A Night of Applause and Hidden Moves

Reading that message, Qin Jianhe instinctively pressed his lips together, but the smile in his eyes only grew.

Night had fallen. A warm yellow streetlight filtered through the car window, casting a small orange-brown glow on his phone screen.

It reminded him of Ye Zhiqiu’s light brown eyes, warm like that when they smiled.

He stared at the screen for a long time before typing a reply.

[Qin Jianhe: Okay.]

His phone buzzed again, but this time it was the group chat.

[Yu Renzhi: Where are you? Late, and there’ll be no food left. @Qin Jianhe]

He didn’t reply. He put his phone away and got out of the car.

Yu Renzhi’s family’s new restaurant had just opened. They had all managed to find time to get together and help him test the menu.

A server held the door for him.

“Mr. Qin, this way.”

He didn’t look at Qi Xin and Jiang Nan. He followed the server upstairs.

The food was already on the table. Jiang Nan and Qi Xin were eating.

Jiang Nan was about to speak when he saw something and stood abruptly. The tablecloth pulled, and his bowl of hot congee shattered on the floor.

People stared. A server rushed over.

Qi Xin jumped. “Are you burned?”

Jiang Nan was staring at the stairs. Qi Xin followed his gaze.

Just an old couple talking to a server. Nothing special.

“I’m fine,” Jiang Nan said.

After the mess was cleaned up, Qi Xin asked, “Did you see someone you know?”

Jiang Nan shook his head slowly.

He hadn’t seen anyone. Just the corner of a black coat.

But he thought it was Qin Jianhe.

He’d been watching him for nearly twenty years. He knew the way his coat moved.

Or maybe he just wanted it to be him.

He slumped. Hope was worse than none.

Upstairs, the others were teasing Qin Jianhe.

“You’re late,” Yu Renzhi said. “Three drinks.”

“No alcohol tonight.”

Wang Qitang laughed. “Q.L.’s first show of the season.”

“We’ve seen big shows before,” Yu Renzhi said.

“This is Xiao Ye’s first show,” Wang Qitang said. “Xiaoyu cares.”

Yu Renzhi turned on Meng Qingyan. “You’ll be the same when you’re in love.”

“When is the show?” Meng Qingyan asked Qin Jianhe.

“Ten. Nine in New York.”

“Let’s watch together,” Yu Renzhi said.

“At home,” Qin Jianhe said.

“So cold,” Yu Renzhi said. “Can’t let us see you in love?”

Qin Jianhe stood to leave. Yu Renzhi grabbed him.

“I’ll stop. Stay.”

He sat back down.

“How’s the cooperation with Yunkai?” Qin Jianhe asked.

Wang Qitang smiled. “Good.”

“So fast?” Yu Renzhi was surprised.

These things usually took a year or more. Some took three, five, even ten.

“Nie Fengjun pushed me,” Wang Qitang said. “Working with Yunkai was the right choice.”

“What’s Yunkai’s secret?” Meng Qingyan asked.

“They have the technology. We’re not developing so much as verifying their data.”

“Lucky,” Yu Renzhi said.

“Who’s behind it? So mysterious?”

“No one knows,” Wang Qitang said.

“Yu Ge?” Meng Qingyan asked. “Nie Fengjun didn’t mention anyone new?”

“No. The industry hasn’t changed, except for Yunkai.” Qin Jianhe smiled at Wang Qitang. “But that might change in three months. You might shake things up.”

“The person behind Yunkai is impressive,” Qin Jianhe said. “You’re lucky, Qitang.”

The food was good. They talked.

At 8:30, Qin Jianhe checked his watch. “I’m going.”

“Let’s go to Budu for a drink,” Wang Qitang said.

“No.”

They parted ways.

Yu Renzhi watched his car disappear. “Love changes people.”

“It’s good,” Meng Qingyan said. “You didn’t notice how he used to avoid relationships.”

“I thought he was just too good for anyone,” Yu Renzhi said.

Wang Qitang patted his head. “That’s not wrong.”

“His parents’ divorce?” Yu Renzhi asked.

“Let’s go,” Meng Qingyan said, starting his car.

* * * *

In New York, Ye Zhiqiu was backstage.

Makeup artists were working on the models. He checked the clothes and accessories, talking to Wang Ru and Gao Yang.

They listened intently. Gao Yang’s eyes shone with admiration.

Sun Chaoyang watched them, regretting his choice.

“Sun.” Someone called him. A female designer. “Get me water.”

He was being pushed to the edges, used as a errand boy.

He went to the break room.

Passing Ye Zhiqiu, he heard him. “The models have about ninety seconds to change. The dressers are professionals.”

He stopped, but no one noticed him.

The lights came on. The show was starting.

Sun brought the water. “Wang Jie.”

“Water? I said coffee.”

He looked at the male designer nearby. He’d heard her say water.

He just laughed. “Go get coffee. And one for me.”

Gao Yang looked over. Sun looked away, embarrassed.

Ye Zhiqiu’s group didn’t have much pressure. Wei Tingjin was changing. He did it himself.

He only had one change. Their dresser had been borrowed.

Zhou Hui was closing the show. She wasn’t even in makeup yet.

She looked nervous.

Ye Zhiqiu was helping Wei Tingjin. Wang Ru watched Zhou Hui.

She didn’t want to say the wrong thing.

The music started. The show began.

“The boy is good,” Meng Da said, watching Wei Tingjin.

The cameras clicked. No flashes.

The audience was quiet.

Wei Tingjin was confident. His black coat moved like a meteor.

“We should sign him,” Meng Da said.

“Mine,” Ye Zhiqiu smiled. “My model.”

The models returned. Chaos, then order.

Ye Zhiqiu fixed Wei Tingjin’s pin.

He was more confident now.

Zhou Hui was in makeup. She came over. “Teacher Ye, should I change?”

“Not yet.”

He looked at Zhou Lang’s group. Experienced. They were drinking coffee.

Maybe he was being paranoid, but he was careful.

The show was almost over. Ye Zhiqiu sent Zhou Hui to change.

She came out in the sunset dress. People stared.

This was the first time they’d seen it.

“Last group,” the director said.

Zhou Hui was less nervous now, but still scared.

“Relax,” Ye Zhiqiu said. “It’s your first big show, and my first show. We’re in this together.”

She nodded.

She walked the runway. The red dress glowed.

At the end, she turned. The skirt spun like a phoenix’s wings.

The cameras clicked. The audience stirred.

She knew she had done well.

Backstage, she cried. She hugged Ye Zhiqiu.

Wang Ru wiped her tears. “You were wonderful.”

She would walk the finale with Ye Zhiqiu.

The show was a success. The applause was loud.

Meng Da was happy. Ye Zhiqiu’s three pieces sold as well as Zhou Lang’s seven.

After, Ye Zhiqiu took his team to dinner.

Wei Tingjin got calls from brands wanting to work with him. He said no. He wanted to work with Ye Zhiqiu again.

Not everyone was happy.

Zhou Lang went back to the hotel. His team followed.

Sun Chaoyang stood at the back, feeling worse.

He regretted leaving Ye Zhiqiu.

Ye Zhiqiu had taught him. Zhou Lang just used him.

“New guy,” Zhou Lang said. “Go get drinks.”

He was being pushed out.

He left, apologizing.

“Tomorrow, I don’t want that red dress on the runway.”

A man stepped forward. “I’ll try.”

“What if he has a backup?”

“Unlikely. He barely finished that one. He couldn’t have made another.”

The man smiled. “Easy.”

* * * *

In China, Qi Xin put down his phone.

Ye Zhiqiu’s designs were beautiful. Even from photos, they were stunning.

Ye Zhiqiu had given Q.L. its first trending topic.

He was excited. With Ye Zhiqiu, Qiyun would succeed.

He called Zhou Hao.

“Did you see the show?”

“Yes. Xiao Ye is talented.”

“I need a favor. The new designs are selling well. I want to use your fabric. Can you extend the payment terms?”

Zhou Hao sighed. “I’m having money problems. I was going to ask you to shorten them.”

“How about keeping them as they are?”

“The longest was six months. Shortest one. Let’s say one month.”

Qi Xin was quiet. His excitement was gone.

“Fine. When you’re stable, we’ll talk again.”

The orders he was so happy about now seemed impossible. One month wasn’t enough to produce. He wouldn’t have the money.

He might default.

It was late, but he called Tao Ruoqing.

“I need money.”

“How much?”

“Two million. The orders are big. We’ll make a lot.”

She was quiet. She had the money, but she needed to be sure.

She had seen the show. Ye Zhiqiu was good. She was worried, but using his talent was the best option for now.

She called Ye Zhiqiu.

“Congratulations. I saw the show.”

He laughed. “Thanks.”

“Where are you?”

She wasn’t calling to congratulate him. He knew.

“At the hotel,” he said, tired. “Working on designs for Qi Xin.”

“You should rest.”

“I know. It’s all I can do to help him. You know how Dad is.”

“I understand. If only your father agreed.”

“Goodnight.”

He hung up.

In his past life, he’d helped Qi Xin, and Tao Ruoqing had profited.

His words would mislead her. She would invest.

He would let them profit a little. Enough to make them greedy.

Then, they would lose everything.

His phone buzzed. Qin Jianhe.

[Qin Jianhe: You were great today. I want to give you a reward.]

He smiled. This was real.

[One Leaf Knows Autumn: A naked man in bed?]

[Qin Jianhe: I’ll take that as an invitation.]

He laughed. Qin Jianhe was busy. He couldn’t come.

He didn’t reply.

He checked the schedule for other shows, taking notes in a small book.