At that moment, watching Pei Jiangmu not care about the worsening of his hand injury and even giving orders to the driver to return to the apartment without even frowning, Qi Yu felt a chill run up his spine.
He knew what Meng Ruozhao meant to Pei Jiangmu—she was the only light in his dark world and also the obsession that had completely dragged him into the abyss of madness.
Pei Jiangmu could endure anything for her, including this near-self - inflicted pain.
But he forgot that it was precisely because he cared too much that he was suffocating the other person.
Qi Yu heaved a heavy sigh in his heart.
He remembered the stubborn back of the man who had refused treatment last night.
He remembered that strange, satisfied smile on the man's face when he looked at his blood - stained fingers.
This young superior was decisive and ruthless in the business world.
Yet when it came to matters concerning Meng Ruozhao, he was as stubborn as a child who refused to let go of his beloved toy and was even willing to hurt himself.
This heavy and distorted affection made even Qi Yu, an onlooker, feel suffocated and worried.
But there was nothing he could do.
Meanwhile, in "Fuyun Xuan", the atmosphere had dropped to freezing point.
The originally warm and elegant store was now shrouded in a tense atmosphere.
Ai Gao stood to one side, with red - rimmed eyes and looking helpless.
In the middle of the store, a young woman—Miss Liang Wei, dressed in luxurious clothes and with delicate makeup but a furious face—was throwing a tantrum.
She threw a cheongsam on the ground, her voice so shrill that it almost pierced through everyone's eardrums.
"This is it! This so - called 'original design' from your store! It made me lose all my face at Mrs. Zhang's birthday banquet!"
Liang Wei was so angry that her chest heaved.
"Do you know how many people were looking at me then?"
"Designer Zhao from 'Jinhua' was also there! She immediately recognized that this was a copy of the silhouette and frog - style button design of their high - end 'Cloud and Water Ballad' collection this year!"
"Your piece might as well have the word 'knockoff' written on its face!"
As she spoke, she slammed a tablet computer on the display stand.
The screen showed pictures of the "Cloud and Water Ballad" collection officially released by "Jinhua".
The cheongsam in the pictures did have an astonishing similarity to the one she had thrown on the ground in terms of the asymmetrical shoulder cut, the arc design of the slit at the hem, and those unique jade frog - style buttons shaped like water droplets.
"Boss Meng!"
Liang Wei turned to Meng Ruozhao who had just entered the store, her eyes like poisoned knives.
"I paid a full 98,000 yuan when I came here to customize this! And you kept saying it was an exclusive design!"
"But what happened? You made me wear a fake to the banquet, and I was publicly laughed at for not being able to afford the real thing and wearing a knockoff!"
"Where can I put my face? Is this how you do business in 'Fuyun Xuan'? By copying and deceiving customers?"
The customers in the store were all startled by the commotion and stopped their selection. Their eyes all focused on the scene, whispering to each other.
Seeing Meng Ruozhao coming, Ai Gao quickly stepped forward and explained to her in a small, tearful voice.
"Ruozhao, that 'Cloud and Water Ballad' Miss Liang mentioned... seems... seems to be really..."
Meng Ruozhao felt a chill rise from the soles of her feet.
She forced herself to calm down, quickly picked up the clothes on the ground, and scrutinized them sharply.
Then she picked up the tablet and carefully looked at the pictures of the "Cloud and Water Ballad" collection from "Jinhua".
Her heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand—the similarity was too high!
So high that she, as a designer, could tell at a glance that it was no coincidence!
"Miss Liang, I'm very sorry for the terrible experience we've brought to you."
Meng Ruozhao took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions and trying to keep her voice steady and professional.
Her voice was clear and calm, with a strange soothing power that instantly drowned out the whispering in the store.
"I fully understand your anger and grievance."
"If it were me, I would also be very angry if I encountered such an embarrassment at a carefully - prepared occasion."
"First of all, on behalf of the 'Fuyun Xuan' studio, I would like to apologize to you again with the most sincere attitude."
Meng Ruozhao leaned slightly, her posture sincere but not humble.
"No matter what the final investigation result is, it's our responsibility that you've had an unpleasant experience."
Liang Wei snorted, but her tense shoulders seemed to relax a little.
"Secondly."
Meng Ruozhao changed the subject, her tone still calm but with an undeniable certainty.
"Please give me a little time, at most half an hour."
"I will immediately retrieve all the original design drafts, modification records, and communication records with the tailors of this cheongsam."
"Although 'Fuyun Xuan' has been established for a short time, we've always regarded originality as our lifeline. The design origin and modification process of each ready - made garment are well - documented."
She looked at Ai Gao.
"Ai Gao, go and get the blue file box locked in the workshop. The number is C - 073."
"It contains all the original materials of Miss Liang's 'Moon Shadow'."
"Also, retrieve all the relevant design source files and modification records from my computer."
Ai Gao quickly nodded and trotted away.
"Third."
Meng Ruozhao turned to Liang Wei, her eyes open and honest.
"No matter what the investigation result is, to show our greatest sincerity and apology, we will refund the full amount you paid."
"And if you're willing to give us another chance, I will personally design and make a brand - new, unique, and improved cheongsam for you for free as compensation."
"I will try my best to meet any special requirements you may have."
This speech was well - structured, the attitude was sincere, and the promises were clear.
First, it soothed the emotions, then proposed solutions, and emphasized that evidence would be presented to prove their innocence.
Especially the promises of "full refund" and "free remake" directly hit Liang Wei's core demands—financial loss and loss of face.
The anger on Liang Wei's face diminished significantly, replaced by a kind of scrutiny and a faint, imperceptible surprise.
"You... are quite calm."
Liang Wei's tone softened a lot, with a hint of exploration.
"Unlike some people who panic when something happens."
Meng Ruozhao smiled slightly, the smile carrying a hint of appropriate helplessness and frankness.
"Doing business always means encountering all kinds of situations."
"The important thing is to solve the problem and give the customers an explanation. Panic won't solve the problem; it will only make things worse."
Liang Wei looked at Meng Ruozhao's calm eyes and her well - organized arrangements.
The hostility in her eyes gradually faded, and there was even a hint of appreciation.
"Okay, I'll see what evidence you can come up with. But..."
She paused, as if hesitating for a moment, and finally couldn't help but speak.
"You're quite different from what I've heard."
This sentence was like a stone thrown into a calm lake!
Meng Ruozhao's heart skipped a beat, and she keenly captured this crucial piece of information.
But on the surface, she remained calm, only deepening her smile a little, with a touch of appropriate self - mockery and curiosity.
"Oh? What you've heard? It seems I've offended someone, and the rumors have reached Miss Liang's ears?"
"I wonder if they said I have a bad temper or poor craftsmanship?"