IDEI Ch26

Suit, decadence?

Countless images flashed through Chief Editor Ning’s mind, none of which fit perfectly.

But since Qi Yanning hadn’t strayed from the theme, Chief Editor Ning had to suppress her doubts and sit by the side, watching Qi Yanning’s every move intently.

This time, from the very beginning, Qi Yanning opted for a lighter makeup look that fully revealed Xiao Yingyi’s natural skin texture.

The contouring was much heavier than the previous look. Xiao Yingyi’s face was already tight and toned, and now it gave off a sharp, almost gaunt vibe.

For the eye makeup, Qi Yanning chose a brown with a hint of purple, deepening the eye sockets. The lower eyeliner was black, delicately blended. A muted blush was applied from the eyes down to the cheekbones, and the lips were a nude shade.

With this transformation, Xiao Yingyi’s once-rosy face took on a sickly, fragile appearance, both decadent and gloomy.

But…

Was this look too understated?

Although Chief Editor Ning found the makeup visually stunning, she worried about how it would appear on camera.

What she didn’t expect was for Qi Yanning to pull out a brush. Dipping it into dark red body paint, he gently scraped the bristles with another brush handle, creating a fine mist of red across Xiao Yingyi’s face.

The paint looked like drops of blood on his profile. Instantly, the face gained a stronger sense of color. The previous air of decadence was now tinged with a hint of danger—repelling yet alluring.

The hairstyle was also kept simple. Xiao Yingyi’s hair was styled in a slightly messy slicked-back look, not neat but a bit damp. A few strands hung over his eyes, making his expression darker and more ambiguous.

Seeing Xiao Yingyi like this, Chief Editor Ning felt both relieved and secretly amazed.

This makeup perfectly matched the theme of this issue’s magazine. It was truly…

She glanced deeply at Qi Yanning and sighed inwardly.

When it comes to art, talent is everything! This Teacher Qi, despite being young, had an acute sensitivity and insight into makeup and styling that left her in awe.

Qi Yanning sent Xiao Yingyi off to eat and grabbed An Zai, who had just finished a meager salad and was eyeing others’ food, to start his makeup.

An Zai’s look was similar to Xiao Yingyi’s, but because his face had more flesh, he couldn’t achieve the same extreme gauntness. So, Qi Yanning casually drew a bruise-like purple mark at the corner of his mouth and a bloodstain across his nose bridge.

With that, An Zai, who normally had a bright disposition, now looked like a wet, abandoned puppy, even his gaze becoming dimmer.

The rest of the group completed their makeup one after another, and the more Chief Editor Ning observed, the more amazed she became.

The makeup shared a unified color palette, yet these trainees, who in the eyes of outsiders might “all look the same,” now each had a distinctive personal flair, easily recognizable at a glance.

An incredibly skilled makeup artist.

Chief Editor Ning once again concluded in her mind.

With makeup and hairstyles all done, it was time for the outfits.

Qi Yanning looked at the trainees standing in a row, buttoning their suits meticulously, and his eyebrow twitched.

His gaze swept over them with a playful smile, “With this makeup and such perfectly buttoned-up suits…what do you guys think?”

“Looks like insurance salesmen who just got beat up,” An Zai blurted out.

The trainees burst into laughter. They too had some aesthetic sense and quickly unbuttoned their suits.

Qi Yanning went through and adjusted their looks one by one. Ties were loosened around their necks, and shirt collars were left open…

Wei Mingzhe and Mo Jinghai were even told to take off their suits and drape them over their shoulders. Their ties were tied carelessly around their upper arms, emphasizing their muscular physiques. The two had different styles: Wei Mingzhe’s muscles were tight and defined, while Mo Jinghai’s were fuller and more robust, creating contrasting visual effects.

“That’s it.” Qi Yanning stepped back, looked at the result, and nodded in satisfaction.

A nearby photographer, who had quietly approached, heard these words, his eyes lighting up. “Finally finished! Come on, come on, follow me, the sunset outside is perfect for shooting!”

The stunning natural beauty combined with these impeccably styled trainees—today would be the highlight of his career!

His excitement was palpable as he grabbed a trainee and rushed outside. The others exchanged glances and hurried after him.

Seeing this, Chief Editor Ning smiled and invited Director Lin and Qi Yanning, “Director Lin, Teacher Qi, shall we go take a look too?”

*

At this moment, the road by the seaside had already been prepped, with the crew even collecting all the trash from the area.

On the empty road, only a low-profile yet luxurious black sedan remained.

All the lighting and reflectors were set up, just waiting for the shoot to begin.

The purple-red sunset blended into the dark blue sea, with wild grass and a few small wildflowers dotting the sides of the road. The scenery was vast and desolate, as if it were the setting for a post-apocalyptic escape.

Upon arriving at the scene, Qi Yanning suddenly remembered something. He called over a nearby staff girl and gave her some instructions.

The girl paused, a bit confused, but agreed nonetheless.

By this time, the trainees had already stepped in front of the camera, starting with individual shots.

Under the passionate direction of the photographer, they struck various poses—gazing intently into the lens through disheveled hair, their eyes shadowed, or looking up at the sky, their expressions distant—leaving behind stunning images in the camera.

The photographer worked quickly, and it didn’t take long to finish the individual shots. Next came the group photos.

Just as the photographer was considering the composition, a production assistant brought over the props that Qi Yanning had requested.

A bottle of red wine, several wine glasses, a few baseball bats, and golf clubs.

Qi Yanning approached the photographer unhurriedly, “I think these props might come in handy?”

Though phrased as a question, his tone was quite certain.

The photographer, momentarily interrupted, looked up with a frown, meeting Qi Yanning’s smiling eyes. He quickly turned his head to glance at the props, and his eyes lit up!

What had seemed like strange props to the production assistant now appeared ingenious to the photographer!

Without hesitation, he tore up the composition sketch he had just drawn and swiftly began sketching again. This time, it didn’t take long before he stood up, eyes gleaming with excitement.

The subsequent group photos went smoothly, thanks to the props.

Whether it was Xiao Yingyi and the other three trainees sitting on top of a car with exaggerated grins while holding wine glasses, or Wei Mingzhe and the others casually gripping baseball bats with sly smiles aimed at the camera, the photographer couldn’t stop marveling!

The trainees looked like gentlemen just kicked out of a party, or like “suit-wearing thugs” who had lost their status and concealed all their thoughts deep within, exuding a sense of decadence and opulence.

By the time the shoot reached this point, it was already dark outside.

Only the final group shot remained.

Under the photographer’s direction, all the trainees lay sprawled on the ground. The wine bottles were shattered beside them, and the baseball bats were stained with red, ambiguous marks. The car’s headlights shone directly on them, casting deep shadows on one side of their faces, revealing only faint, playful expressions.

The photographer was about to start shooting when he saw Qi Yanning pull out a small spray bottle and walk toward the trainees.

A fine mist was sprayed evenly across each trainee’s face.

The sharp edges of their expressions were softened by the droplets, as if a blurred filter had been applied. The aggression was erased, leaving only a sense of exhaustion, as though they had reached the end of the world, enveloped in endless desolation.

It was a grand finale, a tragic celebration, a requiem for the apocalypse.

“Holy crap!” the photographer suddenly cursed, casting a glance at Qi Yanning. His gaze was filled with admiration, making Qi Yanning’s skin crawl.

But there was no time for words. The photographer rushed forward, eager to capture the scene before the droplets evaporated.

Chief Editor Ning was also amazed. She had been amazed all day and was beginning to feel numb.

She quietly asked the other photographer recording the shoot, “Did you get all of this?”

The photographer nodded. His job was to document the entire shoot, which would later be edited into behind-the-scenes footage to either promote on Xingbo or be included with the magazine’s digital edition—nothing would be wasted.

Editor Ning nodded, her mind racing as she began considering how to best utilize this footage.

She had a feeling that with the right marketing, this issue of the magazine would be a huge hit!

＊

By the time the shoot finally wrapped up, the trainees, freshly removed from their makeup, were utterly exhausted.

They slumped into various corners of the dressing room, unwilling to say a word.

Until—

“Good job today! Dinner’s on me!” Director Lin announced with a grand gesture.

The trainees immediately sprang to life.

“Director Lin, you’re the best!”

“Long live Director Lin! I want barbecue!”

“Hotpot, I vote for hotpot!”

“I’m craving fried chicken and pizza!”

The trainees began to bicker, but quickly fell silent under Director Lin’s stern glare.

“Fried chicken? Barbecue? You want tomorrow’s headlines to be ‘Top Trainees All Swollen Up Like Pig Heads’ after tonight’s dinner?” Director Lin retorted bluntly.

“We can have hotpot,” Director Lin added, but before the trainees could cheer, he followed up, “Clear broth.”

The room filled with groans, but they agreed nonetheless.

Free food is still food!

While Director Lin was laying down the law with the trainees, completely unaware, someone outside the noisy dressing room was plotting to poach him.

Qi Yanning was chatting with Chief Editor Ning and the photographer.

“Teacher Qi, you have a great eye, the looks you create are stunning,” Editor Ning said with admiration.

Qi Yanning nodded slightly, “Thank you for the compliment.”

“A talented stylist like you is hard to come by,” Editor Ning continued, her tone hinting at something more. “Have you ever considered switching platforms?”

Qi Yanning’s eyes flickered as he looked up at Editor Ning.

“I won’t beat around the bush. Have you ever thought about signing with our magazine? The benefits we offer for contracted makeup artists are excellent. You’d only need to complete the required tasks in about ten days per month, leaving the rest of your time free to do as you please.”

The offer was indeed tempting in its flexibility.

But Qi Yanning wasn’t swayed in the slightest.

“Thank you for your appreciation, but Director Lin gave me my first break.” Qi Yanning shook his head, politely declining.

Editor Ning felt a twinge of disappointment, though she hadn’t expected immediate success. She now shifted to her real objective.

“Alright then,” she said with a smile. “Let’s at least exchange Xingxin contacts. Who knows when we might get the chance to work with you on another magazine shoot.”

“As long as I have the time.” Qi Yanning understood, but he didn’t refuse, waving his phone with a light chuckle.

“Excuse me.” After wrapping up the conversation, he sidestepped the photographer, whose gaze resembled someone who had been wronged, and returned to the dressing room.

Editor Ning sighed softly, but quickly regained her usual sharp demeanor.

Her eyes darkened. “Let’s go back to the company. Let me see which monkey has been acting like the king around here these past few days!”

The trainees quickly changed their clothes and, like little chicks, followed Director Lin into the car.

Their destination was a hotpot restaurant not far from the Your Star studio, which had larger, more private rooms.

When Qi Yanning entered the private room, he was surprised to see Ling Cangzhou there as well.

The trainees, who had just been full of excitement, instantly fell silent upon seeing Ling Cangzhou. One by one, they greeted him politely and then stood there, not daring to speak.

“I’ve already ordered the food,” Ling Cangzhou said with a smile. “Feel free to eat.”

After saying that, he turned to Qi Yanning. “A-Ning, why don’t you come with me to the next room?”

Seeing the anticipation in Ling Cangzhou’s eyes, Qi Yanning smiled lightly and nodded.

Ling Cangzhou then turned to Director Lin. “Will you be joining us?”

Director Lin’s eyes flickered, and he laughed heartily. “I’ll pass. I need to keep an eye on these kids.”

“Let’s see who dares to eat too much today!”

After hearing Director Lin’s refusal, Ling Cangzhou and Qi Yanning headed to the next room. Just as they stepped out, they heard the trainees groaning, as if Director Lin had said something else.

The two exchanged a glance, both unable to suppress a smile.

After sitting down, Qi Yanning spoke up, “Director Lin’s personality is really… lively.”

Ling Cangzhou chuckled softly. “His family is in business and quite well off, but he’s a bit of a rebel, choosing to study the arts instead. Still, his family supports him.”

“But…”

But what? Qi Yanning gazed at Ling Cangzhou’s playful expression through the steam from the hotpot.

He didn’t ask, just quietly waited, until finally, Ling Cangzhou couldn’t hold out any longer.

Ling Cangzhou cleared his throat and looked down before continuing, “He used to direct films, but they all flopped, and eventually, he felt too embarrassed to ask his family for more investment. That’s when he transitioned into directing variety shows.”

“His first online variety show wasn’t a big hit, but it had a good reputation. Most importantly, he’s one of the rare directors who really respects the guests on his shows—no malicious editing, no negative headlines. That’s why Chenxing Entertainment brought him in to direct Your Star.”

So that’s the story.

Qi Yanning now understood why Director Lin didn’t carry the air of a seasoned director despite his background.

“You see, Chenxing Entertainment is a company that really values its people,” Ling Cangzhou shamelessly praised, then moved on to his real objective.

“A-Ning, after the variety show ends, would you consider signing a collaboration contract with Chenxing Entertainment?”

“Chenxing can offer you the greatest level of freedom. All we ask is that, in your work, you prioritize Chenxing’s artists. Plus, Chenxing—or I—can back you when choosing jobs. Any job you don’t want, we can turn down for you.”

Ling Cangzhou looked at Qi Yanning with bright, almost childlike eyes, a stark contrast to his mature and well-dressed appearance.

Qi Yanning was silent for a moment, then suddenly raised an eyebrow and smiled. Instead of answering, he asked, “Has Chenxing’s internal problem been resolved?”

Ling Cangzhou rubbed his nose, looking a bit embarrassed.

“Almost,” he said. “I knew someone was causing trouble, but I didn’t expect it to affect Your Star, making you work overtime for a day. My apologies.”

He had been aware of the internal issues within the company, but he had been biding his time, waiting for the right moment to deal with the troublemaker. However, he hadn’t anticipated the person would target Your Star and cause such a hassle.

Ling Cangzhou was clearly annoyed with himself.

“Well then, let’s wait until you’ve cleaned up your house, and then I’ll consider it,” Qi Yanning replied with a playful smile, directly rejecting the offer.

“Alright,” Ling Cangzhou agreed, moving on from the topic.

He didn’t seem bothered by Qi Yanning’s rejection and kept smiling as he introduced each dish.

They were eating hotpot with a porridge base, accompanied by fresh ingredients, creating a rich and flavorful taste. Even Qi Yanning ate a little more than usual.

By the time they returned to the Your Star filming base, it was almost 11 p.m.

Exhausted, Qi Yanning insisted on washing up before quickly falling asleep.

What he didn’t see was that his phone screen lit up a few times.

[Red-Eared Puppy]: Once I’ve cleaned up “the house,” can I invite A-Ning?

[Red-Eared Puppy]: I’ll clean it up really quickly!

[Red-Eared Puppy]: Puppy begging for a favor.gif!