IDEI Ch30

When the uncontrollable roar of Meng Ningning’s manager echoed down the corridor, Qi Yanning was currently styling other guest artists.

The production team attached immense importance to this finale night, holding three full-dress rehearsals with makeup. As for the trainees’ styling, it had been finalized four or five days in advance. After three rounds of repeated practice, the stylists and makeup assistants were fully capable of executing the looks, requiring no immediate intervention from Qi Yanning.

Qi Yanning’s task was to style the guest performers invited by the show.

A total of six guests were invited for the finale night. One host and two singers had been locked in halfway through the season, while the other three had only been finalized in the past couple of days.

Watching Your Star‘s buzz rocket sky-high, countless artists vied to participate in the finale night. Every day, the production team received endless inquiries and overtures, to the point where even Morning Star Entertainment’s backing could barely fend them off.

After all, Morning Star Entertainment could not fight off the entire industry single-handedly.

Thus, after much maneuvering between various parties, the three guest spots were finally determined.

One was a rising-star host pushed by a major satellite broadcaster, appearing as part of a resource swap with Morning Star Entertainment. In exchange, the debut group from Your Star would get a guest appearance on one of the network’s top variety shows, and if it went well, future programs from that broadcaster would give preferential consideration to Your Star‘s members.

Another was a rising young starlet riding high on recent popularity. Having just delivered a standout performance as the second female lead in a drama, her fame was surging rapidly. To secure a spot on Your Star‘s debut night, her team agreed to clear her schedule to appear in the debut album’s MV and help promote it.

…And the last one was Meng Ningning.

She had a great mother. Meng Ningning’s mother was a renowned director in the industry who, feeling perpetually indebted to her daughter, indulged her every whim. To get Meng Ningning on the show, her mother had accepted Morning Star Entertainment’s terms to direct two television dramas for the agency in the future.

Having grown up with everyone catering to her, Meng Ningning had developed an arrogant, willful temperament, firmly believing the entire world revolved around her.

Hearing her manager’s suppressed, furious interrogation, she merely rolled her eyes, flaring up in anger.

“Who wants an unknown, unheard-of stylist doing my look!” Meng Ningning shouted. “I’ve been in closed-set filming for two months! Finally getting to make a public appearance, I have to look gorgeous!”

Her manager rubbed his temples. “My little ancestor, lower your voice! That’s Qi Yanning, he…” Before he could finish, Meng Ningning shrieked, cutting him off.

“Qi Yanning? That trainee from the casting-couch scandal?” she said in disbelief. “Then I definitely don’t want him styling me! So filthy, who knows if he’s carrying some disease!”

The manager took deep breaths, unable to calm himself for a long time.

What sins had he committed in his past life to get stuck with an ancestor like this!

“Excuse me.” A staff member knocked on the door, poking their head through the crack with a textbook fake smile. “Apologies, Teacher Meng, the trainees next door are currently filming, and our soundproofing isn’t great, so…”

“We’re terribly sorry.” With that, they closed the door.

The manager’s vision blackened even further. He didn’t dare imagine how many people had just overheard Meng Ningning’s completely unrestrained voice!

“Ningning, look at the situation now, we…” He softened his tone.

“There is no way I’m letting him style me! As if he’s worthy?!” Meng Ningning snapped irritably.

I want you to go apologize to him! Morning Star Entertainment is backing him, you little ancestor! Li-ge roared inwardly.

Yet Meng Ningning merely scrolled on her phone, speaking flippantly: “Li-ge, we don’t need anything from him, so why should we care about him? I booked Aria-jie, and she’ll be here soon to do my styling. Aria-jie is a famous makeup artist in the industry!”

“Look!” Meng Ningning’s eyes lit up, thrusting her phone in front of her manager. “The cover of the latest issue of Tide! Aria-jie is affiliated with Tide. Only she could create styling like this!”

The manager hesitated. He knew full well that this styling had been done by Qi Yanning, but this little princess would never believe him.

He gathered his thoughts, preparing to find another angle to persuade her, but Meng Ningning snapped impatiently, “If you’ve got nothing to do, go wash some fruit for me. I’m a bit hungry.”

Thinking it might be good to let her cool down a bit before trying again, the manager left. But by the time he returned, Aria was already in the dressing room.

He had no choice but to swallow every word back down, letting out an exhausted sigh.

Yet exhausted as he was, he still had to clean up the mess for this little princess.

Just as Meng Ningning’s manager, Li-ge, gathered a few gift bags and prepared to visit Qi Yanning’s dressing room to apologize on Meng Ningning’s behalf, Qi Yanning had already wrapped up styling for the two hosts.

Hosts’ styling generally favored an elegant, dignified composure, so the process went very quickly.

The host originally locked in was an industry veteran who raised no objections to whatever styling was planned for him, remaining exceptionally modest and wearing a gentle smile throughout.

Following his senior’s lead, even though the younger host harbored doubts about whether a stylist accustomed to idol makeup could handle television hosts, he smiled outwardly and let Qi Yanning work.

To his surprise, the final result turned out exceptionally well.

Both his and his senior’s looks were clean and stately, focusing on enhancing bone structure and brightening complexions, yet their coordination held subtle ingenuity.

Their suits were dark forest green and deep navy blue respectively, with subtle star motifs woven into the accents to echo the name of Your Star. At their collars, the senior wore a dark green necktie, while the junior sported a navy bow tie. Harmonizing with each other, they stood side-by-side in perfect visual balance.

Seeing this, even the senior host broke into a pleased smile.

The styling for the two guest singers was even more striking.

The female dance-pop soloist was performing her hit signature track, “Chinese Rose.” Placing great value on this stage, she brought along the sparkling red sequin gown from her original music video.

To match this outfit, Qi Yanning crafted a soft rose-red smoky eye. Her long black hair was curled into dramatic waves with a curling iron and gathered into an updo that appeared effortlessly undone yet remained rock-solid. Paired with a netted fascinator hat and fiery red lips, she looked as though a vintage poster girl had stepped into reality, making anyone who looked at her feel as if they were standing in a lush, blooming field of crimson roses.

The other singer was a seasoned vocalist whose track was avant-garde and edgy. Accordingly, Qi Yanning kept his makeup simple, merely sculpting his features for the camera while focusing the visual weight on his wardrobe. Following Qi Yanning’s direction, he donned a white trench coat over a dress shirt and tailored trousers. His hair was curled into messy, tousled ringlets atop his head, with a pair of oversized, decorative silver wire-rimmed glasses perched casually among the strands.

Looking like an eccentric mad scientist, the look matched his song to perfection.

Singer Wang Zhuoxiong initially felt unaccustomed to his styling, standing rather stiffly before the mirror. Soon, however, delight overtook him the more he looked. Beaming, he told Qi Yanning, “Xiao Qi is full of visionary ideas, this styling fits my track so well! I wonder if we’ll have opportunities to collaborate in the future?”

Meanwhile, the female soloist had already instructed her assistant to exchange Feixin contacts with Li Jinshi. A stylist of this caliber was someone worth staying on great terms with.

The styling for the rising starlet was saved for last. She had no stage performance today, appearing purely as an eye-candy guest and temporary co-MC, so her look didn’t need to account for heavy movement, maximum visual impact was all that mattered.

Before styling began, however, she pressed her hands together in a prayer-like gesture toward Qi Yanning, her voice earnest, fluttering her eyes playfully. “Qi-ge, I’d love a yandere-style look, if possible?”

The young starlet Yun Yangyang possessed striking, glamorous features with high visual contrast. Tall and shapely, she looked slightly aloof on the surface, yet her personality was soft, warm, and naturally friendly.

Qi Yanning raised an eyebrow, casting a glance at her.

Yandere aesthetic? This was…

Competing for the same role as Meng Ningning.

Seeing through Qi Yanning’s thoughts, Yun Yangyang flashed a grin. “Fair competition, right? I know my features don’t naturally fit the type, but I still want to give it a shot.”

Qi Yanning nodded nonchalantly.

When Meng Ningning’s manager contacted him earlier, he had disclosed the character profile they were vying for: an aristocratic young lady who appeared pure and kind on the surface, but was secretly obsessive, ruthless, and scheming. Throughout the early plot, she disguised herself flawlessly as a sweet, naive girl.

For an archetype like that, Meng Ningning’s sweet, youthful appearance naturally held the upper hand.

Yet Yun Yangyang refused to yield.

She watched Qi Yanning’s movements with eager eyes.

Qi Yanning worked with brisk, deliberate confidence at every step.

He first applied a sheer layer of foundation to Yun Yangyang, making her skin appear translucent and fair. Next, a soft flush was swept across her eyelids, the outer corners of her eyes, and her cheeks, resembling the bashful blush of a young girl, or the delicate fever of an ailing beauty. Her brows were sculpted into slender, willow-leaf curves, while the eye makeup was executed with immaculate subtlety.

Instead of winging the eyeliner downward into droopy puppy-dog eyes to force an innocent look, Qi Yanning followed her natural eye shape with a slight upward tilt. This way, when she looked forward, she appeared pure and harmless, but the moment her eyes shifted, a sharp, piercing gleam revealed itself.

On her lips, Qi Yanning applied a peach-tinted lipstick layered with glossy sheen, making them look plump and delicate. However, he painted a faint split on the left side of her lower lip. Just like that, the innocent look was fractured, introducing an unsettling edge of danger and sensual allure.

He left her hairstyle mostly effortless, straightening her tresses and letting a few wispy strands of bangs fall softly across her forehead, as if untouched and completely natural.

Paired with a pale green gradient gown, her aura seemed innocent and pure at first glance, yet vibrated with an underlying, contradictory danger that compelled viewers to look again and again.

“Stunning!” Yun Yangyang’s eyes went wide. She clapped a hand over her mouth in delight, careful not to touch her lips for fear of smudging the makeup.

“Qi-ge, you’re amazing!” Yun Yangyang beamed. “Let’s add each other on Xingxin. I’m going to cling to you from now on!”

Qi Yanning offered a faint smile. “Thank you for the compliment, Miss Yun.”

“Seriously, Meng Ningning refusing your styling is entirely her loss! She has no idea how phenomenal you are!”

In her excitement, Yun Yangyang was showering Qi Yanning with praises. It was precisely at this moment that Meng Ningning’s manager, Li-ge, walked in.

“Excuse me, Teacher Qi…” He pushed the door open, looking up only to freeze at the sight of Yun Yangyang.

Li-ge’s heart skipped a beat.

This look… it felt as if the aristocratic heiress from the script had stepped right into the modern day!

Noticing Li-ge staring at her, Yun Yangyang tilted her head, her eyes wide with total innocence: “Manager Li, why do you keep staring at me?”

That expression! Li-ge felt another pang in his chest. Yun Yangyang’s acting chops were leagues ahead of his own artist!

Originally, his artist only had the upper hand in terms of facial type. He had pulled countless strings to book Qi Yanning specifically to craft a look that would bring her aura into alignment with the role.

Yet all his painstaking efforts had ended up paving the way for someone else!

Thinking back to how he had offered styling advice earlier only for Meng Ningning to turn a completely deaf ear, he felt utterly drained.

She was simply impossible to manage! Managing such a shallow, self-deluded artist would take ten years off his life.

I’ll resign as soon as we get back. If offending Meng Ningning’s big-shot director mother happens, so be it. I’m done serving this little princess like some head eunuch. At worst, I’ll go back to my hometown and farm! Li-ge thought bitterly to himself.

On the surface, however, he showed none of it, plastering on a polished smile instead. “Teacher Yun, you look so exceptionally gorgeous and different today. No wonder you’re skyrocketing in popularity!”

Seeing his practiced response, Yun Yangyang looked away with mild disinterest.

Li-ge didn’t mind, stepping forward to speak to Qi Yanning: “Teacher Qi, my apologies. Our Ningning is quite blunt, but she doesn’t harbor any ill intent. She’s just childish and nostalgic, preferring people she’s familiar with… so today was truly our fault. I hope we’ll have opportunities to collaborate in the future.”

Qi Yanning found this man quite amusing, smiling broadly as if he weren’t the one who had just been screaming at Meng Ningning in the dressing room down the hall.

A capable, shrewd manager who knew how to bend and adapt, reduced to waiting hand and foot on a spoiled little princess…

It seemed Hehai Entertainment had plenty of internal issues of its own.

Qi Yanning’s thoughts spun rapidly, though he revealed nothing on his face, speaking at a leisurely pace: “Children will be children. Bad tempers and making rash decisions on a whim are all very normal. Besides, the stylist she brought in helped shoulder part of my workload, leaving me with an easier time.”

Li-ge choked. He hadn’t expected this seemingly composed and elegant stylist to immediately pin the labels of bad temper, erratic whim, and breaking show rules by acting like a diva right onto Meng Ningning’s head.

“Teacher Qi…” Li-ge forced a smile, wanting to smooth it over, but Yun Yangyang spoke up out of nowhere: “Qi-ge, a strand of my hair got caught in this button!”

Qi Yanning glanced at the sweating Li-ge, turning to help Yun Yangyang adjust her look. Ignored by everyone, Li-ge had no choice but to slip away sheepishly.

The styling incident was merely a minor interlude. Time soon reached 7:00 PM. Qi Yanning headed to the trainees’ dressing room to do a final check on their condition.

He pushed the door open gently. Seeing him, all the trainees rose to their feet.

“Qi-ge!”

“Xiao Qi-ge, you’re here! I was feeling on edge not seeing you tonight.”

“Xiao Qi-ge, quick, check if my styling is okay today!”

The trainees chimed in all at once.

Over Your Star‘s many public performances, their faith in Qi Yanning’s styling ability had reached an almost blind devotion. Previously, although Qi Yanning couldn’t personally apply makeup to every single one of them, he had inspected every trainee individually, which brought them immense peace of mind.

Yet tonight, on the pivotal finale night, Qi Yanning had been absent the entire time, leaving their hearts feeling hollow.

Even having gone through three dress rehearsals with makeup, and with tonight’s looks identical to those practices, they still felt jittery. Right now, Qi Yanning’s arrival served as an anchor, gently wiping away all lingering insecurities about their appearance.

Crowded by the boys, Qi Yanning was ushered inside and seated at a central vanity, while the trainees presented themselves before him one by one.

Tapping a brush deftly between his fingers, Qi Yanning narrowed his eyes in focused scrutiny, his gaze scanning over the trainees like a sensor.

Behind him, the show’s other stylists stood somewhat nervously, primed and ready to jump in the moment Qi Yanning singled out an issue.

“Hair, redo the tie, it’s crooked.”

“Did you just eat? Touch up the lip gloss.”

“Looks fine.”

“Add more blush, it’s not enough right now.”

“Fix the chains on the jacket, straighten them out.”

…

Qi Yanning’s tone was completely even, yet as each trainee presented themselves, he pointed out every flaw with surgical precision.

As the details were corrected one by one, the trainees felt completely grounded. Beaming, they circled around Qi Yanning.

Then, hands began stacking together. Twenty trainees in various elaborate styles stacked their hands into a towering pile, gazing expectantly at Qi Yanning.

Qi Yanning looked at them deeply, then lifted his hand—

And placed it at the very top.

“Jiayou! Jiayou! Jiayou!!”

The roof-raising cheer seemed ready to blast through the ceiling. Looking at these trainees whose eyes burned with boundless ambition, Qi Yanning was swept up in their youthful fervor.

A rare, openly radiant smile graced his face.

***

In the Your Star live broadcast room, though the screen was still looping the theme song music video, the bullet comments were already buzzing at full throttle.

[Impossibly handsome, leading the charge! Xiao Yingyi, debut as Center!]

[Wei Mingzhe, you are a blazing fire! Burn up this stage tonight too!]

[Rapper Yan Zihao, you are the coolest!]

Fan slogans flooded the screen, creating an atmosphere of electric anticipation.

In the final minute, a dense barrage of countdown numbers streamed across the screen as everyone waited with bated breath.

Until—

The screen suddenly flared to life.

All six guest performers appeared simultaneously on the vast, luxurious stage.

“Hello everyone! Welcome to the live broadcast of the Your Star finale, and welcome to all our viewers!”

As the host delivered the opening lines, the live chat exploded.

[It’s starting, it’s starting!]

[Six MCs! Your Star, you’ve really hit the big time!]

[Wow! Pang Qi and Zheng Min’s styles today are so unique! One vintage red rose, one mad scientist, so gorgeous!]

[Yun Yangyang is so pretty too, what kind of innocent, delicate heiress is this!]

[So gorgeous, so gorgeous, my wife Yun Yangyang! Even without her usual glamorous sultry style, her beauty is still maxed out!]

[Uh…]

[Wait a minute, what is with Meng Ningning’s look? Did she offend her makeup artist?]

[Your Star! You invited our Ning-bao, yet you gave her styling like this! Trash show, bullying our Ningning!]