Provoking the Obsessive, Cold, and Aloof CEO - Chapter 8

The black Maybach pulled up to the Feng Group’s entrance.

Before Ruan Taoran could even step out of the car, she spotted a group of people waiting downstairs, their faces beaming with smiles.

The woman leading the group had short, ear-length hair and wore a sleek, silver-gray suit that exuded competence and a hint of masculine charm.

Ji Qingyun opened the car door but remained seated, merely nodding a greeting to Feng Shanshan through the window before the car drove off.

Ruan Taoran stared in bewilderment. Hadn’t Ji Qingyun said she was coming to Feng Corporation? Why had she left after just dropping her off?

Feng Shanshan stepped forward and shook Ruan Taoran’s hand, introducing herself warmly. “You must be Miss Ruan. I’m Feng Shanshan. Since you’re younger than me, you can just call me ‘Jie-jie’ (older sister).”

Ruan Taoran’s eyes curved into crescents as she flashed a radiant smile. “Feng Jie-jie.”

Feng Shanshan, ever the enthusiastic host, took Ruan Taoran’s arm and led her into the company with genuine warmth. “Then I’ll call you Ranran.”

“Don’t worry about rushing. President Ji mentioned the competition archives to me a few days ago. I’ll definitely look into it thoroughly.”

“Ranran winning the gold medal at the S Country New Designer Competition speaks for itself. Your talent is undeniable. We’ve all reviewed your design drafts and are thoroughly impressed.”

“I invited you here today to have a proper chat, deepen our connection, and hopefully collaborate more in the future,” Feng Shanshan said, lowering her voice. “President Ji wants this too, right?”

Ruan Taoran instantly understood. Feng Shanshan wasn’t being warm to everyone; she was doing this for President Ji’s sake.

President Ji’s “passing by” earlier, without even getting out of the car, was her way of showing support?

Though the old master’s temperament was cold and eccentric, the benefits she offered were always substantial.

Ruan Taoran smiled. “How would I know what she wants? She just told me to come meet you today, Sister Feng.”

“Ah, that’s fine. Just think of today as a casual visit to get acquainted. Come by often in the future,” Feng Shanshan said, leaving it at that.

She led Ruan Taoran to the office, where tea had already been brewed. The group settled into their seats.

Feng Shanshan introduced the others: “This is Mr. Hou Jingfu, the director of Date.”

“And this is Director Shen Qiuxu, Date’s chief designer.”

Ruan Taoran’s gaze lingered on the second woman. She wore a jacquard satin qipao with a subtle auspicious cloud pattern, her dark hair loosely pinned up with an ebony hairpin.

When Shen Qiuxu’s phoenix eyes curved into a slight smile, the words “dignified and elegant” immediately came to mind. The jade bracelet on her wrist accentuated her innate nobility.

She was currently the most renowned designer in China’s jewelry industry.

Last year’s Mid-Autumn Moonlit Night collection, a fusion of Eastern and Western aesthetics, was strikingly original.

Date invested heavily in promoting it, securing international actresses to wear the pieces on film festival red carpets. The collection became an instant sensation, sparking a global trend.

For Ruan Taoran, Shen Qiuxu was undoubtedly a senior figure in the industry.

Without Ji Qingyun’s introduction, Ruan Taoran knew she would have had to struggle for years to even get a chance to meet Shen Qiuxu.

“Good evening, Mr. Hou. Good evening, Teacher Shen,” Ruan Taoran said cautiously, deliberately using the honorific “Teacher.”

Though cautious, her tone was not timid. Her eyes sparkled as she smiled at Shen Qiuxu. “When I was studying in S Country, Teacher Shen actually taught one of my classes. She even selected my classroom project for critique…”

The reason she chose the title “Teacher” was precisely because of that class.

Ruan Taoran remembered Shen Qiuxu saying she had many roles—designer, director, investor—but her favorite was being a teacher.

As expected, Shen Qiuxu’s eyelashes fluttered slightly at the title, and her gaze softened. “So you graduated from the S State Design Academy.”

The young woman’s radiant smile, paired with her pale yellow dress, made her resemble a freshly sprouted bud, brimming with vitality.

The smile spread from the corners of her lips to the corners of her eyes, a golden warmth overflowing from her dimples, as if bathing the surroundings in a honeyed glow.

When she looked over with such a bright smile, her eyes seemed utterly devoid of caution, melting hearts instantly.

Ruan Taoran’s dark, round eyes flickered as she murmured, “I just hope my designs have improved… I wouldn’t want to embarrass Teacher Shen.”

“Not at all,” Shen Qiuxu replied with a gentle smile. “They’ve improved. I think they’re quite good.”

Feng Shanshan teased, “Oh, it’s rare to see Director Shen being so kind to a newcomer.”

“That’s because the newcomers you bring in are all subpar,” Shen Qiuxu retorted, her beautiful eyes flashing with a hint of sharpness. “They submit their work with such arrogance, yet every single one falls short of the design academy students. They don’t even have the right attitude for learning.”

Feng Shanshan smiled noncommittally.

The designers whose work had been reviewed by Date and presented to Shen Qiuxu were all established names in the industry.

Ruan Taoran was different. She was like a blank canvas, still raw and unformed, yet brimming with untapped potential.

Shen Qiuxu, accustomed to lavish feasts, suddenly found himself captivated by a delicate appetizer.

Everyone who met Shen Qiuxu addressed her cautiously as “Director Shen,” but Ruan Taoran boldly approached her, calling her “Teacher Shen” to forge a connection.

Moreover, the girl’s smile was genuinely endearing.

Shen Qiuxu had once dreamed of becoming a full-time university professor, but circumstances had forced her to abandon that path, leaving her with lingering regret. Ruan Taoran’s casual “Teacher Shen” instantly warmed her heart.

Yet, it was undeniable that Ruan Taoran’s smile possessed a certain magic, radiating warmth and sincerity that made it feel like genuine connection rather than calculated flattery.

Feng Shanshan, awaiting funding from Ji Qingyun, had initially braced herself for a pampered, temperamental “little princess” with powerful connections.

Instead, she found a radiant sunflower, capable of lifting spirits and bringing joy. Feng Shanshan’s affection for Ruan Taoran deepened, her fondness becoming more genuine.

Ruan Taoran’s summer collection was themed around sunlight and sunflowers.

The sunflower pendant featured a yellow diamond at its center, surrounded by a circle of smaller diamonds that simulated the shimmering rays of sunlight.

The asymmetrical earrings had a playful charm, with white pearls nestled among the drooping petals.

The bracelet boldly used orange-red garnets to evoke the intense warmth of the sun.

Ruan Taoran drew inspiration from a sunflower field she passed by. The summer sun wasn’t just scorching; it was also radiant, brimming with vitality and youthful energy.

As she explained her design concept, her eyes sparkled with a radiant smile, perfectly complementing her vibrant, pale yellow outfit.

This ensemble was carefully curated to emphasize the sunflower theme, the soft yellow evoking sunlight and hope.

Seeing the youthful energy in her eyes, Shen Qiuxu’s initial fondness deepened from three parts to five.

“The techniques may be simple, but your passion shines through in the design,” Shen Qiuxu affirmed.

“Design is an intuition, an inspiration. Some are born with it, while others spend a lifetime searching for it in vain.”

Feng Shanshan chuckled. “Alright, alright, that’s high praise indeed. Mr. Hou and I, on the other hand, are the ‘mediocre talents’ Director Shen mentioned—we just can’t grasp that elusive spark of inspiration.”

She lowered her posture, her self-deprecating remark drawing laughter from everyone present.

Hou Jingfu didn’t mind the teasing. As the manager of Date, his role was primarily administrative; he had no design expertise and thus paid little attention to Feng Shanshan’s banter.

After exchanging a few more quips with Feng Shanshan, he turned to the real purpose of their visit. “Miss Ruan, would you be interested in joining Date?”

Ji Qingyun personally escorting her here made it clear this wasn’t an ordinary connection.

Date was a large, established company that could easily afford another designer. Securing Ji Qingyun’s favor alone would make the investment worthwhile.

“I’d love to, but I’m competing in the Youth Cup Competition soon…” Ruan Taoran paused, then shifted her tone. “Teacher Shen once said that young designers need to hone their skills through practice. I’ve always taken that to heart.”

The Youth Cup Competition was a prestigious national design competition organized by Date itself. Its purpose was to discover emerging talent, and to avoid any appearance of bias, Date’s own designers were prohibited from participating.

Her words were skillfully chosen, neither claiming she was unworthy nor belittling herself, nor outright refusing, but rather creating distance.

They struck a chord with Shen Qiuxu: “Miss Ruan is right. When the time comes, we’ll enter openly and legitimately. Who needs your special invitation then?”

Shen Qiuxu admired designers with a thirst for learning, as well as those with ambition and confidence.

Her gaze toward Ruan Taoran grew increasingly appreciative.

By relying on her true talent, winning the gold medal, and entering through the proper channels, Ruan Taoran would gain far more credibility than she could now.

Watching this, Feng Shanshan couldn’t resist nudging Shen Qiuxu with her toe.

Shen Qiuxu’s beautiful eyes flicked over, her expression slightly annoyed. “Why did you kick me?”

Feng Shanshan: “……”

Shen Qiuxu was a designer with a strong personality and a revered figure at Date, treated with utmost respect.

Born into wealth and achieving fame at a young age, she had always been pampered and remained oblivious to the intricacies of social maneuvering.

Feng Shanshan was at a loss for how to subtly hint that Miss Ruan was clearly President Ji’s protégé. Why are you admiring her so much? What are you planning?