Qiuyun was thinking about going back to braid Jiang Chuling’s hair, and her hands moved swiftly and steadily, finishing the basic foundation in no time.
The hairstylist, who had long abandoned her earlier disdain, diligently assisted Qiuyun, observing and learning throughout the entire process.
“All done.”
To stay relevant, one had to adapt with the times. Having collected tens of thousands from the client, Qiuyun prioritized meeting her needs. She had gone online to study current trending hairstyles and easily used setting spray to style a sweet airy fringe for the Sixth Miss.
The staff from the fashion studio held three mirrors in front of, beside, and behind the Sixth Miss so she could admire her look from every angle.
Jiang Chuyu tilted her head left and right, examining her reflection in the mirrors, quite satisfied. “Alright, I know you still need to do Little Seven’s hair. Go ahead.”
“Yes,” Qiuyun replied. She went to the restroom to wash her hands and came out to find two people waiting by the door.
“Xiao Qiu, I’ve already transferred the final payment. Keep an eye on your messages,” Xiao Wei said.
Qiuyun pulled out her phone and waved it. “Got it.”
The other person was the hairstylist who had assisted her earlier.
“Hello, Teacher Qiu. I’m the lead stylist at Thethriving Salon. Here’s my business card.”
“Nice to meet you.” Qiuyun accepted the card. The name read Fang Hui, but the rest was all in English, which she couldn’t understand.
The original owner hadn’t known English, so she was even less familiar.
Fang Hui looked a bit embarrassed. “Teacher Qiu, I apologize for my earlier attitude. I was a bit dismissive. I hope you don’t mind.”
Being called “teacher” by a woman old enough to be her aunt didn’t fluster Qiuyun. She understood that in the craft, seniority was based on skill, not age.
Since the woman was a generation older, Qiuyun humbly replied, “Teacher Fang, you’re too kind. I only landed this job because I know the Sixth Miss and my braiding style is a bit novel.”
Seeing the young woman skilled yet not arrogant, Fang Hui’s smile became warmer. “Teacher Qiu, you’re too modest. Your technique is both exquisite and unique. Honestly, if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would never have guessed such a hairstyle came from a young girl! You seem quite young—did you learn it from your family as a child?”
“I picked up a few tricks from my grandmother, nothing passed down officially,” Qiuyun said without elaborating, then smiled. “Teacher Fang, is there something you’d like to discuss openly?”
Fang Hui chuckled. “You saw through me? Well, actually, I wanted to ask for your permission. While assisting you today, I picked up most of the technique, and I’d like to feature this elegant style on my account.”
She pulled out her phone and showed Qiuyun her follower counts across several platforms. “I have over five million followers combined across my accounts, and don’t worry—the compensation won’t disappoint!”
Two years ago, on her daughter’s advice, Fang Hui started a social media account sharing her daily work. Unexpectedly, it became wildly popular, and her side income now rivaled her main job.
Moreover, the fame from her side gig boosted her main career. The studio she worked for now had recruited her after seeing her work online.
Authorization. What a novel term. Qiuyun absolutely adored modern laws regarding copyright.
“Of course, it’s fine,” Qiuyun said, her smile growing even warmer. “But I’m quite busy today. How about we add each other on a messaging app and discuss the details later?”
“No problem.” Fang Hui pulled out her phone.
After adding her as a friend, Qiuyun returned to the Bright Moon Building. Jiang Chuling had just changed into her princess dress and was matching it with shoes.
“Sister Xiaoqiu, you’re back! Come help me decide—should I wear these sparkly ones or these bow ones?”
Lan Xin, standing nearby, was seething.
When she suggested the sparkly ones, the young miss said the satin bows were prettier. When she switched to the bows, the miss decided the sparkly ones made her look like Princess Elsa. No matter what suggestion she gave, she found fault. If it weren’t for the high pay, she’d have snapped at the brat!
Qiuyun glanced at the two pairs of shoes the young miss had chosen. “The bow ones match the dress well, and the sparkly ones have a subtle elegance. They’re both lovely.”
Lan Xin smirked coldly, waiting to see how this new personal assistant would handle the bratty child.
“So, I suggest wearing the sparkly ones when you first arrive, then switching to the bow ones halfway through the banquet,” Qiuyun said matter-of-factly.
“Great idea!” Jiang Chuling beamed, immediately putting on the sparkly shoes and sitting properly in front of the dresser, waiting for Sister Xiaoqiu to braid her hair.
“Assistant Qiu! Who brings two pairs of shoes to a banquet and changes midway!” Lan Xin fumed, frustrated that her own dilemma had been resolved in two sentences.
Qiuyun was picking out a comb and glanced up in surprise.
How novel. Her lady, the duchess from her past life, always brought three sets of outfits, shoes, and headpieces.
To prepare for accidents—or to avoid clashing styles with high-ranking princesses or imperial consorts—having a backup was standard.
For a big event like this, having a few alternatives was perfectly normal.
“If the young miss accidentally spills a drink on her shoes during the banquet, she can change,” Qiuyun said slowly.
Lan Xin froze, then sneered smugly. “Ha, Assistant Qiu wouldn’t know, but these shoes are real leather. Any liquid can damage the structure, causing it to harden, crack, warp, or even ruin them completely.”
Qiuyun gave her an odd look. “Does the young miss plan to wear these shoes more than once?”
Ladies from noble families never reused banquet shoes and dresses.
“Alright, Teacher Lan, go check on my afternoon tea.” Jiang Chuling, annoyed by her chatter, dismissed her to handle other tasks.
Choking on her frustration, Lan Xin left with sharp words. “Today is the grandfather’s birthday banquet. The head chef’s kitchen must be swamped.”
Qiuyun shook her head inwardly.
Someone close to the young miss siding with the kitchen staff? How inappropriate.
Jiang Chuling’s gaze fell on the mirror, and only when Teacher Lan left the master bedroom did her brow relax slightly.
Truly, comparison exposes flaws. With Sister Xiaoqiu around, Teacher Lan’s shortcomings—rudeness and a tendency to badmouth others behind their backs—became glaring and unbearable.
To match the day’s look, and since the young miss adored the camellia flower Qiuyun had braided into her hair last time, Qiuyun now wove two lifelike butterflies behind her ears. She added ribbon in the same color as the dress, cascading through her curled hair, making her look like a lively little elf.
“So beautiful! Sister Xiaoqiu, you’re so talented!”
Jiang Chuling turned to admire herself in the mirror, her smile unwavering.
With the miss satisfied, Qiuyun felt relieved. She checked the time. “I’ll go check on the afternoon tea again. Eat a little to settle your stomach, then we’ll head to the banquet hall.”
