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Chapter 361: Is the Crown Valuable?
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Winners should show off their full potential. Qin Guan decided to impress everyone with his outstanding image.
The perfect couple mounted the stage with grace and pride.
Cong Nianwei lowered her head slightly to wear the royal crown, which was inlaid with bright crystals. They would make the front page of the university newspaper the next day.
The romantic night finally came to an end. The prince and princess left in a luxury car, followed by a queue of even more expensive cars.
They parked at their building. Before they could say goodbye to their friends, Lan Jin's blonde head peeked out.
"Remember, you are a member of our club. I know your address now. Check your mail later. Don't forget my number. I'll call you later. He Ming is the unreliable one, but he is always busy. You are royal to me. Wait for my yacht!"
So I'll basically be your babysitter?
Qin Guan shook his head helplessly and told Xu Xiaoxiao, who was also in the car, "Don't run wild with us. We'll take care of those naughty guys. Tomorrow we'll know our midterm grades. You shouldn't be late."
Bro, it was Lan Jin who would have to pay attention if they ever got together.
The roar of the car broke the silence of the night. They turned around the corner and disappeared. As they were going up the stairs, Qin Guan suddenly realized something.
"Cong Nianwei?"
"Yes?"
"What is your crown made of? Is it valuable?"
It was just like Qin Guan to want to put a price on a symbol of honor.
"It's only made of crystals, not diamonds. I don't think it's expensive. According to my estimations, the frame must be made of PT. I'll check it out in the laboratory later."
They really were the perfect couple.
They were both down-to-earth people. The halo of fame and wealth would never influence their firm will.
It was another ordinary morning. Students shuttled back and forth on campus with nervous expressions. The bell rang and all the students rushed to their classrooms, paying no attention to the beautiful autumn day.
The pen in Kuhn's hand kept knocking against his book. His eyes were fixed in the direction of Qin Guan and Xu Xiaoxiao.
Kuhn did not have a favorable impression of Qin Guan, who had stolen his best friend. He was a boastful guy who relied on his appearance, and everyone would see it that day.
Xu would regret being so short-sighted. He had abandoned golden jewellery over an iron block with a gorgeous disguise.
At Columbia, looks only prevailed for so long. That yellow monkey should have stayed in its corner tamely, just like he had during his first class at Columbia. It would have been the best decision for everybody involved.
As he thought of that, Kuhn felt a little proud. He saw the college staff pasting the grade list outside the classroom. Prof. Martin was also handing out their marked papers.
Qin Guan nudged Xu to wake him up. He was dozing off on the desk. He had drunk too much the previous night. Qin Guan pushed his paper towards him.
"B, B, B+... Wonderful! I'm satisfied!"
His reaction was not strange. Professors at American universities used the weighted score system, which was comparatively reasonable. It focused on the general performance of a student instead of the marks of a single exam.
For example, if a student got 85 at the midterms, 90 at the end of term, 100 for homework and 80 for their paper, and they hadn't missed a single class the whole semester, those marks would be multiplied by the corresponding percentages to form their final score.
The final grade would be 90×40%+85×25%+80×15%+100×10%+100×10%=89.25. In a way, this was fair.
A-, A and A+ equalled 90 to 100, so Xu's B and B+ were a pretty good result, especially considering the heavy pressure put on students at Columbia.
Xu felt proud and relieved. He was in the mood to comment on other people's marks now, so he craned his head to get a look at Qin Guan's mark. His jaw dropped onto the desk.
What he saw was a series of A+.
"Wow! I never saw you at the library. You always disappeared as soon as class was over. How did you get that result?"
Prof. Martin was also curious about him. Qin Guan always finished his homework perfectly in a short time. He was the only one to get a full mark in the whole Finance Department. He was his pride.
Before he could openly praise Qin Guan though, another good student of his, Kuhn, suddenly appeared before Qin Guan.
He showed his marks to Qin Guan and Xu Xiaoxiao disdainfully. "Do you guys see? What does "sincerely convinced" mean? I don't want to waste my time talking to you."
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Chapter 362: An Influential Man on Campus
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
"You should be ashamed of your B. Thank god I've kept a distance from you, Xu Xiaoxiao. You lower the IQ of the whole class."
Kuhn took his paper away. Looking up at the ceiling, he walked out of the room. When he reached the entrance, he turned around and said, "My name is at the top of the grade list. You guys should be ashamed."
Xu was speechless. What do you mean? Look at the list more carefully before you speak.
Prof. Martin swallowed awkwardly. He had no chance to warn Kuhn, who was already reading the list outside.
At the top of the list was... Qin Guan.
A line of A+! Kuhn looked at the lonely "+" on his own paper, as well as his name under Qin Guan's, in astonishment. Tears started running down his face.
Leaving a few scraps of paper behind him, he disappeared at the end of the corridor.
"What happened to him?"
"No idea."
As they walked on the campus path, Qin Guan and Xu Xiaoxiao finally felt relieved. Now they could enjoy the beautiful day.
The latest newspapers were on a stall by the corner. As a well-informed guy, Xu had to get one.
As he had expected, the front-page headlines were about the prince of the welcoming party.
The full-page photo was of a really good quality. The reporter was the best student of the Media Studies Department. The article was professional in both wording and composition.
Qin Guan didn't take the article seriously, but Xu, who knew the power of gossip very well, was anticipating more drama.
Qin Guan was waiting for Cong Nianwei by the stairs next to the library, still in denial.
In Western countries, blondes were always more attractive than brunettes.
A group of blondes that looked like gorgeous celebrities were sending invitations to the handsome, mysterious boy.
"Hey, I have an extra ticket to a midnight film..."
"I'm Jenny. Will you have a cup of tea with me?"
Qin Guan made a face and pointed to Cong Nianwei on the newspaper. "Sorry, but she is my goddess..."
American girls were very straightforward. They left without getting angry, but not before reminding him, "Call us if you break up. We're always free."
Qin Guan waved a handful of cards proudly at Xu Xiaoxiao.
"Qin Guan, what are you doing?"
Safety first. Qin Guan pushed all the cards at Xu fast. "Nothing important. Xu asked me for some paper."
The two of them went downstairs hand in hand, leaving their silly friend behind.
A lot of people greeted them along the way. "Hey! Qin Guan! You look wonderful! Well done, bro!"
The two young foreigners were remembered by all tutors and students at Columbia. This was the beginning of their fame.
Meanwhile, Sister Xue received an email from Qin Guan, reporting his success. The newspaper article and CK's splendid show made her extremely happy.
She sorted the material and sent it to his fan club and to Qu Xuemei at VOGUE.
The phone was ringing nonstop. The busier she were, the better. "Hello, Director Zhang Jizhong? I know that. The TV shows will air in early 2003? That's such a coincidence. Director Zhang Yimou will send his work to Hollywood during that period. Of course, it matters. Qin Guan had a role in the film."
"Yes, that's right. You'll have to help us with the promotion..."
The crew of "Hero" was still working at night. Zhang Weiping got an email from Sister Xue and showed it happily to Zhang Yimou.
"Who shall we take to the US? Have you made a decision? Maybe we could just give him a free ride?"
Zhang Yimou looked at Qin Guan, who was smiling under the flashlights at Columbia. He pressed the end of his cigarette into the ashtray. "You are the boss. You decide."
"Okay. We'll take him next year."
"Next year."
Everybody in China was happy about Qin Guan, who had finally found direction in the small room he had been given at the Chelsea Fair, inspired by his girlfriend, Cong Nianwei.
This had to be named the new gathering place of designers. China would lift its mysterious veil there.
Cong Nianwei was measuring the room. Time and again, she would turn to Qin Guan to exchange ideas with him.
Qin Guan was talking with Teacher Rong on his cell phone. They were discussing the products of the store. He was planning on creating a palace of custom-made artwork.
Because of the limited space, the products would all be from China, but because of the specialty of the district, they also had to be high-end.
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Chapter 363: Freelance Photographer
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Different friends offered to help. The products were designed by Teacher Rong, Sister Xue helped as well, and administrative processes such as the register and the tax calculation were assigned to He Ming.
As the first one among them to start up a business, Qin Guan cheered those idling, proud guys up.
They thought of Qin Guan's business as their own and they ended up founding two companies. One was a commercial company qualified to import and export products, and the other was a high-ranking custom-made store of original brand manufacturers.
Qin Guan turned down Lan Jin's proposal to expand and find a new location. The small company was like his and his girlfriend's baby. It was Cong Nianwei's favorite thing aside from her studies. As a naturally born designer, Cong Nianwei had fallen in love with the store at first sight.
This was the beginning of their new life.
A busy hamster knew its capabilities well. The beginning of their career had to be carried out according to their abilities.
It was not just a career for them after all. It was also an interest. They liked to work without pressure and do everything themselves.
Cong Nianwei and Guo Nuoyan drove Qin Guan away from the store, as he had more important tasks to carry out. He had to shoot his first poster in the J Clothing store after the decorations were finished.
The photographer was an acquaintance of theirs, who had left them a card several days ago.
Thanks to his acute intuition, Guo Nuoyan got a general idea of the situation. The middle-aged woman was a freelance photographer working for many magazines and newspapers in New York. She preferred to live free and leisurely.
Guo looked at her with new eyes after assessing her perfect skills. The adventurous female photographer was good at focusing on detail and exploring beautiful elements amid extreme ugliness.
She didn't ask for money as payment. She just wanted Qin Guan to model for her for free.
Qin Guan was okay with the agreement. It felt like destiny had brought him and the photographer together. He got a wonderful vibe from her, unlike from other ordinary fashion photographers.
It was Helen who designed the poster. First, she had abandoned the traditional studio. Sunshine was the best lamplight and the shade of real trees was the best background. They were enough for a good picture.
The ancient, gloomy style of the Chelsea Fair was the best site.
Wearing his dark green Harley sunglasses, Qin Guan put on the featured fall collection outfits. There were coarse dark red tiles, mottled fences and green trees behind him.
He looked like a fashionable boy walking down the New York streets in a grey cotton hoodie and a black waistcoat.
Helen pointed her camera at Qin Guan. "Relax. Posture doesn't matter. Just relax."
She didn't want to see a serious business model through her lens. She preferred original emotion.
Qin Guan stood there calmly. The audience couldn't see his eyes behind his sunglasses, which increased their desire to get a clear look at them.
Qin Guan leaned his body against the wall. His fair skin contrasted against the coarse bricks.
He looked like the boy next door, like every girl's first crush. That boy was the warmest memory in every girl's childhood.
Helen pressed the shutter like a dying butterfly struggling in the deep autumn. She believed that she had discovered a rare gem. The Asian boy was quite different from how he acted in his ordinary life.
They began the second series of photos.
Breaking the standards of business advertisements, the photos only showed Qin Guan's backview to the audience.
It was a test not just for photographer, but also for the expressive force of the model.
Qin Guan didn't choose clothes of a fitting or complicated style. He just put on a pair of simple straight pants and a hoodie.
Standing on the hillside, he watched the sunset, turning his back to the photographer. Warm sunshine seeped into him, leaving a dim shadow behind him.
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Chapter 364: Hello, New York Fashion Week!
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
A common cap was lying on his head crookedly. He looked like those high school playboys that girls liked. Most girls fell in love with them. They always visited them in their dreams and made them wake up sobbing.
Guo Nuoyan almost burst into tears. He remembered the girl he loved secretly, who was just as splendid as Qin Guan.
With a last press of the shutter, their work was done.
Helen looked at the films. She was in no mood to hand them over to the philistine Asian merchant yet. At the thought of the photoshoot she would arrange though, she felt happy again.
Thanks to the shooting at Chelsea Fair, the shop owners got a general idea of their clothes. They were all professional designers, who knew all about beauty and fashion. They showed great interest in their casual clothes, which were different from the typical American style.
After the shooting, customers crowded into the store. In several days, J Clothing had become the uniform of the designers around the venue. Almost everybody had at least one piece of their clothes.
Thanks to significant aspects such as toughness, endurance, breathability and strong absorbability, they were welcomed as artists. Besides, the most important advantage was their low prices. No one would feel sorry about a stain of paint or wine on their clothes.
As a result, a small circle was formed. The customers and shop owners influenced each other, and J Clothing became a symbolic uniform of New York designers.
It was just like black clothes, brass buttons on police uniforms, loose pipe fitter jeans or the white overall protection suits of quarantine inspectors. J Clothing had become the new symbol of New York designers. Without their clothes, a designer would be considered an outsider of the circle.
It was a surprise for J Clothing.
Of course, this would happen in the future. Qin Guan was currently explaining his thoughts about the company to his girlfriend. He had to keep investing capital in the developing store.
Where would that capital come from? New York Fashion Week! That was the top event of the fashion circle in the US. In late October, New York would be full of visitors.
Qin Guan had received a notice from LEE before the CK show, so he was not worried about getting an invitation. Besides, he could meet up with John, who was in Kansas those days.
Top fashion countries like France, Italy and the UK had their own places in the fashion week, while its casual style attracted countless Asian designers.
The most susceptible and the first to be affected, were Japanese designers, of course, with South Koreans right on their heels. They had great power in Asia, so they were not to be ignored during the top four fashion weeks.
The group of Asian designers was led by Yohji Yamamoto, as there was no Chinese designer among them.
Qin Guan was surprised by the weak brand awareness of Chinese people, as well as the shortcomings of Chinese designers. However, at the same time, he was happy to see another power related to China.
It was a special group of foreign designers of Chinese origin. They had graduated from top design colleges from all over the world and studied Chinese culture. This made their place among designers decisive.
Qin Guan silently memorized their names. I wish they could make their own way in New York Fashion Week this year!
New York had been lively lately. Even Wall Street elites saw countless foreign beauties when cruising at night.
The most bustling metropolis in the world was filled with fashion insiders from all directions, adding an exotic atmosphere to the noisy city.
Unlike the unified management of Beijing Fashion Week, designers there had to find a place for themselves.
Qin Guan was not worried about that though. With notices from three top brands, he could be considered a lucky boy in the fashion event.
The main meeting place was Chelsea Hotel. People were idling around it in hopes of getting an invitation at the last moment.
On the first day of the fashion week, the Armani autumn and winter collection opened the show, followed by CK's formal apparel. Qin Guan was relieved about the schedule.
He still cherished a hope about the resumes he had submitted to top luxury brands, but after waiting for a long time, he still hadn't gotten a call or notice about an interview.
Only then did he realize the hardships independent models faced in New York. The best opportunities did not always go to good models. Various factors were involved.
Abandoning hope, he changed into his outfit and waited silently backstage for the Armani models to finish.
Looking modest during the fashion week was difficult. John, who had to appear long after, presented himself at the entrance leisurely, with Qin Guan's outfits in hand.
He seemed not to know what the word "modest" meant. A group of people were following him.
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Chapter 365: Giorgio Armani
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
They were hairy, strong young men in LEE overalls and dazzling plaid shirts.
It seemed like a gathering of farmers was taking place backstage.
"Wow! The first show is really lively!" John handed the plastic bag to Qin Guan as he looked around.
There was no spare space, so he sat down on the floor. "Introduce yourselves to each other. We are all LEE models. From left to right, this is M, L, W..."
What a simple introduction! The models protested immediately.
"F*ck, you always act like this in front of beautiful girls, John!" L, who had a sexy full beard, glanced at Qin Guan with his grey eyes. Then he covered his face. "Ah! A beautiful boy. He's so handsome!"
"I'm L."
A man of 1.90 meters with hairy legs was standing before Qin Guan on a single foot. His other foot was in the air. What a wonderful scene!
"Back off!" W pushed L away and leaned his big face into Qin Guan, "Darling, you know John is a shameless bisexual."
"He spent last night with three girls. You should choose a loyal gay man like me! Look at my muscles! They'd give anyone a sense of security."
"In a dangerous city filled with monsters, only a strong man like me can be your safe harbour."
The man went down on one knee and rolled his sleeves up to show his muscles.
Qin Guan whispered to John hopelessly, "Is he homosexual or bisexual?"
John answered with an awkward smile, "Homosexual..."
Smiling at the strong men, Qin Guan turned around to pick up a wooden block from under the leg of a table.
They were all straightforward and incompatible with high-end custom-made apparel. Armani and CK models were educated, refined and royal.
On the first day of the Fashion Week, all the brands had sent their best models. Compared to Armani models though, models of other brands were inferior.
The models of the opening show hadn't shown up yet. Their level was also unparalleled.
LEE was the leading brand in jeans though, so their models were not inferior to anyone in the backstage area, although they had a different style.
One of the Asian models became a focus point backstage. Even the staff couldn't shout at the crowd after catching sight of Qin Guan's smile.
He was like an ancient scholar from a traditional Chinese painting. His voice was like pearls falling into a jade plate.
"Look at this!"
The well-dressed boy crashed the wooden block into pieces.
Wow!
Everyone turned away from him, some in admiration, while others in envy or spite. It was like someone had pressed the "continue" button, making them get to work.
John's friends were staring at the pieces.
"Okay, John. He's got the clothes. The show will start now. We can talk later."
"Yes, that's it!"
They left fast. Qin Guan grinned proudly. The rotten block had been used to support the table. It was wonderful to scare people away.
Suddenly, he noticed a commotion at the entrance of the backstage area. The calm, peaceful models seemed surprised, thirsty and eager to impress.
This was because Giorgio Armani, one of the top designers in the world and a native Italian, had appeared. He was their lucky star.
Qin Guan stared curiously at the old man with the silver hair in the middle of the crowd. He was wearing a leisure suit.
His navy cashmere cardigan, simple T-shirt and Khaki pants were elegant, graceful Armani designs.
He had taken his new favorite model, Chad, to the fashion week, with the intention of causing a storm amid the gloomy economic situation.
Surprisingly, Chad was the model Citizen had compared to Qin Guan. Destiny was a magical thing.
Unlike the other models, who tried their best to impress Armani, Qin Guan just sat there calmly.
If one wasn't given an opportunity, they could always just grab it. Since they would be representing different brands on the same stage, they could compete against each other in a dignified, imposing way.
Qin Guan only had pleasant thoughts. He wasn't annoyed by the chaos at all.
The chief designer and senior manager of the CK operational department saw the peaceful boy in the corner and exchanged an appreciative glance.
"An Asian model for the opening show?"
"Yes."
"A brave choice, but a good one."
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Chapter 366: Similar Concepts
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
As a Columbia student, Qin Guan met the demands of the CK senior executives. His outstanding looks were appreciated by designers. Fame followed merit, so he would undoubtedly be the model of the opening show.
Everyone calmed down, and the Armani models, who were led by Chad, changed into their outfits and got on the stage solemnly.
The CK chief designer nearly fainted when he saw Armani's fall collection. Coincidently, Armani was also featuring a concept of dark tones and practical styles, which was quite similar to the style of CK. As if that wasn't enough, their leading model, Chad, was also wearing a military style outfit.
As a result, the two brands would have to depend on their models' performance, as well as the response of the fashion circle and the media.
The chief designer secretly congratulated himself. VOGUE's favorite model? The best model in the US? Who cares? My work is better than Armani's!
The curtains were lifted to reveal the crystal castle behind them.
Everything was transparent. The T stage, the chairs, the ceiling, the wall... It was like a little girl's paradise.
Every flashlight from the spectator seats was reflected with a colorful light, and every model on the stage was enveloped by a magical halo.
Qin Guan smiled to himself.
Chad had no idea about the relationship between him and the new CK model. If he knew, he would have just huffed.
He was the best example of an American Idol. He had originally been an athlete before he had been discovered by VOGUE. Mr. Armani had gotten infatuated with him at first sight, and he had become the old man's favorite boy.
As he walked on the stage, Chad looked proud and strong, filled with an eagerness to win.
The sad city needed to be cheered up. Armani had had to change its usually gentle, refined style to a tougher one. Chad had been the best choice for that.
The strong American man stood on the stage with his hands hanging deliberately between his thighs. The hearts of the ladies and young girls in the audience were beating fast.
If I could spend a night with the hottest man on a fashion magazine, all my dreams would come true.
Chad returned to the backstage area, leaving the stage reluctantly behind him. The seductive moment had been recorded by the cameras.
Both the designer and the senior manager were frowning slightly, but they remained silent for the sake of their models.
What should we do after the Armani show?
There was no time for them to think. Qin Guan turned around, the light of the crystal getting reflected on his jade-like face.
The chief designer suddenly smiled. He instantly calmed down.
Moving along to the melodious blues song, Qin Guan walked on the stage.
The excited audience was frozen on the spot. Qin Guan walked towards the audience like a haughty god descending from Olympus, or an Ice Queen in her own castle. The black suit he was wearing looked loyal on his body.
Despite the fact that the concept was similar to Armani's, Qin Guan had a completely different style.
The photographers went crazy. The designers looked excited. Fashion insiders covered their mouths and hearts with a dramatic expression on their faces.
Hardess, the God of Ice and Snow, had returned to his grim throne.
Silence prevailed in the hall, although the music was still playing.
The chief designer hugged the senior manager, tears filling his eyes.
"Awesome!"
"Wonderful!"
The staff backstage couldn't help but pat Qin Guan on the shoulder as they passed by him. The Asian young man had performed a miracle!
The Armani models had been too busy changing clothes to watch the CK show. In their opinion, the brand was not worthy of their attention.
Qin Guan disappeared in the changing rooms backstage. Giorgio Armani combed his silver hair with his fingers, looking lost in thought.
He leaned his head slightly to the left, and his smart assistant bent over to him.
"Who is he? Where did CK find him? Why have I never seen him before? I need his resume right now."
"Yes, sir!" The assistant left immediately.
"Excuse me, but I think I know him," the receptionist said courageously.
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hapter 367: Getting Noticed
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
"I'm an assistant receptionist at the New York Headquarters. That model is called Qin Guan. One month ago, he submitted his resume to our company."
"He is an independent model. I remember that he was sincere that day. I'm also sure he had not been hired by CK yet."
"How sure are you?"
Armani's assistant looked alert at the news.
"Completely. I swear. He is perfect. I had put his resume aside and filed it in our database."
"Impossible. We would have discovered him during the selection. The HR Department would never have overlooked such an outstanding model."
"It's true!" she protested. "You could check my records in the system. I personally sent his resume to Jimmy in the HR Department."
"I remember his resume because of his outstanding figure. Qin Guan, male, 21 years old. Chinese, the first Asian Fashion Man, Citizen... LEE..."
"Really? He chose us first?"
Giorgio Armani and his assistant exchanged a glance. Then the assistant said, "Let's talk about this later. Email me his resume."
Suddenly, Giorgio Armani was reminded of something. "Do you remember his basic information?"
"Of course!"
She recited a series of numbers, making the old man feel relieved.
"That's pretty good. Even better than Chad. Chad used to be an athlete after all."
"Make a survey later. Even our brand couldn't bear to suffer that kind of loss."
"Besides..." He straightened his back. "I can do nothing about the comments about us and CK... Maybe this will be our Waterloo. We will be brought down by a brand that started by selling underwear! Get me all the media reports tomorrow!"
"Yes, sir!"
Chad was talking with his agent, his eyes fixed on Giorgio Armani. The old man should have come over to praise his performance, thus giving his agent a chance to talk to him about renewing their contract.
His dream didn't come true though. Giorgio Armani and his staff left hurriedly after the show, leaving the assistants behind to deal with the aftermath.
Chad shrugged at his agent. He was too proud to ask what had happened.
Countless brands would be waiting for him after the fashion week. Citizen would be his next client. Their investment had pleased his agent the most, so they had to be impressed by his performance.
The Citizen representative was Qingmu, who had negotiated with Sister Xue and Qin Guan back in Tokyo. As he sat by the crystal castle, he didn't know what to say.
The rejection in Tokyo was visible in his eyes. He had seen Qin Guan in the fashion week. He had not been working for some inferior brand. He had been an opening model for CK!
He was just as good as Chad, the leading model of Armani. Qingmu was regretful. A weak voice in his mind kept reminding him of his mistake.
He was in no mood to see the rest of the show. Before he could stand up though, the spare seats beside him were suddenly filled.
He gave the newcomers a flattering smile when he saw them clearly. He couldn't leave now.
Giorgio Armani and his staff were sitting in the spectator seats.
The next show was LEE, which was quite different from Armani in terms of operation policies and products. Armani was showing an interest in jeans, the poor man's clothes. The media had discovered something interesting.
Qin Guan changed his clothes. Suddenly, he turned from a prince into a farmer. He put on a brown cowboy hat. His black tassels swayed as he walked.
The atmosphere backstage suddenly changed. The tough cowboys stuffed their hands into their pockets and stomped their boots against the floor.
American country music started playing. The curtain was lifted up, revealing an immense grassland to the audience.
People in business wear were watching cowboys in cheap outfits with poker faces. The strange scene attracted a lot of attention.
"He is coming..." Giorgio Armani's assistant warned him.
Qingmu was quite curious about them.
What? Who is coming?
Qin Guan was coming...
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Chapter 368: Good Graces
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Qin Guan went on the stage and the atmosphere suddenly changed. The jeans fit his full backside and slender legs well.
The plaid shirt was tied around his waist. Not an inch of his skin was exposed, yet he looked incredibly sexy.
"The style is really… interesting!"
"Yes!" The assistant understood what his boss meant immediately. "He is good at everything."
Qin Guan smiled like a cowboy looking at his beloved girl. His smile was warm and sincere.
Giorgio Armani smiled. The whole audience was smiling, yet Qingmu felt like crying.
The reporters were absorbed in thought.
Qin Guan retreated behind the curtain, getting buried in encouraging embraces and soft pats.
So this was what professional acceptance was like.
An old grey-haired man under the stage was watching Qin Guan with tears covering his face.
The general manager of Miramax Films was wiping his sweat away. He had flown to New York to discuss a movie adaptation with him.
After arriving at the set location, he had made a call to change the time and place. He was involved in the fashion circle, so he had been invited to the New York Fashion Week.
Miramax Films had no other choice. He was Chuck Barris after all, the most famous TV producer of the 1980s.
He was the creator of the earliest TV entertainment programs. Until then, he had only engaged in producing and transcribing American entertainment programs.
However, being a romantic in nature, he had also written an autobiography about his unique life. Miramax was competing for the rights to adapt it.
They were under a lot of pressure, as many big Hollywood companies had important projects coming out that year. Considering the ever-shrinking box office earnings, they had to carve a new path out.
Indie films were their first choice, and they had invested a lot in order to win a prize. George Clooney had actually agreed to star in the film, making them extremely happy.
Of course, the main problem was getting the approval and rights to an adaptation from Chuck himself.
The manager was straightforward. "Mr. Barris, what do you think of our terms?" he asked Chuck in a gentle voice.
The handsome old man wiped his tears away with a handkerchief.
"They're alright, but I have my own terms. I want to have a say in the casting. Otherwise, there's no need to discuss this. This is my autobiography after all. My own life. I don't want to see an ugly actor portraying me on screen. I already found the right actor for you. It's that beautiful fairy. He looks exactly like me in my prime time!"
The manager narrowed his eyes and scanned the old man over. He looked like he might have some West Asian ancestry. When he was young, both his eyes and hair had been black.
The manager rubbed his face awkwardly. "This is an arbitrary decision. We have many suggestions for the main lead. Besides, we have a big enough budget to hire famous actors..."
Chuck broke in impatiently, "You are not the decision maker. Ask him to come here. He will stay. He has another show later. Is George the director? Ask him to evaluate my choice. Beauty is good for our health, isn't it?"
The negotiation came to a temporary end. Chuck always did as he wished. He took out his vintage monocle like a naughty boy and watched the next show carefully. It was CK's underwear show. Those sexy legs were definitely worthy of his attention.
Qin Guan didn't know about their fight. When he changed out of his outfit and got ready to leave, he got a short, strange notice from CK. He was asked to go to the CK headquarters after the fashion week.
The first day of the fashion festival had ended with many conflicting thoughts.
Qu Xuemei got an email from Sister Xue about the fashion week. On the computer, Qin Guan looked much better than he had in China. It was deep at night, but she still made an overseas call.
"Richard! Yes, it's me. I sent you an email. Did you see the boy? I'm promoting him to be on the next VOGUE. Full inner pages. Front cover would be even better."
The red-haired man nearly had cerebral haemorrhage when he heard his arch enemy.
VOGUE is not yours! Although he had noticed Qin Guan, he was not a popular public figure in the US.
A regular advertorial would be enough. It was impossible to arrange such a large layout for him. He had to consider the sales volume of the magazine.
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Chapter 369: New York Times
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Qu Xuemei calmly listened to the roar coming from the other end of the receiver. When he stopped, she continued threatening him.
"I know what you are thinking about. I'm always right about people though. When did I ever cheat you before?"
Plenty of times! Ever since we were interns up until you got promoted, you have always been ahead of me. You bully me for fun!
Richard had tears in his eyes, but he still decided to say no to her. Before he could hang up, she played her last card.
"I'll apply for another position tomorrow. I have already developed the market in Asia anyway. I think Asia needs a new chief editor."
"No! Elder sister! You are like my own sister. No problem! Full inner pages! That's my maximum authority." Richard yielded to the evil woman in horror.
"Be sensible. Take advantage of the fashion week. If you are brave enough to put him on the cover, I'm sure that you will become chief editor soon." She sighed. It's been so many years, but Richard has remained the same. He's so timid!
When their negotiation was over, Richard hung up trembling. He had to obey that woman to maintain world peace.
Tomorrow, after the fashion week, I have to meet the Asian model Xu resorted to such extreme measures for.
In the early morning, the hurried people on the New York streets saw the newspapers. There were photos of the fashion week everywhere. Not only on the New York Post, but also on the Wall Street Journal, which had written an article on the event.
Fashion critics were sharing comments on the outfits and the designers. Those sharp comments were always intolerable for famous designers.
"Top brand lacks worthy successors, a new prominent force suddenly rises..."
"New faces: CK's vision on model selection..."
"Are you ready for this rising Asian male model?"
There were reports in top-selling newspapers that featured Qin Guan's photos.
They also put Armani's leading model beside him to attract readers.
Chad's black business suit was on the left, while Qin Guan's cold CK outfit was on the right. It was a clash of ice and fire, a conflict between two different design concepts.
The critics and designers on the forefront of the fashion circle expressed unanimously the view that Armani's fall collection was too straight and narrow, and lacked any striking points. On the other side, CK was worth being re-evaluated.
Those articles were on a desk at the Armani headquarters. The prediction of the receptionist had been confirmed.
Jimmy was waiting for his final judgement with a pale face.
"What I want to know is why you threw his resume into the trash!"
The director of the HR Department had the resume in his hand. Jimmy had forgotten to destroy it completely.
The dust covering the resume indicated that it had been there for a long time.
"Armani is the best brand in the world. Our concept is elegance, fashion and royalty. Those mediocre Asians and negroes can't exhibit that. They were beyond our consideration."
"Plus, he is only an independent model!"
Jimmy looked savage. He didn't realize his mistake. He thought he was being considerate, because he had been thinking of the company.
The director drew a serious conclusion. "I'm sorry, but your subjective opinions have influenced our work. Considering the importance of your position, I think you are not qualified to fill it anymore. I'm sorry to inform you that I have to let you go."
"What?" The middle-aged man stood up hysterically. "You have no right to fire me! I'll complain to your superiors. You are abusing your authority!"
He tried to grab the tie of the director in protest.
"Let me go! Let me go! Security!"
There was a general turmoil in the meeting room. Several security guards rushed in and pulled the crazy man out of the building.
In a different office, an assistant was watching respectfully an old man, who was refreshing his spirit by closing his eyes.
"Make an appointment for me to meet the young man."
"So you want him to try on our apparel? He has the perfect figure."
"No!" The elegant old man smiled like a naughty boy. "You forgot about our new product line."
"You want him to try that?"
"Yes. We have been suppressed by Chanel for a long time. Maybe that Asian model can surprise us..."
"Yes, sir!"
Qin Guan had no idea about the games played between top level brands. He had just finished the NORTH FACE show and he was tiredly planning on going home, when he was suddenly stopped by a serious reporter.
"W." The short man handed his card to Qin Guan with shining eyes.
"Okay..." Qin Guan put it in his pocket.
William was surprised by the boy's calmness. All the models knew W's great reputation. It was one of the top fashion magazines in the US.
Generally speaking, only top models could attract the attention of the magazine, yet the young man had accepted his card like it was a free napkin at the supermarket.
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Chapter 370: Three Invitations
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
"I'm a contributing editor of W..."
"I know. Your card says that... I can read English."
Qin Guan felt strange around the excited man.
Why aren't you excited? Why aren't you screaming out? Why aren't you holding your breath like other models?
Before he could express his feelings, William heard Qin Guan's following words and choked.
"Front cover or back cover? What about money?"
William suddenly lost any interest in a detailed introduction. Forget it. Never make small talk with an ignorant foreigner.
"We are having an event about the fashion week. We are recruiting the best models to take a group photo. It will be in our latest octavo publication. It will distinguish us from our competitors. The payment will be symbolic. We will only compensate models for transportation. You must clearly not know about W..."
"Okay, if I can fit it in my schedule, I'll be there."
"Oh… Okay." William choked again. They looked at each other in silence. Before he could say something to save face, an annoying voice came from behind him.
"Hi, William! You seem well these days. Are you an editor? Ha! Are you bullying this greenhand here?"
That man is really good at provoking me.
William looked so angry that he scared Qin Guan and made him take a step back. William clearly knew who that voice belonged to. That slut Richard!
Yes, Richard was there to talk to Qin Guan personally. He was afraid that if he didn't, Qu would rush back from Asia.
VOGUE and W were among the top five fashion magazines in the US. Their hostility dated back many years. W had been founded in 1972, but it had been defeated by promising newcomer VOGUE in a single round.
This had been the beginning of a history of blood and tears. Like a Ferrari, VOGUE was quite far ahead from W's conservative carriage. The gap between them was getting broader and broader.
His chief editor had come up with an uncommonly good proposal, but he hadn't expected to meet there that disgusting Richard, who was basically VOGUE's royal running dog.
William held his head unyieldingly high. The fact that he was 1.6 meters tall made the posture look ridiculous though.
Richard grinned. He had been born in Texas, so he was taller than most Americans.
He squatted down and waved at William. "I've got you. That distance was too long for us to communicate."
Grinding his teeth, William ignored Richard's provocation. He simply turned and told Qin Guan, "See you in late October... I'll call you..."
Their different opinions made it useless to talk. Richard watched William go with a gentle smile. Then he held up his fist to greet Qin Guan. "Hello, I'm Richard."
How did he learn this way of greeting? Qin Guan was confused. He had no idea how to communicate with him.
Richard did not give a damn though. He would finish a whole set of greeting methods if that's what it took to greet a Chinese person properly.
He bent his knees and brushed his hands heavily on his pants. With one hand hanging down at one side and the other stretched out, he took a standard Qing Dynasty posture.
"How are you, master?"
I wonder who taught you this.
Qin Guan was enlightened by the strong man's card.
"I'm Richard. I work for VOGUE. This is my card. I wonder if you're free on the weekend. I would like to invite you to take some pictures for our magazine's inner pages."
This is exactly Qu Xuemei's style.
"Okay, send me a notice." Qin Guan was straightforward with his new acquaintance. He took the card. "Did Qu send you to find me?"
"How do you know?" Richard took a surprised step back. Is every person who hangs out with that witch an enchanter?
"A top magazine would never trust a full-page spread to a newcomer in the fashion circle. Besides, I'm Asian. This must have been internal promotion. I only know one person who works for VOGUE, and that's Qu Xuemei."
Richard was convinced.
"I see that you trust Qu a lot. You must have a good relationship."
"Of course we do. I always miss her." Richard smiled awkwardly. She is really the best editor. Not one of the best. The best.
People only experienced Qin Guan's beauty when they met him in person.
Richard left in high spirits. Maybe she is my lucky star after all.
Qin Guan walked away as well. As he walked along the path, he realized that the gates of the New York fashion circle were gradually opening for him.
A taxi stop was nearby. Suddenly, a girl with cute freckles on her face jumped out from around a corner.
"He... Hello..."
Her voice was as weak as a mosquito's.
She handed Qin Guan an unshaped card with trembling hands. "This is my card..."
Qin Guan smiled and took the card, which was almost wet from sweat.
"I'm the editor of a magazine... I have watched all your shows during the fashion week... I think you are wonderful..."
"So, I was wondering if you have any spare time this week. We want to invite you to be on the cover of our magazine..."
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