Living in a county town, starting as a stock market maker...

On the other end of the phone, Gu Ming calmly said:

Send me the address.

There was no greeting, no comfort.

Half an hour later.

A black SUV was parked in front of the First People's Hospital of HG City.

As Chen Mo walked out of the hospital, he immediately saw the man leaning against the car.

Standing next to him was another unfamiliar man, dressed in a suit and wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

When Gu Ming saw her, he stubbed out his cigarette.

"Get in the car, let's find a place to sign the contract."

Chen Mo didn't ask where they were going, nor did he ask who the strange man was.

She no longer has the right to ask.

She numbly opened the car door and got in.

The car headed north, leaving the city, and finally stopped in an abandoned industrial area.

Rusty pipes lay scattered haphazardly on the ground.

Gu Ming led her into an empty factory building.

The bespectacled man took out a contract and inkpad from his briefcase and placed them on a dusty iron table.

"This is Attorney Wang. He will witness and record the entire signing process," Gu Ming said simply.

Then, he took out a black, square machine from his bag.

A POS machine.

"Take a look at the contract. If there are no problems, sign it. After you sign, I'll transfer the 200,000 to you now."

Gu Ming pushed the POS machine in front of Chen Mo.

She thought she would cry.

But she didn't.

From the moment she signed the critical condition notice, it seemed as if she had already cried all her tears.

She picked up a pen, didn't look at the terms of the contract, and signed her name at the end.

The handwriting is messy.

Then, I pressed my red handprint.

Gu Ming took out her bank card and swiped it on the POS machine.

Enter the amount and confirm.

"drop--"

With a soft click, a small receipt was printed out.

Gu Ming tore off the receipt and handed it back to Chen Mo along with the bank card.

"The money has arrived. Go and complete the formalities for your father."

Chen Mo looked down at the numbers on the receipt.

A string of zeros made her feel a little dizzy.

She knew that an even bigger problem was brewing.

Attorney Wang put away the contract, nodded to Gu Ming, and then left.

In the empty factory, only Gu Ming and Chen Mo remained.

"Alright, now we're partners."

Gu Ming's voice broke the silence.

His face was expressionless, as if he had only bought a bottle of water.

"From now on, I am your boss and your mentor."

He walked around Chen Mo, looking at her.

"You've seen some short dance videos online before, right?"

Chen Mo nodded.

"Now, dance a short piece for me. Any style, in whatever you're good at."

Chen Mo didn't say anything, but took off his oversized work jacket, revealing a faded vest underneath.

She took a deep breath, her body tensing.

There was no music, no rhythm.

The thin girl began her dance.

She started with a somersault, followed by a side kick, and then somersaulting and shifting.

Every movement was clean and efficient.

After completing the set of movements, she landed smoothly, her breathing completely undisturbed.

She looked up at Gu Ming, waiting for his judgment.

She believes that her routine, which combines parkour and street dance, is enough to demonstrate her value.

However, Gu Ming shook his head.

"The movements are fine, the technique is excellent."

His voice was calm.

"But your eyes look wrong."

"This isn't a performance; it's venting anger."

Chen Mo's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Your eyes have no content, only emotions," Gu Ming said. "You hate the camera, you're wary of me, you even hate the world that makes you dance."

"Every movement you make is an expression of your resentment and anger."

"Am I right?"

Chen Mo bit his lip hard, his nails digging deep into his palm.

Seeing her like this, Gu Ming continued:

"For commercial videos, viewers want to see beauty, stories, and things that resonate with them."

"It could be something cute, sexy, or something that sparks their fantasies."

In Chen Mo's mind, Gu Ming's words were interpreted in a different light.

—You're not cute, not sexy, and not feminine.

—You don't have the kind of business value I need.

—You didn't get your 200,000 yuan.

This thought made her heart clench.

If she's useless, will this man take back the 200,000 yuan at any time?

That father's life...

No.

No.

She had to prove herself, prove herself useful, prove herself capable of carrying out any instruction.

next second.

Under Gu Ming's astonished gaze.

Without saying a word, Chen Mo suddenly turned around and rushed towards a concrete platform nearly two meters high not far away.

She took a running start, stepped over the wall, used the momentum, and jumped.

Her body traced an arc in the air.

A standard backflip.

However, just as she was about to land, she noticed that a rusty steel bar was stuck diagonally into the ground where she would land.

The pupils suddenly contracted.

She forcefully twisted her body in mid-air, avoiding a fatal blow.

"Sizzle—"

The sharp point of the steel bar still grazed her ankle.

A bloody gash appeared instantly.

She staggered to the ground, half-kneeling, and blood quickly stained her gray trouser legs.

She raised her head and stared intently at Gu Ming.

"I am very strong."

"I can do anything, and complete any design you can imagine. As long as... you pay me."

She thought she would see a satisfied, or at least approving, look in the other person's eyes.

however.

For the first time, Gu Ming's expression changed.

He didn't speak.

He walked quickly to the car and took out a first-aid kit from the trunk.

Then he walked back and squatted down in front of Chen Mo without saying a word.

He opened the first-aid kit, took out disinfectant swabs and gauze, and carefully supported her injured ankle.

The cold disinfectant stung when it came into contact with the wound.

Chen Mo's body trembled violently.

She looked at the man in front of her.

Watching him with his head down, focused on treating his wound.

Those hands that had just swiped 200,000 yuan through the POS machine were now stained with their own blood.

Why?

Why not anger? Why not praise? Why...?

"What I need is a warrior."

Gu Ming's deep voice rang out.

"A warrior who knows how to express his inner pain, struggle and hope with his eyes and his body."

He looked up at her.

"I don't need a reckless acrobat who only knows how to please others by hurting himself."

Those words sent a jolt through Chen Mo.

Then, tears welled up without warning and flowed silently.