In Beijing, there is an industrial corridor called Dingfuzhuang International Media Corridor. It runs east-west for 15 kilometers, connecting the Tonghui River and Chaoyang Road. The headquarters of a fashion pioneer is located on Chaoyang Road, a creative office area converted from an old factory building, exuding an artistic and fashionable vibe.
Yuan Mu communicated with the editor-in-chief in advance, promising to work overtime to finish the article, providing an objective portrayal of the life of a fallen heiress from a third-party perspective. Of course, the final step will involve promoting products.
Yuan Mu went to his workstation alone, rubbed his fingers together, and began to write and type. The content of his conversation with Xue Qiandai replayed in his mind.
"Senior Yuan, do you want an exclusive story?" The girl leaned lazily against the wall, the soft light from the restaurant ceiling illuminating her stunning beauty. Her eyes were distant, yet paradoxically filled with a sexy and aloof beauty.
“Of course, which editor or reporter wouldn’t want that?” Yuan Mu expressed his feelings sincerely.
"It's strange, I've met all the editorial team at Fashion Vanguard, but I don't remember you, Senior Yuan," Xue Qiandai said casually.
Yuan Mu was taken aback, not expecting her to know so much inside information. He then gave a wry smile, "Not yet, but with Miss Xue's help, it should be soon."
Xue Qiandai stared at him intently for a moment, then parted her lips slightly, "I think you should know that I'm only doing this because of Jian Yan. My requirements are very simple: no melodrama, no fabrication, and no exaggeration. If it's well-written, I guarantee I'll provide more resources in the future. And you, not only as an editor, but you might even become the editor-in-chief."
Yuan Mu had a strange feeling. Even though the woman in front of him was just a bankrupt heiress, he believed every word she said without question. He then thought of Huo Yunchao.
Xue Qiandai finished telling her story in the restaurant, and Jian Yan listened attentively the whole time, only occasionally glancing at Yuan Mu. Yuan Mu, probably out of professional habit, even used a recorder. After she finished, Xue Qiandai smiled and said, "Senior Yuan, please. Magazines are too outdated. I hope to see it on your official Weibo account tomorrow."
"no problem."
After watching the two girls leave, Yuan Mu pulled a business card from his pocket, already wrinkled and sweaty from being clutched so tightly. The card prominently displayed: "Yuan Mu, Intern Editor, Featured Interviewer, [Fashion Vanguard]".
He'd been at the magazine for so long, and he was still stuck at the very bottom. But thankfully, the "intern" label would soon be removed, and he was brimming with confidence about that.
After finishing the article, it was already past 2 a.m. The editor-in-chief and another editor came over.
The editor-in-chief was a middle-aged woman named Xu Na. Even when she went out in the middle of the night, she was still dressed in expensive clothes. People at the magazine gossiped behind her back that she was "Miranda the Devil," the editor-in-chief in "The Devil Wears Prada." Some also speculated that she had gone through menopause.
Xu Na glanced at the printed article and immediately jumped at the bullet, throwing the paper at Yuan Mu's face. "Do you know who you wrote about? The former number one princess of the capital's socialite circle, Xue Qiandai! Who wants to read something so bland and tasteless? It has to be explosive! It has to be explosive! What happened between her and her boyfriend? What happened between her close friends? What hardships did she endure after her family fell on hard times? Not this damn thing."
Yuan Mu picked up the manuscript from the ground and slowly stood up, struggling with his decision. Should he respect the wishes of the person involved, or compromise under the editor-in-chief's tyranny? Two forces were vying for power, tearing him apart.
Finally, he straightened his back, his voice righteous and firm, "Sister Na, this is Miss Xue's request. Believe me, this factual article has enough tension in itself. If you distort her meaning, I can't guarantee what she might do. A bankrupt heiress is still a heiress, and any one of her friends could give us a run for our money. So, my stance is clear: not a single word will be changed. If you insist on your own opinion, then I will resign. This article will have nothing to do with me."
The formidable Xu Na pinched the bridge of her nose, finally giving this intern editor, who had been a mere tool for two years, a proper look. Perhaps he was right, or perhaps his unyielding pride had made her look at him in a new light. She approved the manuscript.
"The manuscript can remain unchanged, but the pictures need to be made more appealing. I've heard that this young lady is obsessed with beauty." Xu Na finally relented.
"Okay." Yuan Mu breathed a sigh of relief. His back was covered in sweat.
The next day at 9 a.m., Fashion Vanguard published the article on its official Weibo account, and the number of clicks skyrocketed.
The phrase "the number one socialite in the capital" alone is enough to guarantee her a high profile and generate a lot of buzz on social media.
At 10:30 a.m., Huo Yunchao saw the article. The beautiful woman stroked her elegant chin and murmured to herself, "Dai Dai, are you saying goodbye to the past?"
At 11 o'clock, Jin Xiangyu received a text message notification from Lanshan and also saw the article on Weibo. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she plopped down on the sofa. "Oh no, the thank-you fee is gone." However, the proprietress then checked her review account and Tieba forum and found that she had inexplicably gained a lot of followers.
At 11:30, Xue Qiandai and Jian Yan returned from lunch and checked their computer. They found that everything on Xianyu (a second-hand marketplace app) was sold out. "Qiandai, the buyer didn't ask for a discount or haggle. They placed the order directly, and we received the money in one go..."
Jian Yan held up five fingers, which represented over fifty thousand.
Xue Qiandai laughed heartily, feeling refreshed. "With the little princess personally promoting the products, success is inevitable. Let's strike while the iron is hot and put the other cosmetics up for sale. This afternoon, we'll go look at villas. In the Roman Lake Art District, 100,000 yuan is enough for a year's rent, and our studio will be settled then."
Roman Lake is located on the edge of the central villa district in Beijing, where many young artists, fashion professionals, and emerging designers live. The villas there are significantly cheaper than in the more traditional villa areas, but the atmosphere is excellent and the amenities are complete.
Jian Yan didn't move; she was still in a state of shock. "Dai Dai, you said yesterday you were moving into a big villa, I thought... I thought you were going to use your ex's card, but it turns out you..."
Xue Qiandai proudly puffed out her chest, her beautiful figure on full display. "Jane, if I were still the Xue Qiandai who was born with a silver spoon in my mouth, I could spend his money without a second thought, since I could always pay it back. But now, I won't touch a single penny of that card unless I'm back on equal footing with him."
Jian Yan understood. Although she had lowered her standards to sell products, Xue Qiandai was still the proud Xue Qiandai. "But you were kissing and hugging Card yesterday!"
"That's his intention! Whether he gives it to me or not is his business, whether I spend it or not is my business. As long as I know he cares about me, that's enough!"
The two girls started packing their things when a phone call came in. Xue Qiandai glanced at it and chuckled. It was her scheming, scheming best friend—Hua Se.
"Ah Xue, The Insider magazine is hosting a charity gala at the Junlan Club tonight. Do you want to come? There will be an auction on site. Part of the proceeds will be donated to charity, and you can keep the rest. I guess you'll be interested."
When Jian Yan heard that it was that pretentious best friend from last time, her face turned pale. "Dai Dai, she has no good intentions, you shouldn't go."
"Go! Why wouldn't I go! I want to show her that I'm stronger than she thinks!"
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