IDEI CH53

The live chat exploded into frenzy the moment Miao Xi appeared. Everyone was mesmerized by a Miao Xi completely unlike anything they had seen before.

Photographers on site clicked their shutters non-stop, capturing her every movement and fleeting glance on the red carpet.

Miao Xi had never seen the press this ecstatic. Shouts of “Miao Xi, look over here!” and “Best Actress Miao, look back for a second, please!” echoed relentlessly across the barricades.

Yet she was not rattled in the slightest. Back in the van, noticing her body language stiffened by nerves, Qi Yanning had given her a simple suggestion:

Treat walking the red carpet like filming a scene. She was about to portray a sacred saint whose grace bathed all under heaven, while everyone around her looked up in reverence at her radiant light.

That simple line caused all the tension coiled in Miao Xi’s heart to vanish without a trace. She walked with tranquil, poised grace, carrying an aura of quiet authority entirely different from her past appearances.

She waved, smiled, and nodded toward photographers in every direction. Though her expression was soft and gentle, there was not a shred of timid hesitation—only absolute, grounded composure.

The press used their lenses to immortalize that sweeping black gown that cast everyone before her into the shadows, and the reborn Miao Xi wrapped within its folds.

The red carpet was not long, and Miao Xi did not deliberately linger. After exchanging a few polite words with the host, she headed straight inside the venue.

The live chat clung to her departure with lingering obsession, paying zero heed to the Best Actor nominee stepping onto the carpet next, still debating Miao Xi with fiery passion.

[Did Miao Xi suddenly unlock her true potential? So gorgeous my liver aches]

[This outfit is truly marvelous—brimming with divinity yet not aloof, jewel-encrusted yet devoid of cheap powdery vanity, looking like a goddess overflowing with power instead!]

[Miao-jie!! Mommy!! I’m so obsessed!!]

[Let’s see who dares call Miao-jie tacky now?]

[Hahahahahaha, are the faces of the people who called her tacky burning yet? This one-of-a-kind aura in domestic entertainment, your fave couldn’t copy it even if they tried]

[Why did you go quiet? Did your defenses shatter? Hahahaha this face-slap feels so good, Mommy, from today on I’m your wife!]

…

The red carpet wrapped up quickly, and media outlets with fast hands were already selecting and publishing high-res photos onto Xingbo. Across these posts, whether four-photo sets or nine-grid spreads, Miao Xi appeared in every single one without exception.

A barrage of trending hashtags detonated across the platform:

#YunYangyangFloralFairy#

#MengLingliFeatherGildedNightbirdDress#

#KongLingyiRoyalBlueSuit#

#DaiZhenStraplessCicadaWingDress#

…

Marketing accounts joined the fray in real time, compiling masses of photos for visual showdowns:

@LittleLingWatchesEntertainment: #NanchengFilmFestival# Today’s female celebrities! Visuals are all top-tier, the editor was blown away by their beauty! Which one is your favorite?

[Images * 18]

Fans of various traffic starlets scrambled to seize the comments section, but before their factional skirmishes could even ignite, casual onlookers crushed them beneath an avalanche of unanimous praise:

@LittleStar: Does this even need a comparison? Miao-jie is slaying everyone out here, okay? Looking across the sea of unremarkable starlets, Miao-jie appeared and my eyes genuinely lit up.

@WantToAskWhy: Miao Xi!!! The holy mother presence is too strong. In this batch of photos, she is completely on another level. If the starlets are fairies, she is clearly the Queen of Gods! Finally seeing a female celebrity with this kind of aura! Domestic entertainment has suffered under the “youthful girl” look for far too long!

@CapybaraDoesntRidePickups: Miao Xi!! My destined Mommy! So sacred—the kind of goddess who looks like she could single-handedly save an entire realm, yet bring sweets back for the children under her care after the battle is done…

@GreenTeaTea: The story from the person above is too delicious. Handing you the pen, can you finish 100,000 words tonight and send it to me?

…

Casual passersby who had skipped the livestream tapped into the hot search, their eyes drawn instantly to Miao Xi even on miniature thumbnails. Before long, a dedicated topic for Miao Xi was pushed to the fore, climbing relentlessly:

#MiaoXiSacredQueen#

Beneath the hashtag, casual netizens were utterly floored by Miao Xi’s presentation. Coupled with those who previously knew nothing of this newly minted international Best Actress, the awe was magnified ten times over:

@WantSagoDew: Who is this! A rookie? Do rookies have this kind of fashion expressiveness nowadays?

@EatingLemon: This is Miao Xi! Best Actress at this year’s Celsus Film Festival, Best Actress at this year’s Flamenco Film Festival, double Best Actress… wait, no, after tonight, it’ll probably be triple Best Actress 🙂

@WantToStudy: Holy shit, she’s that powerful?! Gorgeous and formidable, which window did the Jade Emperor even close on her!!

@EatingLemon: Before today, probably fashion sense… but after today, Miao-jie has transformed into an all-around hex-stat warrior kkkkk

@WantToStudy: Fashion sense? Are you kidding me? Someone like this would lack fashion sense?

@SpeechlessToDeath: Guess what you want to search: Miao Xi hot pink dress, Miao Xi gold bodycon skirt

@WantToStudy: Uh… what miracle elixir did this jie eat? From village flower to divine goddess? Whatever, I’m in love anyway!

The film festival broadcast rolled on, and the minor opening awards were handed out in short order. The crew of Deep in the Mountains claimed four trophies in a massive sweep, even taking home the prestigious Best Picture award.

This gave fans of the traffic starlet a sliver of desperate hope. After all, with the heavyweight Best Picture secured, and Best Director and Best Screenplay also claimed by Deep in the Mountains, the unspoken domestic convention of balancing accolades suggested Miao Xi’s odds of winning Best Actress should dip considerably.

Yet to their crushing despair, the Best Actress award landed squarely in Miao Xi’s hands.

This was the final honor presented at the festival. As Miao Xi stepped onto the stage, a single white spotlight bathed her figure.

The stark white beam washed over the black gown like shimmering moonlight. Beneath the glow, the gold and silver embroidery flickered with subdued radiance—never garish, yet bestowing upon the black silk a flowing, iridescent majesty.

Holding the Best Actress trophy, Miao Xi delivered her acceptance speech. Her words were earnest, spoken in an unhurried, measured cadence steeped in intellectual depth. When she finished, deafening applause echoed through the auditorium, refusing to fade.

Soon after, a photograph christened Tears set the hot search ablaze.

It had been snapped precisely as Miao Xi concluded her speech. In that frame, the backdrop was pitch black, her dark gown dissolving into the shadows so that only her face shone luminous in the dark. Across her cheeks, traces of tears caught the light, yet her expression was resolute and serene, her eyes blazing with an unyielding, unstoppable fire.

Even under the scrutiny of an ultra-high-definition closeup, her makeup remained flawless: an even, translucent porcelain complexion free of any blemish, earthy eye makeup adding measured depth, and crimson lips sculpted with razor-sharp authority, resembling a weapon forged exclusively for Miao Xi.

In that frozen second where tears fell and the corners of her mouth curved into a faint smile, the sharpness of the cosmetics, the tenderness of her expression, and the unwavering resolve in her gaze collided into a near-sacred, compassionate divinity.

Stunning beyond description.

@RainUnderDarkClouds: This gown choice was too brilliant!!! Under the light, it is sacred and regal, like vestments for a queen’s coronation, perfectly suited for this occasion. In the darkness, it focuses all human gaze squarely upon her face. At that moment, I felt the souls of Liu Xiaoping and Miao Xi resonating as one; both are women who work diligently and refuse to yield!!

@PenInkPaperInkstone: I don’t have as many deep thoughts as you, I just want to ask: Mommy, can you be my husband?! Or, can I be your dog?

@BetterDeadThanAlive: ? I think there’s something wrong with you… but if it’s being Sacred Mommy’s dog, count me in!

…

Miao Xi reaped a staggering harvest that night: not only claiming her third Best Actress crown as a matter of course, but permanently shedding the label of having zero fashion sense.

Her manager, Li Xin, was grinning so widely his eyes were reduced to slits.

“Teacher Qi, you are an absolute god!” Li Xin exclaimed. “This styling has been canonized into legend. The moment the red carpet photos went live, the fashion house officially claimed the look!”

Seeing the brand’s warm, humble, and enthusiastic response, Li Xin felt as invigorated as taking an ice-cold shower in the dead of summer.

They had never received this kind of royal treatment before. Even when Miao Xi won major international film awards, luxury brands had been late to acknowledge her, stating the gown’s origin with sterile formality and offering bare minimum congratulations.

Today, however, the brand shared her photos with expansive paragraphs praising Miao Xi and offering heartfelt congratulations. Not stopping there, they published a dedicated nine-grid photo feature across all their global social platforms, wearing their pride openly on their sleeve.

This turnaround in attitude felt magnificent!

When the brand extended an official invitation for Miao Xi to attend their front-row runway show next season, the satisfaction doubled.

So the notoriously haughty high-fashion circuit could act like this too!

All of this had been sparked by the breakout styling Qi Yanning crafted today!

After reveling in excitement, Li Xin logged onto Miao Xi Studio’s official Xingbo account, specifically tagging @QiYanning to express their gratitude:

@MiaoXiStudio: #MiaoXiSacredQueen# #MiaoXiNanchengFilmFestivalBestActress# The third Best Actress trophy! Sharing a batch of Miao-jie’s red carpet shots from today~ Isn’t she gorgeous! Thank you to all the fans supporting Miao-jie, and special thanks to Mr. @QiYanning for today’s styling!

[Red Carpet Photos][Photo of Miao Xi posing with the Best Actress trophy]

Before this post went up, curious onlookers had already been scouring the web to identify which stylist Miao Xi had partnered with. Usually, netizens cared little about behind-the-scenes stylists, but Miao Xi’s transformation was simply too radical.

It was impossible for Miao Xi and her studio’s aesthetic sense to leap forward by lightyears within the span of a single month between red carpets!

Therefore, the credit undoubtedly belonged to the stylist. Who on earth was the mastermind behind this breathtaking feat?

Netizens investigated every renowned stylist in the country. Because most stars posted “getting ready” previews that stylists quickly claimed, the process was usually simple. Yet after combing through the entire top tier, they realized with shock that no one had claimed her!

Had an ordinary stylist experienced a sudden burst of genius?

@KingOfHellWontLetMeDie: Who on earth did this styling! I wasn’t that curious at first, assuming it had to be one of the usual masters. But all of them claimed other celebrities today… I’m dying of curiosity!

@SingingPraiseToSummer: Could one of them have styled more than one person?

@MemoryFoam: Impossible. For major events like this, top stylists almost never take two clients simultaneously, unless they belong to the same agency and walk together.

@SmilingBrightly: So who is it really?

@TinyStepsOnWaves: Qi Yanning? Hahahaha just kidding.

@ChubbyDoll: !! It’s possible!! How did we forget him!

Everyone snapped awake as if from a dream. Right, how had they forgotten Qi Yanning!

Perhaps because in their minds, Qi Yanning was primarily TND’s dedicated stylist handling stage concepts, they had forgotten he had styled red carpets previously!

Seeing the confirmation from Miao Xi Studio’s official post proving it was indeed Qi Yanning’s handiwork, the collective awe surged anew:

@SmilingBrightly: So… idol styling for TND isn’t Qi Yanning’s limit. This person is terrifyingly formidable!

@FuFuPiPi: Qi Yanning!! I’m tired of saying the words ‘fucking genius’!!

@GreenGrassEggPorridge: Has he ever flopped? Every time he appears, he stirs up a bloodbath on the hot search!

@MengMengBaby: So @QiYanning, when are you going to style my jiejie? Don’t force me to kneel down and beg! @XinMengStudio useless snacks, look at the model answer, can’t you even copy homework?! Useless 🙂

@OrchidFragrance: Hahahaha I was wondering why TND-styling-related hot searches were fewer these past few days. @AnZi’ai your Qi-ge is sticking close to a pretty jiejie, he doesn’t want you anymore!

@FunToo: Count me in! @AnZi’ai your Qi-ge went to style a pretty jiejie, An Zai why don’t you try cross-dressing to win him back hahahaha

…

Later in the night, prominent fashion bloggers chimed in with sky-high praise for Qi Yanning. Many couldn’t even wait to compile roundup videos, posting dedicated reels just to praise his craftsmanship:

“This look easily sits in my Top 3 looks of the year!” Fashion critic Hollen cast aside his signature razor-tongued sarcasm, flushed with excitement. “Actually, it should be Number 1—barring whatever Qi Yanning might create next. The execution of this ensemble can be summed up in one word: extreme.”

“On the runway, this Emberglow gown projected a decadent, enigmatic Western aristocratic vibe, paired with somber makeup. Yet I never imagined Qi Yanning could flip the garment’s essence entirely from darkness to radiant light—it’s pure magic! Through his choice of cosmetics and styling, tailored to Miao Xi’s unique aura, he built an aesthetic made exclusively for her: sacred, resolute, and forging ahead without retreat!”

“The tailored mermaid silhouette encases Miao Xi, carving out sculptural feminine power. And the accessory styling reaches peak mastery: that veil is an absolute stroke of genius—it was originally a scarf from the brand’s matching collection, and I doubt even the designers envisioned wearing it this way.”

“Every element harmonizes with precision, accentuating Miao Xi’s intrinsic presence to the utmost. That is why it creates such an overwhelming impact!”

“I paid attention to Huanmeng’s red carpet earlier, assuming at the time it was just an unconventional one-off miracle. Clearly, I was mistaken. Qi Yanning’s caliber ranks among the very best stylists in the country. Moving forward, he will undoubtedly become the darling of the fashion world. After all, stylists who can extract the soul of a couture gown to such an extreme are vanishingly rare!”

The glowing critiques from fashion authorities sent public excitement boiling over once more, propelling Qi Yanning’s name onto the hot search charts yet again.

Unaware of the online storm swirling around him, Qi Yanning had already returned to City A.

The following morning marked the official shoot for Mingri magazine.

The studio sets were built, ready for the cameras to roll.

After internal deliberation, the editorial board of Mingri had selected the final two looks. The reason was simple: the contrast between the two was extreme, aligning seamlessly with the artistic identity of high fashion.

The shoot locations for both were entirely distinct.

The first set was built inside a pure white structure. The minimalist architecture was stripped bare of all clutter, illuminated only by a single beam of daylight pouring through a narrow slit window.

Miao Xi wore the silver feather-and-fringe gown paired with the black structured feather shawl, seated on the lone stool inside the room.

To adapt to the natural lighting, Miao Xi’s makeup was kept slightly softer this time. The soft smoky eye accented with golden flecks remained intact, while the sharp terracotta lips were swapped for a muted nude, directing all focal weight squarely into her gaze.

The second set featured a deep navy-blue backdrop, evoking a fusion of midnight ocean and gathering storm clouds. Subtle adjustments were made to the styling: her hair and skin were glossed with a dewy, wet-look finish.

Filming proceeded with effortless momentum. Next came the sprint through post-production, layout formatting, and printing.

Two weeks after wrapping the shoot, the anniversary issue of Mingri went live.

The publication spared no expense, buying out Xingbo’s open-screen splash banner.

Anyone launching the app was greeted immediately by two alternating photographs:

In the first frame, Miao Xi sat in her sumptuous gown, gazing toward the lone beam of light slicing through the room.

The light grazed her lips and cascaded down the sweeping skirt, gilding her frame in gold. Across the dress, delicate white feathers practically trembled with light and shadow against the air.

Miao Xi appeared weary, her lips pale, almost dissolving into the illumination, her hands resting loosely over the fabric. Yet those eyes locked onto the window—framed with deliberate intensity—burned with scorching brilliance!

A hunger for the light! A raw, blazing ambition!

The exhaustion of the flesh stood in violent contrast to the fiery fervor of the soul, and that bizarre friction ignited the photograph with peerless majesty.

Before viewers could recover their breath, the screen dissolved into the second image:

In that portrait, a nearly barefaced Miao Xi looked back toward the lens over her shoulder.

The deep blue backdrop resembled the abyss of the ocean, yet Miao Xi standing before the dark waters was more intoxicating than the sea itself. Her face and hair were slick with moisture, and the lens seemed dipped in mist, blurring the edges with hazy condensation.

Amidst that dreamlike haze, Miao Xi’s features were clean and devoid of color. Only those eyes—carrying sorrow, joy, and an all-seeing wisdom—stared straight through the glass into the hearts of millions.

Countless users reached out instinctively to touch those eyes on their screens… triggering a direct redirect to Mingri‘s official Xingbo page.

And there, they were held captive for two full minutes by a video!