Chapter 31 Part 2

“Mid-next month, the little young master’s first birthday banquet—we need to buy a gift.”

“Okay.”

…

The afternoon after Mo Yu’s Weibo account opened, her followers had risen to over five hundred.

“These five hundred-plus fans are probably a small portion from on-site audience, mostly converted from posts in the model contest super topic,” the agent discussed with Shen Muxi over the phone.

“Mm. No need to manage Mo Yu’s account specially. Post one more pictorial update today with the first round’s set photo. Caption: See you September 22nd.”

“Yesterday’s top 18 post—the comments are mostly asking what’s wrong with Mo Yu’s voice? Some are kind and concerned, others criticizing it as a gimmick. Sure no response?”

“I’ll emphasize again: Losing her voice can’t be used to drive hype.”

“Understood.”

“You oversee it initially. Next month, hand it to Mo Yu’s assistant.”

The company had more than just Mo Yu as an artist—mostly actors. Mo Yu was the only model and the one Shen Muxi cared about most.

Shen Muxi couldn’t figure out why she favored Mo Yu so much. Could she really have switched tastes to like an Alpha?

The thought gave her a slight chill for two seconds. She peeled off her face mask, sat at the vanity, and called Chi Yumo’s assistant Chen Qiuxue while skincare-ing.

“Is Mo Yu ready over there?”

“Makeup’s done, doing hair now. Ten minutes or so.”

“Okay. Take photos first and send to me before letting the makeup artist go. Don’t rush. Tonight’s dinner is important—it concerns Mo Yu’s future in the fashion world, got it?”

“Got it, Xi-jie.”

The night after the first match ended, a clothing brand had approached Mo Yu’s agency to discuss a six-month brand ambassador deal.

That brand was MENAS.

As perennial co-sponsor of the New Fashion Model Contest and a renowned domestic apparel brand, MENAS enjoyed the reputation of “benchmark for fashionable clothing” in the country.

Brand ambassadors were always trendy idols at the peak of their popularity, with contracts typically lasting two to three years. Brand ambassadors, on the other hand, changed frequently—contracts could be as long as half a year or as short as three months. They came from all walks of life, famous or not, but having a great figure and good looks was a prerequisite.

Every year, it was an unwritten “rule” to select outstanding contestants from the model contest as brand ambassadors.

Sometimes it was one of the top three winners, sometimes a personal award recipient—there was no fixed pattern.

But…

Shen Muxi was a veteran in the entertainment industry and had some insight into the behind-the-scenes dealings. That was why she personally attended tonight’s meeting with MENAS’s marketing director.

At 7:30 p.m., Shen Muxi brought Chi Yumo to a private club. The place was highly discreet—deals discussed here wouldn’t leak unless the parties involved spilled them.

Shen Muxi wasn’t the star of the evening. She had only applied casual heavy makeup on herself, while having someone style Chi Yumo from head to toe.

“President Shen, this way please.”

Xiao Wei’s assistant greeted them in the corridor, and Shen Muxi’s assistant stopped there.

Shen Muxi had crossed paths with Xiao Wei a few times at business banquets—mere acquaintances who had toasted each other, nothing more.

She was a prominent figure in both Lingjiang City’s political and business circles, as well as the entertainment industry. A mere marketing director wouldn’t dare use dirty tricks on her.

Still, to show how much she valued Mo Yu, she had brought two cars full of bodyguards.

Four bodyguards stood guard in the corridor, another four in the club lobby.

These eight were the show of strength she put on for Mo Yu.

Seeing Shen Muxi enter, Xiao Wei quickly plastered on a smile, stood up, and welcomed her. “President Shen, forgive me for not coming out far enough to greet you. I’ll punish myself with three drinks later.”

His team had contacted Mo Yu’s manager, and the manager had agreed to bring her. He hadn’t expected Shen Muxi herself.

“Director Xiao can hold your liquor—three drinks are nothing.”

Shen Muxi lightly draped an arm around Mo Yu’s shoulder, her protectiveness obvious. “Director Xiao should be aware of Mo Yu’s loss of voice, right? Please bear with her if she seems discourteous.”

“You’re too kind, President Shen. Miss Mo Yu is resilient, optimistic, and open-minded—a rare rising star in the fashion world with real personality. How could that be discourteous?”

A seasoned businessman, he could spin flattery into poetry.

Shen Muxi had no patience for circling around. She led Chi Yumo to her seat.

Inside the room, another man with long hair had stood up with Xiao Wei to greet them but hadn’t said a word. His gaze kept drifting toward Mo Yu.

Once seated, Xiao Wei introduced him. “President Shen, Mo Yu—this is MENAS’s chief designer, Aiden.”

Over drinks, Xiao Wei said, “Both Aiden and I see great potential in Mo Yu. We’d like to invite her to try on our spring-summer collection tomorrow to see the fit before making a final decision. If the collaboration goes through, Mo Yu will close the MENAS spring-summer fashion show in November this year.”

“Tomorrow?” So soon?

Shen Muxi had looked into past contests. MENAS usually announced their brand ambassador at the post-finals press conference after the top three were decided.

That meant they had probably selected her during the competition.

Pre-selected? What would they want in exchange?

“We’re afraid of being too late. After the second round, once Mo Yu’s popularity surges, all the discerning brands will come knocking. Then MENAS might not catch your eye, President Shen.”

Xiao Wei spouted his mix of truth and bluff. “I know Mo Yu is your prized newcomer. To show our sincerity, I promise you this: if Mo Yu places in the top three in the finals, we’ll recommend her to attend the Lanwei Haute Couture Fashion Week as a MENAS brand ambassador at the end of January next year. No empty words—this can go in the contract.”

The Lanwei Haute Couture Fashion Week was one of the top and most prestigious fashion weeks in the industry.

Among the haute couture weeks each year, only a few international brands qualified to showcase their custom collections.

Not to mention how hard it was to model at Lanwei Haute Couture Fashion Week—with Mo Yu’s current credentials, she couldn’t even get a ticket. But as a MENAS brand ambassador, it would be easy.

Moreover, Shen Muxi herself endorsed luxury brands. She could bring Mo Yu along for the red carpet and shows, greatly boosting her exposure.

Dinner was eaten, drinks were drunk, and business was discussed.

Shen Muxi was somewhat tempted by Xiao Wei’s offer but didn’t agree on the spot.

“Hold on, Director Xiao.”

At 8:30 p.m., Shen Muxi prepared to leave with her people. “Though I own the company, it’s not a one-woman show. I need to inform Mo Yu’s manager about the contract. And I promise you, Director Xiao, we’ll give you a reply tonight.”

“Alright, take care, President Shen. I’ll wait for your call.”

Xiao Wei was an AO romanticist with no interest in them that way—just business opportunism. But this time, the one eyeing Mo Yu was the big boss’s Fifth Miss.

Mo Yu belonged to Shen Muxi. If he botched this, he’d offend both sides.

[Xiao Wei: The bait is cast. Whether the little fish bites depends on how the big fish guides her.]

[Xiao Wei: This big fish is protective and short-tempered today, with deep roots in Lingjiang. Don’t toy with her—watch out for getting burned.]

He had to be cautious about who he could offend, who he couldn’t, who he could touch, and who he couldn’t.

The day had been overcast, no sun, no rain, just gust after gust of bleak autumn wind.

The green leaves on the branches had donned new clothes, hanging precariously from the tips.

As if waiting for a gust of wind, or a person, to stage a romance limited to autumn.

A fallen leaf had somehow landed on the car roof—half green, half yellow, as big as a palm.

Chi Yumo picked up the leaf. Was this… wutong?

—Sister, are you going to Lingjiang on a business trip next Monday?

—Yes. Why?

—Wutong Avenue in Lingjiang City is famous. The photos photographers take there are so beautiful. Have you seen it, Sister?

—No.

—Oh.

—Oh what? Want to go see it?

—Can I take leave?

—Be good, not this time. Wait for the weekend or a holiday. Any day you want, just tell Qiao Ke…

—But I only want to see it with you, Sister.

Seeing Chi Yumo standing dazed outside the car, Shen Muxi called, “Xiao Mo Mo, let’s go.”

Memories were like leaves—vibrant in their prime season, crumbling to dust when out of time.

Dust to dust, earth to earth. Fallen leaves had their own paths.

Chi Yumo didn’t take the wutong leaf with her or throw it away. Instead, she placed it back on the car roof, letting the evening breeze carry it on its final journey.

On the drive back, Shen Muxi explained the benefits of becoming a brand ambassador to Chi Yumo.

She also warned of the hidden dangers. “They say it’s just a fitting, and claim the new collection is confidential so you’ll go alone. They might try to brainwash a newcomer like you into gratitude, or negotiate side deals, using power and fame to force compliance.”

Chi Yumo signed: [Even knowing my backer is you, they might still use dirty tricks?]

Like… drugging her.

Even Shi Youwan had fallen victim. For a small fry like her, the powerful could scheme effortlessly.

“Xiao Wei definitely doesn’t have the guts to cross me.”

Shen Muxi had investigated Xiao Wei thoroughly, but she didn’t know if someone with deeper pockets lurked behind him in the brand ambassador’s sordid chain of favors.

Years ago, there had been a scandal about MENAS brand ambassadors “sleeping” their way in, but a judge was pushed out to take the fall.

The judge had lured contestants with promises of the MENAS contract in exchange for sex.

In the end, it was treated as a mere moral issue.

[I’ll give it a try.]

[I believe Sister Muxi’s face carries enough weight. I’m 23 now and have been through ups and downs. It’s time I stood on my own.]

Seeing the resolve on Chi Yumo’s face, Shen Muxi unusually ruffled her hair. “It’s not ‘time to’—you already can.”

After three months together, Chi Yumo was used to Shen Muxi’s sudden touches.

But previously, it had been shoulder hugs in public or playful pokes and kicks. Never this intimate head-ruffling.

She didn’t like others touching her head. Only family and Shi Youwan had done it. Why was Shen Muxi doing it?!