Chapter 15: Mr. Lu’s Dream Girl

Immediately, the middle-aged man hurriedly put on a smile. “Why didn’t you let us know you were coming? The road—”

“Yes, I am Professor Lu Ming from Binhai University,” Lu Ming interrupted the leader, hastily reaffirming his identity, “Your boss’s office is on the top floor, correct?”

“Professor, do you know the CEO of Haohan?”

Lian Youyou felt helpless about Lu Ming insisting on coming with her. She had already told him she could take a taxi by herself, but he insisted on driving her over.

“Of course, I know him well. Should I put in a word for you?”

Although Lu Ming’s face was expressionless, for some reason, Lian Youyou saw a hint of amusement in his eyes.

“There’s absolutely no need. I want to earn the endorsement on my own merit!” Lian Youyou declared with conviction.

Such confidence reminded him of the video from her first appearance on stage at eighteen. Her youthful face brimmed with collagen as she stood with a microphone, her bright eyes glowing with self-assurance.

After Lu Ming left, Lian Youyou sat in the corridor, waiting for her number to be called.

Nearby, several girls with heavy makeup chatted idly, their voices drifting to Lian Youyou. “Do you think the spokesperson for ‘Chronicles of the Martial World’ will be an artist from Cloud Smoke Entertainment? I heard the boss, Fan Chi, has been eyeing this juicy opportunity for a while.”

“Definitely. But I heard Fan Chi wants his daughter, Fan Xiaoyun, to take the endorsement. However, Fan Xiaoyun has never liked period costumes, especially martial arts themes, so she’s absolutely refusing.”

“That Fan Xiaoyun is young, but she sure is full of quirks.”

Judging from their conversation, the spokesperson seemed already decided.

She had anticipated this outcome. After all, it was the usual rule in show business: everything was cloaked in the guise of fairness, but the reality was always backstage manipulation.

“See that one waiting by the door? She’s probably the winner this time.” One girl pointed toward a young woman in a pale pink, V-neck, fitted dress. “That’s Quan Qing’er, Cloud Smoke’s current star protégé. The internet says her plastic surgery was modeled after Lian Meng.”

Lian Youyou followed the direction of the girl’s finger. Indeed, this Quan Qing’er did resemble her former self about fifty percent, but the signs of cosmetic surgery were too obvious, making her features seem stiff.

She had seen online that nine out of ten female celebrities these days have had work done, leading to a loss of individual uniqueness.

Beauty lies in the bones, not the skin—a saying apparently forgotten in this era. These women chase perfect facial features without realizing inner beauty matters most, and even unique imperfections can be breathtaking.

In this respect, Lian Youyou admired the people of Japan. Every actress there had her own distinctive style and charm, embodying the celebrated beauty of imperfection. Yet, most people here couldn’t appreciate it, preferring oval faces, double eyelids, and high bridges.

The corridor grew emptier...

“Next, number 119, Lian Youyou!”

“Yes!”

Hearing her name called, Lian Youyou straightened with renewed spirit and hurried forward.

She had only taken a few steps when the woman announcing numbers hid her face behind the list, quietly giggling.

“Miss Lian, aren’t you the one who was in the news recently, rumored to have jumped from the sixth floor? How did you manage to escape unharmed? Did you train in acrobatics?”

Lian Youyou responded with a smile instead of anger, retorting mercilessly, “Yes, yes, next time I jump, I’ll make sure to take you with me. I’ll teach you step by step.”

As Lian Youyou walked in with graceful ease, all the judges’ attention was fixed upon her.