Chapter 16 "Pearl"
Jiang Nuanyu and her colleagues took off from Beijing in the early hours of the morning, transited through Istanbul, and after nearly 20 hours, finally arrived at their hotel in Bodrum on Thursday afternoon local time.
She took a quick shower, ignoring jet lag and lack of sleep, changed her clothes, and headed straight to the shooting location with the photographer.
The theme of this photoshoot is faux fur.
In recent years, with protests from animal protection organizations and the awakening of public environmental awareness, faux fur has gradually become a fashionable and environmentally friendly option.
When it comes to environmental protection, after careful consideration, Jiang Nuanyu chose a local hotel with an eco-friendly concept as the filming location.
Although she had contacted the hotel beforehand and conducted thorough online location scouting, the uncertainties of outdoor shooting meant she had to personally scout the location before the actual shoot.
She and the photographer scouted the location and discussed the changes in lighting and framing angles with the shooting script, making adjustments based on the actual situation.
The hotel is situated where mountains meet the sea, with rolling hills stretching along the coastline; at the foot of the mountains, there is also a wide expanse of golden-green grassland.
Jiang Nuanyu looked around and suddenly had a flash of inspiration, suggesting, "How about we take a set of photos with the moon as the background?"
"How so?" the photographer asked, approaching her.
“Look,” she gestured roughly with her hands, “there’s a moon in the sky, grasslands and mountains and seas all around, plus the lights of the buildings in the background. The atmosphere combined should be great, right?”
"Understood!" The photographer instantly understood what she meant and was about to add this set to the shooting script when Jiang Nuanyu remembered something: "Let me check the calendar."
She was lucky; the moon was nearly full that day, so the light would be exceptionally bright. Thus, the proposal was successfully finalized.
The two worked until dark before finishing. Jiang Nuanyu went back to the hotel, ate something, and, being sleep-deprived, set an alarm and went to sleep.
The next morning, everyone gathered on time and headed to the filming location.
The sky was a deep, boundless blue, and the distant Aegean Sea was as dark as a sapphire. Sunlight poured down, shattering on the surface of the sea into millions of sparkling diamonds.
Jiang Nuanyu stayed on set throughout the entire process, seamlessly coordinating with the photographer, models, and stylists to ensure that every detail was presented according to the script.
The scheduled shoot was completed in the evening. We just had to wait for the moon to rise before we could finish shooting one last set and call it a day.
A few small tables were temporarily set up on the sidelines, and everyone ate while waiting.
Two horses and a fluffy little lamb were also invited to the scene as special models for this photoshoot.
Jiang Nuanyu had ridden horses on Menghe Island before, so she was no stranger to horses. While waiting, she would occasionally pet the horse, feed it some apple slices, and tease the lamb.
The time wasn't too difficult to endure.
However, when night finally fell, before the moon had fully risen, a large patch of thick clouds drifted overhead.
The sky, which had been clear all day, suddenly turned overcast.
As the weather darkened, so too did the work atmosphere on site. Everyone looked at each other, making no attempt to hide their fatigue and impatience.
"So this last set of photos won't be taken, right?"
Immediately, someone whispered in agreement: "How can we film this? The sky is overcast."
After a long day of work, we stayed behind just to wait for the moon, only to find the sky was overcast. Besides, this shoot was a new addition to the schedule, so everyone was thinking of just calling it a day and going home to rest.
Jiang Nuanyu looked up at the sky, her brows furrowed.
She didn't want to give up, but she also wasn't confident that the weather would clear up.
A gentle breeze ruffled her hair. After a moment's thought, she said to everyone, "It's getting windy here. It's along the coast, and the wind gets stronger as night falls. Let's wait a bit. If the clouds are still there in half an hour, we'll call it a day; but if the wind can blow these clouds away, we'll continue filming. What do you say?"
Her judgment was reasonable and well-founded, and she offered a clear solution. The photographer was the first to agree: "Okay, it'll only take half an hour. Let's wait and see."
Seeing this, the other colleagues also sat back down and stopped complaining for the time being.
Although we were exhausted, it was worth it for everyone who had already completed the main tasks to have the possibility of a better presentation by spending half an hour on it.
As night fell, time seemed to stretch out in the waiting.
Jiang Nuanyu was also very tired. Holding a half-eaten piece of bread in her hand, she sat blankly on the folding chair, gazing into the distance and waiting for the wind to come.
The air here is fresh, and it's far from the hustle and bustle, making it a pleasant place.
Of course, apart from the mosquitoes that swarm at night.
She had taken precautions by wearing long sleeves and trousers, but she remained seated and didn't move around, and insects kept getting on her.
She was so annoyed by the disturbance that she got goosebumps and decided to get up and stroll slowly along the edge of the meadow instead of sitting down.
Her phone rang; it was a video call from Ye Ji. She answered it.
"Where are you?" Ye Ji asked.
She had just applied foundation but hadn't put on lipstick yet, and she looked a little scary.
Seeing that the background behind her was a TV station dressing room, Jiang Nuanyu flipped the camera to frame the filming equipment on screen: "Outdoor filming. We're waiting."
"We're in the same boat, aren't we? I'm broadcasting late tonight." Ye Ji leaned closer to the screen and asked, "This doesn't look like you're in China. Where have you been this time?"
“Türkiye,” Jiang Nuanyu turned the camera back and said, “Bodrum.”
"Huh? You've been gone for a few days?"
It arrived yesterday.
Jiang Nuanyu kicked off the grass clippings on her feet and asked, "Why did you call me?"
"Where's your conscience?" Ye Ji said speechlessly. "Do I only call you when there's something wrong? You really are something else."
Jiang Nuanyu looked up and grinned at the camera.
Ye Ji said, "Isn't next Friday your birthday? What are your plans?"
"I haven't planned on it."
"I bet that's what you'd say." Ye Ji couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"So what?" Jiang Nuanyu retorted, unconvinced. "Only kids look forward to their birthdays. I'm an adult!"
"We should at least have a proper meal, right?" Ye Ji said. "How about I book an expensive restaurant?"
"How expensive is it?"
"At least four figures per person, I guess."
"So generous!"
Jiang Nuanyu's eyes lit up, and she immediately agreed without hesitation: "Okay!"
Seeing how quickly she changed, Ye Ji couldn't help but smile.
Jiang Nuanyu smiled, her eyes narrowed, her lips curving upwards, feeling completely at ease.
Ye Ji relaxed his expression and casually asked, "How long are you going to stay there?"
"I'll be back tomorrow."
"Didn't you just arrive yesterday?"
“It’s always like this,” Jiang Nuanyu sighed. “The magazine spends money on this trip, there’s a budget, and we have to go back once the work is done.”
Ye Ji sighed, "That's still better than me being stuck in this windowless, dark room." As she spoke, she suddenly turned her head, glanced to the side, and waved the A4 paper in her hand, "I'm not going to talk about it anymore, I have to get to work."
"Okay." Jiang Nuanyu knew she was busy, so she waved obediently at the screen, "Bye-bye~~"
"Bye-bye-bye."
Ye Ji hung up the phone in a hurry.
Jiang Nuanyu glanced at the time in the upper left corner of the screen, turned off her phone, and looked up at the sky.
The wind picked up, and the clouds moved quickly, appearing to have thinned considerably.
She took a deep breath, hoping her wait wouldn't be in vain.
After a while, a few rays of silver light shone on the grass, and the moon finally peeked out from the gaps in the clouds.
"The moon is out!" someone shouted excitedly.
The team, which had been on standby, instantly went into work mode, seizing the opportunity to capture the fleeting natural environment.
Jiang Nuanyu stood beside the monitor. On the screen, the bright moon hung high in the dark blue night sky, and the mountains and seas were only vague outlines. The artificial fur on the model's body shone with a delicate luster under the moonlight, echoing the warm light of several buildings in the distance, cleverly blending nature and artifice.
Today, textile technology and materials are very advanced, and the texture of high-quality artificial fur can be comparable to or even surpass that of real fur.
But beyond that, the existence of faux fur also conveys a message: fashion can be beautiful, but it doesn't have to come at the cost of life.
This is also her original intention in choosing to do this special feature.
"Okay!" the photographer shouted.
Everyone cheered lightly and contentedly, and began to pack up the equipment and clean up the site.
"It was worth the wait, this set is perfect!" The photographer reached out his hand to Jiang Nuanyu.
Jiang Nuanyu gave him a high five and said with a smile, "Thank you for your hard work."
The heavy burden on her shoulders was finally temporarily lifted. She glanced at the time; it was already late. Thinking about the long journey home the next day, she immediately felt worried.
But then I thought about it again, and realized that all this fatigue was worthwhile, so I didn't feel so tired anymore.
·
Jiang Nuanyu arrived at her workstation early on her birthday. After putting down her bag, she noticed a black gift box next to her computer.
She was taken aback.
She never mentioned her birthday to her colleagues.
Just as I was wondering where this gift came from, my phone vibrated in my bag.
A message from Feng Shasha.
Feng Shasha: "Happy birthday, Jiang Jiang! [cake][cake]"
Jiang Nuanyu turned her head and looked over. Feng Shasha was sitting at her workstation, eating a sandwich, and waving her phone at her.
Jiang Nuanyu smiled and silently said, "Thank you."
Feng Shasha blinked.
She sat down, carefully untied the ribbon, and opened the gift box.
On the black velvet padding are a pair of small, round pearl stud earrings.
There was also a small greeting card tucked in the side:
Happy birthday, Jiang Jiang!
Surprised I knew your birthday? Hehe~
I found it by chance when I was organizing your documents.
I hope I won't scare you!
Happy birthday to you!
Wishing you ever-increasing beauty!
I wish you become a super, super amazing editor!
Jiang Nuanyu stared at the greeting card for a while, then smiled slightly.
Feng Shasha may seem carefree, but she noticed it was her birthday; she prepared a gift for her, but was afraid that it would be too flashy and embarrass her, so she specially chose this way that was not too eye-catching but could still express her feelings.
She closed the greeting card and put it away, then turned on her computer.
Despite her busy work schedule, her first day of her 26th year was made especially bright by this little surprise.
At noon, Jiang Nuanyu received two bank notification text messages confirming the arrival of funds, and the sender was someone she knew all too well.
These two people would always slip her money, as if she were some kind of money-grubber.
Even so, she still counted the zeros at the end, and added them up to another year's rent.
She switched to WeChat and sent a message in their small group chat:
"Thank you, Mom and Dad!"
Lin Zhiwei's reply comes first:
Happy birthday, daughter.
Soon after, news of Jiang Wenrui followed:
Happy birthday, Pearl!
Pearl is Jiang Nuanyu's nickname.
It is said that when she was born, Lin Zhiwei thought her fingers and toes were round and pink, like pearls, so she named her that.
Lin Zhiwei posted another message:
"Tell your parents if you don't have enough money."
Jiang Nuanyu typed helplessly:
"Enough! Plenty!"
"If this keeps up, I might as well quit my job."
"I'm not a financial novice!"
She smiled as she uttered her last words.
She wanted to set the record straight: while she knew how to enjoy life, she wasn't a spendthrift, and she knew how to manage money!
My parents didn't reply to my messages for a while.
After she finished lunch and returned to her workstation to continue working, she saw Jiang Wenrui's last reply in the chat group:
"Take good care of yourself, eat on time, and get plenty of rest."
Looking at it, she felt a warmth in her heart.
·
Before leaving get off work, Jiang Nuanyu specially changed into the pair of pearl earrings that Feng Shasha had given her.
Her hair, which she had curled that morning, wasn't as styled anymore, but she didn't mind. She casually combed it a few times, touched up her makeup, and when it was time to leave work, she packed up her things and went home.
Before sunset, she arrived at the restaurant Ye Ji had mentioned, where the average cost per person was four figures.
A doorman in uniform stood at the restaurant entrance, with a sign indicating that a charity gala was being held that evening.
Jiang Nuanyu took another look and discovered that one of the organizers of the banquet was actually the Tianqi Charity and Culture Committee.
She recalled that at Song Lanxin's birthday party, they had mentioned that Liang Qi's mother's work seemed to be related to this committee.
Thinking of Liang Qi, her heart stirred again, a dull feeling she couldn't quite describe; but she quickly forced herself not to think about it for the time being, and turned her gaze away, heading straight into the restaurant.
The dinner was upstairs, so it wouldn't disturb the individual diners on the first floor. The waiter checked her reservation information in the lobby and led her into a side hall.
Ye Ji was already waiting for her by the window. When he saw her, he raised his arm and waved to her.
As Jiang Nuanyu walked along, Ye Ji made no attempt to hide his scrutiny of her from head to toe.
Although she never skimps on her appearance, Jiang Nuanyu dressed exceptionally carefully today. She wore a black velvet top with gold buttons, the small collar framing her long, fair neck; the cinched waist accentuated her mature curves, while the slightly flared hem and puffy short sleeves gave her a light and youthful look; she paired it with a black soft leather mini skirt and stiletto heels, making her appear tall and with long legs.
As she approached, Ye Ji feigned frivolity: "Tsk, Jiang Nuanyu is really beautiful..."
Jiang Nuanyu couldn't help but smile, and said, "It's rare to see someone arrive so early."
Upon hearing this, Ye Ji knew she was in the wrong. She was always the one who arrived late to their appointments.
She said, "It's your birthday today, how could I be late?"
Jiang Nuanyu smiled, ignored her, put down her bag, and sat down opposite her.
After Ye Ji signaled to the waiter that the food could be served, she mysteriously picked up a cake box from the chair next to her and said, "I made this myself."
"When did you learn to make cakes?" Jiang Nuanyu's eyes lit up.
"Last night."
Jiang Nuanyu: ?
She couldn't help but frown.
"Take back that expression you just made!" Ye Ji said fiercely. "I spent the whole night yesterday trying to fix it!"
"Okay, okay." Jiang Nuanyu's eyebrows relaxed instantly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Ye Ji was finally satisfied.
She lifted the lid of the cake box, and the uneven surface of the cylindrical cake indeed looked like it was made by hand.
only--
Jiang Nuanyu glanced at the cake shop's brand logo on the box and asked in confusion, "Why is there a cake shop's logo on it?"
“Oh, that?” Ye Ji explained matter-of-factly, “I bought the cake base from the cake shop. Uh, the cream… although the cream was also bought ready-made and whipped, it was ‘I’ who spread it on.”
Jiang Nuanyu glanced at the uneven frosting on the side of the cake, nodded, and said calmly, "I can tell."
Ye Ji pursed her lips, paused, and then pointed unwillingly at the strawberries and blueberries scattered on the cake: "And these fruits, I washed, cut, and arranged them myself!"
Jiang Nuanyu really wanted to laugh, but she was afraid that Ye Ji would get angry, so she held back.
“A very reasonable arrangement,” she nodded, “at least the taste is guaranteed!”
Ye Ji: "..."
"Let me cut it!" Jiang Nuanyu quickly took the knife and fork and cut a piece for each of them.
The taste is indeed quite good.
As the dishes were served and Jiang Nuanyu was about to start eating, the waiter brought over a large bouquet of colorful roses.
She opened her mouth and looked at Ye Ji, her face full of surprise.
Ye Ji raised an eyebrow: "Isn't it beautiful? I specially chose these five-colored roses for you."
Jiang Nuanyu took the huge bouquet of roses and hugged it to her arms, so happy that she couldn't stop smiling for a while.
The flowers almost completely covered her upper body. She looked up from the bouquet and said, "They smell so good..."
Seeing how happy she was, Ye Ji couldn't be more satisfied. He said, "Your future boyfriend can't be worse than me, understand?!"
"Mmm-hmm-hmm-hmm!" Jiang Nuanyu smiled, her eyes crinkling, nodding vigorously.
·
Jiang Nuanyu was exceptionally happy all night.
The cup was filled again and again, and a blush gradually rose on her face. Her pointless, silly laughter became increasingly uncontrollable.
Ye Ji had no idea what he had just said, but Jiang Nuanyu started laughing non-stop.
Ye Ji guessed she was probably drunk, and when she stopped laughing, he asked, "Are you drunk?"
"No," Jiang Nuanyu said firmly, lifting her slightly heavy eyelids. "I haven't had too much to drink! I feel perfectly clear-headed right now."
Now Ye Ji was certain that she had definitely had too much.
Seeing that she picked up the wine bottle to pour herself another drink, Ye Ji quickly moved her glass away and suggested, "How about we leave first? If you still want to drink, we can talk about it when we get home?"
Jiang Nuanyu thought for a moment, then smiled lazily: "That works too."
Ye Ji felt relieved, called the waiter to pay the bill, and put the unfinished cake back into the box and carried it away; Jiang Nuanyu, on the other hand, hugged the bouquet of roses.
In the lobby on the first floor, guests dressed in evening gowns came down one after another, laughing and saying goodbye at the door.
It seems the dinner upstairs has just ended.
Jiang Nuanyu leaned on Ye Ji and walked unsteadily out. As soon as she turned into the hallway, she saw the figure at the doorway ahead, and her mind went blank for a few seconds.
Ye Ji was still walking forward when she felt Jiang Nuanyu pulling her along. She turned around, puzzled, and asked, "What's wrong?"
Jiang Nuanyu didn't answer, staring straight in the direction of the door.
Liang Qi finished exchanging pleasantries with the two people opposite him and started walking towards the door. After taking two steps, he seemed to sense something and suddenly turned his head to look back.
Behind him, the fragrance of clothes and the movement of hairpins floated by; he stopped, his gaze quietly falling on her.
A note from the author:
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