Following Simon out, Wei Sanchi led him to a smaller practice room next door, roughly half the size of the previous one. She poked her head in, noting the lack of bleachers and furniture—just a barre along the wall—giving the space an empty feel. She hesitated slightly.
Simon entered without pause. "I can watch standing right here," he assured her.
With that, Wei Sanchi entered the room as well, noticing two tall, stern-looking bodyguards who had followed them. She instinctively quickened her pace to stand closer to Simon. He waved the guards off, and after glancing around, they stepped back out, shutting the door behind them.
In the quiet, soundproofed room, Simon leaned against the barre, smiling at the girl before him. "So, what will you be performing for me?"
Even though there were people in the room next door, in this setting, Wei Sanchi's cheeks flushed. She took a cassette player from her bag and handed it to Simon, her gaze fixed on him. "Mr. Westeros, you gave us all Book of Songs names, so you must be familiar with it. Why not try guessing?"
Simon took the cassette player and nodded toward her bag, offering to hold it for her as well. "Guessing is fine. But if I can't, I might get a bit frustrated. What will you do then?"
With a slight grin, Wei Sanchi handed him her bag and, meeting his gaze, replied without thinking, "If you can't guess, Mr. Westeros…do whatever you want. But I believe you'll figure it out."
Simon nodded. "Alright, let's see."
After removing her shoes, Wei Sanchi moved to the center of the room and nodded. Simon pressed play on the cassette player.
A soft flute melody began to fill the room.
Although recorded from a portable device, and thus somewhat grainy, the music's skillful composition was undeniable. The notes conveyed a gentle melancholy.
Nearby, the girl stood with poise, dressed in a vintage white chiffon outfit. She rose slightly on her toes, her arms gracefully extending upward, resembling a young girl waking from a dreamy sleep or a reed swaying and blooming on a misty plain.
Innocence, playfulness, and a quiet yearning for the world around her.
The flute notes wavered.
A breeze drifted in.
A girl's first bloom, like young reeds.
She danced lightly.
Leaning against the barre with the cassette player in hand, Simon observed the girl's graceful movements, his lips curving into a faint smile.
The reeds grow dense, covered in hoarfrost.
The one I yearn for stands across the water.
This was "The Reed."
—
In the meantime, Chen Qing had finished briefing the girls on their upcoming routines, answering their questions before dismissing them. She then called Li Youhu over.
Eyeing Li Youhu's casual attire with some disapproval, Chen Qing refrained from commenting and instead said, "Youhu, get ready over the next couple of days. You're scheduled to meet with Director Li downtown on Monday. If all goes well, you'll continue with acting classes until Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon starts filming."
Li Youhu nodded, staying demure in front of Chen Qing. "Ms. Chen, will the classes be here or in New York?"
"Here. We'll arrange for a teacher to come to you, and you'll need to keep up your dance skills, too, since the role involves many action scenes."
Li Youhu hesitated. "Um…"
Anticipating her question, Chen Qing replied, "You'll be covering the cost of the acting classes yourself, but with your salary, you can manage it. Or, if you'd rather not, I'm sure there are others willing to take on this role."
"No, that's fine," Li Youhu shook her head quickly. Then, after a moment's thought, she asked, "Ms. Chen, would it be possible to hire an acting teacher from China? Like Professor Qin from Central Drama Academy? She's interested."
Chen Qing raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Well, Ms. Chen, you know my English is awful. It's hard to find a teacher here who speaks Chinese, and…"
"Cheaper?" Chen Qing offered.
"…Yes."
After high school, Li Youhu and Chen Xingwei had joined the Oriental Dance Troupe, not having the formal language background Chen Qing had with her degree from Shanghai International Studies University. A language barrier was the first challenge they faced for any courses here. Secondly, money was an issue.
While she hadn't directly dealt with costs yet, the girls knew American services were expensive. She'd been taking acting classes in Beijing for about a month before leaving, giving her drama teacher a 2,000-yuan bonus before saying goodbye. The teacher's enthusiastic response afterward had made her realize she might've been overly generous.
Now, she saw it as an opportunity.
At 2,000 yuan, or about $240, she'd never find an acting teacher in the U.S. Even $2,400 might not cover a quality instructor. Having Professor Qin teach her here, even at a higher rate, seemed ideal.
Chen Qing guessed her intentions but didn't immediately agree. "If you're serious about pursuing acting, having a dedicated teacher is necessary, and this isn't the time to pinch pennies. After meeting with the director on Monday, you'll start classes right away. I'll find a teacher who speaks Chinese. Still, you're free to contact Professor Qin and switch to her if she arrives."
After a pause, Li Youhu said, "Ms. Chen, couldn't you maybe help?"
"With getting her a visa?"
"Yes."
"I can't."
Chen Qing's response was firm as she turned and left the practice room.
In the hallway, she spotted two bodyguards stationed outside the neighboring practice room door, with Lin Su nearby, chatting with Ms. Liu, who had also stayed behind. She approached them. "Is the boss still not finished?"
Lin Su gave a slight, amused glance at the door and shook her head.
Chen Qing went over and raised her hand to knock, but held back. Seeing the two women watching her, she shrugged and turned to Ms. Liu. "Ms. Liu, you should probably go back for now."
But Ms. Liu was unyielding. "I'd like to wait and say hello to Mr. Westeros."
"That's not necessary," Chen Qing insisted, dismissing her. "Besides, he might be stopping by your villa this evening." She moved closer, eyeing Ms. Liu's face before inhaling slightly and advising, "Not bad, but you could use a bit of a refresh."
Then, without waiting for a response, Chen Qing took out her phone and summoned her personal assistant, Lily Favell, who led a reluctant but compliant Ms. Liu away.
Once the others had dispersed, Chen Qing turned to Lin Su. "Go on, knock."
Lin Su stayed put. "Why don't you?"
"I don't dare."
"Well, neither do I, so no."
"Fine. But aren't you the one with all the requests for the boss? You know, like arranging study abroad for your brother or investments for local businesses. It's so blatant."
Lin Su just ignored her.
After another ten minutes, it was Chen Qing who finally stepped up and lightly knocked.
From inside came an acknowledgment, and Chen Qing entered, finding Simon seated cross-legged on the polished wooden floor, writing in a notebook with Wei Sanchi sitting close by, looking at him with admiration. She glanced up briefly when Chen Qing entered, but returned to studying Simon's notebook with an almost possessive assurance.
Approaching, Chen Qing noticed that Simon was swiftly jotting down musical notes on a staff, and she had to admit his allure went far beyond wealth and power.
Somehow, she thought, he made wooing women seem effortless.
Take the girl beside him now.
Judging by her demeanor, she'd be willing to do anything for him right then and there.
With Chen Qing's arrival, Simon wrapped up the last segment of his notes, handing the notebook to Wei Sanchi. "That's it for now. You'll need to develop the rest with the group. For this performance of The Reed, stage lighting will be crucial, so I'll bring in a few lighting experts from Hollywood to assist. As for the costume I sketched, it needs a lighter fabric, but steer clear of anything too feathery—it might come across as frivolous."
Wei Sanchi nodded fervently, her face lighting up. She leaned in, inching closer to him, and as he turned and smiled at her without pulling back, she kissed him on the cheek.
Her face flushed red to her ears as they parted.
Simon lingered on the feeling of the brief, cool touch, smiling. "You know, I didn't shave today. Did it scratch?"
Wei Sanchi shook her head.
In fact, she'd noticed, but the hint of stubble made him even more appealing.
He took her small hand in his. "I have a busy day ahead, and I nearly let you distract me from it, little enchantress."
She looked up, meeting his gaze again. "But it's the weekend, boss."
The slight raise in Chen Qing's eyebrow didn't go unnoticed. Simon must have told her to use "boss," a term he liked, which stirred a slight pang of envy in her, though she didn't interrupt.
"Yes, but even weekends are workdays for me. As for you, you're free to enjoy yourself for the next couple of days."
Wei Sanchi, hugging his arm, replied softly, "Could I stay by your side today, Boss? I promise I won't be a distraction."
"Still,
you'd only make me more distracted."
She smiled at the compliment, looking down. "I wouldn't dare."
"Alright, next time, alright? Be good today."
"Alright."
"One last kiss. The last one was perfect."
—
After the Black Hawk helicopters left the estate, the girls accepted that Simon wouldn't be returning today and began planning their weekend.
Most were excited to go out.
After all, coming to the USA, they hadn't expected to stay confined to this remote estate on Long Island, and there didn't seem to be any restrictions on their movements.
Yet actually making plans was different from just daydreaming. Going to New York City, for example, was daunting. It was over 150 kilometers away, and yesterday's bus ride from JFK Airport to East Hampton had taken more than two hours.
So instead, they decided to explore the estate and nearby town. There were plenty of things to do in East Hampton itself, as their attendants had informed them.
For instance, there was a private beach adjoining the estate.
They could swim.
Or sunbathe.
Most of the girls had never even seen the ocean, let alone enjoyed a private beach.
They also had membership at several local facilities, including spas, shooting ranges, and golf clubs. Anyone familiar with high society would be astounded by the privileges they enjoyed.
Of course, some girls did decide to venture further, like Li Youhu.
After a bit of persuasion, she gathered a few others and two of their attendants, and they set off for Manhattan. There were eight of them in total, and while few of them could drive, there were plenty of cars. The estate's parking area had fifty new vehicles, averaging two per person.
By the time they arrived in Manhattan, it was already noon.
The attendants explained that they also had accommodations in the city—a five-story townhouse on the Upper West Side that could comfortably host up to thirty people.
They also had dining privileges.
This didn't fully hit home for the girls until one of the attendants made a phone call, and they managed to book a table for eight at a Michelin three-star restaurant in Midtown. Upper East Side socialites would be green with envy if they knew.
Li Youhu's sense that "something was up" wasn't wrong.
Simon was indeed treating them like princesses.
Much like other girls being nurtured as "princesses" across the globe.
Why?
Well…
Having received an advance on their first month's salary, Li Youhu and her group spent the entire afternoon shopping, indulging at expensive stores. Without realizing it, six of them had already spent most of their month's salary by the end of the day.
With a townhouse available, they didn't plan to return to East Hampton that night.
They dined at St. George's on the Upper West Side and afterward strolled up Broadway back to the townhouse, the city lights dazzling around them. Despite hearing rumors about the dangers in the U.S., they felt safe, even though they stood out as a group of Chinese girls with striking features.
For one, the Upper West Side had decent security.
And secondly, they knew that their two attendants were armed. The girls had been startled at first but, after a few questions, were reassured, leaving them with only a sense of security.
It was not yet 8 p.m.
They laughed and joked their way through the weekend crowd on Broadway when Lin Zijin pointed at a movie theater. "It's still early. Why don't we watch a movie?"
Chen Xingwei wasn't with them, so Li Youhu, arm-in-arm with a girl named Chi Jianjia, replied, "We won't understand it."
"I'm talking about that," Lin Zijin pointed to a poster outside the theater. "Jet Li, Black Mask. We'll definitely understand this one."
Lin Zijin's reminder drew everyone's attention to the poster.
"Oh wow, it's really him."
"This poster looks amazing."
"I'm still not sure. They might have dubbed it in English."
"We should still see it! His movies premiering in the U.S. is a big deal. We have to show our support."
After some chattering, Li Youhu took charge. "Alright, hands up if you want to watch it."
They looked at her, eyebrows raised at the bustling crowd around them.
Realizing her mistake, Li Youhu laughed and changed her approach. "Alright, let's go in if nobody disagrees."
They laughed among themselves and entered the theater.
It was Saturday, May 25.
The second day of Black Mask's release.
Though only Black Mask and The Last Action Hero had released in a limited capacity, the summer weekend had the theater packed. The two attendants stood guard, keeping lecherous onlookers at bay and intercepting any attempted flirtations.
After a day of exploring, the girls were starting to feel more at ease in this foreign city and even took pride in their surroundings. Declining the attendants' offer to buy tickets, Li Youhu volunteered herself and Chi Jianjia, whose English was fairly good.
They joined the line, and at the ticket window, the middle-aged clerk looked up from the girls' stunning faces and asked, "Black Mask?"
Chi Jianjia nodded. "Eight tickets, please."
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!]
[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]
[+50 PowerStones = +1 Chapter] [+5 Reviews = +1 Chapter]