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nChapter Seventy: Designing Objects Other Than Jewelry

nAs the Ragnarok competition came to an end, the Autumn Release Conference had officially begin.

nCompared to previous conferences, this year’s event had apparently stood out from the others.

nAn individual design winning against major brand corporate works; Mr. Mystery, the mystery designer whose identity was unknown; City S’s up-and-coming jewelry corporation becoming an overnight celebrity; and even the news of an ambulance called to the scene at the Autumn Release Conference had taken over the headlines of every fashion weekly publication on the second day of the conference – they even saved on the advertisement fees.

nThe results of the Ragnarok competition left people with mixed reactions. However, the majority of the crowd was still satisfied with this interesting competition.

nCompared to the method of assigning exhibition booths according to the corporation’s annual performance, Ragnarok obviously had more variation and challenges. The voices of displeasure were higher among the older corporations, but the support from the newer corporations were also going strong. In addition, Ragnarok was attractive to the eyes of the public.

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nThe organizers were naturally pleased with this kind of free advertisement. Even as discussion about the fairness of the competition had appeared because of Mr. Mystery’s incident, the organizers were not upset. It was inevitable to attract hatred when things got eye-catching. They did not mind going along with the flow to create publicity.

nThus, with the deliberate permissive attitude of the organizers and under the influence of the insiders, Mr. Mystery instantly became the hot-topic of the design industry. So popular that even after the Autumn Release Conference had come to an end, the magazine Spreading Fire made a special column related to guessing Mr. Mystery’s identity. For the special column, they tried to interview the only person who was rumored to know the truth, Yan Jin, but they were no doubt rejected.

nWhatever storm was brewing within the industry, Xiao Yu remained unaware.

nEven if he knew about it, he didn’t plan to bother with it. He had encountered similar events in his previous life, so he really did not wish to relive the experience all over again.

nMr. Mystery was the official name, and ‘mystery designer’ was how the insiders of the design industry called him. Regardless of how they named him, the title of the mystery designer had become renown from this battle.

nXiao Yu felt a little awkward..

nAll these privileges originally belonged to someone else. Now that he had taken matters into his own hands and replaced that person, to occupy someone’s belongings just like that… He could not help but to feel a little guilty…

nThe second day after Ragnarok had ended, Xiao Yu received the email from the organizers regarding the rank demotion. Xiao Yu did not think much about it and straightforwardly chose the option of having the exhibition booth free-of-charge. It was like saving cost for Yan Jin, although that sum of money would not matter to the chairman.

nHe had no choice after all. The other compensation options were either material or monetary-valued – Xiao Yu had no use for all that.

nThe organizer was planning to ask about his identity as they expressed that several renown companies were interested in him. Xiao Yu was puzzled at first on why the organizer would pass on such messages. Then he recalled that his QQ account was on ‘reject friend requests’ mode and understood the reason.

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nXiao Yu directly informed them that he would not be joining any companies and would appreciate if the organizers would reject them for him. Although, if the organizer insisted on keeping those big companies in suspense and refused to relay his message… that would not be his problem anyway.

nYan Jin had contacted him once at midnight. It was a simple message that expressed his gratitude and subsequently asked about the follow-up arrangements. Xiao Yu had attended the Autumn Release Conference before, so he know that Yan Jin must be really busy right now. He quickly told Yan Jin that he had no issues with it and he would leave the matter in his hands.

nGrey-white SS: Although the exhibition booth ranking has been demoted to third place, the effects from the publicity shouldn’t lose out to first place. It is stationed in the center exhibition area as well. The location and exposure are great.

nGrey-white SS: Plus, with the organizer’s compensation, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that YL has soared up into the sky with a great start.

nGrey-white SS: Although we have signed contracts previously, YL shouldn’t be taking such a big advantage for nothing. I would like to ask for your opinion. Do you need any compensation?

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: I have no objections, anything will do.

nGrey-white SS: ……

nGrey-white SS: Do you know what compensation I’m talking about?

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: It’s fine, anything will do, I don’t mind.

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: Whatever, all good, nothing’s fine too.

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nFor the first time ever, Chairman Yan experienced what it felt like to be speechless.

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: Are you very busy right now?

nGrey-white SS: I’m doing well. Most things have been wrapped up. Only left with your issue.

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: I don’t have any problems. Go to bed soon.

nGrey-white SS: ……

nGrey-white SS: YL’s exhibition booth that you mentioned earlier, you don’t want it?

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: Yes, yes. I almost forgot. I’ll send you the drawing.

nIf it wasn’t for Yan Jin’s reminder, Xiao Yu really would have forgotten about the design that he worked his heart out for. It was decided with Yan Jin long ago that regardless of what exhibition booth his individual work won, he would give it to Yan Jin for free (one million dollars was the buyout price for the drawing). However, that would also mean that the exhibition booth that YL’s corporate work had won would be given to him unconditionally.

nXiao Yu had prepared the folder long ago. However, just before he sent it over, he hesitated.

nAside from the initial drawing inside the folder, there were also four types of color coordination and specific details about the exhibition arrangements. Back then, he accidentally saw the six sets of designs that YL had prepared for this conference and one of them was the Luxuriant Flowers series.

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nAfter all, he had designed a jewelry box – if there was no jewelry inside the box, then it would be meaningless.

nAlso, these arrangements were not easy. They were even considered excessively complicated. Even Xiao Yu had spent several days to clarify the details and steps. For easier understanding, he even got Nannan to draw a simple drawing of the whole process.

nHowever, he felt a little regretful now.

nIt was not that he was worried Yan Jin would find out about his identity through this incident.

nOnly four out of the six sets of exhibition items were brand new releases that had never appeared in the market. And the Luxuriant Flowers series that Xiao Yu had chosen was YL’s new release from last year. It had been in the market for enough time that any random person could get information about the Luxuriant Flowers series jewelries on YL’s official website. So Xiao Yu conveniently used that opportunity to directly look through some drawings from Yan Jin’s personal email inbox.

nWhich was why the problem was not about the series but –

nXiao Yu looked up and glanced at the time – it was almost twelve midnight.

nChu Ge had retreated into the guest room to sleep at ten o’clock. Normally, Xiao Yu would be asleep at this time as well. But he knew that Yan Jin would be looking for him today, so he stayed up and waited for the chairman.

nHe did not expect to wait until it was this late.

nThe moment that folder was sent out, it would be the end of Xiao Yu’s problem and he could just go to sleep. But he was afraid that Yan Jin would stay up several hours to arrange the exhibition product and booth matters.

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nXiao Yu hesitated for a moment and gave up on the exhibition style that he had spent several days thinking about.

nForget it, the Autumn Release Conference wasn’t that important anyway. It’s better to let Yan Jin sleep earlier.

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: image.jpg

nGrey-white SS: Just this one?

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: Just this one.

nYan Jin was slightly taken aback. Although he was not supportive of displaying any individual work at first, he did not expect that Fish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both would only give him one item – that’s too much isn’t it?

nEven though the conference’s exhibition booths were categorized differently, there would be a big audience and lots of tourists visiting the actual exhibition. Even if they had not gotten a central area spot, they would still gain a good flow of visitors. It would be a four-day exhibition and with just one exhibit…

nEven if it was a top-class design, people would lose interest in it eventually, right?

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: Find someone else for me then. Just tell the public that it’s an individual work exhibit. If the results aren’t too good, then don’t put it under YL’s name.

nYan Jin declined to comment as he moved his cursor to click open the image that Fish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both had sent.

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: Oh right, it’s a jewelry box. Just find some random pieces of jewelry to put in it.

nAfter that sentence, Grey-white SS did not reply for a long while.

nXiao Yu felt puzzled.

nWhat’s wrong? Internet went down? How can the internet go down in this era? Black out? But Yan Jin’s notebook isn’t the type that requires a constant power source?

nAfter ten minutes, Yan Jin finally replied.

nDuring this period, Xiao Yu had already let his imagination run loose from Internet disruption to kidnappers barging into the presidential suite that Yan Jin was staying in.

nGrey-white SS: Is that your design?

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: Duh, don’t doubt my originality okay? angry.jpg

nGrey-white SS: Do you have other works?

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: Meow? Isn’t the couple ring for the Ragnarok competition my work? The garland ring from the previous deal?

nXiao Yu didn’t understand why Yan Jin had suddenly gone mad. He raised his head and looked at the time… Great, all this nonsense and it’s past twelve midnight. The next day has started already.

nA short moment later, Xiao Yu was unable to make any head or tail out of the behavior when he did not see Yan Jin reply.

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: Anyway, I’ve given you the drawing. If there’s nothing else, then I’m going to bed.

nGrey-white SS: Wait, I’m sorry…

nGrey-white SS: What I meant was, have you designed anything other than jewelry?

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: Never ever.

nXiao Yu replied without hesitating.

nHe did not lie, he just couldn’t recall any designs that weren’t jewelry off the top of his head.

nDesigning jewelry was like a job to him. As for designing other items, they were entertainment. Nobody would purposefully remember the doodles they had drawn on their textbooks during their school days.

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: What are you asking exactly?

nGrey-white SS stopped replying again.

nXiao Yu was furious, yet he could not climb along the internet cable to the other side to whack Yan JIn. So he had no choice but to wait quietly for Yan Jin to appear.

nGrey-white SS: I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t be discussing this right now…

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: That’s right, it’s so late already. Keep that drawing and head to bed then.

nGrey-white SS: Your design is really interesting. If we add some color coordination to it, matching it with YL’s Luxuriant Flowers series, I believe that the results would be really great. I’ve taken a look at the eighteenth exhibition booth. The location was a bit off, but it suits a unique design like yours.

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: ……

nGrey-white SS: There’s still some time now. You should get up earlier tomorrow and we’ll do a final discussion.

nXiao Yu sighed.

nHe had spent two days to finalize the proposal for the color coordination to match the Luxuriant Flowers series, yet it only took a quick moment for Yan Jin.

nIt was not that his imagination and design sense were worse than Yan Jin, but he did not have the sensitive yet sharp gut feeling nor the courage to put everything into a fighting attitude that Yan Jin had. Ever since he had become a professional designer, Xiao Yu would always think back and forth on every decision he made – he was already used to it.

nHowever, the person he was dealing with now was Yan Jin. The Yan Jin who revived the dying YL within a short one-year period.

nSuch negative thoughts were hard to ignore no matter how he tried.

nIf he didn’t send out the things that he had prepared, Yan Jin would probably stay up all night and work on something that resembled his proposal.

nWhat else could he do? Wasn’t he very clear about Yan Jin’s capability long ago?

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: I surrender.

nFile sent.

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: I actually did this few days ago. Follow those instructions for the arrangement.

nGrey-white SS: You prepared it long ago? How did you do that? Why didn’t you take it out earlier?

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: I forgotten.

nGrey-white SS: You’re not familiar with the Autumn Release Conference. We can discuss it further.

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: Don’t go too far, Mr. It’s my exhibition booth, it shall go with my arrangement.

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: I don’t care anymore. I’m going offline. It’s almost one.

nFish and Hamster – You Can’t Have Both: You should rest early too. Don’t stay up all night. You’ll go bald from that.

nAfter typing that few sentences at one go, Xiao Yu ignored Yan Jin’s urging to stay and closed his QQ. He rubbed his little eyes that couldn’t stay open anymore and went into his cage to sleep.

nXiao Yu slept very uneasy that night and even dream talking.

n“Squeakkk.” Hn, I’m going to ignore that irritating Yan Jin.

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