11 Chapter 11

To his surprise the lady was the same women from the audition. He was only startled for a mere second before continuing down the flight of stairs. He did not stop once to acknowledge her and instead walked right past her towards the kitchen. And poured himself a hot cup of black coffee with no sugar. With his upper body bare and his back turned towards her he stated in a low voice. "You didn't call."

"I was told I wouldn't need too." She responded dryly as she looked at his pale back. A few traces of what looked to be light scars decorated the back . She slightly frowned.

Ironic as it was Kei Yun found her monotonous response amusing. Her voice was emotionless, as if the sheer time she spent talking to him was strenuous and tiresome.

It wasn't like it was his first time in the industry. There weren't any mistakes made during that day of audition. So why did it seem that she disliked him so? He wasn't mad just a bit surprised.

She asked without much hesitation, her voice full of curiosity. "Your back... what happened to it?"

Kei, slowly turned around and stared at the cold women. Recalling the name on the business card she had given him he spoke leisurely, taking a sip of coffee from his mug. "What brings you here Ms. Jing?"

It was clear that he was avoiding her question.

"You." She answered simply.

"Me? I imagined that if I got the part you'd make a phone call. Not a personal visit." Folding his arms the curves of his lean muscles were put on full display. Though he was slim he was fit.

Kei looked at her in silence, waiting for a response. It was obvious, he knew what this was all about. She was the so called gift Liam had left him.

Li Jing frowned. "If I had a say so, I'd be talking to Mr. Suzuki over the phone right now. But it would appear that you need a manager and both Master Zhao and Mr Liam agreed that I would fit the job perfectly."

'As expected.' He had figured so, but he couldn't understand why a modelling judge was now his manager?

"Then I take it that your no ordinary casting director."

"I'm not a casting director at all Mr. Suzuki. I am a personal assistant. I assist Master Zhao with whatever he needs. And at that time Master Zhao needed an accessor. So I became one of the judges."

Kei Yun said nothing and only nodded as he gave Li Jing a long once over. He noticed all though she was dress in expensive attire from head to toe. The clothes didn't make her as she naturally stood tall with grace and confidence. She had an abutting aura about her that made one do a double take if they ever saw her.

'Like boss, like employee.' he thought silently to himself. Quickly remembering the day he had officially met Mr. Zhao. The mans aura was also cold yet also welcoming.

"Mr. Liam had contacted Master Zhao last night. Completely trusting in his judgement for Master Zhao to acquire the best manager for you. As an assistant who has worked with Master Zhao for years he saw fit that I would do a good job as your manager. Stating that as his models should only be managed by the ones he trusted most."

'How generous of him.'

Just what type of man was he? To turn his own personal assistant into a manager for a mere rookie. It was too surreal to point that it felt like a test. Was Mr. Zhao testing him or was Liam just fucking with him?

He couldn't tell.

Then again, Liam had stated yesterday just how far he wanted to see if he could fly when given opportunities. And this situation would definitely count as one of those 'given opportunities.'

This life had proven time and time again just how different it was from his last. Doors seemed to open up one after the other. How peculiar. It just goes to show how some are born lucky and how some are lucky to be born.

Though on the other hand in this case he was reincarnated. So was it the perks of reincarnation or pure luck?

He wouldn't dwell on it as an opportunity was an opportunity. And here it was, right on his door step. He pointed to the table in front of them. "Ms Jing, I haven't eaten yet. Join me for breakfast."

"I'm not hu-"

"I'm not taking no for an answer." Kei Yun showed a rare smile. One that was astonishingly beautiful and captivating. "Join me Ms. Jing."

Li Jing slightly looked away before nodding in agreement. "Very well."

~•~•~•~

They both sat at the dining table and ate breakfast in silence. A silence neither awkward nor stiff. Oddly enough it was comfortable atmosphere between the two. No present of any negative energy.

Once Li Jing was done eating she smoothly pulled out a document from her bag. Her voice a bit softer but still cold. "Before you begin today you need to sign a contract of agreement."

"A contract?"

She nodded. "Yes a contract. You were picked amongst four other suitable candidates to take part in Master Zhao's resent project." Flipping through the files she quickly pulled out the contract and perfectly slide it over towards Kei Yun. "With this you will be an official contender. You will be paid $50,000 per hour. And extra if need be." She pointed towards the signature on the paper. "If that payment isn't enough Master Zhao will raise it as he sees fit. He isn't stingy."

'If I were even remotely as rich as he is, I wouldn't be either.'

"And the other candidates?"

"What about them? They have already signed or, are in the mist of signing their contracts. Their managers have already contacted Master Zhao. You are the only one who is left."

Kei Yun had slowly raised his brow. "You say it as if I was his last choice."

"On the contrary Mr. Suzuki, you were the first amongst many to be picked."

'Really? Who would have thought?'

"When Master Zhao begins his projects he has a certain look in mind. Therefore it is always hard for him to find the right model that can bring his visions to life. And so recently it has been harder then ever to do, thus a longer audition was held. A duration of a 9 month search, thrice the usual time spent on finding a model. Luckily for us you appeared and seemed to fit the criteria perfectly. But to make sure, he carefully picked four other suitable options. Ones not from your audition but the earlier shows. Think of them as back up plans."

Hearing this Kei Yun was starstruck, he could only laugh as a response. What could he really say? They had a way of making someone feel special.