Chapter 26, Chapter 26, the identity is about to be revealed.
The studio was brightly lit. Lin Suxing stood in front of the backdrop, wearing a dark blue knit sweater and a matching silver necklace, both promoted by the brand's sponsor for this commercial shoot.
"Okay, ready to shoot! Su Xing, this series... the sponsor said to emphasize a sense of sophistication within a relaxed atmosphere," photographer Cen Xu said, looking through the viewfinder.
"Turn the necklace a little more," Assistant Tang whispered a reminder.
Upon hearing the reminder, Lin Suxing immediately adjusted the angle of the pendant with his fingertips, and Xiao Tang also immediately came over to help him adjust his cuffs.
Xiao Tang was a young woman in her early twenties, with a carefree personality but meticulous attention to detail at work. Lin Suxing obediently raised her wrist and whispered, "Thank you."
"Great! Keep it up." Cen Xu pressed the shutter button repeatedly. "Now change the pose. You absolutely have to capture the drape of the knitwear! If you don't, my client will be after me, okay?"
Lin Suxing couldn't help but chuckle to himself, turning slightly to the side with his left hand lightly resting on his waist and his right hand hanging naturally at his sides. He leaned forward slightly, letting the hem of his clothes fall naturally, while ensuring that the necklace remained within the camera's view.
"Perfect!" Cen Xu snapped dozens of photos like he was pulling the trigger of a submachine gun. He was naturally very satisfied with Lin Suxing, a model who could produce a good picture in one take. "Take a five-minute break."
Xiao Tang handed over some water, which Lin Suxing took: "Would you like to try layering that thin chain over the silver necklace from earlier?"
Cen Xu's eyes lit up immediately: "Dude, this should be good, I'll go get it and try it out."
“Hesitate.” Lin Suxing made an “OK” gesture.
This photography studio is located in a renovated industrial area, occupying the entire top floor of a four-story red brick building.
The spacious space, with a ceiling height of nearly eight meters, retains the original concrete columns and some mottled walls. A huge north-facing sloping skylight gently brings in the afternoon sunlight, which, together with dozens of professional film and television lights suspended on a black steel frame, forms a mixed light source.
The space is divided into several functional areas by semi-transparent movable partitions.
Lin Suxing's team rented the largest area on the east side, where a pure white seamless backdrop and various soft lighting equipment were being set up.
But beyond these partitions, you can see other areas operating simultaneously: not far away, a team is setting up a retro home scene, with dark wood floors and walls covered with old books already in place; further away, you can vaguely see the reflective material of haute couture gowns shimmering under the lights, which is the shooting location of a fashion magazine.
During a break in the shoot, Lin Suxing sat on a lounge chair reviewing the finished photos. Photographer Cen Xu, holding a necklace, leaned over and offered her a cup of coffee: "Xingxing, come on, have a cup! Your favorite meteorite thick milk latte~"
He was a clean-looking young man wearing a crisp white shirt, and when he smiled, fine laugh lines appeared at the corners of his eyes.
“Thank you, there’s another watch advertisement next Wednesday,” Lin Suxing showed Cen Xu his phone calendar, “The client specifically requested the same team.”
Cen Xu took a sip of coffee, a smile playing on his lips: "Of course. Brands are practically booked up until next year for their photoshoots, aren't they?"
He gently touched Lin Suxing's cup, "You should think of us more often in the future."
A while ago, Lin Suxing's beauty promotion video went viral, and her outstanding performance in a variety show caused her fan count to double. Cen Xu is really happy for Lin Suxing.
In his opinion, Lin Suxing, who is good-looking, down-to-earth, kind, and dedicated, deserves to be famous.
“Of course, you guys are so good to me. When I participated in Produce, you were all controlling the comments for me,” Lin Suxing smiled with her eyes crinkling. “I even saw Xiao Tang’s Weibo account arguing with a fan of Lin Ke who was criticizing me. Hahaha, I’m laughing so hard I’m getting rich.”
Assistant Xiao Tang, who was tidying up her accessories, looked up and said with a smile, "How could I tolerate them with my fiery temper! Do you think we don't know who you are? How could we let them talk nonsense like that!"
Xiao Tang and Cen Xu have known Lin Suxing for several years. From the beginning when they were brought together by the filming crew to the later when the four of them started their own studio, they know each other's personalities very well.
Lin Suxing is a reliable and kind person, and would never do something like bullying others.
Although I used to be frugal, I was very generous and loyal to my friends.
Even now, despite Lin Suxing's newfound fame, she still works with them on commercial shoots, without resorting to tactics like demanding higher model fees.
"Brother Xing is our lucky star now! The beige oversized knit sweater set we shot the week before last, the client said they want to work with us again, and now the item is sold out!" Xiao Tang added, recalling the call from the client earlier.
Lin Suxing shook her head and put the coffee aside: "Don't joke with me. It's all thanks to everyone's hard work."
He looked at Cen Xu: "The watch company wants a more austere style. Do you think we should shoot in a studio, or borrow a night view from the Bund?"
Cen Xu tapped his chin thoughtfully with his fingertip: "The Bund is too expensive. I found a new venue on the West Bank, a rooftop bar with an industrial style and a terrace. The night view is very high-end, and the price is reasonable."
“Okay, go and contact the venue,” Lin Suxing nodded. “Xiao Tang, remember to check the power supply in advance, don’t end up having to find a power strip like last time.”
Xiao Tang nodded to indicate that there was no problem, and then quickly and efficiently wrote it down on the tablet.
“Oh, right,” Lin Suxing remembered something, “Men’s Style magazine invited you to be the one to shoot the cover interview.”
Cen Xu's eyes lit up, and he gently patted Lin Suxing's shoulder: "Great! Now it's all designated cooperation." He glanced at his phone's schedule, "Next Thursday and Friday are both free. You set the time, and I'll fully cooperate."
As long as he latches onto a powerful patron, his status will rise accordingly!
Lin Suxing took the next outfit from Xiao Tang and said as she walked towards the dressing room, "Then I'll have my agent confirm with them for Thursday. By the way, Cen Xu, do you know any teams that specialize in shooting dynamic commercials? A sports brand is inquiring about their rates."
“Perfect timing! My college classmate’s studio specializes in this, and their level is very high.” Cen Xu had already started looking for contact information.
Since high school, Lin Suxing has been working as a model to earn money to support her family.
He was later discovered by a talent scout and entered the entertainment industry to participate in variety shows and some web dramas, also because the talent scout saw his model photos.
His experience in this industry allows him to handle related work with ease, and he seems far more mature than his age should be.
Before the locker room door closed, Lin Suxing's voice came out: "How about we arrange a meal tomorrow to discuss the details? Xiao Tang can come too, to help me remember the technical details."
Xiao Tang happily agreed and quickly prepared the next round of makeup supplies. Cen Xu, on the other hand, had already started confirming the dinner time, humming a cheerful melody.
Just then, people from other areas came over and greeted Cen Xu and Xiao Tang: "Hello, is Su Xing here in the studio today? A friend of mine is a fan of his and wants an autograph!"
Xiao Tang greeted the other person with a smile: "Sister Fang, Su Xing is changing clothes inside, please wait a moment."
When Lin Suxing came out after changing her clothes, there were already a dozen photographers, internet celebrities and models standing in the studio talking to Xiao Tang and Cen Xu, making the already cramped space even more crowded.
Lin Suxing, who was pulled into a photo before she could even react: ?
The system then began to gloat and make sarcastic remarks: "Host, you know what, you're really popular now. Everyone wants to ride your coattails."
Lin Suxing sighed helplessly: "Luckily, I did my makeup and hair today. We all know each other, so I can't just stop them from taking pictures."
Their studio has been shooting here for over a year, and they are quite familiar with several other studios nearby. They often go out for late-night snacks together after working late into the night.
The system suddenly sighed softly, its mechanical voice sounding somewhat eerie as it made such a human-like response: "It's a pity this studio will be closing soon, and the photographer next to you will also feel guilty and turn to purple clay."
Cen Xu, Xiao Tang, and a group of photographers and internet celebrities: ? What's that sound?!
Lin Suxing frowned, glancing subtly at Cen Xu, the photographer and her friend beside her: "What's going on?"
Seeing his concern, the system said matter-of-factly, "Last time you took me to see Jiang Fei's husband 'entertaining guests,' so I'll consider that as you completing a task. This time, I'll just tell you directly."
"A week later, a female model will choose Zisha pottery because she was sexually harassed by someone from the modeling agency. When the others come to the studio the next day, they will have bled to death, and the studio will be shut down as a result."
"Moreover, your friend Cen Xu and that female model are good friends. Cen Xu was unable to come to the studio on the day the girl was in Zisha because he had a bad cold. He felt guilty for not being able to stop the girl from indulging in Zisha and later chose to do the extreme thing of Zisha out of guilt."
Lin Suxing subconsciously swallowed.
He didn't care much about the previous gossip; whether he listened to it or not didn't make much difference.
But this is different; it involves two lives and also concerns his friend with whom he has worked for several years.
Cen Xu's expression had completely darkened, his pale lips pressed tightly together.
If what they are hearing now is true, then the female model who knows how to make Zisha pottery is Cheng Qiqi, the girl he has always secretly loved.
Cheng Qiqi is usually cheerful and lively, always the life of the party among her friends. If Cen Xu suddenly heard such an obviously supernatural voice next to Lin Suxing, he probably would never believe that Cheng Qiqi knows how to make Zisha teapots!
The handsome young man clenched his fists, clearly having made up his mind.
"Can you tell me the specific details?" Lin Suxing asked, his gaze cold and firm. "I'm willing to try to help you with any task you need."
"Host, you don't need to be so polite. Of course, I'm happy to tell you this," the system continued.
"...Wait a minute, why are they all suddenly silent?" Lin Suxing sensed something was wrong and looked at Xiao Tang beside him, as well as a group of friends who seemed to have pressed the mute button.
In an instant, Fangjie noticed that Lin Suxing had realized something was wrong. Her eyes darted around and she realized what was going on: "You all sit down and rest for a while. Xiaoqian and I will go get the milk tea~"
Xiao Tang reacted quickly as well, patting Fang Jie with a big smile: "Wow, there's even milk tea! Thank you, Fang Jie!"
"Oh my, the milk tea has just arrived! Let's all drink Green Rice Mountain together. Fang is treating today, so let's all try this flavor. It tastes a bit like my dog's sweaty paws, it's so fragrant!" Xiao Qian pulled Fang to walk out of the stall while making a phone call to the deliveryman.
Seeing that the people around him had returned to normal and were starting to sit casually on the ground or lean against the wall in small groups to talk, Lin Suxing smiled to himself.
"Just now I felt like they suddenly went quiet, like... they could hear me talking to you." Lin Suxing felt like she was being a little neurotic, so she stopped thinking about it.
That strange feeling I had just experienced was probably just an illusion.
They often get treated to milk tea, and when they first receive the milk tea, they usually gather together to chat and exchange information.
There seems to be nothing wrong with it.
The system, which had been a gossip-watching system for many years, had never seen anything like this before (really?): "Don't worry, host. I am a product of a higher-dimensional world, bound to you. Apart from your CP... no one else can hear me talking to you, much less see your system interface."
"What CP?" Lin Suxing had heard the system mention this before, but he hadn't paid attention at the time.
The system, unusually quiet, said, "It's nothing, host. We're a counterattack system, so there's no such thing as being tied to a couple. That kind of thing is usually a matchmaking system or something like that, hmm."
"Okay, you can continue about what just happened." Lin Suxing looked around and, seeing that everyone seemed to be fine, let the system continue.
However, what he didn't know was that the moment he lowered his head, everyone else looked up as if they were shooting lasers with their eyes, staring at him with piercing gazes.
Cheng Qiqi is not only Cen Xu's good friend, but she also recommends this studio for shoots when she gets jobs. She is also very familiar with the other people in the studio. Not to mention that the several internet celebrity models are girls, and they often share cosmetics with each other. They are practically "best friends".
Although everyone, like Cen Xu, couldn't believe that the usually cheerful and optimistic Cheng Qiqi would choose Zisha pottery, the strange thing that happened—Lin Suxing making a sound without opening her mouth—made them take the matter seriously.
One of the internet celebrities, Dou Sha Bao Mei Mei, who was just filming a short video of herself changing clothes, was so anxious that she bit her lower lip: A few days ago, when Cheng Qi Qi was having a late-night snack with her, she mentioned something bad about the company, saying that the managers of that modeling agency seemed to be very abnormal and were thinking of taking advantage of the models!
She didn't take it seriously at the time. If we follow Lin Suxing's "spoiler" explanation, then perhaps Cheng Qiqi was threatened by those scumbags during this period!
Although she was just a minor internet celebrity, now that she knew about this, she had to save Cheng Qiqi!
The system, usually joking around with its host and not taking things seriously, immediately straightened up when it saw Lin Suxing's seriousness: "The modeling agency this girl works for is actually a shell company that makes money from contract termination fees. It can only provide very few resources for models. She was deceived when she first entered the industry, which is why she signed a contract with this company. In reality, with her looks and professional skills, she could have a lot of Taobao orders to shoot, or shooting for some niche brands would be good too."
"When did her...begin to engage in these unspoken rules? Is it too late for us to stop her now?" Lin Suxing asked.
Host, you're so righteous! Even the system can't hold you back!
"Let me see for myself," the system began its search. "If we can get Cheng Qiqi to terminate her contract now, that would be the best outcome. However, the termination fee is extremely high, and I'm afraid you, host, cannot afford it."
"How much? I'll figure something out. I can borrow from someone else." Lin Suxing frowned, his index finger unconsciously tapping the wooden back of the chair he was sitting on backwards.
The crisp, ringing sounds seemed to resonate in the hearts of everyone else present.
"Five million." The system's mechanical voice sounded somewhat heavy.
"So many." Lin Suxing's expression turned cold, and her slender, pale fingers gripped the back of the chair tightly, causing the veins on the back of her hand to bulge.
Lin Suxing used to spend all the money he earned on medical treatment for his adoptive mother, and he would immediately give it to the hospital and caregivers, so he didn't save any money at all.
Later, after being recognized by the Lin family, Jiang Heyun and Lin Yuan did not give him any pocket money, so he had spent almost all of his savings while attending acting improvement classes and Produce.
As far as Lin Suxing knew, Cen Xu had just bought a house for his family and was also supporting his younger sister's expensive private college education, so he simply couldn't afford to pay for Cheng Qiqi's contract termination.
"I'll go back and talk to my brother about it," Lin Suxing said with a headache. "Sigh, it's just that I need so much money all at once. I don't know what my brother will think of me."
Although he often didn't care about other people's opinions, he still didn't want Lin Siyi, who took care of him in every way, to think that he was the kind of person who only cared about interests, who just wanted money, and who was greedy.
Seeing his dilemma, the system inexplicably thought of a certain big shot.
...Speaking of which, even if Lin Suxing asked for 5 million, or even 50 million, that big shot would probably be willing to give it to him.
"Found it! Cheng Qiqi will be threatened by the investors tomorrow night! There will be a banquet on a luxury cruise ship departing from S City tomorrow night. The guests are mainly models, internet celebrities, and investors. On the surface, it's packaged as a social gathering to discuss cooperation, but it's actually a complete sedative party. People might be doing this or that in any corner..."
The people present exchanged glances, understanding that they had to prepare as soon as possible to prevent the absurd scene from happening on the cruise ship and protect Cheng Qiqi at the same time!
*
The Lin residence is located halfway up the mountain; it is more like a small manor than a mansion.
The main building is a modernized Chinese-style building with white walls and black tiles, clean lines, and huge floor-to-ceiling windows that offer panoramic views of the mountains.
Passing through several courtyards, the north-facing, somewhat cramped room on the second floor of the east wing of the main building, which was originally assigned to Lin Suxing, is now completely a thing of the past.
He was now in a spacious, bright, south-facing suite. Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting warm dappled patterns on the floor.
The view is excellent, with a meticulously maintained courtyard outside the window and rolling mountains in the distance.
The room features a low-saturation color scheme of gray, white, and natural wood tones. The design is simple yet sophisticated, blending seamlessly with the old house's charm while maintaining modern comfort.
What stands out most are the brand-new, youthful items in the room.
The latest PS5 game console, along with several popular game discs, sits on a low cabinet under a huge LCD TV, its sleek lines exuding a sense of technology.
Next to it were a professional gaming chair, high-fidelity headphones, and even a beanbag chair, creating a cute contrast with the room's overall tranquil style. In the corner stood an expensive smart starry sky projector, its packaging still unopened.
Lin Siyi, dressed in comfortable home clothes, leaned casually against the door frame, watching Lin Suxing stand somewhat helplessly in the center of the room, looking around at the overly spacious and "fully equipped" new environment.
His eyes held undisguised tenderness and doting affection, and a smile played on his lips.
"How is it? Do you like it?" Lin Siyi's voice was gentle. He stepped forward and naturally reached out to ruffle Lin Suxing's soft black hair, his gesture intimate. "The game console was bought on the spot. I didn't know what kind of games you usually like, so I just picked a few discs at random. If you don't like it, we can buy something else."
His gaze swept over the brand-new equipment, finally settling on Lin Suxing's slightly flushed face. His tone softened further: "Take a look and see if there's anything we're missing. Let me know anytime, or you can just talk to the housekeeper."
He paused, as if remembering something, and added, "I live right next door to you. If you need anything, just knock on the wall and I'll hear you."
Seeing her younger brother still looking somewhat dazed, Lin Siyi felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.
He took a step forward and put his arm around Lin Suxing's shoulder, his posture full of protectiveness and an irresistible intimacy.
"Don't just stand there, put your things away first." He lowered his head slightly, looking into his younger brother's clear eyes, and lowered his voice even more, with a coaxing tone, "Once you're done, I'll take you out to eat. I know a newly opened Japanese restaurant that should be pretty good."
The tone made it sound as if taking his younger brother out for a delicious meal was the most important and natural thing in the world.
Lin Siyi's words, "I'll take you out to eat," were like a pebble thrown into Lin Suxing's already somewhat bewildered heart.
He was slightly taken aback, and then, as if starlight had been instantly injected into his clear and bright eyes, they began to light up little by little.
“Okay, I love Japanese food, it’s my favorite.” He looked up at his brother, his lips pursed shyly at first, then he couldn’t help but curve them upwards little by little, finally blossoming into an unreserved and extremely pure smile.
That smile instantly brought his already delicate, porcelain-doll-like features to life. Because of the smile, the soft baby fat that hadn't completely faded from his cheeks became even more prominent, puffing up like two plump peaches.
Her skin was almost transparently white, and at this moment, a light pink blush couldn't help but show through that thin layer of skin, spreading from her cheeks all the way to the tips of her ears, and even her delicate nose was tinged with a little bit of cute pink.
His teeth were as white as seashells, and his lips were a natural pale pink, with the tips of his teeth peeking out when he smiled. His long eyelashes trembled gently with his smile, casting dappled shadows beneath his eyes.
Sunlight fell on his face, and his delicate skin seemed to be coated with a soft halo, so translucent that you could see the fine, soft down on his cheeks.
Looking at his unguarded smile, Lin Siyi's gaze softened, and her determination to protect this pure and beautiful moment became even stronger.
He will protect his younger brother and ensure he will never be bullied by outsiders again.
As Lin Suxing was led away by Lin Siyi, who had her arm around his shoulder, she whispered, "Was it troublesome to ask for a separate invitation to the Wang family banquet?...Brother?"
This matter has been worrying Lin Suxing for the past two days; she wonders if it will cause too much trouble for Lin Siyi.
Although he usually has a fiery temper and can argue with everyone, he becomes somewhat flattered and insecure when someone shows him affection and care.
The system said that he was like this because he had never been treated well.
“Don’t worry about the trouble,” Lin Siyi said, finding her sensible younger brother more and more agreeable and endearing. “I have a good relationship with Wang Shunyu, so it’s easy to ask him for more invitations.”
"Oh, that's good." Lin Suxing breathed a sigh of relief; he didn't want to cause Lin Siyi any trouble.
After all, although the Lin family has been in the luxury goods industry for nearly a century, it is still somewhat inferior to these established families whose businesses span various industries and have hundreds of years of history.
This explains why, in the original novel "The Fake Young Master," the Lin family, after experiencing a financial crisis, found it difficult to overcome the crisis through their other businesses and had to resort to marriage alliances to seek help from outsiders.
The system nudged Lin Suxing: "Host, the main quest is here~ This quest is to [reveal the true identity of the young master within the industry], with a completion deadline of [one month]. In the original story, until you were cyberbullied and forced to leave the plot, no one knew that you were the real young master of the Lin family. Your path to revenge will officially begin when your true identity as the young master is revealed!"
Lin Suxing was used to the system getting more and more excited as it spoke, like white phosphorus suddenly igniting, so he remained as calm as a capybara with an orange on its head: "Oh."
The system was used to this behavior and, as usual, presented him with a surprise: "If you can complete this, I will tell you the secret of why the Lin family went bankrupt so quickly."
Lin Siyi: !?
Will the Lin family go bankrupt?
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