IDEI CH64

Qi Yanning turned his attention to the remaining three models.

First, he had one of the Black models take a seat. This striking model possessed deep, even, luminous dark skin, radiating a beauty uniquely her own. Qi Yanning subtly evened out her complexion before painting a delicate cut-crease eye look in soft lavender and icy blue.

Afterward, Qi Yanning leaned in to whisper a few instructions to the interpreter, asking him to retrieve the required props.

While waiting, he smoothly completed the base makeup for the other Caucasian model. Born with albinism, her hair, lashes, and irises were all ethereal, pale shades, forming a stark visual contrast against the dark skin, black hair, and dark eyes of the Black model.

The makeup Qi Yanning applied to the albino model was nearly identical to the Black model’s—both kept to an understated, foundational finish.

Consequently, it took him less than ten minutes to finish, while the interpreter was still negotiating with the magazine’s logistics team and the props had yet to arrive.

Under the surprised gazes of the two models, Qi Yanning turned to work on the final model first. This was another Chinese model, blessed with pale, translucent skin resembling fine porcelain.

And a porcelain finish was precisely the effect Qi Yanning intended to craft for her. The model’s skin was naturally immaculate, requiring virtually no correction; Qi Yanning merely concealed a few tiny blemishes to elevate the skin’s texture to utter perfection. Next, using black pigment, he drew a pair of slender, sweeping brows reminiscent of distant mountain ridges, followed by a whisper-thin line of eyeliner. Then, beneath Edward’s utterly bewildered expression, he pulled out a dewy highlighter balm and gave the upper half of the model’s face a luminous, glass-skin sheen.

For the lower half of her face, Qi Yanning set the skin with loose translucent powder, blending the transition seamlessly across the bridge of her nose so the finish shifted effortlessly from dewy gloss to velvety matte.

Edward opened his mouth to speak before thinking better of it; he simply couldn’t grasp the concept behind this look.

Alaric, however, was far more blunt. “Qi, what exactly is this makeup meant to convey?”

“Please wait just a moment, Mr. Alaric,” Qi Yanning replied calmly.

Right on cue, the interpreter returned accompanied by staff from the magazine’s prop department.

Rummaging through the assortment of equipment, Qi Yanning selected a compact handheld fog machine.

He exchanged a few quiet instructions with the model, who nodded in quick understanding.

Confirming that the model was completely ready, Qi Yanning switched on the fog generator.

Billowing plumes of white mist rose softly from the model’s shoulders and collarbones, gradually enveloping the lower half of her face. With her eyes half-lidded and her chin tilted slightly upward, her posture exuded serene stillness.

Alaric and Edward erupted into sudden excitement!

“Oh, this is…” Edward breathed, “porcelain? No, no, no—it carries layers of meaning far beyond that!”

Alaric had already whipped out his phone to snap photos, having grasped the true essence of the look immediately.

The upper half of the model’s face was sculpted white porcelain, while the lower half dissolved into drifting smoke. Tangible porcelain and intangible mist fused organically in that single frame, the collision of solid permanence and fleeting ethereality creating incomparable beauty. Both shared the exact same pure white hue, yet softness and rigidity, substance and void, stillness and flow merged into one, imbued with profound philosophical resonance.

Alaric and Edward huddled close together, murmuring rapidly in French, their eyes shining with pure awe.

Uninterested in whatever they were debating, Qi Yanning picked through the remaining props to complete the looks for the two unfinished models.

Slender metallic chains were strung with pure, faceted crystals, hanging like frozen droplets of rain. Qi Yanning’s task now was to adhere and secure these “raindrops” directly onto the models’ skin.

Delicate beaded strands cascaded downward from their foreheads, grazing across their cheeks and bridges of their noses.

Next, Qi Yanning used special-effects cosmetic adhesive to whip up a rich, airy white foam, flicking the lather irregularly across the models’ faces with a brush. With that, both looks were entirely finished.

The two models had already changed into the garments Qi Yanning selected while waiting; now, every single styling element was locked in.

Their makeup concepts mirrored one another closely—despite the dramatic contrast between jet black and alabaster white, they looked like twin deities. Their wardrobe echoed the duality: the albino model wore a gown shimmering like the Milky Way, while the Black model was draped in pure white hooded robes.

“Makeup for all five models is complete. Take a look—does anything require adjustment?” Qi Yanning turned toward Alaric and Edward.

“No, not at all!” Edward’s face was brimming with unvarnished admiration. “This is more than good enough—I mean, it is absolute perfection!”

“Qi, your hands must have been kissed by God!” Alaric’s praise was even more theatrical. “Not just your hands—frankly, you must be the illegitimate child of the God of Beauty left behind in the mortal realm!”

Qi Yanning offered no comment on their flattery. Having heard countless compliments across two lifetimes, these two merely used slightly more flamboyant phrasing; it was nothing extraordinary.

“In that case, Mr. Edward,” Qi Yanning looked at Edward with a faint smile, “may we send our models out to shoot now?”

“Oh!” Edward sheepishly released his grip on the “mist-and-porcelain” model’s arm. “Of course! Let’s head to the set right away.”

They filed out toward the main soundstage. Qi Yanning lingered behind in the styling room to pack up his cosmetic kit neatly before strolling out at an unhurried pace.

By the time he emerged, photography for the twin models had already wrapped, and the crew had moved on to the mist-and-porcelain concept. The studio’s industrial fog machines far outperformed the handheld unit, allowing assistants to sculpt the shape of the vapor manually.

The photographer barked directions at the floor assistants to concentrate the mist around the model’s jawline, shouting enthusiastically with eyes glued unblinkingly to his viewfinder for fear of missing a single transcendent frame.

Crossing his arms, Qi Yanning watched from the sidelines with mild amusement. Trend truly lived up to its reputation as a premier fashion bible; the photographer’s caliber was formidable, evident from the live-feed monitor beside the set where nearly every captured frame looked magazine-ready right out of the camera.

Shooting stretched on until nine o’clock at night before the photographer finally lowered his camera with lingering reluctance. Everyone on set was thoroughly exhausted. Yet miraculously, an editorial shoot originally budgeted for two full days had been wrapped in a single day despite all the earlier chaos!

Everyone found it scarcely believable—until they paused to reflect and realized the exact reasons why.

First, Qi Yanning’s execution speed was astonishing. Requiring virtually zero revisions, he nailed every look on the first pass; even these wildly inventive, high-concept designs took at most forty minutes apiece.

Second, the seamless harmony between makeup, wardrobe, and model made the photographer’s job effortless. Whereas previously they had to sift through thousands of shots just to salvage a few usable frames, today they captured hundreds of stellar shots and simply picked the absolute masterpieces among them.

Efficiency had skyrocketed exponentially.

“Thank you for your hard work today, Qi,” Edward said gratefully. “Shall I arrange a car to take you back to your hotel?”

Glancing at his phone, Qi Yanning declined with a polite smile. “Thank you, Mr. Edward, but there’s no need. Someone is picking me up.”

Edward blinked in curiosity. “Forgive me for asking, Qi—do you have close acquaintances here in Country F as well?”

“It is my boyfriend,” Qi Yanning smiled softly.

With that, he bade farewell to Edward and Alaric and walked toward the exit.

“Alaric, did I mishear him? Did Qi just say… his boyfriend?” Edward asked in bewilderment.

In his impression, Chinese people rarely spoke openly or casually about intimate relationships.

“Yes—a remarkably handsome man: tall, striking, wealthy…” Alaric shrugged, breaking into a wide, knowing grin, “and fiercely loyal.”

Wheeling his makeup trunk out of the building, Qi Yanning was swiftly met by Ling Cangzhou.

Taking the luggage from Qi Yanning’s hand, Ling Cangzhou slipped an arm around Qi Yanning’s waist; seeing no resistance, he gleefully pressed a kiss onto Qi Yanning’s cheek before walking toward the trunk.

After stowing the suitcase and before fastening his seatbelt, Ling Cangzhou leaned over again, nuzzling clingily against Qi Yanning to steal another kiss before finally starting the engine with utter satisfaction.

“Why are you acting just like a puppy?” Qi Yanning asked with a half-smile.

“Mm-hmm,” Ling Cangzhou dodged the question entirely, driving onward with a beaming grin.

He had thought about A-Ning all day long! Originally planning to take A-Ning out for lunch at noon, an unexpected work commitment on A-Ning’s end had forced him to wait until evening.

Throughout the day, his mind had wandered countless times. At moments, he even worried yesterday’s confession had been a mere dream. Whenever doubt crept in, he would send Qi Yanning a quick message.

Each time he received Qi Yanning’s brief yet patient reply, his heart soared anew.

The day had been equal parts blissful and agonizing. Now, A-Ning was finally seated beside him once more—and better yet, they were returning to the exact same suite!

The corners of Ling Cangzhou’s mouth curved upward completely beyond his control, humming along softly to the upbeat melody playing on the car stereo.

Seeing him in such high spirits, Qi Yanning’s own lips tilted upward in a quiet smile.

Only after returning to their hotel suite did Qi Yanning voice what he had held back during the drive.

“Yuchuan,” he said, “my work here is finished. I’m flying back tomorrow.”

Huh?

Ling Cangzhou froze mid-motion while pouring a glass of water, his expression going completely blank. He had completely forgotten that Qi Yanning had flown abroad temporarily and had to return home!

Which meant that on the very third day of officially being together, the two of them were already going to be separated?

Drawing a deep breath, he set the glass of warm water before Qi Yanning, then ran a slightly frustrated hand through his hair. His own business matters here weren’t wrapped up yet and still required several more days.

He looked at Qi Yanning, the disappointment in his eyes so thick it threatened to spill over.

Qi Yanning curved his lips into a smile, leaning back against the sofa cushions and opening his arms slightly in invitation.

Ling Cangzhou’s eyes lit up instantly. Lunging forward, he wrapped Qi Yanning in a tight embrace, burying his face in the crook of Qi Yanning’s neck and refusing to lift his head for a long moment.

“Can’t bear to part with me?” Qi Yanning stroked his hair smoothly.

Ling Cangzhou nodded against his skin, the tip of his nose brushing along the side of Qi Yanning’s neck, his warm breath stirring a faint, ticklish shiver.

Saying nothing further, Qi Yanning simply held the warm, human-sized heating pad in his arms to soothe him—only to find himself growing drowsy in the comforting warmth.

“I’ll wrap up things on my end as fast as possible,” Ling Cangzhou murmured in a low, muffled voice. “Wait for me a little while, A-Ning, alright…?”

Reluctant to let go, he tightened his embrace further. Their posture grew slightly awkward, gradually sliding down from the sofa backrest until both tumbled onto the cushions.

Ling Cangzhou’s large frame pinned Qi Yanning completely beneath him.

Jolted awake by the sudden weight, Qi Yanning saw Ling Cangzhou still nuzzling persistently against his collarbone. Grabbing a fistful of the man’s hair, he lifted his head away from his neck. “Stop rubbing, it tickles.”

Before Ling Cangzhou could answer, Qi Yanning arched an eyebrow, pulled his head down, and bit onto his lips.

The kiss stretched out endlessly, lips and tongues tangling tightly without leaving a single gap between them. Only after an indeterminate stretch of time did Qi Yanning finally push Ling Cangzhou back.

“Happy now?” Qi Yanning licked his own vivid, glistening crimson lips.

Staring transfixed at those alluring lips, Ling Cangzhou didn’t register a single word spoken, merely nodding blindly before leaning in for more.

Qi Yanning denied him the chance, rising smoothly from the sofa. “If you’re happy, go wash up and get to sleep.”

Bending down, he pinched Ling Cangzhou’s cheek and delivered a sharp bite to his lower lip.

“Hiss—” Ling Cangzhou winced in pain, looking up pitifully at Qi Yanning.

Without a shred of mercy, Qi Yanning cast a knowing glance downward, curving his lips into a smirk. “Too much pent-up fire will keep you awake at night. Consider this cooling you down.”

With that, he strolled toward his bedroom without looking back.

Leaving behind a room thick with lingering tension—and CEO Ling sitting alone, licking the tiny wound on his lip to cool his fire.

The following day, Qi Yanning boarded his return flight home, heading straight from the airport to the set of Jin Ge Chang Feng Xing.

Filming had originally been scheduled to resume yesterday, but due to his absence, production had been pushed back by a day.

Feeling slightly apologetic, Qi Yanning plunged straight into work the moment he arrived. Today’s slate featured a pivotal scene where Yun Yangyang’s character revealed her true colors, marking her decisive break with the heroine Jin Ge—making the sequence critically important.

Qi Yanning got to work the instant Yun Yangyang arrived.

“Qi-ge! You are incredible!” Yun Yangyang tilted her face up as Qi Yanning applied her makeup, chattering in awe.

“What happened?” Qi Yanning asked without pausing his brush.

“You trended on the hot search two days ago!” Yun Yangyang rattled off excitedly. “Aphrodite posted an official Xingbo statement thanking you specifically, and that lead designer heaped endless praise on you—he even registered a personal Xingbo account just so he could tag and compliment you!”

“So many celebrities walked the red carpet during Fashion Week, yet not a single one stole your spotlight that day. Photos of you standing alongside the lead designer on the runway even hit international headlines!”

“Hahahaha I saw foreign netizens asking if you were a model, saying it was a tragic waste of beauty when they learned your profession, and then immediately declaring you were born to be a makeup artist the second they saw your work… the speed of that switch-up was legendary.”

“Qi-ge, you’re beyond god-tier!”

“And Aphrodite’s runway show—I watched the footage, every single makeup look was stunning!” Yun Yangyang had been gorging on industry gossip for days and couldn’t stop talking now. “I wonder if I can borrow an Aphrodite gown for my next red carpet, and if I could invite Qi-ge to style me! Wearing an haute couture premiere paired with the original runway makeup artist—the hot search headlines would belong entirely to me hehehe.”

Before Qi Yanning could respond, she sighed dramatically, “No, wait—Qi-ge’s rates must be sky-high now, and your schedule must be packed solid. I’m having my manager contact Morning Star Entertainment right away to book your availability!”

Seeing she could put on an entire one-woman comedy skit without needing a single cue from him, Qi Yanning simply ignored her chatter and focused calmly on his brushwork.

Under his undivided concentration, the makeup was completed swiftly.

Yun Yangyang’s striking brows and eyes were softened to appear innocent and harmless, yet a subtle, veiled crimson tint beneath her lower lashes hinted at darker undercurrents.

Her attire was breathtakingly opulent. The smoky-purple palace gown was lavishly embroidered with lush, blooming peonies—sumptuous and regal—while every ornament adorning her hair and throat was crafted from gold and fine jade, dazzling to behold.

At first glance, the gentle, vulnerable features and extravagant court robes seemed subtly mismatched, yet they fused together in a striking paradox, endowing Yun Yangyang with a complex, contradictory presence.

Gazing at her reflection in the mirror with stunned admiration, Yun Yangyang couldn’t resist reciting one of her character’s iconic lines from today’s scene:

“I clawed my way up solely for these gold and jade jewels, these sumptuous silks and ornaments—how exquisite they are! As for that ‘friendship’ you keep preaching, hah. Its hypocrisy makes me sick!”

Despite the soft makeup and pitifully delicate features, in that single fleeting glance, an unsettling, venomous malice erupted from her eyes!