After becoming Huang Hongan's student, Wei Yumeng, with Zhan Mohan's support, shifted her focus to the design industry.
Upon truly engaging with the industry, Wei Yumeng felt her own insignificance even more.
There were even moments when she doubted if she could learn design well. If she disappointed Huang Hongan's expectations, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself.
Fortunately, Huang Hongan gave her ample trust and patience. In just one month, Wei Yumeng unveiled her design work and received widespread praise.
Her success, however, also foreshadowed someone else's failure.
"This piece is absolutely amazing. Even someone like me, who knows nothing about art, can feel its beauty. It has a comfortable and warm feeling overall. I really want to buy it and bring it home."
"Wei Yumeng's work is already better than that of most domestic designers. I'm really looking forward to her future development."
In her room, Pei Yun Ya, reading these comments, felt consumed by anger. Why had Wei Yumeng achieved in one month what she hadn't achieved in five years?
Even Huang Hongan's focus had shifted to Wei Yumeng.
Why was all this happening? Even if she lacked ability, she had been with Huang Hongan for five years.
She had even cared for Huang Hongan like her own father, only to end up in this situation.
"Wei Yumeng..." Pei Yun Ya resentfully muttered Wei Yumeng's name.
She would not willingly remain below Wei Yumeng. She was determined to prove everyone wrong.
After a busy day, Wei Yumeng returned home and sighed in relief.
Perhaps it was Huang Hongan's haste, but the teaching content had increased significantly in the past few days, making it difficult for her to digest everything at once.
It seemed she would need to ponder it herself after dinner.
"Mom, you're finally back."
Just then, Zhan Shiqing and Zhan Jinzhi, coming out of their rooms, walked towards Wei Yumeng.
"What's wrong?" Wei Yumeng looked at the two children.
Zhan Jinzhi held out an envelope. "I found this at the door when I got back from school."
Wei Yumeng, still puzzled, opened the envelope. To her surprise, it was a challenge letter.
"Wei Yumeng, a design competition will be held in the city next month. I hope you will participate, as it will be a contest between you and me. Only the winner can continue to stay by Teacher Huang's side, while the loser will withdraw from the design circle."
Although the sender hadn't signed their name, Wei Yumeng could guess who it was.
Besides Pei Yun Ya, no one else would compete with her for this.
"Mom, will you agree?" Zhan Shiqing asked with concern.
Wei Yumeng felt helpless. Did she have any other choice? She could voluntarily withdraw from the competition, but if this issue wasn't resolved, Pei Yun Ya would continue to pester her.
It would be better for her to take this opportunity to settle the matter once and for all.
Half a month? She wasn't entirely confident she could win, but she could only do her best.
Her attachment to the design world wasn't as deep as Pei Yun Ya's.
Even if she withdrew from design, she could still live well. But what about Pei Yun Ya?
When Zhan Mohan returned home, he didn't see Wei Yumeng.
"Where is Yumeng?"
He only saw the two children eating at the dining table.
"Mom is busy, she said she's preparing for the competition," Zhan Shiqing explained.
Zhan Jinzhi looked at Zhan Mohan. "But I don't think Mom needs to be so nervous. Her abilities are not lacking. However, Mom believes that since she accepted the challenge, she must treat it with a serious attitude. This is also a sign of respect for her opponent."
Zhan Mohan smiled faintly at this. "You're right. She'll be fine."
Wei Yumeng didn't tell Huang Hongan about the competition or Pei Yun Ya's challenge. She wanted to compete with her own efforts.
As the days passed, the competition time drew nearer.
Even Wei Yumeng began to feel nervous. She started to doubt if she was truly capable of participating in such a competition.
In terms of design, she was, after all, still a newcomer.
Zhan Mohan glanced at the time. It was well past midnight, but Wei Yumeng was still in the study and hadn't come out.
He poured some hot water and cut some fruit for her before taking it to her.
"This one won't do, this one won't do either..."
As Zhan Mohan entered, he saw crumpled design drafts scattered all over the floor, all discarded by Wei Yumeng.
Wei Yumeng, looking troubled, was staring at other works on her computer screen.
These were entries from previous competitions. She had intended to learn and imitate the designs of these seniors.
However, no matter what she did, she felt the results were unsatisfactory.
"What is it that's missing?" Wei Yumeng impatiently scratched her head.
At that moment, a broad, kind hand gently tidied Wei Yumeng's hair, then placed the fruit and water cup on the table.
Only then did Wei Yumeng look up and see Zhan Mohan.
"I'm sorry, Mohan. Have I disturbed your rest? Or do you need the study?"
Zhan Mohan shook his head and pulled up a chair to sit beside her. "I just came to see you."
Wei Yumeng sighed and, after a long hesitation, spoke. "Mohan, do you think I'm truly qualified to participate in this competition? This competition is nationwide, and designers from all over will gather here. But I've only been studying for a few months. I feel I'm not suited for such a grand event."
"But you should know that the duration of study doesn't determine everything. One's ability is the foundation for participating in a competition."
"I know, of course. But do I really have that ability?" Wei Yumeng felt dejected. Looking at the discarded designs on the floor, she even felt she wasn't suited for design at all.
At first, she could still distinguish between good and bad works, but later, she couldn't tell at all.
She didn't know where the problem lay, nor where to improve. She had completely fallen into a creative dead end.
Zhan Mohan picked up a design draft from the floor and looked at it intently. "This design is not bad, but it's missing something."
"What's missing?"
"You're constantly imitating, forgetting what originally belonged to you. Do you remember the designs you did for the project before? At that time, you hadn't formally studied, but you could do so well based on your own ideas."
Zhan Mohan's words indeed reminded Wei Yumeng.
Even the designs she saw on the computer adhered to the designer's own characteristics, preferences, and ideas.
What she was lacking now was her own self. She was merely stacking design knowledge, and such works would naturally lack the most crucial element.
"Mohan, thank you. I know what to do now."
Wei Yumeng said this and proactively kissed Zhan Mohan.
However, Zhan Mohan saw that Wei Yumeng was still clearly not satisfied. He reached out, pulled Wei Yumeng closer, and kissed her again.