"That..." Kwang Sook finds it hard to answer.
Finally, after hesitating for a while he told his side and the truth. He told it politely.
"Ms. Xiong Zhi is from a great family. For sure young miss understands how companies work. I'm very passionate about my job. I hold my words true and I don't take promises back. You see, I already promise the role to our rising star. She has the talent and she fitted the most in the role. She works hard for it. But Ms. Wuyue likes to get the role no matter what. Ms. Wuyue is talented as well. But she is too young. I can promise you, that I will find an international movie that fitted for Ms. Wuyue's role."
The rising star who was defended by her company was touched.
"Sook-nim."
Xiong Zhi put a troubled expression that came out as a frown.
Kwang Sook's heart jumped again.
"Is that so? I don't know that happened. My cousin is wrong at this time. You don't need to worry about giving her a role in the future. Just do your work. I admire people who held their words true."
Kwang Sook sighed a relief. The surrounding gossiper was a bit stunned by Xiong Zhi's forgiving heart. They also thought about that Wuyue who was irrational and pressuring people just because she was a Xiong.
"It looks like my cousin troubled you. Since I'm the young miss of Xiong, I am responsible for this. I want to compensate you. Here-" Xiong Zhi handed him a card. That was her calling card.
"If you are troubled by this again, just call me. You don't have to be shy."
Kwang Sook and people nearby were all stunned. Some people even began to envy Kwang Sook who was given a chance to build a connection to the Xiong.
Kwang Sook gets the card. He was still in a daze.
Xiong Zhi stands up. She then whispered to Kwang Sook so the only two of them could hear what she was about to say.
"I will offer you something good. Just wait for my call in a few weeks. And I'm being serious about contacting me when you are in trouble. I'll guess I'll see you more soon." She walked away without glancing back.
She had many plans for him. Xiao Mei for sure will like him. They are both passionate and could not easily be swayed by power.
The free time ended and the guest went back to their seat. One of the main course would be introduced this time.
Mr. Cang walked up to the stage. He introduced his first dress.
"I know you have been waiting for this special course. This dress, the first dress that I made this year was made from the finest mulberry silk. It was the shiniest color of black among the silk. I have crushed a 100-carat diamond and threaded it on the silk one by one. " Mr. Cang said this with a proud smile on his face.
Xiong Zhi was stunned. A 100-carat diamond? A one carat was equivalent to $2,000- $25,000. What more of a hundred carat? And the most expensive silk at that? Xiong Zhi was bewildered. She looked around. The people she saw have calm faces and some were even bored.
Old Xiong noticed Xiong Zhi's reaction.
"Did you like what you hear? If you like that dress you can bid for it. But I think there are more good ones later."
Xiong Zhi then realized that this was 'normal' for these people. Even Mr. Cang, the designer did not think too much of what he said.
Xiong Zhi who doesn't know the value of money before in the past life, and who was now reborn and valued money second to Linfeng, was now slowly understanding what kind of society she was in. She was understanding bit by bit what her status truly meant.
Mr. Cang's voice sounded again.
"This dress is called, 'Starry Night' ".
The lights switched to dim lights and all the spotlights were on the platform.
Xiong Wuyue appeared for the first time.
She was really worthy of her title as the model of the year. She had a perfect figure and she manages to carry the black dress so well. It was a backless dress. The front was short. The length of the dress was only reaching to her knees. However, when she turned around and walked, a tail was following her. The back of the dress was longer. It reached to her ankles. The dress was worthy to be called as the starry night with all the crushed diamonds sparkling from the light. Like the stars in a blanket of a night.
Mr. Cang voice then echoed.
"The starting price is $2 Million."
"Five million." One of the normal guests raised his plaque.
"Ten million." One person joined the bid.
And more people came to join the bid.
"35 Million." One of the normal guests wanted to buy this dress so that he could be the talk of the year.
However, the VIP hasn't made their move. It was at the moment.
"50 million." One of the VIP raised his plaque. It was Alan Rock who was bidding for his wife. His wife seems to like it.
Everyone was silent.
When a VIP bid, it's no doubt they would win against the normal guest. The normal guest needs to give them face after all.
The normal guest had no choice but to give up.
The first dress was sold for $50 Million.
Xiong Zhi drank her white wine. She was covering her shock for the price of the dress. The 2 million dress jumped to 50 million. That was really a huge price.
"There are still two dresses left. You can have a chance later." Old Xiong then said to her at the side.
Xiong Zhi could not help but look at her grandfather who seemed to be acting as a warm and loving grandfather today. This really made her had goosebumps in her arms.
In truth, Old Xiong was feeling a bit joyful that he would buy a dress for the first time for his granddaughter. The thought of it made him happy. He felt it was worth it to let Xiong Zhi have one expensive dress since she works hard nowadays.
He doesn't know that later on, he would regret it.
Xiong Zhi looked at Xiong Wuyue one last time before Wuyue went to the backstage.
A short entertainment was then played on the stage. The refreshments were delivered.
Until the second part of the auction started.
This time, the most expensive dress was auctioned for $1 Million.
However it was small compared to the $50 million dress earlier.
Dinner was served. It was time for the guest to interact with one another. This time, the models could join the guest's table. However, that depends on the model's connection.
Naturally, Xiong Wuyue, who carried the surname Xiong could join Old Xiong's table.
It was one of Xiong Wuyue and Xiong De's goal. When they first heard the news that Xiong Wuyue was chosen as the model of the year in IAmFashionista, the father-daughter duo grabbed this chance to be in Old Xiong's favor. Since they knew how it mattered to Old Xiong the surname Xiong, they used this chance to be in his good side. Xiong Wuyue who brought glory to the Xiong family would be closer to Old Xiong and she would be under his good impression.
That was truly the case. However, it was unexpected for them that Xiong Zhi was brought by Old Xiong today.
This made the father-daughter duo nervous. For them, Xiong Zhi having a good relationsh.i.p.s to Old Xiong was a bad thing for them. They were afraid that Old Xiong's heart turned soft and would choose Xiong Zhi as the official heir instead.
In the past life, this event, IAmFashionista was a stepping stone for Xiong Wuyue. It was the day that Wuyue's name was more valued than her. Her fame and reputation increased. Old Xiong's favor to Wuyue visibly improved. Old Xiong handed over the influence that the Xiong Empire has in the entertainment industry to Xiong Wuyue.
This time, Xiong Zhi would not let that happen.
It's a feat that Xiong Wuyue managed to be the model of the year. Xiong Zhi could not erase that fact. Then what she have to do? Xiong Zhi figured out that was to create a bigger mess than Wuyue.
If Wuyue could attract Old Xiong's attention by being a good granddaughter, who helped the Xiong family to be greater and greater, then she must be greater than her. And slowly change Wuyue's image as a Xiong family member that need to be grateful as a part of the Xiong family.
She watched calmly as Xiong Wuyue who was wearing a blue dress like her came to their table.
Xiong Wuyue greeted Old Xiong.
"Grandfather, how's your evening?" Xiong Wuyue acts so politely and mannered.
Xiong Zhi turned her gaze away because she found Xiong Wuyue's act so disgusting. But when she turned she saw Gao Huan watching her. He smiled when their eyes met.
Xiong Zhi did not hide her frown. And look away. Everyone in the table was so disgusting.
(A/n: Poor old Xiong. Got implicated as disgusting by our dear XZ.)
"Great. Just keep up the good work."
Xiong Wuyue smiled brightly by Old Xiong's compliment.
(A/n: Even though it was not a compliment. Sorry. I'll go na.)
"I will grandfather. I'm happy I was chosen as the year's model. I will work hard more in the future to bring glory to our family."
Old Xiong face became a bit soft when he heard that. He nodded.
"Good. That's the right mindset."
"May I join the table grandfather?" Xiong Wuyue asked Old Xiong first. Old Guan then intercepted.
"When can you go aside from this table? Old Xiong, don't let a woman just stand there."
"You don't have to tell me." Old Xiong raised his hand and told the staff to add one more chair.
Xiong Wuyue smiled brightly to them as she sat. She then greeted Master Guan and Gao Huan.
She smiled happily to Xiong Zhi too.
"Cousin, you look more beautiful than the last time I saw you." However her thoughts were different, 'Too bad she was here. What a killjoy.'
Xiong Zhi half smiled-half smirk,
"I know right. But I'm wondering how you can tell when I'm wearing a mask. I hope it's not empty talk."
The table got silent. The joyful atmosphere turned into a strained one.
Xiong Wuyue gritted her teeth.
She opened her mouth and about to act as a pitiful girl but Xiong Zhi was fast.
"Of course, I'm just joking. There's always jokes between cousin's right? Unless.." Xiong Zhi was thankful that she was wearing a mask, even if she can't properly act and made the right face, she could still make her voice shake.
"Unless..you don't treat me as your cousin?"
"..."
Silence.
Even Old Xiong was speechless.
Gao Huan let out a smirk after he recovered from being stunned.
'It looks like an interesting show was about to start.'
Gao Huan like this atmosphere. At least his boredom would slowly go away.