Chapter 47: I Refuse

The expression on the bearded man's face had frozen.

Was she implying that none of the women in her family would ever like his designs?

He was, after all, the chief designer at KS Jewelry—a master in the industry, a judge at major design competitions. Over the years, aside from Shen Han, no one had ever dared to belittle his work in such a way!

His pride was wounded by such a direct blow, and naturally, he felt a surge of anger.

But after a moment's reflection, he realized the girl might have a point. This was, after all, a Mother’s Day collection for the following year; the target audience was indeed mothers and women of that generation...

“What does a little girl like you know?” he looked at her with some displeasure.

Hearing herself referred to as a little girl, Lin Nanxun raised her head in irritation and corrected him.

“I am not a little girl.”

“Fine, then tell me—what do your grandmother and mother like?” The bearded man watched her, now genuinely curious.

“I can’t really say,” Lin Nanxun’s cheeks flushed as she confessed, troubled.

“Forget it, I don’t have time to argue with you. Just a little girl who knows nothing,” the bearded man sighed, dismissing her without concern.

His words made Lin Nanxun anxious; she quickly turned to search the table. She finally found a few pencils in a holder and a sheet of white A4 paper. Placing them before herself, she glanced at the previous design, then lowered her head and began to draw intently.

The bearded man looked down in surprise, watching her work. As he observed her skilled movements, his curiosity grew.

She seemed entirely different from the timid girl moments before—her face was now calm and focused, with no trace of confusion or fear, only concentration.

He waited for some time, and gradually, a design took shape on the white paper. It was a necklace.

When Lin Nanxun finally put down her pencil, the bearded man took the drawing and examined it.

Unlike his usual extravagant style, the necklace was simple. The pendant was not a gemstone, but a single pearl.

It lacked the dazzling brilliance of diamonds, yet it radiated a gentle, elegant aura.

Despite its simplicity, the necklace possessed a rare grace and understated beauty, perfectly suited for Mother’s Day.

In today’s jewelry industry, and indeed the fashion world, where everything was aggressively luxurious and branded, screaming its value and status, such a delicate, refined design was something he hadn’t seen in a long time.

He stared at the girl for a moment, then looked over the drawing several times, his expression tinged with disbelief.

After a while, the bearded man laid the draft aside and, feigning dissatisfaction, spoke to her.

“Ordinary, yes, but it’s passable. Not bad, you do have some talent.”

Such promising talent was rare, but young people nowadays shouldn’t be praised too highly, lest they grow arrogant.

“I might consider taking you as an apprentice!” he said, feeling a hint of pride as he looked at her.

But to his surprise, the girl simply widened her eyes and stared at him for two seconds.

Just as he expected her to accept joyfully, she shook her head seriously.

“I don’t want to,” she replied calmly, without a trace of excitement.

She had no desire to become anyone’s apprentice.