Jing Li paused for a moment, then turned back and looked at Lin Xiaoman’s arrogant expression, coldly remarking, “I don’t know if she’ll be my fan forever, but as long as she’s my fan for a day, I’ll make sure she feels my response to her.”
“As for you, senior,” Jing Li gave her a once-over, his expression still calm and his tone steady, “if you find fans who admire you so unbearable, why torture yourself by staying in this industry?”
His words trailed off, and he cast a cold glance at Lin Xiaoman without saying anything. That look seemed to bluntly tell her, “Without fans, you’re nothing, and there’s no value to speak of.”
Lin Xiaoman probably didn’t expect a newcomer to dare respond to her like this, with such an attitude. She was stunned at first, then infuriated by the implication of his words, her face instantly flushing red.
From a young age, she had been doted on as a little princess by her family. Due to her family background, everyone around her indulged her, and even after entering the entertainment industry, she had a smooth sailing. She had never experienced such disrespect.
“Who do you think you are? How dare you to talk to me like that?!” Lin Xiaoman grew angrier the more she thought about it, immediately pointing at Jing Li’s nose and shouting, “Where’s your manager? Is this how she taught you to speak to your seniors in the industry? You have no manners!”
“So, the senior does know about manners,” Jing Li calmly observed her tantrum, his voice unhurried, “I’m sorry, though I’m unaware of the manners in your household, mine has always taught me to treat others with courtesy and respect.”
“But the premise of courtesy and respect is mutual respect.”
His words trailed off, and he gave Lin Xiaoman another casual glance, slightly curling his lips.
That subtle expression seemed to ask her, “Are you qualified to talk about manners with me?”
After that, Jing Li ignored her and sat down on the sofa nearby, his indifferent attitude making it clear he didn’t want to waste any more words on her.
This truly infuriated Lin Xiaoman. She let out a shriek, about to get up and scratch his face, forgetting that she was still getting her makeup done. Caught off guard by her sudden movement, the makeup artist’s hand slipped, leaving a long streak across her face.
The eyebrow pencil didn’t look too dark, but the grayish-black mark stood out starkly against her made-up face, adding an element of ridiculousness to her striking appearance.
“Sorry, Xiaoman-jie, I didn’t expect you to get up so suddenly,” the makeup artist quickly apologized, looking a bit flustered. “Just sit still, and I’ll fix it right away.”
She had witnessed this diva1大小姐 (dà xiǎo jie) – eldest daughter of an affluent family / (polite) your daughter / bossy or indulged young woman / Miss High and Mighty‘s temper earlier and didn’t want to face her wrath now.
Lin Xiaoman glanced at her reflection in the mirror, and her face instantly turned even darker. She opened her mouth to curse but suddenly remembered Jing Li’s jab about her lack of manners, forcing herself to swallow her anger. She stiffly sat back down, struggling to say, “It’s fine.”
With a sidelong glare at Jing Li on the sofa, she found him engrossed in reading some materials, not even sparing her a glance.
It was as if all her emotions were just a solitary performance.
This realization only fueled her rage further, cementing her enmity with Jing Li.
*
After fixing her makeup, G.T.’s photographer arrived. He greeted the two endorsers, checked their overall appearance, and finding nothing amiss, had his assistant take them to the studio for a few test shots before getting started.
The photographer, Shan Ming, was G.T.’s chief photographer. He had won the National Photography Competition for several consecutive years. His works were once highly acclaimed by netizens, which was a testament to his skill.
However, Shan Ming was rather reclusive. He did not like casual interactions and despised overly ingratiating collaborators.
Those familiar with him merely gave a polite nod and greeting before focusing on their own tasks.
Lin Xiaoman had been G.T.’s endorser for two consecutive seasons, so she was well aware of this. When she saw the photographer, she only smiled politely and greeted him. Catching sight of Jing Li walking down from the set, she suddenly smiled again, “Shan-laoshi, there may be something I’ll need to trouble you with later.”
Shan Ming glanced at her briefly.
“You see, that newcomer over there is endorsing for G.T. for the first time. He’s worried his performance might affect the final product, so he wants me to tell you in private,” Lin Xiaoman observed his expression, feigning concern, “As you know, image is crucial in our industry, especially for more feminine product advertisements like this.”
“He approached me about this, so I couldn’t really say much. I can only ask that you be a bit more accommodating later on.”
She clasped her hands in a pleading gesture, successfully observing Shan Ming’s expression darken instantly.
Her words were essentially implying that Jing Li was worried about being portrayed in an effeminate way, affecting his public image.
“If you’re worried about your image, then don’t take the endorsement deal.”
No professional photographer wants to hear their skills being questioned, especially someone of Shan Ming’s repute and ability.
However, Shan Ming didn’t say much more, partly because of his reserved nature, but also because he didn’t quite believe Lin Xiaoman’s claims. After all, having been in the industry, he was no stranger to the underhanded rivalries among celebrities, so he didn’t want to get involved.
But whether or not it was Jing Li’s intention, hearing such words still left him feeling displeased, so his gaze towards Jing Li carried a hint of coldness.
Seeing her goal accomplished, Lin Xiaoman smirked inwardly, eagerly waiting for a good show.
Jing Li noticed the photographer’s darkened expression towards him as he approached, as if displeased with him for some reason. Just as he was wondering if his performance just now dissatisfied the other party, he then caught sight of Lin Xiaoman’s smug, taunting face and immediately understood.
It seemed this arrogant Ms. Lin Manners2He called her Ms. Lin Jiaoyang. 教养 (jiào yǎng) – to educate; to bring up; to nurture / upbringing; breeding; culture had pulled another trick on him.
But he didn’t show any reaction, only politely nodding at the photographer before standing aside, waiting for the crew’s final preparations before starting work.
Interestingly, seeing that Jing Li didn’t come close to him to please him, Shan Ming’s expression toward him improved slightly.
Soon, the shoot began.
This endorsement was for lipstick, naturally emphasizing highlighting the product’s features.
It was a brand-new color series with twelve shades, featuring vintage reds and caramel pumpkin tones.
Following standard ad filming procedures, they would first individually shoot a motion video against a backdrop of the entire color range, then film a scene highlighting the main shades, and finally combine the two videos into a complete ad.
Shan Ming’s assistant briefly explained the filming requirements to the endorsers and handed them the two signature shades.
Lin Xiaoman took the sleekly designed lipstick and walked in front of the backdrop. As filming began, she immediately immersed herself. Her slender fingers delicately held the lipstick against her temples as she struck bold, alluring poses to showcase its qualities.
It had to be said that despite her arrogant personality, Lin Xiaoman’s professionalism was solid. The lipstick in her hands instantly embodied charm. Even without dialogue, she seduced the audience’s gaze, making them curious to try that particular shade themselves.
The video filming went smoothly, and was approved on the first take.
“Miss Xiaoman’s performance was as compelling as ever,” the assistant promptly praised her with a smile when she finished, prompting Lin Xiaoman’s own beaming look as she shot a taunting glance at Jing Li.
Jing Li ignored her and walked towards the backdrop, holding the lipstick.
As a man, he naturally couldn’t strike the same alluring poses as Lin Xiaoman. Instead, he casually pinched the lipstick between his index finger and thumb, leaving a semi-circular gap in the middle.
He then tilted his head slightly, gazing up at the small object in his hand with an expression of curiosity, as if deeply drawn in to explore its mystery.
After studying it intently for a moment, he slowly curved his lips into a smile, his gaze passing through the semi-circular gap towards the camera, as if conveying some message to the audience.
Without any lines, his movements were understated yet still powerfully compelling, further accentuating the product’s charm. One couldn’t help but wonder what he saw in that lipstick to elicit such a smile.
When Jing Li finished filming, the photographer’s assistant exclaimed exaggeratedly, “Wow! This is the first time I’ve seen a guy make a lipstick ad so captivating. Newcomers these days are incredibly talented!”
Not just the assistant, even Shan Ming gained a new appreciation for Jing Li’s performance. A rare hint of admiration flickered in his usually impassive eyes.
However, Lin Xiaoman’s smile instantly vanished at this scene. Hearing the praise for Jing Li around her, her expression darkened further.
She gritted her teeth, finding his approaching smile utterly grating. She resolved to put him in his place during the next scene filming.
With this thought, she tossed her head back, a determined look on her face as she headed towards the set for the scene filming.
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