translator: Eve

editor: xiin

By the time Xiao Yuanmu caught up, the backstage area was already closed off. Non-staff members were not allowed to enter.

The bodyguard could tell that Xiao Yuanmu was a wealthy person just by his aura. Therefore, he was polite while denying him access and even asked, “Sir, who do you want to speak to? Perhaps I can help you get in touch with them.”

Xiao Yuanmu didn’t want to disturb Song Xuanhe right now because he knew how important this show was to the other party. Therefore, he said, “No need.”

Louis had also caught up at this point. He so happened to catch sight of Xiao Yuanmu turning around.

“What’s up?” Louis asked, “Are you not going to see Song?”

Xiao Yuanmu nodded and spoke flatly, “He needs to focus.”

Louis walked back with him, a smile on his face. “Let’s go. The show’s about to start. I was moved by the designs I saw in your office. I can’t wait to see his products. I think that his designs suit me well. Actually, everything would look good on me.”

Xiao Yuanmu gave him a mild glance and then spat out three cold words: “Doesn’t suit you.”

“Impossible.” Louis shook his head, a sliver of arrogance in his voice. “Trust me. Very few designers would decline the chance to see their clothing on me. Song wouldn’t be an exception.”

Xiao Yuanmu quickened his pace and didn’t bother casting the other party another look.

Twenty minutes passed and the show formally commenced.

All of the guests were already seated for the show. Some people were discussing the designs on the stage with hushed voices. There was undisguised admiration and praise for the style. Of course, many more people were focused on Xiao Yuanmu, Louis and Guan Zhi in the front row.

There was no way the majority of these guests had come to a no-name designer’s debut show for the sake of the designer. Their motives were obvious–they had come for a chance to get to know a few of these bigshots who were difficult to meet under normal circumstances. Xiao Yuanmu was one example.

To their delighted surprise, aside from the designer’s boyfriend, Xiao Yuanmu, and Guan Zhi, who was rumoured to be this designer’s good friend, the successor of the Hoffman and James’ Families had also shown up.

Representatives of four of the eight major financial groups had gathered at the debut show of a nameless designer. This was rare, even for a banquet of the highest level. The people here who had come to get connections were so worked up their faces had turned bright red.

Even if they couldn’t hold a conversation with these big shots, or even receive their business cards, being able to sit in the same place and watch the same show as them was already something they could brag about in the future.

While there were some people who were able to control their excitement, some people couldn’t.

One middle-aged man brought a pretty young man with him as they made their way through the neat aisles. They crowded into the front row, grins on their faces as they reached Xiao Yuanmu. The middle aged man greeted Xiao Yuanmu with an excited tone, “Mr. Xiao, do you remember me? we met at a banquet back in the Capital.”

The easygoing music that signalled that the start of the show would soon begin was already playing. The guests who knew of the rules had already settled down. The majority of those who weren’t familiar with the rules had also lowered their voices. Therefore, this man’s voice was especially clear.

Xiao Yuanmu’s gaze sank slightly. His eyes swept over the bashful smile on the young man’s face, a sneer appearing in his eyes. He replied in a flat voice, “Mr. Bai, Bai Mo shaoye.”

Mr. Bai nodded promptly, his smile growing all the more radiant. “I didn’t expect for Mr. Xiao to remember us. You were wronged at the banquet at our club last time. I’ve felt so guilty over that. Bai Mo also admires you greatly, so I’ve been hoping to treat you to a meal as repentance. You’re both young. It’s easy for you young people to make friends. Mr. Xiao, how about it?”

“I don’t think that will be necessary.” Xiao Yuanmu’s tone was relaxed. As he lowered his voice, a sliver of coldness seeped into his voice. “I don’t like to share meals with those that don’t know how to conduct themselves in public.”

Mr. Bai was taken aback. The editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine who was sitting beside Xiao Yuanmu frowned. He whispered, “Sir, the show is about to start. Please return to your seat. You’re disturbing others.”

When Bai Mo heard Xiao Yuanmu’s response, his smile had turned rigid. When he heard the displeased tone in the editor-in-chief’s reminder, his face flushed even more. He promptly tugged on his father’s sleeve and quietly said, “Father, Song shaoye’s show is about to start. We can come back to invite Mr. Xiao to a meal later.”

Mr. Bai was a bit unresigned to this and glared at the editor-in-chief before smiling flatteringly at Xiao Yuanmu, “Yes, yes, yes, it is I who was negligent. We can talk after the show’s over.”

Bai Mo gave Xiao Yuanmu an apologetic smile. He came in close and whispered into Xiao Yuanmu’s ear, “Sorry, it’s my father’s first time at a fashion show. I hope that you’ll accept my apology on his behalf.”

Xiao Yuanmu swept an expressionless gaze over Bai Mo’s flushed face and took in the look in the other’s eyes. While they weren’t particularly good-looking, they looked pure and limpid. The corner of his lips rose. “It’s fine.”

Bai Mo grinned at Xiao Yuanmu and then dragged his father away.

“Who was that?” Louis squeezed closer and whispered. “He seems really interested in you.”

Xiao Yuanmu’s lips were still curled upwards. “Is that so?”

Louis shrugged. “I can see that you’re also interested in him, albeit in a different way. I’m going to have a moment of silence for that young man.”

After saying that, he sat up straight. He watched the stage with an earnest appearance, but there was still a look of schadenfreude in the corner of his eyes.

Perhaps the appearance of a rival-in-love would better the relationship between Song and Xiao. He wondered if that would cause a conflict to come between them. Tut tut tut, he really looked forward to seeing what happened.

The easygoing music gradually quieted down. The lights on the stage started to dim. They could now hear something that sounded like flowing water, like the sound spring water made while trickling into a stream. Mixed in was the steady rhythm of a drum beat. The models came into view as they walked to the rhythm of the drum, walking down the black and blue runway.

“This…” After the first model left the stage, Louis couldn’t help but lean over to Xiao Yuanmu again. He spoke at a level that only Xiao Yuanmu could hear. “The model just now seemed kind of familiar. Is he a famous model in China? I don’t think I’ve seen him in any magazines. But the clothes look good on him. Song’s good at picking models.”

Xiao Yuanmu’s gaze was already on the second model. He examined the model’s clothing and then said, “They’d look better on me.”

Louis paused. He looked at Xiao Yuanmu’s calm profile with a complicated gaze, then rolled his eyes before straightening up.

After the show ended, Louis had no choice but to admit that more than half of the clothes he saw today probably would look better on Xiao Yuanmu than the models. It was true that the editor-in-chief had praised the show and that the other spectators had a good reaction to the clothes, but Louis, who had seen the original designs and the drawing of Xiao Yuanmu wearing the last suit of the show, couldn’t help but think a bit differently.

He thought that Song Xuanhe really had designed these clothes with Xiao Yuanmu in mind. Although every single piece was exceptional, the models had no way of bringing them out perfectly. That was the only thing Louis found regretful.

The moment he saw Song Xuanhe, he told him of his thoughts.

Song Xuanhe smiled and said, “Thank you for your praise. But I think that the models all did a wonderful job.”

Louis grinned back, his gaze falling on the model he had found familiar earlier. He asked, “The first model also wore the last suit, right? What’s his name? He seems familiar to me. I also think that after today, he’s going to be receiving invitations from all sorts of famous brands.”

Song Xuanhe followed Louis’s gaze. When he saw Yu Zhong, his smile widened. He told Louis his name, “Yu Zhong’s my friend. If Mr. Louis has those kinds of connections, I’d be happy to introduce the two of you.”

Louis examined Yu Zhong, who already had his makeup removed. He then waved at the model. Afterwards, he told Song Xuanhe, “He seems less familiar like this. But don’t worry. I don’t think he’ll need my connections. Many people will be contacting his manager.”

After Xiao Yuanmu finally managed to break free from the crowd of people trying to strike up a conversation with him using a myriad of excuses, he saw Song Xuanhe and Yu Zhong standing together with Louis. They seemed to be chatting very happily.

He walked over to Song Xuanhe and straightened out the other’s tie without batting an eye. With a mild voice, he said, “Congratulations. Your debut was extremely successful.”

Although Song Xuanhe was surprised by Xiao Yuanmu’s sudden action, he didn’t think much of it. He was indeed overjoyed by his success today. He smiled at the other. “Thanks.”

“Oh, but since these were designed for me,” Xiao Yuanmu looked up, eyes bearing into Song Xuanhe’s, “The clothes you promised me should reach me really soon, right?”

“Of course.”

Song Xuanhe had prepared the clothes for Xiao Yuanmu a long time ago. Furthermore, he didn’t know why, but the clothes he cut and tailored himself had all unwittingly ended up in Xiao Yuanmu’s size. When the models had tried on the clothes, a lot of them had found that the size was off.

Even so, Song Xuanhe had not altered the original clothing. He had decided to make a second version of each piece for the models. The outfits the models wore at the show today would be kept at the studio. Most of them were only meant to show off his style, anyway. His ready-made collection would not be the same. They would reflect his style but would also be altered to be more suitable for everyday occasions or special events.

That meant that the clothes Song Xuanhe had kept for Xiao Yuanmu were one-of-a-kind.

The show had just ended so many people were asking about getting custom-made orders for the pieces they saw today. Many designers would make several additional versions of the pieces that were displayed on the runway. Giving these high-end guests their clothes was also a form of publicity. However, when Song Xuanhe heard Feng Tong tell him that there were people who wanted to order his pieces, Song Xuanhe had declined without considering it.

These clothes had been designed with Xiao Yuanmu in mind. That meant that it would be best if only he was allowed to wear them.

Yu Zhong, who had heard Song Xuanhe decline making clothes for the guests, had pursed his lips. When Xiao Yuanmu’s gaze drifted over discreetly, he took a half-step back. With his body, he blocked Shi Qi, who had run over to speak to Song Xuanhe with excitement.