As the sun dips below the horizon, Jessica trudges back to S Entertainment, her body weary from the day's exertions. At the entrance, she runs into Yuri, who has just wrapped up her own schedule and is returning as well. As they exchange greetings, Yuri's eyes narrow in confusion.
"Hey Jess, why did you change your clothes?" she asks, recalling that the outfit Jessica left in that morning is not the one she is currently wearing.
Jessica is slightly surprised, looking down to realize she has donned the black sweater from Sebastian's studio.
"It was for that stage event," Jessica explains briefly.
"The outfit looks quite nice on you," Yuri compliments, noting how the setting sun casts a warm glow over Jessica's silhouette, giving her an air of mature femininity that is undeniably captivating.
As they begin to ascend the steps, Yuri's gaze suddenly fixes on something. "Jess, how did you get a bruise on your knee?"
"Ah? Really?" Jessica looks down to see a dark mark on her knee beneath the thin fabric.
"It must have been when I bumped into something in the stairwell at King Game Studio," she remembers, recalling the incident as she passed by.
"How could you be so careless?" Yuri asks with concern.
As they enter the company, the doors close slowly behind them. Outside, two security guards exchange glances, a spark of gossip kindling in their eyes.
Inside the company, the fact that Jessica changes her clothes at the KG Studio and her knees are still bearing the bruise travels fast between people. Her appearance of exhaustion does not go unnoticed.
...
...
At King Game Studio, thanks to the vigorous promotion by Patrick Anchor, the company's reputation as an 'erotic' apparel studio is well-known. When these sensitive terms are linked together, a rather ambiguous rumor is born and spreads rapidly.
One of the security guards, back at the group, boasts, "Did you hear? Jessica came back from KG Studio, changed her clothes, and her knee was bruised."
The security team member, in turn, brags to the cooks in the back kitchen, "Did you hear? Jessica's clothes were torn by the boss of KG, and her knees were bruised from kneeling."
The cook, while preparing food, tells the server, "I heard the boss of KG Studio is quite a monster when he did that to Jessica."
The server, with a vivid description, tells the cleaning lady, "I saw the boss of KG Studio and Jessica in the studio having ..."
And once the cleaning lady knows, it isn't long before the entire company is aware.
"..."
"..."
On the other side, Sebastian is so angry that his teeth are almost grinding. He has given Patrick a three million budget for promotion of the KG show. However, to save money, Patrick has decided to advertise on napkins supplied to KFC chains.
Who would associate erotic stockings with napkins?
"Don't be so angry. The general agent of KFC in the city is my uncle, and it's fine to advertise for free a few days," Patrick says, his neck shrinking as he speaks, feeling increasingly guilty.
"Is this about whether it's free or not?" Sebastian almost laughs in exasperation. Although King Game's main focus is on erotic products, to avoid the brand appearing cheap, the so-called erotic products only include stockings, with the rest leaning more towards fashion, similar to the outfits Jessica has changed into.
Plus, if Patrick had chosen to print those fashionable clothes, it would have been one thing. But instead, he prints photos of foot models wearing stockings.
...
Seb can just imagine customers eating fast food, only to look down and find a photo of a foot next to their plate. Even if the feet are those of models and quite attractive, they are still feet. Who can eat while looking at feet?
Seb becomes more and more infuriated. Not only might the advertising money be wasted, but it could also lead to a massive diss towards the brand.
That would truly be a case of dying before the battle even begins!
"Nobody Nobody~ ~!" his phone rings.
Patrick takes out his phone, glances at it, and quickly smiles, "It's my uncle."
"He must be calling to scold us!"
"Answer it."
Sebastian takes a deep breath and says, "If he yells, just blame it on me. If it comes to it, I'll personally compensate your uncle for the losses over the next few days."
He is serious. Despite the potential trouble that could follow, he feels responsible for it, given their relationship.
A man without responsibility can hardly be called a man...
Patrick's eyes fill with emotion. As a top student from New York University, even if he is slow to realize, he can now see the situation clearly. He has been blinded by the prospect of profit.
The phone call connects quickly.
"Uncle..." Patrick says, "My uncle wants to talk to you..."
"Hand it over."
Sebastian takes the phone, ready to apologize.
But then he hears, "We've seen a thirty percent increase in customer traffic at all our stores since we switched to the new napkins. Mr. Vanderbilt is truly a talent to have thought of such a mutually beneficial idea," his uncle says.
"The consumption of napkins has increased, but that's not a problem since the consumption of food also increased a decent amount."
"Mr. Vanderbilt, therefore, I would like to offer you a long-term cooperation deal if you could consider it?"
"..."
"..."
"I apologize for any inconvenience caused. A certain level of novelty can increase curiosity, but prolonged exposure will definitely affect customers' appetites. Moreover, the main customers of the chain are children and mothers, so I suggest we stop using those napkins once the current batch is finished."
"Additionally, the advertising fee will be transferred to you by Patrick later."
"Maybe in other forms, but I also look forward to future opportunities for cooperation!" Sebastian soon ends the call.
At that moment, a social survey is delivered. It is a focused inquiry, confined to the Uptown District alone. Due to the napkin advertisement, it is estimated that over sixty percent of the KG Studio's target clientele are aware. Only seven percent knew about the upcoming fashion show before the month.
"Seems like you've done something quite remarkable," Sebastian Vanderbilt says with a hint of a smile, glancing at Patrick Anchor before walking away without another word.
For once, Patrick Anchor isn't acting the way he usually would be doing, basking in pride. Instead, he watches the retreating figure of Sebastian Vanderbilt, bowing his head slightly in a gesture of respect.
When he raises his head again, the naivety in his eyes is replaced by the resoluteness of a man.
The undercurrent of danger has extinguished the fiery greed in his mind, leaving behind only the sobering realization that comes from careful reflection.
Although the outcome is positive, he has almost destroyed his friend's brand and, by extension, his own uncle's reputation.
Seb, however, is not the least bit concerned.
If a top student admitted to NYU can't understand such matters, then they are destined to part ways in the future.
For a businessman, his friends can be greedy, but they absolutely cannot be foolish!
Greed can be compensated for with money.
But foolishness is beyond redemption!
In business, the most feared are those who, under the guise of doing good for you, create difficulties without realizing it and take pride in their actions.
The disasters they bring are simply unpredictable!
The next day, at night.
In the Pretty Generation dorm, it is a rare day when all nine members are off at the same time.
The usually bustling dorm is even more lively with everyone together.
"Jessica, there's a package for you!"
As Claire enters, her voice echoes throughout the dorm.
"I didn't order anything," Jessica says, puzzled, stepping out of her room.
"It's probably a gift from a fan," Sunny speculates, setting down the sweet potato in her hand.
"Not a self-pleasuring toy, right?" Yuri jokes from the side.
"Ew, Yuri!"
Jessica instantly pulls back in disgust, saying, "Claire, could you help me open it?"
"You and your timidity..."
Claire shakes her head, planning to open it in the living room. He glances at the name on the package and reads, "Sender...KG Studio, Sebastian Vanderbilt?"
"Isn't this the boss of the studio that invited Vicky a few days ago..."
Her words trigger a sensitive topic.
Victoria's smile freezes on her face, her teeth clenched, and her beautiful eyes fill with a hint of indignation.
Alone, facing the world!
She has never been so humiliated!
On the other side, Charlotte Winston, lying on the sofa and flipping through a magazine, pauses slightly.
Jessica's reaction is even greater; she quickly approaches.
But by then, Claire Harrison has already opened it.
A cascade of stockings pours out, and the atmosphere in the room becomes increasingly strange.
"It must have been sent by mistake. I'll ask about it later," Jessica says, trying to maintain her composure as she picks up the stockings and goes back to her room. She doesn't notice that her neck has turned a subtle shade of red.
"This reaction... Could the rumors be true?" Penny, dressed in a pink pajama, walks over with a confused look, glancing at the closed door of Jessica's room and whispers.
"What rumors?" Claire surprises and asks.
"There's talk that Jessica and the president of KG Studio, Sebastian Vanderbilt..." Penny recounts the gossip from the company.
"It can't be true, Jessica isn't that kind of person," Claire says directly, denying the possibility.
"I agree," Yuri nods, saying, "They've only known each other for a few days. It's impossible."
"But to be honest, Mr. Vanderbilt is quite a catch. Young and already runs a studio of considerable scale," Penny adds.
"I think Jessica isn't the one, it must be someone else, right?"