The modeling industry had already shot next spring’s new collections.
In the photos, Xiang Yang, sometimes in a shirt, sometimes in a baseball jacket, sometimes in a hoodie, wore a cool expression as he struck various poses for the camera.
Though it had only been a short week, it surprisingly looked quite convincing.
Chen Jiaojiao reviewed the photos from beginning to end with the gaze of a mother watching her son and gave her friend a thumbs-up.
“Not bad.”
Her friend quickly replied.
“It’s all thanks to you. Xiang Yang is quite talented and obedient, everyone likes him a lot.”
Feeling relieved that he hadn’t embarrassed her, Chen Jiaojiao replied to her friend, “He’s just doing what he should. And it’s all because you taught him well.”
Her friend then sighed.
“You know, this industry is full of handsome guys and beautiful girls, but few who are both ambitious, have audience appeal, and are easy to work with.”
“I haven’t met anyone I liked this much in a long time. I thought signing him would be smooth sailing, but I didn’t expect this kid…”
Chen Jiaojiao paused, realizing this was what her friend wanted to discuss.
She had indeed introduced Xiang Yang to the job on a part-time basis.
She had expected that once he tasted the benefits, he would eagerly embrace the industry, but she hadn’t anticipated him refusing to sign.
Her friend said, “You introduced him, so you know him better than I do. I don’t want to give up easily, so help me persuade him.”
“Our company might not be large, but our resources in the circle are decent. If you miss this opportunity, there won’t be another.”
“He’s not someone irreplaceable. With the current trend of him gaining traction, seize the opportunity.”
Chen Jiaojiao understood her friend’s reasoning and knew she genuinely liked Xiang Yang, otherwise she wouldn’t have put so much effort into keeping him.
“Okay, I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”
The next day, happening to be a weekend, Chen Jiaojiao called Xiang Yang early in the morning and asked if he was free.
The job had been introduced by Chen Jiaojiao, and in this past week, he had earned more than he had in the past month.
Although their relationship wasn’t deep, Xiang Yang understood that he still needed to express his gratitude.
So, he told Chen Jiaojiao he was free and offered to treat her to lunch.
“I can’t wait until lunch. Get ready, I’ll pick you up now.”
Hearing her say this, Xiang Yang instinctively began to feel nervous.
Because Chen Jiaojiao’s personal style was too striking, he was intimidated.
If Xiang Wan were compared to a resilient but unadorned daisy, then Chen Jiaojiao was undoubtedly a delicate and flamboyant rose.
Xiang Yang was accustomed to women like his sister, and suddenly being placed next to a rose felt too conspicuous, making his scalp tingle.
So, after hanging up the phone, he changed into suitable clothes and rushed to the school gate to wait.
As expected, Chen Jiaojiao did not disappoint him.
As her car pulled up and the window rolled down, she, with her light brown wavy hair, bright red lipstick, and imposing sunglasses, looked like a queen.
She instantly attracted countless glances.
Xiang Yang walked over quickly, his heart pounding, and sat in the passenger seat. Chen Jiaojiao started the car.
“Where are we going?”
Xiang Yang had no plans and asked her where she wanted to go instead.
Chen Jiaojiao, exuding a strong “big sister” aura, said, “Since you have no ideas, you’ll have to listen to my arrangements today.”
She drove the car to a sales center under Zhan Group.
As they got out of the car and looked at the magnificent exhibition hall before them, Xiang Yang was somewhat surprised.
“Are you buying a house?”
“It’s none of your business whether I buy one or not. Let’s go take a look.”
In an era where good looks could serve as a stepping stone, Chen Jiaojiao’s attire and demeanor undoubtedly had their advantages.
The staff warmly welcomed them.
They were offered tea and pastries, handed sales brochures, and invited to sit in an elegantly decorated corner.
This allowed them to avoid the noisy crowd in the center of the hall.
Chen Jiaojiao seemed completely at ease, as if she were in her own living room, sipping tea, eating pastries, and listening to the sales representative.
She glanced at Xiang Yang, who sat very properly, like a student attending a lecture.
She nudged his leg with her foot.
“They brought these for you to eat and drink, why aren’t you?”
The pastries were excessively exquisite, but since she had said so, it would seem petty to refuse. Xiang Yang could only take small bites.
After having two pastries, Chen Jiaojiao had asked most of her questions and unceremoniously asked the sales representative to step aside for a moment.
“My boyfriend and I need to discuss it first.”
The staff member tactfully retreated to the side.
Xiang Yang felt uncomfortable with her address.
“Why are you calling me that…”
“What else should I call you? What am I to you?”
Chen Jiaojiao pushed her sunglasses up onto her head, her beautiful eyes looking at him.
“How I address you isn’t important. What’s important is what you understood from what she just said.”
What did he understand?
Xiang Yang had only accompanied her as an observer. He didn’t plan to buy a house, and more importantly, he couldn’t afford one, so he hadn’t thought about anything at all.
Seeing his confused expression, Chen Jiaojiao tilted her chin towards the crowd in the hall ahead.
“Looking at their clothing and demeanor, you can probably guess which social class they belong to, right?”
Xiang Yang didn’t know what she was getting at and waited for her to continue.
Chen Jiaojiao said, “The dress of that woman who just came in is wrinkled, and judging by the fabric and design, it’s likely no more than 200 yuan. The bag on her hand…”
“Forget it, you wouldn’t understand if I said this. In short, they are ordinary working-class people.”
“The cheapest house here is 1.3 million yuan. With a 30% down payment, if a couple both work and share the mortgage, the monthly payment would be around 6,000 yuan.”
Xiang Yang began to guess what she was implying.
“Why did you suddenly think of telling me this?”
“I haven’t finished yet,” Chen Jiaojiao said.
“I’m only assuming the initial stage of marriage. Later, they’ll have to get pregnant, the wife will stop working and stay home to care for the child, and the man will have to bear the mortgage alone.”
“Ten years later, when the children are grown and the parents are old, they’ll have to support their parents as well.”
“Xiang Yang, if, at this point, a smooth path were laid out before the male owner, allowing him to buy this house in one go without having to endure so much hardship, do you think he would seize it?”
Xiang Yang admitted that his decision to refuse the modeling contract was simple.
He felt that after graduating from university, entering this industry shouldn’t be his ultimate destination.
Although he desperately wanted to earn money, to prove himself to his sister, and to be someone who could protect her, he hadn’t thought that far ahead about the specifics tied to daily living expenses.
“Are you saying that I actually have the chance to take a shortcut, and it’s up to me whether I choose to or not?”
That was indeed the meaning.
But it was clear that these words couldn’t shake his deep-seated prejudice against the modeling industry at this moment.
Chen Jiaojiao didn’t want to waste her breath, so she stood up.
“Let’s go, change locations.”
As they stood up, the staff member hurried over to greet them.
Chen Jiaojiao smoothed things over with a few pleasantries, and they drove off to a Volkswagen 4S dealership.
Since high school, Xiang Wan’s career had been on the rise, and Xiang Yang no longer had to worry about making ends meet.