Chapter 349 Pretending to be a Returning Businessman in a Novel (22 Chapters)
"If you can't do one set of questions, then do ten sets, a hundred sets. Do them until you're sick of them, until you can't think of anything else when you see them. Foreigners and flashing lights are the same."
Zhou Jue looked back at the models on the stage.
“From today until we leave, they will be here every day, and these cameras will be pointed at you every day, until you see the flash as often as you see a light bulb at home.”
"Let's go, let's start over."
The intense torture began.
On the first day, almost everyone stumbled and fell, which became a common occurrence.
The next day, they began to learn to get up as quickly as possible after falling and keep moving forward.
On the third day, facing the blinding white light, they were able to barely open their eyes a crack.
One week later.
Inside the warehouse, the same runway, the same lighting, the same dense flashes and clicking sounds.
Sun Li was the first to come out.
His steps were steady and powerful, his eyes fixed straight ahead, his chin slightly raised. The blinding flashes of light shone on his face, but he didn't even blink. It was as if those lights, capable of instantly blinding someone, were merely a gentle breeze brushing against his cheek.
Zhou Xiaoman followed behind him.
Her gaze was calm and focused, and the crimson cheongsam swayed gracefully with her confident steps, like a burning flame.
When Bai Lu walked onto the catwalk again, she even had a calm smile on her lips as she passed the spot where she had fallen last time.
Below the stage, Deputy Factory Director Wang and Director Li stared in disbelief.
The ten young people in front of them were completely different from the group of panicked rookies a week ago. Their confidence and composure, which came from their very bones, made them feel somewhat unfamiliar.
Zhou Jue stood quietly in the corner, watching everyone on the stage.
She knew it was time.
She turned to Deputy Factory Director Wang, who had been standing by her side, and said:
"We can set off now."
"Director Zhou, are we... are we leaving already?"
His voice trembled slightly, without him even realizing it.
"The right people have been chosen, and their spirit has been cultivated. If we drag this out any longer, this drive will dissipate."
“Perfect timing, the competition is about to start, we should go and get used to it first.” Zhou Jue handed over a list of accompanying personnel that he had prepared in advance.
"I'm counting on you to take care of the factory."
Deputy Factory Director Wang looked at the list of names. Besides the ten models, there were also five core team members led by Chief Designer Chen, who were responsible for the on-site maintenance and adjustment of the clothing.
In addition, there's Section Chief Zhang, who speaks some foreign languages and is responsible for external liaison.
There was also a reporter sent by the city to accompany them.
There were nineteen people in total.
"Don't worry!"
Deputy Factory Director Wang thumped his chest loudly, looking at Zhou Jue as if he were a general about to go into battle.
"With me at home, I guarantee you'll have everything under control!"
Two days later, the group boarded a train to the capital, where they would transfer to a plane to fly to that distant country they had only seen in magazines.
The carriages of the green train were filled with all sorts of noisy smells.
The models and designers huddled together, no one speaking, just staring at the rapidly receding fields outside the window.
"Section Chief Zhang, do you really think... that plane won't fall from the sky?"
A young design apprentice asked in a low voice to Section Chief Zhang, who was also sitting next to him, feeling equally uneasy.
Section Chief Zhang cleared his throat and, feigning composure, pushed up his glasses.
"What nonsense are you talking about? That's the country's aircraft, with the most advanced technology!"
He said that, but the way he gripped the luggage rack tightly betrayed his true thoughts.
It was his first time going abroad and his first time on an airplane, and he was more nervous than anyone else.
On the contrary, Zhou Jue acted as if nothing had happened, leaning against the window with a book in his hand, occasionally turning a page, as if this was just an ordinary journey.
From exchanging tickets to checking in luggage, and then boarding that huge "iron bird".
Everyone was like a flock of chicks following behind a mother hen, never leaving Zhou Jue's side.
They did whatever she said.
They followed her wherever she went.
Once on the plane, Sun Li and Zhou Xiaoman happened to sit together.
As the plane jolted and began to accelerate on the runway, Zhou Xiaoman instinctively grabbed Sun Li's arm, her nails digging almost into his flesh.
Sun Li's face also turned pale, but he still forced himself to stay calm and patted Zhou Xiaoman's hand.
"Don't...don't be afraid, Director Zhou is sitting right in front."
Yes, Director Zhou is right ahead.
This idea acted like a reassurance, putting the entire team at ease.
They secretly glanced at the calm and composed figure in the front row, and the panic and unease emanating from his very bones seemed to have lessened considerably.
For them, the flight of more than ten hours was a long and arduous ordeal.
When the plane finally landed and they set foot on Parisian soil, everyone was still somewhat dazed.
The air smells different now, emm... it doesn't smell as good as the air in my own country.
All around me were foreigners with high noses and deep-set eyes, speaking incomprehensible "bird language".
Those uniquely shaped buildings that I had only seen in movies were standing right in front of me.
"My God... this is Paris?"
Zhou Xiaoman looked up at a tall, pointed tower not far away, her mouth agape enough to fit an egg.
The others were similar; everything was new and exciting to them, but they didn't dare to look too obviously, so they could only sneak glances out of the corner of their eyes.
Lin Wanwan walked in the group, not looking around curiously like the others.
The scene before her was both familiar and strange to her.
She had been here before, in a past life, as a tourist.
But this time, she wasn't a tourist; she was a warrior.
She understood better than anyone what this show meant for the Flower Kingdom, which had just opened its doors to the world.
Therefore, she was more nervous than anyone else.
"They're gone."
Zhou Jue's voice interrupted everyone's observation. She had already arranged everything, and two buses were already waiting for them at the exit.
Once everyone was on the bus, watching the foreign street scenes rushing past the window, their hearts, which had been hanging in mid-air, finally settled back into their stomachs.
With Director Zhou around, it seems like there's nothing to worry about.
Upon arriving at the hotel, Zhou Jue quickly distributed room keys.
"Section Chief Zhang, you are in charge of the models' diet and psychological support. I will contact the organizer to confirm the time and schedule of our show."
"Chief Designer Chen, please open the boxes immediately and do a final check on all the clothing and accessories to ensure everything is perfect."
"Models, go back to your rooms and rest to adjust to the time difference."
"Reporter, you are free to move around and take some footage."
Each instruction was clear and unambiguous.
The entire team started operating efficiently.
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