"What's the use of keeping you people around? You can't even handle a simple promotion?"
"Boss, it's not that we're not trying. The chain bookstore won't cooperate, and the state-owned ones won't allow it. We can't make this promotion work!"
Just as the planners at Sahara Publishing were fretting over dismal sales figures, a book review quietly appeared on the literary page of the Guangdong Evening News.
Parents and teenagers who had been following Yu Qian's column were stunned to find that this time, she didn't discuss the vague emotional issues between adolescents. Instead, she used a review of a fairy tale book to delve into the current state of children's literature.
"Fairy tales are written for children under ten. They don't need mature prose, adult psychological portrayals, or overly realistic plots. A touch of dreamlike storytelling that sparks children's imagination and leaves them with beautiful childhood memories—that, I believe, qualifies as a storybook worth buying for our kids!"
"Mr. Yang Yi's book embodies exactly that. Its characters are rich and varied, from princesses and princes that every child dreams of becoming, to adorable anthropomorphic animal characters, greatly enriching children's imaginations."
"In this book, I particularly admire one story. The author uses witty prose to depict a battle of wits between a little pig and a big bad wolf. What's interesting is that this story not only brings joy but also teaches children some lessons—like not trusting strangers easily, not procrastinating, and that hard work, diligence, and cleverness lead to success..."
Yu Qian expressed her regret and hope for the state of children's literature while enthusiastically promoting Yang Yi's book.
Whether they were Yu Qian's fans or not, after reading her introduction, any parent with children felt a stirring urge to visit a bookstore and see if the book was truly as good as she claimed.
Unbeknownst to them, sales of the book began to show a slight uptick. However, the change was too subtle and the timeframe too short for even the staff at Sahara Publishing in Guangdong to notice.
By the time they did notice, that would be a story for later.
...
Two days later, Guo Ziyi came running to the coffee shop to deliver admission tickets to Yang Yi, inviting him and Xixi to watch his performance at the freshman welcome party. Yang Yi had just picked up the custom-made uniforms for Ding Xiang.
"Aren't you going to invite me to watch?" Ding Xiang teased Guo Ziyi with a smile. "After all, it was my idea!"
"Come on, come on, if you want to go, just go! No one's stopping you. My Brother Yang isn't a student, so he can't get in without these family-and-friends tickets," Guo Ziyi said, waving his hand. "Besides, Senior Sister, when would you have time to watch a show? Aren't you still watching the shop for Brother Yang in the evenings?"
"True enough!"
Yang Yi flipped through the crudely made ticket with interest. Hearing their exchange, he waved his hand and said, "Go, both of you go. Why keep the shop open? I'll give you the night off."
And so it was happily decided!
Guo Ziyi eagerly picked up the uniform, turning it over in his hands, and said with some regret, "Ah, Brother Yang, how boring. I thought you'd design something like a sailor suit or a schoolgirl outfit!"
"Why are you touching it? You're wrinkling it!" Ding Xiang snatched it back, blushing. Though her dark skin made the flush hard to see. "Brother Yang, don't listen to him. If it were that kind of clothes, I wouldn't dare wear them."
Yang Yi chuckled to himself, thinking, "I wouldn't dare make those for you either!"
Yang Yi had told Mo Fei about hiring a female shop assistant. Mo Fei had seen Ding Xiang's photo—a dark, skinny girl with no hint of threat—and hadn't said much, only mentioning she wanted to meet this independent, resilient Miao girl sometime.
Now that Ding Xiang was working the evening shift, the two would inevitably meet when Mo Fei came by next. That was fine, but if Yang Yi had ordered those kinds of provocative clothes for Ding Xiang, Mo Fei might start overthinking things.
Then Yang Yi would be sleeping on the couch...
"Go try it on. Since it's already made, why be shy? Go on, try it!" Guo Ziyi urged Ding Xiang.
Unable to shake him off, Ding Xiang blushed, grabbed the uniform, and headed to the restroom at the back of the coffee shop to change.
Yang Yi had ordered three sets for her, plus two winter jackets with cashmere linings that felt soft to the touch.
Guo Ziyi and Ding Xiang kept bickering and joking around, but Yang Yi didn't join in. He quietly read a book—a famous mystery novel from this world.
But soon, Guo Ziyi's loud exclamations broke his focus.
Ding Xiang emerged, no longer the dark, skinny, unremarkable girl she once was. The black-and-red coffee shop uniform gave her a whole new vibe!
The uniform consisted of a tight-fitting, short-sleeved, stand-collar blouse paired with a waist-hugging skirt that fell just above the knees. But unlike standard formalwear, the blouse was made of sleek, high-quality black fabric, accented by four red buttons in a vertical row. The skirt, crafted with fine tailoring, had an apron-like feel—one side black, the other red, creating a striking contrast.
Interestingly, the skirt also had two pockets where she could slip her hands or store a notebook and small change—practical and convenient!
Of course, it wasn't just those two pieces. The full set included a red beret, somewhere between a beret and a chef's hat in style—not overly playful, but with a unique charm that made her face glow like peach blossoms against the red.
But it wasn't just the clothes that surprised Guo Ziyi—it was Ding Xiang herself!
Her once-dark skin now seemed slightly fairer against the black uniform. The fitted blouse and waist-hugging skirt suited her petite frame perfectly, adding a touch of allure!
Though her face remained ordinary and her skin rough from lack of care, the new outfit, paired with her shy expression, gave her a beauty all her own.
"Wow! My Brother Yang's talent is truly unmatched!" After his initial outburst, Guo Ziyi circled Ding Xiang, grinning. "But Senior Sister, I suggest you curl the ends of your hair a bit, leave a few wavy strands hanging by your cheeks, and then put on the hat. I guarantee someone will send you flowers and confess their love tomorrow!"
"Get lost! I'm not curling my hair! How much damage would that do? And it's so expensive..." Ding Xiang shooed him away. "Leave me alone. I've got work to do!"