2 Lost Friendship

The next day, Li Ran went to work as usual and no longer thought of yesterday's conversation with her mother.

Today is a special day, she will present her work to the senior designers today! This is her first major project and she wants to deliver the best.

She had finished sketching the first draft of the character designs yesterday, she designed them based on the storyboard and character background given to her.

The moment she read each character's information, her imagination worked wonders that she was able to quickly visualize how each character would look, she even used the images that she had thought of when she was young.

She had been busy for these past few weeks finishing up all the character design sets and is excited for the presentation this morning.

She bought coffee to boost her energy before entering the company building.

She arrived in front of the elevator and saw that it was pretty crowded in front of the elevator.

It seems that most employees decided to go to the company earlier than usual.

She looked down on her wristwatch and saw that she still have plenty of time before her official work time.

She went to the groundfloor's restroom, inside there were only a couple of women touching up their makeup.

She walked to an open space in front of the mirror to retouch her makeup.

She dislikes strong makeup so she usually just applies face powder, coral red lipstick, and light brown eyeshadow.

She usually disregards applying blush but today she applied a light rose blush.

After re-applying the necessary make-up she combed her shoulder-length black hair.

The two women had already finished and spoke to each other. "Hurry, it seems Mr. J is coming today. It is rare to see him come to the office. We have to see him!" One of the women tugged the sleeve of the other, urging her to hurry. While the other laughed and closed her bag. "I heard he is indeed handsome but too old for my taste. He is the same age as my dad, if only he has a son." She shook her head and laughed at her friend. "Who cares if he's old, he is handsome and that is all that matters. I am not looking to hook up, I'm looking to wash my eyes!" The other spoke while pulling the other out of the restroom.

Li Ran just looked at them funnily, she respects Mr. J and is not interested to join the gossip pool. She put a clip on her hair and walked out of the restroom.

She saw the elevator closing and hurriedly ran but she is still too late in pressing the open button. She waited for a moment when the 2nd elevator opened, she went inside and pressed the 5th floor.

Upon arriving she was told by one of her colleagues that the presentation has been moved at 8:00 am. Li Ran nodded her head and went to her desk. She unlocked the lowest drawer and took the files she needed and her USB.

She confidently walked into the meeting room. Everything is perfect except when the people in the room saw her designs, they looked at her weirdly. The most senior designer spoke sternly. "Li Ran, are these yours?" Li Ran is confused, but she still replied. "Yes, they are my character designs." The senior designer changed face as if angered. "Li Ran, Meng Xia had already shown us these concept designs, she has been working for these designs even before you came! We want to give you a chance because we have high hopes for you. That is why we have this presentation! Although you did not use them for the same characters... still presenting them as yours.. is really disappointing!"

The team leader of the visual novel game project silently looked at Meng Xia who showed an aggrieved expression and at Li Ran who is surprised.

He took off his glasses and spoke. "Leave both your designs and take the rest of the day off. This matter will be investigated. You are not allowed to take anything from your desk nor touch your computers. Just take your bags and go home. Don't come back until investigations are over, we will call you separately to get to the bottom of this. This is the most important game project for Mr. J, we cannot be careless!" After speaking strings of words, the team leader stood up and walked out expressionlessly.

Li Ran can't seem to understand the situation. Meng Xia is her only friend since grade school until they graduated from the same university. She did not know how it happened that their designs became almost identical.

She looked at Meng Xia but the other refused to look at her and tears fell from her eyes as she ran out of the meeting room.

Li Ran, who was having a hard time processing the sudden turn of events took in the angry and disappointed stares of her colleagues and seniors. She slowly walked back to her desk, took her bag, and walked to the elevator.

Outside the Jron Buiding, Li Ran saw Meng Xia in the parking lot. Li Ran called out but Meng Xia pretended not to hear.

Li Ran is a little frustrated.

"Xiaxia, I really did not copy your designs. I don't know what happened that our designs will be so similar." Meng Xia stopped walking and looked back at her. "You don't know?" She sneered and continued. "Perhaps, it's better that you don't know, then you could resign peacefully!" Li Ran frowned. "Why should I resign? I did not copy." Meng Xia sneered again. "You think you can still work? Everyone knows that you stole MY work. Do you think you are a great friend? You only know how to make me miserable!" Meng Xia yelled and ran to her car and went away.

Li Ran is left in a daze. She went home, still worried about the events. It is impossible for Meng Xia to see her work because she made sure it was password protected. The only time Meng Xia saw anything related to her work is the first draft of the heroine but it was not even finished. She would not be able to copy them if she did not see all designs ahead of time. Wait! Ahead of time! She remembers during university days she has a portrait notebook! She went to her small study and took an old box from the cabinet. She rummaged for a while and finally got her portrait notebook.

Upon opening them, she saw familiar drawings that are identical to the characters she drew in her character designs. She remembers that Meng Xia who was studying portraits sketch made a copy of her portrait notebook as a reference. She must have remembered when she saw her first drawing. So drawing the others using the same concept will be easy for her. But she can't understand, if Meng Xia wants to use her work, she could just use it even before she was hired so why wait and even accuse her. Jron probably won't use such designs anymore so even if Meng Xia proved she is the original designer, she won't benefit much from it anymore except... she will be fired!

Li Ran called Meng Xia's number and when it connected she quickly asked. "Why?"

Meng Xia chuckled "So you finally remembered, I knew you would use them sooner or later... Why!?... Why should I always be beneath you? Why should I always be placed second to you? Why should you always be better than me? So I decided... Why don't you try to be the one being stared at with contempt, to be belittled, and to be treated like trash! Go ahead and try to prove it is yours! Nobody will believe you! I've already made preparation! I recommended you at Jron just to watch you fall!"

Li Ran is shocked by the words she heard. "I treated you as my sister!" Li Ran can't help but speak in a loud and cracked voice. "Sister? You are not my sister!... And I... I am not your friend!" Meng Xia hung up the phone as soon as the words are spoken. Li Ran heard the call end, but it was as if she heard her heart crack. She did not cry, but she laughed hard as she stared at the sky outside the window. 'When did it go wrong? When did she lose her only friend? Or was it a lie to begin with?'