47 Beijing (2)
Li Yaya had just come in from outside. The blush on her sunburned cheeks had not yet completely faded. Coupled with her nervousness, beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. She was wearing a simple short-sleeved shirt and jeans, which just showed off her slender limbs.
There was a hint of seriousness in his expression, as well as a hint of confusion and surprise.
Xie Di didn't look surprised at all. It was only natural that someone she liked at first sight would be liked by others as well. Moreover, this was a professional photographer.
Xie Di looked at Li Yaya and asked, "Do you want to try it?"
Before Li Yaya could react, she could understand what Xie Di meant by "give it a try". Xie Di waved his hand, and a group of people came up and surrounded Li Yaya as they walked to the back.
Shady yelled from the back, "Just keep the makeup the way she looks now."
Li Yaya was "pressed" into the makeup chair. The moment the light from the makeup mirror shone into her eyes, she could barely open them. It was glaring, dazed, and she felt so lightheaded that she couldn't see her reflection clearly.
The makeup artist behind her covered Li Yaya's eyes with her hands and said softly, "Close your eyes for a while, then open them slowly."
Slowly opening her eyes, this time, Li Yaya saw herself clearly in the mirror.
She rarely looked at herself so carefully. After staring at herself in the mirror for a long time, she felt like she didn't recognize herself. She looked like this.
"I'm starting." The makeup artist's voice came from behind.
"What should I do?" Li Yaya didn't understand. She didn't understand what she meant by "beginning", what was the beginning, how to start, and what to do at the beginning.
"You don't have to do anything except sit here and leave it to me."
She picked up the tools on the table and began to work, her movements expertly. Each stroke seemed powerful yet gentle. Between each stroke, she transformed the ordinary into something magical.
Gradually, Li Yaya looked at herself in the mirror. She seemed to be the same as before, but also seemed to have changed.
It was as if a silent tsunami was rising in her heart.
She felt as if she had stepped into a secret garden that existed only in dreams.
What was reflected in the mirror was not so much a face as a puzzle illuminated by moonlight.
Was that really her? Her features were familiar, now redefined by light and shadow; her lips, the same color, seemed kissed by the sunset, possessing the power to speak volumes. Like an archaeologist, she carefully examined a newly unearthed, dusted treasure, a mixture of familiarity and awe. The blurry reflection she usually saw in the windowpane and on the water now gazed back at her with unprecedented clarity and concreteness.
For the first time, she saw so clearly the tiny mole at the corner of her eye, the butterfly-wing-like shadow cast by her eyelashes, and the subtle gradation of her cheeks that could be called "glow." Makeup wasn't a mask, but a searchlight, illuminating her unnoticed, subtle beauty. A secret joy, like a creeper, creeped into her heart: "So this is how the light here flows," "So I'm so special from this angle."
The mirror seemed to have become a magic mirror, reflecting not "the most beautiful person in the world" but "a potential self." She no longer saw flaws, but rather a rough diamond ready for meticulous carving. A sense of control arose—she could determine the curve of her brow, change the color of her eyes, and write her own facial narrative. This sense of power was subtle but real, and it unconsciously straightened her back.
Eventually, all the emotions settled into a gentle certainty. The waves receded, leaving behind a calm, shimmering beach. The girl in the mirror merged with her, no longer a strange other, but an old friend, carefully introduced and reacquainted. In that moment, there was no tumultuous ecstasy, only a deep, inner confirmation: "I see you. And you're really good."
This is not vanity, but a silent coronation of self-awareness. What lights up in front of the mirror is not only the radiance of her face, but also the light of self-love and self-discovery deep in her heart.
The moment Li Yaya walked out, Xie Di looked at her and said firmly, "You were born to do this job!"
The studio lights were scorching hot, yet the air conditioning was plentiful, creating a feeling of ice and fire. Li Yaya was timid in front of the camera, completely unsure of what to do next.
While Li Yaya was getting her makeup done, Xie Di had already given Zhu Wen a general overview of Li Yaya's situation, and then urged him to be more patient during the shoot. She didn't want to see a promising young talent being scolded and quit before she could even begin to develop him.
It was just beyond everyone's expectation. Although Li Yaya didn't know how to do it, or perhaps it was just because she didn't know how to do it, she was obedient and did whatever Zhu Wen said.
It actually cleverly catered to Zhu Wen's every need.
Moreover, the more she filmed, the more natural it became. By the end, Li Yaya actually felt a surge of enjoyment. The moment the flash went on, she felt as if a small flame in her heart had been ignited, and a strong desire rose from her heart – she wanted to be a model!
Zhu Wen, who has always been "tricky", rarely praised someone, although it was only two words, "Not bad."
By the time it was over, it was dark outside.
That's how it is in the studio, always brightly lit. It's hard to tell whether it's day or night, and it's even harder to feel the passage of time.
After Li Yaya finished her busy work, she finally had time to look at her phone.
I never thought that things would develop like this, so I didn't tell Jiang Yi in advance, and I didn't know that so much time had passed.
In the afternoon, Jiang Yi sent a WeChat message to Li Yaya, asking her what she wanted to eat in the evening. He said that he could finish work early and go home early today, and asked her if she wanted to go out for dinner.
After a while, there was no reply.
After a while, there was still no reply.
I called once, twice, three times, but no one answered.
Jiang Yi knew that Li Yaya had been looking for a job recently. Could she be interviewing? Then he told himself to wait a little longer, and he waited until dark.
When he returned home, there was no reply from Li Yaya, only a pitch-black room.
It's unlikely that such a grown person would get lost. Could something have happened? Should I call the police? Will they accept the report now?
Jiang Yi sat at home alone, his mind in a mess.
Then I consoled myself by thinking my phone was probably dead and I'd be home soon. Beijing's security was still very good, so I shouldn't worry.
Just as he was thinking about it, his phone rang. He saw the caller ID: Bean Sprout. Jiang Yi took a deep breath, his tense heart finally relaxed, and answered the call.
"Hey, I--" Li Yaya just opened her mouth when she was interrupted by Jiang Yi.
"Where are you? You didn't answer my calls or reply to my messages all afternoon. I thought something happened to you and almost called the police." Jiang Yi's tone was anxious and angry.
Unlike the time when Li Yaya first came to Beijing, this time, the feelings of uneasiness, tension and worry lasted for a long time.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. It's just that I can't explain it clearly over the phone. I'll talk to you when I get home."
"Where are you now? I'll pick you up."
"No need to go through so much trouble. I can just take a taxi back. Okay, that's it. See you at home later." After saying that, he hung up the phone, as if he was afraid that Jiang Yi would say something else.
Shadi, who was standing by, witnessed the whole process.
"Boyfriend?" Xie Di knew Li Yaya had a boyfriend, and he'd come because that boyfriend was coming to Beijing. When he first learned about it, he couldn't help but sigh. He was still young, willing to travel far and wide for love. It was great to be young, to still be able to endure the hardships of love.
"Well, Sister Reddy, it's getting late. I have to go. Work matters—"
"I'll send you the company address. Report tomorrow morning at 10 a.m."
"Okay! Thank you, Sister Reddy."
Li Yaya didn't expect that the trouble that had troubled her for several days could be solved so easily.
Xie Di was also secretly happy. He rarely called Xie Cheng and told him about Li Yaya.
Xie Cheng was on the other end of the phone, speaking in a rare tone, "I knew you would like her."
"So sure?"
"It's hard for others to say, but you and I are sure."
After chatting for a few more words, the call ended. Xie Di was also about to return to the company. After hanging up the phone, Xie Di looked up at the endless night and muttered to himself, "Xie Cheng, Xie Cheng, is the night in Xiangyuan also endlessly dark?"
Xie Cheng hung up the phone, put out the unfinished cigarette in his hand, looked up, and saw a sky full of stars. The weather has been really nice recently.
When Li Yaya arrived home, Jiang Yi was leaning on the sofa with his eyes closed.
Compared to his previous workload, his current workload is overwhelming, but Brother Wang told him that this is normal and that he will only be more tired in the future, so he should get used to it.
The door opened, Jiang Yi opened his eyes, and his eyes met Li Yaya's.
For some reason, the moment their eyes met, Jiang Yi saw the word "guilty" on Li Yaya's face.
What did Li Yaya do in the afternoon?
"Hey, are you hungry?" Li Yaya's words exposed her guilty conscience at the moment.
Jiang Yi patted the seat next to him and motioned for Li Yaya to sit over. "I'm not hungry. First, tell me why you didn't answer the phone or reply to the messages this afternoon."
Jiang Yi wasn't the kind of controlling boyfriend who needed to know everything about his partner. It was just that Li Yaya had just arrived in Beijing and was unfamiliar with the place, and he was worried about not hearing from her for so long.
It would be fine even if she replied with "I'm busy".
Li Yaya didn't have anything to hide, so she simply explained what had happened.
"model?"
"You will support me, right?" Li Yaya looked at Jiang Yi with anticipation.
"How do you like it?"
"I tried it this afternoon and I quite liked it."
"Then is that guy named Shady reliable?"
"The bar owner introduced them, so they shouldn't be unreliable. And have you noticed that these two, one named Xie Cheng and the other named Xie Di, are brother and sister?"
Jiang Yi seemed to have suddenly remembered something and stood up. "I'll call Xie Cheng and confirm it again. It's okay as long as it's reliable."
Since Li Yaya likes it, then go for it. As long as it's safe and reliable, it's fine. He has always thought Li Yaya is beautiful, and someone as beautiful as her should do something related to beauty.
However, when Li Yaya mentioned the names Xie Cheng and Xie Di again, Jiang Yi seemed to suddenly realize who Xie Di was.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
