A guide to survival in a heavy girl's world

"Why do you know about me?!"

Because she was so shocked, her tone became a little panicked.

"For the guests who will be visiting [Sakura Mansion], who are also my future colleagues, I must of course show some appropriate 'concern'."

In the face of Toyokawa Shoko's hesitation, Sakurakoji Luna leaned directly on the sofa with a rather smug expression.

"But I did find out something quite interesting... Are you still in touch with your family? Or are you still wandering around with your father? If you come to work for me, I can offer you a very generous salary. Maybe I can also help you settle your father's debts-"

"Miss Sakurakouji."

Before she could finish her words, Chihaya Tetsuya suddenly spoke:

"It's your freedom to investigate the visitor. I have no right to interfere, but... please respect Fengchuan's privacy."

Even when the design drawings were directly questioned just now, Chihaya Tetsuya's tone had not been as cold and serious as it is now.

"But let's be clear, I apologize to you on her behalf for her rude remarks just now."

After saying that, he immediately lowered his head deeply to Sakurakouji Luna.

"You are free to judge the design, so please don't take her words to heart."

"!"

After hearing his response, the dissatisfaction and anger that had filled Toyokawa Shoko's heart instantly cooled down.

The reason why she was so angry was, on the one hand, because Sakurakoji Luna's behavior was really contrary to her impression of a descendant of a famous family, and on the other hand, because of her disrespect for Chihaya Tetsuya.

However, the protection and apology from Chihaya Tetsuya restored her heated mind to its usual clarity.

At this time, the two parties are still in the stage before business talks. Before the formal cooperation is reached, all the words and actions of the other party are her freedom.

Perhaps her opinion was indeed very one-sided and arbitrary, but he really had no position or qualifications to say those words...

"I apologize for the offense I just caused..."

After calming down, Shoko Toyokawa also lowered her head towards Sakurakouji Luna.

"I was too reckless. I'm sorry, Miss Sakurakouji."

"Mrs. Luna."

On the other side, Maid Yamabuki finally couldn't help but remind her:

"Such words and actions just now will only lower your character and the outsiders' evaluation of you. Please be careful."

"……understood."

Faced with pressure from all sides, Sakurakouji Luna calmed down a little and retracted her malicious smile.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Toyokawa. I have to take back what I just said... However, I'm not the kind of person who refuses to correct her mistakes. Your reminder has indeed benefited me greatly."

After saying that, she turned her head to look at the head maid Yamabuki and said:

"Yachiyo, the so-called maturity of design probably refers to places like this, right?"

"exactly."

Maid Yamabuki nodded, confirming what Sakurakouji Luna said.

"While personal brands certainly need high-end fashion to demonstrate their prowess, the long-term sustainability of a brand lies in its real clothes (everyday clothing) that can be sold on the shelves. For these garments, designers must consider not only artistic quality and aesthetic appeal, but also comfort, ease of marketing, mass production costs, and profit margins. If your work is a competition entry, then Chihaya-san's designs are ready-made garments that can be put to immediate use. For the personal brand you're investing in, these practical considerations, rather than the sheer glamour of the garments, are what we should prioritize."

Having said this, she paused for a moment.

"And haven't you seen Mr. Chihaya's high-end designs? Didn't you also praise the costumes worn by the idol named Hoshino Ai?"

"Speaking of this...I remembered it!"

Sakurakouji Luna suddenly turned her head and looked at Chihaya Tetsuya.

"Mr. Chihaya, do you still have the design for that costume?"

"Still."

"Give it to me, I want to see it."

"This...I'm afraid it won't work."

Chihaya Tetsuya shook his head slightly.

"This design and that dress belong only to Hoshino Ai. I won't give it to anyone else."

"……Is it?"

Sakurakouji Luna's eyes narrowed slightly.

"What if I say...if you don't give me the blueprint, I won't invest in you."

"This is a matter of principle. No matter what you say, I will not change my mind."

Chihaya Tetsuya's tone was unquestionable and calm.

"If you insist on doing this, then unfortunately, our cooperation will be impossible."

“……………………I see.”

Faced with Chihaya Tetsuya's firm refusal, a smile appeared on Sakurakoji Luna's face.

"Okay, I understand. I don't want the blueprint."

"…………"

Seeing this, Toyokawa Shoko immediately gave him a confused look.

(She was clearly rejected, so why did she look so happy?)

(Also… although her personality seems difficult to get along with, and her words and actions lack the reserve of a daughter from a wealthy family, she doesn't take offense to others...)

(What the hell is going on with this guy???)

Just when she was still puzzled by Sakurakouji Luna's reaction, she suddenly continued:

"Okay, Yachiyo, bring me the contract you drew up earlier. I think it's ready to be signed."

“…Huh?”

Chihaya Tetsuya and Toyokawa Shoko both made sounds of surprise.

"Wait, wait, Miss Sakurakouji, we haven't had time to talk about investment yet, right?"

Chihaya Tetsuya asked with a confused look on his face:

"We just exchanged some blueprints, is it really okay to make a decision like that?"

"No problem at all."

Sakurakouji Luna answered without hesitation:

"Because I had almost decided to invest in you long before you came. As for why I asked you to come here, it was simply because I wanted to get to know you, a talented designer praised so highly by Yachiyo."

"This is too chaotic..."

Toyokawa Shoko said blankly:

"Rather than investing, this is just pure wasted money..."

“Well, because that’s how it is.”

Facing Toyokawa Shoko's questioning, Sakurakoji Luna nodded very happily.

“Before this, all my investments were based on my mood… but miraculously, most of my investments made me a lot of money.”

"However, since Yachiyo came, I won't mess around anymore... As for you, you should be my last investment target."

As Sakurakouji Luna spoke, she took the seal and contract handed to her by Maid Yamabuki.

“I hope we can have a pleasant cooperation in the future.”

boom--!

Under the stunned gaze of the two, Sakurakouji Luna directly stamped the seal in her hand.

In this way, Chihaya Tetsuya successfully attracted this sponsorship, which is arguably the most confusing in the entire fashion industry.

Chapter 5: Final Work Before Starting Your Own Business

"This is probably the most absurd contract in the world..."

On the way back to the studio, Chihaya Tetsuya looked at the copy of the contract in his hand and couldn't help but sigh:

"A limit so large it makes one question life itself, and with a few restrictions that allow for almost complete free spending... Is this young lady truly not worried about being scammed?"

"It's not that she's not worried about being cheated, but rather that the head maid has a keen eye for talent."

Toyokawa Shoko curled her lips and said:

"From the initial introduction to the subsequent persuasion, the head maid was basically in charge, and the young lady seemed to simply trust the head maid's judgment unconditionally."

"So... Miss Sakurakouji is quite unexpected in every way."

Recalling everything that had just happened, Chihaya Tetsu also began to review it:

"First, there's the matter of etiquette... From what Wakaba-san revealed earlier, she's clearly a legitimate daughter of a prestigious family, but her words, actions, and language don't convey any aristocratic air at all..."

"It's not just a lack of etiquette, it's downright disrespectful!"

As soon as this matter was mentioned, Shoko Toyokawa became angry.

"If it were me, I would have been scolded by the housekeeper or etiquette teacher long ago—"

When she said this, her voice suddenly stopped, and then she covered her mouth involuntarily.

Seeing her like this, Chihaya Tetsu just shifted his gaze slightly and continued lightly:

"But precisely because of this, her criteria for what constitutes an 'offense' seem to differ from those of other noble families. Neither your accusation nor my rejection, far from angering her, has only heightened her interest..."

Especially when I told her that I would not give her the design drawings even if I gave up the cooperation, the light in her eyes was a surprise.

"Everyone's way of thinking is closely related to their personal experiences. This young lady's experience... I'm afraid it's completely different from what we imagined."

"No matter what her experience was...it couldn't justify her being so disrespectful."

In this regard, Shoko Toyokawa still sticks to her point of view.

She pursed her lips and said in a slightly low voice:

"Rather, the more tragedy and pain one experiences, the more one must maintain one's dignity and dignity... This is the only thing one can protect by ignoring reality and relying solely on one's will."

"…………"

Because of the stimulation from Miss Sakurakoji, Chihaya Tetsuya always felt that he was getting closer and closer to the truth behind Toyokawa Shoko.

But even so, he still didn't want to take the initiative to explore the secret that she once wanted to hide.

Shoko Toyokawa is a girl with a strong sense of self-esteem.

She hates accepting charity and gifts unilaterally, and is still looking for ways to repay herself.

If you take the initiative to bring up the past in this situation and want to "lend a helping hand" in a condescending manner, it will only hurt her self-esteem and increase her psychological burden.

This was not the result that Chihaya Tetsuya had hoped for.

If possible, he would like to witness this self-respecting and self-reliant girl gradually grow up and solve her problems with her own strength.

Until then, he just had to watch over her appropriately like this.

Just when Chihaya Tetsuya made up his mind to stop talking, Toyokawa Shoko continued:

"Compared to this, I think the most unforgivable thing is that she actually dared to underestimate Chihaya-san's design!"

Shoko Toyokawa still feels aggrieved about this.

"If it weren't for that head maid, she might have really devalued Chihaya-san's designs to the point of being worthless!"

“There’s nothing we can do about it.”

Thinking back to how Toyokawa Shoko had actually stood up for him so seriously, Chihaya Tetsuya suddenly laughed and said:

"For a fifteen-year-old with an unusual sense of money, it's still a little early for her to consider things like cost. Besides... you've seen the blueprint, right?"

Chihaya Tetsuya put the copy back into his bag.

"Honestly, if that blueprint had appeared at Yihua University, I wouldn't be surprised at all. But if it was created by a fifteen-year-old, then the nature of it is completely different. Her talent and genius naturally give her a higher perspective than the average person. That's why she overlooks these things that aren't so important to a genius."

"…………"