2nd Chances 7: The Top Supermodel

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Chapter 7: The Top Supermodel

_{<Most names are given Surname Givenname, but names with “·” are Given·Surname>}

Ann·Xia only had one goal in life.

Take down Mei Bingbing!

Fuck that bitch, she stomped on everyone in Ann·Xia’s previous life, and Ann·Xia was that bitch’s favorite punching bag.

It was one thing if that bitch just slept her way through the entertainment circle – why should Ann·Xia care if that zombie face liked risking STDs to get roles she doesn’t deserve? – but Mei Bingbing wasn’t just a slut, she was a fucking bitch that loved backstabbing and ruining others for fun.
^{<zombie face in a lot of showbiz CLN refers to lack of facial expression in acting>}

How could a suspension car accident have claimed Ann·Xia’s life if someone hadn’t done something sneaky behind the scenes?

Even though she’d died before the investigation was complete, Ann·Xia remembered that sinister grin that bitch had given as she stole Ann·Xia’s intended suspension car to get to the venue first.

She had only thought the bitch was going on ahead to make things difficult for her at the venue, but …

… Fuck, Ann·Xia didn’t want to think about it. So she was the dumbdumb that fell for it… fuck!

Just remembering it made her so pissed off!

Dammit, this Great Sister, Ann·Xia, will get that bitch back in this life or die trying!

Mei Bingbing wouldn’t enter the entertainment circle for another six months at least, so this Ann·Xia was going to get as far ahead as she could before then and then thwart. Every. Single. Plan. That. Bitch. Had.

Hahahaha! Oh god, it would be SO satisfying to snatch every single victim of Mei Bingbing’s schemes right out from under her nose!

Of course Ann·Xia was only talking about the poor rivals that got screwed over. Those idiot big wigs and CEOs? It’s their own fault for thinking with their dicks and getting themselves screwed over in the not-fun way.

Ann·Xia’s first step was changing this first job she took after debuting.

In her previous life, she and fellow debutee, Fan Li, had fought over these two job options, one being a spot on a variety show and the other being a small spotlight in a magazine.

Fan Li and Ann·Xia both wanted the variety show! You could show yourself off to the audience quite a bit on a show! The magazine gig? It was a ‘new entertainers’ segment with another girl from a different company.

Ann·Xia had eventually won the variety show, but in the end, it was Fan Li who got the popularity!

Why?

Because the magazine decided, later on, that they wanted the new entertainers to take some photos with their main story’s subject, Rong Yan!

Ahhh, Ann·Xia almost broke her hands beating the table in regret in that previous life.

Who was Rong Yan? Only an international top supermodel. Hell, she even had fans all over the Orion Arm. And that wasn’t all she had to her name.

The Rong Family, allied with the Scott Family through marriage, were some of the top players in the Solar Star System. What industry didn’t they have some form of control over? Not to mention how they basically ruled over the Shenzo Metropolis through sheer capital alone.

And Grandfather Rong was still the Chief Master Sergeant of the Solar Interstellar Space Force (SISF), while Rong’s Second Son was the Master Sergeant of the Earth Air and Space Force (EASF).

In short, the Rong Family had a lot of money and a lot of power in almost all sectors.

If she knew taking the magazine job would mean she got to take pictures with Rong Yan, she would have tossed the variety show to Fan Li in a heartbeat!

And that’s what she’s going to do now!

Oh, of course she’s gonna fake-fight for the variety show, but you bet she’s going to be cackling inside the entire time!

Besides, if Ann·Xia remembers right, the future Movie Queen was going to be the little trainee she gets paired with, so there’s no harm in getting to know her right now, even if Ann·Xia had died before the girl actually made it to Movie Queen status, so who knows if she ever got it.

Anyway. This job. Must take.

Don’t worry, Fan Li, this Ann·Xia will make it up to you later, but it’s what you wanted anyway so please make do with the variety show! This Ann·Xia promises she won’t try to screw anyone else over without trying to compensate them.

Only Mei Bingbing! Because fuck. Her.

—

A major entertainment magazine that had international branches all over the planet and a top international supermodel.

These aren’t what you usually start a new employee on, okay?!

Chen Yijun felt like he was having a heart attack as he held Lanlan’s hand uneasily.

“This… don’t magazines have their own photographers?” he asked weakly.

“It’s because Blue Bird Studio and Old Wei also have an article. AlaMode’s editor suggested that we do a shoot with these subjects of their other articles for our own.”

“In reality, it’s also good for us to shoot new photos for our studio’s article. Not to mention Rong Yan! Gods, when else will we be able to shoot a model that can make any photo look good just by being in it?”

The lighting bros and set assistants were kind, helping Chen Yijun and Lanlan get situated in the studio as they gossiped.

While listening to them, Chen Yijun was becoming more and more curious about this top supermodel.

Although there were a lot of facecons in photography, people who worked in a nice studio like Blue Bird Studio would have some standards. If all the model had was beauty, then it was unlikely that they would praise her so much.

Sure, he could cheat and go through the former Chen Yijun’s memory to find out what the fuss is all about, but since he was going to see the person in question soon, Chen Yijun decided to preserve the element of surprise.

It wouldn’t be too late to rush through the memories after seeing what kind of beauty she was – Chen Yijun was also a facecon. ╮(╯∀╰)╭

“What’s the theme?” Chen Yijun asked. Arranging two newbies with one top pro in one shot would be a bit challenging, so he was curious about how the studio was going to mitigate the newbies’ lack of experience.

“We’re thinking of a mentor-mentee theme, of course with Rong Yan being the mentor.”

“So… a school theme?” Chen Yijun asked.

“Well… a school-like theme.”

… That didn’t sound good. Although they had a direction to move in, it felt like the details were a bit vague.

There’s no way that Wei Mingxin was intending on leaving the details up to Chen Yijun, right? That guy, he’s not that crazy, right?

Thankfully Chen Yijun had been overthinking, as Wei Mingxin didn’t even ask Chen Yijun a single question about the vaguely-a-study setting they had prepared when he entered the shooting set.

“Yo, Little Yi, good to see you!”

Wei Mingxin was acting so familiar that everyone else working on the set looked over to scrutinize Chen Yijun, who could only smile half-heartedly and lift a hand in greeting.

He didn’t hate Wei Mingxin’s treatment of him, it’s just that he felt kind of guilty since he still wasn’t sure he wanted to commit to this job. Chen Yijun felt like he was leading on a lovely lady who was really into him. Of course, Wei Mingxin was nothing like a lovely lady, though, so there was less heartache.

As Wei Mingxin gathered all the studio workers and reiterated the main ideas for the shoot, a disturbance came from the entrance of the studio, and pretty soon Chen Yijun could hear people all saying, “Welcome, Rong-laoshi.”

Oh, the top model came early.

Chen Yijun was kind of surprised she came before the two new entertainers, since big shots don’t have to curry favor as much as newbies, but he was also insanely curious about the top model.

As Wei Mingxin quickly finished giving instructions and turned towards the door of the studio room, it swung open.

It was at this moment that Chen Yijun got his first look at this top supermodel.

She was definitely a woman.

Long, perfectly sculpted legs that went on for miles, made only longer and more shapely with the heeled sandals that showed off each perfectly formed toe.

She was tall and had a lean, sleek figure and a beautiful posture.

Both her skin and face were obvious products of her mixed heritage, the pale, honeyed skin and a delicate asian face together with the sharper features of a caucasian, as well as large phoenix eyes.

Silky, straight hair flowed down her back like spilled ink.

She was definitely a beauty, but beauty wasn’t all there was. After all, what beauty hasn’t been seen in the modeling industry?

What lured you in was Rong Yan’s temperament.

There was no soft, feminine curves or girlish coquetry in the way she held herself, the way she moved, or even the very atmosphere around her.

Instead, her movements held traces of disciplined gallantry like that of a military officer, and her entire being was full of elegance, but also aggression.

Regal.

She wasn’t a queen but a King, one that was born to rule and took his birthright fearlessly.

Which, in all honesty, made a lot of sense since she was the precious daughter of the Rong Family, who practically ruled all of the metropolis of Shenzo and was even a non-negligible powerhouse among the entire planet.

Bluntly speaking, Rong Yan was very ALPHA.
^{<not an a/b/o fic. ‘Alpha’ is being used more fundamentally. >}

This juxtaposition of a feminine beauty with an almost masculine sex appeal was Rong Yan’s trademark, and it was this that ultimately propelled her into the rankings of the top supermodels on Earth.

When he saw her, a memory from the former Chen Yijun jolted into Chen Yijun’s head, and although he thought it was funny, he also thought he understood why netizens would joke around, saying that Rong Yan was ‘a goddess with enough male pheromones to compete for world’s sexiest man’.

Even though that was a complete exaggeration, Rong Yan’s temperament did give her beauty an allure that would be difficult for most women to imitate.

He also now understood why the studio’s staff were raving about working with her.

What a great subject!

That contrast of soft and sensual without while impassive and stoic within would make any picture 2 or 3 times more interesting just by including her!

Chen Yijun also felt a sense of crisis. How the hell are newbies supposed to stand in the same shot as THAT?

It would be good if they weren’t completely washed out …

“Good morning, Photographer Wei. It’s a pleasure to work with you.”

Rong Yan’s manner of speaking was the same as her temperament. Stoic.

“No no, the pleasure is all mine, Yan-laoshi. Thank you for coming today.”

“Of course -” catching a glimpse of Chen Yijun still talking with the rest of the staff behind Wei Mingxin, Rong Yan made to walk over to greet him as she removed her sunglasses, “Is that one of the other models for today?”

Chen Yijun almost choked. He’d forgotten he inherited the former’s ridiculous beauty specs.

He was actually mistaken for a model…

“Hahaha, no, although he looks like it, Little Yi is my new assistant.”

At that, Rong Yan raised an eyebrow.

Why did that read as, ‘I don’t believe you’?

Out of the people who work in entertainment, there were some people who liked being in front of the camera and some who hate it, and since Chen Yijun is part of the latter crowd, please, just ignore this lowly assistant…

“Hmmmmm…”

With that vague hum, Rong Yan gave Chen Yijun and the rest of the studio staff a nod in greeting, then redirected her attention back to Wei Mingxin and the costume and makeup artists as they discussed the shoot.

They had just barely gotten started when the two newbies arrived.

“Y-yan-laoshi, our apologies for arriving so late.”

“No, it was I who arrived too early.”

“Still, to have kept you waiting… AnAn, greet Yan-laoshi.”

“Lingyu, you as well.”

“ “Greetings to Yan-laoshi.” “

As the day’s models met and greeted one another, Chen Yijun was momentarily stupefied.

Eh? Was Du Lingyu supposed to be one of the other models? Eh? Eh?

He ran through his memories quickly.

It seems… this was true? But Chen Yijun didn’t get a chance to work with her for this shoot … well, yeah. In the previous life, the former Chen Yijun was still a low-ranked newbie in Blue Bird Studio during this event. How would he have been allowed to work on a shoot involving Rong Yan and Wei Mingxin?

It was at this moment that Du Lingyu caught sight of Chen Yijun.

Her sharp gasp alerted the others as she stared, wide-eyed, at Chen Yijun.

The third model, the other newbie named Ann·Xia, looked back and forth between Du Lingyu and Chen Yijun before thinking of something and looking at Wei Mingxin, asking uncertainly, “Is there… another model…?”

Chen Yijun. Is. Not. A. Model! Argh!

Wei Mingxin laughed, saying, “That seems to be a common mistake people have been making, but he’s not a model. He’s my temporary assistant.”

He paused for a moment. He had been completely focused on hiring Chen Yijun for his artistic merits, so it felt like he was only now realizing that Chen Yijun had a good appearance as well. How was he supposed to know that introducing the kid was going to start out with, ‘No, he’s not a model,’ every single time?

Well, it couldn’t be helped since two of the models were newbies, so everyone was making their own assumptions. Wei Mingxin was pretty sure they had sent out the information that the young entertainers were going to both be female, though… Chen Yijun might be a beauty, but he was definitely on the more masculine side of the androgyny scale.

It’s all ALaMode’s fault for changing their topic again and again, making people still confused about what the shoot was going to consist of, hmph.

“Does Miss Du know Little Yi?” he asked, somewhat curious.

Du Lingyu blushed, nodding a little.

“Chen-ge, for that time, thank you very much. It was thanks to your photo that I got a chance to debut,” she said softly.

“Oh! So you’re the one that took that picture! It’s nice to meet such a promising photographer,” Du Lingyu’s agent said, greeting Chen Yijun.

For his part, Chen Yijun could only feel awkward.

“You’re overestimating me,” he said hesitantly, “Miss Du is the one who made the photo beautiful. As for me, I was only lucky. My abilities aren’t so good, so I have to take fifty photos in order to get one good one.”

“Haha, that sort of thing, isn’t that common for most starting photographers?” the agent laughed his statement away.

No, you don’t understand! I really have no talent in photography! I’m not just being modest! – Of course the agent couldn’t hear the cries of Chen Yijun’s heart.

Wei Mingxin had already seen Chen Yijun’s microblog, but it’s not unheard of for amateur photographers to get lucky using the auto setting so he had chalked it up to the photos posted as being the special exceptions taken.

Everyone else, though, really took it as Chen Yijun just being modest!

Even Ann·Xia couldn’t help but quip, “Wow, I thought it was a waste you aren’t a model, but you’re actually such a good photographer~” She gave a low whistle.

No one knew that secretly, Ann·Xia was thinking, Oh, so this is that photographer Du Lingyu was rumored to be involved with. I see, I see…

“No, seriously, Boss Wei can confirm that any good photos are purely luck based for me.”

Chen Yijun wanted to cry.

He wasn’t a model nor a genius photographer, okay?! Both his appearance and those photos – this is all the former Chen Yijun’s fault-!!!

As distressed as he was, he didn’t notice the amused twinkle in Rong Yan’s eye.

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<a/n: … I’m sorry, what? I did not expect Ann·Xia to be so raunchy, nor expect to ‘meet’ a char who cussed more than Naru. She was supposed to be more coolheaded and shrewd, and maybe she was in her past life, but I guess she went a bit YOLO after she died? … wait, there’s a certain irony to that statement…

And FL is here, yay~, but I feel a bit sheepish about the fact that I just did that annoying thing in some CLNs where the author just gushes over a character’s appearance to increase the word count.

As for why I decided to do the gratuitous description despite disliking this method of introducing characters is, well, she’s a top supermodel. Someone with the title ‘top supermodel’ will make people want to know exactly what she looks like, so I didn’t feel it acceptable to gloss over her appearance.>