CHAPTER 466: CHAPTER 466

Jiang Weiwei’s pupils visibly dilated upon seeing the picture, then she quickly opened her closet, rummaged through her suitcase, and pulled out a sketchbook, rapidly flipping through it.

Soon, Jiang Weiwei found a manuscript.

She hurriedly brought the manuscript to the computer to compare it with the award-winning work.

The design of the peony and the burgundy silk belt on the manuscript proved to be almost identical to the award-winning design on the computer.

Jiang Weiwei quickly checked who the owner of the award-winning work was, and saw it was marked prominently beneath: Chief Designer X of Yunshang.

In that moment, Jiang Weiwei felt her blood boiling.

Designer X’s work?

But this manuscript was found by Jiang Weiwei three years ago, when she and Jiang Tairan, during their visit to the Jiang Family Ancestral Hall to worship their ancestors, stumbled upon it accidentally.

When she discovered this manuscript, she felt as if her blood was on fire.

Because the designs were so beautiful, and many times had prompted Jiang Weiwei with the thought of studying design.

For this reason, Jiang Weiwei even took fashion design as an elective in university, hoping that one day, she could be like Designer X, admired and sought after by countless people.

Unfortunately, her talents were really not that great, and after participating in two design competitions, she only received consolation prizes.

In the end, Jiang Weiwei had to admit that her aptitude was relatively mediocre and buried the dream of becoming a designer deep in her heart.

However, the nearly identical designs now gave her new ideas.

She didn’t know whether Designer X had, by some chance encounter, seen these works from the owner of the manuscript.

But since Designer X had the insolence to take someone else’s work to compete and win awards, then she, Jiang Weiwei, could do the same.

She could even use this set of works as her own new product launch to make her mark in the designer world.

Once this was accomplished, she wouldn’t have to be locked in a lifetime of being a worthless nobody within the Jiang Family, and she would have the capacity to deal with Zhuang Wenjin and even Suchen herself.

Of course, Jiang Weiwei had also considered the possibility that Designer X might be the person who left the manuscript in the Jiang Family Ancestral Hall.

But the Jiang Family Ancestral Hall was situated behind Jiang’s Old Mansion and was usually under supervision, with access only during ancestor worship ceremonies.

How could Designer X possibly have had the chance to get in?

As for Designer X being one of the Jiang Family, Jiang Weiwei thought it unlikely.

Because she had searched for Designer X’s information on the internet and found out that Designer X was a local from Emperor City, even if he came to Yan City as a tourist, it was unlikely he would make a special visit to the Jiang Family Ancestral Hall.

Moreover, Jiang Weiwei had not noticed anyone in the Jiang Family with exceptional talent in fashion design.

Jiang Moxi was even less likely!

Jiang Weiwei had never seen her pick up a painting brush; at the most, she was always tapping away on that old computer...

And even to take a step back, even if the manuscript really belonged to Jiang Moxi, it wouldn’t stop her.

First, she, Jiang Weiwei, really needed a chance to stand up again and break free from the Jiang Family’s influence on her.

Second, Jiang Weiwei felt that since the manuscript had been in her possession for three years with no one claiming it, it was likely they had already forgotten its existence, and even if the owner of the manuscript later discovered something amiss with the finished product, he definitely would have no way to accuse her, Jiang Weiwei, of plagiarism.

Jiang Weiwei grew more and more excited with the thought and, that very night, started looking for fashion studios around Emperor City that were ready to change hands, preparing to invest and start operations.

*

Elsewhere, Jiang Moxi had just arrived at the Yunshang Designers Award Ceremony with Yu Dingding.

Xie Ling came over to welcome them warmly as soon as they arrived.

"Let me guess, you must be Designer Ding?"

Yunshang accepted many designers’ submissions but never required designers to disclose their recent photographs for publicity.

So even Director Xie Ling did not really know what the designers under her looked like.

But upon seeing Yu Dingding, Xie Ling immediately thought of Designer Ding’s works.

Because Ding’s pieces were particularly inspired, especially in the area of jewelry—embodying a majestic yet luxurious elegance, dazzling yet retaining freshness, a sight that catches the eye, just like the impression Yu Dingding gave.

Yu Dingding smiled and nodded, then greeted, "Director Xie, hello. I am really grateful for your invitation this time."

Xie Ling said, "What’s to thank? The jewelry designs you did have been selling incredibly well recently. Many models have sold out and we are urging the factory to work overtime to produce more. You have brought such good profits to Yunshang, I should be the one thanking you."

Xie Ling also said, "Actually, I knew of you a long time ago and have seen your works at school. I wanted to invite you to join Yunshang. But when I went to your school, they said you had dropped out. I was regretting it for a while, never expected that you would take the initiative to submit your designs to us, which was a huge surprise for me."

A few years back, Yunshang did not have the reputation it does now, and only had the designer Jiang Moxi to show off, which meant that Xie Ling had to scout for good potentials elsewhere.

Yu Dingding was the one she held in highest regard at the time, but unfortunately, by the time she approached her, the Yu Family had already experienced calamity, and Yu Dingding had been taken away by Ye Chen.

Perhaps through experiencing the storms of life over the years, Yu Dingding now faced everything with equanimity.

Even when Xie Ling inadvertently brought up moments she would rather not remember, Yu Dingding was still able to continue smiling and converse effortlessly.

"The reason I decided to submit to Yunshang is also because of Moxi. She said that Yunshang had a strategy to protect the designers, as long as I didn’t want to reveal my face publicly, I could remain anonymous, just like Designer X."

Xie Ling glanced at Jiang Moxi with a meaningful look and then continued to joke and laugh with Yu Dingding.

When the time was almost right, Xie Ling steered the conversation back to Jiang Moxi.

"Why are you dressed like this today? Not planning to go on stage to accept an award again?" Xie Ling looked Jiang Moxi up and down, her tone showing a bit of dissatisfaction,

Jiang Moxi was simply dressed in a black T-shirt, knee-length shorts from the same set, paired with running shoes and a black baseball cap.

She looked casual and languid, with both luxury and vigor.

But in a room full of people dressed to the nines, Jiang Moxi’s outfit seemed rather ordinary by comparison.

Seeing this, Xie Ling guessed what was happening.

And Jiang Moxi did not contradict her, just smiled at her: "You look pretty, why don’t you go up later and accept an award for me?"

Xie Ling retorted with annoyance, "Pssh, every time you compliment me, it’s to make me accept awards for you. Do you know that the staff are now suspecting that Designer X is a sock puppet I created for myself?"

"Then just admit it, it doesn’t really matter," Jiang Moxi said sheepishly.

Xie Ling was so frustrated that she started chasing Jiang Moxi, paying no heed to her high heels.

Yu Dingding watched with amusement as Jiang Moxi and Xie Ling playfully bickered, but inadvertently noticed that Ye Chen was standing not far away, his eyes reddening as he looked at her.