Tianmei Fashion Design Institute was a top-tier company in the industry.
Although the companies under the Li family village were not involved in the fashion industry, Ye Tianjiao's personal visit to Tianmei had garnered the highest level of attention. Several top designers were assembled, and in the shortest possible time, they created three Hanfu designs that were excellent in every aspect.
Li Qianfan was preparing to use these three Hanfu designs to make a splash with the "Yujie Female Clothing" brand at the upcoming Women's Wear Festival.
But now—
Li Qianfan frowned and asked, "Aunt Jiao, do you know what's going on?"
Ye Tianjiao replied dejectedly, "I just found out that the largest shareholders of several well-known design institutes, including Tianmei, are surnamed Shen."
Shen?
Li Qianfan immediately thought of Du Junlin.
Ye Tianjiao asked, "Du Junlin's elder sister, the one named Shen Zui, do you remember her?"
Shen Zui?
Li Qianfan immediately searched his mind.
However, whenever he searched for women from the Lingnan Shen family, apart from Du Junlin, he had no recollection of any other women.
"Shen Zui has almost monopolized a quarter of the domestic market in fashion design," Ye Tianjiao said. "Furthermore, I've heard that she has already made it known that any fashion design institute that dares to take on Ziyu Fashion's work will face her strongest retaliation. Therefore, we won't be able to find the best designers in the shortest possible time. As for foreign designers, they are definitely not as good as domestic ones when it comes to designing Hanfu. The problem is, even if there were any, they wouldn't be able to produce the best products within a week."
Li Qianfan nodded.
"Shen Zui not only unilaterally terminated the contract but will also personally lead her team with their Hanfu brand to participate in the Tiandong Women's Wear Festival in a week, targeting you directly," Ye Tianjiao continued. "It's obvious that the Shen family has started taking action against you from a commercial perspective. Simply put, whatever you do, they will do the same. They will stop at nothing, by any means necessary, to ensure you achieve nothing."
Li Qianfan smiled and remained silent.
He didn't think the Shen family was doing anything wrong. Since no one cared about money, apart from Du Junlin, the possibility of direct conflict was minimal. It was all about saving face!
"Besides that, Shen Zui has also contacted all the model agencies in Tiandong. This is an attack from the root. That woman, hmph, she practically deserves to be dragged into a sorghum field." Ye Tianjiao couldn't help but curse.
Li Qianfan could only offer a wry smile. He couldn't exactly say, "Yes, yes, yes, how about I drag Shen Zui into a sorghum field?"
"There's also something more important," Ye Tianjiao sighed. "Given that your marriage with Du Junlin was arranged by our village elders years ago, although you had valid reasons for breaking the engagement, and the village has never forgotten the knife incident seven years ago, objectively speaking, our village broke its promise. Therefore, the elders' council has decided that when the Shen family targets you commercially, you will no longer receive any support. And the Dragon Ruins, Sister Wujiang, Emperor Valley, and other families that have good relations with the Li family will not interfere in your dispute. Qianfan, you will be fighting alone from now on. I hope you can understand the elders' unavoidable predicament."
*Hoo.*
Li Qianfan let out a long breath. Could he understand the elders' predicament? Even if he couldn't, he had to! After all, from an objective standpoint, Li Qianfan's broken engagement had caused the Li family village elders' council to break their word and damage their reputation. Furthermore, his actions had violated certain rules within the circle. As soon as the Shen family, who were in the right, expressed their intentions, everyone had reacted similarly in the shortest possible time. This was also helping the Shen family put pressure on the disobedient Li Qianfan!
But—
Why should Li Qianfan adhere to the rules of the circle?
"Of course, the Shen family can only target you commercially," Ye Tianjiao changed the subject. "They would never dare to threaten your personal safety. Otherwise, without your grandmother or parents making a move, our Li family village would make the Shen family pay double the price!"
"Mm, I understand. Aunt Jiao, it's alright, I know what to do." Li Qianfan's expression was calm, and his tone was peaceful.
They spoke for a few more minutes before ending the call.
Li Qianfan wasn't angry because of this. What was there to be angry about? It was just the Shen family trying to force him to submit by suppressing his career ambitions. He wasn't someone short of money. Spending his days with his Yujie wife, having seven or eight children, and living a carefree life until old age was Li Qianfan's greatest wish.
However—
Since they had already placed a knife at Li Qianfan's throat, he absolutely could not just meekly accept his fate! He had to struggle a bit. If he couldn't use those three designs, Li Qianfan would redesign them. If he didn't have first-class models, he'd use amateur models! A living person wouldn't be suffocated by urine! In short, Li Qianfan had to participate in the Women's Wear Festival in a week with his Yujie Female Clothing brand!
"What's wrong, my little husband?" Su Ziyu walked onto the balcony and asked softly, "You look troubled. Are you encountering any difficulties?"
"Wife, you really have sharp eyes." Li Qianfan gave her a rainbow compliment and then casually put his arm around her slender waist.
Su Ziyu liked his hands-on habit. But she would always roll her eyes insincerely and give him a mock pinch, letting his mischievous hands do as they pleased.
Li Qianfan looked out the window and said, "Little Yu from the company (a newly hired designer for Ziyu Fashion) just called me and said that the three Hanfu designs our company created seem to be similar to finished products from a certain top fashion design."
"Ah?" Su Ziyu was stunned. "In that case, you can't use these styles anymore. Otherwise, you'll be accused of plagiarism."
"Exactly," Li Qianfan said with a headache. "I need to think carefully about how to redesign and produce a few Hanfu styles within a week."
Su Ziyu was a girl who understood fashion and dressing up. However, when it came to designing clothes, she was completely clueless. All she could do was lie on the edge of the bed late at night, quietly watching Li Qianfan, who would then kneel before the desk, burying his head in work, sketching and writing on paper.
"My little husband's ambition is quite strong," Su Ziyu thought, and gradually closed her eyes, falling into a sweet sleep.
"My design talent seems to be slightly better than Old Su's," Li Qianfan muttered. Unsure of how late it was, he rubbed his aching lower back and looked at the thick stack of draft paper, feeling dejected. He himself felt that his "designed" Hanfu had an indescribable awkwardness, how could he have the nerve to show it to others?
However—
Li Qianfan took out his phone and silenced it, fearing he would disturb Su Ziyu's rest. He then took a picture of his most satisfactory design and sent it to Mo Hongti, "Help me see, what do you think of the Hanfu I designed?"
If Mo Hongti felt it wasn't good, she would instinctively help Li Qianfan create a design that was "good."
Sister Hongti replied instantly, "Received, wait a moment. Pai Pai and I will take a look together."
After thinking for a moment, Li Qianfan copied that message and sent it to Chu Yazhi. She replied instantly as well, "Master, I admire you!"
Admire what? Hurry up and take a look! All they did was flatter him without limits. Li Qianfan ignored her and casually flipped through his contacts, spotting the big shot Ruohua. It had been many days since he last chatted with the big shot. He wondered if he had discovered any more beautiful photos recently.
When Li Qianfan sent his design drafts to Mo Hongti and the others, he still felt a bit guilty. But he could show them to the big shot Ruohua to let him understand that not only was his brother knowledgeable about women, but he was also a "top-tier" designer of women's clothing.
As expected, Ruohua texted back, "Wow! You're so amazing, you can design women's Hanfu!"
Li Qianfan proudly typed, "Of course. When it comes to women, I am an all-rounder who appears once in a century."
Ruohua sent a pouting emoji, "With this level of design, you have the nerve to call yourself an all-rounder?"
Li Qianfan was unhappy, "If you have the ability, design one for me. If it can gain my appreciation, you won't be shortchanged."
Ruohua replied, "Wait. I'll get it done for you right away."
Li Qianfan had no intention of waiting for a big shot to design women's clothing. He replied, "Hurry up and send a beautiful full moon photo, I want to admire the moon and go to sleep." He said this purely out of habit. After sending the message, Li Qianfan put down his phone and went into the bathroom.
After washing up, it was exactly midnight. Seeing that Yujie was sleeping on the edge of the bed, fearing she would deform it, Li Qianfan carefully adjusted her sleeping posture.
"My wife's legs are so long." After sincerely praising her, Li Qianfan covered her with a blanket before retrieving his phone from the desk and lying down on the floor mat.
On the phone screen, there was a message. https:/
Li Qianfan opened it.
Yo! The big shot Ruohua had sent a beautiful full moon photo. It was truly stunning! After admiring it carefully for a full five minutes, he reluctantly deleted it and went to sleep.
He must have been influenced by the beautiful photo, as that full moon swayed back and forth in Li Qianfan's dreams until the next morning.
He peed—
It was all Su Ziyu's fault for always making him eat sea cucumbers and abalone lately! Fortunately, Li Qianfan woke up right after he wet the bed.
Su Ziyu had already woken up and gone to the kitchen to cook. Otherwise, she would definitely have laughed at him.
He rolled over and sat up, preparing to get his spare shorts. They were on the edge of the bed. The new shorts had a large sticker of a certain Yujie on them.
Li Qianfan was instantly overjoyed—
His Yujie wife was too hypocritical! On one hand, she repeatedly refused to authorize her likeness. On the other hand, she secretly ordered these desirable shorts online according to Li Qianfan's wishes.
However, Li Qianfan felt that she must not have ordered only shorts with her own sticker.
As expected—
Li Qianfan saw his "likeness" shorts on the washing machine in the bathroom. He was immediately furious!
Forget it. Considering that the young couple was "harming" each other, Li Qianfan decided to forgive her for the impolite behavior of having already worn them.
Squatting on the toilet, Li Qianfan yawned and opened his phone.
On the phone screen, there were several unread messages. There were messages from Mo Hongti, Chu Yazhi, and Dai Paipai. There was also one from the big shot Ruohua.
He checked the big shot Ruohua's message first. Perhaps he had sent another beautiful photo that made Li Qianfan's heart flutter?