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Master Liu didn’t catch the hidden meaning in Zheng Yaling’s words. He only heard the one sentence that caught his attention:
“She said there were a few problems with my draft that needed correcting?”
“Master, you’ve worked in this industry for so many years. You’ve eaten more salt than she’s walked roads—how could your draft have problems? She’s just trying to find an opportunity to show off. She even deliberately ruined your draft. You must teach her a lesson. Director Guan only liked her design and gave her some money, just tell her to take it and get lost.”
“You stay here and keep an eye on things. I’ll go find her.”
Master Liu couldn’t stop thinking about what might be wrong with his draft. He set aside his work and went to look for Cheng Yuanyue.
Zheng Yaling thought he was angry. A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips:
“She’s only just arrived and already dares to be so arrogant. She really needs a lesson. Just because a client liked one of her sketches, she thinks she can do whatever she wants here. This is a state-owned factory, not her personal playground.”
Master Liu waved his hand:
“You go supervise the last batch of goods.”
Cheng Yuanyue had already returned to her workstation. She took out a ruler and drafting paper and quickly started redrawing the pattern.
In less than fifteen minutes, the new draft was complete.
When Master Liu arrived, she was just checking over it.
“Xiao Cheng,” Master Liu called.
“Master Liu,” Yuanyue greeted with a sweet smile. “Earlier, Sister Zheng was delivering the draft and accidentally got it wet. Some numbers were blurred, so I redrew it. Please take a look.”
Master Liu picked up her draft. The proportions were clear, the data precise. At several points, she had replaced straight lines with curves.
“I made a few changes here, using curves instead. It’ll fit the human body’s contours better and look nicer once it’s made.”
What she was using was a pattern-making method that wouldn’t become standard until decades later—far more advanced than the rigid, old-fashioned methods currently in use, which relied heavily on measurements and repeated adjustments by hand.
“I didn’t expect you to be this skilled at pattern drafting.” The more Master Liu examined her drawing, the more satisfied he became. “Come, let’s take it to the sample room together. They’ll definitely approve.”
The two chatted as they walked toward the sample room, just as Zheng Yaling caught sight of them.
She bit her lip angrily and cursed inwardly:
“Shameless. Even Master Liu is falling for her tricks.”
In the sample room, Yuanyue helped cut the fabric and directed the sample workers:
“Start with this part first, then move on to that.”
“Alright, it’s lunchtime now. The fabric’s already been cut. By the looks of it, we’ll probably have the prototype ready by this afternoon.”
Originally it was expected to take five days, but now it seemed it would be finished in two.
Yuanyue felt the fabric in her hands and frowned. The material was too stiff—it wouldn’t produce the effect she envisioned.
“Master, may I go check the fabric storeroom?” she asked. If they didn’t have suitable fabric there, she’d need to find it elsewhere.
“What’s wrong with this material?” Master Liu asked.
“It’s not the effect I want. It needs to be softer—something light enough that a breeze can lift it.”
“After lunch, I’ll take you to the storeroom. They have more fabrics there.”
“Alright.”
Meanwhile, Su Peipei was still feeling guilty all morning after reading the contents of the letter. She could hardly pay attention in class.
It wasn’t that she wanted to read it—Brother Lu was just too outstanding. He was also her father’s comrade’s son. She couldn’t stand by and let Yuanyue deceive him.
Yuanyue herself wasn’t bad—gentle, obedient, and known locally as a well-behaved, diligent girl.
If it weren’t for Brother Lu wanting to marry her, Peipei herself would’ve thought Yuanyue was a good person.
But Yuanyue’s family situation was too complicated. If Brother Lu really married her, he’d surely be drained dry.
Yes—that was it. She had to tell Brother Lu the truth the next time he came by. She’d explain Yuanyue’s family situation, so he’d think carefully.
He couldn’t just marry her out of gratitude for saving his life. That would be irresponsible to both himself and Yuanyue.
Carrying her food tray, lost in thought, Peipei accidentally bumped into someone.
“Sorry,” she quickly apologized.
“Su Peipei,” her friend called out, helping pick up her lunchbox. “What are you thinking about so hard that you didn’t even notice bumping into me?”
Seeing it was her close friend Yiran, Peipei smiled faintly. “Just thinking about a problem. Have you eaten yet?”
“I was just on my way.” Xia Yiran hooked her arm through Peipei’s. “You really are a bookworm. Even at lunchtime, you’re thinking about problems. Good thing your dad sent money back in time, or we might not even see you here.”
“Yeah.” Peipei’s heart filled with emotion. “I never thought that after just half a year without sending money, my uncle and aunt would start scheming like that. They even said Dad must’ve started a new family somewhere and didn’t plan to care about me anymore.”
“Well, your mom’s been gone for years. Even if your dad remarried, it wouldn’t be strange. As long as he still supports you, that’s what matters.”
“That’s how I see it too. As long as Dad still sends money, I won’t interfere with his life. For now, I only want one thing—to study hard and get out of here.”
“Has your mom ever contacted you in all these years?”
Peipei shook her head. “I don’t even remember what she looks like anymore.”
“When you’ve become successful, she’ll regret abandoning you. When that time comes, don’t recognize her. Let her regret it forever.”
Peipei just smiled. “I’m already grateful I can still go to school. I’ve decided to use my free time to make some extra money. That way, even if Dad stops sending money, I’ll still be able to keep studying, and my uncle and aunt won’t be able to stop me.”
“With our schoolwork already so heavy, how do you plan to make money?”
“Last time, a classmate didn’t want to do homework and asked me to ghostwrite it for one yuan per assignment. If there are others, I can do the same.”
“You’re crazy. We already have tons of homework ourselves, and you still want to do other people’s?”
“It’s fine. It’ll help me review what I’ve learned. Two birds with one stone.”
“You little money-grubber. Fine, I’ll help ask around. If anyone needs homework done, I’ll bring them to you.”
Yiran knew Peipei’s situation well—her father still sent money but hadn’t come home, probably because he’d remarried. Her uncle and aunt were even planning to marry her off just because money hadn’t come for six months. Staying with them wasn’t a long-term solution.
As they joked together, Peipei still felt guilty inside toward Yuanyue.
Yuanyue, I was wrong this time. But I’m doing this for your own good. You and Brother Lu really aren’t suitable.
After lunch, as Peipei was heading back to class, two girls from the neighboring dorm blocked the doorway.
She frowned. “What are you doing?”
“Of course, we came to meet our class’s new school belle.” The leader scanned Peipei’s figure up and down. “Honestly, I don’t know what those boys are thinking—calling you the school belle. Other than your face, the rest of you is just average.”