IDEI Ch25

“Hmm?” Qi Yanning paused her reading and listened attentively to Qi Yu’s words over the phone.

“A-Ning! The makeup artist here is making the trainees from the production team look ugly. Xiao Yingyi and Wei Mingzhe’s eyes have been made smaller by two circles,” Qi Yu whispered, unable to contain her anger. “He also said this is fashion. I’m not an expert on fashion—”

“But can something that looks terrible really be called fashion?”

By the end of her rant, Qi Yu’s voice was nearly trembling with rage.

She was extremely angry. She had experienced the low point of Your Star’s entire production team, when the atmosphere was dismal, and the only ones who weren’t slacking off were the trainees at the top. She saw their hard work and felt sorry for those young people fighting for their dreams.

Later, when Your Star’s reputation improved, she cherished it and didn’t want any additional factors to ruin its good name.

However, this shoot could very likely be a scheme by someone behind the scenes to destroy Your Star. Deliberately making the trainees look ugly and then using the magazine release to create a narrative, portraying the entire top tier of Your Star as unattractive.

Today’s audience often favored beautiful yet talentless people over average-looking but capable ones. They would lavish love on beauty, while being picky about talent.

When that time came, the audience who had supported Your Star would turn away once they saw the “reality” of the top tier being all ugly.

The more Qi Yu thought about it, the angrier she became. The magazine’s release was just before the final night of Your Star! The people behind this wanted to completely ruin Your Star!

“Got it,” Qi Yanning replied calmly. “I’m going to inform the director now. You stay calm and don’t let the trainees clash with the magazine team.”

Hearing this, Qi Yu felt as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her head. She trembled a bit; her earlier fury had clouded her judgment. Was this also part of the conspiracy?

If the dissatisfied trainees clashed with the magazine team, and the situation was taken out of context and sensationalized, it would become solid proof that Your Star’s trainees were difficult and had poor character even before their debut!

Qi Yu took a deep breath and tried to maintain her composure. She set down her phone, which had just been hung up, and walked towards the trainees.

At that moment, the trainees were still confronting the makeup artist. They stood silently, refusing to let him leave, while the makeup artist was already cursing loudly.

“Un-debuted trainees dare to go hard against the magazine team? It seems a few fans have made you so arrogant you don’t know your place!”

The makeup artist spoke in a sarcastic tone, “Your top-tier PD wouldn’t dare offend anyone from the magazine, yet you’re brave. I can’t wait to see what happens when this gets out; will you still have any fashion resources left?”

The trainees looked pale at his words. Some wanted to say something, but were stopped by another trainee tugging at their sleeve.

Even though his words were laced with sarcasm, there was some truth to them. They, as trainees, were at the very bottom of the entertainment industry.

“A-Yi, are you all done with your makeup? Get ready for the shoot!” Just as the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, Qi Yu appeared.

She entered the room with a bright smile, as if she hadn’t sensed the tension inside. “Thank you, teacher, for the makeup; you’ve worked hard. Here’s a small gift for you.”

Her gentle and lively voice broke the tense atmosphere, leaving the trainees somewhat confused about her sudden change in attitude, but when Qi Yu signaled them with her eyes, they remained silent. Only a few younger trainees looked at her with innocent eyes.

Qi Yu quickly pressed the gift into the makeup artist’s hands. Before he could react, she bowed slightly and quickly said, “Thank you, teacher. I’ll take the trainees to the shoot now.”

With that, she lightly pushed Xiao Yingyi aside.

Xiao Yingyi took the lead and followed her out of the makeup room, with the other trainees trailing behind.

“Xiao Yu-jie,” An Zai said with a pitiful expression, “with this kind of makeup, when we shoot…”

The others looked uneasy as well.

Qi Yu sighed. “I know, but were you really planning to confront the makeup artist just now? Were you ready to hit the trending topic tomorrow, with the headline being Your Star’s trainees acting difficult and attacking the makeup artist at the magazine shoot?”

The others paused, their spirits dampened.

“You didn’t say anything inappropriate, did you?” Qi Yu asked carefully.

“No,” An Zai replied. “We hardly said a word.”

Qi Yu sighed in relief. “That’s good. Your foundations aren’t stable yet. When you’re outside, it’s best not to give anyone any ammunition to attack you.”

“So we just have to endure this?” Wei Mingzhe couldn’t help but ask, his brows slightly furrowed.

“Of course not,” Qi Yu beamed brightly. “The director and the others will arrive shortly!”

“You all go ahead and shoot; don’t worry, nothing will happen.”

The trainees finally relaxed, smiles breaking out on their faces.

They arrived at the shooting location, wearing the makeup, and the entire venue fell silent. The photographer was stunned for a few seconds before starting to direct their positions.

Meanwhile, Director Lin was rushing towards the shoot location with Qi Yanning and a few others.

In the car, Director Lin was furious, banging his phone on the table.

He was trying to contact a deputy editor from the magazine he knew, but unexpectedly, this person’s tone had shifted from friendly when arranging schedules for Your Star’s trainees to being perfunctory and vague.

Director Lin was about to explode. The trainees from Your Star had been riding a wave of popularity lately; there were plenty of magazines wanting to book the trainees through Chenxing Entertainment or other channels. The reason he settled on this magazine was that it offered the most favorable conditions among all the magazines.

The cover, the inner pages, and a total of nine large insert photos made for an incredibly sincere presentation.

However…

Director Lin hadn’t expected that someone would be so reckless as to undermine Your Star’s reputation, disregarding the magazine’s standing!

He exited the chat with the deputy editor and switched to another.

Walk the World: Assistant Xu, is General Ling busy?

Xiao Xu: General Ling has an important meeting in an hour but can spare ten minutes now.

Director Lin was instantly excited, typing rapidly to tell Assistant Xu about the situation Your Star was facing and asking him to relay it to Ling Cangzhou.

Director Lin, who typically clung to powerful allies in times of trouble, felt no shame; rather, he took some pride in it.

He turned to Qi Yanning and said, “Okay, the problem’s been solved.”

Watching Director Lin transition from furious to relaxed in an instant after sending the message, Qi Yanning raised an eyebrow.

Ling Cangzhou was this impressive?

＊

The vehicle from Your Star’s production team sped swiftly to the shooting location, arriving just as the trainees had been shooting for half an hour.

However, Director Lin didn’t rush inside but instead waited at the entrance for someone.

“Xiao Qi,” Director Lin muttered in the car, “if we just go in, we can’t manage the magazine shoot. Let’s wait a bit for General Ling’s people to arrive; that way, we’ll have a legitimate reason to stop the shoot.”

Qi Yanning nodded. He understood clearly that if they entered now, it would seem like they were overstepping their bounds, provoking the magazine’s displeasure.

From time to time, Director Lin glanced at his phone. Finally, he stood up and said, “They’re here!”

Not far away, another vehicle pulled up, and a stylish and capable woman stepped out.

Director Lin approached her, saying, “Editor Ning, hello.”

Editor Ning shook hands with Director Lin lightly and then, with decisive energy, said, “I’m already aware of the situation. Shall we go take a look?”

Director Lin nodded vigorously, and the two entered the shooting location together.

At that moment, the trainees were busy shooting group photos.

Under the photographer’s direction, they posed in various ways, and from a distance, it had a certain charm.

But upon closer inspection…

Editor Ning’s expression darkened. With this kind of makeup, their magazine’s fashion credibility would surely be questioned.

It seemed that while she had been away on business, someone at the magazine had gotten too bold!

Editor Ning immediately spoke up, “Pause the shoot!”

Everyone on set noticed Editor Ning and halted their actions.

“What’s the situation here?” Editor Ning scanned the room, her voice cold and commanding. “Can anyone explain this to me?!”

Several staff members who were caught by her gaze lowered their heads. Only the photographer awkwardly spoke up, “Editor Ning, I can’t shoot with this makeup!”

The photographer was a young, in-house photographer for the magazine, but he had little authority there.

“I understand that this makeup is difficult to shoot,” Editor Ning’s tone softened a bit.

But before anyone could breathe a sigh of relief, she turned to the staff on site and asked directly, “Who was today’s makeup artist, Dannel or Aria?”

The young staff member trembled, “Neither. It’s… it’s Caleb…”

“Caleb?” Editor Ning was taken aback for a moment, then her imposing presence returned. “Why is an intern responsible for the makeup on the cover of the next issue?!”

The young staff member flinched. Even if Editor Ning’s anger wasn’t directed at her, she still felt terrified.

“Go get Caleb for me,” Editor Ning reined in her anger and restored her calm demeanor. “Then—”

“No matter the reason, have him pack his things and leave the magazine.”

The young staff member dashed to the makeup room, and before long, she returned with the previously arrogant Caleb, who wore an awkward expression.

“Editor Ning…” he tried to ingratiate himself.

“You’re fired,” Editor Ning stated succinctly.

“What?” Caleb’s eyes widened with a hint of anxiety, but he quickly retorted, “Is it because you’re not satisfied with the makeup? I can change it right now.”

“No need. Please leave.”

“On what grounds?” Caleb replied indignantly. “What gives you the right to fire me? My uncle is…”

“As long as he isn’t the magazine’s owner, I have the authority to fire employees who make significant mistakes that almost affect the magazine’s reputation,” Editor Ning interrupted him, casting a sidelong glance at several staff members nearby.

They quickly stepped forward to escort the still-protesting Caleb out the door.

With the makeup artist issue resolved, Editor Ning rubbed her tired forehead and said to Director Lin, “I apologize; this was a mistake on our magazine’s part. As compensation, we can include an interview with the trainees in this issue.”

Director Lin seized the opportunity. “Thank you, Editor Ning. I appreciate your help.”

“About this shoot…” Director Lin hesitated. “The trainees only have this one free day for their schedule.”

Editor Ning understood his hint and instructed the staff beside her, “Contact Editor Li and have him arrange for a new makeup artist to come over.”

The staff member nodded but hesitated, looking as though she wanted to say something.

“What’s wrong?”

“Editor Ning,” the staff member spoke hesitantly, moving closer and speaking softly, “there’s a red carpet event today, and several makeup artists collaborating with the magazine have already been booked by celebrities.”

Editor Ning shook her head. Having been away on business for so long, she was no longer in touch with the trends of the entertainment industry.

Editor Ning picked up her phone and began contacting makeup artists she was familiar with, but after reaching out to four or five, either they were out of town or already had commitments for the day.

As she faced constant rejections, her aura became increasingly intimidating.

A deep-seated anger simmered within her. Because of the mistakes made by others in the magazine, she had to return and clean up the mess just after getting off the plane.

But this mess was hard to tidy up; Editor Ning felt a splitting headache coming on.

Just then, Director Lin chimed in with a smile, “Editor Ning, how about letting our program’s makeup artist come to the rescue?”

Editor Ning looked at Director Lin and nodded.

She initially thought Director Lin would call someone, but to her surprise, as soon as she spoke, a handsome man standing next to Director Lin—whom she had assumed was part of the You Star production team—moved.

Qi Yanning stepped forward from beside Director Lin and walked toward the trainees who were watching from the side. “Let’s go, we’ll redo the makeup.”

The trainees cheered softly and clustered around Qi Yanning as they headed toward the makeup room.

Editor Ning suddenly realized that Director Lin had already made arrangements!

While she was trying to contact makeup artists, Director Lin had remained silent, partly due to lingering resentment toward their magazine and partly because he understood that rushing wasn’t beneficial. When Editor Ning found herself in a dilemma, he stepped in with a suggestion that gave him the upper hand while making Editor Ning owe him a favor.

What a cunning old fox, Editor Ning ground her teeth in frustration.

However, shooting was the priority, so she instructed the staff to introduce Qi Yanning to the available costumes and props in the studio, as well as the theme for the shoot.

Meanwhile, she stayed in the photography studio, engaging in a superficial chat with Director Lin.

＊

“Teacher, the theme for this shoot is ‘dejection,’ and you can freely use any of the costumes and props here. If you need a specific scene setup, just let me know, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you,” the staff member said in a sweet, gentle voice as she introduced Qi Yanning to the items available in the makeup room.

This shooting location was the magazine’s designated studio, featuring many big-name brands that collaborated with the magazine, as well as a variety of niche designer pieces.

After all the delays, it was already nearing noon, and they had to shoot two sets of photos that fit the theme within half a day, making the time extremely tight.

After scanning the clothing in the room, Qi Yanning lowered his gaze and began to think carefully.

The trainees were silent, fearing that they might disturb him.

“I need the following props: rose petals, red silk, and Rococo-style chairs. The silk should drape over the chairs, and the rose petals should be spread on the ground.” Qi Yanning instructed simply, “Just arrange it like the previous setup with the white backdrop, and be quick about it.”

The staff member breathed a sigh of relief; these were all common props available in the shooting base, and she cheerfully agreed before heading off to set up the scene.

Qi Yanning then turned his attention to the trainees.

He was currently standing next to a row of small European medieval-style dresses. One by one, he scanned the trainees and picked up pieces of clothing, handing them out.

“Time is tight. Quickly change into these outfits and take turns for makeup,” he directed the trainees.

The trainees were a bit confused but complied with Qi Yanning’s instructions and changed into the outfits.

Once they emerged, Qi Yanning worked quickly, adjusting the clothing to fit their bodies using temporary clips to alter the sizes.

“Since time is limited, we won’t remove the previous makeup. I’ll just modify it,” Qi Yanning explained to the trainees before pulling An Zai over and seating him on a chair.

He deepened An Zai’s eyebrows just a little, changing them to a golden color and making them slightly thinner than before. The eye makeup was quite restrained, only emphasizing the eye contours slightly. The entire makeup focused on a large area of rosy color on the face.

Various shades of deep and light red were brushed onto An Zai’s face, layering to create a rich, glamorous effect, resembling someone slightly tipsy or who had been crying.

Qi Yanning’s contour adjustments were very restrained, yet the light color application made An Zai’s facial structure appear more three-dimensional.

His originally wet and slick hair was slightly fluffed at the crown, with the ends gently curling outwards. This way, while the hair still looked somewhat damp, it didn’t detract from the beauty; instead, it added to the carefree aura.

“All done. You can go take solo shots now,” Qi Yanning glanced at the makeup effect in the mirror and gestured for An Zai to get up.

An Zai was stunned. He hadn’t expected that such a terrible makeup look could still have a chance at redemption!

The reflection in the mirror made him feel like he was a different person.

“Don’t dawdle, hurry up,” Qi Yanning frowned slightly.

“Aaaahhh, Qi-ge, I love you!” An Zai jumped up and gave him a bear hug, and then, under Qi Yanning’s piercing gaze, he happily headed toward the shooting area.

Meanwhile, in the shooting area, the setup had just been completed.

The staff member had rapidly informed the props team about their mistakes, and knowing they couldn’t afford to slack off, they quickly got the scene ready. However, they hadn’t anticipated that the makeup side would also move this fast?!

Editor Ning hadn’t expected it either.

Frowning, she looked at An Zai as he rushed out.

To achieve such a makeup look in such a short time… Editor Ning felt a twinge of unease.

But the moment she saw An Zai’s makeup, her expression brightened. Having served as the chief editor of a fashion magazine, she had a keen eye for aesthetics.

At that moment, she rated An Zai’s makeup as excellent. While it wasn’t an unforgettable stunning look, it was more than sufficient for a magazine shoot.

What surprised her even more was that this makeup was clearly a modification based on the horrible work of Caleb, yet it fit the theme perfectly.

An Zai was dressed in a platinum-colored medieval costume, and the rosy hue on his face combined with his damp hair made him look like a drunken noble son at a grand banquet.

It must have been a magnificent feast, yet the subtle sense of dejection in the makeup reflected the last lament of a feudal era.

Gorgeous, vivid, decadent.

Editor Ning praised internally.

As An Zai entered the photography area, her eyes brightened even more.

The combination of white and red created a striking visual impact that captivated everyone, making it seem as though he had traversed from another time amidst the simple set.

The cameraman became excited too. He had racked his brains to take satisfactory photos during the first half of the day, but now…

“Turn your head, just a little… Yes! Lower your eyes, search for that feeling of sadness… Yes, just like that! I’ve got it!” 

The cameraman had entered a somewhat frenzied working state.

Soon, Editor Ning was increasingly astonished. Each trainee’s makeup had subtle differences; for instance, Xiao Yingyi’s black hair, black eyebrows, and red lips created a strikingly vampiric effect.

Then there was Wei Mingzhe, whose face had less color; even his eyelashes were white, but his fiery red hair cascaded like a burning waterfall, making him look like a sacrificial saint.

When all the trainees gathered in one scene, the different yet overall unified makeup produced a powerful effect, causing gasps of astonishment from the staff present.

This level of artistry… Editor Ning shot a deep glance at Director Lin, inwardly lamenting.

This old fox had struck gold.

Qi Yanning’s makeup work had evidently inspired the cameraman, and with an almost frenzied enthusiasm, he managed to finish the shoot even earlier than expected.

However, despite this, the first set wrapped up close to four-thirty in the afternoon.

The trainees had only eaten breakfast and were now so hungry that their stomachs pressed against their backs, yet they still dragged their weary bodies to prepare for the second set of makeup.

Earlier, while they were shooting, Qi Yanning had already had the staff show him the location for the second shoot. The second set was supposed to be filmed outdoors, but Qi Yanning was not satisfied with the original scenery.

It was too… contrived.

Standing at the edge of the location and gazing into the distance, he spotted the coastline not far away.

City A was coastal, and this shooting base was situated by an uninhabited seaside. There were hardly any vehicles passing on this road, just the vast sea, the wide road, and the naturally desolate background on both sides.

Qi Yanning squinted slightly.

“Can we shoot on the road by the sea?” he suddenly asked.

“Where?” The staff member followed his pointing finger. “That road over there? It’s not accessible to cars, so we could shoot there…”

But the scenery wasn’t that great.

Qi Yanning decisively stated, “That’s the spot. We won’t need too many props, just one car, preferably black.”

The male staff member hesitated but ultimately agreed.

He realized that although Qi Yanning was a makeup artist, he wielded significant power, and even Editor Ning present today had to defer to him.

So he decided to follow Qi Yanning’s lead.

Back in the makeup room, Qi Yanning began searching for the target costume. This time, he needed the simplest of suits—a black and white suit would do.

The makeup room was overflowing with suits.

After a long morning followed by an afternoon of shooting, the trainees returned to the makeup room utterly exhausted. Only Xiao Yingyi still had some energy left and was pulled by Qi Yanning to get his makeup done.

He was already dressed in the suit, but since Qi Yanning hadn’t started adjusting the clothes yet, he had buttoned up properly according to his own style, with all buttons on his white shirt fastened, and even the black suit was buttoned up to the top.

At that moment, he tilted his head back, squinting his eyes as Qi Yanning sprayed a hydrating mist on his face.

Director Lin and Editor Ning walked in at that moment, bringing dinner for the trainees.

Editor Ning, who had been amazed by the makeup Qi Yanning had done in the afternoon, entered the makeup room filled with high expectations, only to be met with a face full of black and white suit.

Though he certainly looked handsome,—

Editor Ning’s heart sank a little.

“Teacher Qi, both of our makeup themes are ‘dejection’,” she couldn’t help but voice, fearing Qi Yanning might forget this detail.

Such things had happened before. The makeup artists the magazine collaborated with were all masters, often imbued with the passion and neurosis of artists, and frequently deviated from the theme in a burst of inspiration, stubbornly refusing to change.

Would this Qi Yanning also be one of those “wild artists,” she anxiously pondered?

“I remember,” Qi Yanning raised his eyes, casting a brief glance at Editor Ning, his voice filled with confident assurance.

“Why can’t a suit convey a decadent style?”