The two of them quickly arrived at the private dining room Jade had reserved at the restaurant.


    Miranda, with her lively and outgoing personality, immediately bounded toward Jade, who was sitting there sulking. She yfully greeted her with a cheery "Auntie dear" and another affectionate "Auntie darling."


    In the past, thanks to M, Miranda and Jade had been quite close. Despite not seeing each other for several years, there was no awkwardness between them.


    Jade was caught off guard by Miranda''s enthusiastic greeting and, despite her mood, couldn''t help but feel a bit better.


    However, when M entered, Jade frowned. "Why are you still wearing a hat indoors? The heating is on; aren''t you feeling stuffy?"


    M rubbed her nose and mumbled, "I''m a bit under the weather, so I don''t dare take it off."


    "Yes, yes, with this changeable weather, you don''t want it to get worse," Miranda chimed in quickly, sitting next to Jade. She deftly shifted the conversation to catch up on how Jade had been, effortlessly moving past the hat issue.


    Seeing this, Jade didn''t press further. She merely muttered a reminder about taking care of one''s health in the cold before signaling for the food to be served.


    M breathed a sigh of relief and sat a little further away, iming she didn''t want to pass on her cold. The real reason, though, was to avoid Jade noticing anything amiss during the meal.


    Jade didn''t suspect anything, especially with Miranda beside her, chatting away and serving food, keeping her distracted.


    Midway through the meal, Jade pulled a folder from her bag and handed it to M.


    As M opened it, she found information about an uing international fashion week and some rted design materials.


    Jade exined, "With the current timeline, you won''t be able to make it to the fashion weeks in March or June this year."


    It was true. To design and create a high couture outfit, even without factoring in the mid-process stages like sourcing materials and finalizing designs, the craftsmanship alone could take one to two months. Logically, she couldn''t make it to either of those events.


    But then what was this about...


    Jade continued, "However, you still have a chance for the one in thetter half of the year."


    "In July, there''s an event in Mn focusing on the next year''s spring and summer fashion week. It''s an international event, and this time, they''ve settled on two theme series. Splendid has tentatively set to showcase thirty-six outfits per theme, seventy-two in total."


    "I''ve reserved a spot just for you."


    "Over these next few months, think carefully about these two themes. You need to design at least one outfit for each theme. I''ll select one from your designs to be showcased, under Splendid''s banner."


    M was stunned.


    This was a direct leap over the domestic scene and intensepetition, straight to the international stage?


    It was all happening so fast.


    And yet...


    "Aunt Jade, I haven''t officially joined Splendid yet, and won''t this seem too much like putting the cart before the horse? The other designers might have opinions, and they won''t be happy."


    M hesitated, but voiced her thoughts.


    Being a neer parachuting in, and effortlessly seizing a precious opportunity that other designers valued, would certainly spark resentment. Even though Splendid was Aunt Jade''spany, and her word was final, it would still put Jade in a difficult position.


    She could take it slow.


    "If you were inexperienced and unskilled, I wouldn''t bother with you," Jade said inly. "But over the years, you''ve even established your own studio, haven''t you?"


    She frowned slightly, "Though I don''t understand why you didn''t bring your work to the big stage earlier, to expand your studio and reputation further, you''re not exactly a novice in this industry."


    "I brought you to Splendid not to bury your talents, but to let them shine."


    "You''ve been underestimated for too long; now you just need a tform."


    Jade pointed again to the file in M''s hands. "While I have reserved a spot for you, if your work doesn''t meet the standard, I won''t use your design. Whether you make it or not depends on your skills."