Mysterious Assistant of the Washed-Up Queen-Chapter 454 - 303: Even More Top-tier Than the Top-tiers_2

Chapter 454: Chapter 303: Even More Top-tier Than the Top-tiers_2

When you’re broke, money is most useful, but when you’re wealthy, just having money isn’t enough.

Take the present situation as an example. The two are enjoying their conversation immensely, each saying, "Happy cooperation," yet true cooperation is still miles away.

Follow-up negotiations, resource exchanges—there’s still so much to discuss.

Neither Xu Qingqiu nor Chu Tian is short of money right now. What they need is status! They need fame! They need all sorts of resources!

Don’t underestimate any company. Those that have reached the global top are rarely simple. They all have much more at their disposal.

Resources aren’t limited to just money, like those of coal tycoons.

Take the simplest example: the top five domestic magazines all have intricate connections with these companies.

When Xu Qingqiu was working alone, even if she was extremely popular, the leading magazines wouldn’t give her a second glance.

But if she forms a partnership with these companies, it’s like having a key to the top magazines.

Don’t underestimate this key. What are top magazines? Some might think, Isn’t it just a magazine? What year is this? Isn’t print dead? Who still reads magazines anyway?

A bunch of old fossils still trying to coast on their past glories!

Wrong! Completely wrong!

What are top magazines? Are they just magazines? No! They are stepping stones into high society! They are tickets into the world of fashion! They are barriers constructed according to Western values!

Only by making it onto the covers of top magazines do you truly step into the fashion world, gain access to top-tier resources, and genuinely earn the right to compete for endorsements from top luxury brands!

And without exception, these keys, tickets, and stepping stones are all tightly held in the hands of top-tier companies.

To put it plainly, it’s all about being in a circle, and to get into this circle, you need an introduction.

The global top ten are just a fraction of these introducers, but they are undoubtedly the most capable and influential.

Put bluntly, what you see is exactly what certain people want you to see—be it the superficial glitz and glamour or the mess lurking behind it.

They define your beauty with fashion shows and your attributes with celebrities.

They position your social status with top luxury goods.

They dictate every aspect of your life. This is the value system, the subtle assimilation, the binding, the enslavement.

It’s just that many are being boiled in warm water, completely oblivious.

So, why do they say a steel scourer is beautiful? Why do they say two iron hoops represent beauty? Why is a diamond a symbol of love?

Because they say so. Why do you also think the same? Are their words the truth? Or rather, has your thinking been manipulated?

Why are top luxury goods considered luxury? Are they ancient? Do they possess irreplaceable attributes? Is it because their products are, by definition, beautiful?

No, it’s because they told you so, they’ve instilled it in you. And for what? For the little money in your pocket!

Actually, human aesthetics are quite universal. Perhaps the aesthetic judgment of a top fashion guru is exactly the same as that of the old man from the east end of the village.

But when it comes down to it, it’s all about packaging. They could randomly pick someone, dress them up, package and promote them, and that person becomes the next fashion icon!

Take the simplest example: a minor actor. As long as they have backing, get taken to a few fashion events, have a few photos snapped, and then receive a burst of marketing, the internet will have a new ’fashion favorite’ overnight.

Then, they invent a few stories: what their ancestors did, what connections they have to the Royal Family, or some intriguing but unsubstantiated anecdotes. Suddenly, some unknown person becomes the supposed descendant of a Royal Family’s former personal tailor.

After all, they’re most adept at making up stories. How else would such a long history exist?

Then they hype up his works (which might actually be from an art school intern) with a bit of marketing. Voila! An item that cost a pittance is suddenly priced at 18,000. And don’t you dare complain about the cost, or you’re just unsophisticated.

How about that? Predictable, right? But it works because some people fall for exactly this kind of trick.

Don’t think it’s far-fetched. It’s not far-fetched at all, and it’s all true.

Do you really think those people care about logic? There’s none. They’re all in the same clique, puffing each other up!

In the minds of some, clothes are just clothes, bags are bags, cosmetics are cosmetics, watches are watches, and cars are cars. How could they possibly be related?

When certain car brands team up with watch brands, it implies the watch is upscale too. If someone is wearing a certain brand of clothes while driving a luxury car, then the clothes must be expensive.

Little do they know that behind these clothes, watches, cosmetics, cars, bags, and so on, there is often a common shareholder. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Outsiders might not understand, but those within the circle are all too aware. After all, they’re merely tools of capital, aren’t they?

Haven’t you seen it? Every year at fashion parties or Fashion Weeks, celebrities fight tooth and nail for a chance to show their faces and snap a few pictures. Why? For fame, for profit, and in hopes that their capitalist masters will notice them and offer an opportunity.

Take, for example, a certain female celebrity with the surname A. Why did she go to the Crazy Code Show? Couldn’t she watch porn at home without taking such a huge risk by traveling so far? Surely, she’s not naturally so undignified as to enjoy that sort of thing? Impossible!

She’s trying to break into the circle! The circles of high society are filthy—filthier than you can imagine. She’s divorced, out of resources, and has no choice but to find a patron. She’s hoping to be noticed, become a money-making tool, and ideally, squeeze her way into high society.

That’s also why Chu Tian never talks about getting Xu Qingqiu into those big companies, nor does he urge her to rush into endorsements or magazine shoots.

Because he knows that some things can’t be forced. When the time comes, it will naturally arrive.

Once you’re powerful enough, you don’t need any stepping stones. Those people will come to you of their own accord.

After all, high society isn’t stupid. If you’ve made it, even surpassed some of them in capability, and they don’t invite you in, that would be truly foolish.

Wouldn’t you be scared if someone so outstanding and competent isn’t one of your own? Even if they’re not an enemy, what if that person starts their own small circle? Then how would you keep on playing?

In my circle, I set the rules. If you start a separate group chat, how can I control the narrative?

So as long as you have the strength, they’ll definitely be the first to come to you.

It’s just like now. After Xu Qingqiu’s second album exploded in popularity, those big company folks couldn’t be nicer, rushing over with fawning expressions faster than anyone else.

Precisely because he sees through these things, Chu Tian isn’t in a hurry at all. Instead, he quietly accompanies Xu Qingqiu, patiently helping her hone her skills and develop gradually.

Now you see, even though she still hasn’t joined any big company and remains a small studio, it might seem like nothing has changed, but in reality, everything has.

"Qingqiu, I’m starting to envy you."

"Envying what? What’s up with me?"

"What do you think? Do you have any idea how many resources you have now? To put it bluntly, you have more resources than some top stars!"

"Ah? That much?"

"Of course! Just count them yourself! Baolin Records has promised you the cover of ’Among Flowers,’ one of the top five magazines, for their Spring Festival special edition. Haiyin Records hinted that OG’s domestic endorsement is ending by the end of the year; no need to spell out what that implies, right?"

"And from Huanya, there’s a private yacht advertisement. Huamei is inviting you to shoot the domestic Spring Festival greeting commercial for Coke. Aren’t these all top-tier resources?"

"Oh, right, and Mingcheng Music. They’re offering the public advertising campaign for Kang’s Instant Noodles. That’s a campaign covering the entirety of Thirteen City! You’ll probably see your ads on streets, buses, and subways everywhere."

Indeed, as Sister Hua tallied them up, it became clear that the amount of resources was substantial.

Even Xu Qingqiu never imagined that one day she would need to shoot so many commercials.

Although most are just advertisements and not full endorsements yet, this is already a very good start, isn’t it?

At least she has one foot in the door with these major brands, no longer just circling around minor ones.

"Also, before the end of the year, you have invitations to three variety shows, and you’re set to sing the theme songs for two TV dramas..."

Sister Hua was still tallying, but Xu Qingqiu’s gaze had long since fallen on Chu Tian.

She knew exactly how all of this had come to be.