Siheyuan: tomb robbing? I am serious about hunting.

Chapter 1180 Remembering

"Ding-ling-ling—" The sound of her phone vibrating was particularly abrupt in the quiet dressing room, like a fine needle piercing Su Wan's exhaustion after a recent brand event. She leaned back on the sofa, still wearing her couture champagne-colored gown, the rhinestones glittering in the warm yellow light. Her delicate makeup was still on, the sequins at the corners of her eyes flickering with each blink, but she couldn't hide the weariness beneath her eyes—from six in the morning to ten at night, a full sixteen hours of nonstop work, leaving her barely able to lift a hand. Su Wan slowly opened her eyes and reached for the phone on the dressing table. The name "Agent Linda" flashed on the screen, followed by a red "Emergency" sign. Her heart skipped a beat; Linda rarely used that sign, unless something serious was going on. She pressed the answer button, her voice hoarse as if she had just woken up: "Linda, what's wrong?" "Wanwan, something happened! Something big!" Linda's voice came from the other end of the phone, with obvious urgency, and even a little panic. "The cover of the October issue of "Fashion Chronicle" was originally agreed with us last week, and the editor-in-chief has confirmed it three times. Just now, I suddenly received a message from the editor-in-chief's assistant saying that they want to re-evaluate the candidates! I asked around and found out that it was Lin Weiwei who was grabbing the resources behind the scenes!" "Lin Weiwei?" Su Wan's fingers holding the phone suddenly tightened, her nails almost digging into her palms, and the cuffs of her dress were wrinkled by her clenching. Her voice suddenly cooled, the weariness in her eyes replaced by a sharpness. "Why would she suddenly get involved? Last week, her team told the media she'd be secluded filming a movie and wouldn't be accepting fashion projects for six months. How could she change her mind just a few days later?" "Fashion Magazine" isn't just any fashion magazine, but a top luxury publication in China. Everyone in the industry knows that being on the cover of "Fashion Magazine," especially the October and March autumn/winter and spring/summer editions, is not only a symbol of fashion influence but also a testament to one's status. Many celebrities scramble to get this opportunity. To secure it, Su Wan turned down two highly sought-after variety show offers—one of which was an S+-rated outdoor reality show, with a salary equivalent to her entire six-month salary. To align with the October issue's theme of "Autumn/Winter Luxury," she even flew to Paris to shoot a series of prospective shoots in a haute couture atelier, spending nearly a million on travel and styling alone. She thought everything was set in stone, but unexpectedly, Lin Weiwei snatched it up at the last minute. "It's because her movie flopped!" Linda's voice was thick with gritted teeth and anger. "I just got word from a producer friend that the investor for that female-led film she'd signed on to star in suddenly pulled their funding last night, and filming has been halted. She desperately needs a big cover to maintain her popularity, or her hyped-up 'movie star' persona will crumble. I heard her team approached the investors of Fashion Chronicles and offered to slash her endorsement fees in half—she already has three high-end endorsements, and slashing them by half would be like giving money to the magazine. The editor-in-chief must be swayed!" Su Wan leaned back on the sofa, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. She could imagine the operation of Lin Weiwei's team: using the capital to pave the way, then undercutting the competition with low prices—this was Lin Weiwei's usual tactic. Ever since they both competed on talent shows, Lin Weiwei, leveraging her backing, had snatched the debut center position that should have been hers. Later, when she achieved modest success with a single, Lin Weiwei immediately released a similarly styled song, paying off marketing accounts to discredit her. Now, having finally established herself in the fashion world, Lin Weiwei is poaching her cover spots again. "Wanwan, don't panic!" Linda added, noticing Su Wan's silence. "I've been trying to contact the editor-in-chief, but she's not answering the phone. I guess she's been pestered by Lin Weiwei's team. Do you have any suggestions? Maybe contact the couture brands you've worked with and ask them to speak up?" Su Wan opened her eyes, the panic gone, replaced by a calm and resolute expression. She knew that in the entertainment industry, crying and complaining were futile; only by demonstrating strength and offering irresistible leverage could one regain control. "Linda, don't contact the editor-in-chief yet." Su Wan's voice was calm but powerful. "Contact the assistant editor of Fashion Chronicle right now and tell them I have two conditions: First, I'm willing to add a series of cover photos with a traditional Chinese style theme. I'll cover all the styling, costumes, and props myself, at no cost to the magazine. I've previously collaborated with the Palace Museum Cultural and Creative Department and have a collection of exclusive intangible cultural heritage jewelry that perfectly aligns with the traditional Chinese style theme. The magazine will definitely be interested. Second, send them the letter of intent I signed last month with the French couture brand 'L'. Tell the assistant editor-in-chief that if Fashion Chronicle agrees to give me the cover of its October issue, 'L' will provide the magazine with three never-before-seen 2024 Fall/Winter couture gowns for the cover shoot and will have its global spokesperson collaborate with the magazine on online promotions." This was Su Wan's trump card. During her trip to Paris last month, she met privately with the global creative director of 'L'. He was impressed by her style and offered her a collaboration opportunity, but only with the requirement that she land a top-tier magazine cover as a "stepping stone." If Fashion Magazine were willing to give her a cover, it would indirectly promote the "L" brand and give her exclusive couture gowns—a sure-win for the magazine. "Great! That's a great idea!" Linda's voice instantly lit up with excitement. "I'll do it right away! Wanwan, don't worry, we won't let Lin Weiwei succeed this time!" After hanging up the phone, Su Wan stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window in her dressing room. Outside, the bustling city nightscape unfolded, neon lights flickering, and traffic churned like a flowing river of light. Gazing at the hustle and bustle downstairs, she recalled her early debut: back then, she lived in the basement, cramming the subway every day to attend events. Once, backstage at a talent show, Lin Weiwei deliberately knocked her trophy over, sending it shattering onto the floor. But she smiled and told Su Wan that she had hung up on Director Zhang's assistant, the cold touch of the phone screen still lingering on her fingertips. She didn't immediately throw things to vent her anger, nor did she wallow in self-pity. Instead, she walked to her desk and opened her laptop. The moment the screen lit up, her calm yet sharp eyes were reflected - after years of working in the entertainment industry, she had long since learned to calmly face unexpected crises. She typed "investors and creative team of "Dust in Fireworks"" into the search bar, and soon a series of information popped up. This film is the result of three years of preparation by Director Zhang, who is known for his art films and has been nominated for many international film festivals. His works are always known for their delicate emotions and profound themes.