Refraction of light
George looked carefully at the girl in front of him.
She has short hair that reaches her shoulders, and it is a beautiful brown-black color. Her black eyes are very rare among the blue eyes, and they are exactly the same as her face, with the magnificence and mystery from the East.
Her appearance is completely different from the Western stereotype of Eastern aesthetics, but everyone who sees her sincerely admires her beauty.
What is even more amazing than her beauty is her temperament, elegant, noble, and full of the romance that only an artist can have.
Judging from her temperament alone, she really fits George's idea of an excellent fashion designer.
But no matter how you look at it, the girl in front of you doesn't look like an adult.
For Americans who develop faster than Chinese and whose young people generally look more mature than Chinese, Zhang Jiajia looks younger than her actual age. Even if she is only fourteen or fifteen years old, I am afraid that the Westerners present will believe it without hesitation.
"Lin, I do trust your taste. But isn't it a bit too much to let an underage child be responsible for the costumes of the entire movie?" George said to Lin Shen beside him with a bitter face.
"Mr. George, I'm an adult." Zhang Jiajia had to remind him.
"What? Adult?!" George looked at the girl in front of him in shock, and said exaggeratedly: "Do you Orientals have magical powers? Why do your appearances never match your age?"
Although George was just joking out of habit to lighten the mood, he accidentally hit the nail on the head.
Lin Shen couldn't help but glance at Zhang Jiajia. She had a 500-year-old soul, but she was still able to show the youthfulness of a girl under her 18-year-old skin.
It should be said that the people in his brother's class have a really young mentality.
...
Facing George's surprised gaze, Zhang Jiajia took out the business card she had prepared in advance and handed it to George.
"Dirty...Jia Jia..."
Hua Xia's name is too difficult to pronounce for Westerners, especially when it comes to flat and retroflex consonants. In order to show his politeness, George spent a long time trying to pronounce Zhang Jiajia's name as standardly as possible, but the result was unbearable to watch.
"Mr. George, you can call me by another name - Rosalind." Zhang Jiajia said: "Rosalind Kavan Vespera."
Just as the West has a unique aristocratic naming tradition, Parnaki also has its own unique naming method.
The level of development of productivity is the determining factor for the emergence, existence and extinction of exploitation. The severe shortage of resources has led to the deformed social system of Parnaki and the exploitation and bullying of vulnerable groups.
In Parnaki, only "noble" women are eligible to obtain a family surname. Ordinary women are often only given a "name", and only when they get married will they get the right to name their husband's family. Because the education level of the common people in Parnaki is not high, there are often many people with the same name, so before they get married, they often add "XX's family" to their "name" to distinguish them.
After getting married, a woman’s name becomes “name” + her husband’s surname.
Nobles need to highlight their extraordinary status, so they often insert a long "surname" into the basic naming method. Because it is too cumbersome, difficult to remember and inconvenient to write, such a complicated naming method only appears in family trees, and the names used for external purposes are generally composed of three parts: "first name + mother's surname + father's surname".
The length of a name is a direct way to show the difference between nobles and ordinary people. Most of the time, even if nobles do not choose to marry, their partners will often be selected from nobles. But occasionally, nobles will choose commoner girls. In order to prevent the family name from being "defiled", they will not let the girl come to the family with her father's surname, but will "select" a surname for her to be named.
Such operations were originally intended to maintain the dignity of the family, but eventually became a way for the nobles to bully and humiliate others.
Although Zhang Jiajia did not have this problem in Parnaki, Gao Shu, Lu Baixi (vampire) and Yu Zhi were experienced in this.
As an experienced and knowledgeable director, George quickly understood the meaning of the name. He nodded and smiled, saying, "A rose blooming on the top of the mountains under the night sky is really a beautiful name."
"Thank you for your praise." Zhang Jiajia said implicitly.
If George still looked down on Zhang Jiajia a moment ago, now he completely put away his disapproval and looked at the girl in front of him seriously.
Although this name is a bit fantasy-like compared to the names of Western nobles in reality, and more like the names of characters in OC or games, if someone else said this name in front of George, George would just think that the other person was living in his own fantasy and couldn't extricate himself, and was a complete chuunibyou.
But George is not someone who knows nothing about the "world". Being chosen to be the director of this film, he has some knowledge of the mysterious world called "Parnaqui".
For example, the naming method from another world, and the choice of "surname" by the nobles of that world.
The aura and temperament exuded by Zhang Jiajia were more in line with his guess.
In addition to his trust in Lin Shen, he believed that a Chinese man who could make a name for himself on the international stage would not choose an ordinary girl with no talent to play a "joke" on him.
After considering various factors, George chose to put aside his prejudice, show 100% sincerity and attitude, and seriously discuss the cooperation and details with Zhang Jiajia.
But the heated discussion between the two seemed too glaring to the head of the clothing department.
As an old employee under George, Jennifer didn't know the core secret behind the movie and thought it was just a commercial movie with huge investment.
She and some xenophobic crew members had been secretly dissatisfied for a long time about letting a Chinese person play the leading male role. However, they did not expect that the director would not only let Lin Shen play the leading male role, but also be so crazy as to believe Lin Shen's words and talk about clothing cooperation with an obviously underage girl.
This wasn't even close to beating her in public; to say it was "ridiculous" was a bit too light.
Jennifer couldn't help but wonder if these two Chinese people were really as the legends about Chinese people on the Internet said, possessing magical witchcraft skills, and secretly cast a spell on the director while they were not paying attention.
If the media really knew that we hired a little girl to be the costume designer, they would definitely ridicule our crew, and the fame and status that I have worked so hard to accumulate in the industry would very likely be destroyed!
We must find a way to stop it!
Jennifer thought firmly in her heart.
"Jennifer." George's voice suddenly sounded in his ears: "We have something private to discuss. Can you please go out for a while?"
Jennifer was stunned for a moment, her smile a little stiff: "Director, I'm the head of the costume department. Shouldn't I be present at the interview of the newcomers?"
"This interview is special, so you need to leave for a while," George said.
What kind of interview required me to leave, leaving two men and a minor present?
"..."
A terrible thought suddenly flashed through Jennifer's mind, and her eyes instantly became solemn.
It suddenly didn't matter whether it was stopped or not, or whether it was embarrassing or not - this was a crime!
"Director, calm down..."
George was stunned for a moment, then he didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "What are you thinking! I'm just having a normal interview!"
He coughed, looking a little embarrassed: "Anyway, you leave first. As for the interview process, I will show it to you later when I have the chance."
Jennifer: “?”
Although it was puzzling, since the director said so, it certainly couldn't be the "evil" incident she imagined in her mind.
Jennifer breathed a sigh of relief and reluctantly left the scene.
"I'm sorry to have embarrassed you." The director rubbed his nose and said helplessly: "Although Jennifer is quite arrogant, she is actually a very nice person."
"Don't worry, Director. I will get along harmoniously with Miss Jennifer." Zhang Jiajia quickly realized that the director intended to ease the relationship between her and Jennifer - after all, Jennifer's hostility just now was a bit too obvious, and the three of them were not naive rookies, so they could naturally notice this.
George finally breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Zhang Jiajia's promise.
He was not worried about Zhang Jiajia being wronged, because how could a "traveler" with magic be wronged? He was only worried that this old friend who followed him would bully Zhang Jiajia because of a momentary stubbornness, and Zhang Jiajia would retaliate against him.
I am telling this to Zhang Jiajia specifically now, just hoping that if Zhang Jiajia really chooses to retaliate, she will at least give Jennifer some face.
Putting Jennifer's matter aside for the moment, George looked at Zhang Jiajia again with expectant eyes: "Can you show me your 'design' now?"
Zhang Jiajia nodded and smiled: "What style of clothing do you need?"
"Any type is fine?" the director asked with interest.
"yes."
"Give me a cape made of black flames." George asked curiously, "Can you make something like this?"
"Of course." Zhang Jiajia said, "But can I use the things in this room?"
"As you please," said George.
"Then please step back a little." said Zhang Jiajia.
Until George and Lin Shen retreated to a safe area, Zhang Jiajia raised her right hand and gently tapped the coffee table in front of her.
Black flames suddenly burst out from the tablecloth, and the flames burned fiercely. The gradually distorted space around was enough to show how hot the flames were. However, Zhang Jiajia was not afraid of its temperature. She reached directly into the fire and picked up the tablecloth.
Before George could even exclaim, his voice was choked by what happened next.
Zhang Jiajia's jade-like hands had no wounds. The invisible flame in her hands seemed to have turned into plasticine that could be kneaded and shaped at will. She gently pulled it, and the black flame spread out in all directions, and gradually took the shape of a cloak under her shaping.
Looking at the wooden coffee table that originally held the tablecloth, it was in such close contact with the flames, yet there were no signs of burns at all.
"It's amazing!" George murmured, and then he saw Zhang Jiajia holding the two corners of the already formed cloak and shaking it. The flame shook out a beautiful curve in the air, and it actually shook out the softness and smoothness of the cloth.
"Try it?" Zhang Jiajia handed the cloak to George.
George subconsciously wanted to reach out to catch it, but when it was about to fall on his cloak, he stopped awkwardly.
He has no magical talent, let alone magic power. What if he gets burned by touching the black flame? The filming of the movie cannot be delayed!
At the moment when George hesitated, Zhang Jiajia pushed his hand and stuffed the cloak into George's hands without any question.
George was startled at first, and his hands were shaking as he was about to throw his cloak on the ground. But then he quickly realized the situation and showed a surprised expression: "This... How come this flame is not hot?!"
"This is not fire, it's just made into the shape of a flame." Zhang Jiajia said: "Its essence is still cloth, but I reshaped it into a different shape."
——As a magician of the earth element, Zhang Jiajia has long surpassed everything that earth magic can do and obtained a more transcendent power: construction.
She can destroy the original form of matter and transform it into a completely different appearance. To describe it in a modern way, it is like "molecular cuisine". But the life that Zhang Jiajia can "construct" has long surpassed inorganic matter, and even organic matter can be structured and reshaped under her magic control.
And this is just the tip of the iceberg of her power.
As a painting enthusiast, Zhang Jiajia is also an anime enthusiast.
The fantastical knowledge from Earth allows her to build a new power on the basic magic framework. The superpower "Unreal Matter" of Henggen Teito in "A Certain Magical Index" is her inspiration. Using the ability of "construction", she can not only change the form of matter, but also destroy and reorganize different substances to form new substances that do not exist and "world".
But judging from the form of power, Zhang Jiajia can be said to be the one closest to "God" in Class 9 - as long as she wants, she can even create a life that belongs exclusively to her.
In Parnaqui, this miraculous ability is more like "alchemy", and Zhang Jiajia herself is not only a fashion designer, but also Parnaqui's top alchemist.
...
The director suppressed his hands that were shaking with excitement and carefully put the cloak on his shoulders.
Although Zhang Jiajia said that it was just fabric made into the shape of flames, George could feel the movement of the flames and the distortion of the air around him. As he walked, sporadic sparks would remain in the air, leaving behind beautiful tail feathers.
This cloak alone had left George speechless, and he could no longer find any fault with it.
But George couldn't help but ask, "Can you make another piece of clothing?"
How can you enjoy such a magical scene just by watching it once?
Zhang Jiajia would not refuse: "What type do you want?"
“I want a skirt that can change its shape freely. It looks like it is woven with moonlight, soft and thin. When fighting, the skirt can be instantly gathered up to become a tight combat suit. It needs to have strong defensive capabilities, and cannot be destroyed by fire or cut by a knife. It would be even better if it can cooperate with the heroine’s movements to show the superpower of controlling light.”
By the end of the conversation, George couldn't help but feel embarrassed.
This request was really too much, completely beyond "costume design", and it forced many post-production parts onto Zhang Jiajia.
The director had already thought about how to deal with Zhang Jiajia's complaints and rejections, but he didn't expect that the girl in front of him just nodded and said easily: "Okay."
George: “???!!!”
...
Rebecca knocked on the lounge door.
"Director, I'm Rebecca."
"Come in." George's voice sounded from inside the door. For some reason, Rebecca always felt that the director's voice today was a little strange, like a distorted feeling formed by suppressed madness and excitement.
She pushed the door open and walked in. She saw the director and Lin Shen standing on the left side of the room, looking at something. On their right stood a very young boy, sweet and lovely, with an outstanding temperament.
Is this a new actor?
A trace of suspicion flashed through Rebecca's mind, and then she saw the director suddenly turned around and handed the thing in his hand to her.
Rebecca: “???”
She looked down blankly - it was a moon-white dress, the fabric seemed to be silk mixed with gold thread, but it was softer and thinner than silk, and had a bit of metallic feel.
As a fashion expert, Rebecca has seen countless fabrics, but she has never seen such chic and beautiful fabrics.
"Change your skirt," George said.
Rebecca didn't ask any more questions, just nodded and went to the next room.
Not long after, she returned here again with a look of shock: "Director, this skirt is amazing!"
The skirt looked like an ordinary fishtail skirt, but when Rebecca put it on, she realized that the feature of this skirt was not its exquisite tailoring and special fabric - the skirt actually emitted soft light as she moved, and the color of the skirt changed from the original moon white to a color between moon white and silver white. It was very beautiful, and it made her originally glamorous facial features have a sense of sacredness, as if she was the legendary laurel goddess Daphne.
"This is the most beautiful dress I have ever seen in my life!" Rebecca said sincerely.
However, the expected exclamation from the director and Lin Shen did not appear.
"Come here." George waved at her.
Rebecca smiled: "What?"
The next moment, the director suddenly took out the fruit knife in his hand and slashed Rebecca's skirt.
Rebecca's mind went blank. Before she could scream in fear, she saw the skirt on her body suddenly change from the soft fishtail skirt to a graceful tights. The fabric tightly wrapped around her skin, but it didn't make her feel constrained.
The sharp blade passed through the fabric but did not leave any mark on it.
Rebecca subconsciously pushed in George's direction. In an instant, a stream of light flashed, and the silver thread flowed with Rebecca's movements, hitting George's chest hard and directly knocking him out.
Rebecca exclaimed: "Director?!"
"No, it's okay..." George waved his hands and stood up from the ground in embarrassment.
He stared at Rebecca's "combat uniform" and suddenly felt that he should lower his standards: instead of "saving some face" for Jennifer, maybe he should just hope that Jennifer could be alive.
This is where clothes are made!
It's clearly a hand-made humanoid mecha!
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