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Chapter 171: The Lolita Fan
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Flowers poured on Qin Guan's head. He picked one up and pinned it on his hair for fun.
"Ouch! F*cking thorns!" If only he had a high IQ.
As Qin Guan was moving on the stage, the music changed to a sad song.
"She was an orphan. Her mother died when she was three..."
Hey, bro! Stop tricking me! How can I dance to this one?
In a flash of inspiration, Qin Guan thought of the contemporary dance he had learned recently. He began to roll around on the floor. "Ouch! So many thorns! It hurts!"
He rolled, looked up, straightened his chest, opened his arms, and ran forward. He took a small leap and jumped high before rolling on the floor and doing a perfect split with a grimace.
He showed the concept of the sad music through contemporary dance.
His idea was beautiful, but reality was cruel. His performance was pretty good, and some old guests bought flowers.
His pants were too tight though, and they got torn when he jumped in the air.
His crotch was open, but the audience wasn't aware. Only Ouyang Fen had seen.
Great! You fell right into my trap!
Ouyang pushed the DJ away and switched the music to a fast disco song.
Embarrass yourself, Qin Guan. Let all the staff laugh at you! Ouyang Fen was shocked as he stared at Qin Guan's pants proudly.
Qin Guan was prouder than him though. I'm not afraid. I'm wearing long shorts! Fast dancing? Fine! I'll look even hotter!
Qin Guan took off his suit. The buttons fell off with his wild movement.
His fans were even more excited. New Silk Road was really the No.1 agency in the modelling circle. Qin Guan was so hot!
The boss was wondering who had arranged this.
In for a penny, in for a pound. Qin Guan began to unfasten the buttons on his shirt.
People crowded around the flower baskets. Sister Xue hid away for fear that the ladies would stomp on her.
"Wow! He's taking off his pants!"
"Oh, my! My heart!"
"Oh, take them off! Take them off!"
The performance was reaching its peak, when suddenly Ouyang Fen saw the grim-faced boss. I think I'm in trouble. Qin Guan, you bastard!
Better late than never. Ouyang Fen switched the music to a rhythmic song for athletes.
Qin Guan finished his dance and got down from the stage, holding his pants up with his hand. It seemed indecent to fasten his pants on the stage.
The most powerful partner of New Silk Road went up to the boss.
The boss' first thought was "I'm doomed". That partner was famous in the business circle. If his business hadn't had something to do with the fashion industry, he wouldn't have paid any attention to models. He had to be angry with Qin Guan's indecent performance though.
The boss was ready for the worst, but the old man smiled as soon as he saw him.
"Is he from your company?"
"Yes, he's a green hand. He has gone too far as an affiliated model! I'll warn him."
"Oh, no. I think it's okay. He's a smart boy. I'll be more confident with models from your company now."
The boss' expression changed immediately. "You flatter me. Thank you for your support," he answered earnestly.
"Can I have his autograph?"
The boss was confused. The old man is a star chaser? He realized he wasn't when his partner pointed at his daughter, a sweet little girl about four or five years old.
She waved back at her father happily and handed a one-hundred-yuan bill to the flower sellers. "Ten flowers to the beautiful boy," she said in a childish voice.
Her father shed tears of sadness beside her. He had been replaced in his daughter's heart by Qin Guan. If it were not for my daughter, who would have paid attention to an idiot in torn pants?
Qin Guan was quite satisfied with his performance. He begged a designer to mend his trousers in the backstage area.
When the New Silk Road boss, his partner, and the little girl went backstage, they found Qin Guan in his colorful shorts.
"Daddy, he's handsome even in shorts! I want his autograph!" Her father's heart was nearly broken.
"I love my daddy best though. He always pays attention to everything. I'll marry you when I grow up, daddy!" Her father instantly felt better. I love you too now, young man.
Qin Guan had no idea about their complicated conflict. He just signed for the little girl. He had been practising his signature for a long time.
He got an unexpectedly warm handshake from her father as well.
"Nice shorts color," the man said.
Qin Guan's pants were mended, but his shirt had been destroyed beyond repair. As a result, he had to fasten the collar around his neck and wear the suit. It looked like a fake collar from the 1960s.
When Qin Guan went back outside, there were other prize-winners making ad-lib performances. Compared to Qin Guan though, who had gotten several flower baskets, they were not as successful.
Qin Guan helplessly watched Sister Xue take out 1,000 yuan from his money. No tip, huh?
You even get a share from my performance at the annual gala? I object!
Overruled!
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Chapter 172: "The Legendary Swordsman" Is On
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Qin Guan took a taxi home. He pushed the door open carefully and saw that his parents were sleeping.
Wherever they were, they made themselves at home. Qin Guan took off his suit and fake collar, feeling slightly drunk. Sweet dreams!
Sweet dreams? Of course! Qin Guan's parents had been there for several days. They were really good at socializing, so they had quickly established a good relationship with the old people and idlers of the neighborhood committees.
His mother had joined the community Yangge group, and his father had made friends with Chinese chess fans.
Qin Guan felt ruthlessly abandoned by them. He had prepared a map and a tour, intending to take them to the Summer Palace and other famous sights, but his plan had met a premature end.
His parents had turned up their noses when they'd heard it. No one liked strolling around in the winter!
Still, they led a happy life before the Spring Festival. His mother had even brought a gong and a drum home for practice.
Clang, clang, clang...
"Qin Guan, ask your mother to stop!"
"No! She didn't stop you when you watched that fishing competition at home."
Both father and son were cowards, but their neighbours would stop her.
...…
Far from her hometown, Qin Guan's mother had failed to make her traditional Spring Festival cold dish, the aniseed smoked Spanish mackerel and salty sausage. She was still able to serve them a large basin of Y city specialties though, such as assorted stewed meat.
If the king of stewed dishes was the Buddha Skipping Wall, and the household stewed dishes representative was the Northeastern Chinese hotchpotch, one could say that Y city assorted stewed meat combined the merits of both.
It didn't require as much work or as many delicate ingredients as the Buddha Skipping Wall, nor was it as bold or cheap as hotchpotch.
It was enjoying to watch Qin Guan's mother cook. Both Qin Guan and his father would be satisfied with just assorted stewed meat as their New Year's Eve dinner.
Qin Guan's mother used various ingredients for the dish, but not very expensive ones. Qin Guan helped her curiously, trying to learn from her.
After cutting the sea cucumbers, pork bellies, testicles, lunch meat, carrots, chicken breasts, quail eggs, shrimp, and scallops, she boiled everything in a tasty chicken soup.
Then she took out all the ingredients one by one and put them in a large celadon bowl in a flowery shape. Next, she added a little salt, ajinomoto and cooking wine to the soup and boiled it again to thicken the mixture of cornstarch and water. Finally, the soup was poured into the bowl. The dish was ready.
There were also traditional steamed yellow croakers, prawns, Fushan carbonado and Spanish mackerel dumplings made by Qin Guan's father. It was a simple, but abundant New Year's Eve dinner.
Joy was overflowing. Despite the strange environment, Qin Guan's parents were very happy. It was a completely new experience for them. Squabs had to leave the nest after all. Before they left though, parents liked to accompany them for a while.
Qin Guan's family traditionally watched the CCTV Spring Festival Gala. They heard the sound of a few firecrackers outside. Not long after, firecrackers were forbidden in urban areas.
They didn't go to sleep until they heard the New Year bell.
Happy times flashed by. Several days after the Spring Festival, Qin Guan saw his parents off. His eyes were filled with tears as he watched the train speed away. Am I too sentimental?
After the winter holidays, the "The Legendary Swordsman", directed by Zhang Jizhong, was aired on CCTV without any promotion.
Previous news were discussed again along with the TV show.
The audience scrutinized the actors from head to toe. Fans of Linghu Chong in the original work were quite unsatisfied with the actor and his performance, but some attractive co-stars became popular.
Qin Guan thought that the show had caused him more trouble. Zhang Changzhong was an idol in ladies' hearts, but Yang Lianting had attracted a group of wired fans.
At college, he often saw a boy in red with a needle and thread in his hand, who was always pretending to be embroidering in the air. It was horrifying!
Qin Guan tried to talk to him, but failed. The boy would just look back at him with the most shy expression before running away. Qin Guan was completely confused. Maybe he is just playing dumb.
Wang Lei had a different opinion. He thought the boy was scared off by Qin Guan's hormones.
Those rotten girls on the Haijiao forum were even more terrible than male fans though. They had supreme fighting powers.
They could find countless exciting points of gay love in the formal plot, full of homosexual passion.
Although the actor who played Dongfang Bubai was a lady, she did a really good job portraying a man.
It had to be wonderful to die in Yang Lianting's arms.
Besides, Dongfang had teased Linghu Chong with his words.
In the end, their love had shocked the leading actors, who had fulfilled their wish to be buried in the same grave. That year was also of significant meaning for those in favor of homosexuality, as the Netherlands had become the first nation to recognize homosexual marriage on January 1st, 2001.
One could understand the passion of those crazy fans.
It was alright for Qin Guan. Other than at college, he didn't attract any special attention. The one who had influenced him the most was Ye Dong, who had resorted to extreme measures to be elected as chairman of the Student Union.
He had submitted applications for all his roommates for the 39th Capital College Sports Meeting. He had also submitted a flag-bearer application for Qin Guan.
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Chapter 173: The Beijing Film Academy
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
The athletes of his college had passed with a unanimous vote. As they stood with students from other colleges, only the flag-bearers could show off or attack.
Qin Guan's roommates were quarrelling in the dormitory because of Ye Dong. Qin Guan had to miss a couple of interviews thanks to his behavior. He had acted first and asked questions afterwards.
Each of them was an individual with a distinct personality. They had been living in the same dormitory for four years, which would be a beautiful memory for the rest of their lives.
However, that didn't mean that they would bend to one person's capricious will. As an empleomaniac, Ye Dong had a clear aim, and he was taking advantage of all his resources to achieve his final goal. His roommates had been the best choice.
His repeated self-assertion had damaged their friendship for the first time though.
A good-tempered young man like Qin Guan felt that it was necessary to have a discussion about the problem.
"Well, Ye Dong. Better inform us next time you want to use us. We have our own schedules after all."
"If I tell you in advance, will you help me?"
"Yes..."
"Okay then."
Qin Guan backed off close to tears. He was not that good at negotiating. Next! The strongest man from the Northwest, Mu Lejiang, came up.
They stared at each other silently for several seconds before they embraced. Hey! You compromised just like that?
Wang Lei, who had poor marks in PE, had nothing to do with the affair. As for Liu Xiaoyang, he had already been persuaded by Ye Dong.
He was lying in bed, thinking about the professional equipment he would buy and how he would manage to shine during the sports meeting.
Boy, you are all so naive. Never try to argue with a professional politician. You'll only find yourself losing.
Qin Guan wanted to cry, but he had no tears left. Hugging him, Ye Dong murmured with a smile, "No words can express my gratitude for your kindness. You may lose some opportunities because of the sports meeting, but trust me. You shouldn't give up your life on campus for work."
"You know, Qin Guan, if you focused more on campus life, you'd be more popular than you are now. If you ran for chairman, no one would beat you. Anyway, thank you for your support. I'm proud to be your roommate. I really want to spend more time with you. After one year, we will drift apart. This may be the last team activity of our dormitory. Maybe my way was not convenient, but I was just too anxious to express my love. Would you please accept my sincere apology?
Qin Guan felt like crying. I'm so popular in my dormitory. His words really moved me.
Wang Lei looked at his emotional roommate speechlessly. He was too easy to make sentimental. Compared to Liu Xiaoyang though, who was choking from sobbing too hard, Qin Guan did not seem to be the worst one.
It was a sunny day in May, and there was a commotion at Renmin University.
Led by Ye Dong, a delegation from the Capital University of Finance and Economics participated in the sports meeting.
When Qin Guan walked into the court in white sportswear holding the red flag of his college, the audience was shocked.
They couldn't accept that their own emcee girl was inferior to the boy in white.
They read the sign carefully. Were they kidding? It was not a drama or music academy, but an economic college.
That boy could live on his looks, yet he was just competing with them as a straight-A student. People enrolled at art colleges with a score of just over 300. How could people who had to live on their IQ survive then?
The girl led the delegation into the court gloomily.
Great! They were close to the Central Academy of Drama and the Beijing Film Academy. There had been no Beijing Broadcasting Academy at the time.
The students of the two academies were excited. They had originally intended to show off their beauty, as there would be no chance once the sports meeting began. Qin Guan had attracted all the attention though.
The team of the Beijing Film Academy was in turmoil. The seniors of the 97 class were all busy with their graduation, and the best student from the 98 class, Pan Yuchen, was not there. Du Chun and Ling Xiaosu from the 99 class were the only ones present. They had to choose another student. Suddenly, they realized that there was no freshman from 2000 who could play a pivotal role.
They were confused. We are no longer the best-looking college.
They were angry with the students registered during the past three years. Any one of the graduates of the 96 class could have rivaled Qin Guan, such as Chen Kun and Huang Xiaoming.
Bingo! We could send our girl! Where is Miao Pu?
Students from the Central Academy of Drama were clear on their dilemma, and they had already begun tittering.
Their boy, Deng Cao, was not too bad.
After competing with each other both openly and secretly, the two academies finally decided the winner.
During the closing ceremony of the sports meeting, Qin Guan was appraised as the most handsome flag-bearer. As he was waiting on the court, he got along well with the students from the Beijing Film Academy. They recognized him from his roles in the two famous TV shows. Although Qin Guan had only been a supporting character, it was still enough for them to accept him as a member of their group.
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Chapter 174: Will You Go to the US, Qin Guan?
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
For the sake of his college, Qin Guan talked happily with students with good marks.
As a result, he became the most popular person in the sports meeting.
For selfish motives, he also asked the students who would become superstars in the future for an autograph. They were professionals of the entertainment circle, none of whom signed in regular script.
They were a little confused when he asked them for a signature, as Qin Guan was just as famous as they were at the time.
Qin Guan couldn't tell them that he had come from the future though. No one would believe that.
Time was of the greatest importance for junior students, not just because of their heavy schoolwork, but also because they had just begun to think about their future. There were various choices they had to make.
Because of her outstanding design inspiration and solid training, Cong Nianwei's tutor had asked her to design some large-scale buildings during her sophomore year. Although it was just basic design, her tutor could see her potential.
To be honest, QH University had the best Architecture Department in China, but there were different building styles in different countries. As a student majoring in Architecture, open horizons and rich experiences would inspire Cong Nianwei a lot. Her tutor suggested that she take graduate lessons abroad.
He recommended that Cong Nianwei select some foreign universities to pursue further studies. Once she made her decision though, she had to start preparing.
After hesitating for a long time, Cong Nianwei finally called Qin Guan to share that option with him.
The news stupefied Qin Guan. He would have to pay more attention to his tutor's suggestions to study abroad now.
By his nature, Qin Guan had no inclination towards making progress. He already had a wonderful plan for his future. First, he would get his CPA certificate before graduation, and then he would open an accounting firm with the money he had earned from his part-time job. He would be able to provide financial support to Cong Nianwei so she could continue her studies as long as she liked.
Wherever water flowed, a channel was formed. He would make the perfect proposal at the peak of their love. That was how fairytales always ended. The prince and the princess lived happily ever after.
What's going on now? This means that we'll part ways as soon as we graduate. Then what? What shouId I do? Wait for my girlfriend at home? No! No! How can I continue living the fairytale alone? This won't do.
Qin Guan had two choices.
The first one was to stay at home, chat with other friends, and run a poor firm. Occasionally, Sister Xue would book some shows for him. At night, when everything was still, he would cry himself to sleep under his quilt.
His second choice was to go abroad with her. Students were crazy about going abroad.
Between 2004 and 2006, it was a busy period for returning scholars, who finished their studies overseas and came back. By that time, the inland was thirsty and scholars were at their peak. Qin Guan's starting point might even be higher than that.
After clearing the situation, Qin Guan called Cong Nianwei back at midnight.
Cong Nianwei had fallen asleep by then. "It's too late," she murmured in a low voice. "I haven't even made a decision!"
Qin Guan's anxiety made her feel warm. She turned over before she added, "If you don't want me to leave, I'll think about it again. It's only an option after all."
"Actually, I'll be back in two years, which is not a very long time. Women hold lower positions in the architectural industry. Without enough qualifications and experience, it'll be hard for me to exert my abilities."
"What? No, I haven't decided which university to apply for. There are several colleges with good Architecture Departments. QH will give me a chance for individual promotion. Which country? My tutor has suggested the US."
Qin Guan was clear on her thoughts now, which cheered him up. The US is a modern country. Maybe then she will want to… Ha ha…
Taking a deep breath, he tried to calm down and continue the conversation. "I have already made my decision. It's better to see the world while we're still young. Fill in your application, and then we can take the TOEFL, IELTS, or GRE. Any one is fine. Let's go together."
Cong Nianwei was surprised. She thought they had been talking about their future plans. How had they decided to study abroad together? Qin Guan's decision made her nervousness disappear though.
If she went with him, her days overseas wouldn't be as hard as she imagined.
After hanging up, Qin Guan turned the matter over in his mind as he lay on his bed. He had to work more. Maybe he could accept one of those ridiculous plays.
It was a sudden decision. If he could make money himself, he could stop asking financial support from his parents. The expenses overseas would be high though. It seemed like he'd have to fight for his and Cong Nianwei's future.
Oh, by the way, I should send an email to John. He might help us do some things in advance, such as gather the right paperwork or rent an apartment. He might even help me find a job in the US.
As he thought of this, Qin Guan's sleepiness evaporated. He got up and turned on his computer. When he finished his email, he stared at the date on the screen, lost in thought.
Our way to the US might be not smooth. It's 2001. In a few months, there will be a terrible incident in the US that will shock the whole world. Maybe I don't need to worry about the future though. God will take care of everything.
Qin Guan thought about his plan overnight and went to class with black circles under his eyes. There were so many things he had to do.
First, he would have to have a talk with his tutor, who liked him the most, and learn from his experience. Second, he would need to talk to Sister Xue and inform her that he would fail to keep up their arrangement. Third, he would have to inform his parents, Professor Li, Teacher Rong, his best friends, and his roommates.
Then he would have to find some learning material about studying abroad, which might help him get a scholarship from a foreign university. The final thing on his list was the simplest one: find work.
.....
Qin Guan started right away. Sister Xue found it strange that he read all the scripts, which he usually didn't pay any attention to.
She wanted to commit suicide when she found out about his decision. She had worked very hard to get him where he was. In two more years, he would soar to the sky, yet he wanted to go overseas!
Sister Xue called Professor Li immediately. "Professor Li, where are you? Help me!"
Professor Li was over the moon though. She couldn't predict the future in the domestic modelling circle, but rather than accumulate working experience at home and upgrade his level by acting in TV shows, she would rather that Qin Guan starred on the international stage.
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Chapter 175: Qin Guan Seized the Opportunity!
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Professor Li had been wanting to send Qin Guan to an international competition, but he'd had no plans of studying abroad so far.
Judging by his personality, he was bound to revolt and abandon the fashion circle to return to college. However, things had changed, and now he was planning on going abroad himself.
Besides, Qin Guan was going abroad with his girlfriend. Considering the terrible living expenses, he would definitely need to make more money.
Professor Li finally stood a chance of seeing a domestic male model go out and reach the top fashion circles.
Sister Xue had been attacked from two sides. Professor Li had also abandoned her. Her only comfort was that Professor Li would arrange for her to become a formal agent for New Silk Road after Qin Guan left.
Sister Xue had nearly lost her motivation to live. She wasn't willing to leave Qin Guan. They had been comrades-in-arms for the past two years after all. She had witnessed all his steps towards success, yet she couldn't stay with him any longer. She was really sad.
Sister Xue held her tears back as she embraced him. "Cheers, Qin Guan! Let's fight this final battle! It's just to make money, right? I love it! Wait to hear from me!"
What would be the best money-making job for Qin Guan? Not TV shows or fashion shows, but advertisements!
To maintain his image, Sister Xue had turned down a pile of dispensable or tasteless advertisements from A.M. It was time to revisit them though.
After a discussion with the director of A.M, Sister Xue immediately got a notice through email. She began to check the advertisements with Qin Guan.
"This is the latest offer, a body wash ad for Adidas, audition inquired. This is for junk food. I have no idea what brand."
Qin Guan picked up the paperwork at the bottom. Sister Xue took a look at it. "Medicine? That's terrible! How much does it pay? Okay, let me read it!"
Sister Xue read it carefully and turned it down immediately, "Never! Afrodyn is out of the question! I don't care how much they pay."
They made their final decision as soon as they finished reading everything.
"Good, let me see. Two of them require auditions. The other three don't. Congratulations, Qin Guan. Most second-line stars couldn't get that many offers, even though most of them are background jobs."
"Now, let's see the films and TV shows."
Sister Xue pulled a thick pile of scripts from under the table. They had come from film production companies and various film and TV studios.
After excluding those that had already begun and weren't in need of actors, they still had eight scripts left to read.
They read them one by one.
"Wow! Interesting! 'Romance Across the Universe of Time'. It's a low-budget Sci-Fi film with period costumes. It's the first one to be produced in China. We could keep it as an alternative."
"What the hell is 'Maid in Red Mason'? Don't be silly, Qin Guan."
Qin Guan didn't care. He had never heard of that film in his past life, but all actors made some terrible films. It required an audition. Maybe he wouldn't pass it. Anyway, it was an alternative for making money.
Sister Xue could only turn to the next script.
"The 'Graceful Princess' production hasn't decided on the actors yet. Let me see... Servant of the protagonist, uncle of the protagonist, Prince of Xixia… A villain again? No, it's not. Good. Let's save it for later."
"What about 'Qianlong Dynasty'? You'd need to have your head shaved for it though. No! Fine, you'll just audition for these. You'll also audition for the A.M. ads, and I'll sign a contract with the J shirts boss for this year."
Looking at Qin Guan's furtive back, Sister Xue added, "Afrodyn is out of the question!"
Qin Guan bent his head. That advertisement paid the most. He didn't need to worry about his fame anymore anyway.
Qin Guan met the Adidas representative in the meeting room of A.M.
There were six models waiting there, but the representative was hesitant. The director of A.M was murmuring something to him.
Qin Guan tried to eavesdrop on their discussion.
"No, you can't convince me. Although the advertisement will air in Asia, this doesn't mean that we have to choose an Asian model."
"We're talking about deodorants and bathing products, and Western models are more alluring and sexy than Asian ones. You know that Asian models are reserved. They are not good at looking hot. Why not find some European or American models? Let's call this a day. I can wait till you find other models."
Qin Guan's ears quivered. What does he mean by that? Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have cared. At worst, he would have just waited for another chance. Things had changed though. He had a family to support now, which was a very heavy burden.
He couldn't wait for that stupid guy to gather another group of inferior models for a second audition. He would always be the final choice anyway. His time was too precious to waste.
Qin Guan stood up suddenly and walked to the centre of the room, gesturing for everyone to be quiet.
He had shocked all the attendants, who fell silent at once.
Qin Guan cleared his throat and spoke to the representative, "Dear sir, you are a successful businessman, so your time must be precious. I overheard your conversation just now. May I have a word with you?"
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Chapter 176: Afrodyn!
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
The representative of Adidas nodded in surprise as Qin Guan went on with his train of thought.
"Sir, you may not be familiar with me, but I'm Qin Guan, the winner of the New Face National Model Competition. I have a rich experience on printed media, runway shows and TV advertisements. I have been a model for J clothing, Two Sung, and LEE. I have also been on the inner pages of the Chinese ELLE, and I have played roles in two popular TV shows. Besides..."
Qin Guan made a pause there. If Sister Xue, who was quite familiar with him, had been there, she would have known that he was about to surprise everyone.
"There is an old Chinese saying that says that seeing is believing. That's why I'll show you my abilities," Qin Guan concluded. He stood up in front of everyone and took off all the clothes on his upper body, exposing his bare chest.
All the ladies screamed.
The waiting models were surprised. How could he audition like that? What a brave man!
The experienced director was not surprised by Qin Guan's sudden action. He supported his jaw on both hands and scanned Qin Guan from head to toe.
Fair-shaped muscles without the stiffness of European and American models. He looks pretty good. Beautiful V-line abs. Pity that he's still wearing pants... Smooth skin without pores, perfect Asian characteristics, light hair, drops that fall down his body...
He rubbed his jaw. Before he spoke, Qin Guan opened his mouth again and said, "You should see the expression of the girls at my college when they see me. Just look at these ladies."
"If your company hires me, they might be willing to buy that body wash not just for their boyfriends, but also for themselves. It will smell like me after all!"
The director cast a glance at his assistant.
The girl was a classic workaholic. She was pretending to read the documents in her hand though, but her eyes were actually fixed on Qin Guan's bare chest.
The director made a decision immediately. "Great! Young man, you're hired! You convinced me!"
The representative secretly gave Qin Guan a thumbs-up. Thank goodness! I don't need to spend another day serving an unreasonable client.
Qin Guan put on his clothes again. The Adidas assistant licked her lips unconsciously as she saw the beautiful outline of his back and waist.
The director thought it was time to leave, before his excellent assistant turned into an indecent woman.
Qin Guan, on the other side, went to see the representative for the medicine advertisement.
The second advertisement was quite simple. There was always the same line in patulin ads: "If you catch a cold, get a runny nose, or spike a fever, please take XXX cold medication."
He just had to play a weak patient. It was a piece of cake for Qin Guan, who used to pretend to be sick to skip classes in his past life.
His partner was the mother of the representative from the medicine plant, which saved them a larger investment.
The old woman looked like a gracious lady until she saw Qin Guan.
As a housewife crazy for TV shows, she was familiar with all hit shows and the advertisements broadcasted between every episode.
She was a fan of Qin Guan, and she thought of him as a boy from her neighborhood.
She had originally agreed just to do her son a favor, but now she got serious about the job. I won't encumber the boy! What's his name though? I wasn't able to find it in such a long list of cast members!
The woman asked Qin Guan straightforwardly, and he told her his name considerately, making an even better impression on her.
Qin Guan was lying on the couch feebly with a red nose. There were used tissues all around him. The woman ran in at full speed and bent over him, shouting anxiously, "What's the matter, son?"
"Cut! What are you doing, sister? Your son has just caught a cold, he's not dying! Don't look so nervous. Just slightly worried is okay. You went too far with your performance."
Her son looked around awkwardly. He thought his mother was doing this intentionally, just to have more contact with Qin Guan.
No one was that strict with a green hand though, so they began once more. The old woman did better next time. She read her lines precisely with satisfaction.
Then she and Qin Guan held the medicine box up and shouted towards the camera like idiots, "Good curative effect for colds! XXX is the best!"
The advertisement was finished, and the woman was pulled away by her son, waving farewell at Qin Guan with his autograph.
Qin Guan saw her off before rushing to his next interview.
Before leaving, he turned his head around unintentionally and saw the rearranged set. There was a giant queen-sized bed there.
The A. M. staff noticed Qin Guan's curiosity and told him, "It's also for a kind of medicine. Are you interested?"
"What medicine?" Qin Guan asked without thinking.
"Huiren afrodyn. They pay high for models, about twenty percent more than others."
"Forget it, let's go." Qin Guan was afraid that he would fail to resist the lure and take the job.
He went to another audition instead, which was even more exaggerated.
Adidas limited their candidates to models, but that biscuit ad was more loose on the selection.
There was a hodgepodge of printed media models, advertisement models, actors, and green hands from talent agencies.
Their method was also strange. They focused on one's ability rather than their resume.
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Chapter 177: The Nearly Forgotten Money
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
For a food advertisement to attract customers, they had to empathize with the models when they tried the new product.
A model could be good-looking, but that advertisement needed a model to arouse purchasing desire with their superior acting skills.
To make the process shorter, the audition was quite simple. Each person got a case of Xianqu biscuits, and they had to eat them in the greediest way possible in front of the director, the brand businessman and the principle of the ad company.
All the candidates were moaning except for Qin Guan, who seemed to light up with pleasure.
What was his best quality? Not his powerful brain or fairy-like looks, but his endless pursuit of food.
The audition was as easy as breathing for him. Eating was his best skill.
The interviewers were annoyed by the strange performance of the candidates.
Look at that guy! It's a food advertisement! Does he think it's okay to lick the biscuits as if he's intoxicated? Next! Oh, my! This one is smacking his lips like a pig! No one warned him about that? He's even spraying pieces around! Next!
Before he could get disappointed, Qin Guan walked forward leisurely, like a god descending from Heaven to save the doomed humanity.
He took a biscuit from the case with his slender fingers. It did not look like a simple crisp biscuit, but a fairy feast.
Qin Guan stared at the lemon-filled biscuit as if it was his lover. His fingers moved, putting his lover into his mouth.
His red lips opened gently, and he bit the biscuit, breaking it into two. As he was chewing, the mark of his teeth was left on the piece in his hand.
Perfect! It was perfect from every angle. Whatever others might think, the brand businessman thought that the biscuits looked the best during Qin Guan's performance.
Before leaving, the staff of A. M. told Qin Guan the good news.
They patted Qin Guan, who was putting away his belongings, and realized he was putting audition props into his backpack. It was a pile of biscuits.
Qin Guan's mouth was also jammed with them. They're delicious, but they're too dry. There's no water here!
The staff was startled to see all those biscuits in his mouth. Damn it! He's choking! Get some water!
Suddenly, everyone was frightened. If this had happened during the audition, Qin Guan would have definitely been thrown out.
After drinking the water, he waved the staff farewell awkwardly and went out of the building.
He turned on the headlights of his car. The night had fallen, and the stars were twinkling playfully. Qin Guan sighed with emotion.
I have never worked this hard before. With enough pressure, even the laziest people get moving.
The next day, he would act in three advertisements as an extra. He could earn 60,000 yuan in two days, which was as high as someone else's annual income.
To cover the two-year postgraduate tuition fees at a US college though, plus all the living expenses, Qin Guan would have to earn at least 150,000. He dared not relax yet.
Unfortunately, the US Dollar was very strong at the time. The terrible 1:8 rate made his future look dim.
The only good news was that his outstanding auditions had attracted attention from the leaders of A. M.
The Adidas and Xianqu biscuit ads would earn Qin Guan 70,000 yuan, which was a small step towards his final goal.
Qin Guan returned to dormitory. Lying in bed, he called all his acquaintances and told them about his plan.
There was also a more important thing he'd have to deal with soon.
Do you remember his first holiday as a college student? Qin Guan had bought some stocks from his uncle's company, which had been the best choice he'd made since his rebirth.
Western Electricity was one of the first companies in the Chinese stock market. In 1998, it had put an end to its private sales and begun to split stock rights.
The original price of two yuan had amounted to more than 280 yuan after a series of rises and falls. Finally, it had fallen down to about 5 yuan. Countless holders had made a great fortune overnight during those years.
The stocks in Qin Guan's hand would soar in the following years, and no one would be prepared for it. The performance of Western Electricity had increased by 50% every year, which had shocked the stock market.
Nobody but Qin Guan knew that this performance had been forged though. The company leaders had bought plenty of stocks and undersold them gradually through 44 fake individual accounts.
The company had also invested 700,000,000 on the stocks through 69 fake individual accounts and cashed in most of the profits as company income.
After several months, the prices would fall steeply, and countless common investors wouldn't get their original capital back.
Y city citizens were hoping that the government would step forward to help them.
Qin Guan had a general idea of the timing, so he knew that this would be his best chance to cash in his money.
He called his parents to emphasize the importance of underselling the stocks and reminding his uncle.
His parents had nearly forgotten about the stocks, which they'd bought as a joke. They hung up and called Qin Guan's uncle, who told them their current price. Qin's parents realized they were millionaires!
Luckily, they were easy to satisfy. They were really happy with the price. Qin Guan took after them after all.
Both families dumped the stocks and became millionaires. They went out of the stock exchange in a daze. The sum in their account felt like a dream. Qin Guan received a call from his mother and breathed a sigh of relief at the vast sum in his account.
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Chapter 178: A Dog Called Egg
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Wait, there had to be a mistake. It should have been 1.4 million, not 5.6 million.
Before he called his parents, Qin Guan suddenly remembered that Western Electricity had increased its stocks. He held 20,000 shares now.
Oh, my! God has blessed me! I'm a real millionaire! I don't need to f*cking study abroad. I could just stay at home in the US and wait for Cong Nianwei. I'd be a good stay-at-home husband.
He was just kidding. Qin Guan loved money. He put the card in his purse right away. He had enough money now, so he could invest it somewhere. He would still work to pay his tuition fees. He headed to A. M. to shoot his advertisements.
It took him two hours to finish all three. Then he had to prepare for the biscuit ad right away. Adidas had said that they were working on the background and it might take them several days.
The Xianqui biscuit set was an apartment.
Qin Guan had to eat biscuits seriously as he watched TV. His partner this time was not a human being, but a dog.
It was a lovely golden retriever with shining, smooth hair and a smiling face. It was a typical tame dog.
It would have been the best dog if it didn't seize biscuits from Qin Guan's hand.
The advertisement required their cooperation. They had to eat their own food separately, but the dog kept rushing up to Qin Guan and taking the biscuits from his hand, embarrassing his trainer. It was a good boy. Its only flaw was that it was greedy.
The trainer had brought its favorite beef biscuits, but the model was so good at his job that it made the dog ignore its own biscuits and turn to the biscuits in his hand.
The director had a flash of inspiration. Go on! This may be even better!
There was a great turmoil on set. Qin Guan and the dog were eating happily together, their heads touching. The trainer covered his face. I should have trained it more. What a shame! Is there any salt in those biscuits? Oh, no! That's harmful for pets!
By the time the shooting was finished, Qin Guan and the dog's friendship had gotten as solid as a rock. They waved farewell at each other, unwilling to part ways. Qin Guan could see tears in Egg's eyes as he drove off.
He was glad he had chosen that advertisement. The half-full box of biscuits in his trunk would last him and his roommates a month.
Besides, he had collaborated with such a cute dog. What a nice day it had been!
As the saying went though, whatever went up had to come down. The Western Electricity stocks dropped in several days.
Qin Guan's mother was ecstatic when she saw the woebegone crowd outside the bourse. The stock market was a big risk.
Qin Guan's uncle was really grateful. He had been laughed at by all his workmates when he'd insisted on underselling the stocks according to Qin Guan's advice, and they had also made fun of him when he'd decided to buy more stocks.
Reality had proved him right though.
Qin Guan smiled proudly when his mother called him. It seemed that he had benefited again from his rebirth. Forget it, I should go to sleep. This millionaire has to work hard tomorrow.
The following day, Qin Guan went out of A.M. proudly, holding a bag full of Adidas sample sacks.
He dried his wet hair and drove off in the opposite direction of his college. It was not his style to deposit cash into a bank and wait to make profit. He would invest his money on property instead.
Under the Dongzhimen Overpass, the streets were crowded with people and vehicles. Thanks to the general construction and development of the capital, there were construction sites everywhere.
The inner street of Dongzhimen was like another world, even though it was in the same neighborhood.
There were holes everywhere, and Qin Guan's car couldn't get though the Hutong. The residents had even built sheds and cooking benches on the road.
The main reason for that was the fake moving news. Every time the residents heard the news, they would try their best to expand their habitable space in hopes of getting more compensation from the government.
Imagination was good, but reality was cruel. They waited till the newly-built mansions blocked their sunlight, but there were still no definite news about moving.
In the end, the area would be maintained as a historical site of the city, and the residents wouldn't be as lucky as those living across the street.
They'd have to live in those shabby, noisy houses for the rest of their lives. If they wanted to go to the bathroom, they'd have to cross two streets. What a miserable life!
Qin Guan would finally use his money. Nobody knew that Wanda, one of the top real estate companies in China, had bought the place. Qin Guan fixed his eyes on the place where the Wanda Plaza would be in the future.
A little while later, he was sitting with a real estate agent, drinking jasmine tea. The assistant was casting happy looks at him as the young agent was talking about the surrounding properties, saliva splashing around as he spoke.
The charm of the man made Qin Guan enjoy his treatment. It was different compared to the time he'd bought a car.
Qin Guan finished his cup of tea and waved at the young man to stop talking. He pushed the paperwork back and said, "They're pretty good. Some of the houses are almost brand new. I have my own plans though. Is there anything in Dongnei for sale?"
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Chapter 179: Feelings Need a Foundation
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
What? The messy Dongnei area? Is he kidding? Actually, we don't have any houses there.
Qin Guan knew what he was thinking about.
To suppress his doubts, he added in his most elegant and imposing manner, "I know your rules. Your company will deduct from the customers, and your bonus will be influenced. My business is bigger than you can imagine though."
Qin Guan crossed his legs gracefully and supported his hands on his knees. He lay back against the couch and threw a bomb at the young man.
"According to the current prices of the area, it would cost 3,500 to 4,000 yuan per square meter. Most of the houses there are low buildings, 30 to 50 square meters each. That would be about 100,000 to 200,000 yuan per house. You can get only five per thousand as a bonus. Of course you'd look down upon such a small amount. I have a lot of money though. If you can find me houses in that area…"
Qin Guan drew a circle on the map.
"I'll buy them all!"
"What?" The young man pulled his chair towards the table and picked up the map. He glanced at it, his hands trembling as if he was having a stroke.
"Really? Don't mess with me, bro!" He was excited enough to speak in his hometown accent.
"I'm not lying. Call me when you have two or three. If you can find enough for me, I'll give you a bonus myself."
The young man was so excited that he was already planning on pasting advertisements around the area. If there was no information on the database, he would look for houses himself. He was familiar with the neighborhood committee.
After leaving the warm young man, Qin Guan let out a long sigh.
The advantage of entrusting the agent was his professional integrity. He wouldn't ask any questions about why he was purchasing those houses.
It would be a good choice for the residents to sell their houses to him. They'd have to wait a long time before moving otherwise. If they could buy another house in a taller building with that sum, they wouldn't suffer any losses.
Qin Guan considered himself a kind man. Of course, he hoped the residents would not regret this after a couple of years.
Qin Guan didn't stop. He headed to Legation Street to purchase more houses. The properties on sale there would not increase in value though.
The history of Legation Street could be dated back to the establishment of the capital of the Ming Dynasty. It was actually the largest business street of that dynasty. Businessmen came together in crowds in that flourishing area.
During the Qin Dynasty, the Ministry of Employment, the National Academy, and the Supervisorate of Imperial Instruction had all been located there. Some princes, dukes and ministers had also built their mansions there, such as the Su Mansion, the Zhenguo Duke Mansion, the Grand Secretary Mansion, and so on.
In the 1990s, the street had been recognized as a historical area by the government. Residents could sell or rent their houses out, but it was impossible for them to get a fortune by moving. Qin Guan bought those houses for sentimental reasons. He had always loved that street very much, both in that life and his past one.
Before the foundation of PRC, the street had been called the Legation Quarter. After 1900, 11 states had built embassies there, and the street had become a leased territory.
The page was turned over after 1949, when the foreign military camps and banks were gone. There were many tall buildings built then. The changes on that street represented the changes of several eras. Legation Street had witnessed all history.
The value of the street was not just historical, but also artistic. The area was beautiful, with towering ancient trees. Compared to the sheds at Dongnei, the houses there were like royalty. Most of them were quadrangle dwellings compete in all aspects.
The first real estate agent Qin Guan visited had the property he wanted.
He was aware of the shortcomings of quadrangle dwellings.
Unlike purchasing a house in a tall building, the structure of a quadrangle dwelling deserved particular care.
Quadrangle dwellings had a yard surrounded by houses. A rich or big family could build two quadrangle dwellings, connected from front to back. High-ranking officials or rich businessmen could build three or four quadrangle dwellings linked together, with flowers planted between them for decoration.
A small quadrangle dwelling could be composed by 13 rooms, while larger ones had 30 chambers. If there was another quadrangle dwelling joined together, there had to be around 25 to 40 rooms.
None of this was important though. Frankly, no one bought a quadrangle dwelling for its living area, but for the floor space. It was a big trick.
Qin Guan had lived in a small quadrangle dwelling of 13 rooms, with a living area of more than 200 square metres. The floor space was about 400 square meters though.
The price was 20,000 per square metre, which was far more than Qin Guan could afford.
The agent did not see Qin Guan as a potential customer at first, and Qin Guan's expression confirmed his impression.
Qin Guan went out, feeling like weeping. It was a starry night. The revolution was not yet successful. The comrades still had to work hard.
Qin Guan watched the busy Chang'an street, falling into deep thought. After a few years, the sum in my account will not be enough for me to afford even a small apartment here. How will I talk about feelings then?
Determined, Qin Guan rushed to the set of "Graceful Princess".
Sister Xue met him there and found the assistant director, who was in charge of the casting. They were let in.
The show was a period drama narrating a story during the North Song Dynasty (960-1127). Qin Guan auditioned for a supporting role.
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Chapter 180: The Charming Smile of a Villain
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
The character was a good friend of the hero and followed him around as his assistant. Sometimes he had to entertain the main characters and villains.
It was not difficult for Qin Guan, who had played in two TV shows. He was only focused on the money.
Before Qin Guan could read his lines though, the director waved his hands around.
"No, no! Xiao Wang, come here. I want a co-star as background. Ordinary looks would be enough. Why did you find me such a handsome guy?"
"You haven't decided on the protagonist yet. We could find another handsome guy."
"Nonsense! Both the hero and the heroine were just cast by the producer."
The director knocked on the table with a rolled-up newspaper. "Even if they hadn't been though, how could I find someone more handsome than him? Could I ask him to play Cai Jing? The villain? Wait a moment, why didn't I think of this? Love and hatred! That's what sells!"
The assistant director wiped his sweat away. You want to cast him as the villain of the show? But this guy is too young to play Cai Jing! This is a period drama.
Qin Guan handed the notice and script to Sister Xue, who was just as confused as he was. Shall I play villains my whole life?
I'm leaving China soon anyway. I don't care about anything.
The leading actors didn't meet until the whole crew was ready.
The female protagonist was Fang Pingping, and the male protagonist was Li Jie. Qin Guan was a supporting actor.
Fang spoke to him first when they met. Pointing at him, she said in surprise, "Qin Guan, it's you!"
Qin Guan was surprised that she had actually recognized him.
"You know me?"
"Of course! You were famous in senior high school!"
Wait a moment. What did she mean? She said he was famous? Surely Fang had been the most famous student at their school!
Fang didn't pay any attention to him. She started reminiscing right away, "You caused quite a stir at our school as soon as you enrolled. You were the arrogant, gloomy boy from Grade One. Your favorite pastime was reading poems at the playground until the sun set."
Qin Guan was left speechless by her words. Was I such an idiot? No wonder I was famous at school. I don't sound like a normal guy.
Fang looked pleased with herself. "All the girls used to secretly write to you, but I'd intercept their letters. I had asked a group of boys to wait for them before you got to school and throw away the letters at your desk. You should appreciate what I did for you. I know what it's like to be pursued by lots of people. Girls are more difficult than boys though."
That explained why Qin Guan had had no admirers at high school despite his handsome face.
He realized Fang was very crafty.
Li Jie had collaborated with Fang many times in bad shows, so the three young actors got to know each other fast.
There was no logic to the audience of period dramas. Shows like that had to have handsome actors, beautiful costumes, and an exciting plot.
The script combined historical events, national feuds, family vendettas, and romance.
During the last years of the North Song Dynasty, the daughter of Emperor Huizong, Princess Grace (played by Fang) had fallen in love with the young Grand Secretary, Tan Yi (played by Li Jie), who had failed to assassinate Cai Jing, the traitor minister, and ran for his life.
Qin Guan was left speechless when he read the script.
While he was in the dressing room, Fang and Li were discussing their first scene. They felt strange that the director was focusing on shooting beautiful scenes from the very beginning. It had taken him three times to finish a simple shot. Li's face had become stiff from smiling for so long.
When Qin Guan changed into his costume and came out, Li and Fang couldn't keep smiling anymore.
They immediately understood the director's motive. They would have to fight to remain the protagonists.
Such a villain would put them under great pressure. The audience wouldn't even be able to tell who the bad guy was.
Qin Guan had no idea about their feelings. He was just waiting for his first scene seriously. "On your marks! Ready? Three, two, camera!" Qin Guan switched to showing-off mode automatically.
Fang and Li were surprised. Comparison made a big difference, and that guy was much better at showing off.
The cameras ran and the scene went on.
Eunuch Chang handed Tan's letter to Cai Jing, which made Cai believe that he had Tan under control. Holding the letter, Qin Guan smiled charmingly at the camera, fully satisfied and contented. Suddenly, silence prevailed. Everyone around was completely focused on his performance.
The magnificent costumes of the Song Dynasty and the official bright red gown set off Qin Guan's red lips and shiny teeth. His beauty was really unparalleled.
No one would believe that he was a traitor minister. Surely, he must have been wrongly accused. It had to be that muddle-headed Emperor's fault. He took the blame for the Emperor.
Could you please stick to your principles? You're defending a historically proven traitor because of a handsome actor. Where is your dignity?
Fang cast a sympathetic glance at Li. They would be working together in the next scene. According to the script, it would be the most important scene for the hero.
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