Chi Ye half-closed his eyes, his deep, dark peach-blossom eyes brimming with tenderness. “Which one do you like?”
Yu Shujia glanced casually, but before she could speak, she was interrupted by Chi Ye’s magnetic, low voice.
“Let’s try the one in the display window.”
Yu Shujia parted her pink lips. “You—”
“Were you going to ask how I knew?”
Chi Ye gently pinched the girl’s cheek, a slight curve at the corner of his lips. “From the moment we walked in, your gaze kept drifting toward the one in the display window.”
Yu Shujia pursed her lips into a smile. “Alright.”
“You have excellent taste, ma’am,” the sales assistant quickly said, instructing someone to fetch the wedding dress from the display window.
“Cut! Both actors, please change.”
Qiao Shu released Jiang Tu’s arm, gave him a slight nod, and signaled Chu Xin with her eyes to head into the dressing room.
Inside Qiao Shu’s dressing room.
The makeup artist held the wedding dress and looked at Qiao Shu. “Should we help you, or would you prefer to do it yourself?”
Qiao Shu’s face flushed slightly as her gaze lingered on the wedding dress. The skirt was full and fluffy, making it difficult to put on.
“You can help me,” Qiao Shu said, turning her back to the makeup artist and Chu Xin. She removed her dress and applied breast tape.
“Qiao-jie, your figure is incredible,” Chu Xin said, her cheeks warm. Even just seeing her from behind was breathtaking.
It was the first time she had seen a woman’s nude body.
A flicker of admiration flashed in the makeup artist’s eyes. The woman before her had fair skin, an excellent body proportion, long legs, a slender waist, and a perky rear—a true beauty.
Qiao Shu turned around. Zhang Qian had helped her into dresses before, so she was comfortable with other women seeing her body.
The makeup artist snapped back to reality and unfolded the wedding dress, glancing at Chu Xin and signaling her to come help.
A minute later, Qiao Shu stood before the full-length mirror. The high-waist design accentuated her graceful curves, while the strapless bodice hugged her perfect décolletage.
Chu Xin’s eyes lit up as she exclaimed in admiration, “So beautiful! Your shoulders are so slender. What’s that word again? Pure seduction? Yes, that’s it—pure seduction.”
A faint smile touched Qiao Shu’s lips. It truly was beautiful, dreamlike, and almost unreal.
She had heard the term “pure seduction” from Zhang Qian before. Zhang Qian had advised her to adopt a “pure seduction” style rather than a “delicate flower” persona.
The makeup artist couldn’t hide her admiration. “You really could pull off the ‘pure seduction’ style.”
“It’s getting late,” Qiao Shu said, looking at Chu Xin through the mirror. “Chu Chu, go let the director know.”
“Alright, Qiao-jie.”
A short while later, Chu Xin and the sales assistant from earlier entered. “The director said it’s time.”
“Let’s go,” Qiao Shu signaled to the sales assistant, recalling her lines in her mind and beginning to immerse herself in the emotion.
The sales assistant followed Qiao Shu to the door. As they reached it, she slowly pulled the door open and gestured for her to step out.
Qiao Shu walked slowly out of the dressing room, her obsidian-like fox eyes scanning the hall. In the scene, Yu Shujia was searching for Chi Ye.
Suddenly, their gazes met. Both Qiao Shu and Jiang Tu were momentarily stunned, unable to hide the admiration in their eyes.
Qiao Shu was captivated by Jiang Tu. She couldn’t tell if his admiration was genuine or part of the act.
Jiang Tu wore a well-tailored suit that accentuated his tall, slender frame and trim waist. His affectionate peach-blossom eyes held an elusive, inscrutable emotion.
The director gave a signal. Yu Shujia and Chi Ye curved their lips into smiles and walked step by step toward each other.
When they finally stood face to face, Chi Ye gently cupped Yu Shujia’s cheek. “My wife is truly beautiful.”
Yu Shujia’s ears burned with heat as she blinked her shimmering eyes and mumbled in a muffled voice, “You’re very handsome too.”
Chi Ye’s eyes held a hint of amusement as his large hand moved to wrap around her waist. “We’ll take this set?”
“Won’t it be too expensive?” Yu Shujia whispered.
The sales assistant explained, “Miss, this wedding dress is currently on sale. After the discount, it’s forty-nine thousand.”
Yu Shujia widened her eyes in shock and tugged at Chi Ye’s sleeve. “It’s too expensive, let’s change—”
“No need to change, we’ll take this set.” Chi Ye pulled a black card from his pocket and handed it to the sales assistant.
Yu Shujia’s red lips parted. “You—”
“Be good,” Chi Ye raised his hand and pinched her fair, tender cheek. “It’s only once in a lifetime, I want to give you the best.”
“Alright.” Qiao Shu’s cheeks flushed with warmth, her heart pounding wildly. Help!!
She was about to drown in Jiang Tu’s tenderness!
Thinking about the upcoming scene, a few words flashed through Qiao Shu’s mind: Yu Shujia kisses Chi Ye’s cheek.
Yu Shujia, looking shy, stood on her tiptoes and kissed Chi Ye’s cheek. “Chi Ye, thank you!”
A faint smile flickered in Chi Ye’s eyes. “What are you thanking me for? Isn’t this what I should do?”
Yu Shujia chuckled softly. “Yes, yes.”
“Cut! Thank you both for your hard work.” Liu Zhongran showed a satisfied smile. No NG is always good.
“Thank you, director. You’ve worked hard too.”
Qiao Shu breathed a sigh of relief. The romantic lines were quite hard to remember, but thankfully her memory was exceptional.
Jiang Tu nodded. “Thank you for your hard work, director.”
“Not at all,” Liu Zhongran said while reviewing the camera footage. “It’s mealtime, you two can go eat.”
Qiao Shu nodded and returned to the dressing room. The crew provided boxed meals, which were quite tasty.
Chu Xin followed behind Qiao Shu and asked, “Sister Qiao, do we get the boxed meals ourselves?”
“Yes, just go get them when it’s time.”
“Alright, Sister Qiao, I’ll go get them now.” Chu Xin put down her bag and turned to leave the dressing room.
Qiao Shu stared thoughtfully in the direction Chu Xin had left. This girl had a good temperament and was quite attentive. The reason she couldn’t take her eyes off Jiang Tu was probably because he was handsome.
It seemed she wasn’t here to chase stars.
Qiao Shu stood in front of the full-length mirror. She never expected her first time wearing a wedding dress would be in a drama, and her co-star would be Jiang Tu. Something she couldn’t achieve in real life was fulfilled for her in the drama.
Qiao Shu gazed at her reflection in the mirror, silent for a moment, then took off the wedding dress and changed back into her own clothes.
After the meal, Qiao Shu rested her head on the dressing table for a short nap but unexpectedly fell asleep. Due to her stuffy nose from the cold, she breathed slightly through her parted red lips.
At one-thirty, Qiao Shu was still asleep. Chu Xin bit her pink lips. “Sister Qiao? Wake up.”
“Hmm… what’s wrong?” Qiao Shu slowly woke up, opening her sleepy, fox-like eyes.
Chu Xin explained, “It’s one-thirty.”
“Oh.” Qiao Shu reached for her phone. The afternoon schedule hadn’t been announced yet, but the director should have posted it in the group chat by now.
Qiao Shu checked the WeChat group. Liu Zhongran had already posted the schedule—she would be filming with the female supporting actors in the afternoon.
Qiao Shu furrowed her delicate brows. Filming with the female supporting actors in the afternoon meant she would likely have to film with Jiang Tu in the evening. Today was Jiang Tu’s father’s birthday—what excuse could she use to ask for leave?
Feeling unwell?
Qiao Shu shook her head. That wouldn’t work. It might have been plausible last night, but now she only had a slightly stuffy nose.
Qiao Shu sighed. She would figure it out after filming. The priority now was to review her lines—it wouldn’t do to have an NG.
“Sister Qiao, what’s wrong?”
Qiao Shu shook her head. “It’s nothing. Time to change locations.”
Chu Xin sighed inwardly, wondering if she would ever be able to get Jiang Tu’s autograph in her lifetime.