The makeup artist's hand stopped as soon as it touched Cheng Che's face.
She was going to apply foundation to his face; she dipped a powder puff in foundation, pressed it onto his face, and then blended it out with her fingers.
She paused for a moment when her fingertip touched his cheekbone.
Her skin was very smooth, with almost invisible pores, and it felt better to the touch than any other celebrity she had ever seen.
She instinctively touched it a little more, then realized what she was doing, pulled her hand back, and her face flushed red.
"Your skin is so good." She lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly.
Cheng Che said thank you, but felt helpless.
Why are there female hooligans everywhere?
The makeup artist took a deep breath, refocused her attention, and began applying makeup seriously.
Her base makeup was very light, requiring almost no concealer. She only touched up her eyebrows twice and then stopped, skipping contouring as well. Looking at her face, she felt that any touch would be superfluous.
Another makeup artist nearby peeked over and whispered, "They don't need much makeup."
"Hmm." The makeup artist nodded, her powder puff hovering in mid-air. "I'm a little unsure where to begin."
"Just do a quick makeover; the base makeup is what it is."
The two men exchanged a glance, and then began to fight.
One was fixing her hair, the other was doing her makeup; their movements were very gentle, and when they occasionally glanced at each other, they couldn't help but smile.
Meanwhile, in the dressing room next door, Ning Qing was sitting in front of the mirror.
She wore a light gray ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), her hair was styled in a simple bun, her makeup was light, and her eyes and brows were cool and aloof.
The face reflected in the bronze mirror is completely different from Ning Qing, the singer in " Walking the Flower Road Together ".
Quiet, detached, with an almost unreal sense of classicism.
The actress in the same room as her was surnamed Zhou, and she played the second female lead, a scheming imperial concubine.
She was also putting on makeup, but her gaze kept drifting towards Ning Qing, and her expression wasn't exactly pleasant.
After all, even in the era of internet celebrities, a professional actress wouldn't be very happy to be accompanying a singer.
"I heard Cheng Che is here," Actor Zhou said casually. "I wonder how he looks in period costume. He's quite handsome in Hyundai clothes, but period costumes aren't something everyone can pull off."
Ning Qing didn't reply, but looked down at her cuffs.
Actor Zhou continued:
"Many handsome men look good in Hyundai clothes, but they fall apart when they wear period costumes. Their face shape isn't right, or they can't carry the aura. Cheng Che's appearance is too Hyundai; period costumes might not suit him."
Ning Qing smiled and didn't argue.
She knew that Actor Zhou had not Cheng Che in person.
When that kind of person stands in front of you, it doesn't matter what they wear, because your eyes won't even look at their clothes.
She stood up and straightened her skirt. "I'll go take a look."
Actor Zhou was taken aback for a moment. "You're going to see him?"
"Hmm," Ning Qing said, "The female lead needs to know what the male lead looks like, right?"
She pushed open the door and walked out. Actor Zhou pursed his lips and followed her.
There were already people in the hallway.
A young extra was pretending to memorize her lines in the hallway, holding a script in her hand, but her eyes kept glancing at that door.
A boy from the props team was standing next to her, carrying a roll of wire. He didn't move either, and the two of them whispered to each other.
Do you think he looks good in period costume?
"He looks so handsome in Hyundai clothes, he must look just as good in period costume."
"It's hard to say," a stagehand interjected, his tone slightly dismissive. "Ancient costumes and Hyundai costumes are two different things. Many celebrities look stunning in Hyundai clothes, but they falter when they put on ancient costumes. If their face shape isn't right, or their temperament can't carry it off, it just looks awkward."
The young extra was a bit indignant. "What's wrong with his face shape?"
"I didn't say he was wrong, I was saying that period costumes have a certain threshold." The production assistant shrugged. "Look at his demeanor, he's too Hyundai. He looks good in a suit, but he might not be able to pull off a brocade robe. Period costumes require that... how should I put it, a classical feel."
"You've never seen him in period costume, how do you know he can't pull it off?"
"I guessed."
"What's the point of your guess?"
Another supporting actor joined in; he was a young man who played a guard for the male lead.
He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his tone slightly sour:
"To be honest, I think he's quite handsome in Hyundai clothes, but when it comes to period dramas, it's not just about being handsome. Look at those big-budget period dramas before, the male leads were criticized so much when their costume photos came out. Even someone that handsome couldn't pull it off, let alone..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.
Zhao Yiming sat on a bench in the corridor, legs crossed, holding a script in his hand, without turning a single page.
He listened to their discussion, and a slight smile curved his lips.
The young extra retorted defiantly, "Have you seen ' The Youth Here '? He was very good when he played Zhou Ye."
"That's Hyundai attire." The actor playing the bodyguard waved his hand. "Can Hyundai attire and period costume be the same? I've seen several actors who look incredibly handsome in Hyundai clothes, but they fall apart in period costumes. Their faces are too Hyundai; they lack that classical charm. Cheng Che's face is too delicate; he might even look strange in period costume."
The production assistant added, "Besides, you need to be able to carry off the aura in period costumes; it's not just about being good-looking. Look at him normally—young, Hyundai, he looks good in a school uniform, he looks good in a suit, but in period costumes... I really can't imagine it."
A makeup assistant nearby whispered, "I think he would look great in period costume."
"That's just your fan bias."
"I'm not a fan, I just think that with his features, he should be able to pull off period costumes."
"What's the use of a good silhouette? Ancient costumes are all about the overall aura."
Zhao Yiming chuckled upon hearing this.
He closed the script, stood up, and glanced at the group of people.
"Why are you all guessing so much?" he said casually. "The person will be out soon, just wait and see."
The group glanced at him and stopped arguing.
But their expressions varied: some were expectant, some were watching the spectacle, and some were waiting to find fault.
The actor playing the bodyguard leaned against the wall, a slightly dismissive smile playing on his lips.
Zhao Yiming didn't say anything more, leaned back on the bench, and was thinking about something else.
These people had never met Cheng Che in person, so they couldn't understand the shock they felt.
He waited to see their reactions.
The door to the dressing room next door opened.
Ning Qing walked out from inside.
As soon as Actor Zhou stepped out, he saw the scene in the corridor: several extras and stagehands were gathered there, all glancing in one direction.
"They're all really waiting, aren't they?" Actor Zhou chuckled, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Just some people coming out of the dressing room, making it sound like some big deal."
Ning Qing didn't respond.
Actor Zhou glanced at her, his gaze lingering on her ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) for a moment, then smiled and said, "You look quite good in this. But the male lead..."
Ning Qing interrupted her directly, smiling, "It won't be bad."
Meanwhile, inside the dressing room, the makeup artists had already stopped working.
Cheng Che sat in front of the mirror, having finished dressing up.
They looked at their reflections in the mirror, but no one spoke.
A young makeup artist's hands were trembling as she gripped a powder puff, her knuckles turning white.
The other one retreated to the wall, leaning against it, her face as red as if she had just run 800 meters.
There was another person standing still, lips slightly parted, gaze fixed on Cheng Che's face, as if glued to it.
He was still muttering, "I can't do it anymore, I can't take it anymore."
Upon seeing this, Cheng Che hurriedly stood up and walked towards the door.
He felt that if he stayed any longer, he might be taken advantage of.
He pushed open the door and went out.
The hallway lights weren't bright, but everyone's eyes turned to that spot in an instant.
In an instant.
[ Iconic Moment ] Triggered!
[ Stars Surrounding the Moon ] Triggered!
[ Faces of All Beings ]'s inherent ancient costume charm is triggered!
Cheng Che, dressed in a black brocade robe, walked out of the dressing room.
For a moment, everyone in the corridor held their breath.
He looked like he had stepped out of an ancient painting.
No, even people in ancient paintings couldn't capture those eyebrows and eyes.
It was as if a celestial being had descended from the heavens to the mortal realm and inadvertently landed on this corridor filled with wires and equipment, exuding nobility and untouched by dust.
Her eyebrows were like distant mountains holding swords, her eyes like cold pools reflecting stars; every glance and every step she took carried an aura that belonged to another world.
It was as if all the beautiful colors in the world had been gathered together.
He walked out unhurriedly, his sleeve brushing against the doorframe, the hem of his robe swaying slightly.
The corridor lights weren't bright, but when they shone on his face, they somehow created a light-like effect, as if it were daylight.
A gentleman as refined as jade, unparalleled in the world.
Everyone forgot to speak.
The actor who said "historical costumes might not be able to hold their own" leaned against the wall, his mouth agape, forgetting to close it.
The stagehand stood still, the wire slipping from his shoulder, but he ignored it.
The extra's phone fell to the ground, but she didn't pick it up.
Those who were just arguing about whether period dramas were good-looking or not now only had one thought in their minds.
This person should only exist in heaven; how often can one see such a person on earth?
The sound of slurping saliva echoed throughout the corridor.