Chapter 322 Career
With soft sand under his feet, Zhou Xiao raised his arms to shield himself from the glaring sunlight. He raised his head slightly to watch the migratory birds swooping down from the sky, arriving in Hainan Province for the winter. They rested on the beach, unconcerned about the surroundings, leisurely foraging for food.
Not far away, the staff of Pioneer Magazine were setting up an outdoor studio. For those working at the magazine, setting up this kind of thing was a piece of cake.
Zhou Xiao initially wanted to step forward to help, but Tang Zhao pinned him down. Today was the second day of the magazine shoot, and after an early rest yesterday, everyone was clearly in high spirits.
Especially since Qi Ping's hand was sore from carrying Li Yiling's suitcase yesterday, it seemed to be completely healed today. Ding Yixuan had even whispered to Zhou Xiao this morning that she and Li Yiling privately suspected Qi had sprained his hand. But out of respect, he seemed to have kept it to himself.
As for Tang Zhao, who blended seamlessly into the crowd and worked alongside them, Qi Ping even stood up to toast her during the dinner last night. He said he would apply to headquarters for an extra salary upon returning.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone else at the table couldn't help but smile. While it was just a joke, it also showed how smoothly the shoot went. Tang Zhao, still his forthright self, not only agreed immediately but also drank the entire glass in one gulp.
Since we still had a shoot the next day, everyone just drank soft drinks and wasn't having a great time, but we also took the opportunity to schedule a farewell dinner. Besides that, the project that had previously required Zhou Xiao and Hui Anxin to shoot was now as easy as pie.
Just as Zhou Xiao was lost in her memories, a voice from nearby pulled her out of her thoughts. She tilted her head and squinted her eyes in the direction of the voice.
"Teacher Xiao Zhou!" Ding Yixuan stood on tiptoe in the makeshift studio, clutching the oversized reflector with both hands. "Come over and see what's going on!"
…
Under the scorching sun, Hui Anxin wore a pair of high-tech silver sunglasses. The oversized glasses contrasted sharply with her palm-sized face, giving her a futuristic look. The collar of her exaggeratedly silhouetted jacket, with metal panels instead of fabric, added a cool, clean look.
In Zhou Xiao's lens, Hui Anxin transforms from supermodel to spacetime SWAT officer. Her sleek, reflective laser-finished dress seems even more dazzling than the reflector in front of it, shimmering in the light.
The silver pleated gloves on the arms not only deepen the sense of technology, but also bring a touch of "humanity" to the whole picture. It makes the viewer feel that this mechanical warrior finally has a soul.
"This replacement piece of metal is really good!" Tang Zhao, sitting at the monitor, suppressed his excitement and restrainedly expressed his satisfaction to those around him. In his heart, bubbles of happiness were already popping and bursting.
In fact, the prop Zhou Xiao temporarily hung around Hui Anxin's neck wasn't actually a shiny silver collar. Instead, it was a cyberpunk-style mask that makeup artist Li Yiling had put together for today's shoot.
The one-piece mask, which covers the eyes, has horizontal undulations, and the opening is just wide enough to fit around Hui Anxin's neck. Although it needed to be secured with scotch tape at the back, it had no effect on the actual filming.
"Indeed," Qi Ping, standing by, nodded in agreement upon hearing Tang Zhao's words, and couldn't help but stroke the hard stubble on his chin. After a moment's contemplation, he finally said with a hint of pride, "You're truly worthy of being a candidate for an award..."
The top management at Fashion Pioneer naturally knew what Fang Zai's intention was in delaying promotion for Modern Fashion. This, in turn, demonstrated his confidence in his bid for the award.
For Fashion Pioneer, which secured Zhou Xiao's photoshoot, regardless of whether or not she won, this was all a tangible boost to the magazine's popularity. High-profile international awards, whether shortlisted or ultimately winning, are highly sought after across industries.
Zhou Xiao, filming on the beach, naturally had no idea what was going on. She raised her arm and wiped the sweat dripping from her eyelashes. With such a beautiful day, Zhou Xiao subconsciously didn't want to waste any time.
"Teacher Zhou, do you want me to wipe it for you again?" Ding Yixuan, who was assigned to help Zhou Xiao, asked subconsciously when he saw Zhou Xiao wiping his sweat.
Although his foresight wasn't great, he knew how to remedy the situation immediately, which showed that the other party was also paying attention. Zhou Xiao curled his lips, and when he looked at Ding Yixuan, he shook his head, indicating that he didn't need it.
The minimum shoot was almost complete, and it was time to take a break and avoid the hottest sun of the day. Zhou Xiao was about to put away his camera and shout that it was time to take a break when suddenly a small group of things rushed towards the makeshift studio in front of him.
The event was so sudden, Zhou Xiao calmed himself and peered through his camera. The object turned out to be a Spoon-billed Sandpiper, flapping its wings. Its subtle movements seemed to be drawn to the silver light on the beach. Its wings spread out, tumbling nimbly and lightly against the blue sky. Then, with a click, it landed firmly on the fixed reflector.
Unlike the pointed beaks of common birds, it pecked the board curiously with its flat beak like a spoon. When it could no longer peck at anything, it realized that the silvery, glowing thing was not food, so it flapped its wings and flew away.
All this happened in a flash, and even Hui Anxin herself had not yet reacted. However, this scene was captured in time by Zhou Xiao who was concentrating on filming.
…
Tang Zhao, watching the sudden syncing of three photos on the screen, couldn't help but wonder, "Did Teacher Zhou's hand speed explode?" Qi Ping, who was already pondering which photo to choose for the cover, noticed the difference immediately.
He leaned closer to the table, stretched out his right hand to grasp the mouse. After the photo synchronization stopped, Qi Ping began to rewind and carefully look at the new photos one by one.
On the big screen, a chubby little bird that looked like a sparrow tilted its head to "look" at Hui Anxin above. However, the white down on its belly and its spoon-like beak immediately distinguished it from a sparrow.
Zhou Xiao's lens captures the uninvited bird, creating a stark contrast to the technologically personified Hui Anxin. Especially when its wings are fully spread, the interplay of stillness and movement fully captures the vibrant beauty of life.
The appearance of these new photos finally gave Qi Ping the answer to his previously nagging question about the cover. In his opinion, nothing could be more captivating than the accidental arrival of this tiny life.
"How do you feel?" a voice sounded from behind him.
Qi Ping responded without hesitation, "I want this one to be the cover!"
"Oh? Is it so urgent?" Zhou Xiao put one hand on the back of Tang Zhao's chair, raised his eyebrows and looked at Qi Pingdao.
You know, his dilemma started last night. Perhaps there were some internal KPIs for "Fashion Pioneer" to promote the brand, but Ding Yixuan even went to Zhou Xiao early this morning, like a little bird, to ask for his opinion. Of course, no one else was as troubled as he was.
"Don't underestimate the addition of this bird, it is simply the finishing touch! The finishing touch..." Qi Ping shook his head and was about to further express his feelings when he realized that the person who had just spoken to him was not his old friend but Zhou Xiao.
He stroked his heart exaggeratedly, and after seeing Tang Zhao rushing to Hui Anxin, he smiled happily and excitedly, "Teacher Zhou, it's such a pleasure to work with you!"
As for worrying about the cover? Come on, that's a completely sweet worry! In the past, you had to choose one from a bunch of homogenized blockbusters, but now, it's the other way around!
Thinking of this, Qi Ping's gaze towards Zhou Xiao intensified. "Let's get 'ZYQ'! That way, when I go to Zhou Xiao again, I'll get double the money and the visual enjoyment!"
Qi Ping didn't know how many surprises this cover, chosen at first glance, would bring later. But at this moment, the emotional value it provided was already full.
…
The beach under the setting sun, accompanied by the damp smell of the strong wind. When the sun completely sets below the sea level, it indicates that the entire beautiful light in the sky will soon disappear.
Zhou Xiao held up her camera, capturing the beauty of nature at this moment. Not far away, Hui Anxin, draped in a scarf, sat. Over the past two days, they had communicated most.
"Teacher Zhou Xiao, I'd be a good subject for a photo shoot, right?" Hui Anxin's long hair was lifted by the sea breeze, a few soft strands blew against her face. With the reflection of the rosy clouds on her face, Zhou Xiao could clearly see the powerful confidence and beauty radiating from Hui Anxin.
The shutter clicked and Zhou Xiao put down the camera, feeling the wetness brought by the waves and nodded firmly.
"Let's cooperate more in the future!" The words rang out in unison on the beach. After a pause, unstoppable laughter spread.
Tang Zhao, who was carrying props with the staff, stopped and subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound. Seeing his model chatting and laughing with Zhou Xiao, he couldn't help but feel happy. This joy made him subconsciously increase his strength.
Across from him was Ding Yixuan, who was nearly being dragged away by Tang Zhao. Before he could figure out how his opponent had suddenly become stronger, Tang Zhao grabbed his arm and he continued to move the props.
Ding Yixuan was pulled away and burst into tears. This job was not hers! If she had known earlier, she would have followed the old employees and slacked off. Anyway, the beach was so big that Brother Qi would not be able to find them for a while.
…
A large light flickered on, and the sea was now a dark blue-purple. Hui Anxin untied the scarf draped over her shoulders and stepped back into the aperture. When the bright light caught the distinctive reflective strips on her skirt, the onlookers finally understood why the photographer had waited until now to take the photo.
The dreamy line skirt is even more charming under the night sky, especially when the person performing it is a supermodel. This skirt, which can be called a work of art, has its most beautiful moment.
The symmetrical yet irregular lines, illuminated by the light, resembled a jellyfish in the deep sea. The thigh-high slit skirt, already curled up at the base, gradually took on a rhythmic movement as Hui Anxin moved.
In the crowd, Li Yiling's eyes blazed. This was her first time observing a film from start to finish. The sound of the shutter button was muffled by the crashing waves, but the images that appeared on the screen one after another showed the photographer's steady output.
The dress Hui Anxin is wearing was a bold and avant-garde design by a creative Chinese designer last year. While not couture, it's incredibly beautiful on someone who dares to wear it and knows how to wear it.
During this rather long trip, we'd already called for a stop countless times. But when Zhou Xiao put down his camera and called for a stop, shouts erupted from all around him. While the journey had been enjoyable, the final completion of the work brought even greater joy to everyone.
Seeing Ding Yixuan fluttering toward her like a bird, Zhou Xiao quickly shielded her camera. After extending her hand to block the other person's momentum, she rubbed her head. This time, the shoot was truly over. Time to call it a day!
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