Redeeming The Golden Ticket To Life

[POV Bai Chang]

For the past few days, my hours passed in designing the stage and customising the designs for the respective models.

Hard to say how it flew right out the window, I just felt the satisfaction and not the tiredness. I strangely felt more fulfilled than I felt when I was a genius scientist and agent under the 'Star Time System'. 

I always wanted to be a designer but my family and surroundings never allowed me to pursue my dreams.

When I woke up as Bai Chang, I wanted to give my kiddish dreams a chance to flourish. And so I did. I dropped down a rabbit hole (this transmigration)  and followed the tail of the rabbit (the troubled beginning of 'Star Time System Civilisation) while enjoying my life.

D-Day arrived, it was the day of the Runway, I would lie if I said that I wasn't nervous at all.

I was freaked out of my mind, but on my face, I held the expression of epic calm, as if I achieved 'moksh' from Buddha himself.

I really need to keep my wits together, as on insistence from Pierro I was wearing the showstopper dress myself on the runway.

I really wasn't ready for it but if you lived my type of life (like being dead and then living a second life), you will definitely grow a pair of strong-willed invisible wings to carry you through the world of far and beyond.

So like any other daredevil who cheated death once, I summarised that it could not be worse than death itself. Hence I walked down the 'T-stage' is technically my own show.

The crowd was refined and the venue looked perfect. I really admired the venue.

Then I saw my models walk the runway before me, as they walked out, people held their breath to admire the designs.

At that moment I remembered what my dad (from Star Time) used to say, "Always look out for the people, if they forget to even breath, which is essential for their survival, then that means you got their appreciation, as they were subconsciously ready to die in process of their admiration."

I never knew I would be that potent.

When I looked at all the people sitting there from backstage holding their breadth and admiring my designs, I felt fulfilled.

Then it was a moment of truth for me. It was my turn to walk out to the Runway.

I took a deep breath and took my first step on the stage.

[murmurs and whispers from the crowd]

'It is exhilarating!'

As I started to walk down the runway, I felt my blood rush towards my face. My heart ran its own sprints. I took hold of my drapes and walked the runway as I practised.

'One step at a time!'

[Thump Thump! Thump Thump!]

I was only able to hear the voice of my heart beating against my ribcage.

'What crazy trip I was on to have actually said yes to this absurd idea of walking the Runway, I am a designer for god sake? How did I become a model?'

My legs were shivering as I felt jittery all over my body. And then I saw him.

I saw Hu Qiang seating in the audience, drooling.

It was momentary, just a microsecond long look, where my eyes met his but that was enough. I wanted to show him a strong and confident me, I can't afford to have him witness my weakness or weak moments. Thus I walked.

I walked down the Runway and reached the end. It was hot!

The cameras and flashlights were blazing. All I could see was an ocean of pale lights. Everything was just covered in yellow lights. And then his face flashed in my head.

I got a grip on my nerves and then put my game face on. 

'Chins up!'

'Back Straight!'

'Shoulder at an angle!'

'Head tilted to highlight the pi ratio of my face!'

And before I realised it I already walked backstage.

People rushed towards me, Lucy all snotty from happy tears and Sir Pierro with his proud eyes.

[Thump thump! Thump thump!]

I couldn't hear them

I couldn't hear them over my thumping heart trying to make its escape from my ribcage. It felt 'alive'.

'I AM ALIVE!'

I realised at that moment that, 'I am alive', I lived to tell my tales and currently I am alive. That field was not my end.

'Back to the present,'

Currently, I am having lunch with Qiang.

After his persuasion and that Ms Kingsmen's word of confidence, I thought to give another chance to the poor chap. 

At the Runway, I really thought that he was having an affair with some lady behind my back. I felt this indescribable pinch in my heart and felt difficult to breathe. 

I later found out that I may have felt heart-broken or jealousy from the symptoms I showed.

So here we are, I asked him to become a slave for me to determine his level of patience towards me. 

I finished my lunch.

"If you are done let's leave, I have more places to visit and on my way back I need to get things that Xiao Wei asked for from the shops. Remind me of it later if necessary."

I saw that he pushed his now empty plate and then rushed to pick all the bags from the couch.

"Let's go I am ready," he answered.

'We walked out, I settled our bills and then walked ahead of him.'

The city had its charm.

It was clustered with relics of old civilisation which were then teamed together with a modern architect.

The concrete or industrial world is trying to overtake everything in its way and the old relics are adamant to keep their roots intact. As if they are battling it out within them silently as we bear witness to this situation.

In our eyes, it turns art and culture.

I shopped for a while and added more bags for Qiang to carry. 

Good for him, he didn't utter a word of complaining or displeasure. He is really trying to make it work but a day is too short of a period to pass a verdict. Let's observe for some more time.

******

Back at home-

"Mumma, you are back?" Xiao Wei rushed out to us as we entered the place.

"Yes munchkin, I am back now. Look what I got for you? Your favourite," I passed him the bag of chocolates from Qiang.

He took the bag but lifted his arm, "Mumma, hug me. I have been a good boy, I studied everything you told me to. I want a hug."

He looked so adorable, pouting while asking for a hug as he threw cautious looks towards Qiang. They had a silent male battle.

This father and son are too alike.

They really hate to share things they treasure the most.

"Okay come here," Qiang moved towards him to stop him but stepped aside after hearing me speak, instead he walked towards the centre table and neatly placed the shopping bags on it.

I picked Xiao Wei from his arms and hugged him. Then he opened the bag and unwrapped a bar of chocolate, "Mumma, say aaa"

I humoured him,

"AAA" I opened my mouth and then he broke a bigger piece from the bar and fed me.

"My Xiao Wei is much, much sweeter than anything in this world." As I ate the chocolate I took the rest of the bar and little by little fed it to my little adorable munchkin.

"Okay, Mumma will freshen up then we will sit together to have dinner."

"Zhang Wei, meet me in the study."

*****

After half an hour in the study room-

[Knock Knock]

"Enter"

Zhang Wei entered the room and closed the door behind him.

"Have a seat," I offered.

"You are planning something, aren't you?" he asked straight away.

"Yes, I am. And it is time to put the second phase to go," I casually replied.

There was silence in the room.

"How is brother Li Jie?" I asked out of habit.

"You are more aware of it than me, aren't you,"

'Sigh'

"I am" 

"Then what is your take on it?"

"Total annihilation, no survivors and no messy situations. The operation should be clean in and out kind. No spot for any type of mistakes."

"What do you propose next?"

"I secured our entry point, now all we have to do is find the target!"

There was again silence in the room.

While Zhang Wei supported my crazy ideas. I knew, only I could pull off the next steps of the operations.

It is time to meet the real boss behind Feling.

As brother Li Jie informed us just before we left the country. The threads were pulled from across the oceans by someone ambitious as well as cunning.

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AUTHOR's SERIOUS REQUEST- date of issue 05/03/21

Hey Readers if you are reading this, it means the following notice is still valid-

I request you all to not read further chapters. First I was not satisfied with what I wrote so currently, I am in process of rewriting my entire stockpile for this month. And as unexpectedly I am facing a major crisis in my real life (my mother is very sick so nursing her has become a full 24-hour job), so please excuse me for the delay. I do not want you all to feel disappointed with the story, so I am uploading a few of the old chapters until I upload the re-edited chapters. 

Please bear with me a little here, I will get this story on track little by little. I ask for your support and patience in return.