IDEI Ch17

After the midnight snack, Ling Cangzhou had a small assistant escort the group to a hotel next to Chenxing Entertainment for their accommodation.

This hotel was located next to Chenxing Entertainment, boasting both a prime location and excellent décor and service.

After washing up, Qi Yanning climbed into the soft, plush bed. Such a bed was incomparable to the one in the dormitory. Lying in the bed, which was soft yet provided just the right amount of support, felt as if all his fatigue would be dispelled.

Qi Yanning fell asleep almost instantly.

Early the next morning, Qi Yanning got up to prepare the things needed for today’s event.

His job today was to finish the makeup and styling for the group before they left for the event venue, leaving only touch-ups for Chenxing Entertainment’s makeup artists.

The event would start at 7 p.m., and the venue was an art gallery located next to Chenxing Entertainment.

The highlight of the red carpet would be the big stars of Chenxing Entertainment. As the trainees didn’t carry much weight, they were placed quite early on the schedule. The only ones ahead of them were the trainees who had not been arranged for debut.

Therefore, they started doing makeup and styling around noon. The trainees lined up nervously, as this was their first time walking the red carpet and appearing in public.

The two from the acting department leaned on each other in silence, drawing strength from one another.

Meanwhile, the idol trainees, huddled together whispering, still couldn’t ease their nerves, so they started singing—specifically, the title track from their debut album.

Even though it wasn’t a formal performance, their attitude was very serious, singing out every detail and harmony of the song.

With powerful high notes, engaging rap, and stunning harmonies, they performed a song full of futuristic and combat-like energy, perfectly matching their aura.

Listening to the smooth and captivating song, Qi Yanning smiled slightly and looked at Shen Qing, who was getting her makeup done. “Congratulations.”

Shen Qing lifted her eyes to meet Qi Yanning’s gaze in the mirror, her lips, already painted with a full lip color, curving into a confident smile.

She understood what Qi Yanning meant. Having teammates this strong was her fortune.

Back in the training camp, despite her strength, she was ostracized, but now things were different. Her teammates were just as powerful as she was. Such strength would be their greatest confidence as they moved forward in their careers.

Qi Yanning and his team worked quickly. Especially Qi Yanning—although he had initially struggled with modern cosmetics, having been unfamiliar with them, after some time, he had mastered their usage.

It had to be said that modern makeup products were far superior to those from ancient times, with a far greater variety of options.

After adjusting the curves of a few strands of hair, Qi Yanning clapped his hands. “All done.”

The girls didn’t even dare make big expressions, staring intently at their companions and their own reflections in the mirror.

Today’s makeup was clearly more refined than yesterday’s. Even seeing it again, they were still amazed by the beauty of the look.

Extremely beautiful, very unique, and distinctly “themselves.”

Qi Yanning’s styling had not erased their personal characteristics but instead enhanced their strengths. While maintaining their distinctiveness, he made them even more beautiful and captivating.

So stunning!

With such skills, why did he ever pursue being an idol? Was the reasoning behind this something only great minds could understand?

The girls silently grumbled in their hearts.

“Let’s go,” Qi Yanning glanced at the clock on his phone, confirming there was plenty of time. With a faint smile, he gestured to the girls, “There won’t be any issues; trust me, and trust yourselves.”

The girls’ tension, which had reached its peak, dissipated under Qi Yanning’s calm and reassuring gaze. They took a deep breath, then turned and set off on their journey.

Meanwhile, the red carpet pre-show had already begun.

This time, the red carpet set design was exceptionally exquisite. On either side of the signature wall were waterfalls of flowers, and the photo-taking areas were adorned with floral arrangements of various colors.

The first to walk the red carpet were Chenxing Entertainment’s trainees. They were still in the early stages of training, so this red carpet appearance was basically just to get them some exposure.

They were extremely nervous and didn’t present themselves with much confidence. Their ordinary makeup and slightly awkward demeanor made the audience quickly lose interest, and even the media took very few photos.

[These trainees are way too green.]

[Looks like this Chenxing Entertainment event is going to be another boring red carpet.]

[Chenxing Entertainment’s theme this time… well, I could have guessed the female stars’ outfits with my feet—]

[Big! Ball! Gown! Princess! Dresses!]

[When will female celebrities in the domestic entertainment industry finally give up on those big ballgown fairy dresses?]

[If it were like last time, with Yang Xinting in a suit on the red carpet? That was hideous, no thanks, lol.]

[So boring.]

[Saw the departure photos of the actresses, and yeah, as expected, it’s so dull.]

[The male celebrities all in identical suits are even more boring, and on top of that, they’re not even good-looking.]

[Do the makeup and styling teams have any creativity? A few flowers on the dress hem and a flower pinned on the suit lapel, and they think that counts as a garden theme?]

[…]

In the Chenxing Entertainment event livestream, the host was passionately narrating, but aside from the fan-controlled comments, it was clear there was little genuine enthusiasm.

The audience had grown tired of the safe red carpet looks. Apart from fans, most viewers staying in the livestream were just there to pass the time or gossip.

The scene at the event became a striking contrast, with the live audience’s enthusiasm sharply differing from the quiet atmosphere of the livestream. Especially after photos of major stars from Chenxing Entertainment were posted online, viewers became increasingly bored, with half the livestream audience leaving. Those who remained did so out of sheer boredom.

Until—

A group of trainees stepped out of the car, and the viewers suddenly perked up!

They were dressed in black, tailored dresses with a crisp texture that showcased sharp, fashionable silhouettes. Metal flowers were intricately woven into the dresses, with realistic and deconstructed flowers scattered artistically across the fabric. The dresses weren’t too long, just enough to reveal a glimpse of their pale calves.

Their makeup featured a restrained, smoky eye, accented with fine silver lines tracing their eyelids and foreheads, creating the highlight of the look. Each of the five trainees had a different hairstyle: sleek black straight hair, a princess cut, high ponytail, updo, and scorpion braid, all meticulously styled with no stray hairs out of place.

One by one, the five trainees stepped out of the car, each with a unique look but harmonizing as a cohesive group.

[Wow]

[!!!]

The comment section exploded.

[Who are these people!!! So unique!]

[I never thought I’d be so impressed by black dresses!]

[One beauty, two beauties, three, four, five beauties, hehehe]

[Who are they?! Chenxing Entertainment, you’ve been hiding this talent well.]

[Finally, some outfits worth watching! So beautiful!]

The five trainees walked onto the red carpet, their black dresses standing out against the floral decorations surrounding them. Not only did they not clash with the setting, but they became the most dazzling sight.

The paparazzi eagerly raised their cameras, snapping photos earnestly.

Flashlights flickered like stars, and though the trainees were somewhat nervous, their faces showed no sign of it. They maintained just the right expressions, exuding confidence and composure, as if they were perfectly at ease.

“Hello, welcome to the Chenxing event,” the host greeted them with a smile. “Could you introduce yourselves?”

“Hello, we are—”

“THE DREAM, Phantom Dream!”

The five trainees, dressed in coordinated black dresses that varied in style but shared similar elements, stood in a row, greeting the audience with confident smiles.

Behind them was a backdrop of flowers, but they stood out even more than the flowers. The metallic flowers on their dresses gave them a look as if night had fallen in a garden, blending a sense of futurism. They looked like futuristic androids from another world.

Their makeup was equally eye-catching. Clean, sharp hairstyles and a smoky eye makeup with a hint of apathy gave them an almost inhuman, cold and mechanical aura.

[Is this Chenxing’s new girl group?]

[They don’t look human (in a complimentary way)]

[They look so cool, I love this style!]

[They’re all so beautiful! This dress is creative and stunning!]

[Metal flowers? This is like a cyber garden, kkkkk]

As soon as they appeared, the comment section exploded with discussion. Now, with the camera capturing a full view of them, the conversation became even more intense.

[So unique, so on theme! This is what a red carpet is about!]

[Best look of the event so far]

[Is this girl group getting a big push from Chenxing? Their styling team is amazing!]

The discussion continued, but the five members of Phantom Dream knew nothing about it. After signing their names and posing for photos for a while, they calmly left the red carpet, ignoring the media’s requests to stay longer.

Even after they left the red carpet, the audience in the comment section couldn’t stop talking about Phantom Dream. With the rest of the event returning to its usual dullness, viewers became even more fixated on the group.

[Phantom Dream! Five robotic goddesses, I love it!]

[They’re so cool, totally unfazed by the red carpet, hahahaha]

[Is this their style? I love it so much! As long as their talent doesn’t disappoint, I’m definitely a fan!]

Looking at the comment section, at least 80% of the discussion was about Phantom Dream, and it continued for a long time…

Until—two more trainees from the acting division appeared.

Dressed in refreshing white, they seemed to cleanse the audience’s eyes, as if a gentle breeze had descended on the red carpet.

[These two are gorgeous as well!]

[Is this a flower goddess and a flower fairy arriving?!]

A black minivan slowly stopped at the end of the red carpet. The door silently slid open, and a girl wearing a white short dress stepped out first.

She gently adjusted the hem of her dress, curiously glancing around at her surroundings, and then reached her hand toward the car.

Another girl, also dressed in white, gently grasped her hand and gracefully stepped out of the car, lifting her skirt as she did.

[Wow!]

Those who noticed the scene gasped in surprise.

Others, hearing the noise, turned to look in that direction.

By now, the two girls were standing still, smiling at the crowd.

The skirt of the first girl resembled a flower bud, with flowing layers of tulle revealing vibrant colors underneath.

Her makeup was more colorful than most of the actresses who had come before her, with soft green and pink hues delicately dusted around her eyes. Her chestnut hair was adorned with small white flowers, woven into a braid that fell over her right shoulder, making her look like an ethereal fairy.

The style of the girl in the long dress was completely different. With a fishtail silhouette and a floor-length hem adorned with intricate flowers, every step she took seemed to bloom with flowers. The flowers on the main body of the dress were much less dense compared to the hem, forming only a delicate line that looked as though one were peeking into a lush garden from behind a white wall—mysterious and beautiful.

Her hair was pinned up with a white peony-shaped hairpin, with only a few loose strands of hair lazily cascading down. Her makeup was light and natural, with only thin white accents on her eyeliner and lashes, adding an extra touch of ethereal charm to her already delicate and beautiful appearance.

So beautiful!

The media immediately pointed their cameras at the two of them. They smiled generously, waving to the people on either side of the red carpet, and then walked towards the signing wall at the end.

[These two have such a magical aura!]

[So beautiful! Completely different from Phantom Dream’s style.]

[Two completely different styles of beauty in one red carpet event… I must have done so much good in my life to deserve this!]

[Another pair with a perfect concept, so stunning!]

[Are these two newcomers… actors?]

[They must be actors, their eyes are so expressive!]

[Someone please, any director, quickly cast these two into a project!]

Like oil poured into boiling water, the comment section suddenly erupted with even more chatter!