After their eyes met, Li Qianfan keenly perceived Shen Yun's instinctive reaction.
"I can't look at her anymore, or she'll definitely become wary," Li Qianfan warned himself internally. After a smiling nod to Shen Yun, he turned his gaze to Old Su.
The arrival of his son-in-law sent Old Su's enthusiasm for his speech soaring. After an hour of rambling, he finally announced the meeting's end.
"Vice President Li, come to my office for a moment," Old Su said as he quickly walked out.
Li Qianfan followed him to the general manager's office. As soon as the door closed, Old Su shed his overbearing CEO demeanor, his face filled with solicitousness. "Son-in-law, would you like tea or coffee?"
"Just plain water, please." Li Qianfan sat down on the sofa.
Old Su poured him a glass of water and offered him a cigarette before asking if he could have the Dream series Hanfu ready before the opening of the Women's Wear Festival.
"Certainly," Li Qianfan replied. "But to achieve the best results, I'll need to work overtime at the company."
"Thank you, son-in-law!" Old Su immediately responded. "You go ahead and work with confidence. I, your father-in-law, guarantee I'll handle all your logistical needs perfectly. I'll have Secretary Shen prepare a dormitory for you shortly. And I'll explain things to Ziyu at home."
*That old man, I knew he'd say that.* Li Qianfan habitually cursed inwardly, yet he was also sincerely grateful for his father-in-law's support as his logistics chief.
The door opened. Shen Yun entered, holding a notebook. Old Su immediately resumed his CEO persona. "Secretary Shen, go to the dormitory building immediately and personally prepare a dormitory for Vice President Li so he has a place to rest when he works overtime late into the night."
"Understood." Shen Yun bowed slightly and politely asked Li Qianfan if he had any specific requirements for the dormitory.
It was just a place to crash for a night; what high demands could Li Qianfan possibly have? Besides, even if Li Qianfan requested a five-star hotel setup, did the company have the resources for that?
The dormitory building was two stories. The first floor was for male employees, and the second for female employees. However, there weren't many employees currently residing there; most rooms were empty.
Shen Yun helped Li Qianfan choose a room on the first floor, closest to the stairs. She personally cleaned it and changed the bedding. Li Qianfan inspected it and expressed his satisfaction.
After placing the items he brought from Chu Yazhi in the dormitory, Li Qianfan quickly got to work. Since Old Su took over the garment factory, the total number of employees had grown from two hundred to three hundred. The scale was now comparable to the neighboring branded fashion company. Among them, over a dozen people were sent by Ye Tianjiao. They were not villagers from Lijia Village but elites from various industries within the enterprises controlled by Lijia Village. They were unaware of Li Qianfan's true identity. However, before they came to Qingyun, Ye Tianjiao had explicitly told them to follow Li Qianfan's arrangements in everything. Anyone who dared to bully Li Qianfan for his youth and act presumptuously would face the consequences!
The leader of these individuals was a woman in her mid-thirties named Xie Wenxiu. She appeared sharp and capable, especially dedicated to her work. Even though she knew Li Qianfan had an extraordinary background, she would frankly point out any erroneous decisions he made in his work. Li Qianfan greatly admired such people and enjoyed interacting with them, as he could learn a great deal about business management from Xie Wenxiu.
Before he knew it—
Only four days remained until the opening of the Women's Wear Festival. Over the past two days, Li Qianfan had been eating and sleeping at the company, fully dedicating himself to work alongside Xie Wenxiu and others. Their earnest commitment even made Old Su, who liked to boast about his son-in-law, feel a pang of shame. Every evening, he would speak highly of Li Qianfan to his precious daughter and subtly advise her not to let Li Qianfan's workaholic dedication cause her to neglect their family and develop resentment.
Was his precious daughter that unreasonable? At most, she would suppress her heartache and longing, only calling Li Qianfan late at night after he finished his work to have a long phone conversation.
Tonight, the stars shone brightly.
At ten-thirty in the evening—
Inside the workshop of the first production line, Li Qianfan and over a dozen working overtime staff looked up at the door of the women's changing room. Their faces were filled with a degree of excitement. The "Dream Series" Hanfu, personally designed by Vice President Li, had finally materialized tonight after numerous failures and improvements. Xie Wenxiu, who had been promoted to second vice president, was personally acting as the model.
"She's coming out! Vice President Xie is coming out!" a female cutter exclaimed joyfully and ran out of the women's changing room.
Then, they saw—
A beautiful woman in ancient costume, clad in flowing white, exuding an ethereal aura, walked out gracefully, covering her face with a small round fan in her left hand. Xie Wenxiu's inherent beauty was around 75 points, but after putting on this Hanfu, her attractiveness and demeanor immediately soared to ninety points! It truly embodied the saying, "Clothes make the man."
"Wow!"
"Vice President Xie, she's too beautiful!"
"I dare say, once our 'Imperial Sister' Hanfu is released, all others will have to kneel!"
More than ten people shrieked dramatically and applauded together. Li Qianfan, though less effusive, also applauded generously. Then, he took out his phone and began taking photos of Vice President Xie, sending them to his wife.
Upon receiving the photos, Su Ziyu immediately fell in love with the Hanfu. She promptly discarded all her principles and reservations, her lips dripping with honey as she praised her little husband, predicting he would undoubtedly become the world's most famous womenswear designer in due course. Li Qianfan, with his thick skin, even blushed at the compliments.
"Phew, the most crucial work is finally provisionally done." As Xie Wenxiu and others opened champagne in the workshop to celebrate, Li Qianfan walked out. He looked in the direction of the dormitory building in the distance and murmured to himself, "Tonight, another important piece of work should begin."
Thinking of the even more critical task ahead, Li Qianfan's heart began to race. His blood started to boil! Yet, he also felt a tinge of nervousness, even a little fear. But he would absolutely not retreat!
*Ding.*
Ru Hua sent a message: "Bro, has your friend managed to get with that undercover agent yet?"
Li Qianfan replied: "Not yet."
Ru Hua said: "Is your friend a coward?"
"You know nothing," Li Qianfan typed. "Let me tell you something serious. The first piece of the Dream Series Hanfu you designed, 'Fan Meng,' officially materialized tonight. Let me show you. Although I already knew that Hanfu is the most beautiful women's attire, when our company's Vice President Xie walked out wearing that 'Fan Meng,' I was still stunned." He sent the photos.
A moment later, Ru Hua replied: "Not bad. You've made better improvements on many details."
Li Qianfan said: "Give me an address. I'll mail you the entire Dream Series when it's ready, so you can use them for your dates."
Ru Hua replied: "No need. I'll just buy them online once your Hanfu is launched."
"Suit yourself. I'm going to celebrate with everyone." Li Qianfan didn't presume to insist on mailing them to Ru Hua. He then sent the photo separately to Mo Hongti, Chu Yazhi, and Dai Paipai before entering the workshop.
The night.
Grew deeper and deeper!
At half past one in the morning.
In the dormitory on the second floor, easternmost room, Shen Yun, lying on her side facing away from the door, suddenly flared her nostrils and opened her eyes.
*Bang.*
She heard her own heart pound fiercely. She murmured, "Qianfan, you've finally come."