Me?
A wealthy heiress?
Me?
Shen Xingyao pointed at herself, her face full of disbelief.
She had been dirt poor in both lifetimes—wealth was a word that had never touched her life.
How could she possibly pull off such a persona?
Shen Xingyao wanted to protest. “Sister Wang, you know my background better than anyone. This persona just won’t hold up…”
After joining the company, others might not have seen her personnel file, but Sister Wang must have.
Sister Wang knew better than anyone that she had no family, no roof over her head, and not a single coin in her pocket.
Sister Wang sneered. “I told you, it’s a persona. Play it well, and it’ll stick.”
“The market right now is obsessed with wealthy heiresses. Money and power matter more than anything.”
“No matter what your actual background is, once you establish this persona, not only will you attract fans quickly, but even your peers will think twice before crossing you.”
“If you say you’re from a humble background, your rivals will trample you into the mud!”
“So, it’s settled. Do your best!”
Having weathered the entertainment industry for years, Sister Wang had a sharp eye. The people she chose and the paths she set for them had never been wrong.
Shen Xingyao saw the unwavering confidence in her eyes, but she herself felt far from certain.
If this were exposed—if people found out she was just an orphan from a remote mountain village—where would she hide her face?
Sister Wang focused on sipping her coffee, while Xiao Yu came over and said, “Sister Xingyao, just listen to Sister Wang. When has she ever been wrong?”
“And don’t worry about being exposed. Most of those female celebrities marketing themselves as heiresses are fakes anyway. After all, if they were really wealthy heiresses, why would they bother with the entertainment industry?”
That was the truth. This industry wasn’t easy to navigate. Everyone was here for a few scraps of silver, wading into muddy waters.
Shen Xingyao smiled at her and made a decision. “Alright, I understand.”
She’d give it her all!
Xiao Yu gave her a thumbs-up. “Go for it, Sister Xingyao. You can do it.”
She wasn’t just saying this lightly. Having been by Sister Wang’s side for so long, she had seen plenty of female celebrities come and go in the company.
Although Shen Xingyao came from a poor background, her looks and figure were anything but shabby. Before, she seemed timid and carried a hint of resentment.
But after interacting with her today, Xiao Yu noticed her demeanor was quite refined. At first glance, she didn’t seem like someone with only a middle school education.
There was an air of quiet elegance about her, as if she carried the grace of poetry and literature within.
Shen Xingyao didn’t know her assistant held such high hopes for her. She could only grit her teeth and brace herself to uphold this persona.
But before that, she had one more question. “Sister Wang, what about my wardrobe…?”
For a persona to hold up, the costumes, makeup, and props had to keep pace, right?
The original owner hadn’t cared much about clothing, spending all the money she got from Pei Yanqiu on games.
She only had two decent outfits, both bought for her by Pei Yanqiu in the past.
Sister Wang pulled out a card and handed it to her. “Your clothing allowance is in here. Go buy yourself some proper attire.”
“Get a good suitcase. You don’t need bags, and don’t bring any survival gear for the wilderness.”
Although the company was generous, it wouldn’t make a loss. Before this, Shen Xingyao hadn’t earned the company any money, so benefits like clothing allowances naturally weren’t available.
But now that the contract was signed, with the company taking a large cut, these benefits could finally follow.
When Shen Xingyao walked out of the Brilliant Media building, she still felt a bit disoriented.
“The heiress has arrived…” Shen Xingyao stood in the cold wind, on the verge of tears.
Oh heavens, she’s just a poor soul who even licks the yogurt lid before drinking it.
The only connection she has with a wealthy heiress is probably that they both need to breathe.
But life is like a play, all about acting.
The thought of that 100,000 yuan per week appearance fee made Shen Xingyao determined to act the part of a wealthy heiress, even if she had to crawl to do it.
Haven’t seen a pig run, but haven’t eaten pork either?
She’s read plenty of novels about domineering CEOs and their delicate wives—all she needs to master is the “pie chart gaze.”
With three parts mockery, three parts indifference, and four parts nonchalance, the persona is set!
After psyching herself up, Shen Xingyao headed straight for the city’s most upscale luxury mall.
As soon as she entered the mall, the dizzying perfume scents and dazzling golden lights on the first floor nearly blinded her, a country bumpkin.
Forcing herself to stay calm, she straightened her back and strode in with an “I don’t care about anyone” attitude into a slightly more understated designer boutique.
After all, her clothing budget was limited. Instead of wasting money on flashy, out-of-season big-brand clothes, it was better to choose pieces with good texture and design. That way, if anyone asked, she could say, “Money can’t buy what I like.”
The store was incredibly spacious, with very few customers. Two sales assistants in uniforms stood idly by.
As soon as Shen Xingyao walked in, their eyes scanned her like X-ray machines.
The outfit Shen Xingyao was wearing today was something the original owner had once pestered Pei Yanqiu to buy. Though not a flashy, logo-covered hit, it was still a decent brand with good texture.
At first glance, they had already sized her up: someone with a bit of money, but not much—probably a casual shopper looking for basics or accessories.
Such customers rarely make big purchases, and experienced salespeople wouldn’t bother with them. Only newcomers without regular clients would step forward to assist.
Linda was a newcomer. Seeing that Mary, the senior salesperson, wasn’t interested, she approached.
“Hello, ma’am, how may I assist you today?” Linda greeted her with a standard professional smile.
Not overly enthusiastic, nor too cold—just the right amount of aloofness unique to designer boutiques.
“I’m just browsing,” Shen Xingyao nodded slightly, trying to make her voice sound old-money, though her palms were already sweating.
She pretended to wander casually among the clothing racks, with a very clear goal in mind—spring and summer wear.
She was heading to a tropical island in the Southern Hemisphere to film a survival reality show, where the sun was blazing.
To protect herself from both the sun and insects, long sleeves and pants were a must.
It had to be said, in the world of the wealthy, seasons didn’t exist.
Even if it was snowing outside, the store still displayed silk shirts and wide-leg pants as light as cicada wings.
Shen Xingyao casually picked up a seemingly plain white silk long-sleeved shirt and glanced at the price tag out of the corner of her eye.
Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten-thousands… 28,000?!
Shen Xingyao’s pupils trembled as if struck by a magnitude-10 earthquake.
How could a few ounces of this flimsy fabric cost 28,000?!
Was it bulletproof, or would wearing it make her ascend to immortality on the spot?!
Her heart was bleeding, but her face remained as stiff as marble.
She elegantly let go of the shirt and said calmly, “Silk won’t do. Let me try that one in my size.”
She pointed to another piece that she guessed was cotton—that one should be cheaper.
Since she was going to play the part of a wealthy heiress and would be filming for seven days, she absolutely couldn’t wear the same outfit twice!
Seven sets, that’s the bottom line.
She couldn’t afford ten sets of clothes priced at twenty-eight thousand!
“Alright, ma’am.” Linda was momentarily taken aback but still dutifully went to fetch the clothes.
For the next half hour, Shen Xingyao gritted her teeth and endured the heart-wrenching impulse, selecting seven sets of summer outfits that were breathable, lightweight, and had excellent texture. Most importantly, they were not made of expensive and delicate silk material.