hapter 351: A Scream During the Show
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
It was a splendid crystal tree decorated with colorful eggs of Venice glass that dazzled the eyes. Hundreds of candles were placed around it, shining with a soft light. The candlelight was reflected on the glass ceiling, looking extraordinarily romantic.
This had to be the site. Qin Guan went through the room hurriedly and walked to the small cabinet in the back.
The bustling scene inside brought him back to reality.
The assistant took out his outfits and pushed him towards the makeup room. Without saying anything, Qin Guan changed clothes in a corner. I'm coming, New York!
Distinguished guests had been invited to the show, including not only VIPs of the fashion circle, but also curious residents of the Upper East Side.
The educated guests did not look very excited. They were just whispering greetings to acquaintances.
There was no opening speech or gorgeous background. A deep rhythmic song began to play.
The red velvet curtain was suddenly opened, and a splendid Christmas tree was revealed. The reflected light lit up the whole hall.
Shoes stomped on the floor as beautiful models started filing out through the curtain. The black and grey tones were a little dark for the season, but the brave, practical designs attracted the audience's attention.
The Upper East Side residents, who focused on high-end tailoring, were their target group.
An anxious middle-aged man in a polo shirt looked shocked by the models. He had been annoyed for a long time. As a director of an independent film with a limited budget, his trip to the Cannes Film Festival had been unsuccessful.
The first reason was that he had been short on money. The second was that the vulgar actors had not been interested in his film. When it came right down to it though, the first reason had been the most important.
Everyone knew that if you were lucky enough to win a big prize, your place in US movie theatres would be mediocre at best.
This was because people stressed on box office success, which was the only way to attract public attention. That was why Director Gus was gloomy.
The show had inspired him though. His actors could come from the fashion circle! They were all beauties after all. Thinking of that, he began to observe the models carefully in excitement.
When Qin Guan got on the stage, it was like a small stone had been dropped on a quiet lake, causing ripples to form on its surface.
The Asian model looked different from the other models. He was too elegant to be real. He looked like an illusion that would be gone with the wind.
As Qin Guan walked through the room, the audience held its breath for fear of scaring the fairy away.
Suddenly, drums started to beat. In a moment, he became a general, a king and an emperor. Every identity presented resonated with the model.
He was wearing black silk pants, that looked thin and airy. It was the first time CK had used oriental silk as a material.
His loose pant legs were stuffed into his high boots. Actually, that style was out of date for Chinese people.
It was not a real design in China. Labor workers and independent traders used to stuff their pant legs into their shoes to move more comfortably before 1949.
The difference was that they used to wear straw sandals and Qin Guan was wearing leather boots.
Americans had no idea about it though. They just liked the cultural shock. Going with the wind was their favorite feeling.
Besides, black was the best color for elites. Compared to other colorful outfits, that one suited the Asian model the best.
No one knew who had made the final decision, photographer Jones, the senior executives of the operational department or the chief designer, but the outfit looked like it had been designed specifically for Qin Guan.
The candlelight was reflected back from the glazed eggs, leaving a colorful halo on Qin Guan's face. It was a classic clash between black and white. A blooming flower! A scream amid the quiet!
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Chapter 352: The Director
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Qin Guan had developed a style of his own. He was the most impressive model that night.
The guests couldn't help but express their appreciation for the visual.
Applause surged towards him from all directions like a tide. Qin Guan's first show in New York was perfect.
He smiled at the audience and turned around to head backstage, where the chief designer of Hollister was, looking overjoyed. If there had been no rules about engaging with the audience, he would have showed off in front of everyone.
Hey dude, that boy will be our model. Please come to our show!
After the CK show, the designer kept talking about Qin Guan everywhere, attracting attention from the residents of the Upper East Side.
As everyone knew, 90% of the attendants would never be interested in such a low-level brand.
Qin Guan got paid 800 dollars backstage. It was not so bad, considering he was a model at the bottom of the circle.
That money could cover his accommodation for a month. For a clerk working at a small company for a 2000-dollar salary, it was enough to lead an ordinary life.
Qin Guan stuffed his outfits back into the box. He was planning on leaving as soon as possible to make room for the female underwear models.
Lisa was smiling at him shyly, but she didn't come over to greet him. Qin Guan didn't speak to her either. It was unrealistic to have an American girl propose to you after saving her.
After getting a notice for the next job, Qin Guan was about to retreat from the cabinet silently. A middle-aged man with a beard was blocking his way though.
"Hello, I'm Gus. I'm a director."
"Hi! I'm Qin Guan, a student."
Qin Guan replied politely, but tried to steer clear off the stranger. It was said that there was a special group of people around American models.
They were always middle-aged men with successful careers. People called them bloodthirsty sharks, because they usually targeted young girls.
Is that guy one of them? He should have stayed under the stage, where the girls are searching for hunters.
New York was the beginning of their dreams. All the girls knew how to seize opportunities.
Gus realized that he was being ignored. He grabbed Qin Guan's sleeve eagerly.
"Hey, may I have a word with you?"
Qin Guan stopped reluctantly to spare his poor clothes. "What's the matter?"
"Would you like to be an actor?" His loud voice startled the assistant standing by the exit. "Let's talk about it downstairs."
Qin Guan blinked. A small person was scattering flowers around in his heart. Is this my lucky star at work? Did I meet a famous director during my first show?
Qin Guan was surprised, but not convinced. He and Gus went to the restaurant on the first floor.
CK had booked the entire Russian tearoom until supper. The empty restaurant was the best place for a private talk.
"Let me tell you about my film... It reflects the angry average American's lack of education… Two real students… Campus violence... Shooting..."
Qin Guan could tell from the description that it was a film about minorities. It was definitely not a Hollywood production or a formal film company production. Besides, it had to have a limited budget.
Qin Guan raised a few reasonable questions, "May I read the script first? What about the producer? Why did you choose me? As fas as I know, there are lots of professional actors and young men at agencies or schools in New York."
"When shall we begin if I say yes? How long will the shooting last? In which studio will it take place?"
Gus was shocked by Qin Guan's series of questions. The boy was sitting opposite him, drinking his free lemon water calmly.
He is no greenhand. He's a veteran!
A waitress in a traditional Russian costume asked them in a low voice if they would be having dinner there. The show had ended. CK would hold a simple dinner for the guests in the restaurant.
"Two standard working lunches. Is that okay for you, Gus?"
Gus wouldn't give up the chance to get more information out of Qin Guan. He was not a polite man, so he just nodded automatically at the waitress.
"It's a film with a limited budget. A NY company will produce it and distribute it. Of course, it's a small company."
"The film's success will depend on the interpretation of my ideas. I don't have high hopes though."
"The gross will be quite low, so I can't hire a proper actor. Besides, I'm not a famous director either, so..."
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Chapter 353: J Clothing Is Coming
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Qin Guan put cream in his Russian soup and stirred it. "So it's a low-cost film with a dim future. That's why you chose me."
Gus smiled awkwardly, but Qin Guan's next words cheered him up.
"I want to read the script first. If it's good, and my schedule allows it, I'll do it."
"Besides, you have to sign a contract with my agency in China to make a collaboration between us possible."
Qin Guan's boldness impressed Gus. He's a good boy who's devoted himself to the film industry.
In Qin Guan's opinion, the script was very important. Besides, the shooting would last only a few weeks and take place in New York. The job and the salary seemed to have fallen from Heaven.
Both the guest and the host were thoroughly enjoying themselves. They kept chatting happily. If the script is not bad, I'll help him finish the film.
Just before they finished dinner, the guests of the show headed downstairs. All the activities had come to an end.
A group of middle-aged men from the Upper East Side walked down with steady steps. Some of them were accompanied by beautiful girls.
It was a game of willingness. No one could blame them. They made jokes with each other, their young hearts struggling in their aged bodies.
Qin Guan remained calm. When he looked up though, he saw that Lisa was among those girls.
The childish girl had her arm locked around the arm of an old man. Her breasts were pasted to his body.
Qin Guan sighed. The girl had top model potential, but she was wasting it.
A top model could have an affair with a photographer, a talented designer, a reporter, or someone else from the entertainment circle, but they should never believe those conservative, old-fashioned men from the Upper East Side who engaged in finance and politics. They loved the models' pureness and youth, but those qualities did not last forever.
The girls had to compromise again and again until they were lost in oblivion. What they strived for was money, not the modelling profession.
Qin Guan smiled at the thought, feeling at ease.
He left the warm tea house and went out into the chilly autumn wind. He stopped a taxi and headed to his next destination, Chelsea Street.
Just as its name implied, the famous Chelsea Hotel was on that street. The Chelsea family had started its business from a single hotel and then expanded to various sectors. It was a very rich, powerful family not just in New York, but all over America.
Qin Guan was interested in the small designer studios though, not the hotel. That street was the second favorite venue of designers. It was only inferior to Fifth Avenue.
The largest designer fair in the US took place there. Chelsea Fair was on 15th Street.
It was like a shopping mall divided by long corridors. Every store there sold accessories, furniture and paintings, all made by original designers.
No one could underestimate the venue's avant-garde style. It was one of the most popular antique fairs, and it had been an Indian trading place 300 years ago. Besides, it was also the origin of Oreo cookies.
Those two points implied the profound significance of the fair.
Qin Guan had gone there to meet with the staff of J Clothing. Unlike foreign brands, which were gathered around Fifth Avenue and the SOHO business district, they had chosen the foothold near the Chelsea Fair.
Qin Guan was curious about the pioneer.
They found seats at an outdoor cafe beside the fair. Qin Guan recognized his acquaintance, Guo Nuoyan, Citizen's interpreter in Wangfujing.
The gifted student, who spoke several different languages had chosen to work for J Clothing, an ordinary company. Qin Guan was both surprised and confused by his decision.
Guo Nuoyan seemed to read his mind. He gestured at Qin Guan naughtily, acting like he was counting money. Suddenly, Qin Guan was enlightened. He smiled knowingly. My fellow.
"Our store will open after the decorations are ready. Maybe in two days. American workers are so lazy. They get off work on time and turn down overtime wages. If we were in China, I would have finished this job two weeks ago..."
Qin Guan looked at the store across the street. It looked bright and broad.
"Why didn't you choose a store on Fifth Avenue or SOHO? It would have saved you time and energy."
Guo Nuoyang's expression suddenly changed. Looking around, he noticed that most of the pedestrians were young ambitious designers. He furtively took out the company's latest products from a paper bag by his feet.
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Chapter 354: The World Is My Stage
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
"As you know, our boss is very ambitious. It's difficult to find a place in New York. There are so many leisure brands here!"
"Even with your help, the future does not look that bright. Seven out of the 10 best leisure brands in the world are gathered in New York. These are terrible odds for a Chinese brand. We have to find another way out."
"Otherwise, we'll just be following into the footsteps of Japan and Taiwan's stupid decisions. Do you know what kind of people gather at the Chelsea Fair?"
"Designers, of course."
"Bingo! I'll show you the latest collection and give you a general idea of our brave, creative boss' plan."
Actually, Guo didn't want to take the products out. They were embarrassing, but all the staff at J Clothing liked them.
He pulled the clothes from the bag while Qin Guan swallowed his coffee as fast as he could for fear of spitting it out.
Guo took out a thick cotton T-shirt with long sleeves. If one wore a coat on top, it would be able to withstand the chilling autumn wind.
There was a giant Chinese character "舞" [1] on it in a brush stroke. It reminded Qin Guan of the lively women dancing on public squares for exercise.
The following shirts nearly drove Qin Guan mad. There were different Chinese elements on them, including Kylin, blooming peony, and others...
There were only a few pedestrians around. Qin Guan picked up the shirt with the character "舞" and put it on. Clothes were not just for customers after all.
The size fit him fine. Qin Guan stood up.
The street suddenly turned into the most luxurious T stage and the hurried passersby into the best audience. The ordinary T-shirt looked like Versace on Qin Guan's body, illusory and entirely imaginary.
Qin Guan stopped at the end of the street and took a pose before Guo. "Not bad."
Guo gave him a thumbs-up with shining eyes. Suddenly, Qin Guan was surrounded by a group of people.
"Young man, where did you buy that shirt?"
"Is it a new product at Chelsea Fair? I didn't see it on a stand."
Designers and artists started asking Qin Guan questions one after the other.
Guo Nuoyan, who was a smart guy, hastened to take out his card holder and promote J Clothing in New York.
"Our new store is opening next week."
"Thank you for the compliment. Our fall and winter collections are both made by a famous designer, Liu Cheng."
The interested designers looked in the direction he was pointing at. It seems like a good store.
They felt the shirt with professional sensitiveness, using their fingers. Thick cotton, well-knit and practical. They were all satisfied.
Two designers lingered around with their cards. One of them was Lillian, who had an oil painting studio, and the other was a street photographer named Juan. They wanted to talk to Qin Guan.
Everyone had left. Guo Nuoyan excitedly expressed his admiration of his boss. Americans will experience China's strong productivity.
Looking at the capricious expression on Guo's face, Qin Guan patted him on the shoulder with a smile. Then he took off the shirt. "What's its factory and retail price?"
Guo grinned. "Five yuan and 29.9 dollars... Ho ho ho!"
Ho ho ho? You are cheating American people. I believe in you though. You can beat Hollister, Mary Zeta, and cheap supermarket T-shirts alike.
Qin Guan could imagine people surging into the J Clothing store. Of course, as the brand ambassador, Qin Guan also had to make a contribution.
Before he left, Guo pulled him to a door beside the store. It was a blind zone, so most passersby ignored it.
"There's a room next to our store that's useless to us. It's about 40 square meters though. Not small at all. Here is the contract."
Confused, Qin Guan opened the file and read it. The terms stated that Qin Guan could use it for free as advance payment. In return, he had to wear J Clothing during the entire next year.
This was real profit. The room was in New York, where even an inch of land was worth an ounce of gold. I better make good use of it.
Qin Guan left any plans about the room for the future and picked several clothing samples, including men and women's clothes from the stock.
"I'll wear them. Wait for my call."
He took a card from Guo and left the hall that smelled like paint.
Translator's Thoughts
Lan Lan
[1] Dance
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hapter 355: An Order From Broadway
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
"We'll shoot the posters later." Guo Nuoyan was rubbing his hands happily. Another task finished.
How would Qin Guan use the room? What advantage would it bring to J Clothing? This was not his concern as the manager of the Promotion Department.
Qin Guan got on and off the slow bus with his heavy bags. When he entered his house, he threw the bags down and rushed to his soft bed.
His busy life made him tired, even though he had acclimatized himself to a heavy work schedule back in China. Thinking of Cong Nianwei, who had to be studying at the library at the time, Qin Guan smiled with satisfaction. I fall short of the best, but I'm better than the worst.
The next day, Qin Guan idled around on campus in a J Clothing outfit. He had taken off his glasses and used mousse on his hair. Then he had put on a loose T-shirt with the sleeves rolled up in a casual, yet elegant way. A beautiful Chinese character "龍" [1] was on his back.
He headed to the dancing studio on the third floor of the Recreation Hall, where Wendy was practising. She spent all her free time practising her new dancing routine.
As a student at Columbia, she had less time for practice than dancers in Hollywood.
Good dancers were very concentrated during practice. Qin Guan waited for her patiently until the music came to an end. Then he applauded her.
"Qin Guan?" Wendy seemed happy as she turned around. "Have you made a decision? Shall we go to the theater? We have a big performance coming up before Halloween. You could apply for the job."
Qin Guan grinned and began his shameless promotion. "I'm not here for dancing. Look at me!"
He took off his shoes and span around on the wooden floor. The J clothing shirt was drifting in the air in time with his movements.
He spread his arms, stretched and then bent at the waist. The cotton T-shirt fit his body very well.
Wendy was inspired. When Qin Guan stopped and stretched his arms out to her considerately, she went over to feel the shirt with her fingers.
"This is like our practising clothes. We can wear it with our tights and go out. It's so convenient!"
"It's also good quality. It will keep us warm during the fall. Where did you buy it? How much does it cost? We are poor dancers. Designer brands are beyond our means."
"It's not expensive." Qin Guan took out a red women's T-shirt with short sleeves and showed it to Wendy. "The short-sleeved shirt costs 9.9 dollars, and the long-sleeved one costs 29.9 dollars. Aren't they cheap for their quality?"
Wendy fell in love with the red shirt at first sight. There was also an oriental character of a mysterious, ancient style on it. It was written in cursive writing, giving off a dancing vibe.
"It's a Chinese character that means 'dance'. Isn't it beautiful?"
"Yes! I'll take it. Is there a bigger one?"
She was trying on the shirt when Qin Guan waved her off. "It's free. I found out your size yesterday. I hope you could give me a hand though. It would be a piece of cake for you."
Qin Guan put his palms together and begged Wendy, which made her burst into laughter.
"What can I do for you? I hope it's not anything too hard. 40 dollars is not that high a price."
"It'll be no trouble. Could you go to the theater in my shirt and promote it for me?"
Wendy smiled. "No problem. I have a performance tonight. I'll wear your shirt in the afternoon. Do I look beautiful?"
Qin Guan gave her a thumbs-up without hesitation. Pleased, Wendy turned around and looked at herself in the mirror.
During her class, many girls asked her about her red shirt and wanted to place an order for it. The group of customers exceeded Qin Guan's expectations. By the time the class ended, Wendy had received more than 20 orders. She stuffed the list into her bag.
Low-cost, good quality clothes sold well on Broadway.
At the TT Theatre on Broadway, a large-scale rehearsal of a musical drama was taking place. Dancers were performing on the stage, following the instructions of the director and the supervisor.
Wendy was in a small group of dancers that would attract more attention than the background dancers. She was wearing the elegant red shirt. The Chinese character looked like it was dancing on it.
"Stop! Take a break! Come here, Wendy!"
The grey-haired director, whose name was Garnett, shouted at the dancers. They could have a few precious minutes of rest.
C, who was in charge of the props, was a cunning Jewish man. He waved at Wendy.
"Nice shirt! I'm buying costumes for our cast these days, but I still haven't been able to find the right ones. Young people nowadays are always complaining. You know our budget. It's been more than two years since we bought new costumes."
Translator's Thoughts
Lan Lan
[1] Chinese dragon.
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Chapter 356: Midterms
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
"I like your T-shirt. It's beautiful. Where did you buy it? How much did it cost? Could you share that information with me?"
Wendy made a short, straightforward introduction about the shirt. Jews were the best merchants in the world, so the man spotted the business opportunity right away.
When Wendy was finished, C had a talk with Qin Guan on the phone. Finally, the theater union signed a contract with J Clothing. Half of the 100 theaters on Broadway ordered thousands of products. They also signed a confidentiality agreement about the prices. J Clothing would open retail stores in the US after all.
At night, a piece of paper drifted across the ocean, reaching the desk of the J Clothing boss.
"Wow! Qin Guan is really my lucky star! It's only been half a month! 30,000 pieces!"
"Xiao Wang, tell the production line to work overtime. They'll get a bonus by the piece!"
Both sides were happy. Guo Nuoyan, who was a responsible guy, reminded Qin Guan of the first poster after the decorations were finished.
Qin Guan was focused on the big party at Columbia organized by Chinese businessmen, which would be taking place the next day.
He wondered if other Chinese students from Columbia would complain about his luck. That opportunity should have been awarded to them after all.
A useless title deed was thrown into the small case, where their joint estate was kept. That party would be his and Cong Nianwei's debut after arriving in the US.
There would be fellow students, business partners and investors attending the party. It was a fair for exchanging ideas with each other, which could be considered a trial for their future careers or a chance to start their own business.
Actually, the party was a platform for both Chinese students at Columbia and Chinese businessmen in New York.
Before the party though, Qin Guan had a small problem to deal with. What was the most important task for a student? Learning! How could one check if the students had learned enough? Through exams, of course!
Xu was always with Qin Guan those days, which made Kuhn quite unpleasant. He used to think of Xu as his own sidekick.
On the exact day his father had fallen into disgrace, Xu had humiliated him in public and then maintained a distance from him during the following days. Finally, Xu had abandoned him after his father had taken the blame and resigned.
In fact, Xu had only maintained a good relationship with Kuhn because his family had asked him to. Now, he was finally free. Qin Guan, who was an interesting, friendly guy, became his new best friend at Columbia.
Kuhn finally found a way to vent his anger. He would start a fight with Qin Guan. Considering their difference in height and figure though, he was wise enough to give up his plan. What if I ask someone else to beat him? Nobody would help me now though.
The only way to boost his self-esteem was by passing the first midterm exam before Halloween, which was not just an exam for the Finance Department, but for all the students at Columbia. The results will show everyone who is the real king!
Qin Guan had no idea about his potential enemy in the exam. He yawned in the examination room, overcome by boredom.
THE NORTH FACE show had taken place at a gym the previous night. The fitness addicts had been looking at the models eagerly, like wolves hidden in the grass. Qin Guan had felt so uncomfortable that he had escaped as soon as possible after finishing his performance. He'd had nightmares the whole night.
I have to calculate the edge distribution function and the marginal probability density... It's so difficult! Will Prof. Martin use the exams for actuary? We have spent only three months at Columbia...
He didn't stop writing as he silently blamed their cruel tutor.
Kuhn felt confident when he saw the questions. In his opinion, he was the best postgraduate student in the Finance Department. Only I can answer those questions... I can get an A in every subject.
When he thought of the ranking list, Kuhn cheered up. His father's mistakes couldn't be redeemed, so he had a long way to go. He had to get rid of any negative influence.
He looked at Qin Guan and Xu Xiaoxiao, who was scratching his head. Someone will regret his choices one day.
After the exam, Qin Guan and Cong Nianwei didn't go home right away. They headed to the library instead. All the students were excited for that night. It was the most significant ball before Halloween. One could also consider it a welcoming party for the freshmen.
To save time, Qin Guan brought a bag of clothes that contained formal outfits for him and Cong Nianwei.
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Chapter 357: Stop Jabbering, Rongzhi!
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Qin Guan and John walked to John's dormitory together. Susanna and Cong Nianwei followed them, chatting and laughing. They would change clothes in John's dormitory.
To be honest, dormitories at Columbia had impressed Qin Guan with their dirty, disorderly state. They were way worse than Qin Guan's previous dormitory.
However, since he had told John that he would be visiting several days ago, John should have had enough time to clean his room.
Reality blew him away though. When the door opened, a stinky smell surged out. Only the smell of fermented bean curd and durian could be compared to that stench.
Qin Guan gestured at Cong Nianwei and slowly stepped into the room.
It was a small room of about eight square meters. Garbage was piled on the two beds, leaving no space for the guests. Plastic bags, waste paper and red underwear were lying miserably on the floor.
Qin Guan coughed. "It's a little messy."
A little? That was a euphemism.
Qin Guan put his hands on a table and realized he had gotten ketchup and cheese on his palm. He calmly lifted the papers, only to find several pizza boxes under them. They were leftovers from several days ago.
"You know how much homework we have, Qin Guan. I have no time to eat out, so I order in... Come in, Cong Nianwei."
"My roommate is a hard-working boy. He must be at the library right now. Welcome!"
He wrapped all the garbage up in his quilt and threw it on the other bed, so his guests could sit on his bed.
Bang!
"Ouch!"
A hairy head rose from beneath the quilt on the other bed. The scared boy looked ready to bolt.
"Rongzhi? Did you skip class?"
"John? What time is it? What hit me just now?"
The two of them were looking at each other with an incredulous expression, when a dumbbell fell from Rongzhi's body.
Everyone burst into laughter. Rongzhi came back to his senses and picked up his glasses from the pile of garbage.
"Friends of yours?" he asked before suddenly falling silent.
What do I see? Is that an angel? A beautiful goddess from Ancient Greece? A fairy from Wonderland? Fairies don't have black hair and eyes though!
Qin Guan was shocked by the expression in the boy's eyes. He turned around and saw Cong Nianwei standing behind him in a white dress, looking slim and graceful.
You are really brave, boy! You dare express your admiration before her boyfriend! You are offending me!
Qin Guan walked up to Cong Nianwei, intending to lead her outside. Then he would close the door and have a private talk with Rongzhi about his life and ideals.
Rongzhi hugged him from behind though.
"My Mona Lisa! Even the mysterious Nile couldn't carry my longing for you..."
"Wow!" Everyone in the room was frightened. Rongzhi seemed like an ordinary boy, yet he was not admiring a beautiful girl like Cong Nianwei.
"Hey, dude. Are you still dreaming? I'm a guy!"
In ancient Roman and Greek mythology, gods were all non-sexual. Nothing could suppress their beauty, not even age or gender.
You are Venus, the most dazzling star in the sky. You are my heart...
Rongzhi was just a pure admirer of beautiful things. Qin Guan wanted to give him a lesson, but hesitated. People always enjoyed getting worshipped by others.
Cong Nianwei had originally thought he was just another pursuer, but he had turned out to be a love rival. And he was a boy! She suddenly walked up to Rongzhi.
"Let him go!"
"Never! Why? Who are you?"
"I'm his girlfriend." Cong Nianwei put both hands on her waist. Anyone who knew her would know that she was outraged.
Rongzhi cleaned his glasses with one hand and sized her up from head to toe. "Ugly woman!"
Wow! He was doomed. Mou Xiaoliu had infinite strength and Huang Jiajia was good at unreasonable demands, but Cong Nianwei was not like them. She was a smart girl who could kill a person without even getting blood on her hands.
"Rongzhi, as far as I know, your team will be participating in a national design contest at the end of the year. I'm not usually interested in unofficial, unprofessional contests, but Ryan asked me to join his team yesterday and I don't want to say no to him. I have decided to join his team..."
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Chapter 358: Welcoming Party at Columbia
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
"Who are you? I know all the talented students at our college..."
"Oh, no! I forgot about the female monster. People say she is Superwoman. She can finish a whole blueprint in two weeks! Sewers included! Everything drawn by hand!"
"Her name is... Cong..."
"Cong Nianwei." Cong Nianwei pointed to her own face with a cold grin. Rongzhi was stupefied. "It's me. The ugly woman..."
Cong Nianwei never bore grudges. She always took revenge right away.
Rongzhi let Qin Guan go instantly, as if his hands had been burned. Then he rubbed his sweaty palms against his pants.
"My idol... Could you please lend me Professor Fred's design of the TYU mansion? I just want to have a look. One look!"
The situation had taken a sudden turn. "You know him?" Qin Guan whispered to Cong Nianwei.
"Yes, he's a silly design addict. He's a kind boy though..."
Aesthetic appreciation seems to be a common disease among designers. Maybe she just loves me for my looks.
Qin Guan caressed his face happily. I'm still a hero.
This was the first time John got to know his Chinese friends well. After some explanations, they soon became friends.
The girls went into the bathroom to put on their dresses, while the boys had to put on their suits amid that dusty heap.
"John, do you have a spare shirt? I'd like to attend the party tonight..." Rongzhi asked, staring at Qin Guan like he was appreciating an oil painting.
"No problem. Look in the closet. There's a dozen of new shirts." John wanted to help the boy, who usually did not attend social events.
Unlike strict business parties, the outfits for the college ball were pretty casual. Instead of wearing a traditional bow tie, Qin Guan chose a blue tie and a silver tie clip, which were perfect for lively young people.
Then he knocked on the door of the bathroom. "Are you ready? I can't wait to see your lovely face, darling..."
John made a face at his flattering words, but Rongzhi looked infatuated.
The door opened, and Cong Nianwei stepped out leisurely. She was wearing a royal blue dress, and her long hair was pinned high on her head with a matching silver hairpin.
Qin Guan extended his arm, and she locked her fair, soft hand through his.
"Shall we go?"
"Yes, let's go!"
Students in formal attire headed to the auditorium from all directions. The hall was lit up by crystal chandeliers, making it look like it was still daytime. The mirror-like floor looked smooth and spotless.
The party was for the freshmen, who were the guests of honor that night. One by one, the distinguished guests entered the hall. John introduced them to his friends like a busy tycoon.
"The short Asian with the glasses is the vice chairman of the Chinese Business Strategy Alliance."
"The kind old man with the silver hair is the executive director of the National City Bank of New York."
"Wow! The Morgan Stanley family! The brown-haired guy over there is the head of the Wall Street Investment Bank."
Both the speaker and the listeners looked keen during the introductions.
Suddenly, there was a roar of cars outside. The motorcade sounded extraordinary.
Those black sheep had refitted the best luxury cars! The crowd was shocked by the ostentation and extravagance. There were Mercedeses, Bentleys, Rolls-Royces... Qin Guan was itchy to touch them.
Maybe I could buy a Volkswagen. It's economical and practical... Suddenly, he was struck by lightning.
Wearing proper suits with shining gem buttons, three Chinese young men walked over from the parking lot. They were Lan Jin, Guan Jian and He Ming... It was like a scene from a TV drama.
Cong Nianwei, who also looked as if she had been hit by lightning, exchanged a look with Qin Guan. The two of them said in one voice, "There are colleges here from all over New York..."
They were right. The party was open, so students from other New York colleges had also been invited. NYU was the top university, so its students had naturally received an invitation. How had Lan Jin, a student of a community college, gotten an invitation though?
When the boys reached the entrance, they took off their white gloves in a showy manner. Lan Jin spotted Qin Guan right away.
Asian faces were rare in the hall. Besides, Qin Guan was always like a shining object in a crowd.
"Qin Guan! I'm here!"
Long time, no see. Lan Jin had changed the color of his hair from red to yellow, but he was still the same lively boy.
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Chapter 359: Together Again
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
His loud voice attracted attention from all the guests in the hall.
Wow, we have a rich Asian at our college! Qin Guan covered his face in shame. Lan Jin didn't care about anyone else. He made his way over to Qin Guan. "Hey, dude! Why didn't you call me when you got to the US?"
You never gave me your new number or wrote to me.
He Ming and Guan Jian also joined them.
"What are you doing here?"
"This is a party of the best university in Manhattan. We love parties. I called Lan Jin to ask him to bring us here. Guan Jian's university has an ongoing collaboration with the New York University. He lives in my house now."
"You disappeared after arriving in New York though. We came here for you tonight. Won't you welcome us?"
"Of course not. I might end up in the university newspaper tomorrow."
"You? In what way? You shine everywhere you go, but you seem modest here at Columbia."
He Ming lifted his golden-framed glasses, obviously surprised by Qin Guan's appearance. Then he glanced over at the distinguished guests to get a general idea.
"Why did you come here in such a formidable array?" Qin Guan pointed to the parking lot outside. Guan Jian sneered at him. "Ask Lan Jin."
Lan Jin coughed awkwardly.
"I'm not familiar with the city, so my dad bought me an apartment in Long Island. I discovered that it would take me 20 minutes to drive downtown though, so I had to buy a car. Car exhibitions here are filled with Benzes and Rolls-Royces, so I had to refit it."
"Many Chinese students like my car at my university. They copied what I did and we have a luxury car club now. He Ming helped us set some formal regulations."
Qin Guan grimaced. "So why did you come here for me? I can't afford any of your toys..."
He Ming smiled again. "Rich second-generation students have to apply to join our club by using their money. Our club has outstanding power. Maybe we could do something together one day."
"We are here to ask your opinion. Would you like to join us?"
It's a Chinese fraternity. Of course I want to join. I'm not an idiot.
"Okay, no problem." They were all happy, but John, who was listening in to their conversation, looked itchy.
The host announced the start of the party. People walked to the dancing floor and started moving along to the soft music. Those who preferred their quiet stayed behind and talked with their friends.
Qin Guan and his friends were naturally in the public eye. They slowly walked up to the distinguished guests.
"Uncle He! Long time, no see..."
"Xiao Ming, I saw you when you arrived!"
After an introduction by He Ming, they began chatting about random subjects.
"How are you, Mr. Fred? Do you remember me from the party at the Chelsea Hotel? I'm Kuhn..."
Nobody had noticed when Kuhn had approached. The people he greeted forced a smile on their faces.
Qin Guan felt strange about the scene. Reality was really cruel. Would the former prince adjust to the changes?
"Qin Guan, you're here! I've been looking for you for a long time. Why didn't you come to the party with me?" Xu Xiaoxiao was standing behind him.
Before he could turn around, he saw the crazy light in Kuhn's eyes.
"Are they your friends? Are they Chinese?" Xu tried to put his arm around Qin Guan's shoulders. The difference between their heights though made Xu look like a funny monkey stretching up to reach a peach.
"Ha! What an interesting boy! Could you introduce him to us, Qin Guan?" Lan Jin laughed loudly. All the attendants fixed their eyes on Xu Xiaoxiao.
Taking advantage of this, the guests got over the embarrassment caused by Kuhn, who was blatantly ignored by everyone.
The party was wonderful. People drank, talked and enjoyed the company of beautiful girls. Only when Kuhn lost that luxury did he realize how precious it was.
He retreated to the entrance without a word. The proud young man set his glass down heavily on a tray. Wine splashed out, betraying his anger.
Nobody paid any attention to him though. The music changed, sparking their interest. John and Susanna were competing, trying to challenge Zeta and Wendy.
They were the prince and princess' rivals that night. All the students were familiar with their history. They danced and smiled as they watched the drama unfold. Uncle He was complaining to He Ming and other Chinese rich men.
"Chinese people are better than foreigners in nearly all aspects. When it comes to public activities and sports though, Chinese students are mediocre."
Although the members of the luxury car club did not like his observation, they knew it was true.
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hapter 360: Impressing the Whole Audience
Translator: Lan Editor: Efydatia
Guan Jian, the most patriotic guy among them, took action. He pulled Qin Guan over and threatened him. "Can you dance? Tell me! If you say no, I'll kill you!"
So I basically have to say yes? Qin Guan gave in to his threat. "I know what you mean. I can! I can!"
Qin Guan pulled his tie off and pushed it at Xu Xiaoxiao. Then he unfastened three buttons on his shirt.
He bowed before Cong Nianwei and extended his hand. "Would you please dance with me, my beautiful princess?"
It would be their first dance with a real meaning. He had to make it perfect for the sake of their new life together.
Other Chinese students applauded. They liked that boy, even though he did everything in a showy way.
Cong Nianwei smiled and gave Qin Guan her hand. Suddenly, he threw his suit jacket high in the air. The blue Ports jacket landed in Xu's hand after a handsome parabola.
Lan Jin whistled excitedly. The Chinese students applauded loudly.
The competitors on site saw the commotion. Before they could come back to their senses, the boy in the white BOSS shirt and his female partner walked to the dancing floor. Qin Guan looked like a returning King.
They naturally left the center of the stage to the contestants. Most of the dancers stopped and walked away. They chose to watch the competition from afar.
Lan Jin and the other guys were confident about Qin Guan. What they were worried about actually was Cong Nianwei.
Bright music started playing. Cong Nianwei's beautiful crystal high-heels were shining. She moved in a handsome twirl, the two of them beginning their performance.
They were dancing cha-cha, which was the best choice for lovers who wanted to show off. Following Cong Nianwei's rhythm, Qin Guan swayed his hips in a sexy manner. He looked perfect in his tight pants.
"Oh my! I can't even breathe!"
Cheers from foreign girls were heard all around them. Qin Guan was like a flame lighting up the whole hall.
Love and romance were the pride of youth. They looked at each other, exchanging hot, emotional looks.
They provoked each other, their breaths full of hidden sexual passion.
Cong Nianwei's fair legs were locked around Qin Guan's. They tangled and parted, expressing their love.
They fixed their eyes on each other, stars shining in their pupils. They only saw their own reflection in each other's eyes.
The music gradually slowed down, perfectly matching their steps.
Qin Guan's serious expression suddenly changed. A warm, honest smile formed on his face.
Hand in hand, they waved to the audience and bowed amid the applause. The other dancers were totally ignored.
It was the first time John, Wendy and Susanna, their striking fellow students, experienced what being a fly on the wall was like.
When they noticed the dispirited expression on their rivals' faces though, they were relieved. At least our rivals also failed to win the title.
Lan Jin applauded so much that his palms turned red. He didn't forget to share his pride with Xu Xiaoxiao, who was also crazy about the dance competition.
Qin Guan realized that he and Cong Nianwei had become popular after their dance. After the party, students would come up to them to greet or talk to them.
The harmonious atmosphere reached its peak during the award ceremony. The lights became dim, leaving only two projectors shining dazzlingly down at the center of the stage.
The host mounted the small stage and shouted the names of the prince and princess of the ball.
"The princess is a Chinese student from the Department of Civil Engineering, Cong Nianwei..."
"And our extraordinary prince is..."
As he was about to say the name, all the Chinese students in the hall shouted loudly, "Qin Guan! Qin Guan! Qin Guan!"
"Bingo! He is also a Chinese student from the Finance Department, Qin Guan!"
The lights were suddenly cast in their direction, their shadows getting tangled up and forming a beautiful halo. Hand in hand, they walked forward slowly in a graceful manner.
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