"Huh?"
Wang Lan was caught off guard. "Luo Xinyi, I'm straight!"
"I know." The girl called Luo Xinyi blushed a little. "But you really look so cool and badass! It's such a powerful look!"
"R-really?"
Wang Lan looked at herself in the mirror, not quite confident.
Her neat, short wolf cut made her already somewhat handsome features look even more androgynous, giving her a sharp edge. On top, she wore a loose, drop-shoulder American-style crew-neck T-shirt, a solid color without any print, its fabric falling cleanly rather than clinging to her body.
On the bottom, she wore khaki straight-leg cargo pants, paired with a nylon webbing belt with a metal buckle to define her waistline. It made her legs look long and straight, fully bringing out the advantages of her already tall figure.
Clean and sharp. She was clearly a girl, yet she carried an aggressive dash and a handsome air.
She could slay men and women alike, with her distinctiveness maxed out!
"You can be more confident," Zhang Zhaomu prompted. "You study dance, so I don't need to correct your posture, but your expression is also an important part of your presence. You'll have to get a handle on that yourself."
Wang Lan nodded, already unable to resist taking out her phone to start snapping selfies.
Zhang Zhaomu was still giving her pointers. "There are a few other little details. You can wear simple geometric pendants. If you get your nails done, don't go for a girly style. Black-toned nail art would work better. Also, for your everyday bag, skip the women's handbags. A simple crossbody canvas bag or a small waist bag would work."
"Class rep, you're so thorough," Song Xuanxuan couldn't help remarking.
"Since I promised to help you with your makeovers, of course I'll see it through. Details are part of your image too," Zhang Zhaomu explained. "If you have any questions about putting outfits together afterward, you can ask me anytime. Consider it after-sales service."
"Class rep, you're incredible!" The more Wang Lan looked at herself in the mirror, the more she liked what she saw. The delighted surprise inside her at that moment even made her want to rush over and hug Zhang Zhaomu to properly express her gratitude, but a young girl's shyness kept her from acting on the impulse. She only took a few steps closer.
"Coming to you for a makeover was the most worthwhile thing I've ever done!"
Originally, she had only thought she would be satisfied if she could look a little better. After all, for a hundred-odd yuan, what more could she ask for-a bicycle? But how was this the result of spending a hundred-odd yuan? If she had known beforehand that he could achieve this, even if she had to grit her teeth and take out all her saved New Year's money and everything else, she would have considered ten thousand yuan or so worth spending!
Girls had always pursued beauty without counting the cost.
"Class rep, hurry up and get back to mine!" Song Xuanxuan was impatient. Seeing her best friend transformed into someone so cool and dashing, she wanted to know what she would look like after Zhang Zhaomu's makeover too.
"Class rep! I'd like you to help me with a makeover too. Can you?"
Luo Xinyi, standing beside them, finally couldn't hold back either. When Song Xuanxuan and Wang Lan had first approached Zhang Zhaomu, she hadn't joined in. Naturally, she had harbored doubts about Zhang Zhaomu knowing how to do makeovers, but now that she had seen the results, those doubts had long since vanished like smoke.
"Me too!" The last girl hurried over as well, looking terrified that she would miss her chance if she spoke too late.
Even the only other boy hesitantly approached, his tone a little awkward. "Class rep, can guys get makeovers?"
"Of course." Zhang Zhaomu nodded. "I'm a guy myself. How could I only know how to style girls?"
"Then I want to sign up too!" The boy's eyes immediately lit up. "Can I, class rep?"
"Sure." Zhang Zhaomu smiled. "But you'll have to get in line. You'll need to wait until I've finished the makeovers for the classmates who already booked."
"I'll book a slot!" This time, the boy raised his hand first instead. "How much is the deposit? Never mind. Class rep, I just sent you two hundred on WeChat. Put me in the queue first."
Zhang Zhaomu said, "It won't take that much. It's only a hundred and eighty-eight in total."
"That won't do!" Holding her phone, Wang Lan suddenly took a firm stance. "I already thought your price was too low before, class rep. Now that I've seen the results, this isn't just cheap. You're practically doing it for free... no, you're practically paying us!"
"Raise the price. You have to!"
Zhang Zhaomu said, "...Is that really necessary?"
"It is!" Song Xuanxuan agreed. "With your abilities, class rep, this price isn't reasonable. Even if you don't want to raise it yourself, once more people find out about this, those who want a makeover but can't get a place in line will end up spending more money elsewhere because of it. That's exactly why concert-ticket scalpers exist."
"That's how the market works."
Song Xuanxuan came from a well-off family and had clearly grown up surrounded by this sort of business knowledge.
"When that happens, you'll be pestered to no end. So rather than waiting for market forces to make you raise your prices, you might as well adjust them right from the start."
Convinced, Zhang Zhaomu asked, "Then what would be a suitable price?"
"Eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight!" Song Xuanxuan declared imposingly.
Zhang Zhaomu said, "...You dare say it, but I don't even dare listen."
A figure like that was absolutely impossible unless he became famous in the future, expanded his business beyond campus, and turned wealthy wives or even celebrities into his clientele.
"For now, I only plan to do this for students at our school. Let's set a price that at least some students can afford," Zhang Zhaomu said.
"Then nine hundred and eighty-eight," Wang Lan suggested. "That creates a barrier so you won't wear yourself out, class rep, and people who genuinely need it definitely won't hesitate."
"That still feels a little high." Zhang Zhaomu thought for a moment. "Five hundred and eighty-eight, then. That's already a lot for a student."
It was even a frightening amount to him. After all, five hundred-odd yuan could last him over half a month, with some left over to spend at an internet café.
The price already left Zhang Zhaomu feeling a little uneasy. After all, no matter how accomplished the skills from the [Refined] persona were, he felt that all he had contributed was a little advice on outfits and some hairstyle design. They had even paid for the clothes themselves.
Besides, his original intention had only been to earn enough money to buy a computer.
"Class rep, you're just too nice." Wang Lan tapped at her phone, then waved it at Zhang Zhaomu. "I've sent it over, then. But five hundred and eighty-eight doesn't really express my gratitude. I'll slowly repay the rest in the future."
Zhang Zhaomu froze for a moment. "The price I agreed on with you was a hundred and eighty-eight. You don't need to pay extra. I'll send it back in a bit."
"No way. If you won't accept it, class rep, I'll send even more, until you do." Wang Lan gave a sly smile.
"Don't feel embarrassed, class rep. You've earned this." Song Xuanxuan nodded in agreement. "If you think it's not enough, I'll add another zero at the end when I transfer mine in a bit."
Zhang Zhaomu said, "...What kind of new threat is this?"
He felt nothing but poor and helpless.