Love Me Harder, Mr. Fu - Chapter 68

After Mo Zheng Yi exits from the office, Shi Lian lets out her breath she didn’t realize she was holding. She plops on the couch, feeling her head throb. Rubbing her temples, she thinks again of what her uncle has said just now. Mo Zheng Yi is a shrewd person and he will anything to get what he wants- Shi Lian has known it by now. Although she challenged him that she will make this project work but now, to think of it, was she overconfident? She now deems if her designs are good enough or not. Her uncle is good at manipulation and mindfucking, and yes, he did get inside her head. She groans in irritation and gets up from the couch, heading towards the desk. Her name is engraved on the gold plate and she gently touches it, trailing the letters with her slender fingers. “Am I capable of this?” she mumbles, deep in her thoughts, the heaviness in her chest feels more burdensome.

She sighs, trying to let go of these thoughts. Waking up her laptop, she clicks on the design folder on which she has saved her designs. She drew these designs three years ago when she was trying to make herself indulge in something to not dwell into the past. The designs are completely different from what her usual style is. She thought of making something different, something that represents where she belongs. Her mother was in her view when she drew them. she never thought of using her designs for the company or anything. Her only thought at that time was to see her mother’s reaction when she wore the dress she designed.

She smiles looking at the pictures and how easy it was just to sit in her dorm and draw endless designs. But after coming here, she doesn’t remember designing anything new or had the mood to even draw. She is too focused to make herself believe that the old designs are enough to save the company, she forgot about her ambition. She once used to draw ten-twenty sketches in one sitting and now? She doesn’t have the time or the mood. Her uncle’s words roam in her mind, “You little shitty project…do you think you can save the company? Dream less Shi Lian.” she can still hear him sneering at her inside her head and she hates it she let him play with her. but then a realization hits her, maybe her uncle is right, maybe her designs are not good enough. She looks at the design again at the screen and studies it carefully. Looking at them now she minds is not sure that she should launch it. “Damn it!” she curses her uncle for messing with her mind and getting what he wanted.

At that moment, a knock comes on the door. “Come in!” she yells. She looks up and sees Ruxi walking in carrying the tabloid which she always carries since after my coronation. Her heels make a clanking sound on the polished floor. She reverts her eyes to the laptop screen and frowns. The more she studies the design the more she scowls as she finds them less appealing.

As if noticing the frown on Shi Lian’s face, Ruxi probe, “Is anything the matter?”

Shi Lian laments and pinches the bridge of her nose in frustration. She tilts the laptop to her left for Ruxi to see and prods, ignoring Ruxi’s concern, “What do you think? Are they what we need?” she does not face but Ruxi knows she is asking her.

Ruxi takes her time as she contemplates the designs. She realizes that these are the ones for their collections. ‘Why would she ask now?’ she ponders. She liked the designs very much when Shi Lain showed her the first time and she still does. “Yes, they are beautiful and I like them” she answers, smiling at her.

But Shi Lian frowns more, her eyebrows furrows as she glares at the screen. She then turns her attention and looks up to meet Ruxi’s eyes. “Are they enough to save the company?” she asks, pressing her.

Ruxi thinks for a moment, reciprocating her question. “No. The designs are really pretty and complex. It has its charm and specialty to it. It will do good for the spring collection but…if you ask about ‘saving’ the company, then no. saving this company which can shut down anytime, it can’t be saved by just a collection. We need something more solid and powerful” she says whats she thinks and Shi Lian listens to her intently. “You are the Chairman, you are the decision-maker and whatever choice you make, you need to be very careful and think it thrice or how many times until you are sure” she adds.

“Thank you” Shi Lian smiles at her, realizing something as her eyes light up with a new hope. ‘I needed someone to tell me that.”

“So what are you thinking of doing?” Ruxi asks, putting her palm on Shi Lian’s shoulder.

Shi Lain gives her a wide smile, “Sketch.” She then remembers something and tells it to Ruxi before she dives into making sketches, “Notify the design department that we will have a meeting. Also, don’t let the PR team release any sort of information on the collection. We need a change.”

Ruxi does not says anything further. She nods understanding what to do before she exits the door closing it from her behind.

**

“…..Yes, mother. I understand” Shi Lian replies. “Yes. Take care. Good night.” She hangs up her call and sets the phone aside. She informs her mother about her working late and just as has expected, she protests against it. She suggested taking the work home but Shi Lian told her that the staff is needed as well. she still did not want her daughter to take such pressure and then she started lecturing. When Shi Lian did not when her mother will stop blabbering, a voice from behind came, her father’s telling her mother to not worry. Shi Lian glad that her father supports her. after persuading her she finally hangs up.

It’s almost five, the sun will set within an hour. She stands in front of the large windows that showcase the entire elite life of Shanghai. At night, the view is more splendid. She never experienced it but today, she might. Her arms are cross in front of her chest as she stares at her reflection who is staring at her back. Warm hazel-brown eyes which now seem dull and tired, face that lost its shine. Her hair is pull back and tie into a ponytail, few strands of her brown hair fall from the side, defining her beautiful face.

Turning back, she walks to her desk and looks at her newly drawn designs for the seventh time. She isn’t sure if people will appreciate them or not nor is she sure about the staff agreeing to her change of plans. She hasn’t told anyone about the change, she will disclose it at the meeting which she has to attend in after a couple of minutes.

The sketches she draws this time are completely different from the ones she was sticking to. Once she started sketching, her hands wouldn’t stop and she drew almost twenty sketches and chose the best seven.

Her legs are shaking the more she thinks about people’s opinions. Shi Lian is not the kind of woman who cares what others say but this time it’s different. Her designs need opinions and that opinion will decide if they are worthy or not. Her phone pings and she slide open to see Zichen’s name floating on the screen. She opens his message and the smile on her face instantly appears.

What are you doing?

She types back,

°At the company right now. I will be working late tonight because of work.°

°Are you okay?°

His concern sends flutters in her heart making her smile more widely.

She sits on the recliner, her eyes never leaving her phone as she types back,

°Yes, I am doing fine. How are you? You must be at the company. °

His reply is fast almost as if he already knows what questions she will ask and what he has to answer.

°Yes. I missed you.°

Her heart is beating is so fast that her chest hurts. Three words and she is already wanting him. How does he manage to do that? She feels nice, way too nice knowing he misses her and she too, miss him as well. should she reply saying the same? She is shy when it comes to this but….she doesn’t want him hanging. I miss you too. she regrets now sending that because she is embarrassed now.

°I know baby. °

A call interrupts her and she immediately presses the button. “Chairman, it’s time” Ruxi voice fills her ears.

“Yes. I am coming” she answers and hangs up. Saying goodbye to Zichen, she switches off her phone and keeps it inside her purse. Taking the necessary items in her hands, she leaves the room and strides to the Design Department block. She told Ruxi to arrange everyone in the DD block as the meeting will be held there.