Chapter 4 Chapter 3 Those Young and Frivolous

Xin Di and A KEN walked onto the runway hand in hand, passing through the models lined up on both sides, followed by Suo Mei's design team.When the spotlight hit Xin Di, she applauded lightly like her colleagues, and suddenly remembered the scene when she stood on the podium of a national competition for the first time in her life. At the age of 21, Xin Di was notified by the organizing committee to take the train to Nanjing. The whole journey was so excited that she was restless.Hearing that a well-known domestic designer whom she admired at that time was the guest of honor for the lottery and her name was read out, the applause from the audience was like thunder, and her blood boiled rapidly.

Looking back at the set of clothes still hanging in the closet in her room, she admitted that, from the current point of view, the work was immature, and she later had a more handy design.But it was from then on that she gained a little fame, and also had the eternal theme of her future designs: the dream of unrestrained youth. Xin Di’s growth process was very standard. Her father Xin Kaiming and mother Li Xin became civil servants after graduating from university. They worked hard, married late and had children late. They started to have babies after taking medical examinations in advance, supplementing folic acid and vaccinations. They handled every step according to the guidance of the parenting manual. In the process of educating her, she carefully referred to expert opinions, explored her interests and potentials, strictly demanded her, and never pampered her because of her superior family background.

She showed a very high artistic talent since she was a child. Her parents noticed this and arranged for her to receive formal and professional training early on, hoping that when she grew up, she would apply for the Academy of Fine Arts and develop towards the direction of a painter. However, she has been obsessed with fashion design since junior high school. During the college entrance examination, she ignored her parents' opposition and resolutely applied for her favorite major.After a heated debate, the parents could only accept her choice in a puzzling manner. Only Xin Di knows that the origin of her hobbies and dreams comes from her cousin Xin Chen. It cannot be said that she was not influenced by Xin Chen at all when she transformed her hobbies into career orientation. As for her design Thinking, Xin Chen's brand is even more obvious.

Her cousin Xin Chen has no plans at all from birth to growth, which is completely different from her. Xin Chen was not born in wedlock, and her mother's column was blank in the household registration booklet.When she was born, her father Xin Kaiyu was only 19 years old and her mother was 18 years old.The two half-year-old children who just entered a key university fell in love at first sight. After stealing the forbidden fruit, the ignorant girl didn't know that she was pregnant until the fourth month. Even if she was at a loss for more than two months, she couldn't hide her bulge even if she wore loose clothes. belly up.

It was the 1980s, when society was conservative, and they were both expelled from college, which became a disgrace to the family.The girl's parents came from other places, and the two parents sat together to discuss the aftermath seriously, but the two families, who had hopes and plans for their children, were still unable to reach an agreement. Disputes came and went, it was impossible for the fetus to induce labor, and they were not of marriageable age, so Xin Chen was born when no one was expecting it, and then handed it over to his grandparents.The little mother was sent by her family to go to a third-rate school thousands of miles away to continue her studies. After graduation, she settled there and never came back to see her daughter. Xin Kaiyu stayed in the local area and later joined a state-owned enterprise to work.In the Xin family, Xin Chen's mother was a taboo topic, and no one would openly talk about it.

Xin Kaiming, the eldest son of Grandpa Xin and Grandma Xin, did not cause them any trouble from going to school, working, getting married and giving birth.They have always loved the smart second son who was born in middle age, but they had to come to clean up the mess for him at an advanced age and help take care of this little baby. Xin Chen was a beautiful child since she was a child. After the initial disappointment and anger, her grandparents still took good care of her.And her little father, apart from being irresponsible and having too many rotten peach blossoms, is actually a cheerful father who loves his daughter. As long as his time is not occupied by endless love affairs, he is also willing to accompany his daughter.

Xin Chen has been dressed up like a doll by her grandma and father since she was a child, and her clothes are often refurbished, such as a white lace princess dress, a pink sweater, embroidered jeans, pink patent leather shoes with lace-up pumps, and a beautiful face. The key elementary school that I attended became the focus of everyone's attention. Da Xinchen's 3-year-old Xin Di has a round face that is not very eye-catching, and her small upturned nose is always a bit childish. She doesn't hate her appearance, she just hates her The neat and conservative clothes her mother arranged for her.Looking at her cousin, and at the cotton sportswear she was wearing, Xin Di couldn't help feeling resentful.She went back and complained to her mother, who raised her eyebrows in surprise, "Have you started to pay attention to your clothes when you were in elementary school? Students should always dress according to their status as students."

So Xin Di wore the clothes her mother chose all the way as a student, loose cotton trousers, floral skirts that never fall below the knees, shirts are all cotton and have no waist, jackets can’t tell gender, shoes are nothing but sneakers and sandals Black leather shoes with laces. She is happiest when her uncle takes Xin Chen to buy clothes and takes her with him at the same time.She refused her uncle's proposal to let her choose the clothes she liked, knowing that her mother would not let her wear them when she bought them.She never tires of watching Xin Chen try on clothes one by one and make suggestions. Watching Xin Chen wear the skirt she picked and twirl in front of her, the process seems happier than putting on a new dress herself.

Completely different from the strict discipline Xin Di has always received, Xin Chen was doted on by his grandparents and indulged by his father, growing up almost without restraint.In the first few years of her elementary school, Xin Kaiyu was relatively free at work, and would come to pick up her daughter from school when she had nothing to do, and send Xin Di home by the way.Xin Di saw enviously more than once that the little uncle put his hands on Xin Chen's shoulders, chatting with her while walking, and both of them were beaming. The content of their chat was very broad, and the topics they talked about were things that Xin Di's parents would not talk to themselves.

Xin Chen complained that the little boy sitting next to her was pulling her braids. Her father smiled and said, "Don't pay attention to him. He likes you but dare not say so, so he has to use this method to get your attention. Next time he pulls your hair again, you Kick him and make sure he's honest." This is of course different from the standard answer my mother gave Xin Di. No matter how much Xin Chen scored in the test, Xin Kaiyu would rub her hair, "Not bad." Xin Chen said that the teacher criticized her for not being able to understand the difference between "n" and "l" in pinyin. Most people can't tell what's the relationship."

This is of course different from the high demands parents have on Xin Di. Xin Chen said the weather is really nice, and Xin Kaiyu would say: "Tomorrow I will take a shift, let's take you to the suburbs to play, I will write a leave note to the teacher." Xin Di didn't even dare to think of playing truant with this kind of excuse. Xin Chen, who grew up like this, is bright and cheerful, and seems not to be affected by the lack of such an important role in his life as a mother. When boys strike up a conversation with her, she has a calm attitude; she is generous to anyone, and she doesn't feel uncomfortable at all; no matter how colorful the clothes are, she will only make her more cute; That looming pear vortex overflows with joy. Xin Di is not jealous of her at all, she likes the free and easy appearance of this beautiful cousin, in her opinion, if she can choose, she would like to grow up like her cousin and enjoy her teenage years. After being admitted to the Academy of Fine Arts majoring in fashion design, from the first design, Xin Di imagined that the model was Xin Chen, to be precise, Xin Chen between the ages of 14 and 18.Every one of her designs carries the youthful air she imagined. However, after six years of working in this profession and taking the position of design director, the main consumers of the clothes she designed are urban white-collar women.Popular styles are unpredictable, sometimes dignified, sometimes playful, sometimes soft, sometimes neutral, Xin Di’s task is to lead the design team to grasp the trend, but it belongs to personal preference, but has to be made again and again Compromise and give up, and the initial excitement and sense of accomplishment become distant. Customers, agents and shopping mall managers in the audience stood up and applauded. Every time Suomei’s press conference created a warm and bewitching atmosphere. The curtain call of the entire design team was the climax, which perfectly demonstrated Suomei’s powerful design. Strength and style further strengthen the sense of belonging and honor of customers, and achieve the effect that the boss Zeng Cheng needs. Xin Di applauded along with everyone almost mechanically. David Fan couldn't help looking at Xin Di on the stage. She was wearing a short cheongsam, which made her baby's face look a bit more romantic. She didn't seem to have the excitement of the little designer behind her. The smile on her face was almost the same as that of the arrogant girl beside her. Hong Kong people like KEN are a bit reserved.He didn't like the look. In his impression, Xin Di never hides her emotions. When she laughs, she seems to be overflowing with happiness, which can infect everyone;At this time, Xin Di, who bowed slightly and politely on the stage, looked very strange. After the press conference, there was a reception dinner as usual, and David Fan noticed that Xindi on the other table was lazily drinking red wine, and had no appetite for anything to eat.Halfway through eating, she went out and didn't come in for a long time. David Fan knew that the opposite side of the banquet hall was a small restaurant with an open-air cafe. He walked over, and sure enough, Xin Di was sitting on a seat near the balcony railing. Under the soft light, she looked back at him and smiled, " David Fan, believe it or not, I happened to be thinking of you right now." David Fan's heart was beating wildly, but Xin Di immediately said, "I suddenly discovered that you are very similar to my little uncle." Xin Di didn't mean to hurt David Fan this time. She did think of her little uncle Xin Kaiyu. When almost everyone was changed by life, it seemed that only this man was still doing his own way. Xin Kaiyu is 44 years old this year, and he is still a suave middle-aged handsome man. He has a 25-year-old daughter, which seems to be just a small wave in his life. Xin Di will always remember the sensation her handsome little uncle caused when he first went to school for a parent-teacher meeting. Xin Chen was arranged by his uncle, and Xin Chen and Xin Di entered the same key primary school where many children of government officials attended. The parents of all the children were in the same pattern as Xin Di's parents: a middle-aged man with a dignified expression and neat and conservative clothes. As soon as Xin Kaiyu appeared, he stunned everyone. He was only 25 years old at the time, wearing a jacket and frayed white jeans. He was really young and handsome.He held his daughter's little hand in high spirits, no matter how he looked at it, he was still a big boy, not like a father. Xin Kaiyu never fully adapted to the role of father.For his daughter, he is almost responsive.He was working in a state-owned enterprise at the time, and his income was considered ordinary, but when he had money and had a whim, he would take Xin Chen to buy expensive clothes and shoes, regardless of the price.He kept making girlfriends, always said that he had a daughter, and sometimes took his daughter to eat and watch movies with his beautiful aunt. Xin Kaiyu called his niece Dizi and his daughter Chenzi, which was later adopted by the two sisters.He would go to roadside shops to buy them stickers and trinkets that girls like, and sometimes take them to barbecue, which Li Xin strictly forbids: barbecue is not hygienic, and those gadgets are boring and unnutritious. But the little girl's happiness is always simple and direct. These cheap and really meaningless little things are enough to make the two girls feel good. Xin Di's father was the local deputy mayor at that time, Lu Fei's father, Lu Jingzhong's secretary, was introverted and rigorous, and his mother, Li Xin, worked in the Health Bureau. Of course they all loved their only daughter, but they couldn't bring her such happiness. time. The beautiful Xin Chen began to grow, and soon grew taller than Xin Di.She received a note from a boy and showed it to her dad. Dad laughed and shook his head and said, "You're so naive, but you're so cute. It's normal for boys to like you. Throw it away if you don't want to care about it. Don't show it to the teacher, and don't make fun of it." People." Xin Chen said that a certain boy asked her to go to the zoo or watch a movie together, Xin Kaiyu pondered for a while, "It's all right, but don't accept gifts from others, don't get too close to them, and don't satisfy his vanity by admitting that you are his girlfriend." .” Xin Di had no choice but to feel sorry for her dull and boring life, she had never received such hints and invitations, and of course she dared not tell her parents even if she had received them.She could imagine how they would deal with it: talk to her solemnly first, from the current main task of concentrating on studying to talk about life ideals and choices, and then call the head teacher to communicate the situation. Xin Kaiming looked at him as a younger brother who became an unmarried father early on, but refused to get married and settle down seriously, and he always had a somewhat resentful expression on his face; Li Xin saw that she was always in trouble, but she didn't feel sorry at all. The uncle with the expression will naturally not be happy. Only Xin Di really likes this happy little uncle. She told Xin Chen directly about her envy. Staying at home, do you have to cover your ears with a quilt when you hear thunder? Do you want to find your parents when you have to sign your homework, so you have to imitate his handwriting yourself? Do you want your father to change girlfriends more frequently than changing clothes? ?” Xin Di was speechless, no, at that time she didn't expect that there was another side to the matter.When she was in high school, her mother still came into her room at least once a night to tuck her in.Apart from work and family, my father never cared about anything else. After Xin Di grew up, she knew more or less about Xin Chen's life experience. She understood that her little uncle might be a likable man, but he probably wasn't a standard good father. a good lover. And there are some similarities between him and the handsome man in front of him. Thinking of this, Xin Di couldn't help laughing. David Fan found that since that unlucky night in Hong Kong, he was a little dazed, and the mischievous smile on the corner of Xin Di's mouth made him dazed for a while. But for the first time in his life, being told by a woman of similar age that he looked like an elder didn't sound like a compliment, so he could only smile wryly, "Do I look like your uncle?" Xin Di sized him up seriously, with research and comparison eyes, and David Fan accepted her scrutiny a little uncomfortable, feeling that it was almost the same as when he debuted on the catwalk that year.After a long time, Xin Di came to a conclusion: "You are taller than him, and you don't really look alike. My uncle is a senior handsome guy. You can tell by looking at Xin Chen. They have similar outlines and eyebrows, and they are more gentle and handsome. kind." Dare to feel that his appearance is not in the eyes of the other party, David Fan said with a smile: "Then let me inquire, what makes me have this honor and reminds you of your uncle?" "Your personalities and expressions look very similar. They are the kind of people who play games everywhere. My uncle is 44 years old this year, and he doesn't have much money, so there are still a lot of little girls who fantasize about him." Xin Di laughed and said, "When I want to suggest that he write a book of 'Love Saints', which is dedicated to teaching men how to pick up girls, or teaching women how to prevent being picked up." David Fan didn't like it very much, "Hey, you don't blame your uncle on me and hate me for so many years, do you?" Xin Di spread her hands, "I like my uncle very much, I have no opinion on him, and I really think that as long as he wants to, he might as well live like this forever. He has always been very frank, and he didn't lie to anyone. A woman who falls in love with him should be mentally prepared , can’t want to enjoy the happiness of getting along with him, and ask for forever. When he is willing to find a woman to marry and settle down, that’s another matter.” David Fan couldn't laugh or cry, he didn't expect Xin Di to have such a good opinion about men, "Maybe men are willing to settle down after playing enough." "A lot of worthless men take this as a fluke to lift up women. The biggest misunderstanding for women is to think that this man will change for themselves." "You seem to have a lot of experience, and you have gone through vicissitudes." Xin Di naturally heard the sarcasm in David Fan's tone. Thinking of confessing that she was a virgin in front of him, she couldn't help getting angry, but she didn't get angry. She just said coolly: "I have never eaten pork, I have always seen pork There are too many examples of pigs walking, especially sand pigs." Unexpectedly, David Fan smiled instead of anger, "It's rare that you have the same opinion of me for ten years." Seeing Xin Di was surprised, he reminded, "That's what you said about me when we first met, Sand Pig. Pity me At that time, it was too shameful to ask others what a sand pig means." Xin Di couldn't hold back anymore and burst out laughing. After being reminded by David Fan, Xin Di remembered the first time he met him, and ten years had passed. At the age of 18, she was admitted to the Academy of Fine Arts with excellent professional results.Although her parents insisted on letting her stay in the local school to study against her wishes, and she also chose to major in fashion design against her parents' wishes, in the end everyone decided to compromise with each other, and they were very happy. For the first time in her life, she was separated from her mother's meticulous care. She lived in the school and began to live a collective life. Since entering college, she has completely dressed according to her own aesthetics. Although her mother is not used to seeing her, there is nothing she can do about her.She enjoyed the sudden freedom and was almost dizzy with joy. In the eyes of freshmen, the arrangement of the university is of course rich and dazzling.Club recruitment, classmate associations, hometown associations, and various art exhibitions and performances followed one after another. It was also at the welcome performance in the school auditorium that she first met David Fan, who was very eye-catching in the school. Xin Di, who showed a good sense of color as soon as she entered the school, was called by the seniors of the same department to act as a helper to organize the performance costumes. Before that, she had only quietly drawn wild design drafts at home based on her own imagination. It was the first time she came into contact with the designed costumes, and she couldn't help being excited. , and the backstage models were a mix of men and women, all wearing only underwear and waiting for makeup and changing clothes, which was a strong shock to her. Her friend Lu Fei is famous for both internal and external training, and her cousin Xin Chen has been a beauty since she was a child. Originally, the color of the models in front of her did not affect her at all, but she has always been taught by the most conservative tutor. She had never been there before, and suddenly seeing so many of her peers naked in front of her with a large body, her face suddenly became red uncontrollably, and she didn't know where to look. When the most handsome and tall boy was wearing a tight white vest and showing a perfect inverted triangle figure standing in front of her, and asked her about the order of clothing, she hesitated and hawed for a while, unable to say why. A tall girl next to her insisted on catching up with the boy and started arguing with the boy in a low voice and then loudly, and finally saved her. That boy is naturally David Fan, and that girl is one of his girlfriends.His girlfriend said that he didn't pay enough attention to her, and he retorted that she was too controlling, and then the girl gave trivial examples. At first, he didn't bother to pay attention, and after a while, he said impatiently: "Since there are so many opinions, let's break up." gone." Xin Di was very happy to see it. She had only seen Lu Fei calmly rejecting the gestures of female classmates. Xin Chen dismissed the young boy who pursued her impatiently. She never thought that the two college students in front of her would be so boring and childish He entertained her by putting on plays in public. The girl started to sob, her face was stained with makeup, the other students persuaded her, but the leader of the model team jumped up anxiously, "Ancestor, you are in a hurry to go on stage, you will really mess up the stage if you make such a fuss, the school and The leaders of the department are all sitting under the stage now, David Fan, can't you coax her?" David Fan had already changed into his clothes. A white uniform with epaulettes outlined his fit and handsome figure, and his whole body was set off to be extremely handsome.He was 20 years old at the time, and his personality was even worse than now. He didn't buy into the leader's account. The students around were at a loss, and Xin Di, who was holding clothes and waiting to help the girl change, had long since grown impatient, and stepped out of the crowd, and said honestly, "Hey, sister, you are also a beautiful woman, why bother to make trouble for this girl?" No. Shazhu makes yourself uncomfortable. If you break up, break up, and a boy who will talk about breaking up is not worthy of your crying for him." Everyone didn't expect that the freshman, who was as petite as a middle school student standing among the models, had such courage, and they all laughed unanimously, and some people echoed: "Yes, yes, the younger sister is right." "Hurry up and wash your face and put on makeup is serious." , it will be our show soon." David Fan was very annoyed, but he always aimed to be a good man and not fight a woman, so naturally he would not argue with a little girl, and at that time he really didn't understand what Sand Pig meant.After meeting his good friend Zhang Xin, he seriously asked for advice. Zhang Xin laughed so hard that he told him that the word in English is a male chauvinist pig, and its literal translation is a male chauvinist pig, referred to as sand pig, which is usually used by women. To scold someone with a sense of inexplicable superiority and disgusting machismo. After that, although Xin Di didn't have a good face when he saw him, he also knew how to provoke this small but sharp-mouthed girl. Xin Di quickly made her mark in the Academy of Fine Arts. She has a solid foundation in fine arts, and she can paint professional meticulous flower-and-bird paintings. Even the professors of the Chinese Painting Department praised them a lot, and lamented why such a good student entered the school. Content of the fashion design major.And Xindi's costume design drafts were completed at an explosive speed, which made the teachers of the department's professional courses very impressed, and confirmed that she was the most talented and potential freshman they had ever taught. It is inevitable for the design department to deal with models, and David Fan has no choice but to let her sneer. Fortunately, Xin Di did not intend to be mean, and most of the time he just said it casually, and then ignored him directly. David Fan, who has always enjoyed the attention of everyone, feels that this small temper is still within the tolerable range, and he has always been tolerant to smart girls. Now that Xin Di's talent has been recognized, he is more willing to admit that talented girls should A bit of eccentricity and privilege. Mentioning this past event, Xin Di laughed gloomily, "Yesterday I was still discussing with Lu Fei whether people change with the passage of time, and I finally found a person who hasn't changed at all in ten years." "You are very happy to have fun, but no one can stay the same for ten years, especially after that time, I never casually broke up with anyone." David Fan had a rare seriousness on his face, but Xin Di shrugged, "I don't have the confidence that a casual word can have such a big influence on a playboy." "It's not exactly what you said. No one can stay young and frivolous all the way, not even your uncle." Xin Di can only admit that what he said makes sense. Even the happy little uncle Xin Kaiyu is actually different from before. , Playing to more than 50, there are still people called Xu Gongzi, you can still pick up Li Jiaxin; or you still have to obey the old self-cultivation, restrain yourself and play with a deep heart is the right way." David Fan shook his head and said with a smile: "Not every man wants to date Li Jiaxin. Besides, please don't call me a playboy. If I'm really a playboy, I wouldn't be so embarrassing that night in Hong Kong." .” At this time, he mentioned that unlucky night again, the eyes of the two met, and they looked away uncomfortably.Xin Di was not in the mood to get angry anymore. After all, the person in front of him was tolerant and easy-going, and he could take jokes, so there was still merit.As for that night, she shrugged her shoulders again and decided not to think about it, "Come on, let's forget about that. I'll go in first, or they should come to me. When will the designers be granted permission by the emperor to stop participating This kind of entertainment is fine." She covered her mouth and yawned, got up and left.It was only then that David Fan realized that the short cheongsam she was wearing seemed simple, but there was a bold lace hollow design from the back to the waist, revealing the white skin. He couldn't help but think of the touch of his hands on it that night, He began to think that if he pursued Xin Di seriously, there would be some hope. For the first time, David Fan found out that he was not sure at all. A few days later, David Fan returned to the company and met Xin Chen who came to hand in the design draft. Xin Chen often comes here and is familiar with all the employees in the company. She is telling a few copywriters and planners about the joke she encountered when she went to a certain wedding photography studio just now, "The photo that the child completed was absolutely flawless. No matter how you look at it, it's a bit awkward. I asked a group of people to look around to see where the problem is, but they didn't see why. Then the eldest sister who was in charge of hygiene in the company glanced at it and said abruptly: "This girl looks like a fairy, but why? No belly button?’ It turned out that he handled it smoothly, and PS removed that part as a scar.” Several people were amused and laughed loudly, David Fan said with a smile: "Xin Chen, are you still taking portraits from those wedding photography companies?" "It's forced by life. Anyway, it doesn't take much brainpower to do it, so it's just an adjustment." Xin Chen smiled and handed the design draft to him, "Mr. Dai, please refer to him for instructions." The advertising company opened by David Fan and Zhang Xin is not large. After receiving the business, they sometimes subcontract some highly specialized or difficult work according to the client's requirements. Xin Chen has a long-term cooperation with them.This time, she was making a LOGO for a newly opened company. Xin Chen submitted two proposals. Her designs have always been neat and concise, never procrastinating, and have won high praise. David Fan nodded in agreement, "Xinchen, there is still a picture in the album that needs to be repaired, and it is urgent. Are you free to take it?" He brought up the original picture to show her, and Xin Chen frowned, "It's this model again, I really can't stand her, she looks pretty good, but she's a bit too picky, every time she has to PS her into a Barbie doll, the proportions are completely distorted She is happy." "This time she has no right to speak. The album is directly finalized by the manufacturer, and their aesthetics are quite normal." Xin Chen nodded, "That's fine." David Fan explained the detailed requirements, she wrote them down one by one, copied the original picture with a mobile hard disk, packed her backpack, "If there is any modification to this LOGO, please let me know, I will go first." "Wait, Xinchen." Xin Chen looked at him inquiringly, but he was a little embarrassed to say it. He and Xin Chen had known each other for a long time, but it was only a work relationship. This girl looked easy-going, and she laughed as if she had no intention of joking. The lungs are hot on the outside and cold on the inside, and the smile only stays on the face, and there is always a sense of distance from others, which is completely different from her cousin Xin Di's personality, which is cold on the outside and hot on the inside.He could only wave his hands, "Forget it, it's okay, you should hurry up on this album."