A Journey from Bitterness to Truth (Matilda and Yvan) novel Chapter 340

Eugene shook his head, “You know, the discovery of some top models happens by pure chance. Not everyone is born with a predetermined path. Let me walk you through our concept in detail, and then you can make up your mind, please?”

Matilda didn’t interrupt him, so Eugene continued. It was a backstory she actually found quite appealing—a story about a girl who played electric guitar in a rock band, living her early years recklessly in dive bars, eventually finding herself willingly trapped by a man’s charm, confined to a life that seemed to consist only of the kitchen and the bedroom. She felt her life becoming more mundane by the day, losing the passion she once had for the world.

That was until one day, she saw a street band performing, the lead guitarist a free spirit, his earrings and the glint in his eye shining with rebellion. In that moment, her heart felt alive again. She went home, dusted off her old electric guitar, and hit the streets to join them, eventually falling deeply in love with the band's lead singer.

Their outfits and the settings were all provided by fashion brands that the magazine regularly collaborated with, turning the whole thing into a creative advertisement.

Condensing such a rich story into a sixty-second video masterpiece, while keeping it stylish and high-quality, was no easy feat.

Matilda was intrigued, but she maintained her stance on staying behind the scenes, “Maybe I can help out backstage, but honestly, you don’t lack professionals.”

That was her polite way of saying no.

Eugene didn’t want to give up. In his eyes, Matilda was the protagonist of their story, and he was determined to have her on board.

So, he coaxed gently, “We could always tweak the storyline if there’s something you’re not happy with?”

“Oh no, no,” Matilda waved him off, “I’m quite pleased with what you’ve got. It’s just, Mr. Eugene, you’ve got the wrong person. I’m not interested in the spotlight…”

Eugene and Asuka sighed in unison. Matilda was steadfast; once she made up her mind, it was hard to sway her.

Having already turned down their enthusiastic offer, it wouldn’t be right to further hurt their feelings. When Eugene asked for Matilda’s contact information, she gave it to him, and then said her goodbyes with grace and poise.

Asuka watched her leave, “She probably doesn’t want the exposure.”

His persistence made it difficult for Matilda to refuse. She figured she’d just show up, do a quick shoot, and once other professional models arrived, they’d naturally choose the most suited for the role.

However, after getting made up and dressed in clothes provided by the sponsor brands, the moment she stood in front of the camera, the director couldn’t stop praising her.

“Oh my God! Her face is made for the screen! Why hasn’t she debuted yet?”

Matilda remained indifferent to the compliments, just offering a polite smile, “No... I once did a cover shoot for Beauty Magazine House, but I never really thought about debuting.”

After all, she wasn't in need of money. With other skills at her disposal, she had no desire to dive into the entertainment industry’s whirlpool.

Asuka, arms crossed, admired Matilda's look, which she had personally designed. The gothic hairstyle, smokey makeup, matte brown lipstick—it all screamed the kind of rebellious yet vivid spirit of a Western girl, a mix of flirtation and world-weariness captured straight through the lens.