Du Chan surveyed the bustling scene at the entrance of London Fashion Week, where stunning women and stylish men strutted in endless streams. As a small-time reporter freshly elevated to a comfortable British lifestyle, Du Chan suddenly felt a pang of self-consciousness. Glancing down at her modest outfit and the NetEase press badge hanging around her neck, she let out a soft huff. "Pfft, what's so great about this? You big-shot luxury brand moguls may be fancy, but you're still not worth as much as Maotai, are you?"
With that, Du Chan puffed out her chest and strode confidently toward the nearby Somerset House. At the entrance, she flashed an invitation from the American IMG modeling agency. As she handed it over, she couldn't help but notice—or maybe it was her imagination—that even the security guards at Somerset House had a certain charm!
"Welcome! London Fashion Week's winter show starts at 2:30 PM. Media, please head to the second floor!" the guard instructed.
Du Chan took back her invitation and followed the directions toward the second floor. Just as she approached the staircase, a strikingly beautiful model in cutting-edge fashion, trailed by a massive entourage, cut in front of her. Du Chan pointed at the model who had just bumped into her, ready to say something, but before she could, a swarm of reporters chased after the model toward the elevator.
"That's Adriana Lima! Quick, follow her!" one shouted.
"Hurry! This year's winter fashion show is amazing. I heard they even got the Transformers actress for a cameo!" another chimed in.
"Move it! Gisele Bündchen is coming soon too!"
The trendy journalists, caught up in the frenzy, barely noticed Du Chan as they rushed to the elevator. When she spotted one reporter holding a Playboy microphone, Du Chan stuck out her tongue in mock disgust and headed for the stairs.
"Good thing it's only the second floor. If it was the tenth, I'd be dead!" Du Chan muttered, hands on her knees as she trudged up the stairs.
While climbing, she caught a glimpse through a glass panel of a massive silver tent set up in the middle of Somerset House. Curious, she pressed closer to get a better look, but all she could make out was the tent itself—nothing more.
When Du Chan reached the media lounge on the second floor, the spacious room was nearly empty. Even the grapes and bananas on the tables were untouched. "Tch, so much fruit I've never even seen before. Talk about luxury," Du Chan remarked, grabbing a plate of fruit and settling into a corner. What happened next made her chuckle to herself: after she took her plate, others started helping themselves to the fruit too!
As the start of the winter fashion show drew closer, the media lounge filled with reporters, many from high-profile fashion magazines or weekly publications. These journalists clearly outranked the average reporter, some even accompanied by assistants. A few shared Du Chan's complexion, which caught her attention.
"Hello, where are you from?" a woman who looked similar to Du Chan asked.
Du Chan, slightly annoyed, replied bluntly
The woman, sensing Du Chan's tone, quickly laughed it off. "Haha, no, no, I didn't mean it like that! It's just that our domestic market for luxury goods and fashion is still growing. I figured I'd break the ice in English to avoid any misunderstandings!"
"No worries. Du Chan, NetEase News."
"Wang Shanshan, intern editor at Harper's Bazaar~"
Du Chan's eyes widened as she sized up Wang Shanshan. True to her role at a top-tier fashion magazine, Wang Shanshan's style was impeccable—her taste in clothes far surpassed Du Chan's, not to mention her LV handbag.
"Who're you interviewing?" Du Chan asked.
"Du Juan!" Wang Shanshan replied, her excitement bubbling over. "Wow, what a coincidence! When our editor-in-chief, Su, assigned me to interview her, I was so nervous. Now I've got someone to keep me company!"
Du Chan nodded, understanding her enthusiasm. As a media insider, she'd heard plenty about Harper's Bazaar's editor-in-chief, a powerhouse who single-handedly secured major advertising deals in Shanghai and Hong Kong, now leading the entire fashion group.
"You're too kind," Du Chan said. "To stand out among all your peers and come to the UK to interview Du Juan? That's proof you're pretty amazing."
Wang Shanshan rubbed her nose awkwardly and whispered, "Well, actually, it's because I offered to cover my own travel expenses. The company only let me come because I didn't need reimbursement."
Du Chan was momentarily speechless. Harper's Bazaar, a leading fashion giant, was that stingy? In truth, Du Chan was only here because of her old college friend, Du Juan, one of the few models signed with IMG. Getting an invitation for Du Chan was no big deal for her, and since they hadn't seen each other in years, Du Chan had jumped at the chance to reconnect in a foreign country. She'd gotten approval from her editor to make the trip.
Noticing Du Chan's hesitation, Wang Shanshan leaned in and whispered, "Actually, the company wasn't even invited. I only got in because my mentor in the UK pulled some strings!"
Du Chan immediately pegged Wang Shanshan as someone with connections—her Cantonese accent was a dead giveaway. "Haha, no worries! Let me tell you a little secret: Du Juan's my old college roommate. When you interview her later, don't be nervous. I'll put in a good word for you!"
And just like that, Du Chan and Wang Shanshan hit it off, bonding over their quirky encounter and chatting like old friends.