Flipside

Chapter 8

Ji Qing Ting was in a state of fury seeing the lines three people deep in front of that son of a bitch Fuyu ShangYe's shop.

'He disappeared for months with no word!! Now look, everyone is trampling each other to buy his newest design!! It's just another sickening cloud floating on a flowered background!!! He hasn't designed something new in years!!'

Growling Qing Ting glared at his workers and stomped his way to his studio and in a fit screamed when the doors shut behind him. Sweeping the half-finished sketches and stomping on them

"Damn you Fuyu ShangYe!! Why did you come back!!! They almost forgot about your insipid clouds!! Han Jihua was forgetting YOU!! Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!"

Qing Ting flung his frame dramatically onto the large couch fanning himself rapidly as he tried to catch his breath. After all his hard work over the past months, he was finally seeing a profit. People were TALKING about his designs and his store was busy, the name Fuyu was being forgotten until yesterday.

Yesterday Fuyu ShangYe swept into Jiangnan proclaiming a new product launch for today then the BASTARD booked Han Jihua for the ENTIRE DAY! Qing Ting spent all yesterday worried that the bright star, his muse Han Jihua would be gone this morning.
Snapping the fan shut, he began tapping his palm, he needed to think of a way to get the tasteless hordes BACK in his shop and how to make Han Jihua HIS! Hearing a soft knock he snarled.

"GO AWAY!! "

"Sir... Marquis Yi is here."
Qing Ting hurried to his feet and threw open the doors, grabbing the little man by his shoulders he demanded
"Marquis Yi is in MY shop asking for ME?!"

The scared young man could only nod as his employer shook him before tossing him out of his way. The young man picked himself up from the floor and gingerly brushed the dirt off his bruised buttocks, rethinking his decision to become a farmer.

Qing Ting swept into the special VIP room, his robes in a full swirl as he struck his most attractive pose for the Marquis.

"Welcome, welcome to Ji's House of Style. Where Art is made to be worn."
The stern-faced man dressed in elaborate but tasteful colours and design harrumphed seeing yet another flamboyant designer. Without much hope, he got down to business.

"My daughter's wedding was an absolute disaster with that atrocious veil and headdress from Fuyu's. The colour and fabric were a disaster as well. Honestly. How can a respectable textile shop sell such rubbish?"

Deeply disgusted he walked over to a display set of fully accessorized robes and flicked a nail at it, before nodding and continuing.

"I can only hope you sell something that won't injure or offend my eyes. Here is the list for my granddaughter's needs, I want this matter seen to with the utmost speed. Get it done in half a month I will double the price."

With a sniff, the older man gestured and a thin and skeletal man stepped forward handing over a thick book. Qing Ting wanted to pinch himself seeing the heavy bindings and thick paper. Opening the book, he quickly tightened every muscle keeping him upright.

'Just the first page ALONE will keep the shop running another 3 months!'

"I give you my word that Ji's House of Style will see that your granddaughter's first-year needs are served in Style and Grace! She will be the Pearl in your palm Marquis Yi, Rest assured!"

Qing Ting was trying not to drool as he bowed and flattered the Marquis and set up a time for fittings. Floating on clouds he gave a little happy dance and laughed at the crowds after he left. Dancing around his store with his staff he crowed in delight.
"The richest man in Jiangnan has a granddaughter!!! And House Ji is dressing her head to toe!! Ha! Try to TOP that House Fuyu!! "