Chapter 396 Career Line
As May arrived, the weather began to heat up. Correspondingly, the flowers at the photography base blossomed even more vibrantly, providing a visually pleasing experience amidst the scorching heat.
The glass corridor, constructed from a steel frame coated in milky white anti-corrosion paint, was now filled with blooming roses, creating a fairytale-like corridor. Under the scorching sun, the hotter the sun, the more luxuriantly the flowers bloomed.
The base is lushly green, and from time to time, you'll find yourself surrounded by lush greenery. If anyone could stop at this moment, they'd surely be captivated by the stunning scenery, reminiscent of an oil painting.
This rose bush, now in full bloom, was also designated as a filming location by the PZ brand when they signed the contract at the base earlier this month. However, the roses hadn't fully bloomed yet, so they were still vibrantly green.
Zhou Xiao had mentioned this specifically yesterday, attaching a photo he'd taken at noon. Almost subconsciously, the other party replied with a "yes" without hesitation, then sent a series of heart emojis as if to emphasize the message.
As for Zhou Xiao and Xue Xi, they were simply setting up the scene near the long corridor. As for small props like the lighting board, they would have to wait until the day of the shoot to get them.
When Xue Xi leaned the pale yellow wooden chair against the milky white steel frame of the corridor, for a moment she was captivated by the graceful collision of colors. Combined with the green of the leaves and the pink of the roses, it was refreshing and comfortable.
The sound of her phone vibrating broke the silence. Xue Xi pulled it out, and the phone number on the screen displayed the "Express Delivery" label. But as if realizing something, she immediately glanced at Zhou Xiao with shining eyes.
Xue Xi had been living at the photography base for a few days and hadn't run out of necessities. Although she'd considered applying to stay at the base permanently, she hadn't yet considered putting her company address on her online shopping list.
Although she was Zhou Xiao's photography assistant, having worked at XZC for many years, she had learned a great deal about how her colleagues at the magazine communicated with brands. It was Xue Xi who first approached Zhou Xiao about negotiating costumes and props with the brand.
She was so decisive in giving up her job at "XZC", which seemed "glamorous" to outsiders, to come to Zhou Xiao because she hoped to find a place where she could grow and improve.
However, Zhou Xiao had already discussed the initial negotiations and agreements with Chen Ai, the manager of PZ's business department. Xue Xi wasn't discouraged after learning about this. Instead, she offered to follow up on the final steps. Zhou Xiao thought for a moment and then agreed.
When using a photographer's studio for a shoot, brands usually pack up all the clothes that might be used in the shoot. Once these props and clothes arrive at the studio, they need to be checked immediately because they usually need to be returned to the studio as soon as the shoot is over.
During the early stages of preparation, Zhou Xiao, with the help of Ren Yaqi, had been able to purchase a batch of clothing, cosmetics, and other items at reasonable prices. As Shunan's mentor, Ren Yaqi was a conscientious and responsible teacher. This, in a sense, was a great advantage for her.
Of course, as a layman, Zhou Xiao naturally purchased according to the order given by Shu Nan. The other party was recruited by him through interviews, and Zhou Xiao knew very well that in non-professional fields, it is natural to listen to professionals.
"Hello, is this Ms. Xue?" The voice on the other end of the phone sounded a little surprised. "You have a lot of things here. Would you like to tell the security guard and I can drive it in for you?"
A lot? Xue Xi was a little confused. Even if there were twelve sets of clothes to be photographed this time, it wouldn't be a lot for the delivery guy who dealt with couriers every day, right? She subconsciously glanced at Zhou Xiao. Because the voice on the other end of the phone was loud enough, Zhou Xiao could hear what was said on the other end.
Seeing Zhou Xiao raised his eyebrows and nodded, Xue Xi asked the courier to give the phone to the security guard. After having him open the door, he went to the photography building with Zhou Xiao.
The corridor wasn't far from the photography building, so after walking for a while, they saw a red delivery van with a logo parked next to the building. As they walked further, they saw the delivery guy carrying large, thick, rectangular cardboard boxes to the building entrance and letting people in.
Several people in the building had already come down to help, their eyelids twitching at the sight of so many boxes. Shu Nan, in particular, almost thought it was a repeat of the previous wave of orders. Those who knew understood that these were clothes sent by the brand, while those who didn't might have thought Zhou Xiao Studio had become an online store selling clothes.
"Hey, Xiao Xue and the boss are here too." Sharp-eyed Jiang Langli quickly spotted Xue Xi and Zhou Xiao and quickly waved to Xue Xi, "Come here, Xiao Xue! This guy is waiting for you to sign for it!"
The courier dared not let anyone move the heavily insured package directly into the house. He had to wait for the recipient to sign for it before he could feel at ease.
Zhou Xiao's eyes swept over the boxes stacked at the door. There was not even a trace of dirt on the surface of the cartons, which showed how well the courier took care of them.
After Xue Xi signed for it, everyone placed the large cardboard box on the prepared cart. The photography building had a basement and a garage, which made it easier to move the props. They could store them in the warehouse or bring them up to the first floor and store them in the dressing room.
But since the delivery guy had already unloaded the package, no one said anything. It was just a matter of convenience, and we told him to go to the garage next time. Honestly, there hasn't been much work around here yet, and everyone feels like they've been free to visit the park these past two days. Even my family said I don't look like a regular.
On the first floor, there was a large dressing room where some of the clothes were already hung and ironed. Once everyone had pulled several large bags of clothes into the room, the real battle began.
"PZ's clothing should be placed in this area," Zhou Xiao said, pointing to a corner of the room.
Elsewhere, Shu Nan immediately looked away from the tablet after hearing Zhou Xiao's words. Once he saw the area Zhou Xiao was pointing to, he felt a deep sense of empathy between him and his boss. He then instructed everyone to place the items in the packages according to her classification method.
The clothing brands featured during photoshoots are crucial, especially for Zhou Xiao's current business. Professional studios absolutely prohibit artists from appearing in the clothing of competing brands. Therefore, verifying the clothing before entering inventory is crucial.
But as each package was opened, everyone in the room became increasingly confused. You call that twelve sets? Even if the brand had an extra set for fear of damage during the shoot, it was still far more than that!
Meanwhile, while the employees were puzzled, Zhou Xiao also received a message from a PZ staff member. While this message resolved her doubts, it also left her feeling a bit amused.
…
As the luxury brand PZ, which secured Zhou Xiao Studio's first contract, took this shoot very seriously. They were also among the first in the industry to learn of PZ's impending signing of Zhou Quanli, a major news item in the entertainment industry.
Coupled with the recent downturn in film and television productions, the ambassadors PZ had signed for his "investment" were like eggplants hit by frost, with none of them seeing a follow-up. Netizens quickly labeled them "unlucky" and "unlucky."
The entertainment industry believes in feng shui very much. It's already miserable, and after being labeled with such a hat, the person in charge of PZ China is also furious.
Fortunately, the contracts signed initially were all short-term. Before spending a lot of effort to reach a cooperation with Zhou Quanli, the senior management of PZ China also decided not to dream of "fishing for the moon in the water" in the future.
The negotiation process between PZ and Zhou Xiao was very pleasant, smooth, and the contract was signed quickly. Regarding the styling communication, the staff member who was responsible for coordinating with Zhou Xiao was once again impressed by their efficiency. We had originally thought that filming might not begin until next month, but unexpectedly, we had already agreed to submit sample footage by the end of the month.
This combination of factors, coupled with PZ's desire to establish a close relationship with Zhou Xiao, led to a unanimous decision at an internal high-level meeting to not only gift Zhou Xiao the twelve summer collections she needed for the shoot, but also to give her all of PZ's 2025 Spring/Summer runway collections and the latest summer collections.
This isn't uncommon for established styling studios, but it certainly boosted Zhou Xiao Studio's standing within the industry. However, it's probably a first for a photography studio. PZ's idea is simple: to build relationships while also advertising, so next time you visit, you can easily get another batch of new styles.
Seeing another new message in the chat box, Zhou Xiao paused and replied with a thank you emoji. The stuff's already arrived, so let's put up some advertising space. Sure enough, I still have to listen to the advice of the "old folks." After opening a studio, the first thing to do is register a dedicated promotional account.
…
——【Entertainment Forum】——[May 22 afternoon]
[Topic] Did I notice that the PZ official Weibo account follows Zhou Xiao?
[Main Post] I also followed the newly registered studio. Is there any cooperation? Congratulations~ I feel like I am almost a fan of Zhou Xiao's career 2333
[picture]
The picture shows the PZ official Weibo follow list. The account of Zhou Xiao and her studio is right at the top.
1L
Qiaodou Madai! PZ should only be bad at celebrities and not the people they work with, right? Don't let Sister Zhou encounter hell mode right from the start! I still want to see her shoot the handsome men and beautiful women in the industry!
36L
The reminder on the first floor has gradually awakened my dusty memories... But the clothes of PZ this year are so beautiful, I feel I can look forward to the next piece and see if I am attracted by it.
72L
Wait, aren't you all curious about who this video is about? Why isn't there any word yet? Aren't we all just spectators? Come on, come on! Come on, come on!
100L
PZ hasn't been following anyone for a long time. Is he planning something big by inviting Sister Zhou? There were rumors before that PZ would be the first Chinese spokesperson, which seems quite fitting for this shoot.
234L
Reply to 72L: Stop talking, the people guessed in the post have all been used by those melon owners. It's hilarious, if you don't know, just say you don't know, why are you pretending? I said I would invite Zhou Quanli, why doesn't anyone dare to move it?
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