Tian Yi hummed and looked up at her, beckoning her with a hint of fatigue.
Susu walked over and stood behind him, massaging his neck and shoulders. "You must be tired from a day of official business. Why don't you rest early? Anything unfinished can wait until tomorrow."
Susu worried about his health. He had been in extreme grief, and after a brief respite, he was immediately plunged into such busyness.
"Just a few more emails. Once I'm done, I'll come to you," Tian Yi's eyes returned to the emails on the screen.
Susu glanced at the email he was reading – something about financing and gambling.
She didn't understand these things, so she left the study first to wait for him in the bedroom.
After showering, Susu looked at some of her previous design drafts on her laptop, realizing they were no longer useful.
She had transferred these clients to Sophie and was about to delete the design drafts.
Tian Yi returned to the room and saw her staring blankly at the design drafts. "What's wrong? No inspiration?"
"No," Susu turned to him and asked, "Are my designs too unconventional, out of touch with reality?"
"Why do you think that? Did a client express dissatisfaction with your designs?" Tian Yi stroked her head.
Susu nodded and said, "There was a client who was consistently unhappy with my designs and asked for many revisions. I haven't been to the studio lately due to other matters, so Sophie revised them for me, and that client was very satisfied."
Tian Yi smiled and said, "Is that so? That just means that person doesn't appreciate your designs, and they aren't your true clients. There's nothing to dwell on."
"It's not my problem?" Susu wanted to seek his confirmation.
Tian Yi scooped her up from the chair and placed her on the bed. He looked down at her and said, "Don't always look for problems within yourself when something happens."
"Mmm, I understand," Susu said, reaching out to caress the short hair at Tian Yi's temples.
"Then you should rest. You don't need to work too hard. If you're really tired, I can support you," Tian Yi kissed her cheek.
"I don't want you to support me," Susu said, though Tian Yi's words had already eased her unpleasant feelings.
...
The next morning, Xu Shishi saw Susu and Sophie arrive at the studio together, still chatting and laughing. She couldn't help but feel anxious for Susu, but she couldn't say anything.
Moreover, Susu had transferred some of her clients to Sophie, which made it even harder for her to understand.
As it neared noon, Susu called Xu Shishi into her office.
Before Susu could speak, Xu Shishi asked, "Sister Gu, you didn't punish Sophie, so why did you give her your clients?"
"I asked her about this yesterday. She did it because she saw I couldn't respond to clients. It's fine. Those clients were quite satisfied with her revised designs, so let her follow up," Susu explained.
Xu Shishi felt it was necessary to remind Susu. "You can't keep someone like Sophie. Honestly, she's always been one way to your face and another behind your back..."
"Shishi, I know you're looking out for me, thank you," Susu sighed. "But I don't want to discourage Sophie anymore. It's really not easy for her to live a normal life. Now that she can be self-reliant and focus on her career, I want to support her as much as I can."
"Sister Gu, during the time you were away, she completely took over this studio as her own. I think you should be wary of her."
"Okay, I understand. Her behavior might seem abnormal to you, perhaps too hasty. But she really needs to prove herself again and regain her shattered confidence." Susu could only tell her this, hoping she would be more understanding of Sophie.
Xu Shishi said helplessly, "Sister Gu, I can only say you are too kind."
"Let's drop this matter. From now on, please help her more, okay?" Susu admitted that she always softened towards people she cared deeply about and didn't stick to her principles. She really wanted Sophie to achieve self-worth and escape the shadows of her past.
Xu Shishi agreed and left her office.
Just as she was about to have some quiet time, she received a call from Huo Zheng. She wondered why this young master was so bored again.
After answering, she only heard Huo Zheng's somewhat mysterious voice say, "Sister Susu, guess where I am now?"
Susu smiled silently, not in the mood to play guessing games. "I don't know, and I don't want to guess."
He paid no attention to her words and answered his own question. "I'm downstairs at your studio. You haven't had lunch yet, have you?"
"Are you looking for me to design something for you again? Have your clothing factory's previous orders all sold out? You keep launching new styles, aren't you afraid of inventory backlog?" She felt she was saying all this unnecessarily; how could the great young master Huo worry about such things?
"Don't worry, the styles you designed for me before were all snapped up as soon as they were released. I specifically came to thank you. You won't refuse a meal, will you?"
Susu said seriously, "Young Master, I haven't been managing the studio recently due to some troublesome matters. Today is my first day back, and there's a lot to do. How about we have dinner another day..."
"I know you've been through some unpleasant things, which is why I'm inviting you to dinner. But if you insist on treating me, I won't refuse," Huo Zheng said, laughing on the phone.
Susu knew he had no other skills, but his persistence was absolutely top-notch. To avoid him coming back tomorrow with no intention of giving up, and thinking that she had to eat lunch anyway, she hummed in agreement.
"Then I'll wait for you in the car downstairs," Huo Zheng said happily and hung up.
Susu shook her head, feeling that people like Huo Zheng seemed to have no worries, always grinning and being cheerful and optimistic most of the time.
She picked up her bag and didn't go to lunch with Sophie. She went downstairs to the studio and found Huo Zheng.
As soon as Huo Zheng saw her, he exaggeratedly tried to give her a hug.
She skillfully avoided it and said helplessly, "I only have an hour for lunch. You'd better be quick, or I'll have to leave."
Huo Zheng gave her an "okay" gesture and took her to a Japanese restaurant not far from their studio.
After they sat down in the restaurant, Huo Zheng seemed to be in control. "Don't worry, I know you're busy with many things. I booked a table in advance and even asked them to prepare the dishes beforehand."
Susu gave him a look that said "that's more like it" and asked, "Is it just to treat me to a meal?"
Huo Zheng smiled and said, "How did you see through everything? I do have a small matter for you to help with."
"What small matter?" Susu drank the lemon water on the table.
"Aren't you well acquainted with the director at RJ? Can you help me talk to them and have them assign the garment production to my factory?"
Susu almost choked. "Young Master, you call that a small matter? I only know the director; we don't have that much of a connection."
"Then just mention it to me casually."
"Hey, didn't you used to be a model for RJ? Go talk to them yourself. Maybe you'll be more effective than me," Susu suggested.