Xin Qing crept back to the design table, keeping her disgust at bay. She sat there for a long time, and yet she still could not get her emotions to return to a normal state. She rubbed her eyes, but regretted instantly when she thought of the styes that no doubt awaited her. She should have stayed until the end and listen to all the schemes they had plotted against her.
Randa and Eva returned shortly. Xin Qing looked at Eva and deliberately asked, "Why's your face so red?"
"Ah!" Eva came up with an excuse instantly. "I was helping Kay carry some stuff just now. I feel a little warm."
Randa interrupted their exchange by tossing a stack of information on the desk. "These are the detailed designs. Each of you goes through it and produce a rendering by the end of the month."
When they were leaving the studio at night, Kay told them that they would not have to come to the studio starting from tomorrow; they were allowed to work from home. Xin Qing glanced at Eva. "I bet this is good for them," she thought. "They could screw each other whenever and wherever they want if I'm not here."
Every day for the following half month, Xin Qing would go home after class and get to work. She even had a professional design table installed at home. She complained about it one night, when she was chatting with Zhang Mi.
"Do you know how expensive it is? You could already buy a car with that kind of money."
"Look who's talking?" Zhang Mi mocked contemptuously. "Name me one piece of clothing you're wearing or one day-to-day item you're using that doesn't spell luxury? Now you're worried about money?"
"That isn't the same. I didn't buy all those things. Plus, it wasn't about the money in the first place. But right now, it really feels like I'm giving away my money to someone else just like that!"
"Well, it's not like you're poor. Right now, your net worth is at least tens of millions. Why are you still acting like some kind of bourgeois, small-town citizen?" Zhang Mi asked, puzzled.
"What tens of millions?! Since when am I not a small-town girl?" Xin Qing grumbled. "I only run a small business."
Zhang Mi chuckled. "Hehe. But you have a diamond mine. I'm telling you, that thing is impressive!"
"Don't. That doesn't belong to me," Xin Qing said, feeling annoyed all of a sudden. She did not feel like hearing Ying Qingcang's name ever again, so she changed the subject. "Where's Qianqian?" The three of them had promised each other to chat online every weekend. But today, Qianqian was absent.
"Seems like something's happened in Ding Lei's family again," Zhang Mi said in disdain. "You didn't know, but Ding Lei's mother had tried to separate them by publicly announcing some kind of engagement between Ding Lei and the daughter of some financial group. Ding Lei and Shi Qianqian had made a public appearance to deny the announcement but his mother appeared in front of everyone with a knife and gave Ding Lei an ultimatum. She asked Ding Lei to choose between his mother and his wife."
Xin Qing was starting to feel a little worried. "Then what about Qianqian? Is she okay?"
Zhang Mi snorted. "Yeah. You can be 120% assured that she's fine!" Zhang Mi went on casually, "Come on, it's Shi Qianqian we're talking about here. Throw her into the ranks of the ancient concubines, and then she would end up becoming the Empress. You put her in a wealthy family? She would not only end up as the official wife, but also the only wife. She would make all the other mistresses vanish and then have her husband on a leash like a dog. Dealing with the crying and suicidal shenanigans by Ding Lei's mother was child's play to her!"
Xin Qing chuckled gleefully. Zhang Mi's words had no doubt cheered her up. "But even then, it's still important for Ding Lei to stand by her side," Xin Qing said. "Otherwise, it wouldn't have meant anything."
On the other end, Zhang Mi made two sounds of agreement. The two of them gloated for another short while before they bid each other goodnight and went to bed.
Xin Qing had completed her design drawings smoothly. It was nearing the end of the month. As expected, Eva had been visiting the studio every afternoon. When Xin Qing went to see Randa and saw that big design table of his, a bitter thought suddenly came to her mind. She imagined Randa and Eva screwing each others' brains out on that table. She swore not to go near that table again after this.
There was a blank expression on Randa's face when he saw her designs. He told her to leave her design at the studio before she left.
"Mr. Randa, can I have my designs back if they didn't make it through the selections?" Xin Qing did not want her hard work to end up in the trash can. Plus, she thought her designs were perfect. If CK did not want them, she would try to produce it on her own.
Randa glanced at her and shrugged. "No problem! You can even sell it to the company."
"Thank you!" Xin Qing turned around to leave. The look Randa was giving her was growing more and more inappropriate, like he was stripping her naked with just his eyes.
After that, Xin Qing threw herself into exam preparations. The academy's summer holidays would begin at the end of June, after which all students of the academy would go on a trip to either manufacturing factories or diamond mines. The trips would be arranged based on the students' examination grades. Those which better grades would be arranged to visit better mines or factories.
"Xin Qing!" Kass approached her secretively. "Dianne will begin her classes tomorrow."
"Ah!" Xin Qing suddenly remembered. In truth, she had forgotten all about Dianne's existence. "It's nearly the summer holidays. Why is she coming only now?"
Kass sighed. "Because she's a friggin genius, that's why! She's here to take the exams."
All that had made Xin Qing pretty fired up for the whole day. She was dying to finally meet Dianne in person. She wanted to find out who was better between the two of them. She had seen Dianne's design before at the academy's exhibition corridor, where the brilliant work top students were displayed. Dianne's design was a beautiful tiara. Dianne's style was completely different from Xin Qing's own. Dianne's style leaned towards grandeur and splendor. All her designs pretty much involved diamonds. Xin Qing had seen Meyer's work too. Even though she knew nothing about buildings, she could tell that it was a brilliant design.
"You'll definitely become a successful designer in the future!" Xin Qing told Meyer. They were both sitting beside the artificial lake outside the academy, chatting.
Meyer smiled humbly. "That's something that I should be telling you. You'll become an awesome designer in the future!"
Xin Qing chuckled. "Let's hope we'll both turn out successful, then!"
"By the way, there's something I've been meaning to ask you." All of a sudden, Meyer looked sheepish.
At the sight of Meyer's behavior, Xin Qing teased. "What is it? Why are you acting shy all of a sudden?"
"It isn't me..." Meyer said, running a hand through his hair. "It's Ailey!"
Xin Qing shuddered at the mention of Ailey's name. "Ugh, please don't tell me she wants to see me! Your sister is too crazy. I can't handle her."
"Ailey's birthday is this weekend, and she'll be throwing a small party at the house. She wants to invite you."
All of a sudden, Xin Qing felt incredibly vexed with the whole situation. In the end, she agreed after giving it some thought. "Okay. I'll be there!"
Meyer chuckled. "I knew you'd agree," Meyer said. "You're not good at saying no to others."
Xin Qing glared at him. "Keep talking and I won't be going!"
"Okay! I'll shut up. I'll shut up. I'm coming to pick you up on the day itself."
Xin Qing nodded. "Just come to the academy's entrance. It's near my place anyway."
The following day, Xin Qing woke up earlier than usual. Outside the classroom, she ran into a beautiful brunette who wore a Chanel suit that was tailored to perfection. For a long while, Xin Qing observed the brunette before coming to the conclusion that this woman must be Dianne. Dianne was chatting and laughing with a few other students. Her gestures and movements were so refined, as if they were carved and polished to perfection. Not a single blemish could be found in them. This was exactly what a princess coming from elite upbringing would look like!
Obviously, a few students had noticed Xin Qing standing there. They said something to Dianne, and the latter slowly approached Xin Qing.
"Nice to meet you! I'm Dianne," she said, offering her hand.
Xin Qing took the offered hand. "Nice to meet you, too. I'm Xin Qing!"
"Everyone was telling me that there's this Chinese girl in this batch that is absolutely brilliant. Can't believe you turn out to be such a beauty, too." Dianne smiled at Xin Qing amiably, though her smile did not seem fake at all. Xin Qing returned it with a tiny smile of her own. "On the contrary, everyone's been telling me how great you are. I've seen your work. It's brilliant!"
Seeing that the teacher had entered the classroom, Dianne told Xin Qing, "You know what, let's stop flattering each other. How about we see who's going to end up the top of our class in the exam! The loser must treat the other to a meal!" After that, Dianne pointed at the classroom, turned around, and made her went in.
Xin Qing did not see this coming at all. She did not expect her opponent to initiate such cordiality. Regardless of who the final victor was, they would still have a meal together. "What on earth is Dianne playing at?" Xin Qing thought.
The weekend arrived, and Xin Qing went to Meyer's house. Upon her arrival, she realized that Meyer's house was by no means simple. The house was located in a commune that the French called 'Neuilly-sur-Seine', a residential area for the rich and wealthy. From the outside, the standalone villa looked very low-key. On the inside, however, its interior design and decor exemplified affluence.
Seeing that Ailey had yet to make an appearance, Xin Qing asked quietly, "Is your family into business?"
Beside her ear, Meyer spoke in an equally quiet tone, "Several chain supermarkets, that's all."
Xin Qing wanted to ask him if his family's business involved the biggest chain supermarket in France, which had a branch near their academy, but she heard Ailey's ear-piercing yell. "Ah! Xin Qing, are you and my brother together?"
"Ailey!" Meyer said, blushing. "What kind of nonsense are you spouting?"
Xin Qing glared at Ailey. Then she handed over the birthday gift she had brought. "Here. Happy Birthday!"
"Can I open it now?" Ailey asked, though she did not wait for Xin Qing to nod before she began tearing at the wrapper. After that, Ailey took out a small silk scarf from the package and held it out. She shouted excitedly, "Hey, you guys, come look at this! This is genuine Chinese silk. There's a flower sewn on top. Ah!" she yelled again. "My name's on it!"
Seemingly out of nowhere, a bunch of men and women began to walk over. Soon, Ailey was surrounded by people who were all staring at the scarf in Ailey's hand.
Surprised, Meyer asked Xin Qing, "This... you made this?"
"It's really simple!" Xin Qing said, waving her hand.
Ailey pounced on Xin Qing and was about to kiss her, but Xin Qing held her back. "No. Otherwise I'll take back the gift."
"Thank you, Xin Qing! I love it very much." Ailey showed the scarf to her friends as if she was showing off some kind of treasure. Then, she pointed at Xin Qing and said, "This is a gift from my future sister-in-law!"
An immediate change took over Xin Qing's face at those words. Just when she was about to open her mouth, Meyer held her back and beat her to the punch. "Ailey, don't joke about stuff like this. Xin Qing and I are just normal friends. You'll make things difficult for her if you keep acting like this." Ailey looked at Xin Qing and saw the cold look on the latter's face. Xin Qing was barely looking at her at this point. Ailey quickly stuck out her tongue and began apologizing. "Sorry! Sorry! I was only joking. Please don't take it to heart. I won't say things like that again."
Xin Qing nodded and turned to Meyer. "Since I've delivered the gift," she said. "I'll be going now."
"Don't!" Ailey shouted. "There's a dance party later!"
Xin Qing shook her head. "I have exams to prepare for. I have to go back and study."
"Enough." Meyer cut Ailey off before she could get another word out. "You go hang out with your friends. I'll send Xin Qing back."
On the way back, Xin Qing glanced at Meyer and thanked him.
"You don't have to thank me!" Meyer said as he drove. "I know you're not used to hanging around strangers. Besides, you've given Ailey such a valuable gift. I should the one thanking you."
Xin Qing smiled. "I still have to thank you for bailing me out though. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known how to handle your sister back there."
Xin Qing did not ask Meyer to drive her to her door. Instead, she had him dropping her off in front of the academy. Meyer did not question her choice. Before driving off, he asked her to be careful on the way home.