Seeing the determination in Joel's eyes, I knew the fish was on the hook.
During the summer break, I didn't go home. Instead, I embarked on a major venture.
In my previous life, poverty drove me to work harder in my major. My designs were the best in the class, and I even worked part-time at a design company, gaining some experience.
This time, I invested all my earnings from collecting recyclables into starting an advertising design business. I hustled to get clients, did the designs myself, and worked with printing companies, focusing on business with colleges.
Thanks to the knowledge from my previous life, my first project—a promotional booklet for a university—earned me a solid 4,000 dollars.
I quickly built on this success by recruiting a few talented college students specializing in different areas—design, client acquisition, networking, etc. I even bought equipment and worked together with them, leveraging information gaps, and soon took over design and promotion projects for various universities in the area.
Luckily, my frequent part-time jobs in my previous life helped me meet these capable and kind-hearted partners.
This time, I approached them in advance, and together, we formed a small advertising office.
By the time the new semester started, I had made a fortune. I no longer needed to collect recyclables and had successfully transitioned into advertising design.
Earning money wasn't enough; I also needed to improve myself in other ways.
With enough money, I began focusing on my appearance.
Joel Stephens and Juliette Hoover thought I was the poorest and ugliest in the school. I would show them who the real fool was.
In truth, I was never ugly. I had nice features, but working part-time under the sun damaged my skin. Poverty also prevented me from dressing well, making me stand out as the ugliest among the vibrant college students.
In this life, I would play to my strengths and avoid my weaknesses.
During the summer, I enrolled in etiquette classes to cultivate my taste and even squeezed in one-on-one dance classes to learn some routines.
Soon, my taste and temperament improved significantly.
Money gave me confidence. I dressed stylishly and applied tasteful makeup. By the time the new semester began, I showed up on campus, leaving everyone stunned. They barely recognized me.
Joel saw me from afar and was stunned. "Erica, is that really you?"