Chapter 55: The Pace of Filming

Mengrou Fashion Group!

In the shark-infested city of Tianhai, strictly speaking, it could not be considered a particularly large enterprise. With total assets of only five billion yuan, its financial strength was far from formidable. Yet the facade of Mengrou Fashion Group was nothing short of imposing.

They occupied a full five floors in the Tianhai Tower—a building whose rental prices could only be described as exorbitant. The expenditure on this alone amounted to a considerable sum every year.

Tianhai Tower was located on the bustling World Avenue, the most prosperous area in the city. Here, one could find branches of commercial institutions from all over the globe. This was the true heart of Tianhai, a key reason it was considered not only China’s economic center but one of Asia’s financial hubs as well.

He Tian, now transformed into He Long’s likeness, arrived at Tianhai Tower and rode the elevator straight to the thirty-first floor. From the thirty-first to the thirty-fifth floor, every inch was dedicated to the offices of Mengrou Fashion Group.

He Tian felt the sophistication of the building and the intensity of the commercial atmosphere. With only a casual glance, he spotted the names of many well-known companies. Towers like Tianhai Tower were a common sight on World Avenue, a testament to how many enterprises were headquartered here and how much wealth they represented and controlled.

Mengrou Fashion Group’s headquarters radiated an air of grandeur, a clear reflection of Wang Xinrou’s hopes for the company and her own personal ambition.

After checking in at reception, He Tian was promptly escorted to meet Wang Xinmeng. Along the way, he saw many busy figures, but there was no sense of chaos—only orderly activity. What left He Tian a bit speechless, however, was that the place seemed to be filled almost entirely with women. Beautiful women were everywhere, making He Tian feel as if he had stepped into a kingdom of women.

Meeting Wang Xinmeng put him at ease. Her office was tastefully decorated: spacious and dignified, but not ostentatious—a detail that spoke volumes about her style and character.

“How do you feel?” she asked.

This private meeting had been arranged in advance. Wang Xinmeng intended to first brief He Tian on the company’s situation, and, at his request, limit his contact with other staff members as much as possible. Wang Xinmeng understood that He Tian had another identity that should not be exposed, and she respected this. To her, avenging her father was even more important than the company’s growth, and this was the main reason she was so accommodating toward He Tian in all things.

“The company is excellent, and the staff as well. As an outsider, I can’t really offer much critique. But... I’m puzzled. Is our company made up entirely of women?” He Tian voiced his curiosity.

“I knew you’d ask about that!” Wang Xinmeng replied with a smile.

“So what’s the reason?” He Tian was genuinely interested. Did Wang Xinmeng dislike men? Was that the reason? It was a possibility that couldn’t be ruled out. One should always approach questions with skepticism and a desire to verify—that’s the only way to maintain a critical perspective on any issue.

“We started out making women’s clothing. Our core business is still women’s lingerie. So, from the very beginning, the company has been primarily staffed by women. Of course, that’s not to say there are no men; they’re all concentrated in the design department. All other departments are dominated by women,” Wang Xinmeng explained.

“Isn’t that a bit discriminatory?” He Tian joked, blinking at her.

“Not at all! Women’s fashion design needs to incorporate some male concepts and perspectives, while men’s fashion design certainly benefits from female participation. In my opinion, that’s the key to success,” Wang Xinmeng said confidently.

“I’m not sure I understand,” He Tian admitted, a bit bewildered by her explanation.

“To put it simply, who are the main consumers in the fashion market? Women. Even when it comes to menswear, women are often the primary purchasers—they buy for the men in their lives. So, if we position men’s clothing from the perspective of female approval, isn’t that better than just listening to men’s opinions?” Wang Xinmeng smiled.

“That does make sense. Well, let’s drop the subject—I’m not that interested. Tell me about your approach to menswear, and then let’s get started as soon as possible,” He Tian said, waving off the topic.

“Alright then,” Wang Xinmeng agreed cheerfully and notified the relevant departments to make all necessary preparations.

In fact, she had already discussed the clothing concepts and the characteristics she wanted to showcase with He Tian at home; this time, everything would just be more detailed. Each outfit had its own subtle nuances and style, and only by grasping the unique features of each one could the wearer adjust themselves accordingly and display perfection.

Mengrou’s slogan was “Wear Your Confidence.” Simple, yet full of meaning. Attire is no small matter. The saying “Clothes make the man, just as a saddle makes the horse” had been proven countless times. Sometimes, a single outfit could change a person’s life—this was hardly an exaggeration.

This time, Wang Xinmeng hired a professional advertising company for the shoot, but the location was within the Mengrou Group itself, in the demonstration hall of the design department.

From the moment He Tian began the shoot, he took complete command of the situation. Every outfit was shown off to perfection on him. Both Wang Xinmeng and the photographers were delighted to find that He Tian was completely natural in front of the camera. As long as he was told what was needed, he grasped it immediately and nailed each shot on the first try. The photographer could find no fault with him, which greatly improved efficiency.

They even managed to capture many extra shots beyond what was originally planned, as the photographer often asked He Tian to strike whatever pose felt most comfortable to him. Excited exclamations and laughter frequently filled the studio.

The shoot, originally scheduled for the entire day, was completed in just one morning. In fact, the photographer even said that some of the shots they got were better than anything he’d envisioned.

Wang Xinmeng was overjoyed by He Tian’s remarkable performance in this area.

Though He Tian had requested minimal interaction with others, Wang Xinmeng still arranged a celebratory meal at a nearby upscale hotel. Everyone gathered around the table, and He Tian finally felt he could relax. The morning’s work had satisfied everyone, but He Tian realized he didn’t much enjoy being in front of the camera; perhaps old habits died hard, and he never liked to be in the spotlight. Now that things had wrapped up, he felt a weight lift from his shoulders.

He was surprised not to see Wang Xinrou or Lan Ji at the gathering; knowing Wang Xinrou, she would never miss a chance to join in the fun, and yet she was nowhere to be seen.

“Mr. He, you’re the most effortless model I’ve ever worked with! President Wang, where did you find such a treasure?” The photographer, a man in his thirties with a straightforward, masculine manner, was full of praise for He Tian.

“Indeed, President Wang! You can’t keep this gem all to yourself. Mr. He, would you be interested in signing with our company? I promise we won’t ask you to do any more fashion shoots—there are plenty of other industries you’d be perfect for. If you sign with us, I guarantee we’ll land you some big contracts!” said Mr. Liu, the head of the advertising company, as he looked at He Tian and extended an invitation.

Securing Mengrou Fashion Group’s contract was crucial for Mr. Liu, and he hoped it would be the springboard his company needed. That’s why he had personally attended today’s shoot, never expecting to discover a modeling prodigy like He Tian. For someone eager to make a mark in print advertising, the temptation was enormous—he couldn’t wait to sign He Tian.

If he succeeded, Mr. Liu was certain it would bring countless opportunities for his company.

“Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Liu. To be honest, I’m not a professional model; I only helped out because of my connection to Miss Wang. I’m not looking to pursue this path, and besides, the contract I have with Miss Wang is exclusive—I can’t take on work from other companies. My apologies,” He Tian replied with a cheerful smile, politely declining.

“President Wang?” Mr. Liu turned to Wang Xinmeng.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Liu, but it’s true. I want to make He Long the face of our group, so our contract is exclusive,” Wang Xinmeng replied. “But please don’t worry—our collaboration this time has been wonderful, and as long as the final work meets our expectations, there will be many more opportunities to work together in the future.”

Compared to He Tian, Wang Xinmeng was far more tactful—another side of her that He Tian had not seen before.

“Hahaha, you’re absolutely right, President Wang! I was being presumptuous.” Mr. Liu was a little disappointed, but the chance to continue working with Mengrou Fashion Group was more than enough to cheer him up. Making He Tian the face of Mengrou meant the company would have a huge workload—which, with someone as easy to work with as He Tian, was an ideal situation.

“Mr. Liu, Teacher Lin, come, let’s have a toast! Here’s to the success of this collaboration and many more to come!” Wang Xinmeng said with a smile, raising her glass.

“To a successful partnership!” Mr. Liu echoed, lifting his glass.

The photographer, Mr. Lin, also raised his glass, his face beaming with pleasure. Yet it was clear that of all those present, no one was more interested in He Tian than Mr. Lin…