CHAPTER 593: CHAPTER 591: REVENGE

On that day, Mai Qiqi, Wan Chu’er, and Jiang Lingling were watching TV together in the Time conference room, the broadcast displaying Yu Zimu’s proud and contented moment of receiving an award.

During this period, Yu Zimu frequently participated in various top domestic and international competitions, consistently achieving commendable rankings. Major fashion magazines competed to interview and report on him, and the name Zimu rapidly became the new darling of the fashion circle.

While Yu Zimu frequently climbed the podiums of top competitions, Rose was unusually high-profile, though not in competition. Instead, leveraging her past achievements and titles, she often attended various fashion events and even connected with TV stations, occasionally appearing on television, showing no further ambition in advancing in fashion design.

Since that fashion show, Lin Jiayi quickly sought peace, and then recruited several top-performing students directly from fashion design institutes. She dared not place all her bets on Rose anymore. Instead, occasionally comparing against Time’s new product catalog, she forced Rose to produce some designs. Pressured, Rose either drew some unsatisfactory sketches herself, or asked her mother far away for a few sketches to deal with Lin Jiayi.

Seeing Rose so active in the fashion circle, Jiang Lingling felt quite indignant on behalf of Yu Zimu.

"When will Director Yu finally reveal Rose’s true face? I get really annoyed whenever I see her now."

Wan Chu’er chuckled, "Soon. Yu Zimu has two goals: The first is to regain his own honor; the second is to ruin Rose’s reputation. The first goal he has achieved to a large extent, and as for the second—the recent plagiarism controversy has already caused Rose a great embarrassment, and those with some status in the fashion circle no longer show her respect. Her current fervor is merely misleading the ignorant."

Mai Qiqi also said, "I think Yu Zimu will likely take some actions soon."

"What actions?" Jiang Lingling asked excitedly.

"I don’t know." Mai Qiqi said bluntly, not very familiar with Yu Zimu herself, only knowing him to be a professional whose work has significantly contributed to Time’s increasing fame.

Indeed, two days later, Yu Zimu returned from abroad after winning an award and announced he would no longer participate in any competitions, as competitions could hardly increase his stature any further.

He asked Mai Qiqi to arrange interviews with several fashion media outlets.

The first media outlet was a very influential domestic fashion magazine, with an editor who was very influential in the industry.

When the journalist asked Yu Zimu about the factors of his success, Yu Zimu, deviating from his usual style of not discussing the past, paused for a moment and then seriously said, "Adversity fosters growth."

The naturally sensitive journalist immediately followed up asking, "Mr. Yu, what hardships have you endured that left such a profound impact on you?"

Yu Zimu gave a bitter smile and said, "Indeed, they are engraved in my memory, compelling me to never stop."

The journalist persisted, "Can you talk specifically about your past experiences?"

Yu Zimu then heavily recounted his youthful follies, omitting the names of those involved, only mentioning that they occurred abroad.

The journalist listened to Yu Zimu with a shocked expression the entire time, and at the end expressed considerable sympathy, "Director Yu, that’s so pitiful, so your right hand was ruined like that? Can’t use it anymore?"

Yu Zimu appropriately lifted his limp right hand, "Yes, it’s quite regrettable." His melancholic expression made the attending media feel both sorrow and anger for Yu Zimu.

"Mr. Yu, what is the name of that woman you mentioned? Although you have reclaimed your honor and become a distinguished designer, why not expose that malicious woman? Let everyone see her true face."

Who would have thought Yu Zimu casually said: "What’s past is past."

Suddenly, Yu Zimu appeared noble and great in the eyes of this media reporter, not only skilled technically, but also possessing such admirable character and magnanimity.

Although Yu Zimu hadn’t spoken ill of that woman during the interview, when the magazine came out, the reporter discreetly degraded that woman repeatedly in the article, depicting her as utterly worthless. This provoked indignation among readers who wanted nothing more than to find and severely punish that malicious woman for Yu Zimu.

The social circles were also abuzz, as Yu Zimu was too famous now, and wherever one went, people were discussing him. Especially when they saw such eye-catching news, everyone was all the more eager to find out who that woman was.

Someone even asked Rose, "Rose, you were once mingling abroad and are familiar with the international fashion scene, do you know who that malicious woman is?"

Rose was cursively swearing inside, but outwardly she feigned ignorance.

That wasn’t the end of it, some even cursed the person who hurt Yu Zimu right in front of her, even demanding that Rose agree that the woman who harmed Yu Zimu deserved a terrible fate.

Wasn’t that cursing herself? Thus, Rose stopped attending these events and retreated back to Zhi Mei.

She uneasily thought for a long time, feeling that Yu Zimu had planned this to ruin her reputation, and feared that next time he would reveal her name to the world, telling everyone that she was the woman who not only stole Yu Zimu’s glory but also destroyed his right hand.

She couldn’t just sit and wait for disaster to strike!

After much consideration, Rose approached Lin Jiayi, who had broader connections and resources domestically and should have a solution.

Lin Jiayi glanced at the magazine Rose placed on her desk and asked indifferently, "What’s the matter?"

Rose chuckled helplessly and asked, "Didn’t you read the article? Time is targeting our Zhi Mei, ever since the last fashion show, there have been whispers that we plagiarized their Time, and isn’t Yu Zimu implying by saying these things, that we at Zhi Mei did something to wrong him? How can you remain indifferent? This greatly affects our reputation at Zhi Mei!"

Lin Jiayi just looked at her calmly, truly indifferent. After Rose finished, she retorted, "Did our Time do anything to wrong Yu Zimu?"

Rose was taken aback and said, "Last time, didn’t you have someone take... take several of his design drafts?" By the end, seeing Lin Jiayi’s face turning stern, her voice also lowered.

"Bang!" Lin Jiayi slapped the table emotionlessly and said, "Do I need to remind you of your position? You are a designer at Zhi Mei. How many designs have you turned in this month? Hand over five designs within three days."

"And about Time’s Yu Zimu, aren’t you planning to take any measures? He’s putting us in a precarious position like this."

"Out! Get to work!" Lin Jiayi said coldly.

In front of the authoritative Lin Jiayi, Rose didn’t dare argue further, after all, Lin Jiayi was the boss.

She returned to her workspace resentfully, gritting her teeth. This Lin Jiayi, ever since the fashion show, no longer showed her the respect she once had, frequently adopting the demeanor of a boss to command her.

After Rose left, Lin Jiayi snorted disdainfully. If it weren’t for Rose still being somewhat useful, occasionally producing a few high-quality pieces and able to guide her newly recruited designers, she would have thrown Rose out a long time ago.