Situ Nan, a man in his forties, was not tall and slightly overweight, but his chubby face always bore a perfectly timed smile, making him appear both affable and shrewd. Although Celestial Paradise wasn’t named after Situ, he was indeed one of the shareholders. Since the days when the old boss Fang Qihang was carving out his territory, Situ had been his right-hand man, always diligent in managing and overseeing operations. After over twenty years in this circle, no one was more experienced or seasoned than him. He also had a unique skill: he could effortlessly charm anyone he met. Whether dealing with a deity or a mere ant, after a few sentences, he could genuinely win them over with his sincere demeanor and considerate actions, making people unwittingly consider him a confidant.
Currently, he sat in a massive sofa, in the most comfortable position, seemingly half-asleep as he listened to Qi Rong’s report, occasionally interjecting. On the coffee table in front of him lay seven or eight photos, all of young and beautiful women, their makeup ranging from light to heavy, their figures from plump to slender, dizzying to behold.
Qi Rong, having almost finished his report, wiped his forehead with a handkerchief, though the large room was heavily air-conditioned, he was sweating profusely. Everyone said that Brother Nan from Celestial Paradise was the kindest, yet Qi Rong was always nervous around this Buddha-like figure. Every time they spoke face-to-face, he couldn’t help but sweat.
Situ Nan didn’t particularly appreciate Qi Rong’s timid and cautious demeanor. If this had been twenty years ago, he might have slapped him, believing that a real man should never lose his imposing presence; now, he had mellowed and become more tactful. The more tense the situation, the more he smiled with an air of indifference.
Situ Nan glanced up at Qi Rong, “Is that all?” Qi Rong felt a shiver in his heart and forced a smile, “Since you told me to start looking for successors for the Four Beauties, I’ve been keeping an eye on our girls. The ones I’ve selected this time are all one in a hundred.” He moved closer, squatting beside the coffee table, and began explaining the photos one by one: “This is Jiang Jie, a top graduate from M University, and she’s also Feifei’s junior. She has a grade ten in piano, usually serious, with an air of untouchable purity, very much like an ice beauty. “This is Feng Miaoyin, blessed with a natural singing voice. The elders who’ve heard her sing say she reminds them a bit of Fan Jinxuan from back in the day.” “This is Ling Mengjiao, she’s a mixed-race beauty, not only with a charming face but also with a perfect, curvaceous figure. She stands out among the young girls.” “And this one, Wu Jing, you might mistake her for a handsome young man at first glance, she’s 175 cm tall and a taekwondo expert, quite popular among many young ladies now.”
Situ Nan watched without expression, only raising an eyebrow when Feng Miaoyin was mentioned with Fang Jinxuan, otherwise appearing as if asleep. After a while, he said, “Satisfactory enough.”
Qi Rong chuckled, “It’s not bad, really. It depends on their own efforts. Remember Wang Yan, she wasn’t as good as them at first, but in just a few months, she transformed into someone unrecognizable. But we must say, it’s Brother Nan’s sharp eye.”
Situ Nan waved his hand, sitting up, “Alright, it’s up to their fate. But be careful, you can let them gain experience, but before their official debut, make sure no one can take them out for performances. The mystery must be preserved for effect, you know the rules.”
Qi Rong nodded, “Of course, of course!”
Situ Nan then frowned, “Why is there no one skilled in dancing? With so many in the performance division, you couldn’t find a single one? You’re doing a great job as supervisor!”
Qi Rong’s face slightly reddened as he explained, “I had my eye on someone, she used to dance in my division, quite pretty and well-behaved after dancing for years. The guests liked her too, but then out of nowhere, Xin Peipei, one of the Twelve Golden Hairpins, suddenly rose to prominence, stealing the spotlight.”
Situ Nan picked up the photo to examine it, “Nothing special.”
Qi Rong continued, “True, her dancing isn’t the best, and among the twelve, Qingqing is considered the most beautiful. But in the last couple of months, Cheng San, the third young master of Guangyin, started promoting her heavily. He’s even taken her out several times, and last week, he almost got into a fight over her in the venue, which made everyone interested in this Xin Peipei.”
“Oh? Is that so?” Situ Nan had been away in the East a few days ago and missed the commotion. He’d heard about it briefly but hadn’t paid attention. “Cheng Yu, that old hand in the field of romance, if he’s taken a liking to her, perhaps she does have something extraordinary.” He looked again and chuckled, “I see, she does resemble Miss Yi from Hengqing Real Estate in some ways, with a bit of effort in makeup, she’d look even more like her.”
“Imagine, that ruthless Cheng Yu is still a romantic. Willow Yi has eyes only for Song Li, yet he remains steadfast.” Situ Nan handed the photo back to Qi Rong with a smile, “In that case, we should indeed keep an eye on this Xin Peipei. Very well, let’s see who will win the dance competition next month!”
The “Dance Competition” at Celestial Paradise is a highly anticipated internal event, focusing mainly on dance, held once a year. Participants are not limited by age, gender, or profession. The winners not only receive various rewards but also gain fame within the establishment. Each year, fairy tales of rags to riches unfold at this event, and even if one doesn’t place well, they might catch the eye of some wealthy patron, leading to a life of luxury and escape from hardship. Despite the uncertain outcomes, many are drawn to this annual “Dance Competition”…
Dorothy had just finished a performance, hastily changed her clothes, and with a thick layer of makeup still on her face, she headed to her room in the rest area.
After dancing at “Heaven and Earth” for over three years, in a place with such high turnover, she was considered a veteran. At twenty, to pay off debts for her gambling-addict boyfriend, she was tricked into coming here. Although she had cut ties with her boyfriend, she had grown accustomed to the high-income, high-excitement lifestyle of working nights. Her only wish was to dance a few more years, save enough money, and open her own small shop.
