Chapter 1019: Chapter 989: If She’s Not to Be Messed With, Does That Mean I Am?

Chu Xiyao and her group flew back home as soon as fashion week ended.

Because of Nan Jiaying’s plagiarism, netizens had started verbally crucifying CE online, and the brand’s reputation had plunged.

But so what?

There are tons of brands plagiarizing and borrowing other people’s designs nowadays, so what can anyone really do about it?

CE is a world-famous top luxury brand; its image and positioning have long been deeply rooted in people’s minds. How could it possibly be toppled by a tiny little plagiarism scandal?

Don’t let how riled up the netizens are now fool you—give it some time and they’ll naturally forget.

Didn’t some brand plagiarize the Hua Country horse-face skirt design before?

Back then, netizens were just as furious, even rushing in droves to boycott that brand. Tons of collaborations and endorsements with that brand were canceled domestically, and yes, the losses were pretty devastating.

But now?

What impact did it really have?

That brand never once issued a single apology statement from beginning to end, and it’s still marketing in the Hua Country market, still making money off people from Hua Country, still a globally renowned top luxury label.

Its positioning and international status didn’t suffer in the slightest.

The people who like it still like it; the ones who want to spend money on it still spend.

If this were before, neither Chu Xiyao nor CE would have felt the slightest bit of fear, because they knew the temperament of people in Hua Country all too well—just leave it alone and, over time, the whole thing will fizzle out on its own.

They wouldn’t even need to issue a statement.

But things are different now: CE has a lawsuit with the Hua Country fashion authorities, and the Nixi Socialite Ball is just around the corner. It’s also a critical moment in her uncle’s competition.

They’d been locked in a power struggle for so long that she knew very well what that woman Su Ran was capable of. If she used this plagiarism scandal to stir up trouble and affect the ball and her uncle’s reputation, that would be a real loss.

Especially since that woman is now the president of the Hua Country Fashion Association; if she wants to trip CE up, it’s practically effortless.

She absolutely could not let anyone become a stumbling block to her marrying into the Fu family!

As long as her uncle inherited Duke Claire’s title and became a first-class duke of Country A, the Chu family’s second branch would also rise with the tide. They wouldn’t have to live under the thumb of the eldest branch anymore.

And by then, the Chu family would inevitably be something in her pocket, and when it came to Qi Yuan’s choice of wife, it would only ever be her!

That’s why she’d deliberately brought Nan Jiaying over today to deal with the plagiarism issue. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Chu Xiyao curled her lips slightly, full of quiet confidence. She lifted her head and looked at the utterly fearless Nan Jiaying sitting beside her, then smoothed the expression off her face and spoke in an even tone.

"When Su Ran gets here, you’re going to apologize properly and admit you were wrong, then put out a statement. Once that’s done, this matter is over."

At that, Nan Jiaying instantly straightened up, her face full of resistance. "Why should I apologize and issue a statement? I didn’t do anything wrong!"

If she put out a statement, wouldn’t that mean she’d lost?

She absolutely hadn’t lost!

"What you did has already affected CE’s image. The online comments about CE are nasty right now. The most important thing for us is to neutralize the public opinion and restore CE’s reputation."

"Why are they saying I plagiarized?! I’m from Hua Country too—how is it plagiarism when I reference Hua Country’s culture? Those netizens are just busybodies with nothing better to do. They’re jealous of me!"

Nan Jiaying’s face twisted with resentment. Those lowlifes were just stirring up trouble for fun!

Why is it that when Su Ran and Nan Shuyun reference Chinese style, it’s called Enrich-ing Hua Country’s culture, but when it comes to her, it’s called appropriation and plagiarism?

She might be a designer for CE, but she was also promoting Hua Country’s traditional culture. Why did they get to call that plagiarism?

This was way too unfair!

"She’s now the president of the Hua Country Fashion Association. Whether something is ’true’ or not is basically whatever she says it is. That woman is a master at manipulating public opinion—her tactics and schemes are vicious. She’s not someone you want to provoke. I’d advise you not to lock horns with her."

"So she’s hard to mess with, and I’m easy to bully? She’s just a president. Hua Country has tons of presidents. In front of the Nan family, what is the Association worth? What is Su Ran worth? If it weren’t for this fashion week, you think I’d even bother to look at her?"

Nan Jiaying’s face was full of arrogance. The Nan family was her backing and her capital. As the eldest young lady of the Nan family, she could look down on anyone.

She’d become CE’s head designer not just because of her own ability, but obviously also because of the Nan family behind her.

She didn’t need to grovel like other designers, bowing and scraping to their mentors. If she wanted, there were countless people who’d beg to take her as a disciple.

She’s formidable? Not to be messed with?

And she’s supposed to be the pushover?

She, the dignified eldest daughter of the Nan family, is supposed to be afraid of her?!

What a joke.