Chapter 23 What a surprise
Su Nian worked hard at home for the whole morning and finally completed the final revisions to the design drawings for the competition.
It is now mid-July, and the deadline for design drafts and samples in early August is getting closer.
She knew very well that the process from drawing to making actual sample garments was time-consuming and laborious, so she did not dare to delay at all and immediately went to the tailor shop with the finished drawing.
When they arrived at the store, they found that they were still missing two key types of fabrics, so Su Nian had to go to the fabric market in the afternoon.
"Mom, I have to go now." she said anxiously.
Su Hong was working on a rush order and, without even looking up, advised, "You should sew the other things first. I'll go with you tomorrow after I finish this one."
"Mom, I'm so anxious!" Su Nian stomped her feet.
Su Hong then raised her head, a sly look flashing in her eyes: "How about I let Si Yan go with you?"
"...Forget it, let's do it tomorrow." Su Nian instantly wilted, with a suspicious blush on his face.
She felt inexplicably nervous at the thought of bothering that man.
At five o'clock in the afternoon, Si Yan's call arrived as expected.
"I'll come pick you up now." His low voice came through the microphone. The two of them had made an appointment in the morning.
Su Nian was busy finishing off the rust-red straight-leg pants.
"I still have some work to do. How about we go another day?" Her voice was as light as a feather, but with a hint of stubbornness.
"Give it to me! Go ahead!" Aunt Fen, who was working nearby, sensed something was up and snatched the clothes from her hands. "Young man, don't just sit there sewing all the time. Go out on a date!"
Aunt Fen added, "By the way, my son Zihao is almost going bald from all those math problems. When are you free? I want him to come over and ask you for help."
"Anytime!" Su Nian agreed readily, with a smile as gentle as a spring breeze.
Thinking of how Aunt Fen and her son had been as close to them as family over the years, she naturally felt obliged to do this little favor. In this world, some friendships were more precious than blood ties.
Under Aunt Fen's repeated urging, Su Nian had no choice but to send the address of the tailor shop to Si Yan.
Not long after, I heard Zhang Qiuyan's enthusiastic greeting: "Sir, please come in! Do you want to make a suit or..."
"I'm looking for Su Nian." Si Yan interrupted neatly.
Su Hong, who was showing a customer fabrics, caught sight of Si Yan entering and turned to indicate, "He's in the back room."
Si Yan smiled and nodded, without disturbing Su Hong, and walked straight into the inner room.
Su Nian was intently fiddling with her straight-leg pants. The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window, framing her delicate profile. Her slender fingers deftly manipulated the fabric, her eyelashes fluttering with her movements, and a soft glow emanated from her.
"Niannian, someone is looking for you!" Zhang Qiuyan's voice came from outside.
Su Nian turned around when she heard the voice and saw Si Yan leaning against the door frame. His tall figure made the door seem particularly narrow.
She smiled and said, "Come in."
Si Yan walked over with his long legs, a faint smile on his lips: "Would you like to ask Designer Su to make me a set of clothes?" There was a subtle doting in his voice.
"Okay! What style do you want?" Su Nian put on a professional attitude.
"It's up to you." Si Yan's answer was maddeningly simple.
Su Nian counted on his fingers: "Shirt? Home clothes? Suit? Or windbreaker?..." Su Nian took summer and autumn into consideration, and that was all. He couldn't make a down jacket or a cotton-padded jacket.
"Both." Si Yan's answer was clear and concise.
Su Nian whispered: "Why don't you just hire me as your personal tailor..." The voice was so soft that only she could hear it.
"That's great!" Si Yan responded immediately, his eyes shining like the brightest stars in the night sky.
This person is so shameless!
Su Nian resigned herself to her fate and picked up the tape measure: "Measure the size first." She couldn't hide the slight tremor in her voice.
Si Yan immediately opened his arms like a soldier waiting for inspection.
Su Nian took a deep breath and moved closer. When the tape measure passed around his chest, she could clearly feel the strong muscle lines and powerful heartbeat beneath the fabric.
Wow wow wow - it feels so hard, so substantial!
Si Yan lowered his eyes and looked at the girl who was so close to him, his eyes were so gentle that they could drip water.
When they measured their arms, their fingers touched inadvertently, as if an electric current had passed through them. Su Nian's hand trembled, and the tape measure almost fell to the ground: "Don't move!" Her voice was full of coquettishness, like ripples caused by a spring breeze across the lake.
Si Yan chuckled, his pleasure obvious.
After finally finishing all the measurements, Su Nian threw down the tape measure with a sense of relief: "When I have time..."
"No rush." Si Yan interrupted meaningfully.
At this time, Su Hong came in and chased them away: "Stop being an eyesore here, and go away quickly."
Si Yan took Su Nian's hand, tightening his grip when she tried to break free, and led her out of the store. The setting sun stretched their shadows long, intertwining them like their intertwined fingers.
After the two walked away, Zhang Qiuyan immediately came to Su Hong and gossiped: "Auntie Su! Is Nian Nian in love? That guy looks like a celebrity, even more handsome than the models in magazines!"
Su Hong looked at the figure walking away in the distance, smiled and said nothing: "Just ask her directly."
Su Nian, who was sitting in Si Yan's car, heard her cell phone ring several times in a row. They were all messages from Zhang Qiuyan.
"Niannian, when did you get such a high-quality boyfriend? He's so handsome—"
"When you were measuring your bust just now, did you take the opportunity to try out the feel? How was it?"
"You're way ahead of the scumbag Li. Just thinking about how good you can eat makes me happy—"
…
What kind of vicious words are these? Su Nian shook her head. Qiuyan, this child, has also learned bad things.
Si Yan took Su Nian to a private restaurant.
The private restaurant was hidden in an old alley covered in ivy. Pushing open the carved wooden door, the fragrance of gardenias filled the courtyard. Si Yan led her through the corridor with familiarity and into a private room by the window.
"The steamed shad here is very famous." He opened the menu and handed it to her.
"Uh...it's so expensive...can I not eat it?" When Su Nian saw the price, his brows unconsciously frowned, like the surface of a lake wrinkled by the spring breeze.
"Just eat it once in a while. I want to give you all the good things." Si Yan's voice was soft but firm, as if he was making an eternal promise.
Uh—why do you sound so happy?
The chirping of cicadas outside the window rose and fell with the evening breeze. Si Yan suddenly said, "Auntie told me this morning that you were working on your design competition manuscript?"
Su Nian paused: "Well, there are still two kinds of fabrics that I haven't found."
"I'll accompany you to the fabric market tomorrow." His tone was firm, not sounding like a discussion but more like a notification.
Su Nian was about to refuse, "Stop, I can't refuse. I'm worried about you being alone."
Su Nian shut up and complained to herself, but a sweet feeling arose in her heart.
When the dish was served, Si Yan naturally helped her pick out the tiny bones of the shad.
Su Nian looked at the pile of fish in the bowl, and her cheeks began to feel hot again. Thinking of what Zhang Qiuyan had said, she wished she could find a hole in the ground to crawl into.
By the time I left the restaurant, the moon was already high above the tree branches. The night breeze blew by, bringing with it the sweet scent of gardenias and a quietly budding secret.
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