"I hope you'll consider this seriously. I'm sure you'll want to showcase the beauty of my design after seeing the sketch."
Gina could not be bothered to listen anymore. She was about to hang up on the phone when…
"At least meet up with me. We can discuss the appearance fee then," Li Shengxia added.
A sarcastic smile flashed across Gina's face when she returned the phone next to her ear. "Li Shengxia, how dare you come asking for my help? What did you say about me the last time? A used, old rag that's been discarded? Haha, and now you're asking for a favor."
"I sincerely apologize for what I said to you in our previous meeting. I'm truly sorry. Please, meet with me. I promise I'll not disappoint."
The sincerity was audible in her voice.
Gina raised her brows in curiosity. What the hell was Li Shengxia planning? She was eager to find out!
"Let her in," she said to her agent after ending the phone call.
"Yes, Miss Gina."
Soon, Li Shengxia appeared, holding a file in her hands.
She had finally got her chance, so she naturally would not let this opportunity slip. Immediately, she opened the file and began introducing the sketch.
"Gina, please, take a look at my sketch. This is the appearance fee I can offer as an appreciation for your time. I've conducted research and this is the highest amount being offered in the current market."
The other woman remained unmoved. "Eh? One of my high heels seems to be broken?" She said to her agent all of a sudden without even looking at the sketch nor the amount offered.
Li Shengxia suggested right away before the agent had a chance. "I'll get you a new pair."
She recognized the brand and size of the woman's shoes at first glance. "Do you prefer something of the same brand? Or should I get you the exact same model?"
She was unusually attentive.
Suspicious, Gina twitched her brows slightly. "I want this exact pair."
"Sure, I'll be back soon!" She rushed out of the room with the speed of lightning.
The agent spoke as the woman disappeared out of sight. "Miss Gina, this pair of heels is a limited edition. It's almost impossible to find another pair of the same model in the market. Besides, I'm confused because as I understand you have a backup pair of this same model, if I remember correctly."
The woman curled her lips into a smile, refusing to comment. The agent quickly understood her intentions.
She intended for Li Shengxia to make a spectacle of herself.
It seemed like Miss Gina and that woman had an unpleasant past…
As expected, the latter visited every shopping mall in Y City, hunting for the same high heels but to no avail.
However, she did not give up despite knowing Gina was deliberately making things difficult for her. The only thing she could do was to prove her worth with her actions.
*
Simultaneously, over on the top floor of the Emperor Heritage Executive Office.
"Crown Prince, the crown princess is currently running across the city in search of a specific shoe model." Chi Su showed the man a picture of the said high heels. "It's an arduous task since this is a limited edition with perhaps only a couple of them being released in the market.
Mo Nianchen flatly ordered, "Mobilize all the company employees to search for this shoe. The person who finds it gets their salary doubled immediately."
Doubled? The crown prince would be giving away a huge amount.
The assistant replied respectfully, "Yes, Crown Prince." Then, he dismissed himself out of the room.
Soon, every employee of the Emperor Heritage learned about the news.
Ten minutes later.
Chi Su reappeared in the president's office a moment later. "Crown Prince, someone found the high heels in a store off Tenth Street!"
The other man replied while editing documents at the same time. "Find a way to lead the Crown Princess toward that store!"
"Yes, Crown Prince."
As if suddenly recalling something, the man paused to speak again, "She shouldn't find out that this is planned. You mustn't tell her bluntly either."
"Crown Prince… But…" How could he possibly do that? Chi Su felt a mild headache rising in his temples.
"Do it right away! Everyone involved gets a raise if you do it well," the man added.
What? Everyone involved would be rewarded? This definitely contradicted the common adage that said there was no such thing as a free lunch.
"Yes!" Chi Su replied enthusiastically right away.
*
At the same time, the exhausted Li Shengxia was running out of ideas to save the situation. She thought of searching online for some ideas and unexpectedly, the internet was flooded with news about this pair of high heels.
Before she could have a proper read through, however, someone snatched the phone out of her hand all of a sudden.
She was evidently shocked but immediately ran after the man. "Give me my phone… Help… There's a robber…"
The man sprinted across the street. She began to feel out of breath after shouting thus she continued the chase silently.
However, for some strange reasons, she could not help but feel the robber was trying to keep the same distance throughout the chase. She thought of giving up several times but the man seemed to slow down every time she had the idea. Therefore, she had no choice but to keep running!
"Give it back, I want my phone…"
Before her voice trailed off, her cell phone fell out of the robber's hand onto the ground. The man quickly disappeared into the corner after that.
Li Shengxia was gasping for air. Finally!
"My phone!" She heaved a sigh of relief upon realizing the phone was still intact. It was then that she realized the time – it was already one in the afternoon!
...
It was out of her knowledge that the "robber" who was now panting by the corner of the street was reporting to his superior.
"Boss, it's a done deal and I'm knackered. Don't count me in next time for something like… What? I'm seriously getting a pay raise? Awesome! It's worth it after all. Yes, of course, you're right. Don't forget to include me next time!"
...
Meanwhile, Li Shengxia had already recovered from the shock earlier. She found herself at the deep end of Tenth Street. This was not the bustling part of the city and it was normally rather deserted. A surge of frustration rocked through her.
D*mn! She forgot about the heels!
It was all that stupid robber's fault! It was him who led her down this quiet street!
Hang on a second!
What was it that she just saw –
Were those the heels that she had been looking for all morning?
Indeed, good things came to those who wait! She actually found it in the sea of shoes!
Immediately, she pushed the door open and walked in excitedly.
Right at that moment, another woman's voice rang in the air, "I'd like to purchase this pair of heels."
...
Elsewhere.
Chi Su was reporting on the situation. "Crown Prince, the latest update is that Crown Princess finally found the shoes, but someone else got ahead of her to purchase it."
"Offer the woman ten times the price to give it up!" Mo Nianchen replied without lifting his head.
"Yes, Crown Prince."