CHAPTER 116: CHAPTER 116: SPECIAL TREATMENT

"By the way, can I call you Lingzhi?"

Su Lingzhi nodded, "Of course you can."

"Actually, during the British Fashion Week, President Pei took a few of us to see Lyrae’s show, and we saw the works you designed. Unfortunately, you were just interning at Lyrae and were coveted by many brands. But after all the twists and turns, you finally came here."

The venue was crowded, and Su Lingzhi had no impression of them at all.

Moreover, the invitation from Lyrae was issued by the business department, and she had no idea that Lindxu was also among those invited.

After descending a floor, they arrived at the design department, where colleagues were already waiting in the office area, standing in a semicircle.

At a glance, almost everyone was young.

Under the enthusiastic gaze of everyone, Secretary Yao introduced to everyone, "Thank you for waiting, everyone. This is our new creative director at Lindxu, Lindie, Su Lingzhi."

"I’m sure everyone has heard of Lingzhi. She is a highly popular new fashion designer internationally and just graduated from the British Art College this year. She is a talent sought after by top fashion brands abroad, and we welcome Lingzhi to join Lindxu."

Amidst the warm applause, Su Lingzhi took over the conversation and said with a gentle smile, "It’s an honor to join Lindxu and work with all of you. You can call me Lingzhi in the future."

Perhaps because they were of similar age, everyone was very warm, humble, and polite to her.

It’s just that after she and the other person left, inevitably, someone whispered behind their backs.

"She looks so young, still like a student."

"Her designs are quite creative, and her resume is impressive. But coming right out of graduation to hold a management position, it’s a bit hard to convince everyone."

"I think you guys should stop being sour. Even though she’s young, just one of her achievements can outshine everyone in our design department. A highly popular new talent naturally comes with a traffic effect."

However, someone disagreed, "The higher you stand, the harder you fall. Whether she actually has the ability, and whether she can hold her position, we’ll wait and see."

...

After Secretary Yao familiarized her with the layout and personnel structure of the entire office building, they returned to the top floor.

"To make communication easier in the future, President Pei has specially arranged your office next to his." Saying this, Secretary Yao entered a password and pushed open the office door.

A refreshing and artistic atmosphere greeted her, with a clean and transparent white main color. Light filtered through the blinds, softly illuminating the prayer plant on the bookshelf. The Nordic minimalist style utensils were light and not oppressive.

It looked less like an office and more like a small aesthetics museum.

"Whose office was this originally?" Su Lingzhi asked.

"It was always vacant. Before you came, President Pei had me arrange some flowers. I don’t know if you like it."

"I like it," Su Lingzhi replied, "Thank you for your hard work."

"It’s my duty."

At this moment, Pei Xu knocked on the door and entered.

Secretary Yao nodded at him and quietly left the office.

"President Pei," Su Lingzhi called out.

Pei Xu asked her, "Do you have any plans for lunch?"

Su Lingzhi shook her head.

"Then shall we have lunch together?"

Su Lingzhi hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

Pei Xu drove her alone to a private dining restaurant, placed the menu in front of her, and said, "See if there’s anything you want to eat."

"President Pei, you really don’t have to be so attentive, I’m quite independent."

"We used to be neighbors, and now you’re a key member of Lindxu. We’ll be working together in the future, so it’s only right to take care of you."

Su Lingzhi was momentarily speechless.

Reluctantly, she finally ordered a single-serving set and handed the menu back to him.

"There isn’t a strict hierarchy in the company. I’m only a few years older than you, so there’s no need to use formal titles with me. Just speak normally."

"Okay."

"If there’s any problem in the future, tell me directly, and I’ll solve it."

"Okay."

Seeing her guardedness, Pei Xu stopped in time, calmly poured her a cup of tea.

In the tranquil space, Su Lingzhi’s phone rang abruptly.

She glanced at the caller ID and said to him while holding the phone, "President Pei, I’ll step outside to take this call."

"Go ahead."

...

In the subsequent days, Su Lingzhi experienced the youthful atmosphere and cohesion of the company. Throughout, Pei Xu always gave off a very warm and approachable vibe.

She found herself liking it here.

In these few days, she had close contact with Secretary Yao and Assistant Shen.

Perhaps due to Pei Xu personally leading, the company’s fabric structure was well-established, except that the visual design had always lacked a leader.

According to Secretary Yao, the creative director is a newly established position currently handling only women’s wear, led by the chief designer, with free creativity and no defined concept.

A brand needs positioning and a genetic core to be remembered by the public.

But in this way, the design will inevitably be constrained.

And as the creative director, these are all issues she will have to consider in the future.

But for now, she hadn’t found a breakthrough.

"What are you thinking about, so lost in thought?"

Su Lingzhi’s gaze immediately found focus as she looked toward the person appearing behind her with a bouquet, "Secretary Yao."

Secretary Yao approached her and handed the flowers to her, "I don’t know which handsome guy sent you these flowers. I just came up from downstairs, so I brought them to you."

Su Lingzhi glanced at the card, a warm smile brushed across her lips, "They’re from my best friend."

"A male or female best friend?" Secretary Yao probed.

"Only a female best friend."

"Of course, since you have a boyfriend." Secretary Yao changed the subject, not lingering further, "Don’t forget there’s a meeting to attend later."

"Okay."

The meeting focused on discussing brand positioning, engaging in a three-hour brainstorming session with several senior executives.

Firstly, from the existing designers’ style, fabric style, and the market’s three dimensions, they discussed brand positioning.

Curiously, it ultimately centered on her ideas to be validated at the brand’s fashion show two months later.

Holding a show in two months left her feeling a bit pressed for time.

After all, she had just joined the company; it was undoubtedly a test of her abilities.

The marketing director reported, "Lindxu’s endorsement contract has expired, and we plan to switch to a star with a higher following."

Pei Xu asked, "Any candidates?"

"Tong Yan, Zheng..."

Before he could finish, Pei Xu interrupted, "Lindxu will not have any business collaboration with Tong Yan in the future."

Everyone was puzzled but didn’t question it, accepting the arrangement.

Su Lingzhi withdrew her gaze.

She too couldn’t understand what grudge Pei Xu and Tong Yan might have.

After the meeting ended, Pei Xu kept Su Lingzhi behind to ask how she was adjusting to the company, worried she might feel pressured taking on a management role straight out of school.

Su Lingzhi thought he was overthinking it.