IDEI CH50

As Qi Yanning turned to leave, he ran straight into Editor-in-Chief Ning, who was hurrying over. Her face was flushed with barely suppressed fury.

“Xiao Qi, I am so sorry…” The consistently strong and independent Editor-in-Chief Ning reined in her leaking emotions the moment she caught sight of Qi Yanning, quickly plastering on a polite smile.

“It is nothing,” Qi Yanning replied calmly.

The two walked over to the entrance of the filming base and sat down on a pair of chairs.

“This issue was entirely due to a lapse in Tide‘s internal operations. I’ve let you witness an embarrassing farce once again.”

Editor-in-Chief Ning pressed her fingers against her temples, a wave of profound exhaustion washing over her.

“Regarding what I mentioned about Mingri magazine, what are your thoughts, Xiao Qi?” Within moments, Editor-in-Chief Ning forced her emotions down completely, pivoting to clean up the mess before her.

Qi Yanning had no particular objections, but he still contacted Qin Haoyu, who was more familiar with the ins and outs of Morning Star Entertainment, to ask whether there were any irreconcilable conflicts between Mingri and the company.

The answer was naturally negative. Consequently, Qi Yanning accepted the offer.

“Good. Since you’ve agreed, Xiao Qi, I will have Wei Heng send someone over to pick you up,” Editor-in-Chief Ning said.

While they waited, Editor-in-Chief Ning briefed Qi Yanning on the circumstances surrounding this particular shoot.

Mingri was one of the nation’s top four premier fashion publications, releasing one issue a month. Anyone who could land its cover was either an elite supermodel or a megastar celebrity.

The upcoming project was Mingri‘s August issue. While the fashion world famously revered the “Golden September and Silver October” issues, an anniversary month held even greater weight than both. And this year’s August issue marked the fifteenth anniversary of the magazine’s founding.

The entire staff of Mingri placed immense importance on this issue. Originally, they had invited a top supermodel who had accompanied the magazine through all fifteen years; although semi-retired, her influence in the fashion circle remained undeniable.

However, just one week before the scheduled shoot, she discovered she was pregnant, and the pregnancy was considered delicate. The supermodel had tried for a child for years without success, finally conceiving at thirty-eight. Both her husband and the staff of Mingri, who held deep affection for her, treasured this news dearly.

Thus, even though the supermodel was eager to shoot, the magazine insisted she follow her doctor’s orders and rest properly.

This left a sudden, gaping hole on the magazine’s cover.

The editorial team was thrown into utter disarray, racking their brains over how to secure a big name of comparable stature to save the shoot on short notice. Given that this was the fifteenth-anniversary milestone, the stakes were sky-high, making the panic even more acute.

Among domestic celebrities of matching status, some were already booked for the September and October issues, while others had severe scheduling conflicts that proved impossible to resolve.

Just as the magazine considered lowering their criteria and featuring a group cover to make up the difference, a bombshell piece of news detonated across the entertainment industry.

Actress Miao Xi had won Best Actress at a top-tier international film festival!

This was the first time a domestic actress had claimed the crown of Best Actress at the Celsus Film Festival, arguably the premier film festival in the world!

When the news reached the mainland, the entire industry was shaken to its core.

Not only that, but two weeks later at another world-class awards ceremony, she clinched another Best Actress trophy.

Claiming two mainstream international Best Actress titles within half a month, Miao Xi, previously considered a steady mid-tier performer, catapulted into an overnight sensation.

Under the weight of massive public attention and soaring prestige, the haughty, reserved fashion world threw its doors wide open for her.

And Mingri stood at the very front of the line.

Following intense editorial discussions and subtle hints from higher authorities, Mingri made the bold decision to invite Miao Xi to grace the cover of their anniversary issue. Coincidentally, Miao Xi was thirty years old this year, marking exactly fifteen years since her industry debut.

The original concepts prepared for the supermodel were no longer suitable, but this serendipitous alignment inspired the new theme for Miao Xi’s feature:

“Fifteen years by your side. Crowning you with boundless glory.”

Once the choice was made, the magazine reached out to Miao Xi’s team. Her side proved surprisingly agreeable and accepted without hesitation.

With the star secured, the immediate priority was designing the hair and makeup for the cover.

Qi Yanning was being brought in specifically for a styling test.

The magazine regularly collaborated with top-tier makeup artists, but Wei Heng, the Editor-in-Chief of Mingri, consistently felt something was missing from their attempts.

Miao Xi had historically worked as a second-tier dramatic actress, but her fashion resources had always been lackluster because her features lacked edge, making her seem entirely detached from high fashion. She possessed gentle, dignified, grounded features; while handsome and stately, she wasn’t a conventional bombshell, and her complexion leaned somewhat dull. Haters online had once branded her “dark and plain.”

This type of facial canvas left stylists accustomed to high-fashion conventions at a complete loss; no matter how they painted her, the results looked slightly off.

At his wit’s end, Wei Heng remembered Qi Yanning, whom Editor-in-Chief Ning had praised during a casual chat. He had reviewed Qi Yanning’s portfolio: solid fundamentals, delicate technique, and above all, an extraordinary talent for capturing a model’s intrinsic traits and magnifying them. Whether it was the Your Star stage concepts, the Tide editorial looks, the leaked screen-test clips from Director Wang’s drama crew, or the red-carpet appearances crafted for Huanmeng, Xiao Rou, and A-Ling, every piece was a showcase of pure brilliance.

After careful consideration, he reached out to Editor-in-Chief Ning, hoping to invite Qi Yanning for a test session.

Editor-in-Chief Ning had originally planned to mention this after today’s shoot wrapped up. Since the shoot fell through, she brought it up early and swiftly arranged a meeting between Qi Yanning and Wei Heng.

Having listened to Editor-in-Chief Ning’s explanation, Qi Yanning understood the full context of the opportunity.

“Xiao Qi, this opportunity is critical,” Editor-in-Chief Ning looked at Qi Yanning with clear appreciation in her eyes. “If you are selected, knowing Wei Heng’s temperament, he will certainly offer you an exclusive contract. And signing with Mingri means the gates of the domestic high-fashion world will swing wide open for you. Combined with Alaric’s prior runway invitation, Xiao Qi, your future will be blindingly bright.”

Editor-in-Chief Ning genuinely admired Qi Yanning. His craftsmanship was peerless, his aesthetic impeccable, and his composure possessed the poise of a seasoned general. Furthermore, with Morning Star Entertainment backing him, the petty politics of the industry couldn’t touch him. With such a strong hand to play, as long as Qi Yanning didn’t sabotage himself, his ascent was guaranteed.

“Thank you,” Qi Yanning offered a warm, sincere smile.

“You…” Before Editor-in-Chief Ning could say more, a staff member came sprinting over. “Editor-in-Chief Ning, Teacher Chang is dissatisfied with the set design and is threatening to walk off the shoot!”

Editor-in-Chief Ning’s brows snapped together. “Let him make a scene! Have an assistant go over and record everything! Does he truly think he’s that important?!”

The staff member stammered an acknowledgment and hurried back toward the studio. Halfway there, she turned back with a pleading look. “Editor-in-Chief Ning, could you please come in soon? I’m afraid things will spiral out of control.”

Leaving those words behind, she darted inside like a startled rabbit.

Editor-in-Chief Ning let out a heavy sigh.

“My apologies for subjecting you to another farce,” she said. “This Chang Xiying was forced upon us by the parent company. He hasn’t been in the industry long, but his ego is through the roof.”

Qi Yanning shook his head. Compared to an arrogant young celebrity throwing a tantrum, Editor-in-Chief Ning’s own predicament was far more concerning.

“Editor-in-Chief Ning… Ning-jie,” Qi Yanning said in a calm, steady voice. “You know as well as I do that a single pillar cannot support a falling roof, and excessive rigidity invites breakage. Do not let sentiment cloud your professional judgment.”

Editor-in-Chief Ning—Ning Ying—froze upon hearing his words. She looked up at Qi Yanning, locking eyes with those piercing phoenix eyes that seemed to perceive everything yet offered steady understanding.

After a long pause, she let out a self-deprecating laugh.

She wasn’t sure whether Qi Yanning was remarkably perceptive, or whether her deteriorating situation had become obvious to everyone.

The parent company of Tide was deeply dissatisfied with the magazine’s dwindling market share, and held little favor for her as Editor-in-Chief. The recent clashes were essentially power struggles between the parent corporation and herself. The executives had wanted to replace her for some time, especially after the massive commercial success of the Your Star shoot. Having tasted that windfall, the corporate bosses wanted to replicate the formula endlessly using idol traffic stars.

Ning Ying fiercely opposed this, believing it would erode the publication’s artistic integrity. Yet the parent company plowed ahead regardless, escalating the feud to a boiling point. The board had already parachuted in an associate editor, who had finalized the current cover model behind her back.

And whenever issues arose, Ning Ying was still forced to clean up the fallout.

Ning Ying had a wide network and deep connections across the fashion industry. Were it not for her emotional attachment to Tide, she could have easily jumped ship to one of the Big Four as an Editor-in-Chief long ago, elevating her stature instead of languishing in this second-tier publication.

Yet…

It seemed the time had come to make a choice.

A flash of sorrow crossed Ning Ying’s features, swiftly replaced by unyielding resolve.

Right then, the car sent by Wei Heng arrived at the entrance of the filming lot. Qi Yanning stood up and walked toward the vehicle.

Before boarding, he turned back, the corner of his lips curving upward. “Editor-in-Chief Ning, though our collaboration fell through today, I look forward to our next opportunity.”

Ning Ying beamed with a bright, radiant smile. “Call me Ning-jie.”

“There will definitely be a next time. And very soon, at that!”

She spoke with the conviction of someone who had just finalized a momentous decision.

Bidding farewell to Ning Ying, Qi Yanning arrived at the headquarters of Mingri.

Located in City A’s Creative Art Park, the building sported a minimalist black-and-white aesthetic, looking like a piece of contemporary sculpture from the outside.

The assistant sent to receive him escorted Qi Yanning to the third floor, leading him into Editor-in-Chief Wei’s office. The interior was vibrant yet harmoniously composed, standing in sharp contrast to the stark black-and-white exterior.

“Teacher Qi!” Editor-in-Chief Wei rose from his desk and stepped forward to greet him.

Wei Heng was a man whose age was impossible to pin down, dressed in an intricate, daring fashion. Though not particularly tall, he kept himself in immaculate physical shape. A free-spirited, bold fragrance clung to him; his face wore refined makeup, paired with two neatly groomed pencil mustaches framing his mouth.

“Whoa,” Wei Heng murmured after shaking Qi Yanning’s hand. His eyes swept over Qi Yanning’s frame before arching an eyebrow. “Teacher Qi, your physique is incredible, a textbook golden ratio. Have you ever considered modeling?”

Just as Qi Yanning was about to politely decline, Wei Heng let out a flamboyant laugh. “Just teasing! Putting styling talent like Teacher Qi’s on the runway would be an utter waste of gifts. While your hands are gorgeous enough for hand modeling, they are far better suited for holding brushes and weaving magic!”

Qi Yanning watched Wei Heng’s one-man show in silence.

Eventually, Wei Heng reined in his laughter, sincerity surfacing in his eyes. “Teacher Qi, you are my final hope. If this anniversary issue falls flat, Mingri will become the laughingstock of the fashion circuit. So I am counting on you!”

Qi Yanning gave a slight nod. “I will do my best.”

Wei Heng brightened. “Then let me take you to meet our great Best Actress! As luck would have it, she is here at our offices today!”

With that, he briskly ushered Qi Yanning out of the office and down the hall toward a VIP reception lounge.

Knocking gently, they pushed the door open after hearing a soft call to enter.

Miao Xi was seated on the sofa. Looking up, a question flickered in her eyes.

Qi Yanning took in Miao Xi’s appearance with a quick, discreet assessment.

Miao Xi wore loose, comfortable loungewear, seated with relaxed yet unstudied elegance.

Her face was completely bare of cosmetics, her skin tone far from pale, leaning toward a warm sallow hue. However, her hair and brow density were exceptional: thick, lustrous black hair gathered in a loose braid resting over her shoulder, well-defined brows that balanced softness and resolve, and thick, lush eyelashes.

The bridge of her nose wasn’t particularly prominent, but it ran straight and clean. Her lips had a distinct water-chestnut curve, and her face formed a balanced oval, adding to her stately poise. Most striking were her eyes: classic almond-shaped eyes, luminous and remarkably expressive.

Overall, Miao Xi could never be described as plain; she possessed an expansive, regal presence with balanced facial proportions, a face born for the silver screen.

“Teacher Miao, this is Qi Yanning, our guest stylist for the issue. I brought him over to familiarize himself with your features,” Wei Heng introduced.

Miao Xi looked at Qi Yanning with a warm, friendly smile. “Hello, Teacher Qi.”

Qi Yanning stepped forward to shake her hand, cutting straight to the point. “Teacher Miao, could you stand over here so I may observe you properly?”

Miao Xi hadn’t expected him to dive into work so abruptly. Slightly surprised, she rose with good grace, relaxing her posture to allow Qi Yanning to inspect her frame.

Qi Yanning didn’t stare for long. Pulling out his pocket notebook, he jotted down several cryptic shorthand symbols. Then, he engaged Miao Xi in casual conversation.

No matter what he asked, Miao Xi answered with grounded honesty. When the topic turned to acting, her eyes lit up with almost childlike passion, tempered by a wolfish, razor-sharp ambition.

Contradictory, yet striking a harmonious chord.

Having formed an initial impression of Miao Xi, Qi Yanning signaled to Wei Heng, who had been observing quietly nearby. Bidding farewell to Miao Xi, the two returned to Wei Heng’s office.

“So, Qi, do you have a concept?” Wei Heng asked with familiar warmth.

“I would like to review the couture gowns available for loan to Miao Xi,” Qi Yanning stated, bypassing the question.

Wei Heng raised an eyebrow and handed over a tablet. “All the brands shortlisted here are available. With Mingri‘s pedigree combined with the film industry’s darling Miao Xi, virtually every fashion house has opened their archives to her.”

The tablet displayed an array of haute couture designer collections. Tapping into each yielded garment details, complete with practical notes on shipping lead times.

Qi Yanning flipped through the selections briskly, jotting down reference codes in his notebook. After re-evaluating each gown against Miao Xi’s exact body measurements, he eliminated most of the catalog, leaving behind only four looks.

“Whoa!” Wei Heng remarked from the side. He was somewhat taken aback by Qi Yanning’s choices; no stylist had ever selected these types of gowns for Miao Xi, nor had anyone proposed a comparable aesthetic.

“Qi, may I ask why you selected these particular pieces?” Wei Heng inquired.

“Miao Xi’s core essence,” Qi Yanning answered. “Tranquil gravity, feminine strength, and a soul ablaze with passion.”

The three descriptions made Wei Heng’s eyes flash with excitement.

That was precisely what he sensed in Miao Xi! Yet previous stylists had captured only one or two facets, resulting in concepts that consistently missed the mark.

“Based on those words alone, I trust your judgment!” Wei Heng declared, pacing the room with mounting enthusiasm. Suddenly, he paused. “The first gown on your shortlist happens to be in the city; it can be delivered within thirty minutes. Could you do an on-site styling test right now?”

Qi Yanning arched an eyebrow, accepting without hesitation.

Wei Heng made the call immediately. Half an hour later, the gown arrived at the headquarters.

Miao Xi cooperated graciously, changing into the dress before settling into the styling chair to let Qi Yanning work.

Because the gown featured a deep cowl neckline, Qi Yanning draped a throw blanket over her shoulders before starting the application.

He corrected her skin tone with foundation, transforming the slightly sallow complexion into an even, radiant porcelain finish. A base acted like a blank canvas; only when the canvas was clean could the finished artwork appear immaculate.

Next, Qi Yanning applied a minimalist earth-toned eye look, choosing not to reshape her eyes with heavy liner, but rather opening them up to let their natural expressiveness shine.

The blush was kept natural, mimicking a healthy flush from within. The centerpiece was the crimson lip: a full, classic red painted with sharp, sculpted contours.

Her long black hair was gathered into a retro, structured chignon at the nape of her neck.

With that, the transformation was complete.

Qi Yanning supported Miao Xi as she rose from the chair, gently lifting the blanket from her shoulders.

Wei Heng had been watching with bated breath; seeing the completed look, he couldn’t hold back an audible gasp.

“Incredible! This aura! It evokes the earth and the heavens, vast and brimming with raw power. And this feminine presence—despite the plunging neckline, it carries not a shred of cheap vulgarity…”

Wei Heng heaped praise without pause.

Miao Xi turned her gaze toward them with a serene smile.

Beneath her clear gaze lay an expansive, almost maternal grace. The black cowl-neck gown, richly embroidered with intricate motifs, draped like sacred ceremonial vestments, overflowing with feminine dignity while remaining entirely untainted by worldly temptation.

It was a maternal presence bordering on the divine.

In this moment, she embodied the Mother of the Earth.