Chapter 26: I won’t Keep Any of You!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The next day, Song Wei rode the Little Sheep provided by Jiang Mingxu across half the city to work.
As expected, she was late. The speed of the scooter was not fast enough, and she even met with a peak hour rush. Coupled with her foot injury, it would be a miracle if she could arrive on time.
As soon as she arrived at the company, Xiao Xiao had a miserable expression on her face as if the world was about to be destroyed. She went up to her and whispered, “Xiaocao, what’s wrong with you? Why are you late for the company’s selection meeting today? If our group loses in a bit, I’m afraid Sister Lisha will single you out.”
Song Wei slapped her head. She had been so focused on attending PARADISES’ charity banquet last night that she had forgotten about such an important matter.
Song Wei quietly inched closer and smiled. She lowered her voice and asked, “How long has it been? Any news?”
Xiao Xiao didn’t look too good. “They’ve already gone in for half an hour. I heard from Xiao Liu from the secretary department that the situation is similar to the past. One group is at the top while the other five groups are following closely behind. The second, third, fourth, and sixth groups barely managed to get the tiniest slice of the cake. As for us, the seventh group… They only gave us a few small artisan workshops. They have no intention of promoting Sister Lisha’s designs.”
Song Wei pondered for a moment. “Didn’t Sister Lisha fight for herself?”
“How could she not have? She wrote almost a hundred thousand words in the market analysis report. With just that Chinese-styled ‘Exquisite Eye’ alone, she combed through 30 pages of design ideas and product selling points. But it’s useless. The cost of construction is too high, and the craftsmanship is too complicated. Those who can afford it look down on Sky Palace while those who can’t afford it aren’t attracted by the value for the price…”
Song Wei had seen most of Luo Lisha’s design drawings for this season’s new products. Luo Lisha’s design style was exquisite to the extreme. It was so refined that it was like she wished every engraving had a story or context behind it.
However, because she pursued the details to the extreme, there was no eye-catching feeling on the overall design.
This design ‘Exquisite Eye’ that she was showcasing as a flagship product was a delicate and complex ball made up of fine tendrils. Inside it contained an emerald jadeite bead—like a type of green glass—with a diameter of 1.5 mm.
The outer filigree sphere was also studded with tiny diamonds. As the heart of a flower, the materials and manufacturing costs were definitely expensive.
Furthermore, not a single pattern on the entire bead was repetitive. To be able to make so many variations and patterns on such a small object and also allow it to merge with the floral craftwork in an orderly manner, it was clear that Luo Lisha had spent a lot of effort on it.
However, this design made a fatal mistake—indistinguishability of the primary and secondary focal points.
The top-grade jadeite that should have been displayed as the primary part was hidden in the filigree ball to serve as a contrast.
Although the fine filigree details of the outer layer were perfect, it was nothing more than an ordinary hollow sphere from a single glance.
Jewelry, especially the finest of jewelry, existed not only for collection or ornamental decoration… But also to display the owner’s status and value distinctly.
If it looked mediocre at first glance and was unable to enhance its owner’s beauty, then this design would fail undoubtedly.
However, Luo Lisha did not allow anyone to touch her design drafts. Moreover, she could not possibly compromise on her designs at all.
It was difficult to make changes.
Just as Song Wei was deep in thought while looking at the design drafts, the door to the meeting room finally opened. The core members of the design department came out one after another.
Luo Lisha was the first to come out, and her face was also the blackest. When she left, she almost knocked over a chair in the conference room.
As soon as she came out, she realized that Song Wei was looking at the design drafts. She became even more furious, “Song Xiaocao! You were late this morning for such a long time, and yet you still have the time to stand here in a daze? Am I being too kind to you? Do you really think Team Seven is a place for you to spend your time leisurely?!”
Song Wei quickly stood up in an upright bearing with an utmost sincere expression. “No, I’m studying your design. I think that there are a lot of areas that I should learn from. I was so engrossed that I didn’t even notice you walking over.”
Luo Lisha’s rising anger was instantly quelled by Song Wei’s words, but she still stubbornly said, “There’s no use in sucking up to me. Do you think I like hearing such flowery words?”
Song Wei shook her head. “Flattery? Why is learning from you a form of flattery?”
In fact, Song Wei’s eyes had long seen through Luo Lisha. The latter was confident and conceited so she naturally liked others to bow down to her.
Luo Lisha’s expression finally softened as she rolled her eyes at Song Wei. “With your standards, you’ll probably have to spend half your life learning.”
After mocking Song Wei, she swept an eye over the rest of Team Seven with a sharp gaze. “Team Seven will be having a meeting to discuss the upcoming marketing plan. If we can’t break away from the bottom rank in the middle of the year, I won’t keep any of you!”