“Sure!”

When someone requested photos, Zhang Xiao didn’t hesitate at all, agreeing immediately.

The “Popular Film” staff ran over.

Zhang Xiao’s public image had always been characterized by her round face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes – the standard face for mainstream films.

It was a down-to-earth kind of beauty!

This kind of stunning look today had never been associated with Zhang Xiao before.

Yet it looked quite good, and since they were at a fashion show, what was wrong with taking a few photos? Zhang Xiao’s outfit was very fashionable, and the red lace-up heels that showed when she sat down were quite alluring.

With someone taking the lead, gradually other reporters and editors couldn’t sit still either, all gathering around Zhang Xiao.

“Zhang Xiao, were you invited to watch the fashion show?”

“Your outfit is beautiful!”

“Zhang Xiao, are you friends with Elegance’s founder?”

“Zhang Xiao, look here!”

“Zhang Xiao, is that your boyfriend who came with you?”

Chen Xiliang was startled – he had just been sitting next to Zhang Xiao!

Xia Xiaolan was quite surprised – how familiar these questions were! Whether reporters from 1985 or 2015, they would ask Zhang Xiao these same things. In 1985 Zhang Xiao was an actress, in 2015 she was a celebrity, but as long as she was single, she would definitely be asked about her personal life!

But Zhang Xiao just smiled for photos without answering any questions.

It wasn’t a big deal originally, but her ambiguous attitude only piqued everyone’s curiosity more, making them all crowd around her persistently.

Zhang Xiao wore a smile, but her feelings were complex.

When she used to cooperatively give interviews to reporters or magazine editors before, they had never shown such enthusiasm. Their interviews had always been proper and conventional.

It had never been like this before.

This seemed like the treatment only Hong Kong stars received when visiting the mainland.

Zhang Xiao didn’t know that Xia Xiaolan was packaging her transformation from “actress” to “celebrity” – this was deliberate “star-making.”

If Xia Xiaolan hadn’t intervened? In a few years, when actors started doing commercials and singers began doing commercial performances for money, they would naturally evolve into “celebrities,” including the somewhat rustic Zhang Xiao.

Xia Xiaolan was essentially advancing the course of history… well, advancing one person’s path to stardom – it didn’t sound very ambitious.

“Sister-in-law, this can work?”

Shao Guangrong’s head was full of question marks.

Reporters were highly respected now – with a “press pass,” they could go anywhere.

Now they were all surrounding Zhang Xiao, competing to see who could shout louder.

As if Zhang Xiao would answer questions if they shouted louder!

Xia Xiaolan smiled, making Zhou Cheng laugh too: “People’s curiosity is contagious, plus there’s the influence of the surrounding atmosphere.”

Just like during National Day parade celebrations, which Chinese person present wouldn’t feel their blood boiling?

That patriotic atmosphere was incredibly infectious.

Not every newspaper present wanted to interview Zhang Xiao, but with others doing it, would their bosses scold them if they stayed firmly in their seats?

What if their colleagues got valuable news from their questions?

No, they couldn’t let others take advantage.

People who had experienced popular property launches in later years would best understand this – in that tense, noisy atmosphere, ordinary people would barely retain any rationality. What if you acted too late and someone else took your preferred floor? Rationality was destroyed by the sales site atmosphere, buying apartments like vegetables, making decisions in two or three minutes… how similar to the current scene!

Letting others take advantage meant losing yourself – Xia Xiaolan understood this psychology.

Putting Zhang Xiao out there diverted half the attention. A tactic didn’t need to be elegant as long as it worked!

“What’s all this noise downstairs?”

On the second floor, Ji Ya was checking the models’ final preparations before they went on stage, while Wang Mingming was also dressed up.

The plan was for Wang Mingming to perform first at 10 AM sharp. Having performed at the Spring Festival Gala, she could control the scene by singing two songs before the runway show.

If not for Wang Mingming’s performance, the neighboring businesses wouldn’t have allowed Ji Ya to block their entrances.

The runway took up so much space!

But Wang Mingming did have fame, with the added halo of being a Hong Kong star.

Once she started singing, even passersby would be drawn to watch.

Ji Ya wasn’t afraid of having too many spectators – she was afraid of not having enough!

Wang Mingming wasn’t just there to sing. After the fashion show, Ji Ya would appear on stage with her to announce Wang Mingming as the brand ambassador for “Elegance.”

Everything was prepared. Ji Ya heard the commotion downstairs but didn’t think much of it, assuming it was just reporters and onlookers getting impatient.

George had flown back yesterday – this was Ji Ya’s first personal show since becoming a fashion designer, and he wanted to encourage and support her.

He certainly knew that Ji Ya’s creation of the personal brand “Elegance” was to counter Xia Xiaolan and her daughter, but honestly, regardless of the reason, Ji Ya had finally started taking work seriously. Women with their careers became more confident and attractive, with less time for pointless thoughts, naturally becoming less prone to hysteria.

Just for this benefit alone, George felt his money was well spent.

The amount involved wasn’t small, and Ji Ya refused to take his money without giving something in return, so she wrote an IOU.

George couldn’t help hugging Ji Ya, “You’ll definitely succeed today – you’re China’s first designer to hold a fashion show!”

This title indeed could make one feel high as if on drugs.

Ji Ya had just started to smile when Zhen Wenxiu came clacking up the stairs: “Ya, why did you invite Xia Xiaolan? She’s just a deeply scheming troublemaker – open the window and look down!”

With reporters surrounding Zhang Xiao, Zhen Wenxiu had left her seat to run upstairs and report the news.

The reception staff Ji Ya had paid for stood there like idiots, not knowing to remove Zhang Xiao.

It was because of the good construction materials used in renovating the studio – the second floor was the creative area, and to let designers work in peace, they had used the still uncommon soundproof glass and materials like sound-absorbing cotton, at least at the level used in Hong Kong nightclubs!

Ji Ya could hear the noise downstairs but couldn’t make it out clearly.

Now with Zhen Wenxiu’s reminder, Ji Ya opened the window and heard people below calling “Zhang Xiao” as if they’d gone mad.

“Who is Zhang Xiao?”

Ji Ya asked those around her.

She didn’t pay much attention to the domestic entertainment circle, nor did she watch mainland TV dramas or films.

“She’s a film actress who’s won awards! Who she is isn’t important – what’s important is that Xia Xiaolan brought her. Look at the situation now – Xia Xiaolan brought Zhang Xiao with bad intentions!”

Wang Mingming couldn’t help taking a look too – Zhang Xiao was surrounded by reporters like a Hong Kong superstar.

Wang Mingming’s manager Le Feng pointed out, “What are you worried about? A mainland actress can’t compare to our Mingming’s popularity!”

That was true.

Ji Ya silently cursed Xia Xiaolan as a presumptuous clown trying to stop a cart with her bare arms.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Zhang Xiao was smiling until her face hurt. She was already tall, and in high heels, she could look down on some male colleagues. Looking over the heads of several shorter reporters, her eyes met Xia Xiaolan’s. Xia Xiaolan nodded slightly, and Zhang Xiao knew it was about time.

She raised her hand and made two downward pressing motions, and everyone understood that Zhang Xiao was about to speak.

“You’re asking so many questions at once, which should I answer first? Don’t rush, let’s take it slowly. I just heard someone compliment my outfit – thank you, these clothes were provided by Luna brand, they’re Luna’s autumn collection this year…”

Luna what?

Wasn’t it Elegance?

Everyone’s English was mediocre – please don’t bully people like this!