Chapter Fourteen: Quick Thinking Resolves the Crisis!

Seeing his earnest expression, Fang Zhiyin suddenly found herself at a loss for words.

“I mean it,” Ouyang Junyan said again.

“I know.”

That night, neither of them slept.

Early the next morning.

Fang Zhiyin was awakened by her assistant Xiaokang’s voice call. Xiaokang reminded her that she had to attend a media launch today—a schedule arranged two months ago, with many journalists expected to be present.

Fang Zhiyin had completely forgotten about it.

When she got up, she saw Ouyang Junyan eating breakfast, prepared by the housekeeper. It was obvious that the same twenty-eight-year-old had made it.

“Where are you going today?” Ouyang Junyan asked, seeing her rush out in a hurry.

“I’m attending a launch event.”

“Oh, I’ll head to the office in a bit.”

“Alright…”

Neither seemed inclined to continue the conversation.

In fact, they rarely had lengthy chats.

Fang Zhiyin quickly got ready and hurried to the venue.

The event glittered with starlight. Besides media professionals, many online influencers and KOLs attended, all dressed impeccably.

“Zhiyin! You’re here!” Xiaokang waved excitedly upon seeing her.

“What about the dress?”

The host had prepared the dress, so Fang Zhiyin arrived in her own clothes, intending to change later.

“I’ll ask the staff to bring your evening gown now!” Xiaokang said, before heading off. Soon, she returned, her face pale. “Zhiyin! Something’s wrong!”

“What happened?” Fang Zhiyin was seated in the dressing room, with the host’s makeup artist doing her hair and makeup. Seeing Xiaokang’s dejected expression, a sense of unease washed over her.

Other media guests were backstage, some getting their hair and makeup done, others being interviewed. Xiaokang leaned in and whispered, “I went to get your evening gown, but there’s a huge rip in it!”

What?!

With only forty minutes left before the event began, every guest’s outfit had already been checked—it was impossible for such a thing to happen unless someone backstage deliberately sabotaged her gown.

Fang Zhiyin thought bitterly that she’d been plagued with bad luck lately.

“What do we do now, Zhiyin?” Xiaokang cried.

“Where’s the dress?” Fang Zhiyin regained her composure instantly.

“In the dressing room!”

“I’ll take a look!” Fang Zhiyin stood up.

She followed Xiaokang to the last changing stall. The evening gown, crystal blue, would have drawn many admiring glances tonight—if not for the obvious, deliberate gash. Fang Zhiyin was confident that in such a crowd of beautiful, young influencers she could still stand out.

She focused her thoughts.

“What should we do?” Xiaokang, inexperienced in such crises, was nearly in tears. “Should I call Mr. Ouyang for help?”

Ouyang Junyan?

He was the last person Fang Zhiyin wanted to trouble.

“No! There’s not enough time!” Fang Zhiyin said. “It takes over thirty minutes for him to drive here from the company and we only have a short time left.”

She was anxious, a thin sheen of sweat covering her forehead. What should I do now… She frowned, deep in thought.

Time slipped by second after second.

Backstage, other guests had finished their prep and changed clothes. Only she and Xiaokang were as anxious as ants on a hot pan. Fang Zhiyin’s hair and makeup were perfect, but her dress was ruined—her distress was palpable.

“No more waiting!” Fang Zhiyin knew standing idle was pointless. She decided to take matters into her own hands, hoping to salvage the situation.

The next moment, she grabbed the torn evening gown and asked Xiaokang to assist her.

Xiaokang stared wide-eyed. “Zhiyin, you’re going to fix it yourself?”

Yes! That’s how they do it on TV…

Fang Zhiyin had no time to explain. As she fiddled with the gown, she scanned the dressing room for anything she could use.

Suddenly, she spotted a bouquet sent by a fan to one of the influencers backstage. She quickly asked Xiaokang to bring it over.

“What?”

“Never mind! We’ll apologize to that influencer later!”

As her assistant, Xiaokang did as she was told. After handing over the bouquet, Fang Zhiyin wasted no time—she took the flowers, picked up scissors, and deftly snipped off the leaves and stems beneath each bloom.

Next, she took out her always-ready sewing kit, and began stitching the flowers, one by one, over the torn section of the gown.

Xiaokang watched, stunned!

In just a few minutes, the gown that had been nearly ruined was transformed into something unique and striking.

“Zhiyin! You… you’re amazing!” Xiaokang couldn’t believe her eyes. In less than ten minutes, Fang Zhiyin’s skilled hands gave the evening gown a new life.

“I didn’t think much—just treating a dead horse as if it’s still alive!” Fang Zhiyin herself was astonished. She hadn’t expected that with a few adjustments, the gown would become even more beautiful.

“Alright, I’ll get changed now!” She asked Xiaokang to wait outside, quickly drew the curtain, and put on the transformed gown.

Ten minutes later, the staff came to call Fang Zhiyin. When she appeared in her improvised evening gown, the other guests were amazed.

“Wow! That dress…”

“Yes, I just added a little handiwork,” Fang Zhiyin replied with a smile, unwilling to explain further.

At that moment, Ouyang Junyan arrived, speeding all the way.

Twenty minutes earlier, he’d received a message from Xiaokang, asking if he could bring an evening gown for his wife. He’d been on his way to the office, but immediately turned around, found a dress as fast as possible, and drove over.

When Ouyang Junyan appeared at the venue, suave and striking, the other guests couldn’t help but stare.

Fang Zhiyin belatedly looked up, catching sight of Ouyang Junyan. For a brief moment, she was lost in thought.

But there was no time to dwell—guests were heading on stage one after another.

When her turn came, camera flashes sparked everywhere. She disliked being in the spotlight, and only attended because it was important for the publishing company’s growth. The prospect of stepping on stage made her nervous.

Her heart pounded like a drum.

At that moment, a hand reached out and took her arm. Fang Zhiyin looked up in surprise to see Ouyang Junyan standing by her side, naturally offering his hand, ready to accompany her onto the stage.