Investment Cashback, Billionaire God [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 19: Contracted Stylist

Chapter 19: Contracted Stylist

The news that the Great Ancestor Grandma Crew would be attending the Jasha Red Carpet this Saturday spread like wildfire through the company that very evening.

Previously, their marketing campaigns had either been limited to online platforms or small-scale offline fan meetings. This marked Mega-Entertainment’s first formal foray into the entertainment industry’s grand arena of fame and fortune, instantly putting all employees into a state of heightened readiness.

When she received the notification, Tong Qinglu scrambled out of bed in the company dormitory and pinched her own cheek.

She could hardly believe that just two weeks ago, she had been boosting attendance for a hot pot restaurant’s opening event at a shopping mall. In barely over ten days, she had skipped the long supporting role path that other young starlets inevitably had to take, leaping directly into the ranks of traffic stars.

It all felt like an unreal dream.

Tong Qinglu knew full well that her current status was entirely due to her boss’s maneuvering. Such immense recognition left her utterly uncertain how to repay the favor

Anyway, if someone tried to assassinate Director Fang now, she would definitely bravely be the first to jump in front of the bullet.

Her Light Brain pinged with a notification Jiang Yu had added her to a group chat titled [Short Drama Great Ancestor Grandma Red Carpet Notifications].

The group contained not only Mega-Entertainment’s own staff but also Jasha Magazine personnel, and even Director Zhang Kaigang himself.

Film directors of Director Zhang’s caliber rarely walked fashion red carpets. Tong Qinglu could scarcely imagine how much compensation Director Fang must have offered Director Zhang to make him so actively cooperate with all promotional activities.

Indeed, even renowned directors couldn’t refuse sudden windfalls.

With Director Zhang’s star power elevating them, their crew was naturally scheduled for the finale spot in the initial red carpet sequence sent by Jasha.

Tong Qinglu felt ready to faint.

Making her red carpet debut in the finale position this starting point instantly surpassed 99.9% of Star Entertainment’s young starlets.

She quickly lay back down, taking deep breaths to calm her racing heartbeat from the excitement.

[Miss Tong, please come to the company tomorrow around 1 PM for your styling trial]

This time it was Director Fang personally messaging her. She rapidly replied: [Okay okay, I’ll definitely arrive early]

A half-finished glass of whiskey sat on the table. Fang Zhuo minimized the message interface, quietly gazing at the city nightscape of Primary Star outside his window.

This suite occupied the top floor of Primary Star’s tallest five-star hotel, directly facing the busiest commercial district main street in the entire Star Federation.

Unlike 139 Star with its perpetual industrial smog, the nights here lacked any hazy blurriness. Daylight-bright lights illuminated the ceaselessly flowing streets, transforming them into what appeared to be a perpetually reveling city that never slept.

The original “Radiance” novel had also emphasized this spectacular Jasha Red Carpet event, with the author devoting over ten chapters to detailing how each standalone story’s protagonist encountered others during the red carpet.

During the post-ceremony gala, everyone laughed joyfully while toasting, with geniuses from different fields regretting not having met sooner and considering each other kindred spirits a segment readers hailed as one of the book’s most classic plot moments.

Compared to the original text, this iteration’s guest list clearly paled in star power.

Fang Zhuo leaned back slightly, half-reclining on the sofa as he carefully reread the corresponding sections from the original “Radiance” novel.
Just the main characters mentioned in the book alone included seventeen names not on this invitation list, let alone the numerous minor supporting roles scattered throughout.

However, his purpose in revisiting the original work this time wasn’t to scrutinize those episodic protagonists, but to locate a stylist

The description of her in “Radiance” spanned only slightly over a thousand words, briefly outlining how she was discovered by the Film Emperor. On the eve of a red carpet event, the Film Emperor introduced her to a renowned Best Actress.

The Elia Calb bud-style gown she redesigned for the actress, paired with a fresh turquoise eyeshadow, created an ensemble that was both elegant and unique, trending on hot searches before the gala even concluded.

When this name reappeared in the original book hundreds of chapters later, the stylist had already established a studio that became one of the industry’s top players, serving as an official consultant for a StarNet-wide model competition event.

The Film Emperor from the original text was now missing, and this talented stylist naturally hadn’t entered the industry yet.

Ruan Zihan likely never paid much attention to a mere stylist, and with countless people sharing the same name across the vast Star Federation, even if he intended to take action against her, finding her would be impossible.

But with the original text in hand, Fang Zhuo found locating her much easier.

He searched for the bridal shop mentioned in the book on StarNet’s homepage and, unsurprisingly, found her profile on the store’s official website.

At 10:30 AM, the electronic doors of ES Bridal automatically slid open.

Carrying her freshly purchased breakfast, Liu Xiaolan absentmindedly greeted her colleagues.

As the shop’s top wedding stylist, she had been working nonstop for nearly a month.

She often dragged her heavy makeup case to brides’ homes before dawn, designed complete looks for couples trying on wedding dresses after the main store opened, and immediately caught the 6:10 PM Yun Lie after closing to cross half the Primary City district for beginner makeup demonstration classes.

Though exhausting, it was all worthwhile.

Early last year, she had mortgaged a modest 75-square-meter two-bedroom apartment in Primary Star’s secondary urban area the substantial income from her intense work significantly eased her repayment pressure.

After all, which ordinary person in the Star Federation didn’t live like this?

“A huge client’s here! When you strike it rich, Little Mistress Lan, you mustn’t forget your humble servant.”

Xiao Zhou peeked into Liu Xiaolan’s office, interrupting her breakfast.

She tapped Xiao Zhou’s head in confusion. “What nonsense are you spouting now?”

Xiao Zhou patted his chest. “Master, when you step out, you’ll find I’m the calmest one in our shop. Giant Entertainment’s boss specifically asked to see you everyone else is practically losing their minds.”

Liu Xiaolan’s heart skipped a beat, but as the person involved, she felt far less excitement than Xiao Zhou.

The short drama produced by Mega-Entertainment had been trending heavily on Star Entertainment lately; even with her busy schedule, she’d squeezed in fragmented time to catch up to over forty episodes.

Giant Entertainment’s financial power was openly displayed, and its excessively young boss was an enigmatic figure shrouded in mystery. She didn’t believe she possessed any exceptional qualities warranting a personal visit from him.

“…Could there be a mistake?”

Despite her words, she set down the half-eaten bun on her desk and walked anxiously into the meeting room.
The man in the reception room lounged lazily on the sofa, his right hand resting on the armrest as he idly flipped through the salon’s promotional brochure.

“Director Fang, hello. I’m Liu Xiaolan, the head stylist at ES. Would you like me to introduce our makeup and styling services?”

Instead of directly answering, the man spread the brochure open on the coffee table and asked, “Which of these styles were created by you?”

When it came to professional matters, Liu Xiaolan immediately felt less nervous.

Sitting opposite Director Fang, she earnestly pointed out three specific styles, then turned to the second page and fluently explained the creative concepts behind them.

Fang Zhuo nodded.

As the stylist who would later become highly sought-after throughout Star Entertainment, Liu Xiaolan’s style was indeed uniquely distinctive.

Such bold styling choices were highly selective if the model’s condition was slightly off, the overall effect would be completely different.

For this reason, compared to working with amateur models, collaborating with celebrities who possessed superior physical attributes would showcase her strengths more thoroughly.

“Miss Liu, would you be interested in joining Giant Entertainment?”

“Our artists will be attending the Jasha Red Carpet tomorrow afternoon, and I’d like to invite you to design suitable looks for them.”

Noticing Liu Xiaolan’s hesitation, he added, “Salary isn’t an issue. We offer a guaranteed monthly base of 800,000 yuan, and you’ll retain 100% of your personal freelance earnings without any company commission.”

After all, even without taking a commission, the system would still grant him tenfold returns based on Liu Xiaolan’s actual generated value.

As long as her personal freelance income exceeded 80,000 yuan monthly, it would cover the 800,000 salary expense.

For an established stylist, 80,000 yuan was merely equivalent to one magazine cover shoot making this a nearly risk-free investment. He was more than willing to invest modestly to recruit genuinely talented individuals.

Observing her continued uncertainty, Fang Zhuo calmly continued:

“If you need to bring team members to form a studio, your staff will receive the same benefits as Mega-Entertainment employees. The company will provide a 100,000 yuan monthly base salary per person, with additional performance bonuses for future Mega-Entertainment film and drama projects.”

“Our office occupies the top three floors of the Union Federal Financial Tower. There are plenty of vacant spaces you may choose any empty room as your studio.”

“If you’re unsatisfied with that location, simply send me your preferred workshop address. I’ll cover the rent.”

Liu Xiaolan pinched the philtrum above her lip.

Were these terms for real? Even scammers couldn’t make money this fast.

She felt if she didn’t agree soon, the offers might escalate beyond earthly limits.

Unlike artists who required marketing operations, most styling teams at Star Entertainment worked independently. A salaried position under a company was practically unheard of and the proposed salary was exceptionally generous.

Though Liu Xiaolan considered herself emotionally steady, the staggering numbers made her head spin.

Taking a sip of water to calm herself, she finally voiced her biggest concern:

“Director Fang, you might not be familiar with the industry but in entertainment circles, a styling team’s connections matter more than technical skills.”

“As a newcomer, the level of gowns and jewelry I can access is quite limited…”
Fang Zhuo sent the pre-prepared contract to her Light Brain: “Don’t worry, Miss Liu, this won’t be a problem.”

Liu Xiaolan felt completely uncertain inside.

Of course this was a problem a major one at that.

She first notified the store manager online, submitted her resignation to ES, and then signed the contract with Mega-Entertainment with extreme unease.

The red carpet isn’t just a test of an artist’s presence it’s more about the styling teams behind them competing at the highest level.

Especially for newcomers without strong backing, what kind of gown they can borrow for their first red carpet appearance depends entirely on their stylist’s social skills and connections.

The haute couture brands of the Star Federation operate under a strict tier system, categorized into official members, first-tier members, and special invitee members based on their origin, scale, and number of new designs released.

There are only twelve designer brands certified as official members by the industry association, and borrowing their pieces is harder than reaching the sky.

Only top celebrities from Star Entertainment can occasionally borrow these brands’ haute couture pieces from several seasons ago, and when they do, their fans act like they’ve won the lottery.

As for ready-to-wear from unverified brands that don’t even qualify as special invitees those are easy to borrow, but wearing them on the red carpet would likely draw ridicule from the audience.

Having worked previously in the bridal industry, Liu Xiaolan only knew a few stylists in the entertainment circle, none particularly well, and wasn’t sure if they’d do her this favor.

[Investment Target #5: Liu Xiaolan]

[Intelligence: 7][Stamina: 4][Appearance: 3][EQ: 5][Loyalty: 8]

[Recommended Professions: Fashion design, makeup artist, graphic design, and other aesthetics-related fields]

[Skill Talent: 8]

[Initial Value Assessment: 23,900]

As Liu Xiaolan signed the contract, Fang Zhuo immediately received the successful signing notification.

Remembering the film emperor from the original novel who discovered her, he asked before leaving the meeting room: “Miss Liu, do you know Cen Yanhai?”

Fang Zhuo roughly recounted the book’s description:

“About six years ago, he should have visited your store with his fiancée to try on wedding dresses he’d just graduated from university then, around 182 cm tall, with very sharp features.”

Liu Xiaolan thought for a moment before shaking her head: “No impression. I have a good memory and remember every customer who came to the store clearly. There’s no one by that name among the unconverted leads either.”

Sensing Fang Zhuo’s concern, she pulled up a hundreds-page-long visitor list from her Light Brain, but a search came up empty.

“No matter, no need to check.” Fang Zhuo pushed the door open and left.

Since the film emperor hadn’t visited this bridal store six years ago, it meant he’d encountered some changes before that.

This indicated Ruan Zihan’s rebirth had occurred even earlier than he’d previously thought.

Outside the meeting room, curious employees had already gathered.

It was just opening time, with few customers in the store yet. Everyone sat on the sofas outside, stealing glances through the door crack while chatting about all sorts of gossip.

Fang Zhuo rested an arm on the sofa back and joked with the ES Bridal Store manager: “Sorry for poaching one of your key people.”

The manager waved a hand holding some sunflower seeds.

The ties between industry stylists and physical stores were never that strong anyway job-hopping was common.
Last month, Xiaolan had just greeted her, saying she would move to the secondary urban district and find a new job once her new home was renovated.

Although this departure came nearly half a year earlier than expected, it didn’t surprise her too much it just meant a bit more hassle with temporary hiring.

The shop manager cheerfully ran to the front desk to settle Liu Xiaolan’s wages for the working days of the month, winking as she said, “Don’t forget us when you make it big. If you do well, remember to advertise our shop.”

Fang Zhuo could tell they had a good relationship. Leaning against the high counter, he smiled at the manager and said, “Sorry for poaching your staff on such short notice and affecting your business. Just forward the shop’s rent bill for the second half of the year to my assistant Mega-Entertainment will cover it.”

The manager was taken aback for a moment, then made a gesture as if catching something with both hands: “Catching riches.”

Seeing the girls take turns hugging Liu Xiaolan, turning the atmosphere into something like a graduation farewell, Fang Zhuo leaned idly by the door and transferred 100,000 credits to Jiang Yu: “Buy some snacks for everyone.”

Jiang Yu was already used to his boss casually adding a few zeros and nodded quickly: “Okay.”

Though he had never seen snacks costing over 6,000 per person, he knew how to buy parting gifts with a 6,000 budget.

Jiang Yu swiftly placed an order on StarNet and, while Liu Xiaolan’s apprentice was completing the resignation procedures, distributed the gift boxes to the shop staff who were reluctant to see her go.

As they watched the group leave the shop, the staff immediately opened their boxes, their faces filled with emotion as they tightly grasped each other’s wrists.

“What’s in yours? I got a gold necklace with a star design.”

“Wow, mine has a 10-gram gold bar. As expected, an assistant from a big company knows how to pick gifts.”

“I was crying when I hugged Sister Lan earlier, but now my tears are blocked by the gold. Guys, any way to sneak into Mega-Entertainment as a janitor?”

“You’re dreaming. If there were a way, I’d have gone already.”

“I’m so envious of Sister Lan’s apprentice. She showed me the Mega-Entertainment contract a guaranteed 100,000 monthly salary… I thought I’d miscounted the zeros.”

“Heavens, gold really is falling from the sky. I’ve decided to become Brother Fang’s devoted fan starting today.”

“I feel like we’re all rising together with her success. Holding this gold feels so amazing Sister Lan must be even happier than I am right now.”

Liu Xiaolan was not happy at all. Sitting in that iconic white spaceship, her heart sank lower the closer they got to Mega-Entertainment’s office.

The time given to her was far too tight. She had just been signed to Mega-Entertainment today, and the artist was scheduled to walk the red carpet tomorrow afternoon. She had no confidence she could secure a suitable gown in such a short time.

Male artists generally wore suits, and it was somewhat acceptable if the brand tier was a bit lower. But for female stars, the red carpet was a true battlefield a fierce, life-and-dedeath competition.

It wasn’t just about competing for brand prestige; even within the same brand, there were subtle battles over whether the outfit was ready-to-wear or haute couture. And even among haute couture, comparisons were made about which year’s collection it came from.

Liu Xiaolan sat restlessly and gloomily on the spaceship’s sofa.

If someone could sneak her into a brand’s warehouse to steal a gown right now, she wouldn’t hesitate to follow them.
The financial tower was even more bustling than she had imagined. Liu Xiaolan followed closely behind Director Fang’s assistant the entire way, while her own apprentice cautiously trailed behind her. They moved like two wary shrews.

As the elevator floors gradually ascended, she could no longer resist the torment in her heart and reminded him:

“Director Fang, could you spare me some time later? I’d like to contact a friend to see if I can borrow a formal dress.”

Fang Zhuo replied indifferently: “Why borrow something that can be bought directly?”

The elevator doors opened, and he pushed open the secondary hall’s entrance