When the Side Character Gets a System and Travels through Difference Worlds-Chapter 29: Tingting 27

Master Hu: "I have some books on that, but you’re learning women’s apparel design right now. If you take on suits, you... will you be able to handle it?"

Tan You hesitated for a moment. "I can! At worst, I’ll just sleep a little less!"

Master Hu smiled and pulled open the bottom drawer. "I used to make suits myself. In fact, the craft I learned from my master was specifically suit-making. There are many fine details involved in creating a good suit..."

It was only because the factory’s new designs were already complete that the master and apprentice could afford to engage in this side project. Under normal circumstances, would the director have let it slide?

But not only was he watching now, he was even standing by and offering suggestions with a cheerful smile.

"Tingting, I think you need a model. How about I bring one for you tomorrow? Suits are all about being custom-tailored; how could you manage without a model?"

"Master Hu’s designs are a bit old-school, but you’re different. I think young people will definitely prefer your design." Her hard work was paying off; now, even a layman could just about understand Han Tingting’s design sketches.

Han Tingting’s eyes lit up. "A model? Who? They’ll need to be tall and well-proportioned."

Director Yang gave her his personal guarantee. "You can rest assured. I promise he’ll be tall and have a great physique!"

Master Hu glanced sideways at Director Yang, pressing his lips together without a word. ’That old fox, always laying traps for Han Tingting. Why is my apprentice so guileless? A kid this honest might get sold off by someone someday and not even realize what happened.’

To be fair, Master Hu also felt his own suit designs were a bit dated. But that was the style he had learned. Young people certainly had more flexible minds; some of her ideas struck Master Hu as brilliant just thinking about them.

Doing away with the exaggerated shoulder pads and extremely low, wide lapels, even Master Hu had to marvel at the initial prototype. ’Young people are sure to love a design like this. It completely lacks the stuffy feel of the old-fashioned suits.’

Tan You had her own little quirks, so she made sure to have everything ready: a white shirt, a waistcoat, and all the accessories. Seeing the complete set, every one of the aunties had stars in their eyes.

"Just imagine how handsome this would look on someone!"

"Is there any doubt? I want to buy a set for my son. As for my husband, forget it. You can put a dragon robe on him, but he still won’t look like a crown prince."

The allure of a uniform had a universal audience. Tan You, for one, was certainly a fan. She loved seeing men in uniform, and not just suits.

Yang Kun reluctantly followed his dad into the clothing factory. His summer break had started less than two days ago. ’Why is Dad already arranging a job for me? Didn’t he always let me just relax at home for the whole summer before?’

"Dad, is this factory going out of business or something? It’s the middle of the morning, but nobody’s working. All the stations are empty..." Yang Kun knew exactly how to twist the knife. In short, the young man was in a foul mood.

Director Yang wasn’t the least bit displeased. His small eyes widened, and he immediately quickened his pace toward Master Hu’s office. ’It’s just as I expected!’

Master Hu glanced at Director Yang. "Well? What do you think? Does it look good?"

"Good? It’s gorgeous! I knew that with the two of you, master and apprentice, working together, the result would be nothing short of amazing!" Director Yang nodded again and again. Then he reached back and dragged a sullen-faced young man forward. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Master Hu knew this was coming. He glanced at Tan You, who hadn’t spared Yang Kun a single look. Instead, she was staring at the suit, lost in thought. She had been this way ever since the prototype was finished, and he couldn’t figure out what she was mulling over.

"Master Hu, I brought the model I promised you today. Feel free to order him around however you like. This kid is tough; he needs to be put through the wringer!"

Master Hu nodded. "Alright. Go get changed into this outfit. We’ll see how it looks when you’re done."

Yang Kun was definitely unhappy at first, but after changing into the clothes in the fitting room, his displeasure vanished completely. ’If I walk out in this outfit,’ he thought, ’who wouldn’t say I look sharp?’

When he pushed aside the curtain and stepped out, he was met, just as he’d expected, with a wave of admiring gasps. Yang Kun proudly puffed out his chest. Even Master Hu gave a slight nod. "Indeed, not bad."

"Tingting, what do you think?"

Tan You finally turned her attention to Yang Kun. She circled him twice, then suddenly shook her head. "The tie is wrong. It’s too dated; it doesn’t match at all."

Master Hu threw up his hands. "This is all I ever learned. Can you even make a tie any other way?"

"Of course," Tan You had finally pinpointed the issue. Moments later, a brand-new tie appeared in her hands.

"Try this one instead." Tan You motioned with her eyes for Yang Kun to put on the new tie.

Yang Kun held out his hands quite matter-of-factly. "I don’t know how to tie one. I just slipped the last one on."

Director Yang chuckled. "I know how. I’ll tie it for you."

Just by changing the tie, the entire feel of the outfit transformed. Tan You’s eyes crinkled in satisfaction. "That’s good."

Director Yang was so happy he looked like he might cry. "You finally relented! It’s not easy to get your approval."

Snapping out of her focused work mode, Tan You smiled. "Well, if you’re going to do something, you should do it to the best of your ability."

’Either don’t do it at all, or do it right.’ That was the principle Cheng Wenhui had always taught her. Even now, in this new world, Tan You continued to live by Cheng Wenhui’s teachings.

Master Hu was pleased as well. He was a serious, straight-laced man, but this young apprentice of his seemed even more of a perfectionist than he was. Of course, she wasn’t demanding of others, but of herself; she had incredibly high standards and had to do everything to the best of her ability.

’There was nothing wrong with that,’ he thought. ’When you take things seriously, the chances of making a mistake are much lower.’

Previously, Yang Kun had been dead set against working a summer job at the clothing factory. But after that day, Director Yang didn’t even need to remind him; he showed up at the factory right on time every single day to report for duty.

Director Yang was thrilled, of course, assuming his son had simply taken an interest in the factory. But when he saw the boy duck into Master Hu’s office the moment he arrived, Director Yang grew suspicious. "You... Are you falling in love? It’s the middle of summer. Isn’t it a bit early for spring fever?"

Yang Kun was completely unabashed. "Just tell me, isn’t Han Tingting great?"

"Everyone knows that young lady is exceptional. What makes you think you’re worthy of her?" Director Yang didn’t pull any punches. "Never mind her grades—with scores like hers, she’s guaranteed a spot at a top-tier university."

"Our family might have a little money, but an exceptional girl like that has no shortage of suitors. For you to think you can match with her... that’s just a toad yawning—all hot air."

Yang Kun’s mother, Cui He, also chimed in to support her husband. "Your dad isn’t wrong. We all adore that girl, Tingting. But she’s only sixteen. It’ll be at least another seven years before she graduates from university."

"Who knows if she’ll even come back here after she graduates? This is a small city, and what young person doesn’t flock to the big cities these days? The more exceptional she is now, the more ways she’ll have to survive in this society later on."

"But what about you? Your father and I can’t look after you for your whole life. You need to have some sort of plan for yourself."

"She’s such an outstanding young woman. Don’t you feel inadequate standing next to her?"