"Oh, it was wonderful news when I heard Louis was managing a model," Zhen continued babbling happily as he dragged Mo Fei behind him. "And then I found out it was you!"
Louis and Chen Yu followed quietly behind them.
Mo Fei glanced at the man currently pulling him through the hallway like an excited child who had found a new toy. "You know Louis?" he asked.
Zhen paused at once and turned around dramatically. "Six years and still going strong," he said proudly. "There is no better friend in this whole world."
Chen Yu looked at Louis. "And here I thought you were just a newbie manager."
Louis did not dignify that with a response. Zhen led them into a separate room where a stylist was already waiting. She stood near a wide vanity table covered with brushes, hair products, makeup palettes, pins, sprays, and several things Mo Fei did not recognize and did not wish to recognize.
"Shizu," Zhen said, presenting Mo Fei as though he had brought her a rare jewel, "I need this one fresh, beautified, and dazzling in ten!"
The lady bowed slightly as Zhen handed Mo Fei over to her. "Of course. I'll do my best." She smiled politely and gestured toward the inner room. "This way, Mr. Mo Fei."
Mo Fei was about to follow her when Louis suddenly added, "Can you also do something with his hair? I didn't have time to get a hairstylist for him earlier."
Mo Fei turned and gave Louis a grateful look.
Shizu nodded. "Got it." Then she led Mo Fei away.
Once Mo Fei disappeared into the next room, Zhen turned back to Louis with a pout.
"Well, well, Louis… I was beginning to think you would refuse my offer."
Louis smiled faintly.
Why would I? I'm in desperate need of something useful for that blockhead. It was a miracle you reached out.
Zhen laughed, then his attention shifted to Chen Yu. "And you," he said, eyes brightening again. "I've admired your cooking skills for a long time. In fact, I don't eat any other pastry if it isn't made by you."
Chen Yu beamed instantly. "Really? Thank you, Mr. Zhen."
"I didn't know you were this close to Mo Fei or Louis," Zhen added.
He truly did love Chen Yu's cooking. In the past, he had tried more than once to make a reservation at Chen Yu's family restaurant, but every attempt had either been met with full bookings or unavailable slots. And besides that, it was terribly expensive.
Not that Zhen was poor.
He simply respected expensive food more when he did not have to beg for it.
"He's my best friend," Chen Yu said warmly. Then, after a moment, he added, "And as a thank you for including him in your runway show, please feel free to drop by the restaurant anytime."
For a second, Zhen stopped breathing.
Then his soul ascended straight to the ninth heaven. "Oh my God, really?" he squealed.
This time, both Louis and Chen Yu covered their ears at once.
Zhen noticed and smiled sheepishly.
"Much appreciated, Mr. Yu. Much appreciated." Chen Yu was clearly a man of culture.
If someone had told Zhen that picking Mo Fei for his show and knowing Louis would lead him straight to Chen Yu's restaurant, he would never have believed them.
But here he was.
Standing in his own fashion house. Winning at life.
_____________________________
Meanwhile, in the next room…
"Mr. Zhang, is this okay?" the makeup artist asked softly, her voice careful. "Please let me know if you feel any reaction."
Zhang Yichen sat before the mirror, his gaze fixed on his own reflection. He tilted his chin slightly, allowing the light to catch the sharp lines of his face.
"No," he said calmly. "It's fine."
The makeup artist smiled, visibly relieved.
Thank goodness.
She had been a little worried earlier. Zhang Yichen had shown no reaction at all while she applied the products to his face. Not even a flicker of discomfort. He had simply sat there like a carved statue, beautiful and impossible to read.
At that moment, the door opened, and Nil walked in.
"Yichen, if you're done, we have to go. Your next appointment is in one hour... " He stopped mid-sentence.
His eyes moved over Yichen's face, then the outfit he was wearing. Nil clicked his tongue. "Not bad."
Apparently, everything looked good on this arrogant brat.
Yichen chuckled softly and leaned back in the chair, relaxed and unbothered. His fingers drifted to the necklace resting against his collarbone.
It was a delicate diamond necklace with a small pendant hung from it, engraved with the initial Y.
After a moment, Zhang Yichen stood from the chair.
The makeup artist bowed politely. Yichen returned the gesture with a faint nod, and she quietly left the room.
Once the door closed behind her, Nil's expression changed. "Yichen," he said, his tone turning serious. "He called again."
Yichen looked at him. "He's persistent these days."
"With more threats, actually," Nil said with a sigh.
Yichen scoffed. "Like what?"
"There's a dinner coming up. If you don't attend, he threatened to finally disown you."
Yichen's expression did not change. "Old news. Give me something new, Nil."
Nil hesitated for half a second. "Your mother is backing him up this time."
That made Yichen raise a brow. "That's unexpected."
Nil watched him carefully. "So what will you do?"
Yichen did not need time to think. "I'm not going," he said simply. "Tell him that."
Nil nodded.
It was nothing new.
No matter what happened, no matter how many threats came or who supported them this time.
Zhang Yichen wanted nothing to do with his family.