Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Opening New Doors
A few days later, Dani dragged Qin Li out shopping for clothes. They wandered into a boutique, and Dani held up a long, flowing dress in front of Qin Li, sizing her up.
"You're tall; this would look great on you," Dani said with confidence.
Qin Li frowned. "Isn't this a little too bright? Feels like it's screaming for attention."
Dani rolled her eyes. "Please, you're twenty-eight, not fifty-eight. Do you know why you lost out to that homewrecker?"
Qin Li sighed. "Because of my body?"
Dani wagged her finger. "Nonono, it's all about mindset. You've been stuck in 'good wife and mother' mode—thinking all you need to do is take care of your husband and stay modest. Meanwhile, the mistress? She's out there flaunting herself every day, dressing up to turn heads. That's the difference. You focus on keeping a man; she focuses on attracting one."
Dani tossed her a knowing smirk. "Lose the bargain-bin wardrobe and dress like you mean it. No matter where you go, people judge by appearances first."
Qin Li knew she wasn't wrong. Coming here was about starting over, so she took the dress and went into the fitting room without any further objections.
When she came out, the transformation was undeniable. For a moment, Dani just stared, her face a mix of delight and disbelief. Qin Li hesitated. "What? Does it look bad?"
Dani shook her head vigorously. "No, it's amazing! Seriously, clothes make the person. You look ten years younger."
Qin Li's heart-shaped face and delicate features were perfectly framed by the dress. Her broad shoulders, which had always been a sore spot, were cleverly concealed, giving her an elegant silhouette.
Dani's eyes flicked to Qin Li's chest with envy. "See? Being a little curvy has its perks—look at that figure! I, on the other hand, am flat all around. Front, back, sides… just a skinny beanpole."
After picking out a few more outfits, they moved on to cosmetics. By the end of the day, Qin Li felt like a completely different person. Even a young man on the street gave her a wolf whistle, which, while mildly embarrassing, did wonders for her self-esteem.
Dani smirked knowingly. "I wonder what Sun Yi would think if he saw you like this. You think he'd regret it?"
It was just a casual remark, but it hit Qin Li straight in the heart. Later, while Dani was in the bathroom, Qin Li impulsively opened WeChat. She snapped a quick selfie and posted it with the caption: A new me, a fresh start.
As soon as she hit send, she felt a pang of anticipation. What if Sun Yi saw it? What would he think? Would he be impressed? Regretful? She refreshed her feed multiple times before realizing with a jolt how ridiculous she was being.
What am I doing? she thought bitterly. I left him behind, didn't I? Why am I still trying to get his attention?
Despite her internal scolding, she knew the truth—seven years of marriage had left her deeply entangled. While Sun Yi had easily moved on, she was still clinging to the remnants of her feelings. They say the best way to get over someone is to fall for someone new, but where was she supposed to find that "someone"?
Her thoughts spiraled until Dani returned, looking delighted about something.
"Hey, my company's hosting a casting event tonight. Come with me," Dani said, bouncing with excitement.
"Casting event?" Qin Li repeated, confused. "What's that?"
"It's like an audition or a meet-and-greet. Tons of people will be there—it'll be fun."
Qin Li hesitated. "Are you sure it's okay for me to tag along?"
"Of course! The more, the merrier. Trust me, you'll love it."
After grabbing a quick bite at a fast-food joint, they hailed a cab to the radio station. Dani handed Qin Li a temporary visitor's pass, making it easier for her to explore the venue freely.
The evening promised to be interesting.
For the first time in her life, Qin Li found herself inside a TV station, marveling at every detail like a country girl wandering through a grand city. Everything felt new and exciting.
As she was taking it all in, a middle-aged man with glasses approached. Dani immediately grabbed Qin Li's arm and intercepted him, flashing her most charming smile.
"Director Koch, this is Qin Li, the friend I mentioned before. She's twenty-eight, newly arrived from China, recently divorced, and currently single. What do you think?" Dani introduced her as if she were presenting a rare treasure.
Director Koch adjusted his glasses and looked at Qin Li. "How's your German?" he asked.
Before Qin Li could respond, Dani jumped in, "She majored in German, just like me. But since she hasn't been abroad before, her spoken German is a bit rusty. She's taking a language course now and will start a master's in Germanic Literature at the University of Munich soon."
Director Koch gave Qin Li a once-over, considering her carefully before nodding. "Interesting. Let's give her a try."
Dani's face lit up with joy. "Thank you, Director!"
Once Koch walked away, Qin Li turned to Dani with a suspicious look. "Did you just sell me off?"
Dani grinned mischievously. "Sell you off? I'm creating opportunities for your future!"
"What do you mean?"
"You remember that matchmaking show I mentioned?" Dani began, her excitement palpable.
Qin Li nodded cautiously.
"Well, the show gets tons of applicants, so they hold casting sessions to filter through the crowd. They're looking for people who are good-looking, have compelling backstories, or have bold personalities—basically anything that can boost ratings. I told the director about your situation, and he was really intrigued. That's why I brought you here. He likes you, and he's letting you join the show!"
Qin Li's head spun at the revelation. So that's why Dani had insisted on new clothes and makeup. It wasn't just a makeover—it was prep for her TV debut. She stared at Dani, a mix of disbelief and exasperation. "You should've told me this earlier! I can't believe you just decided this for me."
Seeing her reaction, Dani quickly launched into damage control. "Come on, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance! Think of it as a fun adventure—how many people get to do something like this? I worked so hard to get you in. Just give it a shot for me, okay? Besides, no one here knows who you are. This show doesn't air in China, so no one back home will see it. Who knows? You might even find your second chance at love! Worst case scenario, if you hate it, you can always back out. There's literally nothing to lose!"
Dani's relentless persuasion left Qin Li no room to argue. She sighed. "If it's so great, why don't you sign up yourself?"
"If I didn't work for the station, I totally would!" Dani shot back.
"But I don't even know the people…"
"Relax," Dani reassured her. "I've already done some reconnaissance. The guys this season are easy on the eyes and age-appropriate. No weirdos or rejects, I promise."
Qin Li threw her hands up in surrender. "You've already dragged me here. What am I supposed to do, storm out and never talk to you again?"
Dani's eyes sparkled with hope. "So you'll do it?"
Reluctantly, Qin Li nodded. "Fine. What's one more matchmaking experience after everything I've been through?"
She agreed with the attitude of someone giving up on society—if she'd survived countless awkward dates back home, why not add a German farmer to the list?
Little did she know, this seemingly impulsive decision would open a door to a completely new chapter of her life.
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