Chapter 46: Go to Fashion Academy!
Jiangbei Fashion Institute? Su Mengxue had just arrived and knew nothing about Jiangbei Fashion Institute, so she asked Zhou Weidong beside her, "Master, can I get here by bus?"
Zhou Weidong's eyes widened in surprise. "Girl, how could a tailoring student not know about Jiangbei Fashion Institute? That's the place all tailors aspire to be."
Hearing the tone of his voice, Su Mengxue immediately realized the importance of this college and guessed that this college was probably like the current BJ Fashion College.
Seeing Zhou Weidong's suspicious look, her eyelashes trembled, and she quickly explained, "Master, of course I know Jiangbei Fashion Institute, but I live in the countryside all year round and rarely come to Jiangbei, so I don't know its exact location."
Zhou Weidong understood, and he relaxed his expression and said, "Girl, go out, turn left and walk to the main road. Take bus No. 3 and get off directly at the gate of Jiangbei Institute of Fashion."
After Su Mengxue agreed, she picked up her things and prepared to go to Jiangbei Institute of Fashion, but before she took a few steps, she was stopped by Zhou Weidong.
She turned around and saw him quickly pull out five big unity notes from the drawer and stuff them into her hands: "Girl, this money is what you put on the sewing machine yesterday, right? I don't need these, keep them."
How could Su Mengxue accept it? She said seriously: "Master, I used so much of your needlework and..."
"Okay, we've already discussed this matter early in the morning, so just go." Zhou Weidong interrupted before Su Mengxue finished her words, his tone revealing an attitude that did not allow for argument.
Su Mengxue felt warm in her heart. She had just arrived and yet she had met two elders who treated her sincerely. How could she have been so worthy of such care?
She suppressed her emotions, said goodbye to her master, and took bus No. 3 to Jiangbei Institute of Fashion. When she arrived at the gate of the institute, she told the old man at the security guard that she was looking for a professor named Li Beichen.
The old man at the gate quickly replied to her after he called and relayed the message, saying that Li Beichen was too busy to see her. Su Mengxue quickly added to the old man's message, saying that Zhou Weidong had asked her to come. After the old man relayed the message again, she was able to enter the gate smoothly.
She followed the route the old man gave her, and after many twists and turns, she finally found Li Beichen's office.
After knocking on the door and entering, she saw a man of medium build, about fifty years old, sitting at his desk, writing and drawing. She walked over and asked politely, "Excuse me, are you Professor Li Beichen?"
Li Beichen stopped writing, looked up at her for a few seconds, and then his eyes fell on the clothes she was wearing. A flash of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then he asked, "Little girl, did my teacher ask you to come to me?"
Su Mengxue understood what he meant and thought that the old master should be his teacher. She replied truthfully, "Well, he asked me to bring you a cheongsam and a letter."
After she finished speaking, she handed the small bundle in her hand to Li Beichen. Li Beichen took it, opened the bundle and read the letter first. After reading it, his eyes darkened and he immediately unfolded the cheongsam inside.
The moment his fingers touched the fabric, he stood up suddenly, a look of surprise in his eyes, he turned around and asked solemnly: "Did you make this cheongsam?
Su Mengxue saw the scrutiny and surprise in his eyes and nodded without surprise. After all, she had traveled from modern society, and her design concepts and vision were much more advanced. The man's expression was within her expectations.
Li Beichen looked at her and asked, "Can you tell me about your design inspiration?"
Su Mengxue wasn't shy. She took two steps forward and began to explain, "The traditional high collar of a cheongsam can make people feel awkward and uncomfortable, so I specifically changed it to a stand-up collar and added lining to hold it in place to prevent it from deforming. Also, the traditional buttoned design of a cheongsam is cumbersome and complicated, increasing the labor time. I used a hidden zipper with two decorative buttons instead, which makes it easier to put on and take off."
"I also designed a horizontal pocket on each side between the inner lining and the outer layer of the skirt, and hid the opening at the seam of the skirt. This way, the pocket is completely invisible from the outside, preserving the implicit beauty of the traditional cheongsam while taking into account practicality.
After listening to this, Li Beichen pressed the issue, "Traditional cheongsams have slits 15 centimeters below the knee. Your cheongsam was specially shortened. How can you convey the solemnity of the cheongsam?"
Su Mengxue's fingertips caressed the slit at the hem of the cheongsam and said, "Yes, I deliberately made the slit of the cheongsam 5 centimeters above the knee short, which is more suitable for daily walking. I also added hidden buttons at the slit of the skirt to prevent exposure."
After she finished speaking, she looked up at the man and added, "I don't think a shorter slit means a loss of dignity. Clothes are meant to serve people. How can people be constrained by clothes?"
Seeing that he remained silent, she gently stroked the two buttons, her tone stubborn, "Also, my cheongsam shouldn't just be formal. It can hold its own at banquets, and it can also be worn neatly and comfortably in ordinary alleys while shopping for groceries. This is what clothes should be used for. Besides, the charm of clothes lies in the wearer, not in the clothes themselves."
As soon as these words were spoken, there was a brief pause in the air. Su Mengxue saw the man frowning and realized that she had said too much.
She quickly replied with a smile, "Professor, I've delivered the things to you. I'll be leaving now."
Seeing her about to leave, Li Beichen hurriedly said, "Little girl, you are very talented in making clothes, and what you just said makes sense. Do you want to stay here and learn?"
Su Mengxue's eyes widened instantly. She raised her hand and pointed at herself uncertainly, blurting out, "You want me to stay here and attend classes?"
"That's right." The man replied firmly.
Su Mengxue urgently needed to make a living. She didn't have the time or money to pay tuition. She politely declined, "Professor, thank you for your kindness, but I don't have such an idea. You are busy, so I'll leave first."
The man thought about the contents of the letter and raised his voice slightly. "Little girl, our school's top students not only receive scholarships, but also receive free admission. We also hold various competitions every year, such as this cheongsam exam. The first prize is 500 yuan."
"500 yuan?" Su Mengxue exclaimed. This money was just enough for her to buy the jade pendant.
Su Mengxue noticed the man staring at her and realized she had lost her composure. She pursed her lips to suppress her excitement and said calmly, "If I win first place, when can I get the money?"
Seeing her ask so bluntly, the man thought things had slowed down, so he replied readily, "The competition ends in a week, and you'll get the prize after the judges have made their selections."
He added, "The prerequisite is that the contestants must be students of our college. Little girl, if you agree to study here, I can help you apply for free tuition and accommodation."
A week? Su Mengxue frowned. Even if it was too late, it would be too late. Besides, her aesthetic taste was advanced, and the judges might not be impressed by her clothes. If she didn't get first place, not only would her studies be in vain, but her earning time would also be wasted. Besides, she was at a prestigious university, so there was really no need for her to stay here to study.
After thinking for a while, she decisively refused: "Professor, you may have misunderstood. I am just here to help deliver clothes, not to attend school. I am leaving."
After she finished speaking, she was afraid that Li Beichen would keep her any longer, so she walked out quickly. Because she walked too fast and too quickly, she bumped into the man standing outside the door the moment she opened it, and the documents in the man's hand immediately fell to the ground.
Su Mengxue apologized hurriedly before she could even see who he was. She squatted down to help him pick up the documents. Her eyes inadvertently fell on the picked up drawing paper. The cheongsam design on it was exactly the same as the one she had just made, except for the fabric pattern and the position of the pocket design.
She was stunned for a moment, her eyes falling on the signature on the drawing paper, where the three words "Xu Jianian" were written in beautiful handwriting.
Just as she was in a daze, she heard a man's indifferent voice: "Can you return the blueprint to me?"
Su Mengxue finally came to her senses and hurriedly handed over the blueprint. The moment she raised her eyes, her gaze met the man's, and her heart suddenly stopped and she was momentarily distracted.
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