I was acting crazy in North America, and all the crazy people there took it seriously.

Chapter 5 Teacher Luo, please help me.

"Sir, let me wipe it for you."

The young woman, like a startled fawn, trembled slightly at the end of her voice, and timidly half-squatted down, reaching out to Logan's wet clothes.

Logan grabbed the woman's hand, his gaze naturally settling on her.

Her golden hair, as bright as sunlight, almost reached her waist; her delicate oval face had skin as white as fresh snow; her watery eyes seemed to reveal an innocent naiveté, and a small beauty mark at the corner of her eye added a touch of allure.

As Logan scrutinized her, her body, clad in cheap clothes, taut and outlining full curves, seemed to be silently alluring.

Logan slowly lowered his head, approaching the woman's shy, blushing cheeks, hovering almost half a centimeter away, and asked softly, "Want to be famous?"

The woman was taken aback.

……

Anne Olsen suddenly had the illusion that she had gone from being the hunter to the hunted.

Perhaps it's not just a misperception.

Anne comes from a small town in Kansas that's hardly even marked on a map, where life seems to consist of endless cornfields and an indelible smell of dust.

She didn't want to be stuck in this barren land for the rest of her life, so she went to great lengths to escape the countryside and stumbled into bustling Chicago.

The hustle and bustle of the metropolis captivated and enchanted her, but she quickly came to her senses that this prosperity had nothing to do with her.

The arduous factory assembly line doesn't welcome skirts, and a respectable typist requires a high level of education... She is still that country girl who came from the cornfield with little education, full of desire to change her fate but without any resources.

No, she still has the resources.

As she stood on the street, her face was reflected in the shop window—her beauty was undiminished by her haggard appearance, and her eyes in the mirror burned like flames, radiating a resolute clarity.

She needs to cling to a large tree that can shelter her from the wind and rain in order to take root in this steel jungle.

So she became a waitress at an underground bar.

This wasn't the place she wanted to curry favor with a sugar daddy; the drunken patrons always reminded her of her alcoholic father, who became irritable when drunk. But she had no better choice.

Without any outstanding skills or connections, finding a job selling alcohol is already considered lucky.

Although the crude drunkards always liked to slap their hands on her waist and hips, the sticky touch made her stomach churn, like swallowing flies; although the greasy, flirtatious words that constantly lingered in her ears disgusted her; although the smell of tobacco mixed with alcohol made her nauseous...

But every figure that appears in the bar is a stepping stone in her eyes that she can value and climb.

Her gaze, like the most precise probe, swiftly scanned every possible target amidst the shimmering light of clinking glasses—alcohol was not a beverage, but a window into their wealth and character; words were not just sounds, but a measure of their worth.

Is he here to relax or to sink deeper into alcoholism? Is that impeccably tailored coat genuine? Is he shallow and easily hooked, or is he steady, reliable, and dependable?
As her gaze wandered, two figures in the corner caught Annie's attention.

She first noticed the bald man, Donald.

Thanks to her half-Irish heritage from her mother, Anne quickly struck up a conversation with the bartenders and learned that the bar was backed by an Irish gang.

By chance, she saw the bar manager respectfully address the bald man as "boss" from afar, and thus learned Donald's identity.

After discreetly inquiring about the situation, Annie learned that the young gang leader had only recently taken office and seemed to be unmarried. Logically speaking, he was the best person she could currently get close to.

However, another young and handsome man was so eye-catching that it was hard not to be drawn to him.

Upon closer inspection, Annie noticed something amiss.

Firstly, Donald treated the young man very kindly, while the young man chatted and laughed freely in front of the gang leader, indicating that the two were on relatively equal footing.

Although the young man's clothes didn't reveal his family background, his fingers casually rested on the rim of his wine glass, his relaxed posture as if he were in his own study, exuding a confident, indescribable... air of nobility.
This made Anne decide to observe further.

As she expected, soon enough, a bitch took the lead and pounced on her like a horny female dog.

In this gilded city, every body with even a little bit of beauty harbors the ambition to climb higher.

Some women are too shallow and can't stand loneliness. A little seduction is enough to make them hand over all their assets, and they can only become streetwalkers from then on.

Some women share her desire for a long-term meal ticket, but their judgment is questionable; a nouveau riche might lure them in like moths to a flame.

Anne knew that haste makes waste, so she preferred to endure more harassment and wait for a target who could sell her for a good price to appear.

A moment later, Annie scoffed.

Clearly, none of these bitches knew that the bald man was the boss of the underground bar; all their energy was focused on the handsome man.

That's easy to understand. With that handsome face, it wouldn't be a loss to pay extra for a night of pleasure.

It was the handsome man's reaction that caught Annie's attention.

He sat firmly, like the most stable rock in the eye of a storm. His gaze toward the women was scrutinizing, but not in a lustful, fixating way; rather, it was more like… a critical assessment.

Soon, one after another, the bitches who had come to try and fail all failed. Annie even overheard two bitches discussing whether the handsome man was "not good enough."

Ha ha.

Don't they realize that if the other party is really as wealthy as she guessed, and looks like that, he probably has no shortage of pretty girls throwing themselves at him. What makes these bitches think they can conquer someone with just a little flirting?

Annie herself wasn't confident, so maybe she should still target the gang leader?

Look how his face turned black from being ignored by those bitches.

Anne was confident that giving him a flirty look at this moment would leave a lasting impression.

However, the other one was just too alluring; the more reserved he was, the more women wanted to conquer him.

How can we conquer him?
Simply relying on looks is definitely not enough; bitches have already proven that.

Anne decides to appear as the prey and devises a strategy:
First, you need to put him on his guard, and it would be best to have some alone time with him.

Then, subtly extract information about their family background;

Finally, it's best to give him a little advantage, but not too much, just enough to get him hooked and make him turn back.

Strategy Guide!
So, after all the bitches had retreated, she took a step, adjusted her pace, and let her slender waist sway naturally. Each step was like stepping on invisible piano keys, and the wine glass on the tray swayed gently, like subtle weights on the scales of fate.

The weight finally fell on the handsome man as she had hoped. Annie could almost hear the chorus of curses from the bitches. In a flash, she adjusted her breathing, carefully weaving a veil of shyness and helplessness onto her face, and the man took her hand.

When the man looked up to scrutinize her, Annie's entire body tensed up, worrying whether her expression was perfect, and whether the only fake pearl earring on her earlobe looked warm and lustrous enough under the light...

Oh no! He's coming closer! Is he going to kiss me? Should I keep pretending to be terrified?
Then, that strikingly handsome face came into view, and she heard a calm voice say, "Want to be famous?"

Anne didn't understand, but at that moment her mouth spoke before her thoughts, and she said decisively, "Yes!"

……

Donald quickly cleared out a small booth backstage at the bar for Logan and Annie to talk.

—You better disappear, kid. Trying to have fun with you is just asking for trouble.

Anne also achieved her goal of being alone with Logan, though not entirely as she had envisioned.

“I own a newspaper,” Logan began by introducing himself.

Anne was overjoyed upon hearing this; she had made the right bet, and the other party's family background was indeed extraordinary.

"The newspaper is planning to launch a major production and will publish stills of the female lead in the newspaper along with the plot. You are a perfect fit for the female lead in the novel. Would you be willing to play the female lead and take the stills?"

Ok?
Playing the female lead?
In the newspaper?!

An overwhelming surprise overwhelmed Anne; she could hardly breathe.

But a voice echoed deep inside me—is it really that simple?

She suppressed the "I do" that almost escaped her lips, composed herself, and spoke as softly as possible, "What kind of female lead is she? What kind of stills do we need to shoot? I... I don't have much experience."

Logan's clear voice soothed Annie's nervousness. "The female lead is a pure college student who falls in love with a handsome and domineering CEO, and uses her charm to make the CEO deeply infatuated with her."

"Looking at your temperament and your charm, you're just like a leading lady in real life."

Anne met Logan's gaze, her cheeks flushing red, this time without any pretense.

"That's a great work!"

Logan spoke sweetly, staring at Annie, "The reason I said it's a still is because the newspaper has plans to adapt it into a movie. As the lead actress in the newspaper, you'll definitely be the perfect choice for the movie lead actress as well."

The female lead in a movie?!
Annie had indeed seen him, even up close.

That was when she arrived in Chicago by train. Just as she was about to get off the train, someone pushed her aside, and a woman in a luxurious mink coat walked out of the carriage surrounded by a crowd. Diamond earrings swayed gracefully around her neck, dazzling Annie's country bumpkin eyes.

I overheard the passengers around me talking about how she was the female lead in a movie, a very popular star.

That dazzling figure reappeared in Annie's mind, and the longing hidden deep within her heart was suddenly ignited and soared up.

“I do.” Anne nodded vigorously. “Yes, I do.” Logan raised an eyebrow and smiled. “You won’t regret this choice.”

……

What does it feel like to try to catch a big fish but end up catching a tiger shark instead?
"I regret."

The next day, Anne arrived at Logan's newspaper office and was immediately dumbfounded.

You are the newspaper owner, that's true, but could your newspaper be any smaller?

As for the so-called "great work," Anne was speechless after only reading the beginning.

Annie was completely numb.

I know men's words can be deceiving, but the level of deception in yours is just too high!

She glared at Logan. "This is the opportunity for fame you were talking about?"

Logan sat behind his desk, his fingers interlaced, and calmly said, "I guarantee you'll become famous overnight after you're in the newspaper."

"..."

Annie was so angry she couldn't speak.

Nonsense, of course I'll become famous, but it'll be a terrible reputation that gets me scorned!
"I know what you're afraid of. Do you think this is some kind of dirty trick?"

Logan's voice suddenly rose, filled with undeniable passion, "This is photography! This is art! This is the key to fame!"

Logan felt that after he traveled through time, conning people seemed to have become an instinct!
"Think about it, Anne! When your photos are all over the newspapers, it might cause quite a bit of controversy, but all of Chicago, no, all of America, will know about you!"

Logan straightened up, his fingertips tracing the air as if sketching a beautiful human silhouette. "Look at you, Annie!"

"You are so beautiful you radiate light, you are God's masterpiece, yet no one knows it, it's a sin!"

"Don't be ashamed, you are being true to yourself, and all of America will hold their breath for you!"

As Anne looked into Logan's shining eyes, her anger vanished without her realizing it, replaced by a burning sensation on her cheeks.

“The opportunity is right in front of you, Annie!” Logan’s voice suddenly deepened, like a whisper, but with a stronger penetrating force. “I’m not lying to you, the novel is being adapted into a movie, and you are my top choice for the lead role.”

"You need to understand, in Chicago, there are thousands of beautiful girls who want to be famous but have no way to achieve it. You, however, only need a little courage to break free from those invisible shackles that bind you, and you are destined to become a legend!"

Anne lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes casting hesitant shadows, and her fingers repeatedly twisted the hem of her skirt.

Logan was now in front of her, leaning down and placing his hands on the armrests of the chair, trapping her in a cage of his presence. He then unleashed a classic Steve Jobs-esque line: "Do you want to stand in the spotlight, or spend your life selling alcohol in a basement bar?"

"Or, find a sugar daddy, be unable to resist, and be silently kept by him for the rest of your life?"

Anne looked up abruptly and met Logan's slightly sharp gaze.

Logan knew this clever girl would agree.

Because of her performance, her scheming was already crystal clear to Logan.

A girl from a poor family who works as a bartender longs to change her fate by selling her beauty. Upon hearing "Do you want to be famous?", she immediately gives a heartfelt answer...

Would a girl like this really give up the opportunity to become famous because she is afraid of public condemnation?

Moreover, Logan wasn't just bluffing; he did have plans to adapt the novel into a film, and he genuinely thought Anne would be a good fit for the lead role.

It's not because she's pretty enough, but because she looks good on camera.

Logan wasn't a director, but in his past life, whether it was Chinese entertainment or Hollywood, he thought that actresses who were photogenic became famous, while actresses who weren't photogenic wouldn't become famous no matter how many resources they had.

As for having no experience, so what? How many movie stars in this era had experience from the start?

It depends on whether she is worth training.

Anne quickly showed her potential for development.

Despite being bombarded by Logan's good looks at close range, she didn't lose her composure—

Actually, I know he was mostly bluffing, but he's incredibly handsome!

Secondly, at least one thing is absolutely true: this is a small opportunity to climb the ladder, but it is still an opportunity.

In Chicago, young girls willing to seize this opportunity could crowd the newspaper office.

Last but not least, he's handsome, incredibly handsome!

Realizing she had no secrets from Logan, Anne no longer hesitated, staring intently at him: "Okay, I agree to film! But—"

"I have a few conditions."

Logan straightened up, crossed his arms, and calmly said, "Go on."

"First of all, the photos published in the newspaper must be reviewed by me. If I don't agree with them, they can't be published!"

"Of course."

"Secondly, I want to sign a formal contract. In addition to the basic remuneration, your promise that I will be the first choice for the female lead if we make a movie should be included."

Logan said with a hint of approval, "That makes sense, I agree."

"Thirdly, I want you to take the photos for me personally!"

Logan's gaze sharpened!
Ah this...

Are you trying to make me Teacher Luo?
I usually find it hard to refuse such a challenging job!

……

However, Logan also regretted it.

"What the hell kind of era is this! They don't even have color film yet!"

Logan never imagined that his path as a teacher would be fraught with difficulties from the very beginning.

Digital cameras hadn't appeared yet, well, this was the 1920s, he accepted that;

But even color film didn't appear, and Logan was stumped.

When was color film invented? Who knows?

Now he can only take black and white photos.

It is said that every master photographer has a "black and white complexion" deep in their heart, which is so clean and pure that it contains all colors.

Teacher Luo just wants to say that's bullshit.

Black and white photos can't compare to the impact of color photos!

Not to mention that in order to achieve better results, Logan had to personally research and arrange lighting and set up the shooting location... After a lot of trouble, he finally managed to set up a relatively ideal shooting location in his bedroom.

As for why I chose his bedroom?

Don't ask, the answer is simply that I'm too poor to afford a professional venue.

"Ready?" Logan asked Annie, holding a Kodak No. 1 pocket beginner camera.

Anne, who was only wearing a bathrobe, felt her cheeks burning hot. She took a deep breath and loosened the bathrobe.

The bathrobe fell to the ground silently, revealing a natural, untouched woman to Logan.

Wow...so beautiful!
Teacher Luo's gaze was steady, devoid of any evil intentions.

“Very good, go lie down on your side on the bed.” Teacher Luo gently guided Annie to get into position.

“Logan, teacher…” Anne didn’t know why Logan made her call him that in such a strange way, but she just did it anyway. “Is this how you lie down?”

"Teacher Luo, how should I position my legs? I don't know!"

"Teacher Luo, please come and help me."

Logan: "..."

Girl, you're taking pictures, be serious!

Even cadres aren't put to such a test!

……

　Bookmark this page, stay tuned, and let's face the challenge together with Teacher Luo!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)