Chapter 331: The Quintessence of Chinese Culture
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
"Qin Guan, help him..."
"What? I can't..."
"Yes, you can! I know Teacher Rong trained you. You are a clever guy. You can even tell a story in a Beijing dialect using a drum. The Peking Opera is nothing compared to that. Surely, you must be good at it!"
Qin Guan couldn't explain to his girlfriend. He had been trained in Mei School [1], which had been selected by Teacher Rong for his job. He had played a young lady in a Peking Opera.
What would he teach to the monkey? How to cast soft glances?
Xu Xiaoxia was also a smart boy though. He could see that Qin Guan was an opera actor. Besides, according to his girlfriend, Qin Guan had learned from a great master.
"Master! Help me!"
I'm not Tang Monk [2].
Xu pulled Qin Guan's sleeve.
"Help me! I want to make a great impression at the birthday banquet!"
Xu was anxious about the banquet. He had been born into a big family, whose main talent was the lively power of reproduction. His grandfather had three brothers, and they had their own sons and grandsons.
It was hard to stand out. Xu had to compete for attention. It was a pity that, although he was a favorite in his own family, he was a nobody for others.
He was the eldest son of his father, so as a child he had been taught to hide his weak points.
"But I acted out young men's and women's roles. I know nothing about martial arts roles."
Qin Guan and Xu looked at each other silently. Elderly people liked lively, joyous plays for birthday celebrations. What could they do?
Cong Nianwei was more observant than the two boys. "You two are silly! 'Ma Gu Congratulating Birthday' is the most authentic Peking Opera. Xu is not a strong man, so he could play Ma Gu."
Xu really liked her proposal. It was much better than performing "Monkey King Defeats Pan Jinlian". Both he and Qin Guan approved of the idea.
"Let's get down to business." Xu thought that Qin Guan would arrange a schedule for him, but he pointed to an empty table instead. "Dumplings, please. We are hungry."
Xu had an idea. He pointed to the stage and said, "Qin Guan, if you perform on the stage right now, well or not, I'll give you a 70% discount in the future."
"Really? Are you serious?"
"Of course. I'll get you a golden card."
"Deal. A hungry bear doesn't dance though. Boil those dumplings for me. They have to be ready by the time I'm finished."
Cong Nianwei was happy with the deal. Prices in New York were very high. They had made some calculations overnight and realized they would be needing about 100,000 dollars a year, tuition fees not included. Even the amount they paid for a meal was important to them.
"Put some makeup on backstage."
Qin Guan saw Su San taking off her dress at the backstage area. Even though she was a professional Peking Opera actor, she was satisfied with the pay there.
The classmate of the boss' son will improvise on the stage. The middle-aged lady sighed.
Those foreign Chinese kids are ruining the quintessence of Chinese culture. Before she could get a grip, Qin Guan finished his makeup.
He drew on delicate eyebrows, pinned some flowers on his hair and brushed a bit of rouge across his cheeks. Soon, the handsome young man had become a beautiful lady.
Waving his long sleeves, Qin Guan opened his mouth and said, "Xu Xiaoxiao, show me the way to the stage..."
Perfect!
Su San stood up excitedly, nearly kicking off her chair. Impossible! Surely, this doesn't mean... I have to keep watching!
"Ah! It's an order from the goddess from the abode of immortals. I'm turning around and picking up a jar of wine..."
Making the orchid gesture, Qin Guan started singing a beautiful melody. His expression, gestures and posture were all attractive. He looked like a really beautiful girl on stage.
It was like a dream!
The foreign customers were shocked. What a charming girl! Their saliva was dripping like the Niagara Falls!
Qin Guan finished his performance and returned to the backstage area. Su San grabbed his arm. "Who was your mentor?"
"Teacher Rong..." Qin Guan stared at the lady in confusion. Xu Xiaoxiao came back to his senses and rushed up to them. "What are you doing? Let him go!"
"Teacher Rong?" Is that a master of the Peking Opera in China?
"Teacher Rong recommended that I study with Mr. Hu Wenge. He was the one who taught me."
"That explains your style. How about Ms. Li Susheng? Is she any good?"
Li Susheng was another follower of the Mei School from the same generation as Hu. Qin Guan nodded. "She is fine. She performs often on stage and has many followers."
Su San loosened her grip on Qin Guan's sleeve and sighed in relief. My teacher is living a happy life. She wasn't that angry with me, even though I quit.
The boy had given a good performance, even though he had just had a few lessons on the Peking Opera. It seemed that her struggle to carve a path for the Peking Opera in foreign countries had been wrong.
There was no room for the Peking Opera there. She had become rusty after all those years. Besides, the foreign audience under the stage was not really interested in the Peking Opera.
[1] A famous genre of Peking Opera
[2] In "Journey to the West", Tong Monk was the master of the Monkey King
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Chapter 332: Homework at Night
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Maybe I was wrong from the very beginning. It's time to go home. Li Diandian, the actor who portrayed Su San, smiled at the unsurpassed beauty. It felt like she had gone back in time to the moment she had won an award in China, back during her prime time.
"Thank you, young man." She stood up and left the restaurant without hesitation.
Goodbye and farewell.
"Qin Guan!" Xu Xiaoxiao gave Qin Guan a quivering thumbs-up. My mentor!
Qin Guan took off his costume and makeup. There was no trace of charm left on his face. He smiled at Xu. "I'll teach you in my spare time. It's only a three-minute scene anyway. It'll be a piece of cake."
Xu would do anything Qin Guan told him to. He considered Qin Guan a talented person hiding in a cave [1]. He would become Qin Guan's henchman in the future.
After the performance, Qin Guan was very hungry. He followed Xu to his table, where there was a plate of fresh shrimp dumplings. You really invested a lot in this, dear Xu.
The manager ran up to Xu Xiaoxiao with sweat covering his forehead. He pointed to two smartly dressed foreign customers standing beside the cashier. They looked like Wall Street geniuses.
"What's the matter?" Xu asked the manager strictly, changing his attitude completely.
"They want to give the lady who was on stage a bouquet. And they want her number... Sir, shall we...?" He pointed to the green bills in their hands, implying that there was money involved.
"F*ck off!" Xu pushed the manager off awkwardly. Then he turned back, afraid that Qin Guan would get angry.
However, his mentor was buried in food while his girlfriend convulsed with laughter.
It seems that they encounter such pursuers often...
In Xu's imagination, Qin Guan was a disciple of a famous Peking Opera master. He had lived an ordinary life, filled with flowers and applause, but still remained indifferent to favor or humiliation.
He was getting closer to the truth now, except that Qin Guan's identity still escaped him.
The moon rose above the high buildings of New York. Qin Guan and Cong Nianwei left the restaurant hand in hand.
Their long shadows merged together on the ground.
"Cong Nianwei?"
"Yes?"
"Do you have homework?"
"Of course."
"What shall we do then?"
"Run!"
Happy laughter and cheerful voices flew in the air above Manhattan. Their hard-working figures could be seen in the moonlight by the window.
As they were sleeping in their queen-sized bed, Qin Guan received a message on his phone.
It was 1:45 at night. Who the hell is texting me? Qin Guan got out of bed, his bare feet padding on the floor. Their phones were lying on the bedside table next to each other.
Both of them had received messages, but they had missed them in their deep sleep. Qin Guan narrowed his eyes and read the message.
He could read every word, but he didn't understand. What does "additional work" mean? More homework?
That was why people took drugs. Qin Guan pushed Cong Nianwei awake and told her, "Weizi, my professor just gave me more homework. You also have a message. Is it about homework too?"
Massaging her eyes, Cong Nianwei glanced at her phone. Suddenly, she threw a pillow at him. "Do your homework in the living room. Close the door for me!"
It was only a message about the weather forecast.
The rising sun was peering through the window. Cong Nianwei walked out of the bedroom with a yawn. She found Qin Guan sleeping on the couch with his laptop on his stomach, saliva running down from his mouth.
She massaged his short hair with a smile. "Time to get up!" she told him before she ran to the bathroom. It was important to get to the bathroom first in the morning.
"Are you done with your homework?" she asked amid the sound of the water running.
"Of course. I'm a genius. I finished it all. Then I found some other material to read before I fell asleep."
Qin Guan walked to the fridge in his slippers and discovered that it was empty.
"We could eat out."
"Okay."
In the morning, only breakfast bars were open in Manhattan. Hurried office workers would only stop for their favorite breakfast.
Like all authentic Manhattan residents, Qin Guan and Cong Nianwei followed the crowd flow into the most traditional breakfast bar.
There were simple bagels on sale there. The most typical example was a classic round bagel. Customers cut it into halves and spread thick cheese cream on them. That was the traditional way to eat it.
In the supermarket, bagels were sold for 0.75 dollars each. One could find them everywhere, in both bars and restaurants.
That bar was particularly popular though. Qin Guan believed it was because of the abundance of food offered.
One could get a sandwich, an omelet, floppy pancakes or waffles there. There were also fried eggs, cheese, ham, bacon and hamburgers on the menu. The bar's rich breakfast was very popular among Manhattan residents.
[1] In Chinese martial art fiction, talented people are modest and always hiding in caves, keeping a distance from earthly things.
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Chapter 333: Racial Segregation
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Retired people were eating leisurely at the tables. Only they could enjoy their breakfast like that.
Qin Guan walked out of the bar with a bag in his arms. To prevent the cream from getting dry, the barista had considerately wrapped the bread with thin tinfoil.
Qin Guan and Cong Nianwei walked into campus, enjoying the traditional breakfast of another country. They smiled at each other when they parted. Thank you for coming to New York with me.
With you by my side, I will not miss the moon back home or look for tofu pudding early in the morning. Even this sweet American bread cannot stop our love.
The couple was the best example of tough Chinese people. If everyone on Earth died, the last humans to survive would definitely be Chinese.
The two young students were already living a comfortable life in New York.
Qin Guan entered the classroom quietly before the bell rang. Xu Xiaoxiao, who was sitting in the first row, patted the chair next to him.
"Qin Guan, sit here. It's easier to communicate with the professor."
"Where is your friend? What about him? Won't he mind if I sit here?"
Xu didn't know what to say. Qin Guan noticed a knowing, wicked expression on his face. It must be my imagination.
"Never mind him. I think Kuhn will be busy in the following days. Plus, the seats are enough for all of us."
Qin Guan thought that Xu must have been oppressed by Kuhn for a long time.
Xu Xiaoxiao had been lively in Chinatown, but he had been studying at Columbia for several years. He had to understand Kuhn's family well.
"Okay, I'll take the seat."
The view was really good from the first row. Qin Guan sat next to Xu happily.
When the bell rang, Prof. Martin entered the classroom. He frowned slightly when he saw that his favorite student was absent.
"Does anyone know why Kuhn is absent?"
His voice had hardly faded away, when Kuhn rushed in with messy hair.
"Sorry, professor. I had a private affair to attend to..."
It was a big event for his family that day. His father's secretary and assistants hadn't gone home, and his mother, who was only good at acting and shopping, couldn't do anything but dial his father's number again and again and cry in his room.
Annoyed, Kuhn hadn't finished his homework, let alone the work the professor had given them at midnight.
Actually, he should have asked for permission to skip the class that morning considering the situation, but he was an ambitious boy, so he had managed to get to the class.
Anything he did could make the news. He could never leave any room for humiliation from the political opponents of his father. Kuhn immediately noticed that Qin Guan was in his seat. He blinked.
Xu was surprised by his presence there, but his eyes were shining bravely behind his thick glasses. So what? Things have changed.
The day before, Xu had returned home and talked about Qin Guan with his father. His terrible father had broken in and said, "From now on, you should keep a distance from that Kuhn. Stop paying attention to him. Henchmen are only necessary when it's profitable."
He was right. Although Manhattan was in the lead in the financial circles, they had to pay attention to another important circle: politics.
Lott, Kuhn's father and the leader of the majority party in the US Senate, had unexpectedly delivered a speech at Thurmond's 100th birthday party, causing great trouble to himself.
Lott had made a big effort to praise Thurmond, who was a retiring senator. "If you had been elected president in 1948, all the current problems of the US would never have existed, including 9/11."
Wow! Did that mean that Lott would say anything to impress people now that he was about to become the leader of the Democratic Party?
Grinding his teeth, Xu Xiaoxiao smiled. "Sorry, Kuhn. I didn't think you were coming. I thought you'd be absent for a few days. After all, who would go to class after such an event? Or is this your true nature? Is it your cold blood driving you or are you actually making an effort?"
Qin Guan was stunned by Xu's sharp words. Although he was not good at arguing with others, he was not an idiot.
Why would Xu fight with Kuhn in such a blatant way? There had to be a story there. I'm a newcomer though, so I'd better remain silent.
Qin Guan pulled at Xu's T-shirt, pointing to Prof. Martin, who was about to explode at his students.
You all look down on me! If I was 10 years younger, I would have beaten you to the ground!
You are funny, Prof. Martin. As an academic geek, you always envied the leader of the school team!
Kuhn cast a meaningful glance at Xu. Before Prof. Martin could shout at him, he walked to the back of the classroom with his books.
The class began, diverting everyone's attention. Xu sighed and pushed up his glasses.
That year, as a candidate supporting racial segregation, Thurmond had declared, "Considering all the laws and bayonet of the Washington army, the government shouldn't let negroes into our homeland, schools, churches and entertainment venues!"
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Chapter 334: Theatre Club
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Why had Lott reminded everyone of the past? The US had been a melting pot in 1948. Asian, African and Latin immigrants had made a large family together.
Lott's speech had expelled the Asian race from the system. By taking advantage of 9/11, he hadn't left a way out for other races.
Okay. Now let's wait and see.
Lott had no time to attend to other things. According to Xu's father, in a few days, he would quit from his position as leader of the party.
He wouldn't have lost his status, if he hadn't behaved foolishly.
As a good boy, Qin Guan had no idea about the situation. Prof. Martin praised him for his homework.
The old man really loved his engagement. He attached great importance to Qin Guan's work, which showed his abundant knowledge and seriousness.
Before the class, he had tasted the best scented tea in China, which was jasmine tea. It had been a gift from his Chinese old friend.
Qin Guan would have laughed out loud if he had seen the tea leaves. They had been just ordinary products from Zhangyiyuan, worth 80 yuan. He wouldn't have had the heart to reveal the secret though.
Jasmine tea from Zhangyiyuan had the best fragrance. It was a typical trick of the 100 year-old store.
The straightforward old man said, "I will praise one student and criticize another. Qin Guan, you did well. Even though you are a foreign student, you have adapted to Columbia really fast. You are definitely the top student in this class."
Prof. Martin was a strict instructor, so everyone was shocked by his comments. Only Qin Guan remained calm.
You have not sat the Chinese College Entrance Examination. We have to finish two papers in one hour. The homework at Columbia was okay for ordinary students, and Qin Guan was no ordinary student. He was gifted.
Martin was glad to see Qin Guan's calm expression. Suddenly, he sighed and looked towards the back row.
"Kuhn, your work was bullsh*t! Are you messing with me? Kuhn? Kuhn?"
The students in the back row pushed Kuhn awake. The unlucky boy had fallen asleep. He hadn't slept at all the previous night.
Kuhn was still Martin's favorite student though, so the professor just sighed helplessly. "Stay here after the class is over."
Xu Xiaoxiao pulled at Qin Guan's backpack and gestured towards the Recreation Hall. Qin Guan nodded.
"The coffee at Columbia is pretty good. I'll show you the charm of our university..." Xu told Qin Guan as he dag for change in his pocket.
On the square, they saw several boys gathered on the lawn in front of the Roche Library in groups of two or three. They watched the football match there three times a week.
Xu Xiaoxiao explained to Qin Guan, "Asian students seldom watch it. It's popular here at Columbia though. Matches are often held here. "
"Of course, the basketball team is the best. John, your new friend, is the team captain. Our college team participates in the US college league. We are the top among all Ivy League colleges."
"Did you see them yesterday? Their disputes are renowned at our university, just like the exciting stories of those wealthy, influential families from the Upper East Side. In fact, most Columbia students are quiet like you."
"A bookworm can be born in an academic family, and a boy in shabby clothes can be the son of a state governor. Columbia is a cradle for politicians after all. Thanks to wealth, people can pursue their dreams."
Dreams? In this wealth-oriented country? Are you kidding? Only simple Americans would believe that false conception.
As they chatted, they went through the gym and entered a private dancing studio.
Suddenly, Xu recalled something. He handed Qin Guan a flier. "It's the freshman welcoming party. Chinese students organize it."
Qin Guan looked down at the paper. Interesting. More and more Chinese students were going to US colleges. It was said that the union of Chinese students was very powerful. I could take a look.
Qin Guan didn't say anything. He began his lesson instead. He taught carefully, and Xu listened just as carefully. Their melodious voices attracted a lot of attention. American guys had no experience with such melodies.
Whey they finished and were about to leave, they saw a line of heads along the window.
The leader of the theater club had hastened there at the call of a friend. He was eager to discover new talent. It was the beginning of the semester, so it was the best time for societies to find fresh blood. That way, they would get more points when they were evaluated by the university.
Unlike societies in China, societies at Columbia were independent and responsible for their own profits and losses. The administration of the university had the right to supervise their function and budget though.
It was a pity that Qin Guan turned down the invitation of the theater club. He had his own plans. Xu tried to persuade him not to make a quick decision.
When the crowd dismissed itself, a girl stayed behind.
It was Wendy, the proud girl he had met before. She had stayed to try and convince Qin Guan.
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Chapter 335: Part-Time
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
"Qin Guan, you'd better give some thought to his suggestion. If you look down upon the university theater club, I could recommend you to the actor union on Broadway."
"Large theaters have strict regulations, but if you pass the test of the union or get approval from famous actors in the circle, you'll do great things on Broadway."
Qin Guan shook his head at Wendy's kind words. Although Broadway played an important role in the entertainment circle in the US, it was only a small part. Considering their limited audience, both musicals and dramas were in an awkward position.
Besides, long-term rehearsals and tours did not fit in Qin Guan's schedule.
Out of respect for Wendy, Qin Guan didn't try to mess with her. He gave her a detailed explanation instead.
Different people had different aspirations. Wendy loved Broadway, but she would never force others to love it. The reasonable girl gave up her plan to convince Qin Guan.
Qin Guan and Xu Xiaoxiao left, ignoring the light in Wendy's eyes.
Xu was a cunning guy though. Although he had an idea about Qin Guan's plan, he thought Qin Guan shouldn't let that chance go so easily. He tried to explain the benefits to Qin Guan.
Being a member of the theater club was a unique experience.
"Hey, dude! Don't be silly. You'll be an important member of the club. You are even better than the students from the Art Department. It will be a rich experience that will get you offers from big companies in the future. You shouldn't say no to that."
Qin Guan grinned at Xu. "Who cares? I'll return to China after I graduate."
Xu was astonished by his splendid smile. He followed Qin Guan, thinking of the old photos his grandfather often caressed in his spare time. "Is China really that good?"
Qin Guan nodded firmly. "Of course. It is perfect!"
"We have the financial center in New York, there's Hollywood in Los Angeles, and the iron planes in Seattle."
"We have everything in China. We also have nothing. You have to experience it yourself. I'm inviting you to China. You should come to my home court."
Xu fell silent. He secretly decided that he would go to China someday. I've heard that Chinese people can't even afford tea...
Time passed peacefully. Qin Guan had gotten used to the homework by now. He was leading a regular life.
The routine tests would be over at 12:00 every day. Then the papers would arrive in the afternoon. Qin Guan was fully prepared, so he saved a lot of time each day.
He decided to execute his plan in Manhattan. It was not his fault he would have to work part-time one month after arriving in Manhattan.
They spent 3,000 dollars a week, and it cost a week's wages for Cong Nianwei to have a haircut on Times Square.
She didn't ask for a lot. She simply cut her hair shorter. Qin Guan couldn't help but use the word "f*ck" to describe the prices in New York.
John invited Qin Guan to the LEE headquarters in Kansas. Thanks to his recommendation, the designer had sent an invitation to Qin Guan.
After checking his schedule, Qin Guan apologized to John. "I have only one day off in October. Your launching event will still be in the early stages. I have no time for that."
John roared angrily, "This is about your future development! I have made so much effort to get you this chance! New York Fashion Week will take place in late October. It's among the top four international fashion weeks. If you get that chance, you won't need to go to f*cking auditions!"
"You are an Asian stranger in New York. Nobody will be interested in you!"
Unconsciously, Qin Guan recalled the old professors back at his college. If they knew that their best student skipped classes for a part-time job, they would hang him upside down.
Sometimes, giving up was necessary. Qin Guan took a long breath. "John, I started my career from being a nobody. I've been to auditions before. Why couldn't I do it again? You know how strong I am. Believe in me! I'll see you at New York Fashion Week."
Then he hung up, feeling very ambitious.
John looked at the silent receiver, grinding his teeth. He was at a bar, and the phonograph was playing soft music. A girl in a short skirt smiled at him.
"May I treat you to a glass of wine, honey?"
In the flirty night, John temporarily forgot about his Asian fairy.
Qin Guan prepared his resume and sent his homework to Prof. Martin. He wondered if there was a place for him on Times Square, where the most designers and clothing companies gathered from all over New York.
New York gave the impression that it was the center of finance and press. Actually, that was only part of the truth. The city had important ports, but it was also the largest fashion center in America.
That contradicting combination was perfectly embodied on Times Square and Chelsea Street.
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Chapter 336: Resume Delivery
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Designers were pursuing their dreams in New York, which was a paradise in their eyes. Even a studio on Grace Building was enough for them.
Qin Guan's status as a student protected him well. He was not interested in looking for an agent there.
Many Chinese models had agents, while others worked independently.
They got a little tired when they attended auditions, but they were able to avoid lots of trouble. It was a good choice for Qin Guan at the time.
Besides, there was no model union in New York, like the actor union on Broadway or Hollywood. There was only one in the UK.
The brave Asian boy jumped into the melting pot.
It was Xu Xiaoxiao, and not his girlfriend, who was interested in the auditions the most.
Clinging to the notion that Qin Guan didn't have a car, he offered to be his temporary driver while Qin Guan was looking for a part-time job.
"It will take you a long time to get from Chelsea Street to Times Square. If you take the bus, you will be able to make two auditions at best."
"It's a waste of time! I'm not helping you for free. Let me copy your homework, and I'll be your driver till you buy a car."
What a cunning guy!
"Okay! Thank you for your help. See you tomorrow."
"See you!"
Xu Xiaoxiao parked his Ford under the dormitory. When Qin Guan knocked on the window the next day, Xu realized that his classmate had changed clothes.
Qin Guan was in a black short-sleeved shirt with round delicate buttons that looked like pearls. When he sat down in the passenger seat, his pants didn't have any wrinkles.
When he got out with his LV handbag a while later, Xu was still staring at his back.
He tried his best to fix his eyes on the steering wheel, afraid that he would get dizzy and cause an accident on the busy street.
After a long time, Xu came back to his senses. He bought a cup of iced coffee to calm himself down.
He didn't believe in the Chinese proverb that "one could become quite a different person". In his opinion, it was an exaggeration. On that day though, he experienced the accurate, profound wisdom of the Chinese. Qin Guan was the realization of that proverb.
Xu was feeling confident about Qin Guan's audition, as he had seen four girls on the street look surprised by Qin Guan's appearance. Everyone knew that New Yorkers didn't care about strangers. As a result, Xu was very confident about Qin Guan's interview.
Times Square, where the top 10 brands from all over the world gathered, was Qin Guan's first destination. The studios and agencies were in the building behind the mansion.
Qin Guan followed the crowd into the elevator, looking carefully at the map of the studios John had given him. He would make good use of his time.
Armani was his first destination. Their traditional formal wear style fit Qin Guan's personality.
Unfortunately, this was also a battlefield for models. It was even a first choice for supermodels, let alone agencies.
Armani chose very few new models every year, and 99.999% of them were recommended by companies. Qin Guan would have to fight for a 0.001% chance.
He decided to deliver his resume personally.
Some experienced models couldn't bear the strict terms companies and agents set or yield to their dirty deals and latent rules. They were familiar with the circle and they tried to introduce themselves to the designers and branding businesses by delivering their resumes personally.
They knew the locations of the designers' studios and the brand companies, as well as the time of brand launching events and shows.
They worked harder for themselves, waiting eagerly for a chance. They were usually welcomed by independent designers, as the designers could find suitable models for their concepts that way.
Besides, models could be discovered in small shows by famous brands and then soar up to the sky.
Qin Guan didn't think much about that. As a foreigner in the city, this was the best way for him to proceed.
The Armani offices were simple and plain, like any other office in the universe. There was nothing on the white walls except the designer's logo.
The lobby was as quiet as a fantasy world.
The girl in black at the reception looked busy. She was arranging files. After they were sorted, they would be sent to different departments.
Suddenly, she turned around and saw the visitor. She knew what he wanted right away.
Pointing to the elegant boxes beside the entrance, she said, "Put your resume in the corresponding box. Thank you."
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Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Qin Guan paused. Famous brands were harder to approach than ordinary studios. They received a large number of resumes every day and couldn't afford to interview every model.
The boxes had to be their way to save time for both sides.
Qin Guan smiled at the girl and then turned around to head for the boxes.
"Hey, leave your resume here. I'll deliver it."
The girl stood up from her desk. A voice was repeating in her mind, "Stop that Asian boy!"
She seemed to sense his history. That model was different. How could she describe it? She could only use the word "charming".
"Okay! Thank you for your help."
Surprisingly, Qin Guan handed his resume to her. It was an advantage to leave it to the receptionist instead of throwing it in the box.
"Hey!" The girl stopped him again. "How is your English?"
She thought he was an Asian adventurer. Qin Guan smiled at her. "Not bad. At least we had a pleasant talk just now."
Qin Guan left, leaving the dizzy girl behind him.
The girl read his resume carefully and put the file on the most noticeable place on her desk, for fear that she would forget it when the assistant came.
Qin Guan visited five famous brands in that building, but got similar results. He was experiencing the strictness of the circle.
Qin Guan was a cockroach though, so he wouldn't be crushed easily. He knew he couldn't rely on big brands, so he chose some small studios around the square as his next destination.
He looked at the time and decided to find Xu and head together to his next destination.
He found Xu scratching his ears and cheeks in embarrassment in front of a chessboard. He was surrounded by a group of old men.
New York put a lot of emphasis on city parks. Even in the crowded Manhattan area, there were about five small parks, not including Central Park.
Those parks were an entertainment venue for retired people. Because of their clumsiness, chess was their favorite game.
Influenced by his grandfather, Xu was attracted by chess players. There were also small bets made on the games, about one to five dollars a game.
Unfortunately, Xu had overestimated his ability and underestimated his opponents. He had lost several rounds along with all his money.
Irritated, Xu grabbed Qin Guan. "Help me, bro! Can you play chess?"
"Not that well," Qin Guan blurted out.
The old men sighed in relief. That boy looks clever. Thank god he is not a good player.
"Lend me some change. Ten dollars, maybe. I have to finish this round. I have to win at least once."
Qin Guan dag for coins in his pocket as he looked at the chessboard. It seemed like Xu wouldn't get his five dollars back even in 50 years.
Time was pressing though. He couldn't spend his whole day off in the park.
Qin Guan stopped at the thought. He broke the rule that a true gentleman should remain silent while watching a chess game. Foreigners hadn't heard of that rule anyway. Fortunately, they were in New York. If this had been Beijing, the old men would have kicked them with their canes.
Qin Guan started whispering to Xu. After several rounds, Xu won his first game.
He smiled like silly at the bills as he was pulled away by Qin Guan. The old men were about to say something.
Qin Guan knew what they wanted to say. He didn't look back. He had helped a player cheat after all.
The crowd parted, making a path for them. That boy could play chess blindly! Even against the three of us! We better keep silent about it.
Qin Guan and Xu Xiaoxiao walked away. They could still hear the applause behind them. It seemed that good boys were welcome everywhere.
"How did your interviews go?"
"No idea. I just left my resume there. The next studios are more important."
"Really? May I be your assistant?"
Qin Guan looked at him carefully and blinked with effort. "No, thank you. It'll just take a few minutes."
"Okay."
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Chapter 338: Second Rate Model
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
In the building Qin Guan had just left, the girl at the reception finally finished her work. She sorted Qin Guan's resume and put it into a file.
With professional sensitiveness, she gathered the best resumes.
Any time she saw a new face in an Armani show, she would check in her files. If she found their original resume there, she would get happy.
She pressed the button and the HR assistant came to collect the resumes. She frowned at the man, who was the most difficult to get along with in the company. His name was Jimmy, and he was a strange, mean man. Most of the staff disliked him.
He walked up to the resume boxes with a disgusted expression and dropped all the sorted files into a large case he had brought.
"That's all? Honestly, you should clean the shelves. There's too much dust."
He raised his eyebrows angrily and patted his clothes. Keeping her temper in check, Emily handed him Qin Guan's file.
"I'll clean them later. This is another model's resume. The best of the day, in my opinion. That's why I singled it out."
Opening his eyes wide, Jimmy screamed dramatically, "Wow! This is the job of the HR department. When did the receptionist start doing it?"
"Besides..." He cast a mocking glance at the cover. "An Asian model? Darling, your job is to clean. You have no idea about the concept or the function of our company.
"An Asian model? Armani would become a laughing stock in the New York Fashion Week! Just mind your own business!"
He put Qin Guan's resume in his case like it was rubbish and sneered at the girl before he left.
Qin Guan had no idea about that. He had decided on the first brand he would be interviewing for. It was Hollister in SOHO.
The brand aimed at young people between the ages of 15 and 25, and sold casual clothes. It was associated with AF, but its low prices attracted customers of all kinds. One could see both young girls and older women wearing their clothes on crowded streets.
Qin Guan went into a Hollister store and sighed in relief. He got almost the same feeling as being in Beijing. The brand originated from South California. In their flagship store there, they put two handsome, half-naked guys by the entrance to attract customers.
Qin Guan couldn't imagine having to accept such a job. If Chinese visitors took photos of him and brought them back home, he would die of embarrassment.
Fortunately, this was New York. In the dim store, a sales assistant led him to the storage room behind the store, where Mary, a designer visiting the stores and getting customer feedback, was waiting for him.
She was in New York especially to meet Qin Guan, the Chinese model who worked for LEE. Qin Guan had gotten in touch with her in advance.
Mary watched Qin Guan walk up to her gracefully in the dim light. Suddenly, she got the same feeling the LEE designer had.
That model was perfect.
Before Qin Guan could even take out his resume, Mary said, "Would you like to go to California with me? We need talented models like you."
"No!" Qin Guan shook his head.
Mary looked disappointed.
"Okay, let me see. This is a small room, but it's enough for two rounds. Could you please try on some of our clothes here? Weenie, find me NO.5526, 1123 and 999. Size L."
"Got it!" Weenie dag up the clothes easily.
Qin Guan changed in a small fitting room.
Xu Xiaoxiao was in the front of the store, watching the customers shuttling back and forth. There's so many girls here!
The door of the storage room was opened. "Here. This space should be enough."
The designer pointed to the space before the counter with shining eyes. Qin Guan walked between the shelves as if he was on the T stage.
He was wearing skinny jeans, flip flops and a simple blue-white striped shirt.
It was not a popular outfit for busy office workers in New York, but it looked very comfortable on Qin Guan's body.
The broad stripes looked fashionable, the flip flops were wonderful for the torrid summer, and the jeans looked sexy on his slender legs.
A girl passing by holding shopping bags fixed her eyes on Qin Guan. She hit her head on the glass door hard.
Nobody laughed at the poor girl. They were all stunned, the clothes in their hands dropping to the floor.
Xu took a deep breath to refresh his brain.
An old woman standing beside him nearly fainted.
"Okay!" Mary clapped, breaking the silence.
"Qin Guan, follow me!" she said, waving at Qin Guan. They disappeared behind the small door.
The onlookers' view was blocked by the door. Coming back to their senses, they all started taking action one after the other.
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Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
"Hi, I want the shirt he was wearing in L and XL."
"I want the flip flops, size 45!"
The idling customers had suddenly found their purpose.
Qin Guan went out of the Hollister store with a smile. Xu didn't ask about the outcome of the interview. He had a general idea judging by the effect he'd had on the customers and the very few clothes that had been left on the shelves.
He was confused by the brands Qin Guan chose next though.
In his opinion, Qin Guan looked splendid in casual clothes, so he should try out for similar brands.
GAP, AE and AF would have been good choices.
Why did he want to visit CK and NORTHFACE?
He couldn't figure out Qin Guan's criteria. Maybe models had their own secrets.
Qin Guan saw Xu Xiaoxiao off and returned to his apartment in a good mood. All his preparations that day had been groundwork for the future.
He couldn't rely on casual clothing brands. His ultimate goal was to get into the US modeling circle.
He needed a chance to introduce himself to the brands.
He was focused on the width and not the depth at the moment. It was enough to get a taste of the most popular brands in America.
He was taking off his shoes at the entrance, when Cong Nianwei craned her head around to look at him from the kitchen.
"Tomorrow is Columbus Day. What shall we do?"
Qin Guan realized that the holiday was right after the weekend. Italian-Americans celebrated their holiday on the second Monday of October.
Americans liked to change other people's traditions and make them theirs.
This holiday had originally been in memory of Columbus' adventure, and it had been celebrated by Italians.
However, as more and more Americans followed the tradition, the president had declared it an official holiday.
The next day, Qin Guan and Cong Nianwei attended the festivities on the busiest street of New York.
That day, there was a festival dedicated to countries from the American Continent.
The floats in the parades were moving slowly. Girls from Latin countries, such as Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador, were dancing in sexy costumes of their national flags. A group of strong men seemed fascinated by their slender legs and the colorful feathers on their heads.
The poor guys waving Italian flags were ignored by the crowd.
Qin Guan and Cong Nianwei discovered a unique skill Italians possessed. The 58th Columbus Day didn't disappoint them.
Suddenly, dozens of fine horses appeared. Handsome Italian riders in uniforms and silver helmets were on top of them, holding Italian flags. They strode along Fifth Avenue in an imposing manner.
A group of beautiful girls followed. The flower balls in their hands dazzled everyone.
"It's the parade!" Before Qin Guan's voice could fade away, he nearly choked on his juice.
A group of clowns rushed out, rolling and crawling. Their ridiculous masks attracted a lot of attention.
That was why everyone considered Americans the most swanky people in the world.
The clowns blew ribbons at the children, disturbing the array of Italian beauties, and ran up to the floats to show off.
They forgot that the horses were not war-horses from the Middle Ages though. They were just ordinary horses from the suburbs.
Most of them were used for transportation. They were tame with their masters, but they had been raised in the quiet countryside. As a result, they got frightened by the crowd and the strange faces all around them.
They neighed and jumped, and their riders couldn't control them. After all, they were not professional riders. They were just handsome actors.
Noticing that the commotion was getting closer to him and Cong Nianwei, Qin Guan pushed Cong Nianwei behind him and turned to leave as fast as he could.
He was surprised.
If this had been in China, everyone would have backed off, putting their own safety first.
The strong American men were itching to help though. Some short-tempered members of the crowd put their bottles down, climbed over the fences and rushed up to the horses. Qin Guan looked down and saw the pile of beer bottles on the ground.
If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as Chapter 340: The Difference Between F and B+
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Several bald men rushed up to the frightened horses courageously and spread their arms, intending to grab the horses' necks and press them against the ground.
It was a pity that the scared horses were irritated by the constraints.
A black horse, which seemed to be the leader, neighed and stood up on its hind legs. Caught off guard, the rider fell off its back. Fortunately, his boots were out of the stirrups, so he didn't end up hanging from the horse.
Unfortunately, the animal's horseshoes kicked the man in the teeth. A tooth flew high in the sty.
"Careful!" Qin Guan shouted loudly, warning the rest of the crowd. The horses ran in different directions on Fifth Avenue.
The black horse locked its eyes on the strong man and headed for the crowd.
The angry horse was getting closer and closer. There was nothing else on Qin Guan's mind. Nobody wanted to be a hero anymore. All directions were blocked by frightened people.
Qin Guan cast a glance at Cong Nianwei. Then he made a decision. He threw his cap and glasses at her. "Stop running about! Hold the fence and squat down!"
His shout served as a warning for the confused crowd. Qin Guan was right. The fence would block the horse. Even if it jumped over the fence, it would run into a dead end.
Cong Nianwei caught Qin Guan's belongings. Her face was pale as she looked at her boyfriend calmly.
Qin Guan stomped on the fence and leapt high towards the running horse. The horse fell on its back. Before it could come back to its senses, Qin Guan stepped on the stirrups and tightened the reins.
Using his other hand, he patted the horse gently on the belly.
It's alright, honey. Everything's alright. Let's go home.
His legs clamped around the horse's belly, and he used his mouth to hold the reins. After a few seconds, the black horse gradually stopped moving.
The people in front of Qin Guan were quiet and calm, unlike the unruly crowd behind him.
Qin Guan didn't feel the difference. He wiped the sweat off his forehead.
"Good boy, good boy." He patted the horse's back and turned his head to Cong Nianwei.
A golden ray of sunshine fell on his face. His tall nose made him look like a Roman sculpture. Smiling gently at his girlfriend, Qin Guan stood up before the crowd.
"Wow!"
"Good boy!"
"Such a handsome boy!"
"Hush..."
Screams and whistles fell and rose around them.
"Have a bottle of beer, young man. My treat!" An old man threw a bottle of beer at Qin Guan. A black bra followed. It had been thrown by a pretty girl.
Qin Guan glanced at her red lips and then peered at Cong Nianwei.
He picked the black lace bra up with his fingertips, as if it was a hot potato, and handed it to Cong Nianwei. He noticed that it was an F-Cup.
"It's Triumph. I wonder if flea shops accept fancy underwear."
Qin Guan was disappointed. Cong Nianwei only wore a B+-Cup. I'm doomed.
He cast a guilty glance at Cong Nianwei, who signaled for him to get down from the horse.
Qin Guan jumped down obediently and walked up to her.
He was prepared for a slap on the face, but surprisingly, Cong Nianwei hugged him tightly. Even cold iron bars couldn't separate their hearts.
"Are you an idiot? We should have run away. How come you were so confident with that horse? Let's squat down at least. There are policemen who are able to control them."
Indeed, the chaos had been settled by the police and security staff. The horses were silently taken away.
Cong Nianwei was about to say something again to cover up the horror of losing Qin Guan, but she collapsed in his embrace instead.
The best elements of the US were perfectly embodied in the two Asian lovers: world peace, romance and fierce conflict.
Everyone applauded them, making them blush deeply
They escaped as quickly as they could.
"Hey! Wait!" Someone pulled at Qin Guan's loose T-shirt from behind. Luckily, they had reached a corner far from the noisy parade.
It was a fashionable guy, one of the weird people who walked the New York streets. He handed Qin Guan his business card politely. The words "Starlight Media" were printed on it. The pink feather on the man's head was trembling nervously.
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