Chapter 5: Teacher Luo, Please Help Me

“Sir, let me help you wipe that off.”

The young woman, like a startled fawn, her voice carrying a barely perceptible trembling just right, shyly crouched halfway and reached out toward the wetened lapel of Logan’s shirt.

Logan grabbed her hand firmly, his gaze naturally lingering on her.

Her golden hair flowed almost to her waist like sunlight; her delicate oval face was as pale as fresh snow; her watery eyes gleamed with an innocent purity untouched by the world, and a small tear mole at the corner of her eye added a subtle allure.

Under Logan’s scrutinizing gaze, her figure, wrapped in cheap clothing, tensed and outlined full curves that silently enticed.

Slowly, Logan leaned in, bringing his face close to her blushing cheeks tinged with shyness and timidity, hovering barely half a centimeter away, and asked softly, “Do you want to be famous?”

The young woman was momentarily stunned.

…

Annie Olson suddenly felt as if the hunter had become the prey.

Perhaps it wasn’t just an illusion.

Annie came from a tiny town in Kansas so insignificant it barely appeared on maps, a place seemingly endless with cornfields and the ever-present scent of dust on her skin.

She didn’t want to be rooted forever in barren land. With great effort, standing on tiptoes, she escaped the countryside and stumbled into the bustling city of Chicago.

The metropolis’s splendor enchanted and intoxicated her, but soon she sobered up: that brilliance had nothing to do with her.

Heavy factory assembly lines didn’t welcome skirts; respectable typist jobs demanded higher education… She was still just a country girl, little educated, who had left the cornfields behind, possessing only a heart yearning to change her fate but no capital to do so.

No, she did have capital.

When she stood by the street, the store window reflecting her face—worn yet not hiding her beauty, her eyes burning like flames with resolute clarity—she knew she needed to latch onto a sturdy tree that could shield her from wind and rain to take root in this steel jungle.

So, she became a waitress at an underground bar.

It wasn’t the ideal place to find a benefactor; the drunken patrons reminded her of her violent, alcoholic father. But she had no better choice.

With no special skills and no connections, landing a job serving drinks was lucky enough.

Though rough drunks often slapped their sticky hands on her waist and hips, making her stomach churn as if swallowing flies; though the greasy, lewd remarks buzzed in her ears, filling her with disgust; though the smell of tobacco mixed with alcohol made her nauseous…

Every shadow that passed through the bar was, in her eyes, a potential stepping stone to be evaluated and climbed.

Her gaze was like the most precise probe, scanning every possible target amidst the flickering reflections of glasses and cups—alcohol was not just a drink but a window into their wealth and character; words were not just sounds but scales weighing their value.

Were they there to relax or drowning in addiction? Was that finely tailored coat genuine? Were they shallow and easily hooked, or steady and reliable?

Among the faces, two figures in the corner caught Annie’s attention.

She first noticed the bald man, Donald.

Thanks to her mother’s half-Irish blood, Annie quickly struck up conversations with the bar staff and learned the bar was backed by an Irish gang.

By chance, she overheard the manager respectfully address the bald man as “boss,” revealing Donald’s identity.

After some discreet inquiries, Annie learned the young gang leader had recently risen to power and was apparently unmarried—making him the best prospect she could currently approach.

Yet, another young, handsome man was too striking; it was hard not to be drawn to him.

And upon closer observation, Annie sensed something.

First, Donald treated the young man with great familiarity, and the young man laughed freely before the gang leader, indicating their statuses were nearly equal.

Though his clothing gave no hint of his background, the way his fingers casually rested on the glass, relaxed as if in his own study, radiated a confidence Annie couldn’t quite explain… a certain nobility.

This prompted Annie to keep watching.

Unsurprisingly, soon a group of flashy women pounced like wild hounds.

In this gilded city, every body with some allure harbored ambitions of climbing upward.

Some were too shallow, unable to endure loneliness, surrendering all their capital at a mere flirtation, doomed to become streetwalkers.

Some, like Annie, sought a steady patron but were wary—any nouveau riche might lure them like moths to flame.

Annie knew haste wouldn’t bring warmth; she preferred enduring some harassment to waiting for a worthy target to sell herself at a good price.

Soon Annie sneered.

Clearly, none of these flashy women knew Donald was the underground bar’s gang leader; all their efforts were aimed at the handsome young man.

Understandable, though: for that face alone, even paying for a one-night fling wouldn’t be a loss.

What caught Annie’s attention was the handsome man’s reaction.

He sat firmly, like the most solid rock in the eye of a storm. His gaze toward the women was assessing, not lustful but… critical, as if judging them with exacting standards.

One by one, the flashy women failed and withdrew. Annie even heard two whispering whether the handsome man was “not up to it.”

Ha.

Did they think that if he truly came from a wealthy family and looked like that, he wouldn’t be swarmed by beautiful girls? What right did these women have to conquer him with just a casual flirt?

Annie herself lacked confidence. Perhaps it was better to focus on the gang leader?

She noticed Donald’s face darkening from being ignored by these women.

Annie believed that now, a well-placed flirt would surely leave a deep impression on him.

But the other man was simply too tantalizing: the more reserved he was, the more women wanted to conquer him.

How to conquer him?

Beauty alone wouldn’t suffice, as the flashy women had proven.

Annie decided to present herself as prey and devised a plan:

First, make him lower his guard, ideally finding a moment alone;

Second, subtly extract information about his family background;

Finally, let him gain a slight advantage but not too much, to hook him and make him come back.

Plan set!

…

After the flashy women all retreated in defeat, Annie stepped forward, adjusting her pace to let her slender waist sway naturally, each step like pressing invisible piano keys. The glasses on her tray gently wobbled, like delicate weights on fate’s scale.

The weight finally fell on the handsome man. Annie seemed to hear the curses of the defeated women in unison. In a flash, she composed her breathing, weaving a veil of shyness and helplessness on her face, and he took her hand.

When he looked up to examine her, every nerve in Annie tightened, worried her expression wasn’t perfect, wondering if the single fake pearl earring on her earlobe gleamed gently enough in the light…

Ah, he’s leaning in—does he want to kiss me? Should I keep pretending to be startled?

Then, that striking handsome face stopped just before her eyes, and in her ear came the calm words, “Do you want to be famous?”

Annie didn’t understand, but her mouth answered before her mind: “Yes!”

…

Donald quickly cleared a small room backstage in the bar for Logan and Annie to talk.

“You’d better disappear, kid. Hanging out with you is pure torture.”

Annie achieved her goal of being alone with Logan, though not exactly as she had imagined.

“I own a newspaper,” Logan introduced himself first.

Annie’s heart leapt; she had guessed right—his background was indeed exceptional.

“The paper is launching a major new work, and we plan to publish pictures of the female lead alongside the story. You fit the image perfectly. Would you like to play the lead and pose for the photos?”

Huh?

Play the lead?

In the paper?!

A surge of excitement overwhelmed Annie, almost suffocating her.

Yet a voice echoed deep inside: Could it really be that simple?

She swallowed her almost-spilled “I’m willing,” steadied herself, and spoke softly, “What kind of lead? What kind of photos? I… have no experience.”

Logan’s clear voice soothed her nerves: “The lead is a pure college girl who falls in love with a handsome, domineering CEO and captivates him with her charm.”

“Looking at you, your aura and charm are exactly that—like a real-life heroine.”

Annie met Logan’s handsome gaze, her cheeks flushing genuinely.

“That’s a great work!”

Logan’s words were honeyed as he stared at Annie: “We call them ‘stills’ because there’s a plan to adapt the novel into a film. As the newspaper’s lead, you’ll be the top choice for the movie role.”

Movie lead?!

Annie had actually seen one before, even up close.

On her train ride into Chicago, just as she was about to disembark, someone pushed her aside, and a woman in a luxurious mink coat emerged amid a crowd, diamond earrings sparkling at her neck, dazzling Annie’s country eyes.

Passengers nearby whispered she was the lead actress in a popular film, a big star.

That dazzling figure reappeared in Annie’s mind, igniting a deep-seated yearning that blazed fiercely.

“I’m willing,” Annie nodded firmly. “Yes, I’m willing.”

Logan raised his brows, smiling: “You won’t regret this choice.”

…

What does it feel like to aim for a big catch and reel in a tiger shark instead?

“I regret it.”

The next day, Annie arrived at Logan’s newspaper and was dumbfounded.

Sure, he was the boss, but couldn’t the paper be any smaller?

And the so-called “great work”—Annie barely got through the opening before speechless. Wasn’t this just a steamy romance novel?

As for the “stills,” they had become what Logan called “scantily clad photos.” Ha—“scantily clad photos.”

Annie was stunned.

Though she knew men’s words were often deceitful, this was outrageous!

She glared at Logan: “Is this your idea of a chance at fame?”

Logan sat behind his desk, fingers intertwined, calm: “I guarantee you’ll become famous once you’re in the paper.”

“…”

Annie was too angry to reply.

Of course she’d be famous—all she’d get was a notorious reputation!

“I know what you’re afraid of. You think this is some dirty trick?”

Logan’s voice rose, full of undeniable passion: “This is art! It’s a photo shoot! The key to fame!”

Logan felt that after crossing over, persuading people had become second nature!

“Think about it, Annie! When your photos flood the paper, controversy will follow, but all of Chicago, no, all America, will know your name!”

He straightened, tracing an imaginary, exquisite human form in the air: “Look at you, Annie!”

“You shine with beauty, a masterpiece of God, yet unknown—what a crime!”

“Don’t be ashamed; this is your true self revealed. All America will hold its breath for you!”

Annie looked into Logan’s shining eyes, her anger fading, cheeks burning.

“The opportunity is right before you, Annie!” Logan’s voice dropped to a whisper, yet it cut through all hesitation. “I’m not lying—the film adaptation is real, and you’re my top pick for the lead.”

“You must know, thousands of beautiful girls in Chicago want fame but have no way. You just need a bit of courage to break your invisible chains and become a legend!”

Annie lowered her eyelids, long lashes casting hesitant shadows as she nervously twisted the hem of her skirt.

Logan stepped closer, leaned down, hands on the armrests of her chair, trapping her within the aura of his presence, and deployed a classic Steve Jobs-style pitch: “Do you want to stand in the spotlight, or spend your life selling drinks underground?”

“Or maybe find a sugar daddy, trapped silently and unnoticed in his care forever?”

Annie suddenly lifted her head, meeting Logan’s sharp gaze.

Logan knew this clever girl would say yes.

Because her performance, her scheming, were laid bare in his eyes.

A poor girl selling drinks in a bar, longing to turn her beauty into a means to change her fate, answering “Do you want to be famous?” without hesitation…

Would such a girl really give up the chance for fame out of fear of public condemnation?

And Logan wasn’t entirely bluffing—he did plan the film adaptation and truly believed Annie was fit to play the lead.

Not just because she was pretty, but because she looked good on camera.

Logan wasn’t a director, but in his previous life, whether in Chinese or Hollywood entertainment, he knew actresses who looked good on screen would become stars, while those who didn’t wouldn’t, no matter the resources.

Experience? What mattered was whether she was worth cultivating.

Annie soon proved she was.

Though struck hard by Logan’s handsomeness, she kept her wits—

Actually, she knew most of what he said was hype, but he was so damn handsome!

And at least one thing was certain: this was a small chance to climb upward.

In Chicago, thousands of girls would kill for this chance.

And most importantly—he was incredibly handsome!

Realizing she had no secrets before Logan, Annie stopped hesitating and fixed him with a burning gaze: “Okay, I agree to shoot! But—”

“I have conditions.”

Logan straightened, arms crossed, calm: “Speak.”

“First, I want to review all photos before publication; nothing goes up without my approval!”

“Of course.”

“Second, I want a formal contract, and besides the basic pay, your promise that if the movie happens, I’ll be the first choice for the lead must be included.”

Logan’s tone held admiration: “Very reasonable, I agree.”

“Third, I want you personally to take the photos!”

Logan’s eyes narrowed sharply!

Ah…

You want me to be ‘Teacher Luo’ now!

Such a challenging job is usually hard to refuse!

…

However, Logan soon regretted it.

“What the hell is this era?! No color film!”

He hadn’t anticipated that his path as a photographer would start with such a headache.

No digital cameras yet—fine, that was the 1920s; he accepted that.

But no color film either? Logan was stunned.

When color film was even invented, who knew?

For now, he could only shoot in black and white.

They say every great photographer secretly loves black and white because it’s pure and contains all colors in essence.

Luo only wanted to say nonsense.

Black and white photos lacked the impact of color!

Moreover, to get better results, Luo had to personally study lighting and arrange the shooting scene… After a dizzying round of attempts, he managed to set up a relatively ideal studio in his bedroom.

Why his bedroom?

Don’t ask—he was too poor to rent a professional space.

“Ready?” Luo asked, holding a Kodak No.1 pocket camera, the beginner’s model.

Annie, clad only in a bathrobe, felt her cheeks flush as if steaming. Taking a deep breath, she loosened the robe.

It slipped silently to the floor, revealing a natural, untouched beauty before Luo.

Tsk… stunning!

Luo’s gaze steadied, devoid of any improper thoughts.

“Good. Lie on the bed on your side,” the teacher gently guided her into position.

“Teacher Luo…” Annie didn’t know why she had to call him that but went along. “Is this how I lie?”

“Teacher Luo, how should I position my legs? I don’t know!”

“Teacher Luo, come help me!”

Luo: “…”

Girl, this is a nude shoot! Behave yourself!

Even cadres don’t get tested this hard!

…