IDEI CH52

The photographer reacted swiftly as ever, stepping forward to shoot, while Miao Xi remained completely cooperative.

She had never been particularly skilled at high-fashion editorial shoots, her body language usually stiff and guarded as if locked in a defensive posture, but none of that mattered anymore.

The fierce flame blazing in her eyes was more than enough to anchor the focal point of every frame.

“This is the one!” Wei Heng cried in a high pitch, thoroughly entranced.

Flushed red in the face, he gripped the set decorator’s shoulder tightly. The set decorator seemed entirely oblivious, scribbling and sketching furiously in his notebook. Inspiration had struck!

Compared to the previous two looks, this ensemble possessed far greater static visual impact; that sweeping, assertive, domineering beauty was enough to take one’s breath away.

No one could tear their eyes away from the current Miao Xi.

Well, except Qi Yanning.

He was scrutinizing Miao Xi with an analytical eye, searching for anything that fell short of perfection.

The headpiece was a bit monotonous and needed adjustment, and the makeup was slightly too heavy, obscuring Miao Xi’s natural facial features. For the official shoot, it would have to be dialed back slightly.

He tallied each detail in his mind.

When the photographer finally lowered his camera with lingering reluctance, the final gown of the day was brought out to be tried on.

A somewhat fatigued Miao Xi leaned on her assistant Xiao Chi’s arm as they headed to the fitting room to change, while Wei Heng whispered to Qi Yanning, “Qi, isn’t this final piece a bit… too plain?”

After the visual feast of the past two days, he trusted Qi Yanning’s aesthetic and skill implicitly, but this last look…

He wasn’t particularly optimistic.

For no other reason than that it was simply too understated.

Compared to the previous lavish gowns, this piece was a muted, milky off-white, cut into an exceptionally simple silhouette.

When set alongside the other three gowns, its presence was completely swallowed, looking like a humble foil.

Qi Yanning glanced at him and smiled without speaking.

In truth, this was his personal favorite of the four, but words were meaningless right now; it was better to let the finished styling speak for itself.

Miao Xi changed and emerged from the fitting room, catching everyone off guard.

Because wearing this gown, Miao Xi appeared remarkably relaxed.

In the earlier looks, she had been in performance mode, her posture coiled and elevated as though preparing for battle.

With this piece, perhaps out of sheer exhaustion, or perhaps because the gown felt so close to everyday wear, she had subconsciously let her guard down. As a result, the deeper layers of her character shone through.

Steadiness, sharp perception, and an unmistakable intellectual grace.

When Qi Yanning stepped forward, the smile on Miao Xi’s face carried a melting, gentle warmth.

The true focus of this concept lay entirely on the skin. Qi Yanning needed to transform Miao Xi’s slightly sallow, warm skin into a translucent, flawless ivory, while ensuring it looked completely natural.

This was second nature to Qi Yanning. Using his unique application technique, he layered the foundation in sheer, delicate coats. Before long, all of Miao Xi’s exposed skin took on an even, luminous porcelain finish.

Next came the color application. The makeup was so minimal it was practically invisible: brows shaped to emphasize natural hair strokes, eyes washed in a soft dusting of pink-brown so subtle it seemed innate, and lips coated in a thin veil of muted mauve, applied merely to keep her mouth from looking pale.

For the blush, Qi Yanning blended three custom shades, creating a natural flush that appeared to bloom from deep within the skin.

Her hair was styled with equal simplicity: loose, voluminous, soft waves swept into a side part, with subtle padding beneath to lift the crown.

With that, the look was complete.

It appeared extraordinarily simple—simple to the point of looking barefaced.

Standing before them, Miao Xi wore a milk-white halter-neck slip gown. The garment lacked any waist-cinching structure, falling instead in a relaxed, flowing drape. Two delicate ties wrapped from the bust around the back of her neck, knotting before cascading smoothly down her spine.

Crafted from a faux-linen weave, the fabric featured custom-textured motifs. While light and breezy, the tonal patterns subtly mapped out her waistline, lending harmonious balance to her proportions.

The silhouette was the gown’s most distinct feature: though unconstructed, it wasn’t sloppy in the slightest, exuding an effortless, natural nonchalance.

Paired with the barely-there makeup, the ensemble felt weightless and poised, directing all attention squarely onto Miao Xi’s singular presence.

Narrative weight.

That was the first phrase that sprang into Wei Heng’s mind. This gown endowed Miao Xi with an indescribable depth of story.

Her life experiences seemed to transform into an open book waiting to be read, and those expressive eyes—so capable of conveying myriad emotions, emphasized with precision by Qi Yanning—became the sole window into her soul against the pristine backdrop.

If the first three gowns captured Miao Xi through the eyes of the world, then this one was Miao Xi as seen by herself.

Or rather, the first three represented the movie star Miao Xi, using dramatic forms to project her aura, while this piece was the actress Miao Xi, using her raw, unvarnished self to inhabit the passing lives within her stories.

Looking into the mirror, even she was momentarily stunned.

Then, she smiled softly, her calm presence flowing like water.

“I love it,” Miao Xi’s voice rang out. It was the first time over the past two days that she had voiced her personal preference.

As if fearing Qi Yanning wouldn’t believe her, she emphasized, “Truly.”

“I know,” Qi Yanning met her gaze, a steady smile in his eyes. “Thank you for liking it.”

Beside them, Wei Heng’s face was a portrait of agonizing conflict.

“This one…” He wanted to use this for the cover too!

Why were all four looks so magnificent, making it impossible to choose?

The brilliance of this minimalist concept moved everyone in the room.

Staring at Miao Xi, the photographer had already formulated the concept for the photo: “Miao Xi Behind the Glamour.”

He stepped forward to photograph her, but this time, he gave no posing instructions, capturing her natural, unprompted moments instead.

Miao Xi truly lived up to her reputation as a darling of the silver screen and the youngest Best Actress in history. Every subtle glance and faint smile brimmed with unscripted narrative depth, rolling like frames of motion-picture film before the eyes, compelling the viewer to wonder:

What had she lived through?

How had she become who she was today?

What did she yearn for?

This shoot wrapped up quickly. Because every single frame possessed the cinematic beauty of a movie still—where even blurry motion carried aesthetic weight—the photographer saw no need to take excess shots.

“Teacher Miao, please remove your makeup and get some rest. Thank you for your hard work,” Wei Heng told Miao Xi, before hurrying off with the photographer and crew.

Time was of the essence; they needed an emergency meeting to decide which two looks to shoot for the editorial spread, and which one would take the cover.

Back in the styling room, Qi Yanning removed Miao Xi’s makeup once more.

Having makeup applied and wiped away three times in a single day, even with Qi Yanning’s gentle technique, left Miao Xi’s skin somewhat flushed.

At this stage, calming and deeply hydrating skincare was vital to stabilize the skin barrier.

Yet Xiao Chi pulled out those same two bottles of generic drugstore lotion, handing them to Miao Xi while asking, “Miao-jie, has Li-ge finalized the arrangements for the red carpet the day after tomorrow?”

“Not yet. Li Xin said this red carpet is my first public appearance since winning the award, so he wants a show-stopping entrance. They’re still debating,” Miao Xi said with a touch of helplessness. She didn’t care much for such pageantry, but knowing her manager had her best interests at heart, she didn’t object.

Miao Xi took the lotion, and just as she unscrewed the cap to apply it, Qi Yanning furrowed his brows and stayed her hand.

“Teacher Miao, after enduring full-face styling all day, what your face needs most right now is a soothing, calming treatment. Otherwise, your skin condition will deteriorate,” Qi Yanning said softly.

He had no intention of meddling in Miao Xi’s personal skincare choices, but failing to address the irritation now would leave her skin parched and reactive for the red carpet, making foundation application a nightmare. In an environment packed with high-definition cameras, the slightest flaw would be catastrophic.

Miao Xi looked at him in mild surprise, while Xiao Chi panicked, “Miao-jie, I didn’t pack any sheet masks! What do we do?”

She paced in circles with anxiety.

She had only started working with Miao Xi during the filming of the movie that won her the award. Fresh out of college, her very first job was following Miao Xi into the remote mountains for six grueling months of shooting. After wrapping, Miao Xi had no immediate schedules and gave her several months off, only scrambling back to work when news broke that the film had been nominated for festival awards.

During production, her character demanded a weathered, rugged appearance, so Miao Xi had paid zero mind to skincare, using whatever was on hand—completely unlike the stereotype of a polished actress.

Consequently, Xiao Chi usually carried only two bottles of basic moisturizer in her bag, packing little else.

Listening to Xiao Chi’s fretful muttering, Qi Yanning reached into his kit, retrieved a packaged sheet mask, and handed it to Miao Xi. “Teacher Miao, patch-test behind your ear first. If there’s no allergic reaction, you may use it.”

Miao Xi glanced at the packaging; it was a brand she had never seen before. Having no particular obsession with beauty products, she followed Qi Yanning’s instructions, dabbed a bit of the serum behind her ear, and smoothed the mask over her face.

She hadn’t expected the mask to be so remarkably effective. After fifteen minutes, the redness across her skin had vanished completely, and the stinging, tight sensation was gone without a trace.

Qi Yanning smiled. “It is a heritage brand. Their entire skincare line is exceptional.”

“Those two bottles of lotion do not suit your skin type. It would be best to stop using them.”

Miao Xi was slightly surprised that Qi Yanning would offer such candid advice, but nodded with a warm smile.

Having packed his makeup kit long ago, Qi Yanning walked out alongside the two women.

His work for the day was finished. Presumably, the next time he saw Miao Xi would be during the official magazine shoot.

The very next day, however, Qi Yanning received a call from Miao Xi’s manager, Li Xin.

“Teacher Qi, hello, sorry to disturb you. This is Miao Xi’s manager, Li Xin,” the voice on the other end spoke with utmost politeness.

“Manager Li, hello. How can I help you?” Qi Yanning paused the fashion runway video playing on his screen, curious.

“It’s like this: Miao Xi is attending the Nancheng Film Festival tomorrow, but our styling hasn’t been locked down yet. I’ve contacted numerous stylists, but none of them fit, so…” Li Xin’s voice crackled with palpable anxiety.

Qi Yanning understood his intent: he wanted to hire him for the event, but…

“Tomorrow?” Qi Yanning’s brows knitted slightly. “I’m afraid there isn’t enough time for a fitting.”

“No fitting needed!” Li Xin said urgently. “We can just pick one of the two looks Mingri discarded!”

Qi Yanning was taken aback. Twirling a pen between his fingers, he listened carefully as Li Xin explained.

It turned out Li Xin had been tearing his hair out over Miao Xi’s red carpet appearance. He had reached out to several prominent stylists in the industry, but had reached out too late; their schedules were already booked solid by other A-list stars.

Other stylists had come to do trial looks for Miao Xi, but none satisfied him.

Desperate to give Miao Xi a dazzling debut, he held out for perfection, locking in a mediocre backup while scouring everywhere for alternatives.

Right when he was at his wit’s end, Xiao Chi had sent him the photos.

On the first day, seeing only the first look, he hadn’t entertained any wild ideas. Although he found the styling breathtaking, such a concept was destined for the magazine cover; aside from lamenting that it couldn’t grace a red carpet, he thought nothing more of it.

On the second day, however, the three consecutive looks Xiao Chi forwarded completely unsettled him. Four distinct, magnificent looks set his mind racing.

Miao Xi’s contract with the publication covered two looks, which meant two would be left on the cutting room floor. Could they take one of the discarded looks and bring it to the red carpet?

He immediately called Editor-in-Chief Wei of Mingri, hashing out terms for ages before finally getting his blessing.

Unable to bear the thought of such gorgeous concepts being wasted in the shadows, Wei Heng caved under Li Xin’s persistent badgering and agreed to let Miao Xi wear one of the rejected editorial looks on the red carpet.

However, Miao Xi’s team had to handle the gown loan directly with the brand, and they had to secure Qi Yanning’s services on their own.

Overjoyed, Li Xin hung up with Wei Heng and dialed Qi Yanning immediately.

“…That’s the situation. Teacher Qi, may I ask if you have time tomorrow to do the styling for our Miao Xi at the film festival?” Li Xin asked.

Qi Yanning glanced at his calendar; he could indeed clear the time. He held a favorable impression of Miao Xi, so he didn’t mind lending a hand.

Hearing Qi Yanning agree, Li Xin thanked him profusely before hanging up to aggressively negotiate the gown loan with the fashion house.

With logistics settled, Qi Yanning joined Miao Xi’s team on the flight to City M.

Though called a “team,” it consisted of merely three people: Miao Xi, Xiao Chi, and Li Xin.

Miao Xi’s explosion in fame had been too abrupt. Previously an obscure, low-tier actress, her refusal to flatter executives had left her with scarce resources at her former agency despite her exceptional acting chops.

Her agency had taken a hands-off approach with their uncooperative talent, leaving her to audition for every role herself.

Consequently, when her contract expired, she chose not to renew, partnering with the newly resigned Li Xin to establish an independent studio. Since its founding, they had hired only a single assistant, Xiao Chi.

On the plane, Qi Yanning sat side by side with Xiao Chi.

“Sorry, Teacher Qi, we booked economy,” Xiao Chi offered sheepishly.

Their studio was operating on a shoestring budget, forcing them to pinch every penny.

Qi Yanning shook his head, signaling he didn’t mind. He was never one to make unreasonable demands regarding travel conditions.

“Qi-ge, could you teach me how a female celebrity should properly take care of her skin? I really don’t know much. Online tutorials are a mixed bag, and I don’t dare risk Miao-jie’s face on them,” Xiao Chi blinked her wide eyes, asking earnestly while clutching a small notebook ready to jot down notes.

“I’ve seen photos of Miao-jie from when she was young. Her skin was fair and lovely; it only became like this from filming. Rough conditions on set are unavoidable, but during downtime she needs proper care. After all, our Miao-jie is a Best Actress!” Xiao Chi beamed with pride.

Qi Yanning arched an eyebrow and walked her through the principles of skincare. Knowing little about cosmetic dermatology, he outlined a daily maintenance routine and recommended several effective products he had vetted personally.

Although Qi Yanning had studied modern skincare, his past-life experiences inclined him toward natural formulations. Through diligent searching, he had uncovered a specific brand.

It was a century-old heritage house that championed modern interpretations of ancient palace formulas. Qi Yanning had reviewed their literature; the formulas were genuinely historical, utilizing modern extraction methods to isolate active botanical ingredients. This minimized irritation while maximizing efficacy.

Regrettably, the brand was obscure and spent nothing on marketing. Modern youth were cynical about “imperial palace remedies,” leaving their sales negligible.

Xiao Chi had never heard of the brand Qi Yanning mentioned, but jotted it down diligently. Out of sheer trust in Qi Yanning, she planned to buy a batch to test on herself first, introducing it to Miao-jie if it proved effective.

Miao-jie’s skin, I will protect it! Xiao Chi thought with fiery determination.

Stepping off the plane, they headed straight to their hotel. To ensure everyone was well-rested for the big day, Li Xin gritted his teeth and booked a three-bedroom suite for Miao Xi, Qi Yanning, and Xiao Chi, while taking a standard room for himself.

Everyone enjoyed a sound night’s sleep, leaving Miao Xi in peak condition the next morning.

Li Xin and Xiao Chi carefully lifted the garment from a large trunk. Qi Yanning arched an eyebrow in sudden realization.

It was this gown!

While Qi Yanning applied Miao Xi’s makeup, the red carpet livestream was already underway.

The Nancheng Film Festival was the most prestigious film festival in the country, held biennially, gathering countless legendary figures in Nancheng to celebrate cinema.

Every iteration became a carnival across the internet.

As the most authoritative film awards in the nation, the festival’s stature was beyond dispute. From the moment nominations were announced, online debates surged: Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Actor… discourse around the Big Three awards consistently dominated trending topics.

This year, however, Best Actress was virtually uncontested; it could only belong to Miao Xi. Having clinched two heavyweight international Best Actress trophies, if the domestic award were handed to anyone else, the credibility of the Nancheng Film Festival would face unprecedented backlash.

Consequently, fans of other actresses nominated in the category harbored deep resentment toward Miao Xi.

Particularly fans of a top-tier traffic actress who had starred as a film lead for the first time, having gained thirty pounds for the role. Her fans had believed their idol stood a strong chance of winning, given how hard she had worked.

The moment the nomination list dropped, however, they were plunged into despair. Refusing to accept this foregone conclusion, her fandom vented all their fury onto Miao Xi.

They didn’t dare attack Miao Xi’s acting chops, and with Miao Xi visibly lacking any corporate backer to target, their venom zeroed in entirely on her appearance.

In the days leading up to the festival, past candid street photos and red carpet pictures of Miao Xi were circulated endlessly, saddling her with the mocking moniker “Village-Taste Best Actress.”

Even today, with the red carpet underway, such comments flooded the livestream chat.

[Yun Yangyang is so pretty! My baby is gorgeous!]

[What a boring red carpet, can’t female stars step out of their comfort zones and try new styles?]

[Monotonous, sterile beauty]

[Heh, if you want something different, wait until Miao Xi walks out!]

[Hahahahaha the previous comment is wicked]

[Let me tell a joke: Miao Xi in hot pink, Miao Xi in skin-tight gold]

[To the one above, stop posting cursed mental images in the chat!]

[Honestly, when I saw Miao Xi’s photos from that foreign film festival, my vision went black, it was so tacky]

[Embarrassing herself all the way abroad]

[Excuse me, Miao Xi is the first domestic actress to win Best Actress at the Celsus Film Festival! She doesn’t rely on her face to eat!]

[When will people stop body-shaming and face-shaming female celebrities?]

[Miao Xi having zero fashion sense is just a plain fact, am I wrong?]

[…]

The chat bickered relentlessly until the broadcast reached its final stretch, with Miao Xi slated as one of the closing appearances.

“She—the first Celsus Best Actress in Chinese history, and the youngest Celsus Best Actress on record. Her portrayal of Liu Xiaoping was a wild blossom blooming from mountain despair, her eyes blazing with unyielding defiance against fate,” the host introduced with grand, theatrical passion.

The audience knew instantly: this was Miao Xi.

[Miao Xi is here!]

[Ahhhhh Best Actress!]

[Miao-jie, majestic!]

[The first village-taste Best Actress in history, hilarious]

[Miao Xi, rustic aesthetic incoming]

The chat scrolled at lightning speed as the host’s voice swelled even louder: “Let us welcome the actress behind Liu Xiaoping in Deep in the Mountains, and our formidable contender for Best Actress tonight—Miao Xi!”

Every camera swiveled toward the arriving van.

As the door slid open, a pair of dark gold boots emerged first.

Next, a heavy black skirt clutched in hand swayed gently. As its owner stepped firmly onto the pavement, the hem dropped, blooming across the carpet like a dark, dramatic flower.

The skirt was lavishly embroidered with arcane gold and silver patterns, winding upward along the mermaid silhouette to her waist.

Looking further up, a plunging cowl neckline met the eye.

The collar draped across her shoulders like traditional ceremonial silk, exposing a sweeping expanse of luminous, flawless skin across her decolletage and back. A delicate body chain encrusted with pearls and gemstones peeked out intermittently, opulent and regal.

She wore long black velvet opera gloves, her hands lightly lifting the sides of her skirt.

Gazing upward, crimson lips curved into a poised, understated smile, while those luminous eyes, sculpted and opened up by earthy tones, brimmed with quiet, unshakable authority.

Draped over her head was an expansive veil. Crafted from substantial black fabric rather than airy tulle, it exuded weighty presence, fully embroidered with gold and silver filigree. Falling all the way to the floor, the veil added an intoxicating aura of exotic mystery.

Lifting her gaze, she smiled toward the flashing lenses and raised a hand in a graceful wave.

The venue fell dead silent for a split second.

Then, the flashbulbs erupted like continuous lightning, bathing the carpet in brilliance as bright as high noon.

[Ah, Goddess!]

[Heavens, what an aura of sacred majesty and weight]

[Literally a divine goddess! Please permit me to address you as Mother Earth]

[This is Miao Xi? You’re kidding, right?!]

[Miao Xi? If this is ‘village taste,’ then the rest of us have the aesthetic sense of cavemen]

[This is way too gorgeous!!]

[I’m crying, I want to kneel before her hem and rest my head against her knees, listening to her call me her beloved child…]

[To the one above, that’s way too evocative!]

[Jie—no, Mommy is the Holy Mother of the Earth today!]

[Breathtaking, so gorgeous I have goosebumps all over]

[Who is Mommy’s stylist! Give them extra chicken drumsticks! Add roast suckling pig, add the full Manchu-Han imperial banquet!!!]