Chapter 51: Come With Me

The internet in 2013 was still in a phase of wild, untamed growth, and you could often dig up some hardcore stuff online.

Hardcore as it might be, the technology of that era simply could not compare to the future.

What Lu Yao was doing right now was bringing future boundary-pushing techniques into the present!

To pioneer a wave of web traffic!

When Lu Yao sought out internet celebrities for cooperation, Zhu Junyan, whose mind was quick on the uptake, immediately volunteered with a grinning smile, "Master, what is that athletic womenswear brand you're doing? Let me check out your online store."

Letting Zhu Junyan know what he was actually doing...

Wasn't entirely out of the question.

After all, Zhu Junyan moved in elite social circles and networking spheres, possessing abundant resources.

With him helping to catalyze things, the store's sales could experience another surge of growth, pushing "Risk Factor" into the next tier of traffic pools.

So Lu Yao gave the store name to Zhu Junyan, instructing him not to run his mouth.

Initially, Zhu Junyan had been puzzled.

What kind of store name was "Risk Factor"?

It didn't sound like a womenswear shop at all.

But after opening his phone and doing a search, he had a sudden moment of profound realization!

Holy crap?

It turned out to be *that* kind of athletic womenswear?

No wonder it was called "Risk Factor."

Thrilling!

The novel styles quickly caught Zhu Junyan's eyes, especially the main product images and detail pages on the store's homepage... A thorough browsing session left Zhu Junyan's blood running hot.

No wonder Lu Yao hadn't mentioned what type of athletic womenswear he was making when they were chatting.

This stuff really couldn't be talked about out loud!

Zhu Junyan began placing frantic orders with full anticipation, planning to change up the "skins" for his nightlife.

After placing the orders, Zhu Junyan immediately called his assistant: "Help me contact a few high-end escorts with great figures and pretty faces; I'll have use for them in a couple of days! Big use! Also, help me contact a few female internet celebrities—they don't need a huge follower count."

After finishing the call, Zhu Junyan was filled with eager anticipation for the wonderful experience awaiting him upon delivery!

To be honest.

Ever since he began specializing in social networking and public relations for his family, Zhu Junyan could be considered a veteran of a hundred battles.

Ordinary beauty could no longer stir any worldly desires in his heart.

But today...

Zhu Junyan had experienced the wondrous sensations brought by different "skins."

"No wonder some of the wealthy second-generation kids in the circle love spending money on skin microtransactions in games."

Now Zhu Junyan could finally understand the mindset of his gamer friends.

Change your skin, and your mood and tactile feedback are completely different!

Unlike skins in video games, however, the skins changed in real life not only granted the user an extraordinary experience in mood and sensation.

They also buffed the user's attack speed! Triggered a frenzy! Boosted endurance!

***

After chatting with Zhu Junyan, Lu Yao spent a few days living a calm, steady, and by-the-book routine.

Every morning when he woke up, the first thing he did was check the stock market.

Fenda Technology's stock price had been fluctuating and climbing steadily during this period.

It had currently reached a price of around sixteen yuan.

Then, his mornings were typically spent first at the "Risk Factor" studio, followed by specialized training at Sister Nali's art training center. If there was a performance in the evening, he would go perform.

Every day was fulfilling.

Even though he held a royal flush in his hand, Lu Yao did not rush things.

Because life was not just about career; it was also about romantic encounters and worldly pleasures.

In his spare time, he would go out for late-night snacks with the pretty young women of NFA after work, only to be lectured by Sister Nali afterward.

Yet, after scolding them a few times, Sister Nali abandoned all principles and joined their ranks.

The sales of QQ lingerie were also rising steadily, lacking only a catalyst to trigger a massive explosion of orders.

On the fifth day after returning from the Rong family estate, Lu Yao received a message from Rong Nianqing.

Today, Lu Yao had just finished training at the art training center.

Following this period of training, the young and robust Lu Yao, whose physique was already decent to begin with, now displayed faintly visible muscle lines under his skin thanks to the specialized regimen.

Of course.

A slender man's muscle definition wasn't worth all that much.

Still, the visible changes in his body brought genuine joy to Lu Yao.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, Lu Yao picked up his phone to check Rong Nianqing's message: "I talked with my family about your idea. After conducting research, they told me this direction is indeed viable and are prepared to give me their full support."

Lu Yao was not surprised by this outcome.

Opening a high-service-quality, affordable department store might indeed fail to turn a profit in the early stages; even the profits generated by Pang Donglai a decade later wouldn't catch the eye of Rong Nianqing's family.

However, the supply chains and industrial chains linked behind such a widely encompassing department store were massive.

The number of employment opportunities it could provide was also enormous.

As long as their department store could operate smoothly, they would not only reap widespread praise among the common people but also provide a substantial number of local jobs.

At the same time, relying on the concept of "smart homes," they could branch out into a broader and deeper commercial layout.

This was killing three birds with one stone—a beneficial endeavor for the country, the people, and themselves.

Therefore, even if it required heavy capital investment in the early stages, or even ran at a loss initially, Rong Nianqing's family didn't mind at all.

Lu Yao typed out a reply: "That's great news."

Rong Nianqing went straight to the point: "When are you free? Let's go to Yuzhou Province together to conduct field research and inspections."

Lu Yao thought for a moment and replied: "Next Wednesday, let me wrap up the things on my hands as quickly as possible."

Rong Nianqing replied instantly: "Next Monday. Tell me if there's anything difficult to handle."

Lu Yao: "..."

As expected of someone from a wealthy, prominent family—when she did things, she was decisive and swift.

Lu Yao replied: "Give me ten minutes."

***

Rong Nianqing: "[ok]"

Lu Yao exited his chat with Rong Nianqing, found Zhu Junyan, and sent a message: "How are those videos you were supposed to shoot coming along?"

The female internet celebrities Zhu Junyan had found for Lu Yao had already arrived two days ago.

Lu Yao had been a bit busy over those couple of days, so he had simply gotten a few battle-outfits from Boss Chen Xing and mailed them to Zhu Junyan, expecting him to help shoot some videos.

After the message was sent.

Zhu Junyan replied instantly: "Done. I'm sending them over for you to take a look right now."

Soon.

Lu Yao's phone received several videos compressed by WeChat, making them rather blurry.

Looking at such blurry videos, Lu Yao was quite speechless.

WeChat's pathetic video compression technology remained unsolved even a decade into the future.

If a video file was too large, it couldn't even be sent.

No wonder Douyin became the social app of choice for young men and women, while WeChat increasingly turned into a work communication tool.

The videos sent by Zhu Junyan adhered strictly to the characteristics of this era.

Rigid, proper, and utterly devoid of highlights.

Compared to the later transformation challenges, suggestive camera angles, and beat-synced rhythms, they fell short by more than just a little bit.

Lu Yao was speechless: "I have matters to attend to next Monday. Pick a place tonight, and we'll work overtime to redo the videos properly."

Zhu Junyan: "OK!"

Then Lu Yao sent a message to arrange next week's work with Sister Nali.

Once everything was settled, Lu Yao messaged Rong Nianqing back: "My schedule is set. We leave next Monday."

Rong Nianqing: "[ok]"

Having finished discussing official business, Lu Yao glanced toward the second-floor training area.

Zhou Bella was meticulously working out under the guidance of a private fitness coach.

Ever since the last photo shoot for the product details and homepage images at Zhou Bella's home, Lu Yao had not collaborated with her again.

However, Lu Yao noticed that Zhou Bella had been working out very actively lately.

Her lower-body proportions had indeed improved significantly compared to before.

Zhou Bella's physical proportions were already naturally good.

Sculpted by fitness training, she now radiated an exuberant, wild sense of beauty.

She looked like a taut, athletic, and beautiful tigress.

So, after pondering for a moment, Lu Yao called out to Zhou Bella: "Bella, are you free tonight?"

Zhou Bella, panting slightly amidst her workout, asked: "What's up?"

Lu Yao smiled and said: "I have a shooting schedule tonight. Come with me."