Chapter Fifteen: Deliberating the Grand Plan

“Oh, and who will be your queen tomorrow night?” Rong Qing asked calmly, her eyes tranquil and unruffled, betraying no emotion.

A flicker of hurt passed through Aaron’s deep blue eyes, but it was swiftly masked. His grip on her slender waist tightened as never before, as if he poured all his strength into his next words, which escaped his lips without a single thought: “If you would allow it, every night it would only ever be you.”

Both Rong Qing and Aaron were surprised by his words—he himself could hardly believe it. For him, women had always been mere entertainment, never anything serious. Yet now, without hesitation, he had made a promise to the woman before him. It was reckless, perhaps too much so.

As expected, Rong Qing’s eyes glimmered with a teasing disbelief. “You’d give up the whole forest for a single tree? Oh, please. Even if I’d only known you for a few hours, I’d still know your playboy nature better than that.”

Hearing her say this, Aaron felt an inexplicable heaviness in his heart, an urge to defend himself growing stronger. But when he met her penetrating gaze, he felt powerless. He feigned indifference, a wicked smile once again curling his lips, restoring his previous arrogance. “You little minx, can’t you leave me a shred of dignity? Exposing me like this.”

After their dance, both Rong Qing and Aaron left the floor. Immediately, several handsome men approached to invite Rong Qing, her beauty winning the admiration of many gentlemen. She gracefully declined each invitation, knowing well that in such a dazzling gathering, it was best not to outshine everyone else.

Aaron, with a single icy look, sent the men around him scurrying away.

“Aaron…” A middle-aged man greeted him from not far off. His neatly combed hair was tied back, his face framed by a thick beard, and his black eyes were sharp and commanding. He wore a light-colored suit that cleverly disguised a hint of a paunch, with a brown pocket square lending a touch of flair to his appearance.

“I’ve been looking for you all evening and you were hiding here, chatting with a beautiful lady.”

Aaron shot him an impatient glare. “Old man, what brings you to such a dull party? Don’t tell me you’ve found yourself a new muse.”

The middle-aged man, far from taking offense, only grew more persistent, his gaze fixed on his model with eager anticipation. “Aaron, don’t go. Just one more month as my model, and I promise these new designs will be unlike anything before. Or twenty days… half a month…”

Despite his shrewd appearance, he was now almost pleading, which made Rong Qing amused to watch.

“David, I’m on vacation!” Aaron retorted, inwardly fuming. If he angered him any further, he would refuse to work altogether… The top model’s arrogance flared; he wished he could send this nagging old man to Mars for a month.

“David?” The world-renowned fashion genius, once the chief designer at Dior, now with his own atelier. His designs were available only to the most elite, and every piece Rong Qing wore this evening had come from his hand. She suppressed the excitement rising within her; any sign of flattery would only lower her own worth.

David, who had been dejected, now finally noticed the lady standing beside Aaron. His previously indifferent gaze sharpened, his eyes glittering. An elegant Oriental woman, wearing his latest summer suit collection—the effect was stunning, even more striking than the runway models themselves. David took a bold and open appraisal of her, while Rong Qing met his gaze with a confident and poised smile.

Her figure was exquisite, her features alluring, but what captivated the master most was her enigmatic aura.

“Excellent, excellent. My designs suit you perfectly.” Aaron could only grit his teeth at this old man—years ago, it was with these very words that he’d been lured into the world of modeling, and endlessly exploited since.

“Thank you, Master David. I am Rong Qing, from a great nation in the East.” They shook hands cordially.

The more David looked, the more he liked what he saw. His suits were designed for a bold, dashing style, so they shouldn’t have suited a beautiful woman. Yet paired with her glamorous makeup, the effect was powerful and magnetic. Was it a coincidence of styling, or was it her own charm?

“Miss Rong, would you be interested in walking a show for me?” The sly old fox was already plotting; if this girl had potential, she might become his exclusive model. But if, after all his calculations, she turned out to be an unpolished gem and then simply returned to her country in the East…

“It would be an honor.” Rong Qing managed her jubilation, responding only with a soft, confident smile.

“Splendid, it’s settled then. Three days from now, at the Milan Fashion Exhibition—I look forward to your performance.” David laughed heartily. Even though he hadn’t managed to poach Aaron, gaining such an outstanding newcomer was a worthy consolation.

“I won’t let you down,” thought the little fox, triumphant inside.

That night, the scheming old and young foxes struck their bargain, while the ‘kind’ Aaron had no intention of telling David that in a week’s time, the girl from the East would be returning home.

Rong Qing did not stay late. After bidding farewell to Aaron and David, she left the midsummer gala with her assistant. As the party reached its fevered climax, men and women left in pairs, slipping into cars together.

Just as Rong Qing’s car exited the underground garage, she caught sight of Wen Rui, dressed in a nude-colored, low-cut gown, being embraced by a Frenchman as they slipped into a luxury car together, chatting and laughing as it sped away.

Such was the entertainment world—decadent, lavish, dazzling, but fiercely competitive. Only by keeping one’s heart intact could one survive and be reborn in such muddy waters.

The reflection in the window swept past towering skyscrapers. A pair of clear, penetrating black eyes gazed out into the night, seeing through all the world’s glittering illusions.

—— End Note ——
Please, please, please add this to your collection.