Chapter Seventy-One: Needless Doub (2/2)

It was not an intense kind of glow, but it certainly made him anticipate the future.

And the source of all that was just one small stupid item.

When he had just taken over YL, Yan Jin was not even clear about the difference between jewelry design and clothing design. And yet, there were many things waiting to be done in YL that left Yan Jin with no time to adjust himself slowly. Helpless, Yan Jin got his assistant to search for capable talents all over the world and ask around about the industry’s news. He did not idle either as he tried all sorts of ways to infiltrate the leading corporation at that time, SI, which was a mighty figure that no-one dared to approach.

That was the point where Yan Jin had met Lin Zhou.

From the words of that junior designer, Yan Jin received a lot of information that he needed. He also found out about some… surprising matters.

The ex-chief designer was a gifted talent that appeared once in a century. He suddenly appeared fifteen years ago. Using his extraordinary talent and insight, he saved SI, which was being targeted by several big corporations at the time. It could be said that he was the pioneer of SI’s flourishing dynasty.

However, that outstanding designer suddenly vanished into thin air five years ago. Since then, no one had ever heard of him.

Yan Jin heard from Lin Zhou about that gifted talent’s name, then went into a trance.

No matter how many years had passed, he would never forget that name.

That name was the only warmth that he knew in this icy cold world.

That was the person that he had utmost respect for, even now. It was a pity that he did not have the chance to preserve any of his work.

Those precious treasures that brought warmth to his life were all confined in the flames of that large fire.

One year later, YL had gradually gotten back onto the right track and was almost able to stubbornly compete against those established brands.

Yan Jin could not put into words himself why he continued to manage this corporation, whose survival had no relation to his future plans.

This was the second time that he derailed from the life he had planned for himself.

The first was without a doubt the day that he took over YL.

It was enough that he did that twice – he could tolerate the little joke that fate had played on him, but he would not indulge in it any further.

The end was already within reach.

After YL had entered the eyes of the public, the people that Yan Jin had to entertain increased. Regardless of whether he was willing or not, he had to participate in some of the events held within the industry.

The Lin Zhou that he had met a year ago, was no longer a junior designer. He had stabilized his position in SI. Then, even after knowing his identity, they still kept in touch as normal friends.

Once, Lin Zhou suddenly mentioned that he was preparing a design event for his alma mater. He asked if Yan Jin could provide some sponsorship.

Yan Jin gladly agreed.

Registration for this event was done online. All participants could seal the things that they wanted with their receiving address into a small bottle. This was also controlled by the internet. It was like a mini game of message in the bottle. The number of designers were limited, so whoever’s bottle the designer received was based on their luck. The designer would draw a design, and then they could either hand make the item or process it in a factory. The final product would then be delivered to the owner of the bottle by the event’s association for free.

Although it was an event with a new idea, the business attribute was not strong enough, yet the effort put in was huge. This was why Lin Zhou could not get any sponsorship for such a long time. The reason Yan Jin had agreed was simply to pay back the help that Lin Zhou had given him back then.

Plus, he may not have the chance to do such a thing anymore.

As a sponsor, Yan Jin had also participated in the event under Lin Zhou’s hearty invitation.

Yan Jin pondered for very long as he stared at that empty page. He could not come up with anything that he wanted.

There was nothing to be done. He was indeed such a boring person.

He did not have things that he anticipated, nor did he have a future that he wished for.

Death was an ending that he had been waiting for.

It was just that, it felt like a pity…

If it was not for that big fire, perhaps he could still preserve some of those things.

The things that would accompany him into the grave.

As the boss behind the scenes, Yan Jin’s bottle would obviously not be picked based on luck. Every designer that participated in that event had made a free design for Yan Jin. The designers naturally knew who Yan Jin was and almost all the designs were made to fit his identity.

One month later, Yan Jin received a bunch of watches, cufflinks and ties. It was then that he recalled the existence of that event.

Right until the end, he did not write any words. Instead, on that blank piece of paper –

Yan Jin drew a question mark.

He did not understand the meaning of that question mark himself. Obviously, those greenhorn youngsters who were not even considered to be designers would not understand either. They had all created something according to their ideas – putting elements of question marks onto every corner of those watches, cufflinks and ties.

Yan Jin looked at those weird looking designs, which were both funny and extremely embarrassing. He was slightly disappointed.

In the end, he picked up a silver colored little bell.

It lacked any decorative design, any elements of question marks, and was nothing special in particular. It was one of those stupid little bells that anyone could buy for ten dollars a box at the market.

Yan Jin harbored eerie emotions as he called Lin Zhou.

“Oh, that bell. It’s even handmade. The designer was anonymous, but he left some words, which were ‘use the magnifying glass…’”

Yan Jin did find a magnifying glass as he examined the stupid little bell thoroughly, feeling like he had been played. He did not find anything outstanding.

In the end, for some unknown reasons, Yan Jin held the bell up, shined light from the bottom, and used the magnifying glass to look.

After spending almost three hours, Yan Jin finally saw the only secret that the bell had.

Without a doubt, that was a cheapskate bell that anyone could buy for ten dollars off a street stall.

The only difference were the three letters lightly carved on the interior.

The three letters that Yan Jin had spent three hours to find.

It was worth it, because he had been looking for this answer for fifteen years.

——?

——YES