Love Me Harder, Mr. Fu - Chapter 69

“We have a change of plans,” Shi Lian says authoritatively. All the fifty-two people watch her as she continues telling about her new plan. After Shi Lian got to knew that they have already prepared half the batch, she feels guilty now. But she does have an idea which will settle everything. “Let me first show you something,” she says, firing her laptop and connecting it to the projector for everyone to see. The Design Department block is spacious enough for everyone to fit in and have a meeting without much chaos. It is much more convenient than going to the meeting room which is located four floors to the up.

The images of her newly sketched designs flashes in front of them and they watch them with curious eyes. Shi Lian glances at the people to notice their reaction.

“Woah!” People’s whispers surround the atmosphere but Shi Lian cannot make out if they like it or not. She stops the projector after all the photos were shown. Clearing her throat she asks, “So…what do you think about them?”

“They are brilliant! The designs are really on another level!” one of the staff compliments.

“I like them too!”

“They are so different and cool than the ones we are currently preparing!”

Seeing the staff’s happy reaction, Shi Lian feels satisfied and relieved. “This is the change of plan,” she says and the whole room fell quiet. They are looking at her as if she had said something unusual or something that they never heard of.

“What are you saying?” a man sitting in the middle asks.

“Do you think the designs you are preparing are enough to save this company? the designs you saw right now and the earlier ones, which one appealed to your eyes?” she speaks sternly, “The new one. Am I right?”

People hesitantly look at each other and then slightly nods agreeing with her. “So are you implying that we drop that design and start on this new one? That’s insane!” a woman argues.

“I know what are your concerns. I am not saying about dropping the designs. We will include it and the new one as well. to look, they are entirely different yet vibe with each other” she says, few strands of her hair dangles near her temples.

“It won’t be complete till next month! We cannot wait that late” Ruxi points out, stepping gin the discussion. She is right, they do not much time and Shi Lian has already told the shareholders that they will release it next month.

“And even if we work all day and night, we cannot complete it on time” another woman points out. Shi Lian is now in the middle of nowhere where everywhere she looks there’s nothing but darkness. It’s as if the doors are closing for her one by one. She promised her father that she will save the company but how?

“How about we mix them both?” a voice says. Shi Lian turns her head to her left to see Ruxi. Mixing them both? That’s new….but will it work? “They are different yet they vibe with each other, that’s perfect for our collection. Collaborating the two designs and producing a new one will be a great deal.”

Shi Lian thinks for a moment, she looks at the designs again and the old ones with it. now that she compares, collaborating with them will be interesting. Her mouth curls up into a smile and she looks at Ruxi mouthing her “thank you.”

“That’s it then. No matter how hard we have to work, we need to make this happen. Our future lies in this project” she says, pointing to each one sitting there.

The staffs agree to it and with a new spirit, they all get to work together.

Shi Lian and Ruxi join them and discuss the designs with the staff. They put out their opinion, discuss them and work things out. Now it seems that no one can stop them from saving the company.

Shi Lian’s got various things to lose and she cannot afford to make any mistake, not even a slight one. If she failed to save the company, her uncle will win and in the blink of an eye, the Chairman’s position will be in his uncle’s hand. Her father’s health is not well and he will be very disappointed if she fails. She has to make this right, she needs to win.

**

A week later

After a week of bustling and working all night, the collection is finally ready. They cannot believe they made it and before the time! The collection turns out to be the same she had in her mind and she is very satisfied with the result. The staff has worked very hard with diligence and she cannot thank them more for that. Ruxi has been a major supporter, her ideas are over the top and she has solutions to every problem.

Today is the day to show their work to the shareholders and the high authorities. Shi Lian has planned a small show for the reveal of her collection. Her father was eager to see the collection so he will be coming today.

Shi Lian is nervy since the morning, her stomach is churning as time is passing and she cannot help but overthink. She gulps down another cup of coffee, she has drunk six cups of coffee since the morning.

‘If the collection didn’t satisfy the authority, I am doomed.’

Even if she is the chairman, the shareholder has the power to kick her out with their votes of the majority. She paces in her office biting her nails as her nerves are getting out of control. She has never been this nervous in her life.

“Chairman, you called?” the security manager who is in charge of the surveillance room squeaks, popping his head through the door. Shi Lian gestures him to come inside and close the door.

“I need you to keep your eyes on the monitor for the time our show will hold. If I get any mistake, you are fired” she demands. The man gulps down the lump and opens his mouth to speak.

“Y-Yes. I will. I will not leave my eyes from the monitor!” he says loudly, standing with his back straight. Shi Lian nods and waves him off. He goes out of the room quickly after her dismissal. She cannot let her guards down. Her uncle can do anything and she is not taking any risks.

She goes where the show is organized because it’s time and she has to be the first to reach there. She has her pen drive in her jacket pocket in case if anything has to happen. The staff along with Ruxi will show up at the event with the dress sample.

Reaching the small hall situated on the 15th floor, she twists open the doors and walks inside. White curtains drape straight behind the long stage, glass chandeliers look beautiful hanging up the roof, and the spring theme color is also incorporated well.

She is satisfied with the decoration, she specially instructed that everything should be perfect and it is. She smiles looking around her. The chairs are laid at the side of the stage, high enough for the people to see.

Streaks of red, white, different shades of brown, and green are the main colors and need to be defined everywhere. All the colors are visible and bright so they will complement the dress.

As she is observing, Ruxi and the others stride from her behind. She turns around to see them all, carrying the treasure in between but….Their faces are not looking happy. Something is wrong.

“What happened?” Shi Lian asks, she can hear her heart drumming against her chest. If something bad happens to the dresses, there’s no other to correct it.

Ruxi step ahead and speak up, “The model who was hired just told me that she does not want to work….We do not have any model,” she says in a disappointing tone. No model then no dresses. How the heck is she supposed to arrange a model in less than five minutes?

She inhales in the air, trying to calm herself, “Can any of you do modeling?”

They shake their heads, looking down. “We aren’t skilled in that area. If we do any mistake, the show will be a disaster” a woman named, Cui Zhilian says.

That’s why she was feeling uneasy and nervy since the morning. A bad occurrence was on its way to blow their ways. What will she do now? They need a model anyhow but from where? Shi Lian does not have any contact with any of the models of Shanghai. “Have you contacted other models?”

Ruxi nods, “Yes I did. I tried reaching five-six models but all of them declined. They do not want to work with a company that is supposed to go downhill.” Her voice slows down at the end of her speech.

Shi Lian’s flexes and her fingers are curled up into a fist. Dumbshit.

“What should we do now?”

“Our hard work will all go in vain!” Haiwei cries in distress.

“I have an idea” Shi Lian says, looking serious.