The interior of the building was even more luxurious than he had imagined, filled with stunning, stylishly dressed women everywhere he looked. Zhao Dong even recognized several internet celebrities who were famous on the Douyin app!
Zhao Dong was astonished. Beside him, Zhao Qirou smiled and said, "What do you think, Bro? This place isn't bad, right?"
"I can't believe you're actually a celebrity," Zhao Dong said sincerely.
Zhao Qirou gave a slight smile. "I'm not a celebrity yet. My main line of work is modeling, and I do some live streaming on the side. I'm still a long way from stardom."
Zhao Dong laughed. "Well, I hope you become a star soon so I can bask in your glory."
"No problem! I'll support you then!" Zhao Qirou laughed carefreely. Zhao Dong just shook his head with a wry smile.
Zhao Qirou led Zhao Dong into an elevator. As they headed up, he looked around. The walls were covered in posters advertising a strategic partnership between Fengya Media Company and the Lin Group.
Zhao Dong froze. Isn't the Lin Group Lin Qingyun's company? Their business is so widespread… Truly remarkable.
The elevator doors opened, and Zhao Qirou pulled Zhao Dong out. Only then did he realize that the entire floor was a posture training studio for models. His gaze was met with a sea of beautiful, long-legged women. Just as Zhao Qirou was about to lead him inside, a figure blocked their path.
"Zhao Qirou, who's this? Who gave you permission to bring someone here?"
Zhao Qirou frowned. "It's none of your business, Zhou Yu. Please step aside!"
Zhao Dong's gaze shifted to the girl named Zhou Yu. She was pretty, with charming almond-shaped eyes, delicate features, and a stunning figure. She was a standard beauty, but her face was marred by an arrogant expression. She sized up Zhao Dong from head to toe before letting out a sudden scoff.
"Zhao Qirou, who is this guy, really? Why does he look like some migrant worker or beggar?"
The disdain and coldness in Zhou Yu's eyes made Zhao Dong deeply uncomfortable.
With a cold expression, Zhao Qirou snapped, "Zhou Yu, are you trying to be annoying? What does this have to do with you?"
"Of course, it has to do with me! I work here, so I have both the right and the duty to see who you're bringing in."
This girl, Zhou Yu, was also a model in the same department as Zhao Qirou. Because Zhao Qirou was prettier, had a better personality, and was more likable, Zhou Yu had grown intensely jealous. She had deliberately caused trouble for Zhao Qirou before, leading to several arguments between them.
Zhao Qirou bit her lip. "This is my brother! I brought him here to apply as a male model. Now, please move!"
Zhou Yu was taken aback for a second before she burst out laughing. "Have you lost your mind, Zhao Qirou? This laborer is your brother? And he's here to apply to be a model? Are you crazy?"
Zhao Qirou said coldly, "First of all, my brother is not a laborer; he's a veteran. Second, so what if he was? Do laborers deserve your ridicule? Third, what does him applying for a modeling job have to do with you? Why are you so nosy? Can't you just get out of the way?"
Zhou Yu laughed so hard she was gasping for air, naturally attracting the attention of many onlookers.
"Zhao Qirou, you... you're killing me! Just bringing some random person here to apply? I suggest you get your head checked. Does your brother look like model material? He reeks of poverty. He's just some worthless soldier. Get lost, this isn't a place he can be."
"Zhou Yu, are you sick?" Zhao Qirou said angrily. "Move aside! Bringing my brother here is none of your damn business!"
"I'm not moving today," Zhou Yu said arrogantly. "What are you going to do about it? Let me give you some advice: get as far away as you can. Your brother should be out digging through trash, not embarrassing himself here."
Blinded with rage, Zhao Qirou lunged forward to push Zhou Yu away. But Zhou Yu, leaning against the doorframe, saw her chance. She grabbed Zhao Qirou's hair and shoved her fiercely away! Zhao Qirou crashed to the ground. She cried out in pain, her face twisted in agony as she clutched her red, swollen knee.
Zhao Dong frowned and immediately helped her up. With tears in her eyes, Zhao Qirou stammered, "Bro... it's not a problem for you to apply, it's just that Zhou Yu is deliberately making things difficult for us. I..."
"I know," Zhao Dong said softly. "Go sit down over there."
After helping Zhao Qirou to a nearby seat, Zhao Dong turned to face Zhou Yu. His voice was devoid of emotion as he said, "You. Come here and apologize to my sister."
Zhou Yu was stunned for a moment, then she burst out laughing. "Who the hell do you think you are? Why don't you take a good look at yourself, you stinking beggar? You reek of poverty, and you expect me to apologize? Pfft! As if you're worthy."
Zhao Dong shook his head. "I'm counting to three. Don't make me use force. Three... two..."
"You think you can lay a hand on me? Do you know who my—"
Before she could finish, Zhao Dong flashed in front of her and delivered a hard slap across her face. SMACK! The force of the blow twisted Zhou Yu's head to the side. She spat out a mouthful of blood and two teeth, stumbling backward and crashing hard onto the floor.
Zhao Dong closed the distance in two steps. He grabbed Zhou Yu's hair, forcing her head up, and said flatly, "Apologize to my sister. Do you understand?"
Stunned by the slap, Zhou Yu finally snapped back to reality, screaming venomously, "You bastard! How dare you hit me! My boyfriend is a young master from the Zhang Family!"
"A young master from the Zhang Family?" Zhao Dong asked with a hint of surprise.
"That's right! You're finished! Now you get on your knees and—"
Before she could finish, Zhao Dong slapped her again. "I don't care about some young master from the Zhang Family," he said indifferently. "Even if the King of Heaven himself showed up today, I'd still hit you."
Zhou Yu screamed, her nose nearly broken from the blow.
"I'm saying this one last time," Zhao Dong's cold voice rang out as he raised his hand again.
Zhou Yu trembled all over, pleading in terror, "Don't hit me... please don't! I was wrong! I'm... I'm sorry!"
Zhao Dong smiled faintly. "Wouldn't it have been easier if you'd just been sensible from the start?"
Tossing her aside, he walked over to Zhao Qirou and helped her into an office inside the studio. As they passed by, Zhao Qirou's face was cold. Zhou Yu clenched her teeth, her eyes filled with a venomous hatred that could kill.
Reaching the office at the back, Zhao Qirou knocked. A voice called out, "Come in!" She immediately led Zhao Dong inside. A woman with glasses was sitting at a desk. She looked to be in her mid-twenties and wore a white blouse, a pencil skirt, black stockings, and gold-rimmed glasses that framed a delicate, beautiful face. When she saw Zhao Dong, she frowned slightly.
Clenching her teeth, Zhao Qirou said, "Director Shen, I found a male model. Could you see if he's suitable?"
The woman was silent for a moment before she frowned and said, "His features, looks, and height are fine, but his presence..."
"It's like this, Director Shen," Zhao Qirou hurriedly explained. "My brother just got back from the army and hasn't had a chance to clean himself up. I can take him to get changed."
The woman frowned again. "There are clothes in the fitting room. Take him to try something on first so I can see if it works."
"Understood, Director Shen!" Zhao Qirou said, her face lighting up with joy.
She pulled Zhao Dong into the adjacent changing room, found him a couple of outfits, and told him to get changed. A moment later, Zhao Dong walked out. He looked at Zhao Qirou with a wry smile and asked, "Is this okay?"
Zhao Qirou's jaw dropped. She stared at him, her eyes wide. After three seconds, she nodded vigorously. "Definitely!"
She immediately pulled Zhao Dong back into the office. Inside, Shen Weiyang looked up, and a flicker of astonishment crossed her features.
Zhao Qirou beamed. "Director Shen, my brother looks good in these clothes, doesn't he?"
Shen Weiyang was also quite surprised. Before, Zhao Dong had truly looked like a common laborer, but now he resembled a distinguished young master. He already had a strong, tall physique, and dressed up like this, he radiated an impressive aura.
Shen Weiyang gave Zhao Dong a long, appraising look. "You've passed the interview. The job is yours. It's a part-time position for eight hundred a day. Is that acceptable?"
"That's fine, Director Shen," Zhao Dong nodded.
"Good. There's work tomorrow. Just come in then to sign the contract."
"Thank you, Director Shen!" Zhao Qirou said quickly.
"No need to thank me. You can go now."
Zhao Dong and Zhao Qirou exchanged a look and left the office. Once outside, Zhao Qirou mused, "Bro, I think you should just become a full-time model. You could earn thirty or forty thousand a month."
Zhao Dong smiled. "Part-time is fine for now. I don't have a lot of time."
Zhao Qirou looked a little disappointed. "Alright. I was really hoping you'd go full-time so we could work together."
Zhao Dong just smiled. Before awakening the Mystic Sky Technique, he really might have considered a full-time job. But now, he saw this as nothing more than a transitional phase. His main priority was to cultivate the Mystic Sky Technique and see if it could cure his leukemia.
Meanwhile, Zhao Qirou and Zhao Dong took the elevator down, preparing to leave together. Just as they stepped out of the building in front of the Fengya Media Company, several sports cars came speeding toward them. With a screech of tires, the cars slammed to a halt, boxing them in. Seven or eight men with fierce tattoos piled out of the vehicles. They radiated malice and clearly weren't looking for a friendly chat. The leader was a flamboyant young man in a floral shirt, wearing a thick gold necklace. He carried himself with the air of a wealthy scion.