Such a competition is really childish.
Xue Qiandai turned to leave, but Guo Wen stopped her, saying, "If you don't dare, then admit defeat. Don't use the name 'haute couture' anymore and disgrace the word."
"Did I agree to compete with you? What courage does a defeated general have? Besides, what kind of skill is it to use your sister's work to bully others?" Xue Qiandai asked three questions in a row, making Guo Wen's face turn red and then pale.
"You, you, you... You think you're so great just because you can spout idioms? The junk you gave me is so worthless, it's not even fit to be stored away!"
This attracted many guests, and the number of onlookers grew.
Huo Yunchao watched over them with great interest as he observed his little fairy.
Just then, the crowd parted to make way. A couple walked over. The man leaned on a cane, exuding an air of authority; the woman he was with appeared to be no more than forty, with graceful bearing and an elegant demeanor. Her hair was styled in an updo, and her eyes held a mixture of melancholy, liveliness, and a touch of sentimentality, as if they could speak. People often say that true beauty lies in the bone structure, not just the skin, but Mrs. Zhao possessed beauty in both.
"Mr. Zhao, Mrs. Zhao!"
"The head of the family has arrived."
"Mr. Zhao, sir."
Everyone addressed him differently, but they all called him the same person: Zhao Sheng, the founder of Tiansheng Group, and the father of Zhao Jiening and Zhao Jiequn. The woman beside him was naturally the stepmother Zhao Jiequn mentioned.
"Oh, what are they arguing about?" Madam Zhao asked, her voice as melodious as heavenly music or the tinkling of a spring. Though it was a question, it sent shivers down one's spine. But her gaze fell on Xue Qiandai.
Su Qianhui smiled and replied politely, "Hello, Madam Zhao. Two fashion designers have sent me haute couture garments, but they seem to have different preferences when it comes to haute couture, which led to a bit of an argument."
Guo Wen held up the Tang suit with python pattern and gold thread. "Mr. Zhao, this is a garment that my sister, Guo Fei, personally customized for you. The essence of haute couture lies in tailoring to the body. Some people haven't even finished a formal fashion course, yet they presume to talk about haute couture. I'm afraid they'll offend your eyes, sir." As she spoke, she glared fiercely at Xue Qiandai.
Zhao Sheng saw Huo Yunchao at first glance, "Yunchao, you've arrived."
"Mr. Zhao, my girlfriend and I went to a banquet, but it seems some people weren't very welcoming to us. I had prepared a gift, but my girlfriend wanted to express her feelings, so she stayed up all night to make a suit by hand. The gift hasn't even arrived yet, and she's already feeling quite uncomfortable." Huo Yunchao's tactful words made everyone feel flattered; it turned out Mr. Huo was a master at protecting his wife.
Madam Zhao took two steps forward and met Xue Qiandai's gaze. "Young lady, did you deliver the clothes? May I take a look?"
Xue Qiandai stared at Madam Zhao, her eyes seemingly filled with endless emotions. Her breathing became erratic, and her heart pounded in her chest. It was as if some opportunity, some pull, had made it impossible for her to look away. She took the gift box from the butler, opened it, and inside was a set of matching couple outfits.
Coincidentally, the men's attire was also Tang-style clothing, a low-key and understated heather gray with minimal elaborate craftsmanship; while the women's attire was a modified cheongsam, featuring an ink-wash style as its main theme and black and white as its primary colors. It boldly incorporated French lace instead of traditional fabric, seamlessly blending with the traditional Chinese cheongsam. The most eye-catching element was the frog buttons, integrated with the exquisite peony embroidery, adding a touch of dynamism. Xue Qiandai explained, "I referenced the style of Master Chu, a renowned Shanghai-style cheongsam designer, for this cheongsam, achieving a blend of retro and modern. The color and texture of the frog buttons are perfect for September, meaning this cheongsam is only suitable for wearing in September."
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. Wasn't Mr. Zhao the birthday celebrant today? How come the woman dressed as a woman was stealing the show?
Xue Qiandai, unrestrained and flamboyant, ignored the guests' questions, especially Guo Wen's anger, and spoke eloquently: "I wish Mr. Zhao and his wife a deep and lasting love and a lifelong union."
Zhao Sheng smiled, for he saw the burning passion and tears in his wife's eyes—it was genuine affection.
Mrs. Zhao took the cheongsam, admiring it with obvious delight. "Young lady, thank you. Could you come with me to try it on? I can't wait to see how it looks on me." As she spoke, she took Xue Qiandai's arm and walked towards the villa.
Xue Qiandai and Huo Yunchao exchanged a glance, and under the watchful eyes of everyone, they left with Madam Zhao.
"Alright, everyone here is a guest today, so let's all move to the main platform and enjoy the banquet. Yunchao, come with me to meet our old friends from the Chamber of Commerce." Zhao Sheng spoke, and Huo Yunchao readily complied, walking alongside him.
As Rong Xiao passed by Guo Wen, he couldn't help but sneer, "You always act like a clown. Why don't you ever learn?"
From then on, Guo Wen could no longer utter a single difficult word, and she stomped her feet in anger.
*
Xue Qiandai and Madam Zhao walked together towards the villa. Along the way, all the nannies, cleaners, and housekeepers were extremely respectful, addressing her as "Madam."
Two women gracefully entered the king-size master suite on the second floor of the villa. The room was also in a modern Chinese style, with ultimate simplicity and beauty. The use of fabrics and wallpaper added an oriental charm to the room. A Chinese-style screen added a touch of romance and poetry.
Mrs. Zhao pressed a button on the remote control, and the curtains closed automatically. Mrs. Zhao smiled warmly, "Little girl, what's your name?"
"Xue Qiandai".
“Dai… Dai Dai?” Madam Zhao was momentarily stunned and stiffened. She took Xue Qian Dai’s hand and sat down on the sofa. “You are the Dai Dai that Jie Qun mentioned? You are just as your name suggests. You are a good girl, a good girl.”
Xue Qiandai was surprised that Zhao Jiequn would mention her in front of her stepmother. She smiled gently and said, "Young Master Zhao, oh, that's Jiequn. He has also mentioned you to my face."
Madam Zhao seemed intrigued. "What did he say?"
Xue Qiandai tilted her head, recalling the scene at the time. "He said you were very beautiful, with an inner and outer elegance. He also said that Mr. Zhao loved you very much. I understood as soon as I saw you; if I were a man, I would love you too." The last sentence was not part of her carefully chosen words, but rather something that slipped out of her mouth.
Madam Zhao smiled, stroking Xue Qiandai's hair like an elder to a child, "Dai Dai, I always feel a special connection with you. Seeing you is like seeing myself when I was young."
Xue Qiandai felt uncomfortable with her intimate actions and wanted to look away, but when she met her gaze, she held back.
"You have... a boyfriend?" Mrs. Zhao asked cautiously.
Xue Qiandai looked around the room and nodded. "My boyfriend's name is Huo Yunchao, and he has business dealings with Mr. Zhao."
A sigh seemed to echo in the room, yet it seemed to only resonate in Xue Qiandai's ears. "What a pity."
"What's a pity?" Xue Qiandai pressed.
Mrs. Zhao gazed out the large floor-to-ceiling windows at the emptiness. "Jiequn is a very hard person to fall for. You don't know, he used to be very cold to me, but one day he said he met a girl, and he became completely gentle, including towards me. I guess I'm lucky to have met that girl."
She didn't say it explicitly, but Xue Qiandai knew it was her. She never imagined that someone like Young Master Zhao would change his attitude towards his stepmother because of her; the power of love was so immense.
"Madam Zhao, there are plenty of good girls in this world. Young Master Zhao will surely meet a soulmate."
Madam Zhao suddenly covered Xue Qiandai's mouth. "Don't call me Madam Zhao, call me Auntie, Dai Dai. Oh, by the way, I'd like to try on your cheongsam now, is that alright?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com