Main Story Chapter 12-13: Savage Game (蛮荒游戏) | Light and Night 光与夜之恋

Before reading this chapter, please read the previous chapter here.

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Although Sariel is not in his office, but I still sat on his sofa. The air here is filled with a faint scent of white sandalwood, so it makes people to feel very peaceful.

After placing the related documents to the release show on the desk, I switched on my phone to read messages.

There isn't anything about Vesi on Wikipedia, only a few ancient study articles in an English forum. It's pointed that Vesi is not only a brand name, but also the principal's name.

It made its debut in Europe during early last century, gaining attention because the Danish royalties made an appearance to their people while donned in garments made by Vesi.

Vesi's garments brings out a rich Eastern Asian style, the usage of colors has broke the fashion boundaries in Europe back in that era.

There were many news publishers wishing to interview with Vesi to understand his unique perspective. But this mysterious designer from the east has declined all interview requests.

It didn't take long for Vesi to announce a permanent closure, and disappeared from the public from then onwards.

*T/N: To learn more about what happened to Vesi and Sariel, read his trajectory here. 

All of the garments and design drafts disappeared as if they have vanished from earth. Nobody knows what exactly has happened.

The fashion industry commented many years later, that if Vesi did not close down, it would have the potential to be one of the giants of the current luxury brands.

The floral series was the opening of Vesi, and it is also its swan song.

After that, there were many designers who imitated it, but they are all incapable to grasp onto Vesi's innermost core with intelligence. 

You: With time over a hundred years...

Is it very long? It isn't really long if I put it that way. Those antiques in Sariel's underground collection gallery have experienced much longer time than this.

But it isn't short either. It's enough to let a brand to fade out from people's line of gaze, and it also allowed the era to witness its glorious disappearance.

I carefully stared at each and every detail on the design draft.

Powerful and sharp lines, it's just like something that Sariel draws. He has a pair of slender hands, looking very skinny, but they are very powerful.

The morning glory blossoms that looks like they are stretching but also wilting, it is of no doubt that it is Sariel's style. It's closed and loose, there is nobody that can combine these two styles better than he could.

A ridiculous, yet also the only answer has surfaced in my mind.

You: The ready-to-made clothing from Pristine and this design draft is definitely coming from the same person.

And that person--

Is my mentor, the director of Warson Design Center, a genius designer that went on a hiatus ten years ago and made his reappearance.

Afterwards, I found out that he's an Erda, with two fluffy ears, and a fluffy tail.

Now I have also learnt that he was once a designer for the brand Vesi, and left a legend in the fashion industry.

No logic needed, no evidence needed, I'm just sure of it.

Just then, the office door is pushed opened. I looked up, and in a trance, I looked towards the figure standing against the light.

You: Director Qi--

Sariel: Why are you here?

He walked into the room, eyelids drooped, covered the bit of golden pupils.

I heard a sliver of surprise from his voice, but underneath it is a faint exhaustion from him.

Intuitively, I raised the document I brought, and tried my best to show him a huge smile.

You: Me? I'm here for a meeting of course.

Sariel: It's not time yet.

You: Yeah I know, I just wanted to come here earlier. Director--

What should I say? Am I asking him "did you see the discussion on the internet?", or should I ask where he went earlier, and why does he look somewhat pale?

Or should I ask him if the brand Vesi existed a hundred years ago was his? He didn't plagiarize, right?

You: Director, you--

But will he answer me? I suppose he definitely wouldn't, because he has never cared about these doubts, never cared about the defamation against him, nor he would need pity from others.

Even if I'm getting all emotional by sitting here, it's all just me feeling sensitive on my own.

I don't know what happened in a hundred years ago that has made him to stop this brand, disappear from the world, and made his reappearance in front of people in after many, many years with another name.

The only thing I can think of is that, there must've been something very serious happened in between.

The more legendary the past is, the more groundbreaking the matter of how the legend ends will be.

I can't get myself to ask for the details of this distant past with this many twists and turns, nor I would want to force an answer out of him. The only thing I can do is to believe in him unconditionally.

Sariel: Why are you suddenly addressing me as the director? Aren't you always calling me "Sariel, Sariel" so habitually?

Sariel took the paper from my hand, tone still sounding pretty much the same, but his tensed brows have soothed out helplessly.

I got startled from his question. What does he mean by why, there's no whys here.

You: Because- Because I am more prideful to be the director's student.

Sariel: .....

Seeing that he is looking slightly relieved, my mood has also gotten much, much better.

Sariel: What's with that expression of yours that looked like you're crying and laughing?

You: From where did you see me crying?

Sariel: I think you're about to.

You: You're the one who's about to, coming in with such a droopy face, it's scary. If I'm about to cry, it's also because I am scared from how you looked when you came in earlier.

Just when I finished speaking, I recalled the "crimes" that Sariel is accused with, and one of them is him scolding other colleagues until they cry.

It's clearly a joke that is overly usual between us, but now it didn't sound good at all.

You: Director.

Sariel: Hm?

You: I'll always be standing by your side. No matter what others say, I will never change. Let's make a pinky promise!

Sariel: No way, that's childish.

You: Please?

After a long time, Sariel sighed, but still reaching an arm out, and faintly hooked onto my fingertip.

His responses today seemed to have been very slow, even the movement of us making a pinky promise have became much slower.

I held back the soreness I felt in my eyes and heart.

You: Director, then I'll be taking my leave.

The clear sounds of footsteps disappeared outside the office. Sariel stared at that small patch of skin for a long time, the lingering warmth still remains.

The dull pain in his heart stopped for an instant.

The scorchingly bright lights from the window shines on his pale face. Sariel recalled, that the time he chose this office is exactly because it has the best lighting. It's so good, that he almost forgot the destiny he originally had.

Sariel: *coughs*...

He remained silent for a long time, then slowly locked the door. Switching on the computer, and for the very first time, he reads all of the comments seriously.

I slowly walked back to Group A's office. I saw a familiar silhouette pacing outside the entrance, looking very unsettled.

You: ... Gao Cheng?

Gao Cheng: Y/N? Y- You aren't in the office?

You: Yeah, I had something on earlier. Are you looking for me?

Gao Cheng: Yeah. As the director's student, I think you must be much more panicked than us now.

Gao Cheng lowered his head, clenching onto his sleeve tightly.

Gao Cheng: I- I believe in the director. If there are anything that you need me, you can look for me. I- I'll get going, I'm here to tell you this.

He lets out a long sigh of relief after finishing his words, smiled at me, and very quickly disappeared.

Buzz buzz buzz-- My phone started vibrating. An An's name jumped out from the screen.

An An: I heard about your director as soon as I got off the plane, how are you now?

You: I'm fine, don't worry.

An An: Don't panic, I'll immediately look for our chief editor now, I'm going to write an article to clarify the false accusations for your director! Our colleagues all don't believe that he plagiarizes either, that is Sariel alright?! Although his temper is bad, but he only talks to facts and never takes things personally. Trust me, what's right will not be wrong!

She sounded like she's panting from the other end of the phone, sounds like she's probably dragging her suitcase and running towards the taxi.

You: I believe you! Thank you, An An...

An An: Wait for my good news~

Opening the door, the office is much noisier than when I left.

Mao Ge: Manman, do you think it's ok to write a proposal letter like this? Director Qi's professionalism is extremely strong. Under his management, the work capabilities of the designers in the design center have improved tremendously.

Hao Shuai: I think that's very good!

Li Manman: We can also add more words to call for action, to ask everyone to join us to protect director's reputation.

Hao Shuai: I told Group B about this, they said they will sign it together!

You: This is... What's going on?

Miss Zheng Lin walked towards my side, and showed me a helpless smile.

Zheng lin: Although the company has released a notice to tell everyone to be more mindful in words--

Mao Ge: But it's clear on how Director Qi has treated us throughout all these while, so we must help the director! So we wanted to write a proposal, let everyone sign on it, and make it a material for the PR, and find ways to clarify some rumors.

Zheng Lin: So, I can only close an eye on this.

Hao Shuai: We can't offer help in other ways. But to accuse Director Qi scolding people with bad temper out of nowhere, I can definitely battle with them for a bit.

A swelling yet trembling emotion is slowly brewing in my chest. I suddenly wanted to run back to Sariel's office, and tell all of these to him. 

I wanted to tell him loudly: "See, what I think isn't wrong! There are people who are willing to stand by your side."

Clenched my fist, I opened the discussion forum for designers, and starting to sort my mind out.

Since Mao Ge and the rest are making clarifications on Sariel's working style, then I shall focus on the rumor on plagiarism.

Designers are all very sensitive towards the scope and definition of plagiarism. After a centralized discussion among professionals, perhaps a different conclusion will be received.

After composing a long block of words in the chatbox under a single breath, I shook my somewhat numbed fingers.

After some thoughts, I also sent the information on what I've witnessed on the death of the girl named Tian Zhen in the hospital to the PR department.

This might be a miracle that can't possibly happen, but we all wanted to give our best shot.

You: In conclusion, it would be wonderful if everyone knows the existence of Erdas, then there won't even be that much of problems.

Also the Strains, also Talent. Everyone will be able to tell their identities proudly. Will there be ever such a day?

I don't know, because the current war laying before us is already particularly difficult.

A notification sounded from my phone. It's an internal email to the entire company.

Mao Ge: Is the company having countermeasures already?!

Everyone opened it impatiently.

Email: Based on the decision from the headquarters-- 1, we will immediately stop all activities and production of the sub-line brand Pristine. The recovery date will be announced in the future. 2, Sariel's position as the director in the design center will be immediately halted. The brand Pristine will be fully handled by Bob temporarily.

You: Why?!

The hopes filled in my heart is all gone. Why are they pausing brand activities? And even changing the person in charge?

Isn't this indirectly admitting that it's Sariel's fault?!

My mood that just calmed down became messed up again.

Mao Ge: How did our internal email get posted into the internet?

Mao Ge angrily threw his phone towards us.

It didn't take more than two minutes since the moment we received the email for the media to announce its contents.

Sariel is once again pushed up to the peak of the discussion, and the first most popular comment is indeed a confirmation on his plagiarism.

Our comments of clarifications are merely insignificant pebbles, not even causing any splashes even if they are tossed in the sea of discussions.

Why are things always taking the worse turn whenever I felt the slightest bit of hope?!

The deep sense of exhaustion surged out from my body. The feeling of being watched strikes me once again.

Everything happened today felt like they are all staged in advance, wave after wave, striking accurately, making people having no way to counter it at all.

If I were to come forward to say that the draft a century ago actually also came from Sariel, would anyone believe it?

People would probably laugh at me for being able to tell all sorts of lies.

I buried my head into my arms, tears rolling around my eyes.

Li Manman: Ah! My friend from Group B said that there are two designers participating Pristine's brand design applied to switch groups!

Hao Shuai: Oof...

Mao Ge: That's so frustrating! Traitors!

Suddenly, a commotion sounded from the quiet corridor. I sharply captured the keywords of "clothes" and "quality".

???: Can you allow me to see the director? There are some things I would like to tell him--

HR: I'm sorry, the director is not seeing any guests right now. I hope for your understanding. We are now also very busy, please go back.

Did she say director?!

I quickly ran out, but there's nobody in the corridor. I took a few more steps forward, and only then I saw an unfamiliar woman standing by the stairs.

She leaned against the wall, staring at the floor looking lost.

You: Are you alright?

Woman: I'm fine, I'm fine...

Noticing me, the woman shook her head, and quickly wiped her tears.

You: May I ask-- Are you here to look for Director Qi?

The woman looked up in surprise. I saw her dressed complete Pristine attire, jacket, hat, even trousers and everything else.

Woman: You are--

You: Hello, I'm Warson's designer, Y/N.

Woman: You're a designer? Then can you see Director Qi?

Her eyes suddenly brightened up.

You: I can.

She took out a stack of envelopes from her bag with no hesitation, and placed it on my hand.

Woman: Hello, I'm a shift leader of Pristine's production room, surname is Ren.

Miss Ren: Can I request for your help to send this to Director Qi?

You: Eh?

Miss Ren: We heard about what happened to the director, but we aren't sure of what to do, nor we can offer help, so we thought of showing this to him.

You: These are--

Miss Ren: These are all letter of gratitude, it's our workers' relatives that have requested the factory to deliver to the company. They all liked this brand very much, they all said it's inexpensive, has good quality, it's also comfortable and classy! I told them, these designs are all made by Director Qi!

Her gaze is fixated to the front, eyes gleaming.

Miss Ren: Young miss, am I troubling you?

I shook my head, looked at the old traces of folds, and gently soothed them.

You: Don't worry. I'll definitely let the director to see them.

I took a step forward, and ran towards Sariel's office. The bits of memories since we knew each other have all resurfaced in before me.

Him being stopped by me at the garden, impatiently explained the reasons of my failure at the first time we met.

Him demonstrating the method of making a veil in a clear afternoon.

The pair of gentle pupils looking towards me in front of the splendid Princess of the Night.

That exaggerating, baffling bag of Chinese medicine that hides his clumsy concerns at my house entrance in the midnight.

......

I've decided to stop suppressing my emotions. Whether he cares about it or not, whether he needs it or not, I have to tell him everything.

To tell him that we are willing to face all of these with him.

To tell him that he has brought countless miracles to this world.

To tell him that although I have only participated a short year in his life, even if I know nothing about his past, but those are never important to begin with.