The live stream passed by in an hour and a half, filled with casual conversation.
Upon arriving in Q City, the show's hired makeup team had already arrived. Zhang Tian had spared no expense this ti—today was for styling, and if the weather held up tomorrow, they could begin shooting.
They fild from the golden hues of sunset until the veil of night fell.
Q City bordered the sea, renowned for its abundance of seafood, and sumr was the perfect season to indulge. Though Jiang Lan and the others weren't shooting by the beach, they were still in Q City, so they could explore and enjoy themselves after wrapping up.
Looking back, the previous poster shoot felt rather rough. That one had leaned into personal styles—for instance, Jiang Lan, embodying a college student, wore a 300-yuan outfit that sold out overnight. Aunt Zhao wore her own clothes, though they were well-worn, while Chen Shuyun donned professional attire.
Zhang Tian realized his thinking had been too constrained. The show needed authenticity, but it also needed to be visually appealing. Even though their identities differed, everyone could still dress beautifully—there was nothing wrong with wanting to look good.
The two won’s dresses were from C brand’s spring limited collection, personally offered by the label—one in purple, the other in yellow, their skirts shimring under the light.
Their headpieces were large bows, but their hair needed restyling. Yu Wanqiu’s signature waves had multiple curls, but for the princess dress, it was better to keep just one soft curl at the ends. Her hair was dyed golden blonde to complent the look.
Yu Wanqiu wasn’t keen on wearing a princess dress. Like Aunt Zhao, she felt that at over forty, she was past the age for ethereal gowns.
"But Teacher Yu, you were playing with sparklers just yesterday," soone pointed out. "The director chose this color specifically for you—violet, which pairs perfectly with the hat." The hat’s design also featured purple accents.
Yu Wanqiu had no rebuttal.
The preparations included skincare, hairstyling trials, and fitting the dresses. Yu Wanqiu’s gown was a light tulle dress with a trailing hem, adorned with large purple flowers. While it might not seem striking at first glance, when she moved, the wind would catch the fabric, making it bloom like a flower.
Jiang Lan’s dress was a soft yellow, a color befitting her youth. The skirt trailed on the ground, forcing her to lift it while walking to avoid snagging.
Props included a violin and a cello—though the piano was deed too cumberso to transport.
Beyond the two won’s styling, Lu Yicheng also needed a complete makeover.
Lu Yicheng was undeniably handso, but the cara demanded makeup, especially for posters and magazine shoots.
It was almost pitiful—Lu Yicheng, who usually didn’t even use skincare products, now had to endure facials, hairstyling, makeup, and multiple outfit changes.
He arrived at the set in the afternoon, unbeknownst to Jiang Lan and Yu Wanqiu. He’d taken a day off and would return the morning after next.
Lu Yicheng resisted the idea of makeup. "Director Zhang, is the makeup really necessary?"
Zhang Tian scoffed, "What kind of outdated thinking is that? n don’t need makeup? Without it, will you even look good on cara? Poster shoots demand it. By the ti Jiang Lan looks like a celestial being descending to earth, you’ll just be so country bumpkin in the background. Here, let the makeup artist give you a matching couple’s look."
Lu Yicheng raised an eyebrow. "There’s such a thing as a couple’s makeup? I’ve only heard of couple’s outfits."
Zhang Tian sighed. "You haven’t seen how stunning Jiang Lan looks today—that dress, those eyes. And Teacher Yu is breathtaking too. If you don’t spruce yourself up, even if we shoot the poster, fans might overlook you entirely."
"Fine, go ahead. Make it handso. Should I dye my hair? Maybe so highlights?" Lu Yicheng leaned back in the chair, resigned. "I’ve seen so idols with hair that glitters under the light—let’s do that."
Zhang Tian was surprised. He hadn’t even said much, yet the young master had already conceded.
Jiang Lan’s styling took all afternoon, with several makeup changes before settling on a soft blue look.
That evening, Jiang Lan tuned into a gaming livestream—TG Team versus RMW, a 4:1 victory, with "Zhengrong Sasa" delivering an outstanding performance.
The show had booked separate hotel rooms, so she didn’t have to share with Yu Wanqiu.
Jiang Lan called Lu Yicheng. "I think I’ve figured out the shooting the."
Lu Yicheng asked, "What’s the the?"
"I’m in a sea-view room, so close to the ocean. It’s definitely related to the sea." She frowned. "Where are you? This doesn’t look like the apartnt."
Lu Yicheng hesitated. "Not at the apartnt. I’m at a hotel—company business trip. I arrived this afternoon."
He hoped Jiang Lan would catch on, curious if she’d be surprised.
Sothing felt off to Jiang Lan. If it was a business trip, why hadn’t he ntioned it earlier? "Stand up. Turn the cara around. Let see the room. There’s no one else there, right?"
Lu Yicheng: "…………"
He really shouldn’t have expected anything from Jiang Lan.
He complied, showing her the entire room, even the bathroom. "It really is a business trip. I just didn’t have ti to tell you."
"It’s been hours! I tell you everywhere I go."
Lu Yicheng countered, "I only found out yesterday afternoon that you went to Yaocheng."
"I was obviously with Teacher Yu." Jiang Lan didn’t want to argue. "If you pull this again, I’ll be mad."
What a bad habit.
"It won’t happen again," Lu Yicheng quickly shifted the topic. "What ti’s the shoot tomorrow?"
"Director Zhang said the afternoon." Jiang Lan lost interest in the call. After a few more words, she claid she needed sleep and bid him goodnight.
The next day dawned clear, with scattered clouds and a bright sun. The UV rays were strong here, so they stayed indoors until the afternoon, when styling, makeup, and outfit changes began.
The makeup team, seasoned in the entertainnt industry, had seen countless beauties. Yu Wanqiu carried a serene, commanding presence unlike anyone else, while Jiang Lan exuded a lively charm. She looked radiant in yellow—fair and delicate, like an ethereal spirit.
The shoot was scheduled for sunset.
That morning, Shen Xingyao’s group had their turn. She wore a pale pink princess dress with over a dozen layers of tulle. Her fair complexion made the gown look exquisite. Du Wanzhou, who usually wore dresses, didn’t look out of place in a long gown despite her fuller figure.
At the previous birthday party, she’d held so hope, but this ti, Shen Xingyao truly hadn’t expected Chen Hao to show up.
Chen Hao arrived in a vest and tall boots, inviting the princess onto his horse before escorting Du Wanzhou to a pumpkin carriage.
Amid her joy, Shen Xingyao wondered—if Chen Hao was here, did that an the other groups had surprise guests too?
Since the show centered on mother-in-law and daughter-in-law dynamics, wouldn’t that an Lu Yicheng would appear?
Would Lu Yicheng also be in the poster? She hoped he wouldn’t end up as a re background prop.
Shen Xingyao’s shoot was a success. Both she and Chen Hao, being industry insiders, had strong cara presence. The rose garden was breathtaking—vast stretches of crimson blooms made their shots resemble wedding photos.
By six in the evening, the crew had moved to the golden sands. The area had been cleared of tourists, leaving only the stunning scenery.
Half the sun had dipped below the horizon, the other half still glowing above the water, surrounded by fiery clouds. The sea breeze was refreshing, devoid of sumr’s usual heat.
The ocean shimred with golden scales, like the tail of a rmaid.
Jiang Lan's eyelids and outer corners were dusted with fine shimr, glinting under the sunlight as the sea breeze billowed her skirt. She glanced at Yu Wanqiu and said, "Teacher Yu, the seaside is so beautiful—and you’re gorgeous too."
Yu Wanqiu nodded slightly, one hand steadying her hat as she took a few steps along the shore. It occurred to her that she’d never fild a seaside scene before. The view was truly breathtaking.
The weather couldn’t have been more perfect.
Zhang Tian didn’t direct them to pose in any particular way. Jiang Lan, being an amateur, lacked the experience of soone like Shen Xingyao, who was a seasoned celebrity.
But Yu Wanqiu’s natural elegance made every shot flawless. The two simply played in the water, ran along the sand, and let the photographer capture candid monts.
Aside from the photographer, the crew had multiple caras rolling—each with their own assigned caraperson.
Watching these two beauties was undeniably a visual treat.
Zhang Tian couldn’t help musing: *If these two ever got married and had a child, imagine how stunning the kid would be—high IQ, high looks, an absolute charr.*
Maybe he should pitch a grandma-and-kid reality show.
"Hey, is everything set over there?" Zhang Tian asked his assistant, referring to Lu Yicheng. On the golden beach stood a massive whale-shaped rock, its head spouting water at high tide—where Lu Yicheng was stationed.
The assistant gave an "OK" sign.
Zhang Tian flopped onto a beach chair, relieved. He was exhausted, and tomorrow’s amusent park shoot lood ahead.
The photographer’s shutter clicked incessantly. At first, Jiang Lan felt a little self-conscious, but the scenery was too enchanting. Just splashing in the water and digging her toes into the sand was exhilarating. And when she ran, her skirt billowed like a kite, sending her dashing back and forth across the shore.
As the sun dipped into the sea, the sky lted into shades of pink and purple. The evening breeze carried no trace of heat. Yu Wanqiu fetched a few sparklers from the props team.
Among the props was a violin.
Jiang Lan tested the strings—a bit out of tune, but playable. She tucked the violin under her chin and said, "Teacher Yu, I’ll play you a song."
It was *The Ocean*, a sonata that swelled from calm waters to raging storms.
The piece was too long, so Jiang Lan only played a snippet before dragging Yu Wanqiu off to explore. *This whole beach is ours today!*
Wait—no.
Jiang Lan spotted a handso guy near the distant whale statue.
He wore a deep blue satin shirt, its gemstone cufflinks catching the moonlight. Tall and lean, his hair—slightly longer than a buzz cut—was streaked with dark blue. *Seriously stylish.*
Was he a celebrity here for a shoot? "Teacher Yu, there’s a hottie over there!"
Yu Wanqiu followed Jiang Lan’s gaze. *Huh, not bad.* So might assu she, as an older woman, preferred last-century heartthrobs, but no—she appreciated youth too. "Didn’t Zhang Tian clear the area? Who’s that?"
Jiang Lan frowned. *He looks familiar.* The two stared dumbfounded, a scenario Zhang Tian hadn’t anticipated.
Lu Yicheng seed transford. Normally, he wore casual tees and slacks—the quintessential campus heartthrob. But tonight, he was grood to perfection, his eyes dusted with the sa shimr as Jiang Lan’s, radiating charm with every glance.
"Jiang Lan, what are you staring at?" Lu Yicheng called out, oblivious that neither had recognized him. His top button was fastened too tightly, making him fidget. "Co here already."
*It’s Lu Yicheng!* No wonder he looked familiar. *He’s Lu Yicheng!*
*He told he was on a business trip yesterday!*
Jiang Lan hesitated until Yu Wanqiu gave her a gentle nudge. She turned back. "Teacher Yu..."
Yu Wanqiu smiled. "I genuinely had no idea this ti. Go on."
Jiang Lan sprinted toward Lu Yicheng—just as a cluster of balloons rose behind him.
Pale blue and pink, they floated past the whale’s head, hovering midair.
In that mont, Jiang Lan understood how Shen Xingyao must have felt. Her heart raced.
Tilting her head, she asked, "Lu Yicheng, why did the balloons stop moving?"
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