“Shuqiao.” Zhao Muqing reached out to shake his hand, and at that exact moment, Shen Guanzhi gave his manager a seemingly abrupt reminder.
“Shen-ge can catch that too?” Li Shuqiao could not help letting out a soft laugh. “Just a little joke. I know he is your person; I will not touch him.”
Zhao Muqing could not help marveling at Shen Guanzhi’s powers of observation. Just then, Li Shuqiao really had pinched the flesh of his palm while shaking his hand, making him deeply doubt whether this manager was reliable at all.
Next came a discussion regarding Zhao Muqing’s current status and general work arrangements. Li Shuqiao had done his homework beforehand, knowing that Zhao Muqing had a notorious reputation in the industry for a bad temper and poor professional competence. “And…”
“And what?” Zhao Muqing could not help his own curiosity.
Li Shuqiao immediately put on a troubled expression, taking quite a while before finally expressing it in relatively polite phrasing: “He likes to cozy up to bosses.”
Zhao Muqing: “…”
“To be honest, no one outside probably uses you right now,” Li Shuqiao flipped casually through the documents in his hands. “We still have to let our studio give you a chance first, right Shen-ge?”
Only then did Shen Guanzhi’s gaze shift slightly back to Zhao Muqing. “Do you know S.Q.?”
Zhao Muqing shook his head on the spot, and Shen Guanzhi was clearly very displeased with his reaction. “S.Q. is a seasonal fashion magazine launched by the studio. The next new issue release conference is in June, and before then, you need to reach a level that satisfies me.”
He added at the end: “Pay more attention to studio matters, including industry dynamics in the fashion circle. Once you gain popularity, it will not just be jewelry, clothing, and handbags; other print advertisements might come looking for you as well.”
“Do not look at Shen-ge just as a jewelry designer now; in reality, the studio’s scale is getting larger and larger, and we have signed quite a few models. Shen-ge as the boss definitely understands this sector,” Li Shuqiao chimed in to help. “Before I came here, Shen-ge even helped look after those minor models, and now several of them have already become famous and are very popular.”
After finishing the discussion on work arrangements, Li Shuqiao introduced the contract contents to him. Zhao Muqing briefly reviewed the clauses himself, and confirming there were no errors, signed his name. Li Shuqiao warmly welcomed him to the team and had Zhao Muqing add his contact information.
The meeting concluded, and Zhao Muqing watched with his own eyes as Shen Guanzhi left the meeting room, leaving only himself and Li Shuqiao in the space.
“Shen-ge is pretty good to you,” Li Shuqiao propped his head up, watching Shen Guanzhi’s figure disappear at the doorway of the meeting room. “S.Q. is our flagship magazine with very high content quality and the best sales. For Shen-ge to say that means he is definitely going to reserve a spot for you.”
Zhao Muqing did not expect Shen Guanzhi to give him such a good opportunity, feeling somewhat flattered. “Does our studio run a lot of fashion magazines?”
“Not really a lot. We have weekly, monthly, and semi-monthly issues. The shorter the update interval, the worse the quality, you get it. Even the chief editor of the weekly issue has given up trying, so this cash-grab publication is just cutting leeks.” Li Shuqiao shrugged helplessly.
“…” Would saying something like that not be a bit impolite to the buyers?
“Shen-ge is not serious about you, is he?” Li Shuqiao changed the subject. “He does not look like the type to like someone like you.”
Zhao Muqing found this question somewhat bizarre, so he boldly guessed: “Do you like him?”
Li Shuqiao reacted as if a nerve had been touched, immediately lunging over to cover his mouth. “Do not say it so loudly. It is not even about liking him; I am just very interested in handsome guys, especially someone like Shen Guanzhi who looks both strict and cold. Just imagining making him go crazy for me sounds thrilling.”
“…” Zhao Muqing was speechless once more. “Uh, so how is your progress going?”
“Do not bring it up,” Li Shuqiao instantly took on a devastated look. “He said that staying with me is worse than polishing gemstones with my dad, not his exact words, but that was basically the meaning.”
Polishing gemstones? Connecting it to Li Shuqiao’s surname, Zhao Muqing quickly recalled a certain name.
He rubbed his chin, pondering over it before asking out loud: “Could your dad happen to be in the small alley of the trading market?”
“You have met him? Yeah, his name is Li Sen. Even though I am this old, he still always lectures me.” Li Shuqiao let out an imperceptible sigh. “Rest assured, I am still very reliable when it comes to work. Aren’t you supposed to go to class by now?”
Zhao Muqing checked the time on his phone, hastily bade farewell to Li Shuqiao, and hurried alone to the basement floor of the studio.
The basement floor had quite a few functional rooms. Zhao Muqing wandered around among them and could not find the classroom location, so he finally had no choice but to randomly grab a passerby to ask for directions.
As luck would have it, the person he ran into was Jian Shigu.
“Haven’t seen you in days, you finally came to the studio,” Jian Shigu patted his shoulder heavily a few times. “I finished editing the photos from the charity exhibition; I will send you a copy later.”
Zhao Muqing offered a brief expression of thanks. Mentioning the charity exhibition made his heart ache; a massive majority of the earnings he received went straight toward paying off his overdue rent.
“The effect is very good. I sent them to Mr. Shen the moment I finished editing, and he praised you for being photogenic.”
Zhao Muqing’s interest was instantly piqued: “How did he praise me?”
“He just said, ‘Not bad.'” Jian Shigu recalled with a straight face for a moment, though the answer turned out to be that concise.
Still that same word, truly lacking in novelty. Zhao Muqing instantly lost half his enthusiasm and did not continue the topic, instead having Jian Shigu lead him to Room 012, which served as the classroom, before the two of them parted ways at the door.
Zhao Muqing peered in from the doorway and saw that his instructor was a middle-aged woman who looked very amiable. The wall clock indicated there were two minutes left until 2:00 PM, so it seemed the teacher had not waited too long.
The teacher was amiable on the surface, but in reality, she was extremely strict with her students. When Zhao Muqing was striking poses, even if he lifted his hand slightly too high, he would receive a round of lecturing. Aside from that, there were basic physical conditioning and body-shaping training sessions, though they were not taught by the same instructor.
In reality, there were other models from the studio present as well, but whether because Shen Guanzhi had given a heads-up beforehand or not, the instructors essentially gave him special private lessons.
As a dance major, Zhao Muqing adapted very quickly to these training courses. The content learned over the course of the afternoon was substantial, though it was fulfilling enough to make him feel slightly like dying.
He simply flopped straight down onto the soft mat, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Suddenly, someone extended a hand toward him. Thinking it was another model from the class, Zhao Muqing instinctively grasped it: “Thanks.”
“The teacher said your performance was good.” Shen Guanzhi’s calm voice drifted over, and Zhao Muqing turned his head sideways to look, locking eyes with the newcomer.
“After all, I am putting my heart into it.” Zhao Muqing pulled his knees up while sitting on the soft mat and gave a very faint smile.
Right at that moment, Zhao Muqing’s phone vibrated several times. Instinctively picking it up to check, he found it was Jian Shigu sending over the photos from the charity exhibition.
He had to admit, having spent time in an art academy where he had seen plenty of handsome men and beauties, Zhao Muqing was still startled by his own face.
Though he was not exactly ugly before transmigrating either, Zhao Muqing rubbed his chin.
“Boss,” Zhao Muqing showed the photos on his phone to Shen Guanzhi. “Did you praise me?”
“An objective evaluation. Given your current level, being able to produce photos like this is indeed not bad.”
“Since it is not bad, can you give me a few more opportunities?” Zhao Muqing really missed the scent of money.
“Depends on your performance,” Shen Guanzhi withdrew his gaze from Zhao Muqing. “Go take your class properly.”
After dropping this pie-in-the-sky promise, Shen Guanzhi left Room 012. Zhao Muqing could not help inwardly complaining a bit as he followed him out to the doorway.
Half a day of classes left Zhao Muqing utterly exhausted. He arrived early at Shen Guanzhi’s room, knocked for a while with no answer, and finding the door unlocked, pushed it open directly, only to find the interior completely empty.
It was too late for Shen Guanzhi to be going out. Pondering for a moment, Zhao Muqing walked toward Shen Guanzhi’s study.
The study door was unlocked. Zhao Muqing cautiously peered through the crack of the door to observe, seeing Shen Guanzhi sitting at his desk busy at work.
“Stop poking your head around, come in.” Shen Guanzhi was working on a design draft and spoke without raising his head.
Embarrassed, Zhao Muqing pushed the door open and found a spot to sit down right next to Shen Guanzhi.
“Waiting long?” Shen Guanzhi controlled the tip of his stylus as it continuously glided across his tablet.
“Not really, just saw you weren’t around so I went looking.” Zhao Muqing pointed at Shen Guanzhi’s tablet. “Can I look?”
“Interested?”
“Curious,” Zhao Muqing beamed a radiant smile. “You aren’t designing this for Xu Yingtang, are you?”
Shen Guanzhi offered no sound of dissent, acknowledging it silently as he slid his swivel chair aside to make space for Zhao Muqing.
Zhao Muqing hauled his chair over and sat down beside him. The pattern Shen Guanzhi was drawing featured the gemstone at the very center, surrounded by other ornaments, giving off a feeling of stars surrounding the moon. “You are drawing such a pretty design for that pervert?”
“This is my work.” Shen Guanzhi began modifying the draft with an unblinking expression. “If you are tired, you can go back to sleep first.”
“Then what about you?”
“I can fall asleep as long as someone is by the bedside; you do not necessarily have to go to bed at the exact same time as me.”
Zhao Muqing was indeed somewhat tired, but he was inexplicably curious about what kind of design Shen Guanzhi would draw for Xu Yingtang. After all, being a high-end designer with top-tier market value, such precious design drafts were not something one got to see often. “I will keep you company for a bit.”
“As you like.” Shen Guanzhi ignored Zhao Muqing from then on, going about his design work on his own. By the time he finished refining the first draft, it was roughly past 1:00 AM.
He raised his head and discovered that Zhao Muqing had actually fallen asleep slumped against the edge of his desk.
Didn’t you say you were going to keep me company? Still ended up falling asleep first. Shen Guanzhi inexplicably found it amusing, the corners of his mouth curving up into a very faint smile.
He carefully scooped Zhao Muqing up horizontally, and confirming that the other person was still fast asleep, pushed open the study door and walked toward the bedroom.
Zhao Muqing was gently placed down on one side of the bed and tucked under a thin blanket.
Shen Guanzhi removed his glasses and lay down on the other side of the bed. Just as he was about to close his eyes to sleep, as if remembering something, he sat upright again.
He pulled open one of the drawers in the bedside table and fished out a safety talisman from inside.
It was the one Zhao Muqing had prayed for him.
His thumb lightly stroked back and forth over the safety talisman for a moment, and after a brief hesitation, he placed it under his pillow.