With The Backing Of A Powerful Figure: He's Gone Wild In The Modeling World - Chapter 13

“My feelings are truly complicated,” Ivy said, letting out a long sigh.

“With people like you entering the modeling world, it looks like I will have to work twice as hard to ensure I am not the one being eliminated!” Ivy flashed a wide, mischievous smile. Her playful demeanor was incredibly charming.

Zhan Zhiqing heard the model standing next to him whisper “Oh my god” and could not help but smile. Perhaps the fashion world was simply a dramatic place because every judge they encountered seemed to enjoy teasing them.

“Although I like every one of you, there is only one winner for this challenge. First, I want to praise the three who performed exceptionally well today: Le Xin, Zhou Xing, and Zhan Zhiqing. I must say, you clearly put in the effort. Your styling was different for each outfit, and you interpreted every look perfectly. The winner will be one of the three of you.”

Even someone as calm as Zhan Zhiqing felt a flutter of nerves. Since moving into the Top Model Suite, he had spent every night practicing different poses and his runway walk in front of the mirror. The wide array of fashion in his walk-in closet provided endless inspiration. He was clear about his goal to win China’s Next Top Model and become a world class supermodel. He had sacrificed much for this dream.

“And the winner is Zhan Zhiqing!” Ivy reached out, and Zhan Zhiqing stepped out of the crowd to embrace her.

“Congratulations, dear. You deserve it!”

“Thank you, Ivy. It was all thanks to your guidance.” Ivy’s earlier advice about presenting oneself based on the characteristics of the clothing had deepened his understanding of the runway.

Zhan Zhiqing returned to the group, but Ivy was not finished. “While we are here, I also want to point out the issues some contestants had, though I will not mention names.”

“High heels are the most important weapon for a female model on the runway. They make you look taller and your walk more moving. I hope all the girls practice their heels diligently so they do not embarrass themselves on stage. As for the men, I know your muscles are beautiful, but please remember that you are not selling your bodies but the fashion you are wearing.”

Ivy was witty when relaxed and strictly serious when professional. Several models lowered their heads in reflection.

However, some did not take her words to heart. On the way back, Cao Yan and Le Xin remained intimate. Their behavior seemingly crossed the line of being just friends while Le Xin offered only playful refusals, looking very much like she was playing hard to get. Visually, the two were a perfect match as traditional beauties. One had great muscles and the other had a stunning figure. Their personalities even seemed to complement each other. At the very least, the traits Le Xin was faking were very attractive to a mommy’s boy like Cao Yan.

Shen Lin sat in the same row as them this time. Because she had sided with Zhou Xing, Le Xin did not even greet her today.

Back at the house, the group saw their challenge scores on the large screen. Zhan Zhiqing had a 10, while Zhou Xing and Le Xin both had 9s. The others ranged from 8s to 6s. Seeing the 7 on the screen, Cao Yan could no longer maintain his composure. He grabbed a drink from the fridge, chugged it, and hurled the empty bottle with such force that several girls jumped in fright. Having scored poorly in two consecutive challenges, his frustration was boiling over. He immediately went to find comfort from Le Xin, and soon the two were inseparable by the small pool outside the villa.

Zhou Xing had been spending most of her time with Shen Lin lately, and Zhan Zhiqing was happy to have his solitude. He spent his time either working out in the gym or practicing in his room.

He Yu sent today’s filmed segments to the investor, Ying Yuan. She specifically asked the editors to cut all of Zhan Zhiqing’s scenes into a separate file to send along. Unsurprisingly, Ying Yuan only downloaded the file featuring Zhan Zhiqing.

Every night, the photographers and editors processed the day’s footage. For Ying Yuan, his only relaxation after finishing work was browsing through Zhan Zhiqing’s clips. He occasionally checked audience comments on social media, though not often. Whenever he saw a negative comment, he felt the urge to have it deleted. He found his own thoughts baffling. His legendary calm and restraint had become a paper tiger in front of Zhan Zhiqing and was shattered with a single blow. It did not even require a blow because Zhan Zhiqing only had to stand there to capture his entire focus.

It was all Zhan Zhiqing’s fault for having a face that fit his taste so perfectly, Ying Yuan thought while giving himself a reason to justify his lack of control.

After the first episode aired, China’s Next Top Model became an instant hit while serving as the main topic of conversation for most netizens. Consequently, countless fashion brands sought to provide sponsorship in exchange for screen time. As the primary investor, Ying Yuan did not interfere with He Yu’s selection process, but he received updates the moment brands and outfits were finalized.

During a break in his work, he had looked up the season’s designs for the three chosen brands. One was pure and sacred, one was dark and seductive, and one was sci-fi and futuristic. He had worried that Zhan Zhiqing’s overly refined features might hinder his interpretation of the clothes. However, after seeing the runway walk today, his worries vanished. Those three outfits suited him perfectly. It was not just that they suited him. Zhan Zhiqing had utilized his body, expressions, and gaze to fuse himself with the fashion.

What surprised him even more were the clothes Zhan Zhiqing wore today. The items placed in the Top Model Suite all came from brands under the MA Group. He had suggested hand picking a set himself and asked He Yu to arrange for those specific items to be available for the winner. This meant that the clothes Zhan Zhiqing wore today had been personally chosen and touched by him.

It had only been a week since they last met, yet Ying Yuan had reached a point where he needed to hear Zhan Zhiqing’s voice to fall asleep. He felt he was going mad, yet watching the videos and seeing the casual movements, alluring eyes, and crisp voice did not lessen the madness. It only intensified it.

On the screen, the scene of Zhan Zhiqing walking in the cropped black jacket appeared. He pressed pause and sat upright on the sofa while staring intently at the fair chest, exquisite abs, slender waist, and sexy iliac furrows. Zhan Zhiqing had long legs and a thin waist. He imagined himself gripping that waist while Zhan Zhiqing gasped for mercy in his ear.

Stop!

Ying Yuan rubbed his temples. Initially, he had only asked for the videos to see that face more often, but the more he watched, the deeper he fell. He even doubted if he could really wait until Zhan Zhiqing reached the pinnacle before appearing before him. In the show, Zhan Zhiqing was calm and rational while possessing flawless etiquette. He looked like someone who did not belong to the mundane world. Thinking about Zhan Zhiqing treating him with that same cool detachment made him feel a bit slighted. Perhaps it was because he held a high position and everyone had been enthusiastic toward him his whole life.

Maybe if they met earlier, he could change that temperament of Zhan Zhiqing’s?

Inside the Top Model Suite, in the bathroom where no cameras existed, Zhan Zhiqing sat in the bathtub with his head tilted back. The warm ripples of water drifted against his skin while giving him a sensation similar to an embrace.

He closed his eyes. In his mind, he imagined a tall man holding him. Everywhere their skin touched felt like an electric current while making his whole body shiver as the man’s kisses fell upon him. The man in his mind eventually transformed into the face he had seen while modeling for Ying Cheng’s brand.