Eeh...if evil could wear perfume, I guarantee it would smell like credit cards.
That had to be my first thought as I was scrolling through fashion news the next morning.
I had my coffee at hand, gently sipping it. I felt my eyes roll so far back as I read the news.
Every single headline had the same three words plastered everywhere in bold. As usual.
LU GROUP × PHANTOM?
'Host if you continue rolling those eyes you might see your reincarnation soon. But Congratulations, you have broken the internet once again.'
"But I didn't even confirm anything!" I replied out loud.
'Bold of you to assume that the internet requires consent. Honey it thrives on chaos.'
I sighed, slumping back slightly. "And as is the norm, the vultures will circle."
'By vultures you mean your family, right?'
"Yeah."
As Nova and I were busy conversing, another text message came in. Lu Group had cancelled our meeting today, due to unavoidable circumstances...or so they claim.
"Looks like heaven is on my side. This whole public thing is just..."
Meanwhile at the Jiang mansion.
Jiang Ning's phone pinged nonstop. Her barely manicured fingers scrolled, jaw tightening with every tweet she read.
'Phantom collaborates with Lu Group.'
'The dead real Industry queen is here.'
'Mysterious designer rumored to be under Lu Group wing.'
She hissed through her teeth in reply. "Dead? Damn right I wish!"
Her mother, bless her perfect timing, entered the living room in a silk robe. "Of course you are shouting at your phone again Xiao Ning."
Jiang Ning turned the screen. "Look at this mom! That failure is suddenly relevant! She has been back for not even a month, and somehow the moves she is making are moves I couldn't in a year."
Her mother frowned. "I thought she was helping you. As your assistant, just a clueless irrelevant girl."
Jiang Ning laughed, short and humorless.
"Oh please! Helping? I now know she was gathering intel! Her main aim was probably using me to get close to someone like Lu Jinghao! Aaaaaargh!!"
Her father equally joined them with his coffee.
"Don't you think that's a ridiculous assumption? Your sister doesn't even have a thought on external partnerships. It must be a rumor."
"There are too many idle people nowadays. You should focus on keeping the company on track. Remember you are the CEO. You fall,we fall."
"Then why did the Lu group's official PR handle follow her this morning?" Jiang Ning snapped, clearly irritated by her father's lack of help.
"Jiang Rui is not just aiming high, she is mocking me."
"Then Ningning, what will you do?" Her mother asked, leaning in closer.
Jiang Ning smirked. "Simple mother. I will make her look like a fraud. If I am unable to erase her, then I will ruin her credibility before she can even set foot in Lu Group. She starter it anyway."
I didn't need a telescope or Nova to know they were plotting.
Years of experience under the Jiang household taught me one simple truth. Anytime there is silence in that family, scheming is underway.
Either way, I had better things to do. Things like visiting the ateliar space.
'Ah, I have been itching for your scartches. Welcome host.'
"Little liar. I don't trust you."
I got into the space as I watched Nova run to me.
Tsk. Clingy little thing.
'Host, there are a lot of cheat codes just lying around. You are yet to use most of them. Don't disappoint me.'
"Remind me of the cheat codes darling."
'Well, there's Auto Heal. You used it once.
There is body modulation where you can adjust your weight, fatigue, and other things like skin texture.
Another interesting one yet to be used is Visual Analysis. Host can detect counterfeit designs and any stitching flaws.
Host also has Voice Command where you can temporarily influence any weak minded targets. Basically charm them.
And through the memory link, you can access hidden designs and even replicate imagery from memory.'
"Nova, these are like black market superpowers."
'Come on host. They are just miracles but...illegal miracles.'
"Activate visual analysis for me."
'Confirmed. You eye won't have any difference with a gossiper's tounge. You can now see the fashion flaws clearly.'
Immediately, there were faint silver lines flickering across my vision. There were threads, color alignments, and even stitches.
"Whoa…This is sick!" I whispered, as I picked on the scarf I had in me. What looked perfect a moment ago now screamed amateur.
'Aand...you're welcome host. The only side effect is that you will never look at cheap fabrics again.'
We spend some time in the space before I finally left, all satisfied.
Later that day, my not so silent phone buzzed again.
The sender was unknown.
"I Hope you're ready for your little meeting with Lu Group, Phantom. Little, dirty secrets don't stay hidden forever."
I stared at the message. The number seemed untraceable but not to me.
'Guess who is so dedicated to throwing shade from their villain space?'
"Of course that's Jiang Ning."
"Aww. Cute. But unfortunately, she is threatening the wrong ghost." I smirked.
'You want me to trace the message for assurance?'
"Go ahead."
Within seconds, the system display flashed:
The Jiang's mansion private server.
'Tsk. Your sister has committed a classic rookie mistake. Using daddy's server for cybercrimes.'
By noon, I had confirmation that Jiang Ning was trying her best to feed the tabloids.
A lot of anonymous posts had appeared, questioning my authenticity, most of them suggesting that I have plagiarized.
They claimed I am just an overhyped designer who is propped by connections.
'Oh human, the irony. Isn't this the thief calling the artist fake?'
"We will just let her play," I replied, leaning back.
"When the time comes, I want them to have something to choke on."
'So Spicy! What's the plan then?'
"I believe the best revenge is proof."
"I will reveal a preview design, something way out if their league. Too advanced for any fake to copy."
'Girl you are bold! So you are going to drop a limited design before the second meeting with Lu Group?'
"That is a calculated move Nova," I corrected. "Also, I will need you to turn on Charm Trigger. I need to get some few people talking."
'Nice. Now you are speaking my language.'
Later that Afternoon, Jiang Ning sat at one of Beijing's trendiest cafés.
A freelance reporter was seated right across.
She slid a USB drive across the table, purring as she spoke.
"All I am saying is that you might want to look into Phantom's real background further. She used to be my assistant and I have never seen her with such skills"
The reporter frowned in response. "But they say she is a top tier designer."
"Oh, she is talented, no lie" Jiang Ning replied sweetly. "Her talent is imitation and I would hate for the Lu Group to realize they have been fooled."
Her little trick didn't stop me. As she was busy smearing my name, I was busy walking around town.
I walked into a canvas boutique supply store.
Its appearance made it clear that it catered to designers who were not afraid of spending their souls for premium quality silk.
I let my system's lens flicker highlighting every hidden flaw in the fabrics around. No lie, I was mesmerized.
'Darling you look like a kid in a museum of temptation. Hehe...'
"If I didn't have you, then I could live here," I murmured.
'Oh host. I'd rather you live long enough to bankrupt generations of your enemies.'
"Fair enough."
By evening, I had uploaded a single teaser photo online.
A half rendered gown, with a sleeve incomplete.
"For those who can hear the real sound of art, the whispers in the silk."
'You love cryptic captions host.'
Within an hour, it trended #1 on Weibo.
My sister's smear campaign was immediately drowned under a tsunami of fans.
'Host you have 1.5 million engagements. You should know Jiang's pr team is currently hyperventilating.'
"Just how I like it."
That Night, Jiang Ning was pacing holes into her carpet.
"Of all times she released a teaser now?!" she barked into her phone, her face all red."That was supposed to buy me time to drag her!"
"This... it's just too good. The technical stitching is impossible to copy. They...everyone says it is revolutionary." Her PR Manager's voice stuttered through the speaker.
Her mother's eyes hardened. "Ningning, I told you to fight back quietly. If she is working with The Lu group, find out her skeletons. I believe every ghost leaves a trail."
Meanwhile, I was relaxed in my apartment, leaning back in my chair, my sketchbook open. My eye lids were half closed from exhaustion.
I was about to move my pencil when the world tilted.
I found myself in the ateliar. My own sketches were hovering midair, stitching themselves into living dresses. The fabric around was floating like liquid light.
It was terrifying, beautiful and felt addictive.
By dawn, I had created two full fits.
Outfits that would end careers just by existing. They were flawless, breathtaking and haunting.
Over at The Lu Group headquarters, a new report landed on Lu Jinghao's desk.
"Chairman… Phantom released a design teaser last night."
Lu Jinghao looked from his paperwork.
"And?"
"Sir. She is extraordinary. Not even AI can replicate it."
"She is operating on another level. Prepare for her arrival tomorrow. Make sure no one interferes."
"Yes, Chairman."
As the door shut behind him, Lu Jinghao leaned back, with the faintest hint of a smirk across his face.
"Interesting little thing."