In full view of everyone, Shen Yu…
Before arriving, Wen Xi had already flipped through the proposal several times, picking out a few points to negotiate with the team at Daoying. To her surprise, the client this time was very easy to talk to; almost all of Wen Xi’s suggestions were accepted.
The theme for Daoying this time was “Freedom,” divided into three segments: “The Caged Bird Longing to Fly,” “Wanton Growth,” and “The Uncatchable Wind.”
The first two segments were to be shot indoors, while the last one required an outdoor location. Following the sequence, the current shoot was for “The Caged Bird.”
Wen Xi had already seen the basic set-up. The floor was covered with a special mirrored material, scattered with loose white feathers. In the center stood a giant birdcage, magnified several times, with a pair of pure white wings mounted behind it.
Wen Xi could imagine Shen Yu’s styling for this scene. But when she actually saw her, she couldn’t help but feel breathless with admiration.
Wen Xi had shot countless commercial sessions where the models were dazzling from head to toe, and she often praised them. But she had a bias; she would say that Shen Yu’s styling for this shoot was the most beautiful she had ever captured.
There were countless beautiful girls, but Shen Yu’s position in her heart was always special.
Her overall look centered around feathers. The dress was essentially a strapless piece, with a hemline mimicking the tail feathers of a bird, free and flamboyant. A few small downy feathers were tucked onto her face, and her eye makeup was bold; her entire lashes were brushed white, with the eyeshadow blended so exquisitely and skillfully that it was just right.
The moment Wen Xi saw her, her breath hitched. It wasn’t until Shen Yu raised an eyebrow and looked at her with a smile that Wen Xi shifted her gaze in a slight panic.
She turned to Qin Lu and said, “The styling is very appropriate.”
Qin Lu smiled. “It also depends on the inspiration you gave the stylist.”
Shen Yu held her skirt and walked over slowly. Wearing high heels, the sound of her footsteps was distinct, each thud feeling like a beat against Wen Xi’s heart.
“What are you chatting about?” Shen Yu’s cool voice rang out from the side.
Qin Lu took over the conversation. “We’re talking about you. Since you two should know each other, I won’t bother with introductions?”
Shen Yu nodded slightly. “We do. We met once before at the Film City.”
As she spoke, Shen Yu’s eyes crinkled into a smile as she greeted Wen Xi, “We meet again, Teacher T.”
Wen Xi looked at Shen Yu’s delicate eye makeup, thinking to herself that this person was truly an actress. Last night, she was pulling and tugging at her in her room, and now she was acting like a total stranger.
She replied reservedly, “Long time no see.”
“Since everyone is here, let’s get to work,” Qin Lu spoke up at the right moment. “I just came by to check on Shen Yu. I’ll be leaving in a bit, so don’t mind me, just follow the plan.”
“Sure thing, Editor-in-Chief,” a staff member chimed in. “Then, Teacher Twilight, shall we check the equipment?”
“Okay.” Wen Xi was about to head over.
Shen Yu reached out and lightly grabbed Wen Xi’s right arm. Wen Xi stopped in her tracks; she felt as though Shen Yu’s thumb had brushed against her.
Before Wen Xi could ask anything, Shen Yu gently lifted her right hand and retightened the drawstring of her wrist guard glove, which had come a bit loose.
Wen Xi was dressed in all black today. When she worked, she liked wearing efficient short-sleeved shirts and trousers. To match, her gloves were also black. They created a stark contrast against Shen Yu.
After Shen Yu tied it, she whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Don’t be nervous.”
Wen Xi pulled her hand back and gave her a sharp glare with her beautiful, clear eyes. Her meaning was simple: Who’s nervous?
After the glare, Wen Xi walked away without looking back, leaving Shen Yu behind to savor the moment.
She had never seen this side of Wen Xi before. Back then, Wen Xi was the typical “good girl” who would follow her obediently, always looking at her with bright, shining eyes. She wasn’t like this now, looking at her with eyes full of irritation.
But this was good, exceptionally good. Shen Yu liked the way she looked when she was angry; she liked that Wen Xi became so vivid and wasn’t so “proper” when they were together.
Qin Lu stood by, hesitating. “Something isn’t right between you two. What’s with that expression?”
Shen Yu shot Qin Lu a cold look.
“Forget it,” Qin Lu laughed. She knew what to ask and what not to ask. “Shoot well. I’m leaving. I look forward to the sales figures for this issue.”
Once Qin Lu left, Shen Yu also walked toward the set.
As soon as Wen Xi’s team arrived, they skillfully found their workstations. They were paid high salaries by Wen Xi, so their abilities were naturally high. While taking over, they worked with the on-site staff to adjust the details of the set.
Shen Yu multi-tasked, observing the hardworking Wen Xi out of the corner of her eye while listening to others explain the poses she needed to make. She had to admit, there was a special charm to Wen Xi when she was focused on calibrating her equipment.
Not long after, Wen Xi said, “I’m ready on my end.”
Wen Xi shifted her gaze from the camera’s display screen and looked up, only to find Shen Yu staring at her with an unshielded gaze.
Wen Xi: ? What now.
Shen Yu gave a light smile and stepped into the giant birdcage. To prevent the shoes from scratching the mirrored floor, they had laid down a layer of cloth first, only removing it once Shen Yu was inside.
Predictably, walking on that mirror in heels was very slippery. Shen Yu had to rely on her assistant’s support just to get across.
Wen Xi frowned slightly. Had she known, she would have rejected the mirror or let the post-production team Photoshop it in. They put the mirror there for no other reason than the magazine being named Daoying (Reflection), it was just to create a thematic resonance.
The birdcage in the center was pure black, simple and elegant in design. It created a sharp color contrast with the pure white feathers, making it easy for people’s eyes to focus instantly on the cage.
Once Shen Yu switched into work mode, her entire aura transformed completely; she immersed herself in the role very quickly. Before the shoot, she had read a few poems about caged birds, and by recalling them now, the emotions came easily.
This scene consisted of two parts: one inside the cage, and one with the cage door wide open, the bird longing to fly. The two segments required different emotions, and Shen Yu was an expert at capturing the subtle nuances between them.
Once the shooting began, Wen Xi also became quite engrossed. For no other reason than she rarely encountered a “model” with such perfect chemistry. For instance, before she could even finish a sentence, Shen Yu would understand her meaning and make adjustments in time.
Wen Xi had worked in the photography industry for so many years; there was definitely a core of passion involved. In certain moments, she felt as if the world consisted only of her and the Shen Yu inside her camera.
Because of the high efficiency, both segments were finished by noon. Wen Xi had taken quite a few photos; she would export them later and coordinate with Daoying to finalize which ones needed retouching.
After the shoot ended, the crew began clearing the set. The room was noisy and chaotic.
“Twilight,” Shen Yu’s voice reached Wen Xi’s ears clearly. “Can I see the photos?”
Wen Xi looked up at Shen Yu. She hadn’t come out of the set yet, and the staff were laying down the cloth for her.
Wen Xi said, “Of course.”
Hearing this, Yu Yan prepared to go and give Shen Yu a hand to lead her out, but she received a look from Shen Yu. Yu Yan retracted her foot. Oh, so she wants her ex-girlfriend to hold her hand. No need for me.
On the other side, Wen Xi slung the camera in her left hand and walked to the edge of the mirror, signaling Shen Yu to come over.
Shen Yu said with some difficulty, “It’s too slippery here. Why don’t you help me over? Let your assistant hold the camera first.”
Shen Yu’s voice wasn’t low. The surrounding staff looked at each other; they could have helped, of course, but in the workplace, one must know how to read the room. They simply acted as if they hadn’t heard and continued with their business.
Wen Xi let out an imperceptible sigh and called over Pu Tao, who was watching the drama unfold, to take the camera. She walked two steps toward Shen Yu and extended her left hand. “Come on then, Teacher Shen. Be sure to hold on tight.”
The edge of the mirror was only about two meters from the birdcage, a short distance, but truly slippery.
Seeing Wen Xi extend her left hand, Shen Yu placed her right hand firmly into Wen Xi’s palm, saying concernedly, “Then Teacher Wen must be careful too.”
Wen Xi felt the warmth coming from her left hand. With a stoic face, she steadily traversed those two meters and turned around to catch Shen Yu, who was still on the mirror.
At that moment, a sudden turn of events occurred. Shen Yu was just about to place her other hand on Wen Xi’s shoulder to step down. Perhaps thinking it was the last bit of distance, she relaxed a little, and her heel accidentally slipped.
Wen Xi was standing right in front of Shen Yu. Her reactions were fast; she immediately caught Shen Yu by the waist, letting the majority of Shen Yu’s weight press against her.
Although Shen Yu was 172cm tall, she was very thin and not heavy. Wen Xi had acted out of urgency, but by the time she realized what was happening, her nose was filled with the faint scent of Shen Yu’s perfume. Before she could even steady Shen Yu, she froze in place again.
In full view of everyone, Shen Yu’s lips brushed against her earlobe, giving her an ambiguous kiss.
With her lips pressed against Wen Xi’s ear, Shen Yu whispered, “Thank you, Twilight.”
Shen Yu’s grades had been excellent, so her English pronunciation was naturally good. But hearing her say “Twilight” with that British accent now held an indescribable seduction.
The staff nearby saw Shen Yu slip and were startled. “Teacher Shen, are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Shen Yu took the opportunity to give Wen Xi a quick hug before stepping off the mirror. “Fortunately, Teacher Twilight’s reactions were fast.”
Shen Yu released Wen Xi from the embrace. Yu Yan walked over to check on her. “Boss, is your foot okay?”
Shen Yu looked down to straighten her skirt. “Just a slip, no sprain.”
“That’s good.” The supervisor on site ran over as soon as they heard the news. “It’s almost noon. Teacher Shen, why don’t you go change and rest for a bit? We’ll continue in the afternoon.”
“What about Teacher Twilight? Should she also take a rest?” Shen Yu looked at Wen Xi, who was standing beside her without much of a reaction.
“…” Wen Xi thought for a few seconds and shook her head. “I need to export the photos first.”
Shen Yu’s gaze landed on Wen Xi’s reddened earlobe. “Okay.”
Once Shen Yu and the others left, Wen Xi walked slowly toward the computer. A staff member was waiting there, and Pu Tao was beside her, handing over the camera.
The two of them stood by the computer. Pu Tao glanced at Wen Xi and whispered, “Boss, you wore your hair in a low bun again today.”
Wen Xi gave a hum of affirmation.
“Oh my, your ears are so red,” Pu Tao felt compelled to remind her. “Don’t you feel your ears burning? Are you that shy from hugging your idol?”
It took Wen Xi a few seconds to process Pu Tao’s words. She reached up and pinched her earlobe; it was indeed very hot.
Wen Xi was a bit dazed from Shen Yu’s flirting. She couldn’t refuse Shen Yu’s intimacy ten years ago, let alone now, with a Shen Yu who had shed her youthful awkwardness and gained even more charm.
Not only were Wen Xi’s earlobes burning, her whole head felt like it was about to start smoking.
“Pu Tao,” Wen Xi blinked and pulled on Pu Tao’s hand. “I’m going to sit on the chair and rest for a bit. You and this teacher coordinate the follow-up.”
The staff member was very understanding. “Teacher Twilight, go ahead and rest. You’ve been busy all morning. I’ve glanced at the photos; they’re all great. Finalizing them will definitely take some time.”
Pu Tao quickly nodded in agreement.
Wen Xi was not in a state suitable for work right now. Fortunately, the remaining tasks were just simple coordination. She walked a few steps and sat on a low wall-side chair, burying her face in her palms.
How can Shen Yu be like this?