Since he wouldn't pursue the matter of the porcelain, she let it go.
Under Zhuang Xiaoxi's care for the past two days, Su Lingzhi recovered quickly, both physically and emotionally, and redirected all her energy into fashion design.
After a few days of working overtime, she finally submitted her drafts at the last moment.
Besides that suit, these were all the sketches she had drawn since she arrived here, all about minimalist concepts for haute couture fashion shows.
Out of more than a hundred sketches, Rika selected only three for her to refine and finalize.
In reality, working as a designer for a mature luxury brand, the division of labor is very detailed, and the design is quite constrained. She had to revise the historical elements of Lyrae within the framework provided by the creative director and incorporate new elements.
Her job was to draw sketches; there were dedicated departments for pattern making and sewing, and she'd just wait for the finished product to be approved.
So, a piece of haute couture involves the hard work of many designers.
From Rika's expression, it was clear she was satisfied with Su Lingzhi's designs. "You've worked hard these days, are you free tonight?"
Su Lingzhi nodded, "I'm free."
After work in the afternoon, Rika took her to a private gathering.
This was a private event attended by people from the upper class, some of whom she had seen before.
Someone teased, "It seems Rika likes this young lady very much, bringing her along to every event."
Another person smiled helplessly and said, "She's a promising talent in the fashion world. I spotted her first, but Rika got to her first."
Rika sat down with Su Lingzhi, smiling, "That's called striking first to gain the upper hand. If you wait for Lindie to graduate, she'll be long gone."
The waiter filled their glasses with champagne, and the group toasted with a sip.
The crystal chandelier light reflected on the dining table, adding a tempting sheen to the food. The walls were adorned with priceless artworks, making every breath of air feel more precious.
Rika held Su Lingzhi's hand softly and said, "Lindie, I haven't introduced you yet. This is Lauren, who owns several jewelry brands, and this is..."
The attendees were all from Northern Europe, including distinguished industry leaders, artistic frontrunners, and wealthy socialites. The men were in suits, and the women were also elegantly dressed.
Su Lingzhi was brought here by Rika suddenly and had no time to prepare. She hadn't put on makeup and was dressed in her usual casual attire.
However, even without makeup, she exuded an innate grace and elegance, especially with her amber eyes that reflected warm and clear light, suggesting she wasn't of ordinary status.
"Lindie looks a bit like an old friend of mine," said Mrs. Townsend from across, looking at her with appreciation.
Su Lingzhi met her gaze.
Mrs. Townsend then asked, "Child, where are you from? What do your parents do?"
Su Lingzhi responded, "I'm from Beijing, Hua Country. My father is a businessman, and my mother works in education."
Mrs. Townsend lowered her head pensively and then smiled kindly, "I think we have a certain connection. May I have your contact information?"
"Of course."
Su Lingzhi stood up and walked over, exchanging contact information with her.
Mrs. Townsend asked, "What is your Chinese name?"
"Su Lingzhi."
Su Lingzhi took her phone and personally noted her Chinese name for her.
Midway, Su Lingzhi excused herself to the restroom, went up a floor, and found an empty window to catch her breath.
She understood that Rika brought her to expand her social circle, but she still wasn't fond of such occasions.
Before her was a city wrapped in night, streets painted with colorful lights. No matter how bustling it was, after nearly two years here, she still felt no sense of belonging.
She still missed the everyday warmth of her hometown, the homely meals her grandmother cooked over firewood...
Suddenly, a noise behind her interrupted her thoughts.
Then, a window next to her was pushed open.
She glanced sideways and unexpectedly met someone's gaze.
In the room, a man sat on a single sofa with a clear, striking face, pronounced brow bone, and eyes deep as lakes, exuding an innate allure and a cold, restrained tension.
From her angle, she could only see him.
"President Fu… the client…"
From the sound of it, there seemed to be others inside.
Then, she saw him look away and say in a deep voice, "Keep waiting."
Su Lingzhi wasn't intentionally spying; they were the ones who opened the window.
She turned back and stayed silent for a while.
As she was preparing to leave, she couldn't resist glancing his way again.
Just one look and her gaze froze.
Before her, a seductive foreign woman approached Fu Yinli with a drink. Her daringly red dress was overly revealing. Su Lingzhi could imagine what the scene looked like when the woman knelt before him.
"Care to join me for a drink?" The seductive woman spoke in flirtatious English, her tone slightly tipsy.
"If you don't want to die, get out immediately." Someone in the room threatened.
Fu Yinli, however, took her drink, allowing the woman to inch closer until she sat astride him.
Seeing this, Su Lingzhi felt a sharp pain in her heart and quickly turned her eyes away, leaving the scene.
She never expected to meet him here and witness his flirtatious side.
At that moment, her idealized view of him shattered, revealing a truth—
To him, she was indeed insignificant.
For someone of his noble status, what kind of woman hadn't he seen?
She should've realized this long ago.
She was never supposed to get involved with a client, nor could she afford to.
Seconds after Su Lingzhi left, Fu Yinli's eyes darkened, and he swiftly stopped the woman's advancing leg, snatching the gun tied to her calf ahead of her.
"Watch out, President Fu!"
Almost simultaneously, the woman flipped sideways, quickly leaving his body.
Before she could steady herself, a shot struck her chest, splattering blood as she collapsed unconscious on the ground.
In the room, everyone was Fu Yinli's men, half were bodyguards, and the other half were employees assisting with a project partnership.
An important meeting was unexpectedly interrupted by a female assassin instead of the client.
None of them had seen such a scene before, and they were speechless with fear, staring blankly at Fu Yinli, who had just shot. He didn't even blink while aiming and pulling the trigger; his actions were terrifyingly proficient.
Fu Yinli stood upright beside the sofa, nonchalantly putting away the silencer pistol, not even sparing a glance at the woman.
The bodyguards were already surrounding the woman, giving Fu Yinli a signal.
Fu Yinli dusted off the wine on his suit and said coldly, "Take her back for a thorough interrogation."
…
Su Lingzhi returned to the room and sat for a while, eventually leaving the club, claiming she felt unwell.
Unexpectedly, she encountered Fu Yinli again at the entrance.
He was leaning against the car door, smoking alone.
Su Lingzhi pretended she hadn't seen him and walked in another direction.
"Lingzhi."
His deep, distinctive voice called out, saying her name with an unusual fluency and intimacy.
Su Lingzhi's steps seemed to lose control and stopped.
Fu Yinli extinguished his cigarette, stepping toward her. Su Lingzhi turned to meet his gaze.
His refined brows and eyes fell under the night's shadow, dark and elusive, revealing nothing of his emotions.
The oppressive aura he carried was undeniable. Every step he took seemed to encroach on her space, stirring up turmoil in her heart.
"You're avoiding me." His tone was certain.
Su Lingzhi denied, "No."
Seeing him stare at her in silence, eyes sharp enough to see through everything, Su Lingzhi calmly met his gaze and said, "Mr. Fu, we are not familiar."
Fu Yinli's expression remained unchanged, his eyes locked on those pure, clear eyes, asking, "What constitutes familiarity to you?"
"We're certainly not familiar now." After saying this, Su Lingzhi nodded politely and turned to leave.
…