Chapter 5

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Xie Nian stood on the stage with a beautiful face under the mask. The corners of her lips curled up slightly. It was a freak combination of factors that had made her bump into this woman, Xie Zhizhi. So many years have passed and Xie Zhanan had protected her very well.

She remembered that Qiao Qiao had mentioned that the competition for the position of the design director was a test on whether Xie Zhanan could become the next director of the Nian Cheng Corporation.

She wondered if the Xie family would like this big gift today.

“Some people just think too highly of themselves, wanting to do things beyond their abilities. They should consider if they are actually capable.”

Xie Zhizhi had a look of contempt on her face. She was acting as proud as a peacock, as if the position of the design director was already hers.

“I wonder if Second Ms. Xie is talking about herself. Who in the entire Jiang City doesn’t know that Madam Jiang only has one daughter and one son? And none of them is called Xie Zhizhi. I wonder who Second Ms. Xie’s mother is. Is she also someone who thinks too highly of herself?”

Chen Hao suddenly took a cold breath. This had struck the sore spot of the second daughter of the Xie family. One had to know that this was no longer a secret in the upper class society.

Xie Zhizhi was the illegitimate daughter that Xie Zhanan had given birth to behind Madam Jiang’s back. The reason why they didn’t expose her was because of the Xie family’s position in Nian Cheng Corporation.

Although the Nian Cheng Corporation was gradually going downhill, their foundation from the past was still existent. Besides, who could say for sure what would happen in the future? Young Master Xie Cheng had shown his abilities really well in the past few years.

Xie Zhizhi glared at Xie Nian fiercely and said in her sweet voice, “I’m currently in love with the freedom I have. It’s also a talent for me to be able to turn into a phoenix from nobody. If you have the ability, you can do this too.

However, there might not be such a chance in the future because everyone only has one chance. If you don’t grasp it well, who can you blame?”

“Oh? In that case, does that mean that Ms. Xie already knows the final outcome?” Xie Nian looked at her slender fingers and said with a smile, “Then I have reason to suspect that this is actually a scheme by your company, the Nian Cheng Corporation to deceive the world.”

The crowd was in an uproar. No wonder Ms. Xie knew what she was going to design so quickly. She had known the topic from the start and her marks were also really high. Could she have colluded with the judges?

Xie Zhizhi watched helplessly as the situation developed in an uncontrollable direction. A chill ran down her spine. It was all because of this masked woman and she was as detestable as that woman, Xie Nian.

“My dear sister here, the judges online are all fair and just. Everyone knows it too. Why does it sound like we are colluding with each other in your words? Are the netizens on the internet people that I can collude with?”

Xie Zhizhi looked like she was being bullied and she looked really pitiful. In no time, the support of the crowd was in her favor again. Xie Zhizhi looked at Xie Nian like she had gained the upper hand.

“We all relied on our own abilities to get here. If your work is sufficiently amazing and the judges favor your work, I would be very willing to hand the position to you. However, I don’t think there’s anything interesting about your painting. Look—”

Xie Nian did not speak. She took a step forward. This design was personally taught to her by her mother when she was alive. Besides the old directors, no one else would recognize it. Even Xie Zhanan did not know about it.

Her fingers gently knocked on the canvas, and in an instant, it was as if a resplendent galaxy had slid down into the human world. Even the butterflies in the painting were so animated that they seemed to be on the verge of bursting out. The plum was like a gentleman who stood alone in the world. He was full of pride and had not been affected by the snow.

When the plum blossom stood on the canvas, looking straight at the crowd, it actually made the hearts of the people feel uneasy. However, they were also attracted by the arrogance he gave out. Exactly what is his story?

Just as everyone was immersed in this creation, a trembling voice sounded by their ears.

“This used to be Madam Jiang’s technique.”

The person who spoke had white hair and his slightly trembling body was supported by a young man. His turbid eyes were looking at the painting not far away, and his eyes actually became a little moist.

“This used to be Madam Jiang’s technique.”

The old man asked again and staggered to Xie Nian’s side. However, he was afraid of scaring her. So he just stood near her with an anxious expression.

“Ah. Look at me. I was too excited and forgot to introduce myself. I’m He Hongyi and I have a good relationship with Madam Jiang.”

Xie Nian was a little stunned. This person said that he was He Hongyi, Master He, the leader of the design world. No wonder no one had dared to stop this person from barging in suddenly. So he was Master He and he actually had a good relationship with his mother.

“Hello, Master He. I’m untalented, but have been taught by Madam Jiang. I must’ve incurred your ridicule.”

The old man’s voice was hoarse as he said slowly, “Wanning has a successor now. She actually taught you the technique, ‘deceiving the world’. You must glorify it. We’re all getting old..”