Chapter 68 Poaching

Chapter 68: Winning Over Clients

In the afternoon, the sun blazed overhead, and the heat was oppressive.

In the reception room on the second floor of the studio, the ceiling fan spun relentlessly, barely dispelling some of the sweltering heat.

In front of the wide floor mirror, Chen Yanzhu wore a deep gray evening gown that swept past her ankles. She slightly lifted her chin, tilting her neck as she dabbed on lipstick, admiring her reflection.

Beside her, Song Yuer, following Ji Qingzhou’s instructions, demonstrated the best way to wear the gown to the maid Chen Yanzhu had brought along.

“This triangular shawl is best tied on the outer side of the arm—either the left or right rear—with a knot. Later, you can add a modest brooch for decoration,” Ji Qingzhou advised.

“Of course, you could also drape it directly over the shoulders, which is equally elegant, but it would expose the undergarments. Ms. Chen wouldn’t approve.”

“That certainly wouldn’t do,” Chen Yanzhu interjected pointedly.

“I understand, which is why I designed the triangular shawl for you,” Ji Qingzhou countered with a smile before signaling Song Yuer to fetch the train.

“This train, considering you’ll be dancing, might be a bit cumbersome, so I made it detachable in a lavish overskirt style… This is how it looks when attached.”

As Song Yuer fastened the studded sequins and crystals on the lavish overskirt—composed of layered, gradient tulle—to the waist of the gown, the originally simple and understated dress instantly became dazzlingly opulent.

“Now it matches the design in your sketch!” Chen Yanzhu raised her eyebrows, breathing in awe as she slowly turned to observe the train in the mirror.

Though the room wasn’t lit, every movement she made caused the gown to catch the light in rippling waves, with the shimmer growing more concentrated toward the petal-shaped hem.

The starry brilliance left her utterly captivated, unable to tear her eyes away. She couldn’t help but sigh, “This is simply too radiant, too beautiful.”

“This is the effect under natural light. Under evening banquet lighting, it’ll shimmer even more brilliantly,” Ji Qingzhou remarked, searching for the most fitting description before adding, “It’ll be like a rippling galaxy—every step you take will make you the center of attention.”

After all, the design was based on Lu Xueying’s vision of “effortless, breathtaking beauty.” Thus, despite its seemingly subdued color and unassuming silhouette, the gown radiated dazzling brilliance.

Yet, as Ji Qingzhou gazed at the elegant and dazzling train, while feeling a sense of satisfaction, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of weariness.

Each tiny sequin and glass crystal on those panels had been meticulously stitched by hand by him and Song Yuer over the past few days. Even now, the calloused spots on his fingers tingled faintly at the memory.

Song Yuer might have endured an even greater mental toll, considering she had also hemmed the majority of those panels.

In truth, the opposite was the case. Though Song Yuer had endured days of laborious work, this was her first time participating in the creation of such an elaborate evening gown, so she was still buzzing with excitement.

Even if she had occasionally felt weary and bored during the process, now, as she personally dressed the customer and carefully adjusted the layers of the gown, it felt like gifting a prized bloom to a fortunate recipient. A quiet excitement and deep satisfaction filled her heart.

“Oh, and there’s the hat,” Ji Qingzhou beckoned to Song Yuer, who immediately understood and retrieved the hatbox from the cabinet.

The hatbox had been custom-made recently at a paper goods shop. Its pure black surface was embossed with silver lettering in both Chinese and English, making it far more expensive than previous boxes—costing six dimes per box.

Only because the hat itself was so valuable did Ji Qingzhou deem it worthy of such packaging.

Song Yuer held the box with one hand and lifted the lid with the other, revealing the handcrafted silk hat inside.

Adorned with a veil, feathers, and over a dozen dark red gemstones, the hat’s design didn’t follow any deliberate pattern. Instead, the gems were arranged for visual balance, aiming for a subtly dazzling yet understated beauty.

Chen Yanzhu let out a quiet gasp as she looked down at the hat, stunned by its intricate craftsmanship and exquisite detailing.

After all, this was a seventy-eight-yuan masterpiece—its handiwork was truly impeccable.

Ah, what a shame! If only she had known earlier, she would have paid extra to add a few more lavish gemstones. Then it would have been a treasure to pass down!

"So what gemstone did you end up using?" she asked with slight regret.

"Red tourmaline."

"Well, It’ll do, I guess."

"Let me help you with the hat?" Mr. Ji lifted the hat from the box and asked.

After all, Song Yuer was rather short, making it inconvenient for her to assist Chen Yanzhu with the hat.

"Certainly."

The silk hat, adorned with too many gemstones, was somewhat heavy and not easy to secure. Ji Qingzhou first had Chen Yanzhu’s maid put up a tight bun atop her head before placing the hat and securing it with small black bobby pins.

Once worn, the lower part of the hat slightly covered her forehead, though it was no hindrance—especially with the black checkered veil obscuring her eyes.

If the dress, shawl, and long gloves had merely given off an elegant, noble vibe, the addition of this black silk hat, with its mesmerizing dark red gemstones and the half-veiled eyes beneath the black tulle, instantly added a mesmerizing, mysterious glow over the entire ensemble.

At this point, not only Song Yuer and the maid but even Chen Yanzhu herself hardly recognized herself in the mirror.

What had I been wearing before? The tailors at home had never brought out even a tenth of her beauty and grace!

"How do you feel about the final look?" Ji Qingzhou asked, noticing her prolonged silence as she stared at the mirror, seemingly entranced.

"I couldn’t be happier," Chen Yanzhu replied softly, adjusting the veil with her black-gloved right hand before being dazzled by her own reflection.

She sighed lightly, "Well, now I’m afraid I’ve become your loyal client, Mr. Ji. From now on, any dress not made by you will feel lacking, never quite measure up."

"That’s an honor," Ji Qingzhou replied with a smile, returning the compliment.

Chen Yanzhu hesitated for a moment before asking, though she already knew the answer was unlikely, "Mr. Ji, would you consider working at our Lu Residence? We can discuss the salary—even 200 yuan a month wouldn’t be an issue."

Two hundred a month… Song Yuer and the maid exchanged wide-eyed looks.

So a truly skilled tailor could earn such a high salary… At that moment, Song Yuer’s resolve to apprentice under him grew even firmer.

Not only did she admire Mr. Ji’s talent, which had clients eating out of his hand so effortlessly, but she also saw it as a way to secure a respectable livelihood—even if she never married or left home.

Ji Qingzhou, however, raised an eyebrow, pausing before realizing she wanted him to become just another tailor among many at the Lu Residence.

"Thank you for the offer, but I prefer my current work."

"Very well, I understand," Chen Yanzhu replied, unsurprised. Trying to steal away the boss himself was rarely successful.

---

Later, after changing out of the gown, Chen Yanzhu had her waiting driver come upstairs to settle the final payment.

One hundred and sixteen silver dollars, packed in a small wooden box, were counted out one by one onto the carved tea table—a quite a sight to see.

After counting the sum, Ji Qingzhou and Song Yuer neatly folded and wrapped the gown and accessories into four boxes of varying sizes, tying them up with silver ribbons.

As a final touch, Ji Qingzhou added a little gift to the glove box—a tiny evening purse made from leftover silk, embellished with pearls and ribbon roses.

Though it didn’t hold much, barely enough for a lipstick and a compact mirror, its delicate and charming design was bound to charm.

"What’s this?" Chen Yanzhu immediately noticed the little addition.

"Our studio has just opened, and new customers receive gifts with their orders. Naturally, we couldn’t leave out our regular customers. Besides, I’ve been meaning to thank you for recommending me to Ramos. Since your outfit was perfect as is, I thought a little thank-you gift would be fitting," Ji Qingzhou explained briefly.

"Oh..." Chen Yanzhu suddenly remembered. During her daughter's birthday banquet, when Ramos, the theater manager, asked about her daughter's dress, she had dropped Ji Qingzhou's name in passing.

"It's because your craftsmanship is truly excellent, well worth recommending," she replied gently.

Though she had only mentioned it casually at the time, the fact that he remembered her goodwill and even prepared a small gift made her feel touched and gratified.

"See you next time, Mr. Ji. There’s no need to see me off—it’s just a short distance," she said politely once everything was packed. Then, with the driver and maid carrying the gift boxes, she headed downstairs.

With the client gone, the room fell abruptly silent.

Ji Qingzhou exhaled, massaging his temples tiredly before straightening up the clutter in the reception area with Song Yuer.

Once finished, he checked the time—already 2 p.m.—and said to Song Yuer, "Alright, we’ve been busy for days now. You can leave early today and get some real rest."

Song Yuer, being young, didn’t feel particularly tired. Still, now that the dress was finally completed, she did want to process and organize what she’d learned, so she nodded and replied, "Okay."

After the girl left, Ji Qingzhou glanced at the stack of silver dollars on the table and couldn’t help but smile, feeling a wave of satisfaction.

High-end commissions really were the most profitable.

With his current income, hiring one or two more tailors wouldn’t be an issue. However, such large orders worth over a hundred yuan didn’t come every month. Veteran tailors would demand a monthly salary of at least thirty to forty yuan, and he still had to cover the wages of two employees, the studio’s rent, and cover staff lunches. All these expenses added up to a hefty amount.

But now, as his reputation grew, so did his workload. Next month, he’d likely handle costume commissions for films, so additional help would be necessary...

Well... He’d start by hiring one tailor, offering a salary of thirty-five to forty yuan for now, adjusting it later based on the tailor’s skill.

If manpower still proved insufficient later, he could hire one or two more seamstresses. They wouldn’t need to know how to make clothes from scratch—just be proficient with sewing machines and hand-stitching.

With this in mind, Ji Qingzhou prepared to go to the study and draft a help wanted ad to post on the notice board at the street corner.

But first, he fetched his bag and stashed nine rolls of silver dollars to take home later, leaving the remaining twenty-six in the shop.

Month’s end was coming up—time to pay Zhu Renqing his salary.

Once the silver dollars were properly stored, Ji Qingzhou went to the adjacent study and settled into the semicircular Butterfly Table by the window.

The electric fan in the room made the lace curtains sway gently, and through the gaps, the green shadows of the street trees outside flickered.

Ji Qingzhou casually picked up a notebook, flipped to a blank page, and popped the cap off his fountain pen to draft the help wanted ad. Just then, a familiar voice called out, growing louder as it approached.

"Brother Ji, Qingzhou... Qingzhou, ah... Where are you?"

"God, so loud..." Ji Qingzhou muttered silently, setting down the pen and getting up to open the door.

Peering out, he saw Luo Mingxuan standing at the doorway of the workshop diagonally across, gripping the handle and snooping around inside.

"Luo Mingxuan, turn around!"

Hearing the voice, Luo Mingxuan immediately spun around and exclaimed, "Oh, there you are! Why didn’t you answer me?"

"Need something?" Ji Qingzhou turned back into the room, sitting at the desk and twirling the pen between his fingers. "Did the printing machine arrive?"

"Nope, that thing’s still floating on the ocean. Probably another month before it gets here."

"I came because I’ve been dealing with some frustrations lately and couldn’t find anyone to confide in. After mulling it over, I decided you’re the best at keeping secrets, so here I am."

Luo Mingxuan followed him inside, idly fiddling with the blinds—opening and closing them—before wandering around the empty bookshelf. Then, he flopped into the nearby armchair, reclining all the way back with a sigh.

"You've got problems too?" Ji Qingzhou let out an amused chuckle. "Come on, spill it."

Luo Mingxuan seemed a bit shy, rubbing his face before finally speaking. "I only found out a couple of days ago—my parents actually arranged a marriage for me. She's from Suzhou, her family runs a bank, very wealthy. You could say it's a good match, but I've only met the girl twice when I was little. Now, out of the blue, they want me to marry her… It's completely unacceptable."

Ji Qingzhou arched his eyebrows in surprise, never expecting his troubles to be like this. At first, he thought the guy was upset over a fight or losing at cards.

"If you don't want to marry, go have it out with your family properly."

"Already did. I've been arguing for days—I want free love, not an arranged marriage. But my dad's as stubborn as an old mule. He won't listen to me. He insists she's a proper, well-bred girl who can settle me down. Hmph…"

Hearing Luo Mingxuan mention arranged marriages, Ji Qingzhou couldn't help but think of himself. Recalling how he felt when he first time-traveled and suddenly learned he was to be married off to a stranger for a bedside marriage, he could somewhat understand Luo Mingxuan’s distress now.

But his own situation was an exception. With Jie Yuan, they would separate sooner or later—it was just a marriage in name, so he didn't worry too much. For someone like Luo Mingxuan, though, an arranged marriage where two people who barely knew each other might spend a lifetime together… Now that's something worth stressing over.

"Ah, from what I’ve heard, the girl can't even read. No matter how virtuous she is, if we can’t even communicate, how are we supposed to live together?"

Luo Mingxuan sighed beside him. "My ideal wife should at least be educated, well-read. Preferably beautiful too—refined, romantic, book-smart. Someone who gets my jokes, supports my hobbies, connects with me mentally…"

At this, he suddenly remembered something and turned to the young man in the white shirt spinning a pen at the desk. "If you were a woman, I’d definitely like you."

"Ha, what a shame. I'm not a woman and already married."

Ji Qingzhou scoffed lightly and tossed the fountain pen onto the desk. "So, what are you planning to do?"

Luo Mingxuan's expression fell listlessly. "Well, I’ve already given my dad an ultimatum—if he forces me into this engagement, I’m hitting the road."

"Hitting the road? To where?"

"Anywhere. If Brother Yuan takes me in, I’ll go to the Jie residence. You've probably got rooms to spare anyway."

"...Just moving to another place, huh? That's some real commitment."

"Ah, never mind." Having vented, Luo Mingxuan felt much lighter and quickly changed the subject. "You busy lately? How about we invite Brother Yuan tomorrow and go watch an opera at the Quanye Theater? Heard the Quanfu Troupe is doing their first show in Shanghai—performing *The Palace of Eternal Youth*. I love this stuff, and Brother Yuan’s sure to enjoy it too."

"He likes Kunqu opera that much?" Ji Qingzhou recalled Jie Yuan once asking if he could sing Kunqu.

"Of course! In Suzhou, watching classical operas and joining in is considered cultured. Most young gentlemen can hum a few lines. When we were kids, we’d finish classes early at noon and head straight to the theater, even joining in sometimes!"

He cleared his throat and demonstrated, *"Man zheng yi guan bu ping kang…"*

Surprisingly, his singing was quite decent.

Ji Qingzhou asked curiously, "What about Jieyuan Bao? Did he join in too?"

"Oh, he did. But Brother Yuan's too proud—he'd never sing out loud. Just under his breath, barely audible."

At this, Luo Mingxuan suddenly perked up, as if remembering something amusing. He sat up excitedly, gesturing animatedly. "At first, I didn’t notice. But once I got close without him realizing, and he was still following along—oh man, his singing… tsk tsk, let’s just say it was something else. Not a single note was on key!"

Ji Qingzhou burst out laughing.

"Back then, I almost died! Had to bite my lip hard and pretend I heard nothing. If he'd found out, he'd have been so embarrassed he might've never spoken to me again. To this day, he still doesn’t know I heard him!"

"Now you've really got me interested. We *have* to go tomorrow."

Though busy, Ji Qingzhou had no urgent tasks after finishing the gown order. This was the perfect chance to take Jie Yuan out.

"Alright, then tomorrow at 3 p.m., I’ll pick you both up at the Jie residence."

Luo Mingxuan finalized the plan but added a warning. "But if you want to catch Brother Yuan's ‘performance,’ remember—sneak up quietly. If he notices, don't rat me out."

Ji Qingzhou agreed readily. "Don't worry, I know the drill."