Ning Anmiao had never been interested in such spectacles. The surrounding whispers didn't bother her at all.
She just wanted to focus on her work and didn't want to be distracted by irrelevant matters that might slow down her progress.
Until—
"Where's your company's design director, Miss Ning? Call her over to see me."
Jiang Xixi's arrogant voice was highly recognizable. Even Ning Anmiao, who was deeply immersed in her work, couldn't help but look up and glance at the woman a few meters away.
Sure enough, it was Jiang Xixi.
True to her personality and style, Jiang Xixi was dressed head to toe in designer labels, exuding an air of luxury. Her haughtily raised chin was full of contempt.
She looked like a pampered young lady who was not to be trifled with.
A sense of unease crept over Ning Anmiao. She had a feeling that Jiang Xixi had come this time specifically to make things difficult for her.
Just as she was thinking this, their eyes met. Then Jiang Xixi stomped over in her high - heels, looking menacing.
Sure enough, her hunch was right. Jiang Xixi was coming for her.
Ning Anmiao remained calm. She watched Jiang Xixi approach, then quickly stood up, casually tidying her clothes and lifting her lips in a polite smile.
"Xixi, long time no see."
Jiang Xixi stopped in front of her. She was a bit shorter than Ning Anmiao and had to look up.
Although Jiang Xixi had the air of a young lady, when standing in front of Ning Anmiao, who had been influenced by a scholarly atmosphere since childhood, the contrast was obvious.
Compared to Jiang Xixi's flamboyance and arrogance, Ning Anmiao appeared more magnanimous and tolerant. She showed no surprise or panic at Jiang Xixi's arrival, her expression calm and composed.
At this moment, Jiang Xixi's aura seemed to fade.
As they stared at each other, Ning Anmiao's eyes were as calm as still water, making Jiang Xixi feel a bit uncomfortable.
She coughed a few times and deliberately raised her voice to boost her confidence: "So you've become the chief designer of Star River Capital now?"
Ning Anmiao nodded slightly, her every move reasonable and proper: "Yes. Do you need something from me?"
"Miaomiao, I didn't expect that after all these years, your abilities have become even more outstanding." Jiang Xixi said pointedly, "It's just a pity that you haven't put them to good use."
Her words were full of sarcasm.
Ning Anmiao felt a bit annoyed at Jiang Xixi's veiled attacks, but out of respect for the friendship between Uncle Jiang and the Ning family, she held back.
"Xixi, this is the company. Others are still working." Ning Anmiao lowered her voice, though she knew it was probably in vain.
From the moment Jiang Xixi showed up, many employees in the office had already started looking their way.
Ning Anmiao didn't like being the center of attention: "If you have something else to talk about, you can call me later."
With that, she stuffed a business card into Jiang Xixi's hand: "My phone number is on it. You can..."
Before Ning Anmiao could finish, Jiang Xixi neatly tore the business card in half and tossed it into the trash can beside the table.
After throwing it away, she gave Ning Anmiao a triumphant look.
As if she was sure that Ning Anmiao wouldn't dare to do anything to her.
"Ning Anmiao, I didn't expect that after learning design, you've developed quite an air of authority."
Jiang Xixi pretended to pout and casually said, "I wonder if Uncle Ning knows that you've become this kind of person."
At the mention of her father, Ning Anmiao's pupils constricted.
"I heard that Uncle Ning kicked you out of the house last week?" Jiang Xixi pretended to have just found out, covering her mouth with her hand and looking pity - stricken, "Tsk tsk, how pitiful."
"After living for more than twenty years, even your own parents don't want to recognize you as their daughter. Could there be anything more pitiful than this?"
The other employees of Star River Capital didn't know Ning Anmiao's background, but from their conversation, they vaguely guessed something.
It seemed that Ning Anmiao wasn't very popular at home.
Ning Anmiao lowered her head. Her hands unconsciously clenched tightly, and she bit her lower lip hard, but made no sound.
Jiang Xixi knew she had hit Ning Anmiao's weak spot. She grinned and leaned closer to her, "I came to find you this time because I want you to make a set of clothes for me personally."
"If you do a good job, I can reluctantly put in a good word for you in front of Uncle Ning."
Jiang Xixi's red lips moved as she spoke, her words full of arrogance: "You know, Uncle Ning has always liked me since we were kids."
This was true.
Due to family reasons, the two had known each other since childhood. Ning Anmiao was introverted and usually quiet, not as sweet - talking as Jiang Xixi.
Moreover, parents always liked to compare. Ning Zhijing often mentioned Jiang Xixi in front of Ning Anmiao.
She knew exactly how her father felt about Jiang Xixi.
Seeing that Ning Anmiao didn't say a word, Jiang Xixi shrugged. It felt like talking to a block of wood, with no response for a long time.
"With your ability, it shouldn't be difficult to finish it by the end of this month, right?" Jiang Xixi said indifferently, then swaggered out of Star River.
The surrounding colleagues watched her leave and then looked at Ning Anmiao with sympathetic eyes.
Although she said the end of the month, it was already the 20th today.
All in all, there were only about ten days left.
Ning Anmiao herself showed no sign of agitation. She gathered her thoughts and sat back down in her chair.
A colleague who was on good terms with Ning Anmiao swiveled her chair over, her eyes full of pity.
"Miaomiao, is your relationship with your family... really that bad?"
Hearing this, Ning Anmiao turned her head. Seeing the look of pity in her colleague's eyes, she was first stunned, then gave a self - deprecating smile.
"Sort of. I was kicked out of the house."
She didn't want to explain too much and just gave a perfunctory answer.
When the colleague heard this, she became even more indignant, "I knew it. That Miss Jiang was really bullying you just now. She acted as if you owed her something."
"In my opinion, you shouldn't have agreed to her! The rift between you and your parents is a family matter. What's she got to do with it?"
Ning Anmiao nodded casually.
"Moreover, there are so many young people who don't get along with their parents these days. If you really can't get along with your parents, you might as well not go home."
Hearing this, Ning Anmiao paused and looked up.
She stared firmly into her colleague's eyes and replied seriously, "That's impossible. Thank you for your concern."
In the president's office.
There was a monitor in front of Lu Yan, and he could see clearly what had just happened.
"Mr. Lu, should we call Miss Ning in and have a good talk about what just happened..."
"No need." The man's voice was steady and reserved, his brows knitted.