Chapter 20

The second floor was divided into separate compartments, where some big-name artists or high-society ladies who preferred a quieter environment would sit to enjoy better service. Li Jingming followed the director, Mr. Cui, directly to the door of an independent small room, which was said to be the one his mother often used. Upon entering, the lighting inside was very bright, almost making it impossible to hide even a pore. It was unclear if this was designed for makeup purposes. A young lady was already waiting inside.

"Can I call you Jingming?" Cui Xianzhen asked kindly.

Li Jingming quickly replied, "Whatever you prefer." This was someone older than his mother.

"I'm really sorry, but I can't do it myself today," Cui Xianzhen said apologetically. "When you get old, you become useless. I can't even draw a straight line anymore. It would be a shame to ruin such a handsome face."

"You don't look old at all; you're at your most charming," Li Jingming said sweetly.

"I'm already fifty, how can I not be old? That's why I called my eldest apprentice. Her skills have surpassed mine. She'll make sure you look perfect today," Cui Xianzhen said with a smile, adding, "Who doesn't like a sweet-talking kid?" She was feeling a bit stiff today, probably because she had slept on her arm. Makeup was a delicate job, and stiff hands wouldn't do.

The young lady waiting inside was Cui Xianzhen's eldest apprentice. Both she and Cui Xianzhen shared a simple style. Neither of them had the typical salon look, no hair dye, no tattoos, and no excessive accessories. She wore a loose butterfly shirt, well-pressed jeans, and comfortable flat leather shoes, exuding a professional and efficient aura.

"This is my apprentice, Park Da-na. You two should get to know each other," Cui Xianzhen introduced.

Li Jingming greeted her warmly, "Nuna, it's great to meet you. You're so beautiful."

"You're so sweet. Don't worry, Nuna will make sure you charm all the girls in South Korea today," Park Da-na said with a cheerful personality. "How old are you this year?"

"Twenty-three," Li Jingming lied, adding a year.

"Oh, Jingming, you're already twenty-three? I thought you were only seventeen," Park Da-na said, partly in genuine surprise and partly exaggerating. "You look so young, Nuna is so jealous."

"Ah, Nuna, you look young too. You're so beautiful, I would have thought you were a relative if Aunt Cui hadn't introduced us," Li Jingming said, using his charm.

"Please, don't say such insincere things," Park Da-na said with a smile. "You're so good with words, you must be popular with girls. But don't talk once we start."

Cui Xianzhen, sitting nearby, felt relieved to see her apprentice and Li Jingming getting along so well. People of this status couldn't be treated like ordinary people. If they liked you, that was fine, but if they didn't, the consequences were unimaginable.

Cui Xianzhen nodded subtly to Park Da-na, indicating she had already given her instructions. Park Da-na tied on an apron, organized her tools, and prepared to start. Cui Xianzhen stood by, ready to guide if needed.

Seeing the apron, the true star of the scene, Li Jingming was momentarily stunned. The way she tied the apron reminded him of some American horror movies. The big bosses would calmly tie on their aprons, carefully placing knives, scissors, hammers, pliers, tweezers, and saws into the apron's pockets, then take them out one by one in front of the protagonist. Blood and gore would follow, and the screen would go pixelated.

Although Park Da-na was wearing a legendary orange apron, her pockets contained only makeup tools like eyebrow pencils, powder puffs, and small brushes. The most dangerous item was a tiny scissors that could barely fit two fingers. Li Jingming even wondered if it could cut thick nose hair.

After a while, Li Jingming snapped out of his daydream and told Park Da-na his requirements, or rather, Jin C's requirements: a more mature look, with a bit of a good-guy, sunny vibe. These were no problem for a professional like Park Da-na, known as the "Face Magician."

An hour, not too long or too short for makeup, passed. Li Jingming looked in the mirror, praising her skills and calling her "Nuna" repeatedly. The professional touch was evident; after saying the required words—sunny, bright, mature, emotional, gentle—Li Jingming saw a completely different person in the mirror.

After saying goodbye, it was almost nine. Jin C had told Li Zhiyan to arrive by nine, and Li Jingming didn't feel he had any special privilege to be late. He drove as fast as he could, but Seoul's traffic wasn't suitable for rushing. He was still late, but fortunately, the distance from the beauty salon to LAD Company was short, and he was only five minutes late.

The company looked brand new, with few staff. The receptionist, who had just started, didn't recognize him but thought he was very handsome and kept staring. Song Seok-jae was waiting on the first floor. LAD Company was small, but the first floor had a semi-open reception area with sofas, chairs, and a small self-service bar.

After welcoming Li Jingming, Song Seok-jae went to the receptionist and said, "This is our top star. Got it?"

"Got it, President," the receptionist replied, recognizing the president from yesterday's meeting. She looked at Li Jingming carefully, finding him very handsome and sunny, with a top-notch aura. He must be an actor. With such a look, it would be easy to become famous. Her company, though new, would soon thrive with such a talented artist. Fresh out of university, she was happy with this job, which offered better benefits than the big companies. Imagining her company's success and the rise of many stars, she felt her own prospects improving, and her friends would be envious.

Li Jingming hadn't attended the staff meeting yesterday. Although he was the president, he didn't want too many people to know yet. The employees were new, and their professionalism and loyalty hadn't been tested. He hadn't revealed his identity as president.

"Why make it so complicated? Just hang a few of my half-body portraits in the hallway, and everyone will recognize me. Other companies do it this way," Li Jingming said with a smile.

Song Seok-jae was frustrated. "How the company is decorated is not my decision; you're the president."

They chatted as they went upstairs. If the receptionist had been paying attention, she would have noticed that Song Seok-jae and Li Jingming walked side by side, a gesture of friendship.

Jin C was still busy in the recording studio, so he asked Li Jingming to wait. The arrangement for "Confession" was perfect, but Li Jingming's performance had a carefree, nostalgic feel, while Jin C believed it should have a touch of regret. Although their interpretations differed, Jin C decided to shoot the MV first and then refine the song.

On the second floor, Li Jingming saw Li Zhiyan sitting on a chair, reading the script. The script wasn't thick, only a few scenes, but it was challenging for the newcomer. She had been holding the script since five in the morning, even during makeup, and the more she read, the less confident she became. She had thought an MV would be easy, but this script was clearly movie-level, and it included a certain type of scene (you know what I mean).

Li Zhiyan was nervously pondering the role when she saw Li Jingming and the president of LAD Company approaching. She quickly stood up and greeted them, "Hello!"

"You two chat. I'll leave," Song Seok-jae said, nodding and leaving, leaving Li Jingming and Li Zhiyan alone.

"We're both from 1986. Let's be close friends and use informal language," Li Jingming suggested, trying to reduce the awkwardness, as they would be working together on the MV.

"Is that okay?" Li Zhiyan hesitated. She was born in December, making her younger than most 1986-born people. Moreover, Li Jingming was already shooting his MV and about to debut, while she was still a trainee with no sign of debuting. He was definitely her senior.

"It's fine. I'll call you Zhiyan," Li Jingming said, taking the initiative.

"Okay, Jingming," Li Zhiyan finally dropped the formal language but lowered her head, her shy nature showing.

Her nervousness was partly due to the script she had read that morning.

Bed scenes were not uncommon in the Korean entertainment industry. Eight out of ten Korean movies included bed scenes, whether for plot development or to attract audiences. Li Zhiyan was confused why an MV would require a bed scene. She was still dazed.

The script's description of the bed scene was vague, only saying, "Interact on the bed, make intimate poses, specific actions to be arranged by the director." Li Zhiyan assumed this was to reduce her pressure, but she was embarrassed to think about what it would look like. At twenty, she wasn't a naive girl, but the thought of performing such intimate scenes in front of the entire crew made her heart race.

Li Jingming, sitting next to her, was undeniably handsome. She had seen many artists and trainees in the company, and he was the most handsome. His natural look was especially striking, and he outshone all the "pretty boys" she knew. She hadn't met real-life national heartthrobs like Won Bin or Kang Dong-won, so she couldn't compare.

Li Zhiyan also noticed that Li Jingming's demeanor had changed after makeup. Last night, he had been free-spirited and outstanding but a bit distant. Today, he looked more gentle and approachable.

Thinking about what might happen today, Li Zhiyan felt her mind in turmoil.

Li Jingming sat down next to her, looking at his script. Although he sometimes had a playful mind, he was clearly focused on work. He always put work first, a habit from his past life. This was his first MV, but he wasn't worried, confident in his abilities. He was determined to shoot the MV well, unaware of Li Zhiyan's inner turmoil.

Li Zhiyan secretly watched Li Jingming's focused expression, feeling strangely calm. They say a focused man has a special charm (limited to handsome men), and it was true. She had always been self-conscious about her slightly dark skin, but now she was grateful, as it hid her blush.

The sound of footsteps interrupted Li Jingming's character study and Li Zhiyan's thoughts. It could only be Jin C.

"Ha!" Li Jingming looked up at Jin C and couldn't help but laugh. Li Zhiyan also had a small, embarrassed smile.

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