[Chapter 402: Showcasing the Beauties, Linton's Advice]
On July 29th, Linton arrived at the stadium accompanied by Miguel and Lin Hao. Inside the indoor competition venue, a small stage had been set up at the front entrance. Below the stage, one hundred young and beautiful women were seated, all selected through three rounds of pageants.
Knowing that a top executive would be conducting the final assessment today, each girl was visibly nervous yet carried a mix of excitement, hope, and ambition.
When they saw Linton appear, they were all stunned by his youth, tallness and handsomeness. The expectations and ambitions in their hearts became even more eager, and then they broke into the warmest applause, and everyone clapped their hands until they were red.
After Linton, Miguel, and Lin Hao took their seats in the front row, the host from the employment agency arranged for the girls to come on stage in order of their ranking. Linton's request was simple: each girl would step to the center of the stage, introduce herself briefly in English, and showcase a little talent, all within one minute.
---
The first person to come on stage was Li Xiaoran. A stunning young woman in a red dress stepped forward with elegant poise.
Her facial features were delicate and three-dimensional, especially her bright, expressive eyes that seemed to speak on their own -- full of spirit and warmth. A high nose bridge and cherry-red lips lent her a touch of classical beauty.
Her skin was fair and luminous, and under the glow of the stage lights and the contrast of the red dress, she appeared almost radiant. In Linton's memory, only Nicole Kidman's complexion could compare.
She was tall and well-proportioned. Even though her dress wasn't form-fitting, it couldn't hide the fullness of her chest or the length of her straight, slender legs.
"Mr. Anderson, my name is Li Xiaoran. I'm 19 years old and graduated from the Intermediate Dance School affiliated with the Beijing Dance Academy. After graduating two years ago, I joined the Oriental Song and Dance Troupe. I'm skilled in dance..."
After her introduction, she dropped into a graceful split, earning applause from the audience.
...
The next person to come on stage was Sophia Hu, a tall beauty dressed in a blue t-shirt and denim shorts, white sneakers completing her lively look. Her youthful energy radiated, her glowing skin and dimples when she smiled were utterly charming. What set her apart were her amber eyes, with a hint of mixed heritage.
"Mr. Anderson, I am Sophia Hu, 17 years old, from YN Province. I am currently studying ethnic dance at Central National University and won second prize in last year's BJ City Dance Competition..." After her introduction, she performed a few traditional dance moves and capped it off with a sharp backflip, earning a roaring applause.
...
The third was Yan Danchen, confidently wearing a pink dress, with delicate fair skin and a lean figure. Her beautiful, captivating eyes had a mesmerizing quality.
"Mr. Anderson, I'm Yan Danchen, 17 years old, from Hunan Province, currently enrolled at the Hunan Provincial School of Arts. At home, I'm the obedient daughter who loves helping with chores... and I've loved music and dance since childhood..."
After her formal introduction, she approached a piano by the stage and played a few simple notes. The graceful melody instantly won over the crowd, receiving applause.
...
"Mr. Anderson, my name is Zeng Li..."
"Mr. Anderson, my name is Gao Yuanyuan..."
"Mr. Anderson, my name is Yin Tao..."
---
Almost two hours passed as all one hundred girls completed their brief introductions and talent showcases.
Indeed, as their profiles stated, each was a rare beauty, top-notch in appearance, charisma, and talent. Their hands were all soft, pale, and delicate with no sign of hard manual labor.
The problem was, he wasn't recruiting for a performing arts troupe -- he was hiring service staff for a landscaped garden. He blamed himself for not clearly communicating the requirements to Miguel, but it was too late to reverse the situation now.
He wasn't sure how well these girls would handle the reality after moving to America.
Thinking this over, he knew he had to be upfront to prevent any disappointment or problems that could damage his reputation.
...
Walking onto the stage amidst applause, Linton took the microphone from the host.
"Hello, beautiful ladies. I'm Linton Anderson. After hearing your introductions and watching your performances, I must say you're all outstanding. However, I need to clarify -- I've just built a large private garden estate in America. The positions we're hiring for here are for garden service staff, not members of an arts or dance troupe. Your work there will be as service staff, not as singers, dancers, or performers.
Given your talents, I imagine many of you have dreams and aspirations. I'm worried some of you might have gotten misleading information and may face a harsh reality. That's why I'm being straightforward today, so you can decide carefully. Feel free to discuss this with your parents or families, and if anyone feels this isn't the right fit, please withdraw now.
Of course, if you truly feel ready and willing to work as garden service staff, you have my full support and welcome.
Two days from now in the morning, those who decide to stay should gather here as per the service company's instructions to sign contracts. Then, we will travel together to a resort for a two-and-a-half-month intensive training, focusing on English conversation, service etiquette, and skills.
During your training, I will arrange to have official work invitations sent from America. The employment company will then help you apply for passports and American visas. If you pass the evaluation after training, by late October, we will all depart together, flying to my garden estate in Montana."
Warm applause and cheers filled the room. Linton scanned the crowd, noting everyone wore excited smiles, clearly not fully absorbing his advice.
'Well, I guess I've said what I needed to. At least I laid out the truth clearly. If anyone can't handle the gap between expectations and reality later on, they have no one to blame but themselves.'
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.
https://discord.gg/eKByGBSw.