Chapter 367 Differential Treatment
Dawn Talent Agency posted: [International Fashion Week starts in three days and runs for two weeks. Top star Grace is invited to model. Can't wait to see her shine!]
Grace replied: [Thanks, I'll give it my all.]
Grace's fans went excited, reposting and commenting like crazy.
[Congrats! Grace is gonna be all over the headlines again!]
[OMG, being specially invited is such a big deal!]
[I heard all the outfits this year are from Sunflower, 188 sets, no other brands or sponsors.]
[Sunflower is so mysterious. I really wanna know who the founder is. They're amazing.]
[By the way, aren't their cosmetics launching today?]
[Yeah, they launched five minutes ago. The first batch sold out in a minute. The next batch is at 10 PM tomorrow.]
[Sold out? At that price, in one minute?]
[There are plenty of rich folks out there.]
On the balcony swing, Ann, in a white dress, lay sideways. A soft pillow was tucked into the armrest so her head wouldn't get tired. Her long dress draped over the edge, fluttering with the swing. Her pink nails gently tapped on her phone, stopping on the sold-out pre-sale page. She stared at it for a while.
'This cosmetic looks familiar,' Ann thought. Suddenly, she sat up, her long hair falling over her shoulders, covering half her face. She pressed harder on the screen, her fingertips turning white. She muttered, "Isn't this what Holly used before? But it didn't have the Sunflower logo back then."
Ann remembered Holly handing her the cosmetics, saying her makeup was smudged and asking if she wanted to touch it up.
She thought it was some no-name brand. How did it become Sunflower's latest pre-sale item? Confused, Ann quickly contacted some friends who knew about cosmetics.
After hearing Ann's description, a friend said, "It’s probably an internal trial version. Sunflower's launch requirements are strict. They test for at least six months, and people with different skin types write reports. Once everything's confirmed, they reproduce it, add the logo, and launch it. I got a Sunflower trial once. I'll send you a photo to see if it matches."
Half a minute later, Ann got a picture. It matched what Holly had that day.
"Is it hard to get a trial version?" Ann asked softly.
Her friend thought for a moment and replied, "Not really. Their staff almost all have one. And before they launch, they send new products to some famous, well-connected people."
Ann smiled faintly and nodded. "What about someone like Luann?"
Her friend chuckled. "Do you even need to ask? Hundreds or thousands of luxury brands are probably fighting to send her stuff. With her status, one compliment from her can sell out a product in seconds."
Ann hung up the phone, realizing Holly was just picking up Luann's leftovers.
"Living in someone else's shadow will always make you dim," Ann muttered, lying back on the swing with a hint of mockery. "What's so special about Luann that makes you try so hard to please her?"
Her phone buzzed. It was Grace calling. "Ann, want to go to Fashion Week together?"
Ann smiled. "I'm busy then and probably can't make it."
"Alright," Grace said, putting her phone down.
Her assistant rushed in. "Juliet is here."
Grace frowned. "Why? What's up?"
"Not sure, but she seems anxious and needs your help."
Grace snorted. "Help? Just because she gave me some jewelry, she thinks I owe her? Tell her I don't have time for her games."
The assistant relayed the message to Juliet, who looked pale and unwell.
Juliet's life had been rough lately. Nights filled with supplements, days on set with dangerous scenes. Her role wasn't big, but it was exhausting. She even had some spotting and knew she couldn't keep the baby. But she needed the right time to terminate it, as she couldn't return to set immediately after.
"Please, let me see Grace!" Juliet handed over a delicate box. "This is my mom's dowry, very valuable! Show it to Grace. She'll like it!"
The assistant took it and found it impressive. Two minutes later, Juliet was invited in.
Juliet, having offered such an expensive item, got straight to the point. "I want to attend Fashion Week with you. Just save me a seat in the audience, let me walk the red carpet, and help me get some time off from James."
Juliet planned to have minor surgery during the event, rest a bit, then return to filming. By the movie's release, she hoped to turn her life around.
Grace was surprised by Juliet's modest request. It was easy to handle.
"Sure, you can stay with me. I'll talk to James," Grace said.
Juliet sighed in relief, looking grateful. "Thank you, Grace, thank you!"
Grace called James in front of Juliet and explained the situation. James hesitated for only a few seconds before agreeing.
The stark contrast was glaring to Juliet. Her sharp nails dug into her palm, painfully reminding her that if she were as famous as Grace, with a background like Grace's, James wouldn't dare treat her badly.
