The scorching noon sunlight streamed into the room. Cang’er, eyes closed, took a nutrient solution out of her Bi-You Ring and drank it. After accurately tossing the empty tube into the trash, she slowly opened her eyes.
She looked at the steel plate she had forged yesterday and, satisfied, stood up and stored it in her space.
After a quick wash, Cang’er walked to Mia’s room and knocked on the door.
After a long while, Mia finally opened it, her hair a messy tangle and dark circles under her green eyes.
“Good afternoon,” Cang’er said, twitching her mouth. “Did you go dog-stealing last night?”
“Ugh, don’t mention it. Teacher Karl dragged me to the rooftop at night to ‘sunbathe under the moon’ to improve my cosmic affinity. The affinity did improve, but I nearly died.”
Tears glistening, Mia drank a pink high-level nutrient solution, then pulled out a purple one and handed it to Cang’er.
“Try this—grape flavor, new product.”
Cang’er’s eyes brightened. She took it and drank it in one gulp, chirping, “Not bad, better than blueberry flavor.”
“Let’s go. Didn’t you say you wanted to buy a dress today? We have to hurry—I have class at two.”
“Oh, okay.” Mia ruffled her messy hair and stepped out.
This was the first time Cang’er had left the academy since the semester began. Lately, she had been completely absorbed in mecha.
The central avenue of Ta City was spacious and bright. On both sides, roses bloomed brilliantly, their fragrance carried by the breeze.
Small multi-story buildings lined the street, housing shops selling all kinds of goods. Higher floors contained restaurants and entertainment venues. Cang’er, chewing a lollipop she had just bought, followed slowly behind Mia. It was her first time shopping in the interstellar world.
“Cang’er, hurry up! If we don’t get the dress, I’ll cry,” Mia said, grabbing Cang’er’s arm and dragging her faster.
“What dress? Does the young lady have to fight for it herself?” Cang’er said helplessly.
“There,” Mia pointed.
A black building stood out among the colorful buildings. Its large sign was surrounded by bright roses, with the words “Jiugang” in the center. Inside, the shop was dark, except for a single beam of light illuminating a robot wearing a fiery red dress.
Layer upon layer of rose petals formed a high, voluminous skirt. The robot stood on tiptoe, spinning lightly under the light. Each petal seemed to dance, as if reaching into the depths of one’s heart.
Outside, yellow caution tape had been set up. Too many people wanted the dress, crowding half the street in excitement.
Cang’er blinked and grinned.
“Oh, it’s this rose dress.”
This was the very dress Cang’er had designed for Mingya. After guiding the pattern-making process, it had been produced as the first completed work: the Rose Dress.
On the first night in Ta City, with Mingya’s help, Cang’er had contacted her boss, Kejia. After receiving fifteen gold coins for that set of designs, Cang’er presented ten semi-finished designs to negotiate with Kejia. She proposed a design partnership: she would provide ten designs each year, each at least the level of the Rose Dress, and assist with pattern-making and production, in exchange for twenty percent of Jiugang’s shares.
Kejia considered it for three days. After seeing the Rose Dress perfectly realized under Cang’er’s guidance, he sent the contract without hesitation.
Unexpectedly, Kejia was excellent at marketing. The Rose Dress had become a hot item, and Cang’er could already envision piles of gold coins flying toward her.
Accompanying Mia in the sea of thousands, they fought to secure a custom Rose Dress voucher for a high price of one purple crystal coin. Kejia, that ruthless marketing genius, declared that only ten custom Rose Dress vouchers would be released across the entire galaxy, causing noblewomen from all sides to scramble for them. Mia, the young lady herself, was no exception.
This was a birthday gift for her grandmother.
Cang’er winced as she watched Mia pay fifty gold coins as a deposit, thinking that twenty percent of the shares might have been too little.