Chapter 655 - 335: These Two Tumbler Girls are a King Bomb

Chapter 655: Chapter 335: These Two Tumbler Girls are a King Bomb

"I’ll talk to her myself." Fu Zhan, exasperated, pulled out his phone to find the leader’s daughter on WeChat.

Meanwhile, Lin Yuanyuan was equally frustrated.

She had poured so much time and effort into leading the design of this Hanfu, and it had even earned her teacher’s praise. Now was the perfect time to promote it.

Especially since she knew Chen Jincheng was organizing a Hanfu event in Jinglan City, she had been hoping the Hanfu she designed would be the star of the show.

And now this Wei Weiwei was telling her to delete her post. What was that about?

Just then, she received another message. It was from Vice President Fu. "Miss Lin, you should delete that post immediately!"

’This is insane,’ she thought, feeling an urge to curse. ’Why is everyone telling me to delete it?’

’Are they targeting me?’

’Aren’t they afraid I’ll tell my father?’

The next moment, she received a video from Fu Zhan. It showed two stunning women in Hanfu. The women were gorgeous, and the Hanfu they wore were exceptionally beautiful.

She could tell at a glance that this Hanfu wasn’t her design. And its style was completely different from what she was studying—or from anything currently popular, for that matter.

Crucially, it completely surpassed contemporary Hanfu designs in both method and style. Aesthetically, it was on a whole other level.

Then, the video showed the Hanfu that she and her team had designed.

Even she could see it: the girls wearing her Hanfu looked like serving maids compared to the other two.

Her face flushed with embarrassment.

’When Chen Jincheng holds his event, won’t it just look like I designed a batch of servant costumes?’

Forget about showcasing her work; it would be utterly humiliating.

Fu Zhan’s message came through again: "Just delete the post. Their production cost is 2,000, and the designer’s salary is 15,000. Let’s not embarrass ourselves together. With a 5 million design fee, your father could get into trouble. People might think we made some shady deal."

Hearing this, Lin Yuanyuan frantically deleted the post.

Her design being embarrassing was one thing, but if netizens found out about this, it could genuinely stir up a public outcry.

But her deleting the post puzzled many people. She had already told her teacher, friends, and classmates about it, and they were all curious why.

Her teacher messaged her in confusion: "Yuanyuan, why did you delete the post? Your Hanfu design was excellent this time. I was even going to recommend you for a film crew’s costume and makeup department."

Lin Yuanyuan felt awkward and quickly replied, "Teacher, do you really think my design is good?"

Her teacher’s reply came back instantly: "It is very good. It’s already at the highest standard in the industry. Many film crews will be seeking out your designs in the future."

But Lin Yuanyuan didn’t feel happy hearing this. Thanks to her upbringing, she had a broader perspective. On the contrary, she felt this whole industry might be doomed.

’If this is the best standard in the industry, then what do you call what those other people made?’

’We’re not even in the same league.’

The crucial thing was what Vice President Fu had said: their production cost was 2,000. If that figure got out online, the entire film and television costume industry would go insane.

She had no idea the cost could be so low. The thread, fabric, platinum accessories, soft clasps, stiffeners... and various other materials she used for her Hanfu were all sourced from a supplier her teacher had recommended, and they were incredibly expensive. In the end, she had to charge 20,000 for a single finished garment, while their cost was only 2,000.

She wasn’t a fool. She hadn’t been suspicious before because her teacher had told her these were all high-grade materials and that this was just how the film and television costume industry operated.

Now she could see the problem was huge. The crucial part was that no one in the entire industry ever mentioned it, and that was the biggest problem of all.

She started to feel that the five-million-yuan design fee was burning a hole in her pocket. While that was a standard price for a top-tier design team, it now seemed deeply problematic.

Lin Yuanyuan subconsciously replied to her teacher, "Teacher, if I said this industry might be done for, would you believe me?"

Her teacher replied instantly: "What nonsense is that? Do you have any idea who’s backing our industry? The rules have been set for a long time. What could possibly go wrong?"

’It doesn’t matter who’s backing it,’ Lin Yuanyuan pursed her lips. ’We’re talking about Chen Jincheng. Anything he does can stir up a media frenzy, and he has Boss Lei supporting him. No one can stop him.’

’Maybe I can get Dad to investigate this industry. I might even get some credit for it.’

Besides, she had to find a new path forward and learn some new design philosophies. She had chosen this profession out of a pure love for Hanfu and designing them.

With that in mind, she immediately replied to Fu Zhan: "I’ll return the 5 million design fee to your association. Let’s act like this never happened. Also, could you introduce me so I can study in the Hanfu design department at Second-Life Star?"

When Fu Zhan received the message from the leader’s daughter, he was dumbfounded.

He knew he’d been ripped off, but she was the daughter of a leader—a very important one at that. He’d never dreamed of getting the design fee back.

He just never imagined that not only would she return the five million, but she would also ask him for an introduction to join Second-Life Star.

’What kind of logic was that?’

It took him a long moment of staring at the message before he came to his senses and replied, "I’ll find an opportunity to ask."

Chen Jincheng, however, knew nothing of this. He had already walked over to the tumbler bases and begun inspecting them.

To support the weight of a performer, the tumbler base needed to be sufficiently heavy.

Sister Hong, for her part, quickly contacted two of the company’s artists. They were two young women she had taken a liking to while reviewing applications a while back.

Ever since her email, as the General Manager of Second-Life Star, had been published in the announcement for the "Campus Goddess" recruitment event, she was receiving thousands of new résumés every day. Applicants were hoping to become artists or compete for the top three spots in the Campus Goddess contest, which offered a million-yuan prize and the chance to become a "Miss Cheng."

There were still tens of thousands of unread emails in her inbox.

This made her feel even more strongly that she needed to hire a couple of assistants.

Otherwise, she’d spend all her time just reading emails and still never get through them all.

The two young women she had her eye on were Li Lixing, a sports academy student who was also participating in the Campus Goddess recruitment event—Sister Hong felt she was a strong contender for the top three.

The other was a retired rhythmic gymnast named Wu Liufang, who had won many gold medals.

Both young women were stunning and had incredible figures. She had hesitated to introduce them to the boss as potential "Miss Cheng" candidates. ’Knowing his tendencies,’ she thought, ’these two Little Lambs probably wouldn’t have escaped his clutches.’

This time, however, the boss had specified it was for a regular shoot, not to become a Miss Cheng.

’It all depends on his self-control. Let’s just hope he doesn’t change his mind and make them a Miss Cheng at the last minute.’

Meanwhile, when Wu Liufang received Sister Hong’s message, she was at a special needs school, volunteering as a teacher.

That’s right. After retiring and returning to Coastal City, she had been doing volunteer work despite her low income. She felt she should be doing something meaningful with her life.

However, the job she’d been assigned after retirement paid very little, and life was a real struggle—a common reality for many retired athletes.

A friend had suggested that with her beauty, amazing physique, status as a retired athlete, and all those gold medals, she should try to become an online influencer. It would surely be better than her meager income.

But she knew nothing about the internet and had no idea where to begin. The videos she filmed herself failed to make any waves. So, when her friend sent her the email for Second-Life Star’s general manager, she decided to give it a shot.

She knew about Second-Life Star and Chen Jincheng. In fact, she greatly admired him. His physical conditioning was simply incredible. As a former athlete herself, she deeply respected the discipline it must have taken to build such a physique; it wasn’t something an ordinary person could do.

She hadn’t expected to actually be hired by Second-Life Star. The company hadn’t given her any assignments recently, so she was surprised to suddenly get a message today. Following Sister Hong’s instructions, she hurried to the company office to pick up a Hanfu.

Meanwhile, at a university in Coastal City, a beautiful first-year student was practicing in a table tennis hall. The hall was also filled with many upperclassmen who clearly weren’t there for the game.

Li Lixing was used to this. She had seen it all through high school.

During a break, she took a sip of water and picked up her phone. She saw a message from Sister Hong at the company and let out an excited cry, causing the surrounding upperclassmen—the ones not there for the game—to turn and look.

’The rumors were true after all,’ they thought. ’A gorgeous freshman really has come to our sports academy.’

Li Lixing, however, had already rushed out the door.

A while back, she had seen Second-Life Star’s announcement for the "Campus Goddess" search. Not only would the top three winners receive a million-yuan prize, but they would also have the chance to become a "Miss Cheng."

’That’s Chen Jincheng we’re talking about! Becoming a Miss Cheng would be a guaranteed path to fame as an influencer, and I’d even get to be close to him!’

So, she had decisively sent in her application email and been signed by Sister Hong. But the event hadn’t concluded yet, and the top three Campus Goddesses hadn’t been chosen, so she hadn’t been given any work.

She hadn’t expected a sudden message from Sister Hong. She naturally rushed to the company, planning to pick up the Hanfu as instructed before heading to Jinglan City.

At the company, she ran into Wu Liufang and greeted her politely, "Hello."

"Hello," Wu Liufang replied just as politely, then asked curiously, "Are you here to pick up a Hanfu, too?"

"Yep!" Li Lixing nodded. "Sister Hong told me to come for a video shoot."

"Me too," Wu Liufang answered. As they chatted, they added each other on WeChat. Since they were at the same company, they figured they’d probably be seeing a lot of each other.

Just then, Wanxi and Jingshu came out, each holding a Hanfu in the style of a Liuxian Skirt, which was popular during the Tang Dynasty. This was another design guided by the boss, and it was worlds more beautiful than the so-called Tang Dynasty Hanfu on the market today.

"This Hanfu is gorgeous! Is it for us?" Li Lixing asked eagerly.

Wanxi nodded. "They’re for you. But we didn’t have time to tailor them to your exact measurements. The boss gave the order at the last minute, so you’ll have to make do for now."

Her words made the two young women pause for a second.

Li Lixing, growing even more excited, asked, "The boss? You mean Chen Jincheng? Is he the one who’s going to film us?"

Wanxi smiled. "I believe so. The boss went to Jinglan City to film a video today."

"Ah! That’s amazing!" Li Lixing cried out excitedly. ’Chen Jincheng is going to film me! I’m going to be famous!’

Wu Liufang’s face was also beaming with joy. This was Chen Jincheng, after all. Any video he shot was guaranteed to go viral. For aspiring influencers, Chen Jincheng was practically a god.

Without a moment’s hesitation, the two quickly changed into the Hanfu that Wanxi and Jingshu had brought out, then rushed out the door toward Jinglan City.

Wanxi and Jingshu watched them go and smiled, understanding their excitement.

’Such lucky girls.’

「Jinglan City」

After Chen Jincheng finished inspecting the tumbler bases and confirmed there were no issues, he and Fu Zhan continued to wander around Jinglan City. He familiarized himself with the various locations, mentally scouting for spots to shoot ancient-style videos. He noted them down one by one for future use.

He was surprised when Sister Hong arrived with the two young women who would be performing on the tumblers.

Both of them looked very familiar.

’Weren’t these two... Senior Wu Liufang, who had become an overnight sensation in his past life only to be tragically deplatformed, and Li Lixing—the top beauty of Coastal City, the third-generation pinnacle of the "innocent-yet-seductive" look, the dream of every sports student?’