———
While Lu Tian was in a meeting, Yue Ling was also in a meeting with her designers. Spread across the glass table were sketches and design drafts that were printed onto black card stock sheets. Fall/Winter is one of the biggest season for the fashion industry.
Sitting in the main seat, she nod her heads as she listens to each designer voice their opinion for the designs. Yue Ling looks at the seven people in the room.
Tang Zhong Hui, technical designer; Lian Ni Shang, pattern maker; Shan Sinan, textile designer; Gui Tian Lan, tailor; Gui Zhongming, stylist; Ju Suo, fashion forecaster; and illustrator, Qi Li.
Gui Zhongming, a handsome man wearing a very stylish outfit pass a design draft to Yue Ling, "These are the sketches I came up with when I visited Milan last week."
Yue Ling scanned the draft and nod her head, "Mm. It looks good. We can start with the preparations for the upcoming fashion week."
She then looks at Tang Zhong Hui, "Will you be able to ensure the correct garment construction?"
"Of course I can."
Tang Zhong Hui answers confidently. His baby face smiling with his teeth as he pats his chest. Even at the age of 28 year old, he stills looks young.
Yue Ling reach for the black 2 inch thick hardcover book in front of her. Scanning each page until she comes to the last page, she leisurely close it.
"Lian Ni Shang, Shan Sinan, Gui Zhongming, you three will go with Tang Zhong Hui to Milan. De L'amour needs the best of all materials for this season's designs."
Hearing their boss's order; all three people nod their heads. However, Tang Zhong Hui frowns. He leans lazily on his chair and pout his lips.
"Boss, how can you make me travel with the three of them? Myself, alone is already enough."
"...."
Everyone glare at Tang Zhong Hui like he was an overconfident idiot. They have all followed Yue Ling way before she built De L'amour. They know their boss isn't someone to cross the line with, even if she looked delicate. Did he really just speak to their boss like he was better than them all?
Even knowing everyone else's thoughts, Tang Zhong Hui wasn't one bit bothered by the angry looks. He is the second person behind Liu Shan who knew Yue Ling the longest.
Yue Ling looks at Tang Zhong Hui, "Are you defying my order?"
Hearing this, Tang Zhong Hui looks at the other six people present, then his boss, he could only sigh, "Fine, Fine. You're the boss, so it's your call. I'll listen."
"Good."
Yue Ling looks at her subordinates. Her expression remained straight faced, but she was smiling inwardly. All seven of these designers were also her most trusted subordinates. They were considered family more than workers.
After giving each designer their assigned job, Yue Ling stands up from her seat.
"That's all for now."
She didn't look back but leaves the room and heads to the elevator to her office.
However, she did not realize that as her figure walks away, all the people left behind were staring at her. Until she got inside the elevator, Lian Ni Shang looks at Tang Zhong Hui.
"How can you even think to defy boss's order?"
Qi Li, the illustrator also agrees, "Bro, you know boss hates it when we don't follow her orders."
"I already know that," Tang Zhong Hui sighs, then he pinch the space between his brows, "It's not that I want to defy her orders. I'm just worried that if too many of us were to leave her side, those disgusting people will make their move."
"....."
Hearing his words, the room became quiet. Everyone's mind thinking of the same thing.
After a long silence, Qi Li's expression darkens, his voice turned cold as he spoke, "As long as I'm here, I won't let anyone harm Boss. She gave me a reason to continue living. I won't let those people sabotage and take credit for boss's hard work."
Ji Suo nods her head, "That's right. Even if you four are away, Qi Li, Gui Tian Lan and I are still here."
Gui Tian Lan: "We won't let anything happen to Boss. Don't forget, we are boss's Alpha Team and we have Liu Shan and Lin Hui here too."
Everyone soon came to an understanding. For them, Yue Ling wasn't just their boss. She was their savior. The person who walked into their dark world and gave them a new life.
Even if the other four members have to leave somewhere, with Liu Shan at Yue Ling's side means they have less to worry about. The man may act like a fool sometimes, but they all know and have seen the him behind the mask. Not only Liu Shan, but Lin Hui, who likes to stay in the dark.
———-
"Boss! I'm over here!!"
Liu Shan waves his arms out and calls out with a happy smile. He knew the time to all of Yue Ling's schedules, even when she's done. So he waits for her all the time.
Yue Ling steps out of the elevator and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Liu Shan's appearance really matches well with his personality. The beggar style really suited him. Shaking her head, she walks to her office.
"Follow me."
As her figure walks pass Ming Yue's desk, Ming Yue dare not to look up. She was still scared after their conversation. Once Yue Ling and Liu Shan's figures enter the office, she sighed in relief. She can't screw this up.
———
Yue Ling spoke as she sits down. She picks up a folder and starts reading the documents.
"Book four flights in three days to Milan. I'm sending Tang Zhong Hui, Lian Ni Shang, Shan Sinan and Gui Zhongming."
Hearing the order, Liu Shan pout his lips. Usually, it was him who goes to gather all the materials... however, looking at his boss, he knows she's has her reasons.
"What have you found on Ning Mei?"
Liu Shan scoffs when he heard the question, "Heh, I found something very interesting. It seems CNJ Entertainment's Director Yeun is trying to get her the photo shoot for Beauty's Winter magazine. However, they haven't heard from Beauty yet."
"Mm." Yue Ling nod her head, she glance at the package she received from Wu Jing. Her mind pondering to find her decision.
At the same time Liu Shan's eyes follow his boss's and he crease his brows in confusion. What is this package?
As he thinks about who sent the package, Yue Ling's voice answers his unspoken question.
"Call Wu Jing. Tell him I accept his proposal."
"....."
Liu Shan's eyes widen in shock. Wu Jing? Proposal? Does that mean Beauty's CEO had already asked Yue Ling to be the model? Holy cow! Just how pissed off will Ning Mei be!!!
Yue Ling: "That's all. You can prepare the flights, then go on your lunch early."
Liu Shan: "Yes, Boss."
Yue Ling: "Oh and try not to scare the other workers too."
Liu Shan: "..."
Liu Shan was at a loss for words. Why did his boss have to make it seem like he always dressed like a beggar? If he wasn't an assistant, he would have become a stylist like Gui Zhongming! Then again, he couldn't blame his boss. Even he was scared when he saw himself.... That was also a reason why he didn't go to the meeting.
Glancing at his disheveled clothes and mismatched shoes, he sighs. He should really go change when he go to lunch.
Just as Liu Shan close the door, Yue Ling stop what she was doing. Leaning back, she rest her eyes, the day has barely started and she knows it was going to be very long.
However, exactly five seconds into her rest, her personal phone rang. With her eyes closed, she crease her brows.
*Ring ring*
She sighed and reach for her phone. Not looking to see who the caller was, she answers the call.
"Hello, this is Han Yue Ling."
["What's wrong ?"] a deep voice sounds from the other side.
Without thinking, she blurted, "I'm just tired."
["Tired? Should I pick you up for lunch then?"]
"..."
Lunch? Yue Ling's brows crease more. Why would this person call her and seemed to be worried about her? Not only that—- Shit!!
Her eyes shot open and she sits up, "T-Tian?"
["Mm."]
"Why are you calling?"
["....."]
"Hello? Tian?"
["Lunch."]
"...."
Yue Ling didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Why would he call her to tell her that he's hungry? But it is close to lunch time, so did he call to remind her to eat? How sweet....
She sighs a smile, "Tian, I'll eat lunch on time. Make sure you eat yours too."
["...."]
"....."
"Tian??" After a long silence, Yue Ling couldn't help but call for him. Why isn't he answering? Did the line cut off? She moves the phone from her ear and looks at the screen. 'Darling, Tian' was still on the screen. The crease between her brows deepens. She ponder in thought, then....
'Oh god!!! How could I have forgotten!!!'
"Haha. Tian, I was just kidding. How could I forget our lunch?" She force a laugh and looks at the wall clock in her office; 11:09am, "I'll come pick you up at 11:45am, Okay?"
Yue Ling spoke in one breath. She sighed inside and wipe the sweat that was not there on her forehead. If she had forgotten, she knows that later, the shameless man will definitely torture her!
However, Lu Tian did not answer her. She frown and calls his name again.
"Tian?"
After a shorter silence, a deep 'mm' sounds from the other line. She sighs in another relief. He didn't seem mad, so she's safe for now.
"Send me your work address. I'll see you in a bit then!"
She didn't wait for Lu Tian to answer and quickly hangs up. Just as the call ended, her phone beeps with a message right away. She looks at it and takes a deep long breath. Gathering all her things, puts on her trench coat and leaves.
"Boss! Boss, where are you going?"
Liu Shan calls out from his office when he saw his boss leave her office. His boss usually doesn't go anywhere outside of work.. even during lunch. So does she have her coat and bag?
Oh god! Is his boss meeting—-
"Lunch."
Yue Ling spoke quickly and increase her speed to the elevator. He already knows about her relationship with Lu Tian. Any slower and she knows Liu Shan will use this chance to make fun of her for making fun of him.
"...."
Liu Shan presses his lips tightly together. He tries to hold in his laugh. Seeing his boss act like a shy school girl, he is very happy for her. Like a proud father watching his little girl go off to college.
What neither Yue Ling and Liu Shan knows is that, a certain someone had watched the entire scene. Ming Yue sneered in jealousy at Liu Shan. It is only a matter of time until An Qing takes over De L'amou. When that happens, she will become the new CEO and the first person she'll get rid of is Liu Shan. Then Yue Ling will be her assistant!
Of course, Yue Ling wasn't oblivious to Ming Yue's thoughts, however, she didn't even care. Getting inside her car, she types in the address given. Following, her car leaves De L'amour's parking and drives off.
To her, the most important thing right now, is to make sure the King of Jealousy is not having a childish tantrum.
———-