Chapter 45 Isn't this a bit too intimate...?
Xue Fangfei got her a spot on a dating reality show from the company so she could pursue Li Yichen. Even if she didn't win over the movie star, it would be good to gain exposure by riding his coattails.
After three episodes of the dating reality show, Chu Ruofu became the best female guest for two consecutive episodes, overshadowing actress Qiao Yimo and becoming the undisputed queen of popularity on the show.
Xue Fangfei was overjoyed and posted about it on her WeChat Moments. She also privately sought out industry professionals to ask about some precautions for shooting a duo magazine.
When industry agents and actors learned that her darling was going to be featured in a well-known magazine, they all sent their congratulations. They felt that she was showing off and that her rivals were being sarcastic, so they told her to pray that Chu Ruofu could get more publicity by associating with Li Yichen.
So Xue Fangfei started pacing anxiously around the house, thinking, "Do you think I should hire some online trolls to boost magazine sales?"
Chu Ruofu snapped out of her daze and looked at her, saying, "You have that much money to spend?"
When asked the crucial question, the two revealed that they had only been in Haicheng for less than three years. Their acting careers were not successful, so they didn't earn much money and had to split the profits with the entertainment company, barely making ends meet.
Chu Ruofu had never walked the red carpet, nor had she ever worn a decent haute couture piece. Xue Fangfei always did her makeup for her when she attended filming opening ceremonies and dinners.
Xue Fangfei went over to Chu Ruofu and said, "You're right, we don't have the money to inflate sales figures. It's not that I don't trust you, but if the magazine's sales don't meet the requirements, you'll be ridiculed by your competitors, which will affect your future fashion resources."
Chu Ruofu said, "Don't worry, I'm shooting a duo magazine with Li Yichen."
Xue Fangfei slapped her forehead: "Oh right, you're shooting a duo magazine with Actor Li, and his fans have strong spending power."
"You don't need to worry about sales too much." Xue Fangfei looked at Chu Ruofu with encouraging eyes: "I'll go with you tomorrow."
Chu Ruofu: "I haven't done any magazine shoots yet. I'll find some magazines to look at and learn from them."
"I'll go find it for you right away."
Xue Fangfei took out her work tablet, followed the magazine's Weibo account, and selected some of the best-selling double magazines, as well as behind-the-scenes footage from the photoshoot.
The two sat together looking at the magazine covers and content, and Chu Ruofu murmured, "Isn't this a bit too intimate?"
The male and female actors hugged each other, their arms around each other's waists, and looked into each other's eyes, creating a high level of tension and atmosphere, even more intimate than a couple.
Chu Ruofu sighed inwardly, worried that she wouldn't be able to capture a perfect magazine cover during intimate moments.
Upon hearing her words, Xue Fangfei said, "A double magazine is a couple's magazine. Only intimate moments will attract CP fans. What's the big deal? You've already kissed him, so why are you afraid of hugging and cuddling?"
Chu Ruofu blushed at her words and said, "Could you please not mention the time I kissed him?"
She almost wished she could black out, so she wouldn't remember the feeling of the kiss.
"Okay, okay, I won't say anything more." Xue Fangfei was afraid that she would be too embarrassed and affect her performance on tomorrow's shoot.
The two spent the whole day at home figuring out how to shoot a magazine.
The next day, in the cramped van, Xue Fangfei kept reminding him: "Just treat Li Yichen like your favorite food. Don't think too much. As long as your eyes convey affection, you'll definitely have chemistry."
Unorthodox practitioners have their own methods; as long as their gaze is right, they can look at even a dog with deep affection.
Upon arriving at the company building where the magazine shoot was taking place, Chu Ruofu took a deep breath, trying to appear more confident, and went to take the elevator with Xue Fangfei.
The photography studio is on the eighth floor. I had just stepped out of the elevator when the elevator door next to me opened and someone came out.
Xue Fangfei's eyes narrowed slightly, and she smiled as she greeted, "Teacher Li, what a coincidence."
Li Yichen wore a baseball cap and a black face mask, his flaxen brown hair slightly obscuring his eyebrows and eyes. He was dressed casually in a set of clothes and wearing luxury brand sneakers.
Standing next to him was a man a little shorter than him, probably in his early twenties, who looked very capable; he was his manager.
Upon hearing the unfamiliar female voice, Li Yichen glanced over casually, his gaze sweeping past Xue Fangfei before settling on Chu Ruofu as he walked towards her.
He hadn't seen her for two days and he missed her.
Chu Ruofu looked at Li Yichen as he walked over. His handsome features were somewhat tired, exuding a languid air that made one want to hold him in their arms and cherish him.
Looking at his actor looking so worthless, Li Yichen's agent wanted to sigh in exasperation. Having followed the dating reality show for a long time, he naturally recognized Chu Ruofu and took the initiative to greet her.
"Hello, Teacher Chu, I am Brother Li's agent, Xiao Sen."
Being called "teacher" for the first time felt novel to Chu Ruofu, and she nodded politely and distantly, "Hello."
"What have you been doing these past few days?" Li Yichen asked her.
Chu Ruofu obediently replied, "I'll rest at home."
Li Yichen moved a little closer to her and asked, "Have you been looking at Weibo?"
Chu Ruofu didn't understand what he meant, and whispered, "I've seen it."
She used to be relatively unknown and not many people paid attention to her. There were only some haters who hated her because of a drama and cursed her, which she didn't need to take to heart. Now she's just become a little more popular, and there are comments about her on every social media platform across the internet.
She went online and glanced at the official Weibo account of the dating reality show. There were too many private messages from haters cursing her, so she turned off her phone and stopped looking at the messages.
Xiao Sen reminded him, "Let's not stand here. Let's go to the photo studio first. We'll need to do some styling later."
Shooting a magazine isn't something you can just do by having someone come and shoot. Just styling it can take two or three hours. Today we have a lot of shooting to do, so we need to stay in the studio all day.
Xue Fangfei was quite surprised. Sure enough, when love takes over, even a high and mighty movie star can become clingy, which is quite unexpected.
Chu Ruofu hurried towards the photography studio.
Li Yichen followed beside her and whispered, "When will you follow me back on Weibo?"
Chu Ruofu paused, looking at him: "Going back to the pass?"
"I've been following you on Weibo for a while now." Li Yichen tried to sound pitiful: "I've been waiting for you to follow me back."
Chu Ruofu was a little embarrassed, as she really didn't know about this, and said, "I'll check back with you later."
Li Yichen narrowed his fox-like eyes slightly and asked in a pleasant voice, "Am I the first male guest you've followed back?"
Chu Ruofu turned and glanced at Xue Fangfei: "...Right?"
Xue Fangfei thought to herself, "Even Li Yingdi has to compare himself to this? I know that Fufu's official Weibo account is mostly managed by her agent. Will he get upset?"
These days, who uses their main account to surf the internet? If you accidentally like a celebrity's negative trending topic, you're doomed.
"Teacher Li, Teacher Chu, you've arrived." A staff member quickly came over to guide them and led the group inside.
As we walked, staff members reminded us, "Taking photos and videos is prohibited in the photography studio."
Xiao Sen and Li Yichen have shot for various magazines and are very familiar with the process. This was mainly said to Chu Ruofu and Xue Fangfei. In order to maintain the mystery, the magazine must not leak the shooting materials in advance.
The film set has many temporary rest rooms, makeup rooms, and changing rooms. Entering the wide corridor, there are signs on both sides with different names written on them, indicating whose rest room this is.
People were coming and going in the corridor, busy with various work preparations.
The staff first arranged for Chu Ruofu and Li Yichen to get their makeup done. Their agents could accompany them, visit the studio for a photoshoot, and communicate with the production team.
In this environment, everyone was working efficiently. The makeup artist didn't chat with Chu Ruofu; she was very focused on applying makeup to her.
Chu Ruofu didn't even dare to look at her phone, and instead slowed her breathing while looking in the mirror.
She arrived at the photography studio at eight in the morning and finished her makeup around ten. The stylist assistant took the haute couture gown chosen by the editor-in-chief and led her to the dressing room to change. When needed, the stylist assistant would thoughtfully help her adjust and tie the ties, and check the gown.
Around 10 o'clock, Chu Ruofu left the rest room and walked towards the photography area in high heels.
Li Yichen, also dressed in a haute couture suit, was sitting in the rest area outside the photography area. When he saw her appear, he got up and walked towards her, looking her over.
"Your makeup is great, very pretty," Li Yichen praised. "The photos will definitely make all your fans swoon."
"Really?" Chu Ruofu, dressed in a tight-fitting haute couture gown, looked somewhat stiff.
Li Yichen noticed her nervousness: "When we're filming later, just follow my lead. Just like that night when we sang together, we had great chemistry and worked together very well, didn't we?"
Chu Ruofu hummed in agreement.
Li Yichen has shot many magazine covers, so he knows how to present himself in front of the camera and has a natural flair for creating atmosphere.
He reassured her and gradually calmed her nerves.
A staff member came over with a square tray and said, "Teachers, these are jewelry items sponsored by the brand."
Li Yichen raised an eyebrow slightly. Originally, it was a cover shoot, and the magazine hadn't prepared any expensive jewelry. To wear world-class luxury jewelry, one had to have a breakout role in the entertainment industry.
At least, he has a place in the film industry.
Chu Ruofu's gaze fell on the high-end jewelry necklace on the tray, and a look of amazement flashed in her eyes.
Haute couture gowns and fine jewelry—luxuries she had never dreamed of wearing—were now readily available, as if she were living a lavish dream.
Li Yichen picked up the high-end jewelry necklace that shimmered with fire and said, "Turn around, I'll help you put it on."
Chu Ruofu obediently turned around, her back to him. Her haute couture dress revealed a large expanse of her back, her snow-white back resembling a butterfly spreading its wings, beautiful and elegant.
Li Yichen's eyes darkened slightly as he held the jewelry necklace in his long, slender fingers and slipped it around her neck. He lowered his gaze as he fastened the necklace for her.
All of this was captured in a documentary.
Zhang Yan, the photographer on set, was no stranger to Li Yichen. He had photographed Li Yichen for the previous issue of a men's fashion magazine. Li Yichen appeared carefree and humorous, but in reality, he carried the arrogance of a member of the upper class and was very strict with his work.
He would never bow down to a woman.
Zhang Yan picked up the camera and took several photos.
In the scene, the girl's black hair is parted, with a few strands falling slightly beside her cheeks. She lowers her head shyly, looking delicate and beautiful, revealing her graceful neck. A tall man stands behind her, his slender fingers carefully tying a necklace for his girl, his expression focused and gentle.
Staff members waited patiently with trays in hand. In the bustling photography area, this scene, resembling a movie scene, had an amazing atmosphere.
Everything is ready, filming officially begins.
The photographer instructed the couple on how to pose: "Teacher Li, Teacher Chu, stand facing each other, the man with his arm around the woman's waist, looking down at her..."
Chu Ruofu felt a large hand wrap around her waist, its temperature burning hot. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and her heart began to race.
The photographer then instructed Chu Ruofu: "The lady raises her chin and looks at him, you two look at each other, the lady reaches out and touches his face..."
Hearing that she was to touch Li Yichen's face, Chu Ruofu hesitated. Li Yichen took her hand generously and placed it on his cheek, his voice tinged with amusement: "Don't overthink it. Just do what the photographer says."
Chu Ruofu looked up and met his gaze. The man's fox-like eyes were full of affection as he stared intently at her.
Her hand touched Li Yichen's face, her waist was tightly locked by his large hand, and an ambiguous atmosphere spread between the two of them, with several lights flickering on their faces and bodies.
Chu Ruofu's mind went blank.
The photographer's voice came from not far away: "Teacher Chu, make your eyes more expressive..."
Chu Ruofu was at a loss. Li Yichen lowered his head and moved closer, a faint scent of men's cologne wafting over her, subtly enveloping her. His deep, husky voice carried a unique allure: "Look at me, don't look away..."
His eyes were dark and deep, like a deep pool that seemed to draw people in, and she was unconsciously drawn to him.
The photographer quickly snapped a few more photos, then loudly reminded them, "Teachers, please change your poses..."
Li Yichen released her waist, and Chu Ruofu could still feel the warmth of his hand on her waist where he had pinched her. The hand that had touched his face was also very hot, which brought a wave of heart palpitations.
She thought these things would be enough to disturb her thoughts, and her heart was pounding.
The photographer kept making more and more requests, asking Li Yichen to sit down and bend slightly so that she could lean on him from behind, wrap her arms around his neck, and have intimate contact.
Chu Ruofu carefully climbed onto Li Yichen's back and felt his back tense up, stiffening for a moment.
Li Yichen paused, trying his best to control his rising body temperature, but it was not something he could completely control. His back muscles were tense, his blood was surging, showing how excited his body was.
Chu Ruofu wrapped her arms around him shyly, rested her chin on his shoulder, and breathed softly: "Is this alright?"
Li Yichen's voice was hoarse: "Okay."
Chu Ruofu noticed that his ears were red and her heart felt a little hot. It turned out that she wasn't the only one who felt nervous and had all sorts of uncontrollable emotions.
After the photographer finished taking the photos, he had her sit on the sofa. Li Yichen lay in her arms, and she gently stroked his hair with her fingers, looking down at him.
After shooting two sets, the photographer was quite satisfied and reminded the two to change poses again, asking Li Yichen to lie on the sofa while she nestled in his arms.
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Author's note: [doge] There will be another update at 6 PM.
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