Chapter 64 Joining the Company

Chen Ran went to the tailor shop whenever he was free these days. He was very happy to learn from Su Hong that Su Nian would be starting work at Chen's Garment Company next week. He hoped that his daughter could take over his business as soon as possible.

He specifically instructed his assistant Fang Shuo to pay attention to Su Nian's work at the company next week and make sure it is properly arranged.

Monday was the day Su Nian started working at Chen’s Garment Company.

As the early autumn sunlight slanted into the lobby of Chen's office building, Su Nian walked in wearing the pair of flat loafers that Si Yan had specially bought for her.

Her long hair was pulled back into a high bun, a few strands falling across her face. A draped lavender shirt, like iris petals scattered by the wind, hung loosely over her still-unnoticeable belly. The hem was casually tucked into the brass-buttoned waistband of her high-waisted jeans. Those vintage Levi's, often considered "pregnant women's off-limits," were given a new silhouette by her, using a silk scarf as a makeshift belt.

She went straight to the top floor to find Assistant Fang. When Fang Shuo took her down to the 21st floor by elevator and pushed open the glass door of the design department, the sound of the keyboard inexplicably paused for a beat.

Someone looked up at her, holding a design album, her fingertips painted with translucent nude nail polish. She walked slowly, but with a casual tone, making the seemingly patchwork items look indescribably harmonious.

Designer Wu Xiao, who was revising a picture by the window, paused for a moment. Even Assistant Director Li Yue couldn't help but look back twice when she passed by - this outfit didn't look like she was coming to work, but rather like she had just returned from a niche art exhibition. But on her, the sharpness revealed in her casualness just matched the aura that a design department should have.

Su Nian raised her hand to smooth the hair beside her ear, and followed Fang Shuo into the office of design director Lan Ting, completely unaware that she had become the invisible focus of the entire office within thirty seconds.

Design director Lan Ting is in her thirties and looks capable and neat. She has been following Chen Ran at the Chen headquarters in the south since her debut. More than ten years have passed in a blink of an eye, and she is his right-hand man.

At the beginning of this year, the Jiangcheng branch of Chen's Clothing Company was established, and she followed Chen Ran from the southern headquarters to Jiangcheng. In just half a year, the design department has been thriving.

There are currently three design teams in the entire design department. Wu Xiao, who was just revising the design by the window, is the leader of one of the design teams. There is also a design team led by Zhang Yue and a design team led by Fang Xia. Both of them are not here today, and they must have gone to the factory.

Fang Shuo handed Su Nian to Lan Ting, said a few words and went upstairs.

Su Nian greeted Director Lan politely.

Lan Ting looked at Su Nian, a designer who had been specially recruited by Director Chen and had no work experience. She had skipped the stages of intern, design assistant, and trainee designer, and hadn't even graduated yet.

I have to say that this girl's temperament and dress style do have a natural aura.

Lan Ting has seen Su Nian's award-winning designs. Chen Ran has a good eye and is a rare talent.

However, Chen's was a mature company with very clear requirements for each position. They didn't want to keep idle people here. This girl was hired as a designer, and she might have some design talent, but going from designing on paper to mass production in a factory was not something a fresh graduate could handle.

Lan Ting was very confused about how to arrange Su Nian's work.

She didn't understand why Mr. Chen, who was always strict with people, things and even himself, was so tolerant of this child and even allowed her to work from home?

But Chen Ran even invited her to dinner specifically for this matter, hoping that she could take care of the child.

She thought for a moment and then spoke to Su Nian, "Su Nian, I'll temporarily assign your work. There's an empty seat outside next to my assistant Li Yue. You can go there and work first."

After saying that, she called Li Yue in through the intercom and took her to her workstation.

After thanking her, Su Nian followed Li Yue out of Lan Ting's office.

As soon as Su Nian sat down in the empty seat next to Li Yue, Lan Ting's inside player caught up with him.

Li Yue hung up the phone and handed her a neatly bound folder. "Director Lan said she wants you to familiarize yourself with the company's core design concepts from the past three years, as well as the inspiration behind each season's flagship collections. She wants to hear your initial thoughts this afternoon."

The folder cover is Chen's signature silver-gray color. Opening the first page, the words "People-centered Structuralism" are embossed with fine gold lines.

Su Nian's fingertips slid across the page, her eyes fell on the craftsmanship analysis of the 2023 Autumn and Winter series, and her brows furrowed slightly - that set of suits featuring "cold pleats", she had used similar techniques in her previous designs, but Chen's craftsmanship paid more attention to the memory of the fabric, which she had to remember.

She was so focused on reading that she didn't notice the whispers coming from the corner of the office.

"Is that the newcomer sent down by Assistant Fang himself? He looks so young."

"More than just young, I heard from Li Yue that she didn't even have a diploma, she was hired directly as a designer." Wen Xiaoqiao, a female designer in an off-white sweater, stared at the computer screen in a whisper. "She immediately took the seat next to Li Yue, which is the closest station to the director."

Wen Xiaoqiao is from Zhang Yue's team and wants to get guidance from Director Lan.

Li Ruoyi, another girl with short haircut, agreed as she typed on the keyboard: "As for her background, it's probably not that great. Look at her outfit, vintage Levis with a silk scarf belt, it looks pretty ordinary. Although the shirt looks well-made, it's probably not a brand name. Who in our design department dresses like that to work?" Li Ruoyi is a design assistant in Zhang Yue's group.

"But I saw the album cover she was holding on Director Lan's desk this morning. It looks like... it's the gold medal entry from the International Young Designers Competition?"

The discussion suddenly died down, and several pairs of eyes glanced over at her again, this time with a hint of inexplicable inquiry in their eyes.

Su Nian was frowning at a fabric composition list when suddenly a cup of steaming coffee was placed next to her.

"Is this your first time reading this material? It's easy to get dizzy. Have something to drink to calm yourself down." Wu Xiao's voice was tinged with a smile, his design draft still in his hand. "I'm Wu Xiao, the leader of Group 3. How's the material?"

Su Nian looked up and saw that his eyes were devoid of any extraneous emotion; it seemed as if they were genuinely chatting. She tapped her fingertips on the folder and said, "Well, the shoulder treatment of your 'Architectural Folds' series from last month was very unique."

"You have a good eye." Wu Xiao smiled and took the empty seat next to her. "I followed that series for several months, and the pattern making alone was rejected seventeen times. By the way, I've seen your previous award-winning work, the deconstructed skirt made from old newspapers. It's a very bold idea - but in a company, you have to learn to turn bold ideas into designs that can be mass-produced."

He spoke frankly, unlike those who talked behind people's backs. Su Nian felt relieved. Just as she was about to say something, she saw Li Yue approaching with a stack of documents. Her expression was indifferent. "Su Nian, Director Lan asked you to compare these quarterly sales data with the design feedback. Come see her at 3 pm."

The document landed on the table with a thud, stirring up a gust of wind. Wu Xiao glanced at Li Yue and said nothing more. "Come back to me if you need anything."

Su Nian looked at the pile of documents on the table, and glanced at the figures not far away who were pretending to be busy but glancing at her from time to time. She suddenly realized that in this seemingly glamorous company, she, an "airborne soldier", might have to face more than just the problems on the design drawings.

She took a deep breath, picked up a pen, and wrote the first line in her notebook: "The core of Chen's philosophy: balancing art and business."

The sunlight shone in from the window on the 21st floor, casting a bright line on the paper, which looked very much like the path she was about to take at the moment, bright and clear, but with invisible wrinkles hidden.