IDEI Ch15

Looking at the bounding big dog in the chat window, a peculiar smile touched Qi Yanning’s eyes and brows.

He looked up, turning to the three styling assistants around him.

“I’m heading over to Morning Star Entertainment. Who wants to come along?”

The assistants’ eyes lit up instantly.

On one hand, Morning Star Entertainment was a renowned titan in the industry; even just going to look around was a rare opportunity for small fry like them to broaden their horizons. On the other hand, being invited by Qi-ge to work on a gig outside Your Star, did that mean…

…they were officially recognized by Qi-ge as part of his inner circle!

“Me! I want to go!” the three young assistants chimed in, competing to speak first.

Their expressions were tinged with nervous anticipation, as if terrified Qi Yanning might leave them behind.

Qi Yanning’s gaze swept over the expressions on their faces. After a pause, he spoke in a lazy drawl, “Chu Sixiu, Wu Jianming… and Li Jinshi.”

Before Qi Yanning called her name, the disappointment on Li Jinshi’s face had practically been spilling over. But the moment her name left his lips, her gloom vanished, and she leaped up on the spot!

Li Jinshi complained with playful resentment, “Qi-ge, you’re teasing us!”

Qi Yanning arched an eyebrow, his eyes brimming with unrepentant amusement.

Li Jinshi backed down and turned to celebrate with the other two.

“Awesome!”

“Long live Qi-ge!”

The three cheered, spinning around Qi Yanning several times in a huddle, until his calm yet mildly murderous glare froze them in their tracks. Only then did they sheepishly stop and scurry off to pack their gear.

Afternoon arrived quickly. Ling Cangzhou messaged Qi Yanning that the car sent to pick them up had arrived at the gate of the Your Star filming base.

Qi Yanning led the three young assistants to the main entrance. A sleek, understated business MPV was parked under the shade of a tree by the gate.

Ling Cangzhou was leaning against the car. Catching sight of Qi Yanning, a broad smile bloomed across his face.

“A-Ning! You’re here.”

Though dressed sharply in a tailored suit, the very picture of an elite executive, to Qi Yanning’s eyes, he looked just like a large dog wagging its tail furiously at him.

The corner of Qi Yanning’s lips curved upward by an imperceptible fraction as he walked over.

The three assistants halted in their tracks. They had never imagined the CEO of Morning Star Entertainment would come pick them up in person; no, come pick up Qi-ge in person.

Faced with such an industry titan, the three felt utterly constrained. After polite greetings, they huddled into the back seats, not daring to make a peep.

“A-Ning, how has work been lately?” Ling Cangzhou turned his head, asking with a smile.

“Not bad,” Qi Yanning answered casually, as though the recent trouble with Li Qing and Lin He had never happened.

To Qi Yanning, the minor friction caused by Li Qing and Lin He truly amounted to nothing. Back when imperial thrones changed hands, the palace had been rife with lethal tension. Having clawed his way out of such perilous waters, he naturally found the petty squabbles between stylists negligible.

After all, such trivial schemes posed no threat to one’s life.

Ling Cangzhou raised an eyebrow. He had intended to bring up Li Qing and Lin He, but seeing Qi Yanning’s serene expression, he smiled and switched topics, moving on to explain the details of tomorrow’s fashion gala.

Morning Star Entertainment’s annual party and fashion gala was always a major industry event. On this day, every artist under Morning Star would attend, competing for radiance on the red carpet.

Artists with any measurable fame had their own styling teams, while the obscure, bottom-tier talents relied on the agency’s in-house stylists. Because the company had recruited a fresh batch of trainees recently, the in-house styling team was stretched thin, which was why Ling Cangzhou specifically invited Qi Yanning to step in.

Yet, inviting a stylist hardly required the CEO of Morning Star Entertainment to handle it in person.

Qi Yanning cast a glance at the earnest Ling Cangzhou and let out a soft laugh.

Ulterior motives, indeed.

“Which artists am I responsible for? What’s the event theme?” Qi Yanning asked crisply.

“The theme is ‘Garden,'” Ling Cangzhou replied softly.

He produced a tablet, holding it flat as he leaned closer to Qi Yanning. With his approach, a subtle, clean fragrance drifted into Qi Yanning’s nose.

“Your cologne smells nice,” Qi Yanning remarked, raising an eyebrow at the man who was right beside him.

Ling Cangzhou turned his head slightly, grinning. “Thank you for appreciating my taste, A-Ning!”

Qi Yanning offered no comment on that, shifting his attention down to the tablet.

“Here are the profiles of the trainees who need your styling,” Ling Cangzhou said in a low, gentle voice that drifted softly into Qi Yanning’s ear.

Ling Cangzhou leaned closer and closer, while Qi Yanning acted as if he hadn’t noticed at all.

They discussed in hushed tones.

The three assistants in the back row exchanged hesitant looks. The atmosphere between the two made them too intimidated to speak.

Still, Qi-ge, you two leaning in so close and whispering, is there really something that isn’t suitable for the three of us to hear?

Morning Star Entertainment’s headquarters was located in City A’s central business district, an imposing corporate high-rise.

Led by Ling Cangzhou, Qi Yanning and his assistants headed straight for the styling department. Although he had looked at the trainees’ photos earlier and formed preliminary concepts, he needed to see them in person to gauge their true potential.

In a spacious styling studio, several trainees were waiting anxiously.

There were seven trainees in total: five idol trainees, and two from the acting department. Having just learned that their red carpet looks would be handled by an outside stylist hired by the company, they were on pins and needles.

After all, what kind of top-tier stylist would be hired to style mere nobodies like them?

Nonetheless, the moment Qi Yanning stepped through the door, they immediately stood up and bowed ninety degrees. “Hello, Teacher!”

When they finally raised their heads, one trainee let out a quiet, surprised gasp: “Qi Yanning?”

Qi Yanning looked over at the sound. It was a girl with a high ponytail, sporting a very cool look. He searched his memory for a moment.

“A-Qing? Long time no see,” Qi Yanning said.

This girl was Shen Qing. Back when the original host trained under an agency for a period, he had gotten to know Shen Qing. At the time, one was the most skilled among the female trainees, while the other was the least capable among the male trainees; both were ostracized, which led to a mutual, sympathetic understanding.

“I didn’t believe a single word of the recent rumors online, but I couldn’t reach you and was worried sick! Seeing that you’re doing well now is such a relief. But why are you here?” A-Qing paused.

She hesitated. “Are you… today’s stylist?”

She could hardly believe it, but seeing the styling assistants trailing behind him with makeup kits, that was the only conclusion she could draw.

“Yes,” Qi Yanning nodded. “After leaving the show, I applied to be a stylist. I was invited here today.”

Shen Qing nodded, genuinely happy for him.

The other trainees, however, wore mixed expressions. They all knew who Qi Yanning was; after all, his name had been plastered all over the hot searches recently. But having Qi Yanning do their styling?

Qi Yanning didn’t miss the skepticism on their faces, but paid it no heed.

Skill wasn’t something that could be proven by a few hollow words. Without speaking further, he studied the girls closely.

The five idol trainees were likely preparing to debut as a group. Their styles were quite cohesive, leaning toward an aloof, cool vibe. They were tall and striking, each already possessing an embryonic stage presence.

The two trainees from the acting department were completely different. One had round eyes and a round face, radiating playful, quirky charm with every expression.

The other possessed a classic cinematic face, her facial proportions matching the golden ratio to perfection, her aura crisp and natural like a clear spring brook.

It had to be said that Morning Star Entertainment lived up to its name as an industry powerhouse; these trainees all had fantastic foundations.

“Teacher Qi,” the assistant dispatched by Ling Cangzhou offered a tablet at the right moment. “These are all the wardrobe options Morning Star can borrow for them. Take a look. Whichever you select, we can contact the brands to have them delivered right away.”

Taking the tablet, Qi Yanning swiped through several pictures, his brow knitting slightly.

Most of the garments were off-the-rack designer pieces from seasons past. If they looked stunning, wearing older collections wouldn’t be an issue, but…

The colors, fabrics, and tailoring were monotonous and uninspired. Wearing them would at best yield an average, forgettable look, fading completely into the background.

After reviewing them thoroughly, Qi Yanning selected only one dress for the cute-type trainee.

It was a pure white mini dress, playful and sweet, though somewhat ordinary for an occasion like a red carpet.

Afterward, Qi Yanning picked out a floral mini skirt, then handed the tablet back to the assistant.

“Teacher Qi,” the assistant asked, looking conflicted, “you only picked two skirts. What about the rest?”

Qi Yanning pondered for a moment. Various designs he had previously viewed flashed through his mind, finally landing on several dresses that, while lacking slightly in technical polish, were bursting with creative spirit.

He suddenly turned to Li Jinshi and asked, “Can you contact your classmates, Liang Qingxue and Qin Zhifan?”

Li Jinshi blinked in surprise, then nodded repeatedly. “Yes! Liang Qingxue is my roommate, and Qin Zhifan is our class monitor. I have contact info for both!”

“Ask them if their graduation design projects can be borrowed,” Qi Yanning said calmly, dropping what felt like a bombshell in the room!

Turning down brand-name designer wear in favor of graduation projects from two undergraduate students?

Heavens, was he genuinely not just fooling around?

The assistant opened his mouth to object, but seeing Qi Yanning’s serene expression, he swallowed his words. Making an excuse, he slipped away to report to Ling Cangzhou.

The trainees’ expressions turned even more conflicted. Aside from Shen Qing, who remained relatively calm out of trust that Qi Yanning wouldn’t sabotage them, the other trainees were deeply uneasy.

As un-debuted artists, they didn’t dare challenge company directives, clinging to the hope that whichever executive the assistant reported to would talk sense into Qi Yanning.

Yet when the assistant returned without uttering a single word of objection, their hearts sank.

They were finished. Upper management was backing Qi Yanning. They were very likely to end up as the laughingstocks of the fashion gala!

Even Shen Qing hesitated, wanting to speak. The trainees clasped their hands tightly together, their faces clouded with gloom as they braced to face an uncertain fate.