Chapter 151: The Last Rose of the Barren Land

“What respect? When you’re abroad, you should adapt to their customs. Isn’t it common sense to respect their cultural etiquette? How could you not know about cheek kissing? And you call yourself a lady?”

A faint voice full of disdain echoed.

Although her voice wasn’t loud and she spoke in Chinese, which Swift couldn’t understand, Jiang Mi and Gu Chuan could.

Jiang Mi glanced over and saw that it was Swift’s translator speaking. With a slight, sarcastic smile, she asked, “Oh? Then what do you think I should do?”

The translator was momentarily stunned, her eyes betraying a flash of guilt before she quickly regained her arrogance.

After all, she was hired at a high salary by the perfume brand as a translator. Jiang Mi, wanting to establish good relations with the brand, should be eager to curry favor with her, right? Moreover, her “advice” was for Jiang Mi’s own good!

“Of course, you should follow French customs. Comply with Mr. Swift and try to meet all his requests. France is a developed country, and if you want to expand your career…” The translator puffed out her chest and lifted her head proudly.

Jiang Mi’s smile turned cold, and she interrupted, “Really? Because I think what you’re doing isn’t adapting to local customs, but rather groveling. You’re just a sycophant.”

The translator’s face turned pale, and she grew angry out of embarrassment. “You—you’re talking nonsense, Jiang Mi! I’m only reminding you as a fellow countrywoman. Don’t be so ungrateful.”

“Don’t. I don’t need compatriots who pander to foreign countries,” Jiang Mi said coldly, her lips curling.

“You think just because you have some online popularity back home that you’re all that? This is France, not a place for you to act out! I gave you advice as a fellow countrywoman because I didn’t want to see you squander this hard-earned opportunity. Yet you respond like this! Fine, I’ll be waiting to see how you’ll manage after offending Mr. Swift. Let’s see if you can still continue with this endorsement.”

The French perfume brand they were dealing with was one of the most luxurious in the industry. Many world-class actors, models, and singers dreamed of being their ambassadors but never had the chance.

Jiang Mi must have used some underhanded tactics to secure this endorsement. And now, she was foolish enough to disrespect Mr. Swift!

The translator could hardly wait to see the cooperation fall apart and Jiang Mi cry.

But Jiang Mi, watching the translator lose her composure, only smiled.

She turned to Swift and asked, “Did my team pay a hefty price to secure this endorsement?”

Although Swift couldn’t understand the conversation between Jiang Mi and the translator, he could sense from their expressions that it wasn’t a pleasant exchange.

Now, hearing Jiang Mi’s question, Swift, who wasn’t a fool, quickly pieced things together.

One was a temporary hire as a translator.

The other was their brand’s muse.

Was there really any question about which mattered more?

“No, Mi, you’ve got it wrong. It’s we who put in a lot of effort to secure your collaboration. When we reached out to your manager, Lan, she was already in talks with another brand. I personally reached out several times and even offered triple the endorsement fee to bring you on board.”

As he spoke, Swift seemed rather proud of himself.

Jiang Mi couldn’t help but laugh. It was the first time she’d seen someone so happy about being swindled.

The only person who wasn’t laughing was the translator. She stood there in shock, her eyes wide and her face frozen. “This… this can’t be possible.”

Jiang Mi mocked her, asking, “What’s wrong? Do you dare question even Mr. Swift, the person you admire most?”

The translator’s face turned pale as she glanced at Swift in fear.

Swift, no longer smiling, looked at her coldly. If she jeopardized the cooperation with Jiang Mi, she wouldn’t last in France for long!

The translator looked as if she’d been struck by lightning.

Jiang Mi, uninterested in this sudden extra character, turned back to Swift and said, “I don’t want to see her again.”

Swift immediately responded, “Of course, Mi. I’ll have her removed right away.”

The translator was stunned. “Mr. Swift!”

Swift’s face remained stern as he said, “You’re fired. And since you’ve offended a distinguished guest of our company, you’ve violated your employment contract. I have the right to pursue legal action against you.”

The translator was shocked, panicking. “No! Jiang Mi, you can’t do this! We’re both from China! You can’t treat me like this!”

Jiang Mi laughed coldly. “For people like you who look down on their own country and grovel before others, I refer to you as traitors in training. So don’t disgrace the word ‘compatriot.’ You don’t deserve it.”

The translator’s face turned ghostly white, and she collapsed to the ground in a mixture of resentment, shame, and guilt.

A moment later, several bodyguards came forward and roughly escorted her out.

At that moment, Swift looked at Jiang Mi with even more admiration. She was indeed the perfect match for their brand’s perfume!

The reason they had chosen Jiang Mi as their ambassador wasn’t just because of her beauty or the power she represented. It was the energy she exuded—elegant, independent, clear-headed, and unapologetically herself.

Like the last rose in barren soil, she dazzled at first glance with her fiery beauty. But as time went on, one could see her icy calmness underneath.

Even if her thorns were removed, this rose would continue to bloom proudly.

“Mi, I apologize again for my earlier presumptuousness. I have always deeply respected the subtle beauty of China. I truly regret any offense,” Swift said, bowing slightly to express his sincere apology.

This whole situation had been a misunderstanding, not a cultural faux pas—just a matter of Gu Chuan’s possessiveness.

Jiang Mi turned to Gu Chuan, her playful eyes sparkling as if to say, You caused this mess. Now you clean it up.