With The Backing Of A Powerful Figure: He's Gone Wild In The Modeling World - Chapter 16

The participants in the Top Model House were completely unaware of the raging online debates, and Cao Yan remained utterly unscrupulous. Before joining the program, he had instructed his family to monitor internet discourse and intervene when necessary to minimize his scandals and enhance his public image.

Money talks. Growing up, he had used wealth to secure countless privileges. To him, China’s Next Top Model was just another platform where a bit of manipulation could fuel his rise to fame. He did not consider it cheating. He simply did not believe that a person like Zhan Zhiqing had any means to compete with him.

In fact, up until now, Zhan Zhiqing’s performance had seemed somewhat weak. Faced with conflict, he remained silent. Faced with bullying, he retreated. In the eyes of many viewers, such an image was not particularly likable. The atmosphere in the house grew increasingly polarized. Zhan Zhiqing, Zhou Xing, and Shen Lin faced constant isolation and bullying from the small clique led by Cao Yan and Le Xin, who openly criticized their looks and disparaged their photos in private.

Meanwhile, Le Xin and Cao Yan appeared to have officially become a couple. One morning, Zhan Zhiqing had even spotted Cao Yan sneaking down the stairs from the third floor.

Under the eager anticipation of all the contestants, the third challenge officially arrived. When the models were brought to a high end salon in the city center where prices started at five thousand yuan, they assumed the challenge would involve posing for fashion shots inside the salon. However, Wei Ming arrived gracefully with a dozen envelopes, accompanied by a lady dressed in a sharp black suit.

“Boys and girls, we know you are all beautiful in your daily lives. But everyday beauty and a model’s beauty are two different things. So today, the production team has invited Ms. Mei from Xuanmei Salon to give you all a hair makeover!”

At these words, some were overjoyed while others were filled with dread. Everyone’s personality was different. Some loved change, while others detested it. Wei Ming took in everyone’s expressions. Having spent time with the contestants, he was no longer as sharp tongued but spoke with earnest guidance.

“As a model, you may be required to change your hairstyle, the length of your hair, or even the color for every show. You must comply with these arrangements. If you refuse, you will never receive your entry ticket to the fashion world. Fashion is not static. It demands that we change at every moment. Only by accepting and embracing change can we grow through it.”

“Rest assured, the program is dedicated to transforming you into more fashionable models. However, we are still giving you the chance to choose. I will call your names one by one and hand out envelopes. You have the right to accept or refuse. But I must warn you that refusing to change may not leave the judges with a good impression of you.”

With that, Wei Ming began reading the list.

“First, Yu Can!”

“I accept.”

“Cao Yan.”

“I accept.”

One by one, the envelopes were handed out and the contestants chose to accept. However, when Wei Ming called one girl, her eyes turned red and she covered her mouth while already crying as she refused.

“Are you sure?” Wei Ming confirmed. The girl nodded. Wei Ming shrugged. “Alright. Next, Zhan Zhiqing.”

Zhan Zhiqing stepped forward. “I accept.” He took the envelope from Wei Ming.

A stylist led him to a seat. Zhan Zhiqing opened the envelope with some curiosity to see his transformation plan. On the paper were just a few words: Dye to Platinum Blonde.

Zhan Zhiqing breathed a secret sigh of relief because at least he was not required to cut his hair. He smiled at the stylist in the mirror. “Thank you. We can begin.”

Platinum blonde is an extremely light shade, nearly white but with more texture. Since Zhan Zhiqing had naturally black hair, reaching this effect required multiple rounds of bleaching. Although the result would be perfect, it was quite damaging to the hair and scalp. Fortunately, he only needed to maintain it during filming. Once the show was over, he planned to dye it back to black.

In fact, when Ying Yuan learned that the plan was to dye Zhan Zhiqing’s hair platinum blonde, he had lodged a protest with He Yu. In his eyes, Zhan Zhiqing was already practically his. Bleaching hair was so harsh on the scalp, and he could not bear the thought of it for a twenty year old. Strictly speaking, he was He Yu’s former boss, but she was now the producer of China’s Next Top Model and held absolute authority.

She rolled her eyes and sent him a digital mockup of the result. “Zhan Zhiqing is not that fragile,” she wrote. The subtext was for him to stop overreacting.

Ying Yuan looked at the photo and said nothing. Later, he set that photo as his phone’s lock screen and immediately contacted a high end wig shop to secretly order several long wigs in various colors.

The other transformations were equally striking. Le Xin’s long curls were straightened and cut with blunt bangs. Cao Yan’s hair was dyed black. Zhou Xing received a buzz cut, and Shen Lin’s hair was dyed pink.

Le Xin, originally a sultry beauty, was transformed into an exotic looking siren. Cao Yan’s determined aura became more pronounced while reducing some of his childishness. Zhou Xing’s androgynous quality intensified, and Shen Lin’s pink hair made her look more playful and spirited. Most contestants were satisfied with the results, though it was impossible to tell if some were just lying for the cameras.

Zhan Zhiqing’s hair was long and thick. The bleaching process alone took several rounds. By the time the dyeing was finished, it was nearly evening. However, when he stepped out in front of the other contestants, nearly everyone gasped in shock.

His features were almost perfect. With black hair, his aura had been one of quiet melancholy. Now, with platinum blonde hair, he looked dreamlike and ethereal.

“You look like an Elven Prince!” Zhou Xing was ecstatic. She was the ultimate visual lover. She had only approached Zhan Zhiqing in the first place because he was handsome, and now she was losing her mind. In the blockbuster movies from a few years ago, her favorite characters had been the Elven King and the Prince. Seeing Zhan Zhiqing with his pale blonde hair flowing behind him as he looked at them quietly, she felt he could go straight to a film set for Middle Earth if he just had pointed ears.

Zhan Zhiqing smiled at her praise, which only made Zhou Xing more starstruck while Shen Lin cried out in amazement beside her.

“Have you never seen the world?” Cao Yan crossed his arms and looked down his nose at Zhan Zhiqing with a face full of disdain, though his heart was bleeding with jealousy. A male model like Zhan Zhiqing was a breath of fresh air for the fashion world. His aura was pure and unique, and now he looked even more innocent. It was infuriating. Cao Yan had recognized Zhan Zhiqing as his biggest obstacle since the auditions, which was why he had tried to isolate him from the start to break his spirit.

Zhan Zhiqing tilted his head toward him. Looking at the cameras pointed at all the models, he suddenly called out to Wei Ming, who was chatting with Ms. Mei. Wei Ming hurried over while looking confused.

Zhan Zhiqing pulled out a set of neatly folded clothes from his small bag. “Could you help me find a professional laundry service? These clothes cannot be washed in a machine.”

Cao Yan’s expression instantly turned to panic. When he threw out Zhan Zhiqing’s clothes, he had specifically looked for a blind spot in the camera coverage so no one would see. Moreover, since Zhan Zhiqing had always appeared timid before, Cao Yan never imagined he would dare to expose this in front of the entire country.