Chapter 17: A Fashion Endorsement?

At night, He Tian and Wang Xinrou finally returned to the villa.

He Tian had spent the entire afternoon driving Wang Xinrou around the city, using the Lvyuan Villa District as their center. They had basically explored every street and alley. The surrounding environment was now firmly imprinted in He Tian’s mind. For someone like him, becoming familiar with a new place was a necessity—a habit, even.

Wang Xinrou had been very well-behaved all afternoon. No matter what He Tian did, she just quietly played on her phone in the car. Even after returning, she continued, only now she was lying on the sofa.

Wang Xinmeng and Old Hu had not yet returned.

He Tian found Chen Long and Hou Qiang, along with the other three members of the team.

“Did you receive the goods?” He Tian asked.

“Yes, we did! Mr. He… How should we install them?” Chen Long and the others had picked up a shipment—all high-tech equipment, the world’s top of the line!

“Come, let’s go take a look,” He Tian smiled. After accepting this assignment, he had managed to acquire this batch of gear—it was basically surveillance equipment. He Tian would not allow any accidents to happen at the villa.

Besides, Chen Long and his team could make good use of it.

In the villa’s basement, He Tian examined the equipment. After checking everything, he was very satisfied; everything met his requirements.

“You all know what happened to me yesterday. Right now, there are people with ill intentions toward the Wang sisters. You don’t have to worry about what happens outside, but here—this is your sphere of protection. Here’s a sketch. Install the surveillance according to the marked spots. The monitoring center will be set up in the basement. You’ll take shifts monitoring the feeds. I do not want to see a single mistake,” He Tian said, his expression grave as he looked at the five men.

“Don’t worry, Mr. He!” Chen Long replied seriously. “This is our duty. Since we’re being paid, we’ll do our best.”

“Starting today, each of your salaries will increase by fifty percent. I won’t say anything discouraging, but people can be unpredictable. No matter how much money you have, you need to live to spend it.” He Tian’s tone was nonchalant as he swept his gaze over the five, then walked out of the basement at a leisurely pace.

These were extraordinary times. The household needed the most reliable personnel possible. Since Chen Long and his team had been hired, He Tian knew he had to use both incentives and deterrents to win them over completely.

As for the other three servants, He Tian would make arrangements for them as well. Old Hu might say the place was absolutely safe, but He Tian would not trust that completely.

To He Tian, anyone capable of striking at Dragon Fang, and succeeding, and then finding out about the Wang sisters—there must have been a leak from within. He had to be even more careful.

This kind of passive defense was a first for He Tian, which made him especially cautious. One couldn’t grow arrogant just because of personal strength, thinking no one would dare move against them.

Only when night had fully fallen did Wang Xinmeng and Old Hu return.

Aunt Qiu served dinner.

The four of them sat around the table. For a moment, He Tian felt a sense of home—warmth and comfort.

“Big sis!” Wang Xinrou glanced at He Tian, giving him a sense of foreboding.

“What is it?” Wang Xinmeng, seeing her sister’s expression, immediately knew she was up to something.

“What do you think of He Tian’s outfit?” Wang Xinrou asked with a grin.

“It’s great! Very appropriate! And he really brings out the essence of the clothes—the sky blue with white clouds gives a sense of clarity and openness,” Wang Xinmeng, an expert in fashion, said. To develop Mengrou Fashion Group into an enterprise worth over three billion, she had to be truly talented.

“Heh, I think so too! But, sis, you don’t know—He Tian can bring out the unique charm of any outfit he wears! He’s a natural model! Since you’ve started getting into menswear, and haven’t broken into the market yet, why not skip the big-name celebrities? Just let He Tian be the spokesperson—it’ll be a huge hit!” Wang Xinrou said earnestly.

Wang Xinmeng’s eyes lit up. She set down her chopsticks, studying He Tian.

Mengrou Fashion Group’s main business was women’s wear, especially lingerie, which was its pillar. From lingerie, they’d branched into other women’s styles, gradually gaining a foothold in the market.

But the men’s wear division, despite efforts to expand, had yet to gain traction. Wang Xinmeng didn’t believe their designs lacked market appeal—it was just a matter of breaking in. The competition, however, was fierce; both domestic and international brands were wary of Mengrou’s entry into menswear, and suppressed them at every turn.

Even signing a popular male celebrity as a spokesperson was proving to be a challenge.

But He Tian… He really was a great choice—handsome, no question, and, if he could project the vibe their menswear needed, it would be a huge help. Their men’s line was urban casual, targeting a young audience. If someone like He Tian could embody what young people desired, it would be perfect.

“He Tian!” Wang Xinmeng made up her mind.

“Xinmeng, don’t say another word… It’s impossible! I admit, if I became your spokesperson, your menswear line would take off—wildly popular! But I can’t. I can’t be in the spotlight,” He Tian said, waving his hand in refusal.

“What do you mean, you can’t be in the spotlight? That’s just an excuse!” Wang Xinrou wouldn’t let him off the hook. In her mind, if He Tian didn’t want to do something, she was all the more determined to make him do it—especially since he’d only taught her one move and had been so strict with her. Women’s revenge could be fierce indeed.

“Enough! Go get me a glass of water!” Of course, He Tian saw through Wang Xinrou’s little scheme and immediately exercised his authority.

“Hmph…” Wang Xinrou huffed but went to fetch the water obediently.

“Miss, I’ll do it! He Tian, just let me know what you need in the future.” Aunt Qiu hurried over, wanting to spare Wang Xinrou the errand.

“No, Aunt Qiu, let her do it,” He Tian replied, needing no further explanation.

“I’ll do it, Aunt Qiu!” Wang Xinrou grumbled at He Tian but had to keep her promise—otherwise, she’d never learn another move.

“Here you go!” Wang Xinrou set the water before He Tian, then turned to her sister, “Sis, you really should think about it—He Tian is the perfect choice!”

He Tian shot Wang Xinrou a glare. She raised her chin and glared right back.

“Xinmeng, you should know… I really can’t be in the public eye,” He Tian said, not wanting his image plastered all over the city or broadcast on television.

“I don’t think it’s a big deal,” Wang Xinmeng hesitated, then spoke.

“How can you say that! Oh, you’re being so careless!” He Tian protested anxiously.

“He Tian, maybe this is a good path. I don’t care about anything else—the company really needs to break into menswear right now, and you are genuinely the best choice!” Wang Xinmeng had switched into business mode, considering the matter from a commercial perspective and ignoring all else.

“Old Hu!” He Tian was speechless before the sisters and had to appeal to Old Hu for help.

“He Tian, since you have this advantage, you should make good use of it!” Old Hu chuckled.

He Tian was surprised—he hadn’t expected Old Hu to side with the Wang sisters. As a member of the Dragon Group, Old Hu surely understood the risks of exposure.

“The greatest secrets hide in plain sight! He Tian, I’m older and, I dare say, more experienced than you. There’s nothing to worry about—it won’t affect anything,” Old Hu said, subtly hinting at his knowledge of He Tian’s current affiliations.

That was the key. If He Tian were with the Dragon Group, National Security Special Forces, or Military Intelligence Wolf Fang, Old Hu would never have agreed. But, in that organization, those rules didn’t apply—everyone lived with a hidden identity; they were the nation’s most elite force, meant to remain in the shadows.

“Am I really suitable?” He Tian looked at Wang Xinmeng.

Even the President of the United States could run for office—He Tian remembered the words of his leader well. It proved how much freedom he had. As long as he didn’t reveal his current identity while performing Dragon Soul missions or in dealings with various agencies, there would be no problem.

“You’re perfect! Aunt Qiu… Chen Long, stop eating for a moment—go get the clothes that were delivered,” Wang Xinrou said excitedly, eager to prove her point.

Wang Xinmeng did not object. She wanted to assess He Tian for herself; after all, one outfit wasn’t enough to judge.

He Tian looked at the pile of clothes in front of him, speechless.

“Give them to me! Just wait—He Tian’s fashion show is about to begin! By the way, Xinmeng, tell me, what does your menswear line require?” He Tian took a deep breath. Since he was to have a life outside his role as the Dragon Soul King, it might as well start now.

“Style and presence… Our menswear is urban casual, so we want youth and vitality,” Wang Xinmeng replied.

“Then just wait!” He Tian nodded, turned to leave, but then stopped and asked, “What about the endorsement fee?”

“Oh, come on, He Tian! Don’t ruin the mood!” Wang Xinrou rolled her eyes.

“We can discuss it in detail. You won’t be shortchanged,” Wang Xinmeng answered seriously. In business, everything was about give and take.

“I’m just fighting for my rights, you know?” He Tian glared at Wang Xinrou, then strolled upstairs.

In his room, he set down the mountain of clothes and picked out those that best suited the urban casual style.

He then stood before the mirror.

Next, he focused, and three streams of inner energy began to circulate within him. An incredible transformation slowly unfolded…