Next afternoon, while Su Lingzhi was sketching fashion designs, she was summoned to the boss's office.
Rika seemed tired, yawning repeatedly.
However, her boss always maintained a friendly smile. Despite being over forty, her noble and bright demeanor had not faded with time.
The granddaughter of the Lyrae brand founder, the current Creative Director of the Women's Wear division, took the company to the top of the industry in England within five years with her unique fashion sense, reaching the pinnacle of fashion.
Lyrae thus became a coveted dream destination for many fashion job seekers.
Su Lingzhi never expected to be noticed by such a fashion industry icon and to be invited here for an internship.
"Madam, did you call for me?"
Rika affectionately called her, "Lindie, how's the design draft for the fashion show coming along?"
Su Lingzhi replied, "I've completed two-thirds of it."
Rika praised her, "Not bad efficiency, I have a temporary task for you now."
"What task?"
"I've just taken on a client, and I want you to design a pleasing men's suit for them."
Su Lingzhi confirmed, "Design a men's suit?"
Rika kept a smile on her face, nodding, "The people from Pattern Group Two will assist you, you just need to complete the design and follow-up within the stipulated time frame."
"I don't have experience in designing men's suits. Aren't you afraid I'll ruin Lyrae's reputation?"
Moreover, the company has separate men's and women's wear divisions. Now, suddenly assigning this task to her, asking her to design across divisions – won't the people over there have opinions?
Rika patted her head, smiling, "This is a private custom, what you need to achieve is customer satisfaction with your work, not mine."
With that, Rika handed the customer's information to her, encouragingly, "You're a promising talent I've selected, perk up and have confidence in yourself."
Su Lingzhi returned to her workstation with the customer's information, deep in thought.
The information showed a transaction record, only leaving an address, number, delivery date, and a flamboyant signature "Mr. Zhao".
But there was no crucial body measurements or design requirements.
It's not that she couldn't design it, but she wasn't very confident in menswear nor could she determine the customer's preferences.
Soon, the news of her temporary task spread throughout the studio.
Colleagues around looked at her with envy; among the many gazes, there were also doubts.
Someone whispered, "So lucky, an intern who hasn't graduated yet, just joined the company and got a private custom opportunity, and even designing across divisions. She represents our brand; if she messes up our reputation, it'll be quite a show."
"What's Lindie's background that Rika values her so much?"
Another person said, "She's a graduate researcher at the London College of Art, last year's British Young Designer Competition winner, and her work was even exhibited at the British Fashion Week. She has quite a reputation in the fashion world, achieving so much by twenty-one is indeed impressive, Rika valuing her makes sense."
"Just a budding talent, her resume can't compare with our menswear design director's. What I'm curious about is her family background."
"All I know is she's from Beijing, Hua Country, nothing else is clear."
"..."
English accents intertwined, and Su Lingzhi frowned.
She has been here for two weeks now, and although she's favored and cared for by her boss Rika, the employees under her didn't seem optimistic about her.
Every day she faced their cold stares and isolation.
Just because she is still an ungraduated student, the youngest in the studio, with less experience compared to others, and her appearance is non-threatening, making her seem easy to bully.
Besides, although she's an intern, she doesn't have intern treatment.
Though in the skirt design group, she only takes orders from Rika, submitting designs directly to her, out of anyone else's control, which certainly draws envy and resentment.
Unexpectedly, they've now escalated to probing into her family background.
But so what, doing her part well, finishing the three-month internship, getting the internship proof and graduation certificate, she plans to tidy up and return to her country.
Su Lingzhi no longer paid attention to the gossip, returning her focus to the order.
Worried the customer might think she's inexperienced, she spent a day in the archive room researching, attempting several design sketches before confidently searching for the client's number and dialed it.
Once the phone connected, she introduced herself, asking if the person was Mr. Zhao.
She asked in English.
And the customer replied with a simple "Correct."
She then switched to Chinese, continuing to ask him, "When would you be free for us to arrange for a fitting and discuss the suit details?"
The voice on the other end said, "Please hold on."
Su Lingzhi patiently waited.
About three minutes later, the voice spoke again, "Miss, would 4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon be convenient for you?"
Su Lingzhi replied, "That's fine."
"Please leave an address, I'll arrange a car to pick you up."
"No need for that trouble, I'll make my own way."
...
The next day, she wore a white blouse specially for meeting the client, paired with a khaki high-waisted skirt, and she tied up her hair.
The skirt had pleat designs on the left waist, with delicate colors. The smooth fabric outlined her waist and hips curve.
Her skin was naturally good; dressed like this, although less youthful, her charming and gentle aura remained.
That afternoon, she put on her work badge, left the studio at the appointed time with her tools, and caught a cab to the client's provided address.
The destination, an hour away from her studio, was an estate villa.
After ringing the doorbell, a middle-aged man in a suit came out to open the door.
"Are you Miss Su?"
Su Lingzhi nodded, "Yes."
She was invited inside.
The middle-aged man greeting her was about four to fifty years old, courteous and gentlemanly, his manner indicating the villa owner's unusual status.
Passing through a lawn, reaching the living room.
The middle-aged man said to her, "Miss, the gentleman is still discussing business in the backyard with a client, please have a seat here for a moment."
"Sure."
Upon hearing his voice, Su Lingzhi realized that the person who answered the phone was him, and her real client was the gentleman he referred to.
She vaguely discerned that the man hosting her was the butler.
Sunlight shone in, the crystal chandelier on the ceiling refracting colorful lights, reflecting on the wall paintings and the spotless floor.
The furniture was elegantly classical, yet the blue and white vases with entwined lotus placed on the sofa counter seemed a bit out of place in this English style decor.
The butler then poured a cup of tea, handing it to her, "Miss Su, make yourself at home and feel free."