Chapter 78 Defense
Gu Xiao pinched her chin. "I'm... listening for your footsteps."
She suddenly remembered something and winked mischievously: "Were you... peeking at me from behind the window just now?"
Gu Xiao paused for a moment, holding the towel, looked up at her, and readily nodded in acknowledgment: "Yeah, I watched for a while."
Actually, it's been... a long time.
Nan Zhiyi was surprised that he admitted it so readily, and felt a little sweet inside.
The two sat down together and began to eat.
Gu Xiao knew she would be coming over at noon today, so he specially went to Xiaozhao to get her a taxi, which included her favorite braised pork with potatoes and stir-fried bean sprouts.
Nan Zhiyi took a few bites, and her thoughts drifted to the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival.
She glanced at Gu Xiao and then reached out to grab his hand.
Gu Xiao was used to it, and he reached back and grabbed her hand firmly.
Nan Zhiyi's lips curled up slightly as she quietly brought up the important matter: "The Mid-Autumn Festival Gala... I might have to go backstage to help out. Sister Yaqin is hosting, and our publicity department needs someone to look after her."
"The party is in the club's main auditorium. What row will you be sitting in?"
As the team leader, Gu Xiao's position was definitely near the front, but she wanted to know exactly where he was so that she could find him at a glance during a break from her busy schedule.
Gu Xiao guessed her little scheme.
"The middle seat in the third row, near the aisle."
That's the area for regimental-level cadres and important guests; it has a good view and is easy to enter and exit.
He said, "You can see me as soon as you look up. And I will always be watching you."
Nan Zhiyi's gaze met his dark eyes, and her ears felt slightly hot.
I finished working on the bulletin board in the afternoon.
Nan Zhiyi was assigned by Section Chief Li to assist Zhao Yaqin with the "miscellaneous tasks" backstage at the gala, mainly checking and coordinating costumes and props, as well as helping to maintain order backstage and ensure that the actors could wait and go on and off the stage smoothly.
Nan Zhiyi arrived at the backstage of the club's auditorium. The space was small and dimly lit. As soon as she entered, she was overwhelmed by the stuffy and humid air.
The young men and women of the performing arts troupe, dressed in their costumes, moved about busily, practicing their singing and movements.
Nan Zhiyi walked to Zhao Yaqin's side and said, "Sister Yaqin, the section chief asked me to come and help."
"Oh, you've come at the right time. Could you check the list on that table over there? The things are over there." Zhao Yaqin was very busy and pointed in a direction.
"good."
Nan Zhiyi picked up the props list and quickly got to work.
After she finished checking, she came over to Zhao Yaqin to go over the process, and just then she saw Sister Wu, who was in charge of makeup in the art troupe, applying makeup to Zhao Yaqin.
Sister Wu is a veteran in the troupe and is skilled in her techniques, but her aesthetic sense is relatively "traditional" and "stage-oriented".
The blush was applied too thickly and roundly, like two pieces of red paper; the lipstick was also applied too thickly and brightly red; and the eyebrows were drawn too thickly and darkly.
Although the makeup "brightened her complexion," it actually masked Zhao Yaqin's facial features, making her look rather stiff.
Zhao Yaqin looked at herself in the mirror from left to right, her brows furrowing slightly: "Sister Wu, isn't this blush... a bit too red? It makes me look like I'm in an opera..."
Sister Wu didn't take it seriously: "Oh, Officer Zhao, that's how stage makeup is! It's only clear when the lights are on that the audience can see it clearly! Look at all the performers in the art troupe, isn't their makeup done like this?"
Nan Zhiyi, standing to the side, couldn't help but speak softly, "Sister Wu, Yaqin's face has well-defined features, so there's no need to emphasize its structure. Her skin tone is healthy; a little tinted powder to even it out will suffice. For blush, a light coral shade would be suitable..."
She spoke in great detail, leaving both Sister Wu and Zhao Yaqin stunned.
Sister Wu is an experienced person, and the concepts that Nan Zhiyi mentioned, such as "even skin tone", "natural transition" and "thin application and blending", sounded somewhat novel to her.
Zhao Yaqin's eyes lit up: "Zhiyi, you know about this? Quick, quick, come and help me with this! Sister Wu, let Zhiyi try?"
Although Sister Wu was a little reluctant, seeing Zhao Yaqin's insistence and also out of curiosity, she stepped aside and said, "Okay, you can give it a try."
Nan Zhiyi simply wanted to reciprocate Zhao Yaqin's kindness; Zhao Yaqin had always treated her well, and she wanted to do her part for Zhao Yaqin.
She used a clean, damp towel to wipe off Zhao Yaqin's blush and lipstick, and then reapplied her makeup.
The whole process took only a few minutes.
When Zhao Yaqin looked in the mirror again, her features were clear and bright, her complexion was rosy, and her heroic and spirited temperament was perfectly highlighted. Her makeup was flawless, and she no longer had that "monkey butt" stage presence as before, but she could definitely shine under the lights.
"Oh my god! Zhiyi! You're amazing!" Zhao Yaqin looked at herself in the mirror with surprise. "This makeup...it's so beautiful! It's exactly the look I wanted! It's both vibrant and natural! How did you do this?"
Nan Zhiyi breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Zhao Yaqin's satisfied smile.
She smiled slightly: "It's nothing, just... something I was thinking about randomly."
Actually, that was something her mother had taught her little by little… Her mother would also take out those foreign fashion magazines, point to the exquisitely made-up models, and tell her: “True beauty is knowing how to accentuate your strengths and minimize your weaknesses; it’s about natural harmony…”
She quickly turned her back and blinked hard a few times to force back the untimely tears.
"Do you understand?" Zhao Yaqin noticed her dejection.
"Hmm?" Nan Zhiyi composed herself, turned around, and her face regained its composure. "It's nothing. As long as you like it. Hurry up and get ready to go over the lines, the rehearsal is about to start."
By the time the rehearsal ended, it was already late.
As soon as Nan Zhiyi arrived at the gate of the courtyard, Gu Xiao came out and helped her park her bicycle.
Back in the living room, I found her sitting on the sofa, looking sullen.
Gu Xiao walked over and hugged her. "Is my wife unhappy again?"
Nan Zhiyi leaned on his shoulder, "I...miss my parents."
Gu Xiao played with her fingers. "After the party tomorrow, I'll take a few days off and take you back to visit?"
She gave a soft "Mmm" and smiled slightly, "Gu Xiao, you're so kind."
Gu Xiao: "Is that all you're asking for? You're way too easily satisfied..."
Nan Zhiyi looked up at him, her fingertips tracing his chin. "Hmm? I just think you're incredibly good."
"Anywhere is fine?"
"Of course..."
"How about this?"
...
The following day, during the Mid-Autumn Festival gala, the auditorium of the military region club was brightly lit and bustling with activity.
Not only were there officers and soldiers from all levels of the military region, military spouses and children from the family compound, but also leaders, model worker representatives and their families from several important nearby factories. The venue was packed and the atmosphere was lively.
The backstage area was ten times busier than during rehearsals.
Section Chief Li personally oversaw the operation, sweat beading on his forehead.
Nan Zhiyi was assigned to be in charge of coordinating the actors' waiting area and delivering emergency supplies.
Lu Linlang also arrived, carrying a small first-aid kit with a red cross printed on it, and stood calmly in a corner of the backstage area.
She is the "backup medical support personnel" for tonight.
Upon seeing Lu Linlang here, Nan Zhiyi became extra wary.
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