Chapter One Hundred and Ninety-One: From Triumph to Sorrow III (2/2)
“My bad,” Yan Jin genuinely repented.
“So what did you actually mean?”
“I mean that what you said doesn’t only not indicate an increase in SI’s strength, but actually indicates SI’s grim situation.”
“Huh? Why?”
“It’s quite simple. For SI, hiring another high-profile designer brings more problems than benefits. SI’s problem isn’t the quality of their designers. You should be the most clear on this point. SI’s biggest problem is a lack of focus and cohesion. Everyone wants to outperform the others, so their teamwork is a mess. The addition of a new stranger further weakens their internal culture.”
Xiao Yu thought about it and finally understood the reasoning. However, he was unwilling to directly admit that Yan Jin was correct, so he countered, “The old SI was indeed like this. However, their leadership has now changed. NN fired many of my former colleagues.”
“That’s the core of their problem.” Yan Jin sounded like he was watching an amusing drama. “The leftover people can’t possibly fit into the new system. The change in style of their new summer products is evidence of this.”
“That’s true. Normally, the summer products are finished long before they’re released. Louis fired many designers right after arriving. If it were me, I wouldn’t be happy either.”
Yan Jin laughed and rubbed Xiao Yu’s head. “The innocent can be taught!”
“Hmph! Who do you think I am?” Xiao Yu proudly said.
“NN has developed so well in the fashion industry that the Nan Family is becoming too arrogant. Now, it seems like acquiring SI wasn’t a wise decision…”
Yan Jin saw that Xiao Yu didn’t seem too interested in the topic, so he didn’t continue.
Xiao Yu lay in Yan Jin’s embrace for a while, and then unhappily knocked on the car window.
The window was full of microphones pointed at them.
“So, we’ll just wait in the car forever?”
“The road is completely blocked. If we insist on driving, there’ll be bloodshed.” Yan Jin gloomily looked at the reporters covering their window. “I’ve already called security, but with our car so surrounded, it’ll be at least half an hour before they come.”
“*Sigh*…”
Xiao Yu had had many run-ins with reporters over the last two months. He hadn’t cared much about the industry before, but with his current experience, he feared them.
Yan Jin honked his horn twice, and then resignedly took his hands off the steering wheel and killed the engine.
“Well, there’s not much for us to do now. Might as well find something interesting to do.”
“Waitwaitwait, what are you doing…”
Xiao Yu’s intuition sensed something bad. He wanted to shift back to the passenger seat. Just as he turned around, Yan Jin grabbed Xiao Yu’s belt.
A large shadow fell across Xiao Yu.
“Hey, there’s reporters all around outside. Do you want to appear in the headlines?” Xiao Yu gave a final wriggle.
“These windows were specially made to be one-way only. We can see them, but they can’t see us.” With a small movement, Yan Jin undid Xiao Yu’s belt.
“Hey, you… someone will be here soon to clear the way,” Xiao Yu protested extremely softly.
“Then we’ll respond at that time.” Yan Jin’s tone had become very dangerous. “I’ve been so busy lately. Let’s take a break from that…”
“I think you’ve been planning this all along…” Xiao Yu knew he couldn’t escape, so he could only try to bargain. “Okay, fine, if you want to do it, let’s do it. But you can’t go all the way. You wouldn’t want to appear on tomorrow’s headlines either.”
“Why not appear on the headlines for free?” Yan Jin said shamelessly.
“Hey, even if you have no shame, I still have shame.”
Yan Jin stuck his arm out, and Xiao Yu gave it an adorable nip.
……
Half an hour later, the reporters were finally cleared.
At that point, the pair had just finished halfway and were taking a break. Yan Jin happily drove the car into the garage before joining Xiao Yu in the back row to finish the job.
Despite of all of Xiao Yu’s efforts, Xiao Yu hadn’t been able to escape. He now lay on the back seat like a dead fish.
Yan Jin lit a cigarette, and the smoke quickly surrounded him. He felt lighter than ever before.
“I received a message from Master Andy a few days ago. He feels that last time’s collaboration went extremely smoothly, and that he wants you to come to some designer’s showcase in France.”
“Isn’t that the international jewelry world tour that’s held once every three years?!” Xiao Yu said, shocked.
“That should be the one. I’ll come with you. It’s about time that YL starts to develop internationally.”
“My goodness, it’s like I’m dreaming. Less than two hundred people are invited to such a jewelry showcase each time.”
Yan Jin flicked Xiao Yu’s forehead. “Alright, that’s enough dreaming for now. We should go back to work.”
Xiao Yu pouted. “I don’t want to. My back is sore and I don’t have the energy to walk right now. I want to rest here a little longer. You can go up first.”
“I’ll wait for you.”
“Nooo. Hurry up and go into the office. We’re already more than an hour late. If we’re any later, people will know that something’s up.”
“Alright, alright. No need to push me,” Yan Jin helplessly said. “Don’t take the employee entrance upstairs later. You’ll get blocked.”
“I know, I know. Don’t worry about it.”
Yan Jin left him the car keys and got out of the car. Xiao Yu rolled down the window and waved goodbye to him.
“Do you think I’ve succeeded in both love and work now?” Xiao Yu blinked a few times.
“Of course,” Yan Jin said. “My fellow winner in life, come give me a goodbye kiss?”
“Okay okay, just for you.”
Yan Jin angled his face over, and Xiao Yu gave him a light kiss.
Yan Jin extinguished his cigarette and waved goodbye. Xiao Yu watched Yan Jin’s retreating figure from the window.
……
At that moment, neither of them could have expected that something would happen so quickly that they had no time to prevent it.