Chapter 22: Matching Outfits

Chapter 22: Matching Outfits

The live stream hasn't started yet. The cameraman is capturing footage, which can be edited into behind-the-scenes clips later.

Shen Yao feigned composure, crossing his leg and shoving one hand into his pocket, clenched into a fist, barely concealing the bulge between his legs.

Merely thinking of those scenes made his body react uncontrollably. He took a deep sip of coffee, letting the bitter liquid fill his mouth, managing to keep his composure.

Because of that vivid dream, Shen Yao dared not make eye contact with Yinglei, yet he couldn't resist sneaking glances at him.

Yinglei was still wearing that grey-black windbreaker, with a long hem that covered his behind.

Whether intentional or not, Qi Xie wore a white windbreaker today, identical to the one he lent Yinglei. They looked like they were in matching outfits, and it was grating to Shen Yao's eyes, so he averted his gaze.

The makeup room was bustling. Xie Wen took a sip of coffee and couldn't help but stick out his tongue, "Wow, that's bitter."

Yinglei turned to him and asked, "Is it too bitter? I had them add a lot of sugar already."

Xie Wen's face scrunched up, "Incredibly so. I was sleepy before, but this woke me right up."

"Would you like to add more sugar?" The clerk had given him several sugar cubes earlier.

"No, thank you. If Old Zhang finds out, he'll chide me again." Xie Wen returned to his seat, where Bian Qiao was sipping on an iced Americano. "Drinking something cold so early in the morning, aren't you afraid it'll upset your stomach?"

Bian Qiao quirked a corner of his lips, "Reduces swelling."

Yinglei took a closer look. There wasn't any noticeable swelling. Was he setting his standards too high?

After finishing a call, Zhang Shaoling instructed, "When Clare arrives later, remember to greet her. Be polite."

Clare, an Australian of Chinese descent, had made quite a name for herself in the fashion industry. After returning to China, she was hired by a magazine studio as the style director at a high salary, mainly responsible for today's clothing and makeup design.

No sooner had the words been spoken than a man sashayed into the makeup room, declaring, "Good morning, everybody!"

"Song." The man spread his arms, embracing Song Jimo, "Darling, you've gotten even more handsome."

They exchanged a peck on the lips, evidently sharing a close relationship.

Song Jimo patted his back, "Long time no see, Clare. You're still as stunning as ever."

Song Jimo and Clare had met during their studies in Australia. They weren't particularly close but that didn't prevent Clare from affectionately addressing them.

"Of course! I spend a six-figure sum on this face every month." Clare showed off her freshly manicured nails, "Look at these. Real diamonds on every one of them. So bling-bling. I absolutely adore them."

Song Jimo nodded, "They look great, perfectly suited for you."

"Thank you~~" Clare was ecstatic and proceeded to greet the others.

Qi Xie spoke softly, "Hello, Qi Xie."

"You're the captain of 'Number', aren't you?" Clare covered her mouth, her tone exaggerated, "I've heard so much about you. Finally, I get to see you in person. You're so handsome it's making my knees weak."

Qi Xie didn't respond, both hands pocketed, his demeanor cool and indifferent.

Clare couldn't resist taking the opportunity to give Shen Yao, with his bulging muscles, a playful pat or two.

Shen Yao's goosebumps scattered across his skin. Turning to Xie Wen, he asked, "Are all foreigners this bold?"

Directly touching someone's rear end as an introduction.

Xie Wen sighed, "Alright, alright, I get it; you have a pronounced rear."

Shen Yao: ...

The love for nail polish and high heels – Shen Yao's intuition told him that Clare was most definitely gay.

Indeed, Shen Yao had a well-defined posterior, coupled with a six-pack. When Clare touched him, he even blushed.

The most sought-after look in the industry now is the rugged yet gentle type. With Shen Yao's muscular build and dark complexion, he's a heartthrob in the gay community, especially given his handsome face. Clare even went out of her way to add him on WeChat.

Ying Lei had been sitting quietly in the corner, observing their interaction. But in a split second, he noticed Clare heading towards him.

"Oh, darling, your skin is so fair! Not a hint of dark circles. Have you already had your makeup done?"

Clare's exuberance was overwhelming. Caught off guard, Ying Lei was inspected from head to toe.

Just as Clare seemed about to pinch Ying Lei's cheek, Song Jimo stepped in, blocking Clare's eager hand, "Clare, you've mistaken him. He's our assistant."

Ying Lei greeted him with a polite smile, "Hello, Mr. Clare. I'm the assistant for Number, Ying Lei. You can simply call me 'Little Ying'."

"Assistant?" Clare looked incredulous, staring deeply into Ying Lei's clear, beautiful eyes, "Honey, do you realize you're more handsome than many celebrities? You wouldn’t even need makeup for the camera. Have you considered modeling at our studio? The perks would definitely be better than being an assistant here."

Ying Lei, mouth agape in astonishment, thought, "Is this poaching? Right in front of my bosses too..."

Song Jimo's expression shifted slightly. With a forced smile, he replied, "Clare, if your studio is in need of models, I can recommend some. Let's not tease him anymore. We've been waiting for you."

Swiftly changing the subject, Clare responded, "The traffic was terrible today. I should've taken a helicopter..."

A faint smile tugged at Ying Lei's lips as he returned to his seat.

"Where's your mask?" Bian Qiao approached him, his demeanor calm and collected.

Looking up, Ying Lei's eyelashes fluttered, "I forgot to wear it."

He had been groggy when he woke up that morning, hastily getting dressed and heading out, completely forgetting where he'd left his mask.

There was a gentle amusement in Bian Qiao's eyes. "I have one in my bag. Take it and put it on."

"Alright, I'll grab it in a bit."

The theme of this magazine shoot was the "Twenty-four Solar Terms." By the time they finished with makeup, the studio lighting had already been set up.

Clare's makeup skills were otherworldly. He excelled at highlighting the unique features of everyone's face, turning even the most common-looking faces into ones with distinctive character. As a result, numerous celebrities in the industry vied to work with him.

Number was widely acknowledged by fans as the group with the most flawless visages. Their natural looks meant minimal makeup was needed—usually just some concealer for dark circles. For Clare, this was the first time he felt the frustration of having unparalleled skills but no opportunity to fully utilize them.

Their first task was a group cover shot, followed by individual covers. Each member of Number had a distinct handsomeness, but the key to a group cover was harmony—standing out too much could be jarring.

Clare made slight adjustments to each member, toning down their individual traits. Serving as both the style director and the photographer, he knew best how to capture his own artistry.

"Move a bit to the left—not too close, though."

"Look at the camera. Yes, just like that. Let's take another."

"That pose from earlier worked perfectly. Hold it."

Clare pursued perfection in his work, tolerating no flaws. He took multiple shots of the same set-up, never settling.

The studio was filled with the clicking of cameras and the hum of machinery. A heaviness settled in Ying Lei's chest, as if it was stuffed with cotton.

An assistant beside him, noting his pallor, asked, "Are you alright?"

Ying Lei whispered, "It's a bit stuffy in here. I need some fresh air."

The corridor was bustling. Stepping out, Ying Lei took a couple of deep breaths and immediately felt better.

As he prepared to re-enter the studio, he caught sight of Zhang Shaoling rushing towards him, the lower half of his pants soaked.

Ying Lei inquired, "Mr. Zhang, is it raining outside?"

Shaking off droplets, Zhang Shaoling replied, "Yes, it's pouring. I'm heading out to provide the fans with some rain gear."

Their schedule today was public, and a sizable crowd of fans had gathered outside. Caught unprepared by the sudden downpour, the fans had no shelter.

After a moment of consideration, Ying Lei said, "I'll come with you."

Zhang Shaoling: "That's wonderful."

Ying Li went to a nearby supermarket with the staff to purchase raincoats and distributed them to the fans outside.

The rain was pouring heavily. Most of the fans had left, but a small group still braved the elements, and they were thrilled to see Zhang Shaoling and his team bringing them supplies.

"No need to rush, everyone will get one."

"Stay safe, watch your step, and no pushing..."

By the time she finished distributing the raincoats, Ying Li's back was drenched.

The group photo session was done. Now, some were changing their outfits, others were resting, preparing for the individual shots.

Clare smoked in the corridor, watching Ying Li approach, and slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke.

The smoke enveloped her, making Clare appear like a mysterious beauty emerging from the mist: "Poor thing, why are you so wet?"

Ying Li replied with a hint of resignation: "I just went out to give the fans some raincoats."

The fans were so excited that they tore the raincoats, getting me drenched in the process. My mask got soaked, so I just took it off.

He clenched the torn raincoat in his hand; water droplets trickled down from the smooth fabric onto the floor. His damp hair hung loosely, resembling a camellia drenched in rain.

Clare opened the door and motioned inside, "Emily, get our dear one some dry clothes."

Soon after, a gentle-looking and elegant girl emerged: "Of course, Director."

She courteously said to Ying Li, "Follow me."

Emily led Ying Li through the corridor to the wardrobe room.

"This one should fit you well." Emily selected a white long-sleeve tee from a pile of colorful clothes. The shirt had a semi-openwork design at the waist and a few feathers adhering to the back, showcasing a unique design.

She pointed to a door not far away, "The men's changing room is to your left. Change quickly."

"Thank you."

Holding the shirt, Ying Li walked to the end of the corridor and knocked on the changing room door, "Hello, is anyone inside?"

There was no response from inside, likely no one there.

He pushed the door open, his pupils sharply contracting.

Qi Xie was changing inside, his back towards the door, shirtless, with clearly defined muscles rippling across his back.

He was pulling up his trousers, the waistband caught just above his hips, revealing a swath of deep grey underwear fabric. He only gave a brief glance when he noticed someone entering.

"I'm sorry! I thought it was empty. I'll leave right away."

Ying Li quickly apologized and turned to leave, but Qi Xie suddenly stopped him, "No need to go, I'm done changing."

Qi Xie slipped on his shirt and fastened his belt in front of the mirror, lifting an eyebrow to Ying Li, "Aren't you changing?"

"Yes."

Turning his back, Ying Li began to remove his soaked clothes.

Qi Xie asked, "What happened to you?"

Hanging his wet clothes on a hanger, Ying Li responded, "It rained outside..."

There was also a mirror in front of him, reflecting his fair chest. A red birthmark stood out on the right side above his collarbone, leading downwards to a slightly protruding sternum and two delicate pink buds.

The young man's delicate frame was laid bare without any hint of reservation.

Qi Xie was somewhat irritated; Ying Li was so unabashed. He wondered if Ying Li would act this natural around anyone else.

Ying Li noticed Qi Xie's continuous stare in the mirror and flashed him a smile.

Qi Xie stiffly turned away, touching his ear which had turned a shade so red it seemed to bleed.

Author's note:

Seen by my spouse and likewise seen her entirely.

I've instantly imagined a hundred thousand words for the next step XXX (smile turning eerily mischievous).

If all goes as planned, expect an update at midnight on the 21st!