Shen Yu. The future, world-famous fashion prodigy.

His presence demanded both absolute power and unquestionable authority. In his previous life, Yan Shou had seen Shen Yu giving exclusive private interviews, and his face had graced the covers of countless high-end luxury magazines. Shen Yu’s creations weren't just top-notch, they possessed a legendary, almost mythical reputation.

Every piece he designed held a distinct kind of power, tailored specifically to alter the aura of the wearer and make them exude entirely different vibes—whether it was untouchable royalty, dangerous seduction, or commanding authority. 

And right now, this legendary figure was standing right in front of him, offering a hand. 

Shen Yu’s patience visibly thinned. "Hey! Stop hesitating so much. People literally die for a chance to shake my hand, yet you're just leaving me hanging here."

Noticing the flash of annoyance on the prodigy's face, Yan Shou quickly snapped out of his daze and grasped his hand. The moment their palms met, a brilliant, knowing smirk spread across Shen Yu’s lips, and he released the grip with a lingering, deliberate slowness.

"That outfit looks absolutely stunning on you," Shen Yu murmured, taking a slow circle around him. "I had originally planned on dressing you myself. But now that you've gone ahead and chosen the absolute perfect outfit on your own, it makes me want to try something a bit different."

He stopped directly in front of Yan Shou, looking him up and down with an appreciative gleam in his dark eyes, before casually flicking his elegant fingers.

"Lei, Tie. Get the chair," Shen Yu commanded.

Instantly, the two massive bodyguards shifted into motion. Moving with synchronized, military precision, they smoothly brought over a plush, heavy chair and seamlessly guided a bewildered Yan Shou down into the seat. 

Shen Yu leaned down, his sharp, intense eyes locking directly onto Yan Shou’s. "Just close your eyes and relax," he murmured, his voice dropping to a smooth, commanding deep voice.

Before Yan Shou could even think of a witty retort, the two giant bodyguards stepped in, smoothly moving the heavy chair until he was facing the grand, illuminated mirror.

Suddenly, Yan Shou’s eyelids were covered by the cool weight of fresh cucumber slices, plunging his vision into darkness. The next thing he felt was the touch of smooth, incredibly soft hands applying a chilled cream across his face. It was completely soothing, melting away the lingering exhaustion of his late-night study session. Deciding that there was no point in fighting it, Yan Shou let out a quiet breath, completely relaxing into the plush chair and letting the future legend do whatever he pleased.

A few minutes later, the sharp, rhythmic snip-snip of scissors and the fine mist of a hairspray bottle echoed through the quiet showroom. Lei and Tie stood rigidly by, their sunglasses reflecting the sheer intensity of their boss as he worked with a rare, laser-focused passion.

An hour passed in a blur of working time. Finally, Yan Shou’s face was gently wiped clean with warm, damp towels, and his hair was blow-dried to a soft, voluminous finish. With a few deft, artistic sweeps of his fingers, Shen Yu added the final styling touches.

"Perfect," Shen Yu whispered, stepping back. 

The Yan Shou slowly opened his eyes to look at his reflection. He instantly froze, utterly stunned at the reflection. 

The person staring back at him didn't look like a struggling college student at all. With a modern, razor-sharp haircut that perfectly framed his strong jawline, and a radiant, flawless complexion, he looked every bit the part of an untouchable, ultra-wealthy elite heir. The transformation was so absolute that he easily eclipsed the entire Yan family combined.

In his previous life, Yan Shou had heard rumors that besides being a generational fashion prodigy, Shen Yu was also a master hairstylist. However, because Shen Yu’s styling work was purely private and never displayed to the public, no one ever knew if the whispers were true.

Now, looking at the masterpiece in the mirror, Yan Shou knew the rumors hadn't even done the man justice. He was truly a game changer. 

"Satisfied?" Shen Yu asked, crossing his arms over his chest. A smug, deeply content smile spread across his handsome face as he admired his masterpiece.

Yan Shou looked at himself again, tilting his head to catch the light, and nodded with genuine excitement.

"It truly suits me," Yan Shou said, unashamedly admiring his new look in the mirror. He flashed a brilliant smile at his reflection. "I always knew I was good-looking, but I never thought I could look this handsome."

Amused by his own transformation, he turned his head to look over at those two silent judges standing by the wall. 

Lei and Tie didn't disappoint. Moving in perfect, synchronized harmony, the two massive bodyguards reached into their pockets and pulled out their white boards one last time. This time, they hadn't just written a simple number.

With bold, sweeping strokes, both giants proudly held up a glowing a 'hundred out of ten.' 

"Hey, by the way... was Lin XiaoXi the one who sent you?" Yan Shou asked, turning his head slightly to look at him.

Shen Yu let out a sharp, amused scoff. "Do you think that airhead would have the brains to think that far ahead? All he ever thinks about is food. The moment he invited you to his performance at the grand hotel gala, I knew he wouldn't have given your wardrobe a single thought. So, I took it upon myself to handle your outfit arrangements."

"Oh, I see," Yan Shou murmured. He paused, looking directly at the handsome designer. "But why didn't you stop Lin XiaoXi from befriending me or inviting me? If I remember correctly, you two have been best friends since childhood. If you had told him to stay away from me, he definitely would have listened to you."

Shen Yu merely smiled at him, a soft, enigmatic expression crossing his sharp features. He leaned back against the marble counter near the mirror, crossing his ankles as his dark eyes locked onto Yan Shou's.

"Why on earth do you think I would stop XiaoXi from being friends with you?" Shen Yu asked, tilting his head. "It's true, he and I have been friends since childhood because our parents are close. But believe me, even though he looks completely clueless to the rest of the world, he has actually become quite cunning over the years—mostly from spending too much time around me."

Shen Yu chuckled softly, then a soft smile formed on our faces. "He knows exactly what he's doing and what's good for him. XiaoXi doesn't just casually make friends with anyone, he chooses them very carefully. If he didn't, he’d be best friends with the entire university campus. But no. He chose you because he really thinks you are worthy of it. So don't overthink it. I trust his judgment completely. If you two are friends, then as far as I'm concerned, you and I are friends now, too." 

Yan Shou smiled at him, as he chuckled softly. "You guys are truly... something else. You forcing a friendship on me like this feels like a total shakedown."

"Oh, really?" Shen Yu countered, raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Then why don't you try to run? Let's see exactly how far you can get before my men bring you right back."

"Yes, yes, I admit defeat, my lord," Yan Shou said, holding up his hands in mock surrender, a bright, genuine smile flashing across his face.

"Good for you," Shen Yu scoffed playfully. "You and that airhead are incredibly fortunate to have a brilliant friend like me."

Yan Shou couldn't help but laugh out loud at the dramatic declaration, and a moment later, Shen Yu joined in. The rich, warm sound of their laughter filled the luxurious showroom.

Looking at their reflections in the mirror, a sudden wave of emotion hit Yan Shou. In his previous life, he had been entirely alone, shivering on a cold floor and weathering every storm by himself. But now, in this new life, he suddenly had two incredibly good loyal friends by his side. Everything was changing for the better—no he was changing everything to better.

Meanwhile, on the exact opposite side of the city, inside a brightly lit rehearsal room, a completely different scene was unfolding. 

Lin XiaoXi was panting, doused in sweat from head to toe after hours of brutal, non-stop practice. Stopping his routine to take a much-needed break, he grabbed his sports bottle and took a quick, desperate sip of cool water.

“Achoo! Achoo!”

He suddenly sneezed loudly, twice in a row, nearly choking on his drink.

Lin XiaoXi lowered his bottle and wiped his nose, looking around the empty, mirrored rehearsal room with deep suspicion. He narrowed his eyes and muttered crossly to himself:

"Who the hell is talking bad about me behind my back?”