Chapter 123
The summer afternoon sun was especially bright, its heat seemingly melting people. Zhou Xiao followed Assistant Chen Si to the filming location they had booked in advance.
Filming was originally scheduled to begin earlier, but the midday heat in September was intense, with a scorching heatwave. For the health of the artists and staff, filming was deliberately moved to the afternoon. Even with this arrangement, walking ahead of Zhou Xiao and her assistant back and forth was a sweaty experience.
Inside, the room was kept at a very low temperature. Chen Si, wearing a gorgeous silver-gray, gold-embroidered puffy dress, stood in the middle of the spacious living room. Worried about wrinkles from sitting down, she simply stood there, waiting for the photographer to arrive, ready to take the photo.
Zhou Xiao glanced at the sunlight outside. At this moment, the clouds in the sky had been dyed golden. The wind blew at the right time, and the leaves rustled in the wind.
Chen Si, who was waiting for her photoshoot, changed into a different couture outfit at Zhou Xiao's suggestion. Soon, she arrived outdoors in a drapey green silk gown with a bow and high slits.
The allure and unique fluidity of haute couture were fully revealed to Zhou Xiao at this moment. She pulled out her camera, shielding her forehead with one hand as she gazed out at the wooden fence lining the lawn in the distance. Behind the fence were white Roman columns, a clear feature of the venue.
Before the shoot, Zhou Xiao received the location and costumes sent by Chen Si's assistant. After considering the on-site environment, she asked Chen Si to run towards the fence and look back at her camera.
Handing the small fan to his agent, Chen Si poked his head out from under the umbrella and jokingly said to Zhou Xiao, "Teacher Zhou, please don't make me run back and forth too much."
Wearing a green dress, she adjusted the bow tying her shoulders to her chest, preparing to run forward. Though she hadn't yet faced the camera, she already exuded a certain allure. Even veteran actress Chen Si subconsciously smiled as she began to run.
"Don't laugh." The slightly calm words floated into Chen Si's ears from far away. When she turned around for the second time, her expression had obviously calmed down. She stared straight at the face opposite her, which she could not see clearly because of the sun.
The agent, holding an umbrella, leaned over the computer screen and stared at the photos Zhou Xiao had taken. She was stunned. Then, she huddled in front of the computer, carefully examining each photo. She couldn't help but think: What a lively, spirited woman! The person in the photo didn't look like the Chen Si she'd been with day and night. She looked more like a different version of herself.
The unconscious frown and the distant gaze back at the camera create a sense of detachment, yet it only leaves the viewer with an overly ethereal feeling. Deep green silk, waving like ripples of water, bursts with vibrant energy against the okra-green lawn. Her exposed arms powerfully tug at the hem of her skirt, and in the afternoon sun, against the backdrop of green, her fair skin seems to shimmer.
A small, sparsely leafed osmanthus tree stood in front of a low wooden fence, but this didn't prevent Chen Si from smelling the faint, sweet fragrance wafting toward her as she approached it. Pausing briefly in her sprint, she looked back and saw Zhou Xiao, climbing the small platform while still keeping his camera trained on her. Suddenly, she found it somewhat amusing.
With a relaxed smile, she looks up at the camera, her eyes fixed on the European-style Ionic columns with intricate carvings at the top. She exudes a sense of ease, freedom, and beauty. Her silk dress flutters gently in the wind, revealing her slender legs, showcasing her feminine charm.
"Teacher Zhou" As Zhou Xiao lowered his head to check the photos in the camera, Chen Si's agent beside him couldn't help but ask, "Do you want to shoot this scene again in the second set?"
"Do you want to take a photo shoot?" Zhou Xiao asked the agent in front of him who seemed a little eager.
"That's not the case, I just think the scenery is beautiful!" Qin Wan was very satisfied at the moment. After looking at the photos on the computer, she now even found the peeling paint on the corner of the wall very interesting.
Seeing her expression, Zhou Xiao patiently explained, "This scene might conflict with the second set of heavy embroidery."
In Zhou Xiao's view, the lawn, fence, golden osmanthus, and Ionic columns in the background all complement the freedom and vitality of the green silk dress with its high slit. Conversely, the comfort zone of the heavily embroidered silver-gray puffy skirt lies in the grandeur of the palace. Before filming, Zhou Xiao also considered fans' preferences. It can be said that during the beauty contest, what is more important is for the artist to showcase their own majestic beauty.
"Hey, why are you, an outsider, guiding experts?" Chen Si, who had changed his clothes and was holding an umbrella, interjected as he passed by the two of them.
Chen Si admitted that she had some doubts when she saw that the photographer taking her photos was a young woman. When Zhou Xiao reminded her not to laugh, she felt even more annoyed and dissatisfied.
But when did this change occur? Perhaps it was when I saw the little girl clumsily climbing onto the platform, still filming herself with her camera? Or perhaps it was when I finally felt a sense of planned ease and freedom in my photography?
Passing by two people, she held an umbrella in one hand and the hem of her heavy skirt in the other, and walked towards the second shooting location with firm steps and a bit of expectation.
Pushing open the intricately locked European-style palace gate, a deep red carpet paved a path. The sun outside refracted through the glass windows, casting streaks of light and shadow across the hall.
Leaning against a European-style painting, Chen Si's slightly silvery-gray dress gleams in the sunlight. Gold threads weaved into the fine sequins add to her elegant elegance. The lavish jewels draped around her slender neck further enhance her unique aura. This is Chen Si captured by Zhou Xiao's camera, a style completely different from her previous one.
The spiral staircase, her fingertips gently caressing the quaint mahogany escalator. After Zhou Xiao said "Look at me", Chen Si raised her head slightly and looked at Zhou Xiao above her.
…
Having changed into her casual clothes, Chen Si breathed a sigh of relief. While couture is beautiful, it's also expensive, heavy, and difficult to borrow. As she took it off, staff gathered around and immediately began inspecting the garment for damage or stains. These needed to be addressed. If it was severely soiled or torn, not only would she have to pay compensation, but she could also be blacklisted by the couture brand.
Today's shoot was much faster than her previous ones. Chen Si looked at the sky outside, which was just beginning to darken, and asked Zhou Xiao cheerfully, "Teacher Zhou, let's have dinner together later!"
Qin Wan, who was huddled behind the computer, couldn't help but shift her gaze from the screen to look at Chen Si. Wow, this master seemed to be in a good mood!
New Town's success in the industry isn't solely due to resources; more importantly, it's the company's commitment to giving both agents and artists the right to choose. Chen Si isn't considered the easiest artist to get along with, but the two of them do get along well.
In the afternoon, Qin Wan thought that Chen Si was about to get angry because he was being directed by Zhou Xiao, but she didn't expect that in the subsequent filming, this guy actually followed Zhou Xiao's instructions.
Zhou Xiao, who was looking at the photo below, shook her head. She looked at Chen Si and said, "While there is still time, I will go back and fix the photo for you."
Looking at Zhou Xiao leaving with her small bag, Qin Wan said with some regret, "It's a pity that we didn't make it to the red carpet photo."
Chen Si rolled her eyes silently when she heard her agent's complaints. "If Wu Nian heard this, she would definitely not let Zhou Xiao take any more internal orders from New Town."
Wu Nian's recent charity event for Ji Shao was a hot topic within New Town. Qin Wan, who had made an appointment with Zhou Xiao, had been grumbling about it for days, which was why, as her agent, she didn't push the envelope further after Zhou Xiao declined the red carpet photo opportunity.
Although the online marketing account did not disclose the specific amount of Zhou Xiao's donation, it was quite easy for a senior agent like her within New Town to find out.
But this was causing her some pain. The photographer she'd planned to meet with had discovered she was a wealthy person, and she was expecting her fans, already well fed, to start scolding her. Qin Wan looked at Chen Si, who was playing with her phone, feeling a touch of sadness. What should she do? She felt a chill starting to build up on her head...
After leaving the filming location, Zhou Xiao hailed an empty car on the roadside and headed to the hotel she had previously booked. She had booked the hotel several days in advance, a star-rated hotel just a few minutes' walk from the Fashion Gala.
Zhou Xiao arrived in Jiangsu Province that morning, and her luggage had already been dropped off at the hotel. She also noticed that this hotel seemed to be a popular choice for many celebrities. When she left for the filming location at noon, she saw several celebrities wearing hats and masks, accompanied by staff, entering the hotel.
After all, although this isn't a five-star hotel, it's really close to the party! Just as Zhou Xiao entered the elevator, pressed the floor button, and waited for the elevator door to close automatically, a somewhat surprising voice rang out in the hotel lobby.
"Zhou Xiao?" Wang Jiangchang, who was wearing a white long dress, seemed to see clearly that the person in the elevator was Zhou Xiao, and waved her hands happily and shouted to Zhou Xiao.
Zhou Xiao raised his eyebrows when his name was called, pressed the elevator button, and waited for Wang Jiangchang and her agent Chang Ping to enter the elevator together.
Chang Ping also looked at Zhou Xiao with some surprise. She smiled and said, "Nice to meet you again." Chang Ping now felt like she was looking at a junior (not really) towards Zhou Xiao.
The imagined awkwardness of the elevator ride didn't materialize. The shrewd manager, the artist who seemed like an old friend, and Zhou Xiao were all in a harmonious and joyful mood when they arrived at his floor. Zhou Xiao waved goodbye to the two of them before heading to his room.
"Sister Ping," Wang Jiangchang said flatteringly, looking at the closing elevator door, "Please introduce Ji Shao to me at the party!"
Chang Ping glanced at Wang Jiangchang's dark circles and said coldly, "You are not allowed to watch Star 101 tonight. If you are not in good shape tomorrow, I will kill you before your fans do!"
Originally just curious about Zhou Xiao's favorite artists, Wang Jiangchang, now a faint fan of the group, blinked. Watching the variety show after learning the results was doubly exciting. Even though he's already a star, he still enjoys watching this kind of drama. After all, for an actor, if he doesn't have the desire to be an idol, he's not a good actor (wrong).
Not to mention the photos of NINE STAR members saved in her phone, although Ji Shao taken by Zhou Xiao occupies the largest proportion! Of course, this phone is her personal phone that she keeps with her agent Sister Ping, which means she can only have it in her hand at night, but she is worried about slipping it.
Zhou Xiao returned to her room, opened the computer she had brought with her, and began her photo editing journey. The editing process wasn't fast, and with Chen Si also making her own requests, Zhou Xiao didn't finish until nearly midnight.
She stretched her muscles, making the creaking sound of long sitting. She accurately tossed the remaining half-cup of iced coffee on the table, which had almost melted, into the trash can. Then, Zhou Xiao straightened up and looked out the window.
It was a quiet night, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. Surely tomorrow would be a sunny day too? After sending the image package to Qin Wan's private email, Zhou Xiao prepared to have a good night's sleep and prepare for tomorrow's red carpet shoot.
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