Rebirth: The Ascent of a Socialite-Chapter 588 - 238: Star of the Runway (Part 2)

The night came as if a shadow pressing down on Su Ziceng’s heart, unannounced and inevitable. Melin didn’t come back, and Qiao Zhizhi couldn’t reach her. This poor mother, having just returned to Mo City, realized that Su Ziceng’s current situation was much more difficult than when she had described it in New York.

Several hundred million is such an astonishing number. Qiao Zhizhi couldn’t imagine how Su Ziceng managed to bear all of this with her slender shoulders.

After 1 am, the pitiful Qiao Zhizhi finally waited for Melin’s return. She had drunk quite a bit, and was brought back by a handsome young man in a sports car. Melin’s face carried a shy smile, and before leaving, she gave the young man a kiss. She excitedly entered the small apartment that Su Ziceng had rented to temporarily serve as their mother-daughter home, closed the door, and placed her hand over her heart. Melin could feel her heart pounding violently.

Because she hadn’t gotten the modeling opportunity from Su Ziceng, Melin was unhappy all day, so as night fell, she wandered the streets and entered a bar. She hadn’t developed much of a bond with Mo City yet. It didn’t compare to the bustle of New York, and the people here were more inclined to pass judgment on others. A tall figure with a mixed-race face like Melin’s attracted quite a few attempts to strike up a conversation.

After drinking some alcohol, and while her mind was still somewhat clear, she intended to head home. But she was harassed by several thugs in the bar. They reeked of liquor and were handsy with her, prompting her to call for help to the people nearby, but those indifferent onlookers just shied away. Just as she was about to be forcibly taken away, that man appeared.

He didn’t lay a hand on anyone; he simply used a stern glare to stop the thugs in their tracks, then he helped her out of the bar and into his valuable sports car. As Melin got into the car squinting her eyes, she looked at the man’s handsome profile and noticed his considerate yet proper manners.

"Take me home," Melin, in her drunken state, gazed at him, and the man said with a smile near her ear, "Brave miss, perhaps another day." He carried a fresh scent, like the air after the rain.

"I’m not brave at all. If I were, I’d yell at my awful cousin and declare that I want to be a model, that the Tokyo show should be mine. I, Qiao Milin, want to become rich and famous. I don’t want to live in such a shabby apartment; I want to give my mother the best life." Melin knew she had spoken too much, but these were just words spoken under the influence of alcohol, and no one pays attention to the length or appropriateness of their words in such moments.

"Don’t worry, your wish will come true," said the man as he took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. Melin was still lost in the man’s velvety voice and those eyes that could drown any woman’s heart, a man who seemed like a god. The tone of his voice, firm as it was, felt like a real promise to her.

That man, he really was like a god. The next day, when Melin came downstairs, she saw Su Ziceng and Jim sitting there, telling her that for the next few days she had to undergo a short, intense modeling training, because she would be the finale model for the Shibuya Fashion Show.

Even Sister Mu, who was wheelchair-bound, personally traveled to Tokyo. One week later, when September’s Sunshine took the place of the various stage lights and lit up the runway in Shibuya, a fashion show by Espr ignited the eyes of all the young people in Shibuya.

With bold and striking colors, and uniquely tailored designs, this fashion show held exclusively in Shibuya, within just three days, first spread throughout Tokyo, then across Japan, and then to Asia.

This was Sister Mu’s show, and it was Espr’s show. On the third day of the show, Master Pu Wangda closed his eyes forever, with Lin Ying by his side. He passed away in utter serenity, knowing full well that someone had taken over his legacy and that Espr was destined to forge a new path with the combined efforts of its new trio.

Just when Su Ziceng thought the show was going to conclude smoothly, a mishap occurred midway.

The Shibuya Show stage was built on the street, so the backstage and changing rooms were set up in a spare warehouse just on the corner of the street. When Su Ziceng was preparing for the final bow in front of the stage, Melin, who had just been complimented by her for performing well, was throwing a tantrum. After the hairstylist finished her hair and walked away, Jim came in to say hello, then took Sister Mu to greet their old acquaintances.

Everything seemed to be smooth sailing these past three days, but in fact, Melin had managed to offend all the models and staff backstage. An unknown Melin taking the stage and being entrusted with such a huge responsibility had already sparked a lot of jealousy. As soon as she arrived backstage, she specifically requested a makeup artist and hairstylist, acting like a top model. This inevitably attracted criticism from others. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

After the makeup artist and hairstylist finished with her, Melin waited for the costume designer to bring her outfit. But despite waiting for a long time, no one came, so she started cursing in English on the spot. When the late costume designer arrived, trembling, not daring to chat, he only reminded her to get on stage on time before hurrying off to attend to other models.

"Is everyone dead or something," Melin, facing the fitting mirror in the dressing room she’d commanded and emptied of people, struggled hard but couldn’t reach the necklace clasp behind her. Today’s final outfit was a form-fitting gown with a tight waist that required someone else’s help to put on. In her anger earlier, she even scared off the costume designer, and now it was too late for regrets.

"They just circle around those vulgar models, as if the show could be that successful without me," Melin’s face turned red with effort, but her hands still couldn’t reach that long zipper.

Suddenly, there were additional hands behind her, reaching for her zipper and fingertips brushing against Melin’s smooth spine, pulling it up. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)