Chapter 291 - 225: A Broader Mindset

Laws and regulations vary from state to state in America. New York State allows tourists with a Chinese driver’s license to drive, so they rented a nice car to get around after they arrived.

The four of them got in the car. As Duanmu Li drove toward the hotel, Wei Shuojie finally found an opportunity to ask her about the seat situation.

"I met a friend on the plane earlier, and it just so happens he was here today too. He saw my seat was taken and let me sit with him."

Ni Bingyan chuckled, not thinking much of it.

Opportunities are scarce for a washed-up actress trying to make a comeback. Someone desperately scrambling for a chance like this... while it wasn’t a smart move and she was clearly a bit muddle-headed, it wasn’t some heinous crime.

After all, she hadn’t suffered any real harm.

Being a little more tolerant lets you move on, too.

’Arguing with a few clueless people over a seat in public? How humiliating!’

’Besides, life is just a few short decades. Time is so precious!’

’Instead of wasting energy fighting with people, it’s better to make some worthy friends and mentors and focus on self-improvement.’

Ni Bingyan had always been clear-headed with a long-term perspective. In the past, something like this might have made her angry for a bit. But now, after spending time with Shui Sulan and being influenced by her, her own perspective had broadened. She didn’t let such a trivial matter bother her in the slightest.

Seeing her so naively good-natured, Wei Shuojie sighed inwardly.

’If I’m not around, this kid will get bullied to death in the blink of an eye!’

’Sigh! What a worry!’

Having been with her for so long, Wei Shuojie knew this was just her personality and didn’t dwell on it.

Hearing that someone had helped her out and that she hadn’t directly confronted those old hags, Wei Shuojie let out a breath of relief, only to hold it again an instant later. "A friend? Who?"

"He’s a jewelry designer named Alan Casso. Victor Modiano is his uncle. We both like his uncle’s work, so we chatted a bit on the plane and became friends."

"You just chatted on the plane?"

"On the flight here."

Seeing her concern, Ni Bingyan went on to tell her how Alan had introduced her to his friends after the show.

She had said this to prove that Alan was a good guy, but when Wei Shuojie heard it, her guard went up even higher!

Fashion Week brings together talent from all over the world. Brands host dinners to court old clients and cultivate new ones. Prestigious individuals also organize private dinners to help people expand their networks.

An invitation like the one Ni Bingyan received, to a gathering of friends, was even more exclusive.

People in this circle, especially the more famous ones, are usually incredibly busy. Getting multiple friends together at the same time is a difficult feat.

So when they do manage to get together, it’s only natural for them to catch up, do something they all enjoy, strengthen their bonds, and share resources.

For Ni Bingyan to be able to squeeze into such a gathering simply by knowing Alan was obviously incredibly lucky.

Wei Shuojie silently pulled out her phone, opened a photo album of important figures, and started pointing them out to her.

"Among the people you just mentioned who are going to this gathering, is he there? Her? And him?"

Ni Bingyan nodded cheerfully. "Yes, yes, yes! And her, and her, and him..."

She had a good memory, and as she flipped through the album, she pointed out several more people.

After she was done pointing, she started showering Wei Shuojie with praise. "Sister Wei, you’re amazing! You know so many people!"

Wei Shuojie’s expression froze. After a long moment, she answered haltingly, "Well, I know of them. Unfortunately, most of them don’t know me."

’Working overtime to get everything done, then traveling all the way across the ocean for Fashion Week... isn’t the whole point to meet people like them, to try and win their favor, and to secure more and better fashion resources?’

Granny Sun had only broken into the international scene a few years ago, so Wei Shuojie didn’t know many international heavyweights.

Her plan for this trip was to find someone to pull some strings for her, get into a few private dinners, and seriously expand her network to pave the way for Ni Bingyan.

But before she could even make a move, Ni Bingyan had already stumbled her way in, completely clueless, in a way she could never have imagined.

’It feels like a bunch of bigwigs are having a closed-door meeting, and some clueless rookie suddenly barrels in with a silly grin, and not only do they not kick her out, someone actually offers her a seat and invites her to join in.’

’It’s so damn ridiculous!’

’Aren’t these foreigners all supposed to be opportunistic and profit-driven? Don’t they only act when there’s something in it for them?’

’Since when were they so sincere and kind-hearted?’

’That’s just a line to fool a young girl like her.’

Wei Shuojie silently studied Ni Bingyan’s beautiful face, which seemed to glow, and thought to herself, ’I’ll have to keep a close eye on her tonight.’

’If someone poaches Little Sang’s girl right under my nose, I’ll have no way to explain myself when I get back.’

Ultimately, it was because Ni Bingyan was too low-key that Wei Shuojie had misjudged her abilities. Faced with such an inexplicable situation, she could only attribute it to her stunning looks.

Wang Biao, sitting in the passenger seat, burst out laughing when he heard this. Even Duanmu Li chimed in, a rare occurrence. "So, Sister Wei, what are you so worried about on her behalf?"

Duanmu Li had always believed that Ni Bingyan had something like a protagonist’s plot armor.

Whenever trouble arose and everyone else was panicking, she’d somehow pull a brilliant move out of nowhere and resolve the situation with ease.

See? She couldn’t care less about the things other people were fighting over. She just nonchalantly turns away and immediately gets something even better.

"Hey! Sister Li! What’s with that look on your face? I get by on talent, you know? Pure talent!"

Seeing the "she’s just a lucky one" look on Duanmu Li’s face, Ni Bingyan immediately protested.

"Hahaha!"

The other three laughed at her antics and dropped the subject of the unpleasant incident, turning instead to plan what she should wear to the reading salon that evening.

"It can’t be too casual, but not too formal either. Something sophisticated and intellectual would be best."

Sister Wei laid out the general requirement, and Ni Bingyan, thinking about the clothes she’d brought, immediately had a plan.

"A white blouse with black wide-leg trousers, stiletto heels, and a watch. For earrings, pearls? Or diamonds?"

"I think the pearls would be better. And wear the watch with the simple, silver face."

"What about my hair? How about a loose, elegant braid?"

"Daolin has plans tonight. You know how to braid hair?"

"A little. I’ll practice this afternoon. If you think it looks okay, I’ll do my own hair tonight."

Hearing her say "a little," Sister Wei couldn’t help but laugh. "You’re so multitalented. Is that an actual ’little,’ or is this another one of your ’little’ skills where you’re secretly a pro?"

Ni Bingyan, who rarely went online, didn’t get the joke. She just stared at her blankly. "It really is just a little!"

While the two of them were deep in discussion in the back seat, Wang Biao started talking to Duanmu Li about what to eat later. After all, the salon wasn’t until that evening. It was still early, so what was the rush?

They might have put the seat-stealing incident behind them, but the other parties involved weren’t having such an easy time.

Netizens were still relentlessly flaming them online. Meanwhile, Ni Bingyan’s agency, playing the innocent victim, went to the other agencies to demand an explanation.

"You bullied our artist, so you’re going to have to compensate us!"

"A front-row seat at a fashion show is a valuable thing!"