Rebirth: The Ascent of a Socialite-Chapter 620 - 250: Fame and Fortune (Part 2)
"Young girls shouldn’t use such an overpowering color," a tube of cherry blossom red lipstick was passed to her. Standing beside Su Ziceng, was a middle-aged woman exuding an air of authority.
Su Ziceng couldn’t guess the exact age of the lady; her face and makeup bore the unique elegance of a forty-year-old woman. However, the way she handed over the lipstick was brisk and forceful, like a young woman in her twenties or thirties, yet the faint blue of her eyes carried the wisdom only found in those of fifty.
French, Su Ziceng heard French by her ear. Did this woman know she understood French?
"Thank you," Su Ziceng took out a makeup remover pad, the coral red was the shade chosen by the makeup artist and she wasn’t supposed to wipe it off, but the presence of this woman made it impossible to refuse.
With the full, pink hue added to her delicate lips, Su Ziceng’s pallor also dissolved away.
"Feeling a bit nervous? It’s normal," the blonde haired woman said with a knowing smile, "I couldn’t sleep at all the night before my first formal event either."
"I’m better now, everyone here is very friendly," the Vogue photo studio was brightly lit, everyone was bustling about, the stylists and lighting technicians all in their places, undergoing an interview in such an environment gave one the thrilling sensation of needing to keep pace, without any slack.
"That’s good. I see Ms. Su has excellent adaptability, right?" The golden-haired woman winked and gave Su Ziceng’s hand a couple of firm pats, as if to encourage and comfort her.
Good at adapting? Yes, Su Ziceng murmured, it was the same everywhere; what she needed to show now was the adaptability and affinity expected of a new generation of Eastern women.
A confident smile froze on Su Ziceng’s face, eventually solidifying into the unforgettable photograph.
At the end of the shoot, the blonde lady came forward and shook hands with each of the three, thanking them for their wonderful performances that day. When it came to Su Ziceng, Ms. Tuer, the editor-in-chief of Vogue, said with a smile: "Su, allow me to call you that, your performance was stunning."
Among the three people there, only Su Ziceng had not experienced the ruthlessness of camera flashes; they could magnify a woman’s beauty infinitely or reveal every flaw. Moments before, under the flashes, what editor-in-chief Tuer saw was a rose blossoming elegantly. Perhaps not flamboyant and wild, yet unmistakably inviting to be sought after in secret.
Jim’s endless complaints paused the recollection; Su Ziceng stood up, took out a can of ice-cold Coke from the fridge, and placed it in front of Jim.
"Drinking ice-cold Coke in the depths of winter," Jim grumbled about any matter he could find fault with.
Frost appeared on the surface of the Coke can, and Su Ziceng easily pulled open the ring, "I’ve already received the ad fee."
"Ad fee? I didn’t see any," Jim opened Su Ziceng’s fridge, his eyes falling on the stocked cabinet of red cans.
"An unlimited sponsorship of free Coke," Su Ziceng shrugged her shoulders, considering it as part of the compensation.
"I’d rather have the money!" Jim’s gaze traversed the corners of Su Ziceng’s apartment. Besides Coke, he seemed unable to spot any other sponsors.
"There will be money, our ad war has just begun," Su Ziceng insisted, pushing the Coke can into Jim’s hands. The "freezing" temperature made Jim yelp loudly.
The sweetness of the Coke temporarily dispelled Jim’s dissatisfaction. However, for some, their discontent had just begun to surface.
Yang Wuxu had been staring at that issue of Vogue for several days now. She frantically scrutinized every segment of the conversation related to Su Ziceng.
"How can Su Ziceng be so at ease when I’m reduced to this state? She’s actually still able to put on the airs of a noble lady. Everyone’s been deceived by her, this seemingly upright woman was eager to sleep with Count Pello, and on the other hand, she’s ensnaring Hang Yishao," Yang Wuxu kept muttering in her room, nearly tearing the magazine to shreds.
"I can’t let her have the last laugh," After hating all the men and ending up worse off, Yang Wuxu shifted her hatred, blaming everything on Su Ziceng.
"The reason for my downfall today is all thanks to Su Ziceng," If she hadn’t encountered Su Ziceng, she wouldn’t have met Fei Qing, she wouldn’t have lost her innocence and become a woman of ill repute. If it weren’t for Su Ziceng, she wouldn’t have encountered Su Qingzhang; she could have safely graduated from Kelly Women’s College and secured a teaching position.
The friendship of the past had vanished in the face of jealousy.
"I can’t let her be so smug; I want everyone to know her filth and shamelessness," Yang Wuxu took out her phone and looked at the entangled figures of men and women. If she were to leak these photos, what would Su Ziceng’s expression be?
Yang Wuxu maliciously imagined that scene, picturing Su Ziceng disgraced and defeated, even more pitiable than herself.
"Who should be the first? Should I take the photos to Su Ziceng, Wen Maixue, or Hang Yishao," Yang Wuxu made a list; she had to find the most accurate person who could bring her the most benefit.
"Perhaps," Yang Wuxu looked at the faceless man in the photos, "I should first show the photos to another key person, Count Pello. He should be able to offer me a proper price." (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com) with your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
