Chapter 33
When Chen Zhiyi finally got home from school, he saw Chen Lan already sitting in the living room.
After their conversation at the coffee shop, his resentment towards Chen Lan had lessened considerably. Even if he continued to treat her with such hostility, they were still mother and son, and the blood ties could not be severed.
There were three of them then, but now one is missing. Thinking of that long text message, a sense of frustration welled up inside me.
Chen Zhiyi tossed his backpack onto the sofa and sat down opposite Chen Lan. "It's rare to find someone like you, Mr. Chen, who even knows where home is."
Chen Lan: "As long as I know where my son is, that's enough."
Chen Zhiyi rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Your husband didn't come back with you?"
Chen Lan: "He had social engagements. He said he'd come home more often to have meals with you."
Chen Zhiyi: "No, that would shorten my lifespan."
Chen Lan: "Don't talk nonsense, you're just a kid."
"What, you convinced your husband to let me take the acting exam?"
What is the reason?
"I haven't received a call from him yet, so he didn't give me a stern lecture."
"When you grow up, you'll know how powerful whispers can be."
Chen Zhiyi chuckled.
They may have shortcomings as parents, but they are competent as a couple. They have treated each other with respect for many years, never having a serious argument; they are not only husband and wife, but also comrades-in-arms.
When the other person needs you, be there for them immediately to offer strength and encouragement, and always walk side by side.
Chen Lan got back to the main point, "Zhiyi, since Teacher Lin has resigned, we should consider finding you a new tutor. We've reached a crucial moment; we can't afford to let you down."
Chen Zhiyi glanced at Chen Lan, completely unconcerned, and pretended not to hear.
Chen Lan knew that her son was a sentimental person. The fact that he had been able to get along with Lin Ting for so long meant that he trusted and approved of her.
“I received a message from Ms. Lin today. I can understand her. After all, for graduates, finding a good job is the most important thing. People’s energy is limited. When she devotes herself to one thing, she can’t focus on other things. If she has to devote herself to everything, her body will not be able to take it. You know that Ms. Lin had a high fever and pneumonia a few days ago. That’s why Mom couldn’t refuse her resignation.”
These are all just excuses; Chen Zhiyi knows very well that the real reason is that he doesn't want to see him again.
Chen Zhiyi lowered his eyes and said, "This matter is not urgent."
Chen Lan advised, "Someone recommended a male teacher to Mom today. He graduated from Peking University and focuses on elite education. Why don't you let him give it a try?"
Chen Zhiyi didn't want to continue the topic, so he picked up his schoolbag, got up, and left. "It's fine if you don't invite me. I don't need anyone to accompany me. For the past ten years or so, haven't I been studying and doing my homework alone?"
"Son, you will meet many people in your life, some you like and some you don't. We can't keep the people we like by our side, nor can we drive away the people we don't like. It's like taking a bus. At each stop, people get off and people get on. No one can guarantee that they will ride all the way to the final stop."
Chen Zhiyi paused for a moment, then said nothing more and returned to his study with his head down.
He opened the wardrobe, took out a box, and opened it. Inside were drawing paper, design sketches, an empty milk tea cup, and two shirts. He then reached out and put in the cup that Lin Ting often used on the table. He had hoped to fill the box, but it seemed that was all there was.
The prodigy in the eyes of outsiders experienced failure for the first time, a failure judged before even beginning.
Lin Ting, without evening tutoring time, has more time to rest and can go straight back to her dormitory to lie down after get off work.
She looked relaxed and at ease, but only she knew that she felt a little uncomfortable every day, like wearing a turtleneck sweater inside out. It wasn't exactly painful, but she always had to tug at the collar from time to time.
In terms of work, the LA Group is currently focusing all its efforts on the design and production of the spring collection. In the past, the spring order meeting was held in early December, and the factory would start producing the bulk goods. However, this year, the design and production plan has not been approved by the senior management.
The constant demands for innovation mean that if fashion groups blindly copy existing styles or remain stagnant, they will inevitably perish in the long run.
Therefore, the president repeatedly emphasized that the spring collection must feature original designs, innovations, and distinctive features.
There's no doubt that another round of payments will be needed in a week.
The design team sat around a table discussing solutions, the atmosphere in the meeting room heavy with gloom.
For those who are used to the buyer-driven approach of fast fashion, it is indeed difficult to suddenly switch to creating a new, original format.
To put it simply, inspiration comes from continuous thinking and creation; you can't get it by just copying old ideas.
But for Lin Ting, this was an opportunity—a chance to showcase herself. She knew that as an intern, she shouldn't be too hasty at this point, as attracting attention would only invite criticism and jealousy.
But who is willing to be mediocre? If you don't take risks and make progress when you're young, will you regret it when you're old and sitting among a pile of waste paper, reminiscing about the past?
Lin Ting mustered her courage and stepped forward, "I have an idea."
Like a thunderclap out of nowhere, all eyes in the conference room were now focused on Lin Ting.
Without fear or panic, Lin Ting projected her work onto the screen.
"This is a series of dresses I designed suitable for the New Year period, with black and red as the main colors. They primarily use three types of thick fabrics: light wool, Chanel-style, and velvet, making them suitable for important occasions in winter. The New Year brings renewal and many joyous events, such as annual meetings, engagements, and business openings. Some occasions don't require overly extravagant dresses, but rather something appropriate and elegant. In such cases, people usually choose to rent beautiful dresses. For example, choosing a dress for an annual meeting is a headache for female employees. It's impossible to spend a lot of money to buy a dress for every annual meeting; it would be a waste if a dress only had one life. They hope to have a dress that allows them to make a small statement at the annual meeting, but also something they can wear in their daily lives when they're in a good mood. Based on this concept, I designed this series of New Year dresses."
Lin Ting won a standing ovation simply by explaining his design concept.
"This is a good idea, and it's very practical. It's true that I always have a headache when the company holds its annual party. There aren't any dresses that I like at first glance in ordinary shopping malls, but I can't possibly go to high-end stores just to attend the annual party. The clothes all start at four figures, which is too expensive."
“I got engaged on January 2nd last year. Although the hotel air conditioning was on full blast, the heat dissipated as people came and went. I was wearing an off-the-shoulder chiffon dress, which saved me from freezing, but I ended up with a persistent cough and fever for a week. If there had been a dress like that suitable for winter on the market at that time, I would have bought it without hesitation.”
"Moreover, these styles are indeed as Lin heard, suitable for everyday life, such as classmate reunions or New Year's greetings. Wearing any of these will surely make you look like a triumphant hero."
Zhang Xiao: "The fabrics you chose are not cheap, and many of them need to be made to order. Can the production time be met? Moreover, if the price is too high, it will go against our brand's target audience. Why wouldn't I buy a higher-end brand for the same price?"
Lin Ting explained logically and with evidence: "First of all, we shouldn't define it as a regular item, but rather as a limited edition. The quantity is limited, and we'll just sell it all. In addition, the fabrics I chose are actually stockpiled from the fabric supplier. I've calculated that each SKU can be produced in 200-300 pieces, which is enough for us to stock in A-level stores. So there's no issue with fabric production time. As long as the factory sets up a few production lines, the production time will definitely be enough within a month, and we can get it on the shelves by mid-January. Since it's all using up stock fabrics, we can negotiate a lower price with the fabric factory."
Zhang Xiao: "How do you know which fabrics are in stock?"
Lin Ting: "I've been sorting out fabric cards lately. Fabric suppliers have sent me a lot, and several of them have mentioned their backlog of inventory and asked us to help them clear it out."
Zhang Xiao: "The company has a clear rule against having too much contact with suppliers. Aren't you aware of that?"
Lin Ting was puzzled: "Can't even communication about work be allowed? Isn't it a contract requirement for the fabric supplier to provide us with fabric brochures regularly?"
A design manager standing nearby chimed in, "Those stockpiled fabrics were also our fault. We placed orders and then cancelled them, and to avoid compensation, we kept verbally promising that they would definitely be used in later designs. Now we can finally use some of them, which is a good thing for both sides."
"I think Lin Ting's plan is very feasible, original design, and very timely. I believe that after it is launched, just by promoting it as suitable for annual meetings, it will attract a wave of attention, after all, it looks good and is easy to wear."
"Yes, I'm thinking of ordering one in advance."
Everyone else present agreed with this approach, leaving only Zhang Xiao to make the final decision. Once she approved the plan, it could be reported to higher authorities.
But Lin Ting saw a sense of urgency in Zhang Xiao's sharp eyes, a challenge to authority.
Not every leader is a talent scout; some leaders need obedient executors rather than visionary creators.
Those in positions of power do not want their status to be threatened in the slightest.
As expected, Zhang Xiao rejected the proposal.
“I don’t think this plan is feasible. First of all, the fabrics are from the past two years’ inventory, and the colors and patterns are no longer fashionable. Also, the cocktail dress series is significantly different from our existing series in style, and it may not be accepted by our existing customer base. In addition, there are other brands in the market that specialize in cocktail dresses, and we can’t compete with them.”
Lin understood Zhang Xiao's mindset. He was afraid of me, which was why he would nitpick my work. It could be questioned, but I would choose to defend myself. We've come this far, so even if it means challenging the authority of the leader, I can't give up.
"The three fabrics I chose are the main fabrics for winter, and black and red are also classic colors. There is no such thing as the fabrics being out of fashion. Moreover, whether the finished product is fashionable depends more on its design. The issue of competition should be left to the market. After all, only a minority of people can afford big brands. Most consumers pay more attention to the cost performance. As long as the quality is good, the design is strong, and the price is moderate, these are all advantages."
Zhang Xiao scoffed, "Leave it to the market? What the public likes? What's trending in the market? These require thorough research, not your own imagination. You can let your imagination run wild with original works, but brand operation is different. It needs to be supported by actual data. I don't want our department to submit anything just to test the market without considering profitability."
Yes, profitability is fundamental to a company's survival and the purpose of its operations. Each season's product planning requires extensive sales data analysis and evaluation to establish the overall framework. Therefore, Lin Ting agrees with Zhang Xiao's assessment: her designs lacked professional evaluation; with luck, they might adapt to the market, but with bad luck, they would be ignored. She admitted she had acted rashly.
"I'm sorry, Director, I didn't think it through."
"You're still an intern, and it's good that you're willing to show yourself. But things are different in a company than in school. In school, you're often self-centered and do things as you please. But in a company, you need to cooperate with many people and follow the rules. So, you should listen more, observe more, and take more notes in your daily life."
"Okay!" Although it sounds like management giving interns advice on surviving in the company, it carries a barbed message and a lot of hidden meaning.
In short, you're still an intern with little say; just do your job well.
Hearing Lin Ting's voice of yielding, Zhang Xiao felt a pang of sadness. She knew that Lin Ting hadn't done anything wrong. If the roles were reversed, she would have done the same. She seemed to see herself back then, but she wasn't as talented as Lin Ting. Winning such a large-scale competition was definitely not just for show, and the product presented today was truly amazing.
He has talent, ability, diligence, and a brave heart—that's what people mean when they say he has a bright future.
Therefore, Zhang Xiao became wary.
So she used her authority to make her submit.
In an instant, the conference room fell silent. The others exchanged glances, but no one made a sound.
Zhang Xiao, who has been promoted to design director for three years, is used to organizing such meetings and rejecting his subordinates' suggestions. But this is the first time he has been given no chance to start over, like today.
They saw in Zhang Xiao an unchallengeable authority that was rarely revealed, as well as a fear they had never seen before.
In the workplace, it is fatal to make managers wary of you. Later, Lin learned that not showing off one's talents in the early stages of one's career was a way to protect oneself.
Zhang Xiao straightened her posture. "When we get back, all the lead designers need to thoroughly review the existing spring collections. There must be at least a 30% replacement rate. This can be done by looking at fabrics, silhouettes, patterns, etc. Show me something fresh. Whether you're doing market research or attending fashion weeks, submit your proposals to me in three days. Meeting adjourned!"
After the meeting, Lin Ting sat quietly in her seat for a long time. She wasn't frustrated because someone supported her ideas and beliefs, but she was a little sad, as if she realized that she wouldn't be able to stay in this company. After all, it was her first internship. She had fantasized about achieving something, but that was all.
The final round of product comparison was attended by the entire design department, senior management, heads of various departments, representatives of key franchisees, and representatives of directly operated stores.
First, the merchandise department explained the spring store inventory allocation method, the depth of inventory distribution for stores of categories A, B, and C, and that spring inventory allocation would be in the form of bundled packages, requiring all items in a wave to be listed together, rather than listing each item individually. This means that all items must be delivered to the warehouse on schedule; otherwise, if even one item is late in arriving, the entire wave of items cannot be listed.
The pressure is clearly on the design department; if orders are placed late, it will definitely affect the production schedule and inevitably lead to delays in getting the products on the shelves.
Zhang Xiao took the stage to present the new plan, but it seemed to fall short of expectations. The president's face grew increasingly somber as he listened, and he was even interrupted before he could finish speaking.
"I gave you a week to redesign the plan, and this is the result? I don't see any innovation."
Zhang Xiao: "Compared to the previous version, we have a 30% replacement rate. Due to limited time and the initial cost of prototyping, we cannot achieve a 100% replacement."
President: "If you think what I mean by innovation is that you spend 30% of your time changing patterns, silhouettes, fabrics, and accessories, then I think you haven't understood what I mean. What I need is novelty, a concept that has never been seen before. What's the difference between this and just changing the name without changing the substance?"
The store manager sitting next to me spoke up, “I have been a store manager at LA Group for many years and I am very familiar with the company’s products. Before attending this meeting, I could even guess what products would be available in the spring. Many styles have been repeated for several seasons, which ultimately killed the business. Many customers come into the store, walk around, and leave without any desire to buy anything. It seems like we are just going through the same few styles over and over again. We need new products, completely different from the past.”
Product Manager: "According to internal sources, TPB is the brand with the best winter sales figures. They added many new collections and styles for winter, using new items to promote older ones, resulting in many consecutive orders and strong overall sales."
President: "Zhang Xiao, I promoted you myself, and I know your abilities, but this time I'm very disappointed in you."
As a department manager, being questioned about one's abilities by the CEO in front of peers, subordinates, and business partners is an incredibly embarrassing thing. For a strong woman like her, it's like having her face trampled on. She desperately needs to turn the tide, even if it means being a villain.
Fortunately, Lin Ting hadn't deleted the plan from the computer last time.
Zhang Xiao steeled himself, "I have a backup plan."
All eyes were drawn to her again.
"This is a new collection we developed for our spring products, and it's something the brand has never done before. It's a cocktail dress collection that can be worn on important occasions as well as in everyday life. It fills the gap in the market for affordable cocktail dresses and also overturns the common perception that cocktail dresses can only be worn once."
Lin Ting felt a chill run down her spine; at that moment, she understood the meaning of making wedding dresses for others.
Zhang Xiao stared at the computer screen, not looking at the audience, but she could clearly feel the strongest gaze coming from below the stage, filled with disbelief, contempt, disgust, and all the vile words she could imagine.
Yes, she was despicable, but selfishness is necessary to secure a position.
She held her head high, trying her best to keep her voice calm, "We retained the silhouette of the gowns, but abandoned the elaborate and luxurious designs. Instead, we showcased the characteristics of the gowns through the properties of the fabrics and exquisite craftsmanship, creating a 'light gown' concept. This collection includes French-style gowns, business suits, casual formal wear, and high-end evening gowns."
Every woman can find a suitable dress here, which can be worn from evening to daytime and on a wider range of occasions, from business dinners and banquets to vacations and leisure activities. It can also be used for annual meetings, engagement parties, birthday parties, and class reunions.
If this series performs well in the market, it means that our LA Group can move towards the mid-to-high-end market and develop a full range of products.
Workplace PUA tactics involve making grand promises and covering all levels of education from high school to grassroots. The effects are short-lived, but they can still provide immediate stimulation and encouragement.
Otherwise, why would every company love to use it?
As Zhang Xiao explained, she would occasionally glance at the president's expression. When the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, forming a satisfied smile, she knew that the situation had turned around.
Although it's not exactly honorable.
After he finished speaking, the president led the applause, clearly very satisfied.
Clearly, the light dress option was approved unanimously.
...
Lin Ting accepted the use of her work, and there was nothing wrong with her contributing to her department, but she should be credited as she deserves.
She doesn't take on trouble, but she's not afraid of trouble either. It's hers to begin with, so why not fight for it back?
Knowing that Lin Ting would come to question him, Zhang Xiao turned his chair to face her directly.
"Signature? What signature? I was reporting on behalf of the entire department at the meeting just now; there was no personal name involved."
Lin Ting: "But I designed this plan from beginning to end. I don't care about the praise or bonus being shared by the whole department. It's not too much to ask for my name to be credited, is it?"
Zhang Xiao chuckled. "You want me to issue a statement to the entire company? What's the point? Does that mean we have to announce who designed each item from now on? They won't care. To everyone else, it's all from the design department, who cares which designer designed it?"
Lin Ting: "The order meeting is about to start. The chief designer will always take the final bow with the runway models. I know that interns or design assistants are not qualified to go on stage, but this time I will stand next to my own work as a designer during the bow."
Zhang Xiao saw her stubbornness and her eagerness to prove her abilities.
However, this is the last thing she wanted to see.
She stood up, walked to Lin Ting's side, and patted her on the shoulders. "Once this month's bonus is distributed to the department, I'll give you my share. You'll sign a formal contract as soon as you graduate, and your salary will be the highest among the entry-level positions. This is also a form of compensation for you."
Lin Tingting understood; she wanted to use money to shut him up. "I don't need money, I need to prove myself."
Zhang Xiao: "And then what? You rise to the top in one step, become a favorite of the leaders, and then rise rapidly in rank? One success doesn't mean anything. If one success could make you stand firm on the branch, why would so many people who became famous overnight fall down?"
"There are plenty of arrogant people like you in the fashion industry, but very few actually succeed. Every industry requires building connections and accumulating experience over time. It's like if you and I both stood in front of the boss and both said we did the plan ourselves, who do you think he would believe, you or me?"
Lin Ting had already prepared herself, knowing she would encounter a lot of unfairness, betrayal, and deception in her career. But she never expected this slap to come so quickly and so loudly.
In the face of connections and power, ability and talent are insignificant.
What if we take it to the CEO? There are witnesses, but they will pretend to be silent for the sake of their work. Even if the evidence is irrefutable, who would abandon a department leader and favor a new intern?
The sunk costs are too high.
Zhang Xiao watched as Lin Ting's face went from flushed with anger to pale, realizing her clear understanding of reality, and couldn't help but add fuel to the fire.
"Besides, you're just an intern now. I can easily find any reason for HR to fire you, and nobody will care."
This fire completely extinguished Lin Ting's last shred of hope for this job.
"No need to trouble you. I'm resigning voluntarily. But what I want to say is that I don't have your current status and power, but that doesn't mean I won't in the future. However, I have a design talent that you will never have in your life."
After speaking, he turned and left.
But behind his back, there was a burst of laughter: "I look forward to that day."
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