Basketball: The Chosen Victim

Chapter 140 Winning six consecutive victories!
There is no problem with Versace's endorsement contract, but when Wu Di was doing styling and preparing for the photo shoot, he almost wanted to leave the table!

Europe and the United States, especially the fashion circle where Versace is located, have too stereotyped impressions of Chinese people!
Wu Di had been wary of this for a long time, so when doing styling, he specially ordered a Chinese stylist named Jackie Chen.

Jackie is about 1 meters tall, with a thin body, wearing black-rimmed glasses, combing a ponytail, dressed in black, with a flower tattoo on his left hand, and dressed in a standard fashion circle.

However, it was just such a guy who put a make-up tape on the corner of Wu Di's eyes, pulling his phoenix eyes into slender squint eyes.

Then, before Wu Di could react, he began to apply prosthetic-colored foundation on his face...

Wu Di's face was so gloomy that water dripped out.

"Mr. Wu, are you okay?"

Jackie asked cautiously in broken Mandarin. Wu Di's thoughtful eyes made him very uncomfortable.

"Do you think I'll be fine like this?"

Wu Di got angry and sprayed directly:

"What kind of underworld aesthetics are you? Why do you have to stretch your good eyes into a slit, and why do you have to paint your healthy skin like this bird..."

However, when Jackie heard the words, he suddenly got excited, and even quarreled with Wu Di in a sissy voice:
"No! Mr. Wu, this is my professional field. You are not usually in the fashion circle, so please give me full trust in this point. I will definitely show your most distinctive side and let the American body I will come to your exotic style..."

Wu Di tore off the tape next to the corner of his eye:
"Squinting eyes, long eye tails, sallow skin, greasy hair, the exotic style in your eyes is ugly?"

Jackie's face turned red:

"How could it be! This is the characteristic beauty of our race, you must confidently show the characteristics of our nation to the world..."

But Wu Di doesn't like this at all:
"Nonsense! This is not a feature at all. This is Fu Manchu, a shape invented by some people with ulterior motives to refer to the Yellow Peril!"

Jackie repeatedly waved her hands in denial:
"...You are serious. I am Chinese. It is too late to be proud of you. How could you be designed as Fu Manchu? You really misunderstood me! I graduated from Parsons School of Design, please believe me The professionalism, but your aesthetic needs to be improved..."

But Wu Di became more and more angry the more he listened:

"I have tens of millions of female fans, and they are all trendy outfits of the day. It's not up to you to tell me what is beautiful and what is ugly!"

Jackie still wanted to quibble, but Wu Di no longer gave him another chance:
"Substitution! If I'm not satisfied with the look I made today, I won't sign this endorsement!"

Jackie's face was livid, Wu Di's reaction was so strong, his job at Versace might not be guaranteed!
Although he graduated from a prestigious design school, this is after all the luxury brand Versace, and he is just an ordinary daily stylist here.

Before Wu Di asked him to do the styling, he thought it was a great opportunity, but he didn't expect Wu Di to be so "messy"...

However, several stylists came later, whether they were white or black, the styles for Wu Di were still similar, and Wu Di sprayed them away.

"Sweetheart, is there something wrong with this look?"

After hearing the news, Donatella Versace, the creative design director of Versace, came to ask.

"Of course! It's a big problem! While signing me as a spokesperson, you vilify me at the same time. I don't know what your intentions are!"

Wu Di was about to explode, today, he was prejudiced like never before!
He is now the Chinese with the most internet fans in Europe and the United States. If he also makes this look, the stereotype of Chinese people in the world will be further deepened!
It was like this before, those supermodels didn't speak out at all after they became famous, and let the underworld aesthetics of these European and American designers go their own way, which made this phenomenon intensify!
All the staff of Versace were silent. It was the first time they had seen someone dare to confront fashionista Donatella Versace face to face.

"But, you know, those Huaxia models have always had this style..."

Donatella said in embarrassment, deep down in her heart, she also felt that this look was not good-looking.

But this is like an exotic label. After adding it to Wu Di, it can quickly show his background characteristics.

Seeing a Chinese model, what Europeans and Americans really want is—"Look, this person is so ugly, his eyes are so narrowed that he can't see, he has no bridge of nose, and his complexion is sallow, but he is sought after by people in China. The handsome guy/big beauty!"

But before that, no one would rudely call it ugly, but called it "exotic" and "unique".

Just like the emperor's new clothes, if you can't see the emperor's luxurious clothes, you are blind.

But now Wu Di said it directly, this is so ugly!

No matter where it is ugly!

"It's always been like this before, right?"

Wu Di asked, he had to be tough on today's matter, even if he couldn't get the 600 million dollar endorsement fee!
"It may not be right, but it has always been like this before, and it must have its value!"

Donatella replied leisurely, as the design director of Versace, of course she understands that this style will satisfy many people.

Most of the models of luxury brands are not beautiful, or even ugly, especially overseas models. There are two reasons for this.

The first reason is that beauty is always the same, and ugliness can be strange and eye-catching, and it can reflect the uniqueness of luxury brands.

The second is that when many Europeans and Americans see Wu Di's appearance, they will be overwhelmed with self-confidence, feel very good about themselves, and even wish to buy a plane ticket to Huaxia immediately to enjoy the treatment of a master.

"But I do not recognize such morbid values!"

Wu Di said firmly, "If we don't change our styles, I don't think there is any need for us to cooperate."

Donatella turned her head to look at Ariana, she hoped that Ariana could persuade Wu Di, the endorsement fee is 600 million dollars a year!
Make money, compromise, don't be shabby!
But Arina shook her head:
"Wu Di's opinion is my opinion!"

Donatella turned her head to look at Anne Hathaway again. She was already their spokesperson and seemed to have a good relationship with Wu Di, so she might be able to talk.

But Anne Hathaway looked at Wu Di with starry eyes.

At that time, she also felt that Versace's stylist made her mouth protrude on purpose, but she dared not say it. Instead, she licked him to show that it was very unique...

Now Wu Di not only scolded a group of stylists to tears, but also dared to confront the creative director of Versace directly...

Just so handsome!

Donatella frowned. In fact, it is not impossible to abandon the squinting style, but doing so will make the Versace brand take a huge risk.

That is, if Wu Di focuses on a confident and sunny style like European and American male stars, and the effect is better than those of European and American male stars, it will make quite a few European and American people feel uncomfortable...

Thinking of this, her tone turned cold and said:
"Think about it, we are the top Italian luxury brand, and the contract given to you is at the level of a global brand spokesperson. If you sign it, you can sit in the C seat to watch the show at the next New York Fashion Week. This is what many stars want Unavailable resources..."

Before Wu Di could reply, Ariana directly retorted from the side:

"Hehe, Ms. Versace, you're overthinking. As long as Wu Di wants to go, he can sit wherever he wants! Isn't it New York Fashion Week, they upgraded from Bryant Park to Lincoln Center this year, who do you think let them enter the house? "

Donatella stared, Lincoln Center is a sacred place for American artists, but it is also the private property of the Rockefeller family!
Damn it, she almost forgot Ariana's last name...

Now it's not just a matter of non-cooperation, if this matter is not handled properly, they may encounter unexpected troubles in the next big show...

Thinking of this, she immediately backed away from the left and right sides, and then changed her face and said to Wu Di with a gentle attitude:
"I was not thinking carefully. You can have the influence you have today, which is inseparable from your persistence. I think we still have to fully consider..."

But Wu Di quit:

"I think you've considered it very clearly. After all, you just said that the previous phenomenon must have its existence value. Then you all go to hell with this value!"

Donatella's complexion was very ugly. Although it is an unspoken rule in the fashion circle to make squinted eyes for Chinese people, Wu Di doesn't agree with it at all!

And according to Wu Di's words, he is not ready for today's matter!
Wu Di now has tens of millions of fans. If he speaks out on social media and says that he has been targeted by Versace for stereotypes of Chinese people, the impact on Versace may be catastrophic.

Since its establishment, Versace has been a first-tier luxury brand alongside LV and Dior, but since the founder of the brand, Giovanni Versace, was shot dead in 97, it has gradually fallen to the second-tier.

As the head of the current Versace brand, Donatella signed the contract with Wu Di to capture the hearts of this generation of young people and to further expand the Chinese market, but today she discovered that Wu Di is not under her control at all...

On the side, her assistant whispered a few words in her ear, apparently giving her some advice, she thought for a while and said:
"Mr. Wu, please also believe in the sincerity of our cooperation. The appearance just now was not intentional by us, but just an unspoken rule in the circle! Now that we have realized this problem, we will take your request as the criterion, and the endorsement fee On the other hand, we will also increase to 700 million US dollars per year!"

But Wu Di is unforgiving:

"I didn't feel your sincerity at all. Today, so many of you stylists came to do my styling, and all of them are like this bird, which is enough to see how deep your prejudice is!"

The corners of Donatella's mouth twitched. She realized today that it is easy to invite God and difficult to send God away!
"Eight million US dollars per year, really can't be more! The Versace family's family background is not rich. After my brother was shot and killed that year, I have been struggling to support him..."

But Wu Di still did not let go:
"It's not about endorsement fees, it's about respect and equality. Squinting your eyes is definitely discriminatory against Chinese people, but you fashion brands have been fueling the flames behind..."

Donatella gritted her teeth:

"Our brand will upload a statement on the official website, calling on people to boycott this aesthetic, what do you think?"

Only then did Wu Di nod his head and said with a happy smile:
"This statement will surely make the fashion industry of the Versace family flourish!"

……

On January 1th, Versace held a press conference in New York, announcing that Wu Di became the global brand image spokesperson alongside Anne Hathaway!
Different from Wu Di's endorsement of Pepsi and Under Armor before, Versace is a luxury brand that was rich in the ancestors after all. The brand audience has quite a few European and American elites who like to flaunt themselves. They are puzzled by Versace's behavior and call for boycotts :
"Damn it, let a Chinese person be the global brand spokesperson! I will never buy Versace again!"

"So Wu Di is from Huaxia? I thought he was a neon person. Shouldn't Chinese people have squinted eyes, a flat nose, long braids, and a mustache..."

"I can't accept that Huaxia people are so handsome, he must have plastic surgery!"

"It's said on TV that more than one billion people in Huaxia can't even eat enough to eat. Doesn't his family have such a background?"

……

But soon, something that made them even more explosive appeared. Versace uploaded a statement from Donatella on the official website:

"When Versace expanded the Chinese market, I found that squinting eyes is just a stereotype of Chinese people in European and American society, and it contains serious discrimination!"

"I hereby announce that Versace will refuse to use slit eye makeup in the future, and call on the industry peers to abandon this practice!"

"Versace is inspired by ancient civilizations such as Greece, Egypt, and China. It is a great honor to invite Wu Di from China to be the global brand spokesperson. We hope that through fashion, art and other forms of cultural exchange, we will fully support young Chinese creative talents to go to the world stage! "

The statement was a depth bomb that blew up some rednecks:
"Brands that kneel and lick Chinese people get out of America!"

"Where is squinting discriminated against? Why don't people say they have squinting eyes?"

"I didn't have any feelings for Wu Di at first, but now I just hate it! It's just an old hat from China, and now it's getting better in the United States. LeBron must teach this arrogant guy a lesson!"

"Versace needs to withdraw this statement immediately! Otherwise I will never consume any Versace products again!"

……

Since Wu Di entered the NBA from the draft, there is no shortage of black fans, and the reactions of these red necks have been expected.

But what was unexpected was Wu Di's strong delivery ability.

The products of Versace's major stores in the United States were sold out, and even the old models in stock were sold out, especially women's clothing, bags and other products, which even generated a premium!

In fact, it’s no wonder that Wu Di has been mostly female fans since he entered the NBA in the draft. After all, he is handsome and can play, which brings too much competitive pressure to American men!
However, the target consumers of the Under Armor brand he endorsed before are mostly men, and female fans have always wanted to support but have no way, so they have been accumulating purchasing power.

Now that Versace has signed Wu Di, they can finally be released arrogantly!
"I think this is very cool! In fact, Versace is right, to eliminate racial discrimination, to eliminate prejudice, this is what we should do!"

Contrary to the red-neck remarks on the Internet, Wu Di's style comments are exceptionally good in the street interviews of major news channels!
Especially female respondents:
"America is a diverse immigrant society, we welcome Huaxia to export more high-quality handsome guys like Wu Di to us..."

"We should thank Wu Di. He let us know that there is such a beautiful country in the world. I have already booked a ticket to Huaxia this summer!"

"I heard that when my parents' generation was young, it was popular to go to India to practice, but Wu Di told us with real deeds that China is much better than India..."

"I agree with this point of view very much. India has not changed for decades, but China is changing with each passing day..."

Some editorial experts also seized on this wave of hot spots and commented one after another:

"It was Huaxia who helped us survive the 08 financial crisis. Of course we must respect their culture!"

"What Versace has done should be praised instead of boycotted. I really don't know where those keyboard warriors on the Internet come from. Anyway, the people around me applaud this incident!"

"The appearance of Yao and Wu let us see a strong and confident Huaxia, and we look forward to more outstanding Chinese athletes coming to the NBA arena..."

In this regard, Wu Di has almost no turmoil in his heart. Now that the United States and China are still in the honeymoon period, it can be politically correct to praise him.

But the honeymoon period is doomed to be short. Only when he achieves sky-defying results like Michael Jordan can he gain world-class influence and truly make money standing up!

……

On January 1, the Cavaliers faced the Eagles back-to-back at the Quicken Loans Center Arena.

After four quarters of fierce fighting, Wu Di led the Cavaliers to win 115-119!

In this way, plus the five victories against the Timberwolves, Magic, Lakers, Bobcats, and Nets a few days ago, the Cavaliers have achieved a luxurious six-game winning streak!
The Cavaliers' record also came to 26 wins and 17 losses, with a winning percentage of 60.4%, surpassing the Magic and rushing to fourth in the Eastern Conference!

There are only 3 wins away from Wu Di's goal, which is the third Celtics in the Eastern Conference!
If he can replace the Celtics and become the third in the Eastern Conference, then Cavaliers general manager Grant has a chance to win the best general manager award this season!

If Grant can win the General Manager Award, Wu Di can complete the side mission "Power Overwhelming" and get the "President's Eye" badge!
But it's definitely not easy, after all, the last time the Cavaliers played against the Celtics at home suffered a 113-89 disastrous defeat.

But last time it was because Wu Di was injured in the fourth quarter and Jamison was absent.

On February 2rd, the Cavaliers will challenge the Celtics away. Now that Wu Di and Jamison are both healthy, and with the help of Love, Wu Di has the confidence to complete his revenge even if the Celtics are at home!
But when he was actively preparing for the game, he received a call from NBA President David Stern!

After some simple greetings, Stern cut to the chase:
"Wu, the league will introduce stricter walking rules. This may have an impact on your offensive system in the short term, but in the long run, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. In addition, I will compensate you..."

(End of this chapter)