Chapter 29: Reality: Collaboration

Chapter 29: Reality: Collaboration

Upon arriving at the destination, Ming Yiyang met the lead photographer who had shot Yan Qiling's costume cover, Wang Zhishu.

Wang Zhishu had a narrow face with small eyes that narrowed into a slit when he smiled.

His face was not conventionally attractive; people usually resorted to describing him as "full of energy" when they lacked words for praise. However, Wang Zhishu seemed unconcerned about his appearance.

When he first saw Ming Yiyang, although his reaction wasn't as dramatic as Director Zhang's, his professional instinct still prompted him to steal a few extra glances.

But rather than flirting with the newcomer, it was more important to clarify the current situation with his partner:

"Qiling, um... Teacher Lin Jianxiang hasn't arrived yet. We actually contacted him two hours ago, but he said he was filming and might be half an hour late, so I asked you to come half an hour later too... Now, we can't even get through to his assistant."

"That's okay, we can start with individual shots."

After getting his makeup done, Yan Qiling quickly shifted into work mode.

With nothing to do, Ming Yiyang and Tuan Mi found a set of steps to sit on.

Midway through the shoot, Tuan Mi struggled with holding up the reflective cloth, so Ming Yiyang kindly helped her lift one end, ensuring the fabric spread evenly.

All the light focused on the figure standing before the minimalist backdrop.

A silver chain encircled his slender neck, two delicate strands intertwined and diverging just below his Adam's apple.

One pendant dangled from the split, forming a Y-shape, disappearing into the deep V-neck black undershirt, subtly hinting at an unintentional allure.

With his hands in his pockets, his chin lifted naturally, his face devoid of expression, revealing a restrained rebelliousness that he often kept hidden.

His dark eyes were empty, embodying the phrase "indifferent to others" with a refined elegance and intensity.

It made one crave... a glimpse into the other emotions concealed beneath that handsome, rebellious exterior.

Ming Yiyang found Yan Qiling's life incredibly diverse.

Just a few hours ago, he was a vulnerable, artistic merman in the swimming pool, and now, he had transformed into a playboy strolling amidst the neon lights.

In just a few more hours, he would return to normal life, joining them for dinner.

In the following days, they might enter the Realm of No Escape together, battling the Ruler for survival with cunning and wit.

Was this Yan Qiling's bizarre yet fascinating everyday life?

Ming Yiyang's thoughts held no weight to the man engrossed in his shooting work.

Yan Qiling had an excellent grasp of camera angles, his facial expressions were flawlessly controlled, and coupled with his naturally gifted looks, he seemed born for the stage.

Wang Zhishu was intimately familiar with every aspect of Yan Qiling's appearance. They barely needed to communicate during their collaboration, just continuously shooting, changing outfits, shooting again, and changing once more.

Though the pace was swift, it still took nearly an hour to complete all twenty outfits.

But Lin Jianxiang, as rumored, still hadn't shown up.

Ming Yiyang didn't usually pay much attention to the entertainment industry, but when he had idle moments in the hotel, he'd watch some TV shows.

Thanks to his exceptional memory, he easily recalled... having seen this person in a sports variety show somewhere.

The brand representative outside the studio was frantic, having exhausted their phone battery from making calls.

This time, instead of calling Lin Jianxiang, they called their superior with a gloomy tone to report the situation.

Seeing that things were about to take a turn for the worse, Wang Zhishu, though willing, lacked the power to change it. He decided to invite them all into the lounge for tea.

As he brewed the tea, he complained,

"This studio is only rented until six. We're not shooting a quick promotional show like a Taobao session... There are twenty outfits in total! If he's an hour late, we definitely won't be able to finish today."

With the door of the lounge firmly shut, it was now filled with their own people. Yan Qiling, no longer as reserved as he was in front of Director Zhang, took the initiative to ask,

"Is the brand in a hurry?"

"It's not just about urgency. This studio is expensive, rented specifically for Lin Jianxiang. We've been setting up this scene for over a week... Sigh, I'm fine with it. If we can't shoot, it's not my fault, but it's still a pity."

Handing the prepared tea to the others, Wang Zhishu sighed deeply,

"I've been working on this design with the costume designer for months. If Lin Jianxiang can't make it, we'll have to find another time to rebuild the set... Think about it, he's supposed to shoot twenty sets alone, plus the time for photos with you. It's all money down the drain."

"If the brand doesn't intend to allocate additional funds, then all our efforts will be in vain. They might not ask me to shoot again and could even switch to a different plan," Tuan Mi suggested suddenly.

Tuan Mi proposed, "If he can't make it, why not ask the brand and designer for a backup plan? Teacher Yan could film both Teacher Lin's part, creating a whole narcissus-themed photoshoot. You can merge the double portraits later, and Teacher Yan could earn double the pay."

Wang Zhishu found himself amused and exasperated. "That's easier said than done. Lin Jianxiang is over six feet tall. These clothes are custom-made, and they won't fit Teacher Yan."

He paused slightly, his gaze drifting to Ming Yiyang, who was engrossed in his phone.

The young man had silver hair and lashes, his mixed-race features granting him the best of both worlds in terms of appearance. This advantage materialized on his face, becoming an irresistible charm that was impossible to overlook.

Unlike Yan Qiling, Ming Yiyang's facial contours were sharp, with a chiseled jawline that left no room for gender ambiguity.

His every move exuded a strong sense of personal style, a handsome visage that was both assertive and intimidating.

This type of person, if they truly entered the modeling industry, would be highly dependent on their niche.

Softer and more androgynous themes wouldn't suit them at all with just their looks; in fact, their appearance might even be a disadvantage at times.

Thus, while they might make a striking impression, their path to success would be rather narrow.

Unlike Yan Qiling's appearance, which was not only good-looking but also highly malleable, able to handle both tough and gentle styles effortlessly.

But, here's the catch—the young man's face seemed tailor-made for today's theme!

The more Wang Zhishu thought about it, the more excited he became. However, he didn't rush into anything. Instead, he walked over to Yan Qiling and lowered his voice:

"Your friend... the one with white hair, does he have time this afternoon?"

Yan Qiling wasn't surprised, but he knew it could be challenging to convince Ming Yiyang:

"He's with me right now and won't be leaving anytime soon. But he's not an easy person to persuade, and he doesn't like taking photos."

Although Ming Yiyang hadn't explicitly mentioned his stance on photography, Yan Qiling recalled how he had asked about his profession in the car. It didn't seem like he held a favorable opinion of the industry.

Wang Zhishu didn't seem to mind:

"It's not a big deal. What does he usually do? What do you think would be a suitable daily wage for him?"

He was already thinking about the daily wage before the person even agreed to take the job?

Yan Qiling gave him a look, halting his overly energetic train of thought:

"The brand might not be willing. Lin Jianxiang has quite a good influence on the public. If we do it, it can only be as a backup plan."

"Having a backup is better than nothing."

Wang Zhishu was ready to act:

"I'll ask around... Why don't you feel out his intentions?"

Yan Qiling declined:

"Let's wait until you're back. My attempt to persuade him might have the opposite effect. He's quite rebellious."

Wang Zhishu was instantly perplexed by their relationship, but he didn't ask further and instead went out to communicate with the brand representatives.

Meanwhile, Ming Yiyang, unaware that they were discussing him, was searching for information on this arrogant star.

Upon seeing the actor's shirtless promotional photos, with his exaggerated pectorals and deltoids, Wang Zhishu deduced that the man's muscles were likely the result of protein powder and intense gym sessions.

From a practical standpoint, he sneered at such exaggerated muscular physiques; they were less intimidating than Yan Qiling's deltoids when he dove into the water.

He couldn't help but find it amusing.

Yan Qiling extended a hand, silently estimating that this guy wouldn't last more than ten moves.

The door opened, and the designer who had entered with Wang Zhishu openly scrutinized the silver-haired youth. The brand's contact person also made their entrance.

Being sized up like merchandise irked Ming Yiyang immensely.

Upon catching sight of his face, these people's eyes immediately lit up as if they had discovered a treasure.

As they came and went, Yan Qiling, holding his tea, used the intervals between sips to discreetly observe the young man's expressions.

Ming Yiyang wore a faint, indifferent smile, as if he already knew what they were planning.

When Wang Zhishu entered the room alone, the entire lounge finally fell silent.

"Mr. Ming, would you like to collaborate with Teacher Yan?"

Wang Zhishu carefully chose his words, attempting to persuade the man in front of him.

"The brand wants to take a separate set of photos featuring you and Teacher Yan. You can keep these photos as souvenirs or for personal collection, as long as they're not released before the brand's launch. The compensation is negotiable, we can even settle it daily."

The young man propped his chin on one hand, tilting his head slightly.

"I'm not in this line of work. You should find someone else."

Receiving the expected response, Wang Zhishu let out a wry smile.

"It's quite last minute, Mr. Ming. Currently, the brand doesn't have any available partners. Would it be an honor to trouble you for this?"

The young man pulled at the corners of his mouth, his languid tone carrying an aloof coldness:

"Didn't you consider the possibility of him having a conflicting schedule when planning? For him to so confidently leave everyone hanging with just a phone call, it can't possibly be his first time doing this."

"If he's willing to take such a risk to invite him, why didn't they have a backup plan? If they neglect details like these, the brand department might as well close up and go back to farming in the countryside."

Wang Zhishu was taken aback. He had thought that the other party would simply decline, but instead, they directly criticized the brand team. Fortunately, the responsible person wasn't present... Otherwise, it would've been too offensive.

He sighed but didn't give up just yet.

As he pondered how to persuade them, Yan Qiling's cool voice interrupted:

"It's fine if he doesn't want to come. Tuan Mi, ask Teacher Tan if he has time. He mentioned earlier that he's in Guang City these few days."

Tuan Mi picked up her phone, but before she could make the call, slender fingers with distinct knuckles reached over and effortlessly covered her screen.

The tall young man looked at Yan Qiling, his lips curving into a playful smile:

"If others ask me and I refuse, it might be a different story if Teacher Yan is the one asking."

The man calmly accepted this quasi-challenging question and spoke with a calm demeanor:

"May I ask, Mr. Ming, if I have the honor of collaborating with you?"