Even in her current predicament, Xue Qiandai couldn't stand being called a "knock-off" by some loser. Before closing the door, she turned back with a captivating smile and said, "Genuine product, no doubt about it."
The snow lion sensed its master's anger and roared at the two men, scaring them back to their rooms.
"Snow Lion, be quiet!" This command did not come from Xue Qiandai, but from Jian Yan.
Knowing roughly what special feelings this little girl had for her owner, the big dog lowered its head, whimpered, and licked its chubby paws.
Jian Yan pulled Xue Qiandai along, somewhat forcefully and rudely, her brows furrowed, looking every bit like a parent disappointed in their child. "Don't you understand the concept of not flaunting wealth? So many people are tempted by money and are capable of murder and arson. Don't you, a young woman, have any sense of security?"
Xue Qiandai sniffed. No one had ever told her this. She had always lived in an ivory tower, well-protected. The dangers of the world only existed in books and TV dramas. "I understand."
He was sullen and unhappy.
Jian Yan realized she had been too harsh, so she softened her tone and rubbed her head. "Sorry, just bear with it today. Go wash up while the bathroom is empty. There are four tenants in this apartment; the one outside is just one of them."
"Why not move to a better one?" This old, dilapidated apartment actually houses four families. How many partitions were built?
After asking the question, Xue Qiandai realized that it was as foolish as a king asking his finance minister, "Why don't the people eat meat when they have no food to eat?"
Jian Yan said with a self-deprecating laugh, "I wish I could too."
Xue Qiandai then noticed the interior of Jian Yan's room. It was a cramped space of seven or eight square meters. She knocked on the wall and found it was non-load-bearing, indicating that the room was probably partitioned off from a small bedroom. However, the room was very tidy, with a double bed and a folding wardrobe.
In another corner, a sewing machine took up a lot of space, and next to the machine was a mannequin dressed in a casual white T-shirt and jeans.
"Are you studying fashion design?" Xue Qiandai asked.
Jian Yan drew the floral curtains and took out a soft cotton nightgown from the folding wardrobe. "Could you... turn around for a moment so I can change out of my nightgown?"
Xue Qiandai smiled faintly, "We're all women, what's there to be shy about?" But she still turned around as instructed and looked at the mannequin.
There was a soft rustling sound of someone changing clothes. Jian Yan said, "I went to Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology in college, majoring in fashion design. My dream is to open a small Taobao shop selling original designer items."
It's really a very, very small dream.
Xue Qiandai found a common topic and spoke eloquently, "I also studied fashion, but I want to work in haute couture, conquer the runways of Paris and Milan, and make the whole world shout 'Snow, Snow,' and become a global phenomenon."
"Then, I wish you all the best in achieving your dreams soon," Jian Yan said casually.
Despite saying that, Xue Qiandai clearly sensed the perfunctory, casual, and amused attitude in Jian Yan's words. "You don't believe me? I can definitely do it. Do you expect me to make these uncreative basic styles like this? Do you know that Uniqlo, Zara, and H&M all make basic styles like this?"
Jian Yan was not angry at Xue Qiandai's harsh words. She remained calm and walked to her mannequin, instantly transforming into a saleswoman and telling the story hidden in the needle and thread.
"Yes, as you can see, this is a very basic crew neck T-shirt with a slightly loose fit, which accommodates most body types. The cuffs are wide, which not only supports the sleeve shape but also makes it easy to roll up the hem. The neckline can be said to be the backbone of the garment, and I used a Solona ribbed neckline, which has a very good shape. The shirt is lightly printed with a ghost face in the same color using a 3D screen printing method. Childlike innocence and naivety are all presented in one screen printing."
"The jeans paired with the top feature a classic loose straight-leg design, with a slightly wider hip area, making them flattering even for women with wider hips, easily creating a youthful look. The selvedge hem of the jeans resembles a specially blended coffee, recreating an American retro style. A ghost face is also printed on the back pocket, echoing the top."
As Jian Yan recounted her story, she was radiant, her eyes sparkling with life. Xue Qiandai listened, stroking her chin, her breathing becoming lighter, and the clothes she wore seemed to take on a different meaning.
The snow lion swung its tail and circled the model, its expression like that of a judge evaluating a contestant.
"Now, do you still think it's a common, basic model?" Jian Yan asked rhetorically, but without being aggressive.
Xue Qiandai stiffened her neck, raised her chin, and said arrogantly, "We'll only know if it's rotten or not after wearing it. Let me try it on."
She would never admit that she was moved by Jian Yan.
This time it was Jian Yan's turn to be arrogant. "First, this outfit was made to my size; we're not the same size. Besides, you haven't showered yet!"
Xue Qiandai is tall and has a very slender figure, while Jian Yan is petite and has a delicate and charming appearance.
Xue Qiandai stared wide-eyed in disbelief. She, a noble lady, was being looked down upon by a mere neighbor girl? But thinking about her day—running back and forth several times in the sweltering heat, she felt terribly smelly and needed a good wash.
She opened her LV bag, revealing a crack, fumbled around for a while to pull out a change of clothes and toiletries, took off her Cartier dress, and turned to go to the bathroom.
After she left, Jian Yan took out her old notebook, which she had used for more than four years, opened a search engine, entered Xue Qiandai's name, and then fell into a mysterious state of mind.
The restroom was public and certainly not of any quality. Xue Qiandai held her breath almost the entire time, breaking her own Guinness World Record.
The bathroom was already occupied as soon as she came out. By the time Jian Yan finished washing up, it was almost midnight.
There was only one bed, and the space was very small. Xue Qiandai looked at the owner again and said, "Miss Jian Yan, can I have half of your bed?"
Jian Yan silently stepped aside, while she lay on the ground, stiff as a corpse.
The lights were off, and neither of the two people huddled together could sleep. Snow Lion lay beside the bed, watching over the two girls.
“Jian Yan, you helped me, and I’m not one to owe favors. You can dream bigger, set your sights on the runways of Paris and Milan, and I have brilliant ideas. In return, I can help you make your dream come true.”
Jian Yan stared at the dark ceiling, thinking about the information online, Xue Qiandai's family background and experiences, and replied after a long time: "I know everything. You are a rich girl, but you are bankrupt. It's better to be down-to-earth."
Xue Qiandai: "..." Don't expose people's hardships.
Though she may not have a crown, she is still her own queen. No one has ever dared to underestimate her. "While you were washing up, I made a phone call. Even a bankrupt heiress has a few good friends, right? I'll take care of your first pot of gold for opening your shop tomorrow."
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