Then he told us, "Wait for a moment, I'm going to talk to Junior Xi."

I finally realized, "If you want impact, if you want to stun the audience right from the start, it has to be you, doesn't it?"

"That's right, Junior Sister! No one else but you should host the evening gala!"

Xi Luting was quite happy to be praised but didn't lose her composure. She turned and asked Tan Xuan, "Sister Xuanxuan, why aren't you going on stage?"

"I've done it for two years now; there's really nothing new about it anymore."

Tan Xuan shook her head and added, "Besides, Qin Qin and I have accepted quite a few gigs outside. There are also piano and singing performances at the gala, so I really don't have the time to host anymore. So, I figured, starting from this year, I'd completely step down and focus on my own ventures. The first moment I saw you, I knew you were my best successor. With you hosting, I'd be most at ease."

If she had heard this a month earlier, Xi Luting would have been overjoyed. She was someone who very much wanted to prove her own worth. Although not obsessed with being in the limelight, she also deeply desired to reach a high position in the student council. Only with both beauty and ability could one be considered a goddess, fit to compete with those wealthy and beautiful girls.

But then—

Now, her perspective had broadened; she was no longer limited to the school environment. Having unexpectedly befriended Pan Ge, she had glimpsed a different world and didn't think a mere student council position could offer much of a training ground. For instance, could Pan Ge's cunning and worldly vision have been honed in school? And then there was the coat and watch that bastard had casually bought for her—did a campus host even deserve such things? That level of spending was completely out of bounds, not part of typical college life, so campus achievements couldn't possibly compare.

Therefore, the first thought that surfaced in her mind was—if I become a host, would that bastard like it?

Regardless of success or failure, it wouldn't pressure Pan Ge or make her see me in a new light. So, I might as well not consider her opinion and just focus on what Han Lie thinks.

So, what would Han Lie's attitude be?

Would that bastard resent me for making public appearances?

Or perhaps... if I became the campus goddess, would he find it more exciting?

Xi Luting pondered for a moment and decided not to make any immediate decision. She would find a time to ask Han Lie's opinion first.

So, she smoothly changed the subject without betraying any emotion. "Ventures? What are you and Sister Qin up to? Are you preparing for your first jobs?"

Yin Qin eagerly replied, "No way! It's just part-time work! You know, earning some pocket money, buying cosmetics, things like that..."

Her voice was particularly coy and affected. Well, have you ever seen mainlanders try to imitate the way Taiwanese girls speak? It was pretty much like that. However, Yin Qin had a sweet face—big eyes, a pert nose, a small mouth—and an exceptionally good physique, so the boys were all utterly smitten.

Tan Xuan was quite interested in discussing this with Xi Luting, so she explained in more detail. "Don't we have a Li Yi Team under our Arts Department? Actually, our school hardly ever needs it. It's mostly girls who want to do part-time work outside, like being a Li Yi at opening ribbon-cuttings, exhibition booth attendants, models for various events, and so on. When I first started university, business was actually just so-so, nothing too exciting. But now it's different. There are more and more jobs for print models for clothing shoots, and the pay for car shows is getting higher and higher. Qin Qin is doing quite well, and I wanted to give it a try too. Ting Ting, your attributes are much better than ours. Just wait a bit. Once we've smoothed out the path, I'll definitely take you to try it out! I can make 2,000 yuan. If you stand for a day, shouldn't you get at least 5,000 to 8,000 yuan?"

So much hard work! That was the first thought that popped into Xi Luting's mind. Standing all day at a car show, getting photographed constantly, just to earn 2,000 yuan? That wasn't even enough for one Japanese meal. Wasn't that a raw deal?

She carefully assessed Tan Xuan's looks and physique, subconsciously feeling it wasn't worth it for her. Tan Xuan was about 1.65 meters tall, with a delicate, palm-sized face, a swan-like neck, particularly beautiful collarbones, and a straight back. Her overall image and aura were exceptionally good. Her bust wasn't large, but her skin was exceptionally fair. Well, for women, fair skin can hide a multitude of flaws. So Xi Luting had always felt Tan Xuan wasn't much inferior to her—there was definitely a gap, but it wasn't large.

Such a beauty... "Only 2,000 yuan for standing all day?!"

"Is that too little?" Tan Xuan widened her eyes in surprise and counted on her fingers for Xi Luting. "Car shows usually last 10 to 15 days. Full attendance gets you close to 30,000 yuan. After the agent's commission, you take home 20,000 yuan! See? Add to that occasional print modeling jobs, which pay 500 yuan a day. If you work just 20 days a month, you can earn twenty to thirty thousand yuan. If you manage to build up a bit of a reputation and sign a contract with a car brand, the work is easy and the pay is great. Isn't that much better than a desk job at some small company? With your qualities, earning 50,000 yuan from one car show would be incredibly easy. Qin Qin can find the gigs, so you won't have to haggle with agents. We'll just take a smaller commission from you, as long as Qin Qin's efforts aren't in vain. What do you think?"

Not much.

In her heart, Xi Luting's true thought was—Tan Xuan was too naive. With her height and looks, she had encountered far too many 'talent scouts' and modeling agents—the kind that frequently stopped her on the street. When they talked, they'd promise the moon: making her an opening model for Victoria's Secret, the next Liu Wen, or a star in Zhang Yimou's new film... But one look at the contracts revealed they were all damn obligations, with practically no rights. If she had any inclination to pursue modeling, she wouldn't need Yin Qin to introduce her to jobs.

"Forget it. I'm not really interested, and my family doesn't need that kind of money." After a moment's thought, Xi Luting added a word of caution to Tan Xuan. "Modeling is a young person's game. Besides, your fate is entirely in the hands of agencies and companies. You earn a lot, but you spend even more. Cosmetics, skincare products, luxury goods—they're all work necessities... In the end, you might be left with nothing."

Tan Xuan was clearly a bit upset. "I'm just trying to help you! If you don't want to do it, fine, but why look down on other people's aspirations?"

Xi Luting was taken aback, her smile slowly fading.

Yin Qin glanced over mockingly and sneered, "She's 'the Queen,' wearing a coat worth over a hundred thousand. Of course, she looks down on us poor souls who scrape together a bit of money by selling our looks. Xuanxuan, you were just wasting your breath talking to her."

When she was being sarcastic, her voice lost its affected coyness. It was common knowledge in the student council that Yin Qin couldn't stand Xi Luting. It was probably because their 'types' clashed. Yin Qin was just over 1.7 meters tall and loved wearing high heels. However, even in six-centimeter mid-heels, she was still noticeably shorter than Xi Luting. And her legs weren't as long as Xi Luting's either. So, she often made sarcastic remarks to Xi Luting's face or badmouthed her behind her back.

Xi Luting usually couldn't be bothered with her, but today she couldn't hold back. "I'm talking with Sister Xuanxuan. What hole did you crawl out of?"

"You… What are you so proud of?!" Yin Qin exploded with anger, slamming the table as she shot to her feet. "Walking around with that long, sour face every day, acting so aloof and superior! Look down on us? Are you even worthy? Stop pretending your family's rich! If you were really rich, why didn't you go to the international college? You know perfectly well how you got that coat, don't you? I've never seen any truly rich girl wear a coat worth over a hundred thousand with jeans and a sweater that cost a few hundred yuan! Tsk! Don't tell me you're being kept by some old man?!"

As soon as Yin Qin finished speaking, everyone was stunned.

Wang Tianqing observed Xi Luting with curiosity, her earlier nonchalance shifting to a playful, intrigued expression.

Tan Xuan was shocked, her mouth agape, her eyes wide.

Fang Feifei gritted her teeth, her hand reaching out to grip a plate.

Yu Xueqin frowned deeply, his gaze sweeping over Xi Luting's clothes and accessories. His face was grim, filled with obvious suspicion and a considerable degree of disbelief.

Xi Luting, on the other hand, was calmer than anyone. She had dared to wear the coat out, so she was mentally prepared. Despite her harsh words to Han Lie on the phone, in her heart, she had already made allowances for that bastard. The worst-case scenario was simply admitting it. So, she was still full of confidence and didn't see Yin Qin as much of an opponent.

But... I really can't out-argue her. She just wasn't a woman skilled in verbal sparring—even when she argued with Han Lie, she always lost.

If only that bastard were here...

As these thoughts and longings filled her mind, she faced her need for him.

Just then, a familiar voice came from behind her. "Well now, beautiful, are you from Taiwan or Holland? That accent of yours is quite the mix—so exotic!"

In an instant, expressions of delighted surprise appeared on the faces of Xi Luting, Fang Feifei, and Wang Tianqing.

When Yu Xueqin looked up, his face darkened. As he lowered his head again, he suddenly sensed something was amiss.

I can understand Xi Luting being happy, but Wang Tianqing, why are you joining in the excitement? Could it be... Impossible... right?!

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