Chapter 35: Veteran of Filigree Craft

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

After saying that, he pushed Song Wei immediately, causing her to stumble out of the door.

Song Wei quickly blocked the door. “Wait, Master Lin, there’s a misunderstanding here!”

Lin Xuanxiang raised his brows and said coldly, “What misunderstanding?!”

Song Wei used all her strength before she managed to prevent Lin Xuanxiang from closing the door. “Back then, PARADISES didn’t know that the Phoenix Dance of the Nine Heavens was created by you at all. Your disciple stole your work and ran away with the money. When you came looking for him, PARADISES’ boss just happened to be replaced with someone else. The subsequent boss felt that the labor cost had been settled long ago, so he refused to pay you and also refused to revise the right of ownership.”

However, Lin Xuanxiang wouldn’t listen to her explanation at all. “You b*stards! I think you guys colluded with each other to cheat me! That little b*stard became a traitor for money. I spent most of my life’s blood, sweat, and tears on that. All of you helped him frame me—an elderly man!”

Song Wei paused and suddenly changed her tone. “To be honest, I’m also an employee who left PARADISES. Like you, I was cheated by PARADISES. PARADISES’ current boss and design director are b*stards.”

Lin Xuanxiang didn’t seem to expect this. He looked at Song Wei in distrust. “Are you really not one of them?”

From her backpack, Song Wei quickly took out the folder with the design drawings. On the cover of the folder was the huge, fairly eye-catching words ‘Sky Palace Jewelry’.

“I’m an intern assistant for a designer at Sky Palace Jewelry. My name is Song Xiaocao. Previously, when I was at PARADISES, I heard about your achievements, Master Lin. So this time, if I want to modify a filigree ornament, I can only come to seek your help.”

Lin Xuanxiang took that design draft and looked at it a couple times before he finally seemed to be somewhat convinced. “How much can you pay?”

Song Wei paused. “I can’t afford a single cent.”

“Get out!” Once again, Lin Xuanxiang pushed Song Wei out of the door without hesitation.

Song Wei tried her best to argue with him again. “Master Lin, I’m begging you. If this design sells well at that time, I’ll give you all of my bonus!”

“Don’t draw me an illusionary cake. This kind of empty talk can’t be eaten.” Lin Xuanxiang looked at her coldly, unmoved.

“Master Lin, how about this? I’ll sign an IOU. How much do you think it will cost to change the current specimen to a new design plan? I’ll owe you first.”

“Signed with a thumbprint?”

“No problem.”

“Show me the specimen.”

Song Wei finally heaved a sigh of relief and passed the specimen to Master Lin. “Actually, it’s very easy. You just have to take apart this surface layer and inlay it on the side of the jadeite bead…”

Lin Xuanxiang took a look at the sample and looked at the design drafts. “Easy? These are basically two different things, right?! It’s even faster to make a new one!”

“I can’t help it. I’m poor, and I have limited funding.”

“Why are you doing jewelry when you’re so poor?”

“Whose fault is that…” Life wasn’t easy. Song Wei sighed.

However, Lin Xuanxiang still tried his best to convince himself to accept it. He asked again, “When do you want it?”

“The day after tomorrow.”

“Young lady, if you hadn’t brought the real thing, I would really think that you’re here to mess things up! Two days? Is that enough to change anything?”

“Of course, I know it’s very difficult. It’s so difficult that other master craftsmen definitely can’t do it. That’s why I came to you. You can definitely do it, right?”

Flattery will get you everywhere.

People always like to hear good things, especially craftsmen and artists who rely on creative work to survive.

As expected, Lin Xuanxiang was silent for a long time before he sighed. “All right, the labor costs will double because of the expedited work. Sign the IOU and wait for my news.”

Song Wei took the note and looked at it. “Master Lin, why is there no price on this note?”

“God knows how energy-consuming this thing is. I have to determine how much it is worth based on my own situation.”

“Fine…” Song Wei felt like she had signed a contract into slavery.

Before Song Wei left, Lin Xuanxiang threw a bottle of ointment from the table to her. “Just now, I saw that one of your feet doesn’t seem to be as strong. This ointment works.”

“Thank you.” Sensing Lin Xuanxiang’s friendly attitude, Song Wei finally felt relieved.

In the future, with this filigree veteran around, there would be a breakthrough with many complicated crafts.