.

"I still want to check things out myself for the first few days," Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "I need to have a basic understanding of our partners."

"Alright," Meng Da conceded, pulling Ye Zhiqiu a few steps inside. "Why is Zhou Lang asking about the factories you're using? Did you offend him?"

"Not really," Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "We just bumped into each other at the coffee shop downstairs yesterday after work and joked around a bit."

Meng Da understood immediately.

"If there are any issues, come to me," he said. "Rest assured, I guarantee your exhibit will make it to the international runway this year."

"Sure," Ye Zhiqiu nodded with a smile. "Definitely."

With limited tasks at hand, after Meng Da left, Ye Zhiqiu briefly chatted with the four assistants and sent the other three back to their offices.

Then, he personally drove Zhang Lan to the factory.

"Today, I'll show you around," Ye Zhiqiu told Zhang Lan. "Afterward, you can visit the factories on your own."

"Teacher Xiao Ye," Zhang Lan said, "I've actually visited most of the factories last year, and I'm familiar with the managers."

"Hmm," Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "So, do you understand what each factory excels at and what they're not good at?"

Zhang Lan hesitated.

She had previously worked under a quality control supervisor, focusing on order-to-order operations.

As long as the goods matched the orders, everything was considered okay.

Thus, Ye Zhiqiu's first question stumped her.

It was only at this moment that Zhang Lan finally realized that she was no longer in the quality inspection position.

"Are you interested in becoming a designer in the future?" Ye Zhiqiu smiled knowingly.

"Yes," Zhang Lan said shyly, "Teacher Xiao Ye."

"A qualified designer needs to understand not just the market and clients' needs, but also the upstream suppliers—knowing which materials they produce better, which ones have more authentic colors, and which offer higher cost-effectiveness. Every stitch and thread must be clear to us," Ye Zhiqiu smiled. "Only then can we provide the best experience for our clients and create the highest benefits for the company."

"Teacher Xiao Ye," Zhang Lan looked at him with admiration, "I heard that you haven't even graduated yet. How do you know so much?"

"By learning from seniors and putting in some effort, you'll figure it out over time," Ye Zhiqiu said.

"Mm-hmm." Zhang Lan nodded. "I will definitely learn more from my seniors in the future."

As they spoke, the two entered the factory premises.

The person in charge had been waiting at the entrance for quite some time and immediately greeted them as their car arrived.

This time, as Q.L's official designer, Ye Zhiqiu received much better treatment than when he visited the factory representing VIA.

The factory almost always cooperated with any requests.

Ye Zhiqiu took out his notebook from his backpack and began working earnestly.

From the warehouse to the production floor, almost no place was overlooked. As he toured the facility, he continuously wrote and drew in his notebook.

Occasionally, he would stop to ask questions about production processes.

When he encountered fabrics rarely seen on the market, he would take photos for reference.

Zhang Lan followed behind, observing and learning, silently noting down the key points Ye Zhiqiu focused on.

They visited one factory in the morning and another in the afternoon, running through two factories in a day. Ye Zhiqiu collected many samples and moved them into the car.

"Do you remember everything?" Ye Zhiqiu asked Zhang Lan on their way back.

Zhang Lan nodded. "Yes, Teacher Xiao Ye."

She voluntarily recounted the workflow and the points to pay attention to.

Ye Zhiqiu nodded with a smile and added a few more points.

"Starting tomorrow, you should revisit all of Q.L's partner factories. After the fashion show, let's aim to establish our own database of factories. That way, we can precisely identify partners for any product," he said. "Although it might be slightly troublesome initially, it will save a lot of creative time and workload later."

"Understood, Teacher Xiao Ye," Zhang Lan said confidently upon hearing this.

Time flew by amidst their busy schedule.

Ye Zhiqiu spent nearly a week preparing the first two exhibition pieces.

Meanwhile, Zhao Keqi finally delivered the Xiangyun brocade to him.

On the other hand, as Zhang Lan visited more factories, an increasing number of manufacturers received warning emails from Zhou Lang.

The internal conflict within Q.L was causing trouble for the manufacturers.

No one was a pushover, and soon, the news reached Meng Da's ears.

One morning, during the Design Department's meeting, Meng Da brought up the issue.

Conflicts between the two major figures in the Design Department were nothing new.

However, this time, Ye Zhiqiu was caught in the middle.

The conference room fell silent as many people glanced discreetly at Ye Zhiqiu.

Sympathetic, pitying, and gloating looks filled the room.

But Ye Zhiqiu simply sat in his seat with a smile, as if it had nothing to do with him.

"Zhou Lang," Meng Da said, "you need to apologize to the partner factories and give Xiao Ye a reasonable explanation."

"What explanation do I owe him?" Zhou Lang said slowly. "Xiangyun brocade? He wants to use it, and I want to use it too. So what? Whoever has the ability gets the resources. What's the problem with that?"

"Let's see whether you want to use it or just prevent others from using it." Meng Da projected an email with the recipient and salutation obscured onto the screen in the conference room.

Ye Zhiqiu smiled and raised his eyes, reading the last few lines of the email.

"If you insist on your actions, Teacher Zhou will refuse any further business cooperation with your factory," he read softly.

His voice was low, but everyone in the conference room could hear clearly.

"I have many more such emails," Meng Da said. "You really make it convenient, just changing the salutation while keeping everything else the same."

Zhou Lang turned his head indifferently upon hearing this.

"Taking advantage of this meeting, I want to emphasize again," Meng Da said. "While we are the client, all the factories and suppliers we work with have been carefully selected over the years by everyone present here and our predecessors. They are the most suitable partners for Q.L."

He paused briefly, looking around, and emphasized, "They are not just our suppliers; most importantly, they are our partners."

"Once these partners feel disheartened, Q.L. might face unexpected difficulties in securing large quantities of high-quality fabrics every year. Therefore, I hope everyone here can seriously consider whether today's actions are right or wrong. And I request the party involved..."

Meng Da looked at Zhou Lang, "...that is, Teacher Zhou, to sincerely apologize to all the partner factories. Otherwise, I will report this matter to Mr. Qin."

"How much have I contributed to the company? How much has he contributed?" Zhou Lang's face finally changed. "Meng Da, you look terrible when you abuse your power for personal gain, did you know?"

"I didn't get this position by my looks; I've always been fair," Meng Da looked at Zhou Lang. "I'm asking you, Teacher Zhou, have I ever maliciously harmed your interests and resources?"

Zhou Lang snorted coldly. "You kicked my work out to let his in. Can you honestly say you had no ulterior motives?"

"Xiao Ye’s work being exhibited relies on his own abilities. If you have any objections, you can file a complaint. Even if it reaches Mr. Qin, I would still say the same," Meng Da said calmly. "As for you, as a senior member, using improper means to compete with your juniors—does that make you look good, Teacher Zhou?"

"Fine then." Zhou Lang raised his head. "I will file a complaint. After all, Mr. Qin should be back from abroad today."

"Xiao Ye," he looked at Ye Zhiqiu, "you’re confident, right?"

"Mm." Ye Zhiqiu smiled at him. "Absolutely confident."

His tone rose slightly, which sounded like a provocation to Zhou Lang.

"Just wait," he said.

"Enough, Teacher Zhou," Meng Da frowned. "Your image as a senior is truly shattered now."

Without waiting for Zhou Lang to speak, he gathered the documents in front of him.

"That’s it for today’s meeting," he glanced at Zhou Lang. "Regarding the factory issue, I’ll give you two days to apologize. If there’s no action by then, I’ll bring it up with Mr. Qin."

"Meeting dismissed," he said.

Zhou Lang’s face turned livid. "Fine, I’ll file a complaint with the secretary’s office so that Mr. Qin sees it as soon as he returns."

Ye Zhiqiu lowered his eyes and packed his things, smiling when he heard this. He followed everyone out of the meeting room.

Meng Da was waiting for him at the door. After whispering a few words of comfort, they parted ways.

"Teacher Xiao Ye." As soon as Ye Zhiqiu entered the office, his assistant Gao Yang approached him. "I saw in the assistant group chat that because of this matter, Boss Meng confronted Teacher Zhou?"

As Zhang Lan visited the factory more frequently, Zhou Lang’s targeting of Ye Zhiqiu became less of a secret.

Initially within their small group, it gradually spread throughout the Design Department.

As a result, recently, apart from Wu Qiong, everyone deliberately avoided Ye Zhiqiu, fearing they might get involved.

Naturally, the atmosphere within their small group was not relaxed.

Whether Zhou Lang would escalate further remained to be seen.

But without rice, even a skilled cook cannot make a meal. With one factory after another refusing them, how could Ye Zhiqiu obtain materials to produce an exhibit?

They had all gently advised Ye Zhiqiu to yield, emphasizing that his future was important.

After all, the person in question was Zhou Lang.

Not only was he exceptionally talented, but having been at Q.L for so long, his network of relationships was deeply rooted.

Moreover, he had targeted others before, always getting his way.

Clearly, Ye Zhiqiu was not someone who would yield easily.

So be it. After all, Ye Zhiqiu managed to secure the best materials through his connections.

They thought the matter could be put aside for now, but unexpectedly, something else happened during the meeting.

Gao Yang was extremely worried.

"Mm." Ye Zhiqiu put down his notebook and looked at the cutting Gao Yang had just done.

"You’ve improved," he said with a smile.

"Teacher Xiao Ye..." Gao Yang called again, hesitating.

"Mm?" Ye Zhiqiu looked up at him.

"I’m still a bit worried," Gao Yang’s voice lowered. "What if Teacher Zhou continues to target us?"

This was probably a shared concern among all the assistants.

Although they were assistants, their goal was to learn as much as possible and eventually stand on their own.

No one wanted to offend industry giants, especially those who could affect their careers.

"Do you trust me?" Ye Zhiqiu smiled at Gao Yang and took out his phone to check the date.

Gao Yang certainly trusted Ye Zhiqiu.

Though he had only been with Ye Zhiqiu for a week, anyone who had studied fashion could see his talent.

More importantly, he did not keep secrets.

Previously, Gao Yang struggled with draping, but Ye Zhiqiu recommended professional books and taught him step-by-step, leading to his current progress.

He felt he was slowly getting the hang of it.

However, if Ye Zhiqiu could yield to Zhou Lang, it would be better.

"Of course, I trust you," Gao Yang said.

This time, however, Ye Zhiqiu did not respond.

He stared at his phone screen, seemingly distracted by something.

"Teacher Xiao Ye?" Gao Yang called Ye Zhiqiu again.

"Just a moment," Ye Zhiqiu said. "I need to reply to a message."

During the meeting, his phone was on silent, so he only saw the calls and messages from Gao Wenye when he turned it back on.

It was still a text message.

"Today's the wrap-up for the movie. You promised to meet me. Gao Wenye."

"Can we meet today? Gao Wenye."

"..."

Perhaps afraid that Ye Zhiqiu hadn't saved his number, Gao Wenye appended his name to each message.

Ye Zhiqiu opened Weibo and searched for the movie starring Gao Wenye and Ye Zhixia, indeed finding news of its completion.

Without replying to Gao Wenye, Ye Zhiqiu dialed another number.

"Can tonight work?" he asked.

"Yes, anytime you say," came the overly sweet voice from the other end, "Still the same bar?"

"Yes," said Ye Zhiqiu, "No need to send photos again, right?"

"An actor like you," the person laughed, "I wouldn't forget."

"The room will be booked shortly, remember to reimburse me," the person chuckled, "Thank you for such an enjoyable night ahead."

"Whether it's enjoyable or not is yet to be seen," Ye Zhiqiu sneered, "Just give me what I want."

"Alright, alright, why so grumpy?" the person said before hanging up.

Ye Zhiqiu then replied to Gao Wenye.

"Eight o'clock tonight."

He removed Gao Wenye from the blacklist, sending him the location of the bar.

Then he stood up, raising his hand to unfold the bright red Xiangyun silk, gesturing to Gao Yang.

"Gao Yang, the fabric scissors."

Gao Yang: "..."

Wasn't there more to be said?

He glanced at Ye Zhiqiu.

Ye Zhiqiu looked serious and focused, clearly no longer interested in continuing the previous conversation.

He was about to create his final exhibit.

With hesitation and unease gone, Gao Yang became excited.

*

A little past seven, Ye Zhiqiu lifted his eyes from his workstation.

After a busy day, he blinked his tired eyes and got up to light a cigarette, stepping into the stairwell after opening the office door.

As soon as he entered, he smelled a faint scent of tobacco.

It was the brand Qin Jianhe smoked.

Mixed with the faint aroma was a subtle hint of mint.

Ye Zhiqiu: ...

Apart from that one time, he hadn't encountered Qin Jianhe in the stairwell since.

Especially in recent days, as he had reportedly been abroad on business.

Ye Zhiqiu was slightly taken aback, remembering that Zhou Lang had mentioned during the meeting that Qin Jianhe would return today.

Returning today and coming straight to the company? That's quite dedicated.

Thinking this, Ye Zhiqiu couldn't help but take a few steps upward.

Qin Jianhe stood by the window where they had met before, without a cigarette in hand, seemingly waiting for someone.

"Mr. Qin?" Ye Zhiqiu paused, "You...?"

"I was waiting for you," said Qin Jianhe, his typically elegant voice echoing softly in the stairwell.

His grip on the cigarette tightened slightly, Ye Zhiqiu was surprised.

"But I might not have come," he said,

"Hmm," Qin Jianhe responded calmly, then asked after a moment, "Is all the fabric ready? Do you need any help?"

"Did Mr. Meng say something?" Ye Zhiqiu asked, then smiled, "Don't worry, I have backup plans, more than one."

The tall figure above seemed to relax, leaning against the windowsill.

"That's good," he said.

"Just that many factories received emails from Professor Zhou," Ye Zhiqiu added.

"Someone will handle it," Qin Jianhe assured, "Don't worry."

Ye Zhiqiu wasn't worried, and chuckled, "Okay."

"Your work can be exhibited because I personally approved it," Qin Jianhe said, "Regardless of what others say, don't let it bother you."

Ye Zhiqiu nodded again. "He appealed?"

"Mm." Qin Jianhe's voice was as calm and concise as ever. "But it won't make any difference."

It seemed that Zhou Lang had indeed gone to appeal right after the meeting.

However, shouldn’t Qin Jianhe, who had just returned from a business trip, have many things to do?

Why did he immediately notice such a minor issue?

Ye Zhiqiu lowered his eyes and realized he had forgotten to light his cigarette.

He raised his hand, placed the cigarette between his teeth, and lit it.

"Did I cause you trouble?" he asked. "But I don't like to keep my grievances bottled up."

"It's no trouble," Qin Jianhe said with a faint laugh. "You did well."

"However," he continued, "I have quite a bit of work piled up since returning. Since you haven't been affected, I'll put this matter aside for now."

"That's fine," Ye Zhiqiu replied quickly. "I really haven't been affected at all."

Every day, he was so busy he barely touched the ground; even if the sky fell, he wouldn't have time to care.

"Mm," Qin Jianhe said, a gentle smile appearing in his eyes.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating his rolled-up sleeve on his forearm.

That forearm was muscular, with smooth and elegant lines.

Qin Jianhe really does have an excellent physique, Ye Zhiqiu couldn't help but think.

If only he weren't my boss.

After all, life is so long; without talking about feelings, we could at least talk about enjoyment, right?

Why must he be Qin Jianhe?

As Ye Zhiqiu thought this, he glanced down at the time.

This time, he had brought his phone out.

"Do you have plans for tonight?" Qin Jianhe asked.

"Mm." Ye Zhiqiu nodded.

The cigarette was almost finished, and he walked over to the trash bin to extinguish it.

"Did you wait for me just to say these things?"

"Mm," Qin Jianhe said.

Even if Qin Jianhe hadn't mentioned it, Ye Zhiqiu wouldn't have worried.

In other aspects, it might be different, but when it came to fashion design, he had absolute confidence in himself and trusted Qin Jianhe's judgment.

Otherwise, Q.L wouldn't have developed to its current state.

But because Qin Jianhe took the time to reassure him, Ye Zhiqiu felt particularly warm inside.

"Thank you," he said, preparing to leave.

But after taking two steps down, he turned around again.

"Mr. Qin." The young man's beautiful eyes curved, filled with moonlight. "Thank you. I will do everything in my power to repay your trust in me."

Ye Zhiqiu said this half-truthfully.

Half-truthfully, because he genuinely appreciated Qin Jianhe and wanted to achieve mutual success with him.

Half-falsely, because Zhou Lang had significant influence at Q.L, and he needed to pull Qin Jianhe closer to his side.

However, he didn't expect that later, Qin Jianhe would repeatedly bring up this statement, demanding endless returns from him.

For at that moment, the man simply stood high above, quietly looking down at him, and after a while, softly uttered one word.

"Good," he said.