HuaYu97: Starting as a Singer

Chapter 50 [050] First a slap, then a piece of candy
Qi Yuan's residence in Taipei.

Two hours later.

Qi Yuan helped Lin Zhiling audition for a role.

Lin Chih-ling's baby voice is genuine; it's not something she's deliberately putting on.

Lin Chih-ling's long legs are real, measuring a full 112cm. They are slender, straight, and have smooth lines, making her the undisputed number one beautiful leg in Taiwan.

"Don't you think I'm a promiscuous woman? The competition in the modeling industry is fierce, and the chances of getting ahead are slim without connections."

Every year, a large number of young and beautiful newcomers flood into this industry. If I can't find another way out, I might be eliminated in a few years.

When talking about her career, Lin Chih-ling cried. Her tearful appearance, combined with her soft, naturally childlike voice, was incredibly alluring to men.

However, her move had no effect on Qi Yuan.

If Qi Yuan were to be deceived by Lin Zhiling's feigned pitifulness and half-truths, he might as well buy a block of tofu and kill himself, because it would be too embarrassing for a reborn person.

"The modeling industry is very competitive. It's a youth-oriented industry. The golden age is from 15 to 26. If you don't make it by 30, you have to consider changing careers."

Qi Yuan first acknowledged Lin Zhiling's difficult situation in the modeling industry.

At 24 years old, she is definitely not young for a model.

Lin Zhiling nodded obediently, just about to say that Qi Yuan understood her.

But Qi Yuan then changed the subject and continued, "However... forget about playing the victim. Those of you in this line of work should know that your looks and figures are far superior to ordinary people; beauty itself is a scarce resource."

Have you ever lived in an urban village? Sanitation workers have to get up at four or five in the morning to work, and young men and women who have left their hometowns work twelve-hour shifts every day, with only one day off a week. If your line of work is considered pitiful, what about them?

Having grown up in an urban village, Qi Yuan has witnessed too many hardships in life. Lin Zhiling's attempt to gain his sympathy by playing the victim is somewhat wishful thinking.

"..."

what?
Lin Chih-ling's rhythm was disrupted, and she completely lost it.

Weren't we supposed to be talking about music video scripts and careers? Why is Qi Yuan suddenly giving her a social lesson?
She said she had a hard time, but Qi Yuan said that it was the common people who had a hard time, and she couldn't refute it.

After Qi Yuan said that, she realized how incredibly fortunate she was compared to those workers who worked two shifts. What did she have to complain about? To complain would just be pretentious.

Qi Yuan wasn't the kind of person who would take advantage of someone and then turn her back on them.

He just wanted to tell Lin Zhiling that a deal is a deal, and there's no need to make up so many unavoidable reasons and excuses.

Don't treat him like a fool who's easy to fool. Don't think that if you act pitiful or play the victim, he'll do everything he can to help you.

Having given her a good start, Qi Yuan looked at the dumbfounded Lin Zhiling and said, "I've told my agent to send paparazzi downstairs. They should be here by now. If you want to become a minor celebrity, you'd better seize this opportunity."

In just a few minutes, Lin Zhiling was stunned by this man several times.

All her usually effective methods failed her against Qi Yuan.

Is this really a nineteen-year-old newcomer to the music scene? Why does she feel that Qi Yuan is more experienced than her, a veteran?
Today she experienced firsthand what it means to be slapped first and then given a piece of candy.

She actually thought the candy was quite sweet.

……

Apartment downstairs.

Inside a beat-up van, two paparazzi, one fat and one thin, had just found the perfect spot.

"Brother Yu, is your information reliable? The media's been reporting these past few days that Qi Yuan is hooking up with the heiress of a Hong Kong jewelry company. Would he be so stupid as to bring a young model home for the night? Isn't he afraid Chen Huilin will dump him?" The chubby paparazzi remarked on how damn exciting these celebrities' affairs were. "You don't know anything! Why do you care so much? If every celebrity was as scandal-free as Richie Jen, what would we paparazzi eat?"

As a veteran paparazzi, Li Yu knew all too well that celebrities were their bread and butter.

If celebrities don't create buzz, they have to find ways to do it themselves.

They should be secretly happy that Qi Yuan is willing to make big news.

“You make a good point. I’ve been thinking about something. What would happen if Chen Huilin found out that her boyfriend was seeing models behind her back and flew all the way from Hong Kong to catch them in the act?” The fat paparazzi’s eyes lit up as he imagined the exciting scene.

"Of course I'm getting a promotion, and you're officially hired." Li Yu glanced at the fat paparazzi. A newbie is a newbie, but he's got some pretty good ideas.

This kind of huge news is sure to cause a sensation in the entire Hong Kong and Taiwan entertainment industry.

Do you really think you can just film it whenever you want? This kind of news doesn't even appear once a year.

"Holy crap, Brother Yu, look! Two people are making out in front of the window!" The fat paparazzi pointed to a window on the seventh floor, his eyes filled with excitement, as if the man in the picture was him.

"Quick, a chance to make big money has arrived! Get out of the car and take pictures!" Li Yu grabbed his camera, opened the car door, and dashed out like a shot. The professionalism of an old paparazzi is truly exceptional; his movements were as smooth as flowing water.

The chubby paparazzi was a newbie, and it was his first time capturing such a major news story, so he was inevitably a bit flustered.

However, the two worked together and seized the opportunity of a dozen seconds to take several photos of two dark figures kissing passionately in front of the window.

According to the intelligence they received, that was Qi Yuan's residence in Taipei.

"I've struck gold! I've struck gold! This time it's really big! I have to stay up until dawn tonight. If I can get a photo of Qi Yuan and that model coming out of the apartment together tomorrow morning, I'm definitely getting a promotion!" Li Yu excitedly pumped his fist a few times.

Another hour later.

Lin Chih-ling felt both excited and thrilled: "The paparazzi down there must have taken some pictures, right?"

Her lips were practically raw from kissing so much. If the paparazzi hadn't taken a picture, Lin Chih-ling would have yelled at them. What kind of skill is that? Trying to be a paparazzi? She should probably change careers.

"They should have taken the picture. I saw two people taking pictures down below," Qi Yuan replied.

"So, are you going to walk out of the apartment building with me tomorrow?" Lin Zhiling's eyes widened, and she couldn't help but feel a little expectant.

If the paparazzi capture a clear photo of her and Qi Yuan, this unknown, obscure model can ride on Qi Yuan's popularity to appear in the headlines of major entertainment newspapers, and her fame and value will rise accordingly.

"What are you thinking? I'll have my friend pick you up tomorrow. You two go out through the front door to attract the paparazzi's attention, and I'll take the opportunity to leave through the back door." Qi Yuan refused ruthlessly.

What a joke! Letting paparazzi photograph two shadowy figures kissing passionately downstairs is a small incentive for Lin Chih-ling.

The fact that he and Lin Chih-ling were caught on camera holding hands by paparazzi shows that what Lin Chih-ling gave him wasn't worth that price.

In any transaction, shouldn't there be an exchange of equivalent value?

Lin Zhiling was somewhat disappointed; the plot was far from the meteoric rise she had imagined.

Fortunately, she had also figured out Qi Yuan's personality a little.

Qi Yuan wasn't the kind of person who would turn her back on someone after she had done her job.

If she stays by Qi Yuan's side for a long time, she'll definitely become famous one day.

Perhaps... it's not impossible for her to become Qi Yuan's official girlfriend.

Thinking about this, Lin Zhiling felt confident about her future.

(End of this chapter)