CSGM - Chapter 91
Chapter 91: Gala Makeup and Styling
Surprisingly, Chu Xi had also received an invitation from Peach Video.
Ren Zhi was greatly surprised by this.
But after her surprise, she felt that this might actually be a good thing for Chu Xi.
After all, this was a rare and precious opportunity for any artist in the industry.
Hearing that it was because of the Scholar Ox drink incident, Ren Zhi marveled at Chu Xi's good luck while also making sure to remind her of what was important.
"In that case, have your agency prepare your look and pick out an outfit for you in advance."
Yu Yixue had told Chu Xi the same thing.
Just for one look for Scream Night, Yu Yixue had borrowed the agency's entire makeup and styling team.
Chu Xi commented, "That's so over-the-top."
Ren Zhi explained, "Since it's a major gala, all the other artists will be dressed to the nines. It'll be a dazzling display, and since your agency is sending you, they certainly won't want you to be overshadowed."
Chu Xi clicked her tongue, glanced at her, and said, "With you there, it'd be hard for anyone else not to look pale in comparison."
"..." Ren Zhi was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure how to respond.
Chu Xi actually knew how to give a compliment?
Three days later, Chu Xi came back from the film set on a day off. That morning, she was home, but by noon, Yu Yixue had already hustled her over to the agency.
She sat in the makeup room for two hours straight, and Chu Xi took the opportunity to close her eyes and rest in her chair.
Outside, all the artists attending Scream Night were busy finalizing their looks, determined to make a stunning appearance that evening.
There were still eight hours until Scream Night began, but one could already faintly imagine how brilliantly the stars would shine that night.
Inside the grand theater, the venue was a flurry of activity, with staff members rushing about.
With the gala about to begin, the organizers were busy with the final stage preparations.
There would be some games during the gala to liven things up, and the staff in charge of testing the props were chatting about it as they worked.
"I told them not to make the games too hard. Celebrities these days aren't the sharpest. I have no idea how they'll manage to play..."
"Haha, this crop of 'little fresh meat' is just so unprofessional. I bet some of the games will be a total mess. Director Pu has too much faith in them."
"Shh... keep your voice down. The artists of this generation are nothing like the ones before. Tonight will probably just be a chaotic mess. It'll be good for a laugh, but not much else to see."
The gala had some rather complex game props, and thinking about the general caliber of the 'little fresh meat' in today's entertainment industry, the testers felt a sense of despair.
The well-rounded veterans of the past could have handled these games, but today's rookies have nothing but a pretty face. There's really nothing to see.
It looked like tonight would just be a spectacle of celebrities making fools of themselves on stage.
Two hours later, when Chu Xi opened her eyes again before the vanity mirror, her medium-length hair had been styled into an updo.
The makeup artist had considered a low chignon versus a high updo and ultimately chose the latter.
This was because, during the styling, the artist discovered she had very unique ears. The helix was well-defined, and the tips curved slightly upward, resembling the rare 'fox ears.' Thus, her hair was combed back smoothly into a high updo at the crown of her head, revealing the pair of beautiful, exquisite ears.
Her earlobes were adorned with delicate filigree earrings set with pavé diamonds-light yet elegant, brilliant without being overpowering.
Yu Yixue had been waiting for two hours, but far from being impatient, she was unexpectedly delighted by the final look.
It's said that light makeup determines one's baseline beauty, while heavy makeup determines one's potential. Looking at her now, Chu Xi's face could absolutely carry the weight of the evening's gala!
The makeup artist had drawn her eyebrows thin, with a slight upward tilt at the ends. Her eyes and nose were subtly contoured, and a bright, peach-pink lipstick was chosen, releasing the sharp, handsome quality of her delicate features.
The size and spacing of Chu Xi's eyes, along with the contour of her nose, were already flawless. The makeup artist had actually created this look by enhancing her natural features as much as possible.
The makeup artist gazed at her masterpiece in the mirror, her own eyes sparkling.
This look... was perfect!
It might not be a man-killer, but it was definitely a lady-killer!
The makeup artist herself was beaming! Hiss-hah!
I can't imagine... If Teacher Chu went out looking like this, she'd surely gain a legion of fangirls, right?
Chu Xi glanced in the mirror and had no issue with the look.
The dressing room held a selection of designer clothes for her to choose from, along with several boxes of sponsored accessories, including necklaces, bracelets, rings, and perfume.
As Chu Xi scanned the clothing rack, the not-so-straight makeup artist eagerly offered a recommendation.
"Teacher Chu, try this set."
The makeup artist handed her a black V-neck suit with a matching bustier. Chu Xi studied it for a moment before taking it to the changing room.
The makeup artist waited with bated breath, and the moment the changing room door swung open, her face lit up with pure delight.
Yu Yixue shot her a puzzled glance.
The makeup artist was overjoyed; she had finally found a female artist who could wear a black suit so naturally.
However, while Chu Xi's skin was snow-white, the V-neckline tended to make her neck and collarbone area look a bit bare.
Before the makeup artist could even make a suggestion, Chu Xi went over to the accessory table herself. She picked out a black leather choker, sponsored by a luxury brand, with several silver chains that draped over her collarbones.
The moment she put it on, an aura that was at once coolly aloof and purely sensual emanated from her.
The makeup artist was ecstatic. Yes, yes, yes, that's the look!
Chu Xi tilted her head back and hooked a finger under the dangling chains, tugging the choker slightly. She hesitated.
She asked the makeup artist, "Is this really okay?"
It kind of feels like... a puppy on a leash.
In her excitement, the makeup artist nodded vigorously.
"Teacher Chu, this look is absolutely stunning! It's perfect!"
Chu Xi wasn't blind. Standing before the full-length mirror, she knew it looked good. She turned to glance at Yu Yixue.
Yu Yixue nodded in approval. "This is the one."
Chu Xi agreed decisively. "Alright."
After adding a few bracelets and rings as finishing touches, her look was complete and refreshingly unconventional. Yu Yixue then quickly escorted Chu Xi to the company van.
"Go home and wait for now. Don't let your look get out. I'll take you to the venue tonight," Yu Yixue said.
"No need, I have my own car," Chu Xi refused, thinking to herself.
She had already promised to go with Ren Zhi to her dress fitting that afternoon.
But... going with Ren Zhi to a fitting and keeping her own look under wraps didn't seem to be mutually exclusive.
The place Ren Zhi was going was the private studio of the brand she endorsed, not a public shopping mall. The confidentiality there was just as tight as it would be at home.
She'd heard the brand was even sending a private car. So now, Chu Xi was at Ren Zhi's apartment, waiting for the car to arrive.
Ren Zhi's styling team had come to her apartment to do her makeup. This time, they opted for a more understated and elegant palette.
Her long black hair was curled at the ends, and she wore stud earrings with obsidian centers framed by white diamonds.
The stylist had her try on a few strapless gowns she owned, revealing her smooth, delicate shoulder line and collarbones. With the ends of her hair draping over her shoulders, she looked rather like a mermaid from a fairy tale.
The styling team decided this would be the general style for the evening.
A light blush of pink was blended at the corners of Ren Zhi's eyes. Even with the relatively light makeup, it couldn't conceal her innate, bone-deep allure.
The new assistant stylist looked at her reflection and couldn't help but praise, "Teacher Ren, you're so beautiful."
She didn't expect a lazy voice to chime in from behind her. "Yes, she is."
The assistant froze, turning to see Chu Xi sitting on the sofa, a smile playing at the corners of her eyes. She quickly added, "Teacher Chu, you look amazing too! That outfit is so sharp."
She worried she had offended Chu Xi by only complimenting Ren Zhi.
Chu Xi said with an amused laugh, "Why so cautious? We're all on the same side here. I was being sincere."
...?
From the mirror, Ren Zhi shot her a glare.
Who said they were 'on the same side'?
But Chu Xi's look for the evening... Ren Zhi took a few extra glances. It's a little on the nose, she thought.
When she wasn't speaking or smiling, her gaze was sharp and her aura was cool and commanding. The pale skin beneath the V-neck created a stark contrast with the black suit, making for a crisp, cool, and powerful style.
Once Peach Video officially releases photos of this look, it's bound to attract a lot of female fans, isn't it?
What a lesbian-killer.
Ren Zhi suddenly let out a laugh for no apparent reason.
Too bad most people didn't know she was straight. Plenty of people online were already discussing Chu Xi's sexuality.
Compared to herself, Chu Xi was the one more likely to be suspected of being gay, right?
It was her own fault for always dressing in these lady-killer outfits, attracting admirers left and right.
She wondered just how many fans online would go crazy when this look was revealed.
Having stumbled upon Chu Xi's Super Topic once, Ren Zhi was well aware of her fanbase's general demographic.
What kind of fans were they, lecherously screaming "Wifey! Wifey!" and "Hubby!" all day?
Chu Xi saw her just sitting there, letting out a couple of laughs, and grew curious.
"What's so funny?"
Of course, Ren Zhi was laughing at the clueless straight girl who was unintentionally catnip for lesbians.
But she figured Chu Xi wouldn't get it even if she explained, so she brushed it off.
"Nothing. Just a joke."
Before long, the car from the brand she endorsed arrived to pick Ren Zhi up.
Ren Zhi brought Chu Xi along to the studio. It was a closed, high-security space that contained a long corridor lined with garments.
However, the brand director leading them didn't stop there, instead taking Ren Zhi directly to the showroom for their unreleased collection.
Anything Ren Zhi wore to a major event had to be a new piece from the brand that hadn't been revealed to the public yet.
In the end, the styling team and Ren Zhi settled on a long, teal gown. It was a strapless design that revealed a stretch of her snow-white shoulders. The skirt had a high slit, offering glimpses of a long, smooth leg with every movement.
The gown was embellished with sequins, shimmering like moonlight filtering through a forest canopy.
Chu Xi looked the dress over and thought about the temperature that day.
"Won't you be cold..." she muttered to herself.
Especially going out at night, when it would be even colder.
The things people do for beauty, she thought. What a sacrifice.
After a moment in the changing room, Ren Zhi's voice suddenly called out.
"Xiao Mei, come give me a hand."
Chu Xi shot to her feet, faster than Xiao Mei. "I'll go."
She knew a dress like that would be a hassle to put on. She'd figured as much.
The moment she stepped into the changing room and saw Ren Zhi's coolly elegant and stunning appearance, Chu Xi slammed the door shut behind her with a bang.
She remembered Yu Yixue's instructions.
"Don't let your look get out."
Ren Zhi would be walking the red carpet, so her look couldn't be revealed beforehand. That would prevent rivals from deliberately wearing the same outfit to stir up drama and leech off her fame.
"Are you an idiot? It's just our team out there." Ren Zhi glanced back at her, pointing behind her back. "I think the tulle is caught. Can you help me sort it out?"
"Oh..." Chu Xi slowly recovered from the visual impact.
The back of the gown had a sheer layer of tulle, like moonlight draped over the forest. Standing to the side, Chu Xi carefully and gently worked to free the fabric that was caught in the seam on Ren Zhi's back.
As she worked slowly, she looked at Ren Zhi and asked, "Are you going to wear a coat?"
Ren Zhi craned her neck to watch her. "I'll wear one on the way there, but I'll take it off at the venue."
"You're walking the red carpet in this..." Chu Xi muttered under her breath.
"What's wrong with it?" Ren Zhi asked.
"It's a little... revealing..."
Her entire shoulder, along with the area from her chest up to her shoulder, was completely exposed. And her leg, too-the slit in the skirt would reveal everything below her thigh from time to time.
Ren Zhi gave her a sidelong glance. "Are you from the Victorian era or something?"
Misunderstood, Chu Xi looked up at her, exasperated. "I'm worried you'll be cold."
Ren Zhi remembered that Chu Xi had never been to a gala like this before.
So she explained, "The venue will have climate control. Don't worry."
It wouldn't be bad enough to catch a proper cold, just a little chilly at most.
The AC has to be set for the male stars and bosses in suits, after all.
Ren Zhi said, "Your outfit is perfect for it. The temperature should be just right for you tonight."
Then her gaze landed on Chu Xi's neck. That must be the most sexually charged accessory her styling team picked out for her, huh?
Intrigued, Ren Zhi reached out and hooked her finger through the chains on the choker, giving them a little tug.
Chu Xi, who was carefully holding the gown's tulle with her head bowed and waist slightly bent, cried out.
"Hey, hey, don't pull on my necklace."
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