Alice was true to her word; she called Chen Lishu out for dinner on the third day.
When Chen Lishu arrived at the designated spot as agreed and pushed open the private room door, she saw Alice sitting in a chair, looking haggard.
"Miss Chen, you're here? Please sit down, the food will be served soon..." Before Alice could finish speaking, a phone rang. She gave Chen Lishu an apologetic smile.
Chen Lishu shook her head indifferently and whispered, "Answer the call first. We'll have plenty of time to talk later."
"Thank you," Alice said, her lips curving into a grateful smile. She then answered the phone. She listened silently to the person on the other end for a while before saying with even more fatigue, "If they want refunds, then process them. Stabilize the customers' emotions first to minimize losses.
Handle the store matters yourselves. If any unexpected situations arise, make your own decisions. I have other matters to attend to. Don't call me again."
After hanging up, Alice looked up at Chen Lishu's calm gaze. Seeing no trace of curiosity, she initiated a conversation. "I'm truly sorry for letting you see my predicament. Business was quite good recently, but I don't know what's going on these past few days. People keep coming to the store to cause trouble and demand refunds!
I originally thought I could establish a foothold in China with my own abilities, that I could achieve what you could, and that we weren't that different. Now, it seems I was too confident. It's no wonder our teacher has such high regard for you, even thinking of taking you as a disciple!
Miss Chen, I didn't mean to target you with what I just said. My personality is just competitive. To put it bluntly, I feel your background isn't as noble as mine, yet you do everything better than me. Of course, I also know that there's always someone better out there, and this mindset is not conducive to growth."
After saying this, Alice seemed dejected. She picked up the wine on the table, poured herself a large glass, and gulped it down. The stark contrast made her feel very uneasy.
She had thought she could provide a good life for her younger brother in China with her own strength. Now, all her money had been invested, and the investment had failed. She feared that the quality of life for both her and her brother would be greatly reduced!
Chen Lishu calmly picked up her glass and took a sip of the wine. After a moment, she said in a gentle tone, "You don't need to compare yourself to anyone. You are you. Your life is wonderful, isn't it? The first half of your life was as a chief designer and a disciple of Master Kruskovaya, admired by many!
You must have investigated my life, right? Back then, my family was so poor we couldn't afford food, and we were always at risk of starving. I've encountered many challenges struggling on this path. I've simply accumulated experience through repeated failures.
Miss Alice, you've been pampered since childhood and haven't experienced hardship. You see many things too idealistically, but that's not your fault. Besides, this situation isn't dire yet; there's still room for recovery. Don't be too pessimistic!"
"Is there any room for recovery? Everyone is asking for refunds, and the store is almost being vandalized. I don't think I can continue operating here. I plan to move to a smaller street where the rent is lower, which will reduce a lot of my pressure. Now you can rest assured, no one will snatch your business anymore!" Alice said with a mocking smile.
Chen Lishu put down her glass and looked up, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes. "I said this isn't over yet. You don't even know why you failed."
Hearing Chen Lishu's advice, Alice was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
Chen Lishu slowly explained, "Different clothes target different demographics. You design elaborate formal gowns and expect housewives to wear them. Have you considered the practicality of these outfits?
Don't you enjoy studying me? You should know that my previous design style leaned towards Chinese aesthetics. Later, I incorporated more elements that aligned with the market, putting more thought into the clothing designs and patterns.
The reason is simple: I suffered the same setback as you. Whether it was your past title as chief designer or your design talent, your works could sell well, but the positioning was different.
Upon hearing this, Alice suddenly realized. She slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "Yes, how could I forget this? It's no wonder I lost to you. You are a respectable opponent!
But why are you telling me all this? Don't you hate me for taking your family's business? I thought you would treat me as a rival and wish I would disappear from the market."
"If one you disappears, many others like you will emerge. I can't eliminate them all. The only thing I can do is improve my own work.
Besides, I admire your design style. I have a feeling you can become very popular in the market. In the workplace, besides rivals, there are also allies. I hope we have the opportunity to join forces!"
These words ignited Alice's passion. Perhaps her teacher valued not only her design but also Chen Lishu's capabilities! Thinking of this, Alice suddenly found peace. "Alright, for these words alone, we will be good friends from now on! Thank you for giving me such great inspiration. I, Alice, owe you a favor. If there's a chance in the future, I will do my best to repay you!"
"Good!" Chen Lishu and Alice smiled at each other. The rest of the dinner went smoothly, and they chatted about many things. Alice suddenly realized that compared to Zhang Wan'er's hypocrisy, interacting with Chen Lishu was more genuine and relaxing!
After the dinner, Chen Lishu was picked up by Gu Xingdong, while Alice was still waiting for her subordinate to drive her.
However, instead of her driver, an unexpected guest arrived.
A weak voice echoed from the darkness: "Alice!"
Alice followed the sound and looked over. Upon seeing the person, her eyes narrowed. "Zhang Wan'er?"
Zhang Wan'er pursed her lips and pushed her wheelchair towards Alice, feigning concern. "I heard you opened a clothing store and encountered some trouble recently? As soon as I heard the news, I came out to find you. You're alone in a foreign land, and I was worried you'd be wronged!"