Today’s shoot utilized waterproof products from a specific beauty brand, serving as an implicit advertisement. The makeup was not overly heavy, focusing instead on deepening facial shadows and emphasizing the eyes.
The makeup artist drew a long black line on Zhan Zhiqing’s upper eyelid and added a silver shimmer along the lower lash line. It was a somewhat feminine look, and Zhan Zhiqing knew that under these shooting conditions, he had to project a firm and resolute aura to neutralize the allure of the eye makeup. He needed to produce an exceptional editorial shot rather than merely posing suggestively.
As time passed, the relationships between the contestants improved. With Cao Yan, the primary troublemaker, gone, many male contestants proactively befriended Zhan Zhiqing. He maintained a normal attitude, being neither overly eager nor dismissively cold.
While waiting for his turn after getting his makeup done, he habitually scanned his surroundings. He noticed that Yu Can, the contestant who had kindly warned him to be careful of Cao Yan, was laughing and chatting with Le Xin. He looked away after a brief glance; there were always naive young men who could not see through a polished facade.
Truthfully, he admired Le Xin’s ruthless drive to win at any cost, but he detested her habit of using people, even if the person being used was a fool like Cao Yan. Perhaps he would find an opportunity to warn Yu Can later.
Soon, Wei Ming called Zhan Zhiqing. The photographer for the day was a renowned master in the fashion world who had shot for multiple magazines and held extremely high standards.
Zhan Zhiqing entered the water. To prevent his hair from looking scattered, he splashed water on it to keep it damp and tousled it slightly to avoid a stiff appearance. He had to keep his shoulder line just above the water surface. When the photographer signaled to start, Zhan Zhiqing immediately adjusted his facial expression and gaze.
Models use various techniques during editorial shoots, such as using deep breaths to create tension or making subtle adjustments to the spirit in their eyes. Zhan Zhiqing’s brow furrowed slightly in a rhythmic way, and his eyes stared into the lens with intense focus. His lips were slightly parted, and his entire face radiated a sense of determination. It was a look full of tension and personality. The hardness in his eyes harmonized with the feminine eyeliner, creating a unique charm.
“Hold it, Zhan Zhiqing! Keep that expression! Perfect, just like that!” Even Wei Ming could not help but praise him.
Once the photographer confirmed they had the shot, Zhan Zhiqing climbed out of the pool. Every editorial shoot meant that two models would be eliminated. Out of the twelve current contestants, only ten would remain. The mounting pressure drove everyone to show their best side, but transforming from a novice into a professional model in such a short time was incredibly difficult for many. The program tested not only professional skills but also the ability to handle stress.
Zhan Zhiqing returned to the house and followed his usual routine of exercising, eating dinner, and reading. The bookshelves in the villa were filled with fashion magazines, many of which he had never seen while living abroad. He absorbed the information greedily. These magazines reflected domestic trends and directions, and he enjoyed searching for information to deepen his understanding of the Chinese fashion industry.
When the staff returned his laundered clothes, Zhan Zhiqing was surprised to find that the three outfits appeared to be brand new rather than the originals. He felt a flicker of curiosity. This combined with his lingering questions about the staff member who had taken him to the hospital.
He knew his own condition. Whenever his skin hunger flared up in the past, he would either endure it alone for days or seek out pets to alleviate the symptoms. Even his parents’ touch had never been such an immediate cure.
Could it be him? The man sitting in the center of the front row at the Ying Cheng show? Is he an employee of the MA Group? I heard they invested in this show as well.
The next day, the twelve contestants were sent to the studio on time. The four judges were already seated. Everyone waited for the judgment of the panel and the audience with bated breath. They were surprised to see that Meng Ping was gone, replaced by another male supermodel.
He Yu clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention. “Everyone, Meng Ping has been asked to leave the production for certain reasons. Fortunately, we have invited Li Qun to serve as our new judge! He will provide you with more professional and fair guidance. Let us welcome him!”
He Yu’s emphasis on professional and fair seemed intentional. Zhan Zhiqing recalled Meng Ping’s high scores for Cao Yan and his criticism of Zhan Zhiqing’s physique, and he understood what had happened.
The contestants were incredibly excited, especially the women. While the previous judge, Meng Ping, was burly and masculine, his features were quite ordinary. Li Qun’s international reputation surpassed Meng Ping’s. He had fair skin, wavy hair, and exquisite features as a biracial model. He was also very kind, waving to the contestants. “Hello, everyone. I am very happy to participate in this show and see all of you shining on this stage!”
After the welcome, the scoring began. The photos for this round were presented in black and white. The strong contrast between light and shadow emphasized the tension of the contestants.
Zhou Xing was called up first. In previous episodes, her ranking had been middle of the pack, and her scores from the judges were not particularly high. However, this close up of her face seemed to be in her comfort zone; even Wei Ming and the photographer had praised her on set.
The photo appeared, and Zhan Zhiqing looked at it. With her hair cut short, Zhou Xing’s aura was even more unique. In the photo, she tilted her head back slightly, looking at the camera with a somewhat alluring gaze. Her cheekbones appeared high against the shadows, making her face look high end and fashionable. It was indeed a great shot.
Chen Bing finally stopped being sharp tongued. “I really appreciate your aura in this photo. It is androgynous yet reveals a sense of purity. I give you an 8.”
Hearing the score, Zhou Xing nearly jumped with joy. Chen Bing was notoriously demanding, usually giving 6s or 7s, or even 5s. An 8 from her was a very high score.
“It seems Teacher Chen’s 8 is very enticing,” He Yu said with a smile. “I also like this photo very much. The androgynous quality you possess is exactly what the modeling world lacks, not to mention your fashionable face. I give you a 9!”
“I also give you a 9. Well done!” Li Qun, as the new judge, gave a 9 in his first episode, which thrilled the contestants. Even if he gave everyone high scores, at least he was not mean.
Finally, it was Bai Chuan’s turn to give the audience feedback. “The audience’s favor toward you is continuing to rise. Keep going, Zhou Xing!”
With an overall excellent score, Zhou Xing walked to the side, beaming. However, the next contestant was not so lucky. They were torn apart by Chen Bing, received a regrettable critique from He Yu, and Li Qun actually gave a 5. Given that Chen Bing gave a 6, his 5 was an unprecedented low.
The contestants finally saw his true colors: he was an extreme two face. He would give exceptionally high scores to good photos and exceptionally low scores to poor ones.
Finally, it was Zhan Zhiqing’s turn to take the stage.