LWDC Chapter 5

Chapter 5: That New Director

Chapter 5: That New Director

Chapter 5: That New Director

Although Su Cenxi was forcibly brought back to the set, he repeatedly tried to escape.

However, every time he started to glance around, Ning Fei would give him a cold, stern look. Ning Fei would also raise his hand and make a gesture, first pointing his index and middle fingers at his own eyes, then pointing them in Su Cenxi’s direction.

–I’m watching you.

Su Cenxi didn’t dare to move. He couldn’t find any other assistants to ask for help, and his phone was still in Ning Fei’s hands. In the end, he helplessly finished his makeup and hair and began to participate in the shoot.

There were a total of five models for this shoot, and there were many group photos. Since Su Cenxi was already there, he couldn’t hold up the progress of the others, so he could only try his best to adjust himself. Anyway, when Albert took pictures, he called everyone “baby,” “angel,” and “sweetheart.” At first, Su Cenxi felt a little stiff and creeped out when he heard it, but as he continued shooting, he slowly got into the groove and performed well.

Even during the solo shots, Albert pointed the lens at him and shouted, “Give me a cold glare! Like the Little Prince glaring at his frivolous servant!” Su Cenxi did as he was told.

Ning Fei: …Does Albert also reveal his kinks like this when he pursues people? No wonder he caused such a stir.

But Su Cenxi did look really good in this photo. Ning Fei leaned over to look at the screen connected to the camera. Su Cenxi was sitting there, one hand raised while someone put a watch on his wrist, his eyes turned towards the camera, and his expression was very expressive. Ning Fei said he was very satisfied, and the goal of Top 10 was very promising.

However, during the mid-session break, Ning Fei couldn’t smile anymore.

Albert really chased after Su Cenxi!

“Cenxi, I didn’t expect you’d be willing to come back to work!” Albert didn’t care about the scene being changed on the set and rushed towards Su Cenxi, who was about to touch up his makeup. “It’s been so long, you’ve become even more charming. Is this the nourishment of love? That glare you gave me just now seemed like you were really angry, but also spoiled. I couldn’t help but…”

“Hi, Mr. Albert.”

Ning Fei once again stuck out his foot and turned around, accurately cutting in between the two to block Albert’s line of sight, and smoothly took out a business card: “I’m Su Cenxi’s current agent. I’ve heard so much about you. It’s an honor to meet you.”

“Agent?” Albert didn’t immediately take the business card, but instead scanned Ning Fei up and down with a venomous gaze. “A retired model who changed careers?”

“You’re joking, I don’t have those qualifications.” Ning Fei smiled. “Just an agent. I even went to see your photography exhibition last year. I greatly admire your understanding of portraiture. I finally have the opportunity to see your work in person.”

Albert was a little surprised: “You saw that exhibition? That wasn’t a supermodel photo exhibition.”

“I know, celebrity portraits.” Ning Fei answered fluently, “How to capture the unique characteristics of celebrities from a unique angle. I think this is very helpful for my work, so I went to study it.”

Albert chuckled, and then took his business card: “‘Ning Fei,’ okay, I’ll remember you.” Albert looked at the business card front and back, and casually stuffed it into his jacket. “I was wondering where such a person came from who could get ST’s tentatively scheduled work canceled, so it was you.”

ST? That globally renowned model agency? While Ning Fei secretly calculated in his mind, he replied on the surface: “I’m not very clear about whose work this was originally. We came because we were invited.”

Albert waved his hand: “Come on. This position has only been vacant for two days. I even heard that ST models came to try it on. I didn’t expect to be able to change another one for the actual shoot today. You have this ability, it seems Gu Hechen is really going all in.”

–This Albert is really loose-lipped, revealing this kind of information so casually?

Ning Fei was too lazy to explain to outsiders that he wasn’t brought in by Gu Hechen, and only replied with a polite sentence: “Maybe Cenxi is more suitable for the tone of this shoot.”

“Indeed! I feel that my and Cenxi’s tones match very well! He is especially different in front of the camera, that kind of expression…” Albert started enthusiastically commenting on Su Cenxi again, talking non-stop. Ning Fei saw that he didn’t necessarily want to move forward, and was too lazy to stop his long speech.

–Keep talking, anyway, I’m stuck here, he can’t get past, can’t see, can’t touch, just let the master say a few words.

*

Ning Fei didn’t expect Albert to reveal information about the ST agency, and he didn’t expect that Albert would go to photograph ST’s new director in the afternoon—because V Magazine was going to interview him.

Logically speaking, a top fashion magazine interviewing an agency director is perfectly legitimate. But the problem is that the Y brand shoot and the ST director’s interview were actually on the same day. One after the other, Albert couldn’t help but imagine what would happen if the two sides ran into each other at the magazine.

But this new director came to take photos anyway, so Albert just photographed him, regardless of what happened behind the scenes.

This new director was tall and handsome, several decades younger than the original one, and much more photogenic. Albert photographed him surprisingly easily, and in the middle, he gradually started talking more again. Of course, the vast majority were compliments and photo guidance, which basically only served to adjust the atmosphere and didn’t have much practical meaning.

The new director would also go to the display screen to look at the photos that were taken. Albert adjusted his equipment on the side while explaining his ideas: “I didn’t use particularly strong front lighting, because today, Mr. Andrew…”

“My surname is Duan.” The new director interrupted, “Since I’ve returned to China, please use my Chinese name.”

“Oh, Director Duan.” Albert changed his words smoothly, “Director Duan’s makeup is almost non-existent, it’s all natural skin tone, plus the color of the clothes and the background, strong front light is easy to overexpose. So I arranged this angle and lighting color…”

Director Duan waited for him to finish speaking and commented: “Your ideas are indeed very unique, worthy of the name. Teresa also said that you are V Magazine’s most trusted legendary photographer.”

Albert replied: “‘Legendary’ doesn’t count. I just cooperate with Teresa and V Magazine more often, and our tones match.”

Director Duan suddenly asked: “Then, does Mr. Albert’s tone match the Y brand’s?”

Albert: “…”

He was silent for two seconds and replied a little dryly: “Haha, that depends on what Y brand thinks.”

Director Duan said: “Don’t be nervous, I just asked casually. I just want to know what direction ST’s models can pursue to improve.”

“I’m not very clear about this. When I photograph models, except for the few that I’m most familiar with, I can’t remember which agency they’re from…” Albert replied casually while turning around, squatting down to fiddle with the equipment, pretending to be busy. With this quick squat, the business card in his jacket pocket fell out.

The man surnamed Duan only glanced inadvertently, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

…Huh?

*

The fact that Albert photographed Su Cenxi again was not hidden for an evening. Ning Fei was severely scolded by Gu Hechen on the phone that night.

However, Gu Hechen maintained his “status” and couldn’t say any dirty words, just some cliché threats and warnings. Real working people might be very afraid of these, but Ning Fei would not be manipulated by these at all.

Deduct his salary? He doesn’t care too much about the quality of material life, even living on the streets is fine.

Manipulate his career prospects? Anyway, he’ll leave after taking Su Cenxi to TOP 10, there’s nothing much career prospects to speak of.

The only thing that Ning Fei cares about is being kicked out of the studio. But if Gu Hechen really had this idea, it is estimated that the first person to oppose it would be Su Cenxi. Not to mention whether Su Cenxi’s career would have problems after losing Ning Fei, just the pile of dirt Ning Fei had on him, and Ning Fei’s strange identity, was enough to make Su Cenxi unable to sleep at night.

So Ning Fei calmly put the phone far away, without even pressing the hands-free button, letting Gu Hechen give a speech on the other end of the phone for several minutes. It wasn’t until Gu Hechen realized something was wrong and started asking, “Are you listening at all? Where is the person?” that Ning Fei came back closer and pressed the hands-free button: “Has President Gu finished instructing?”

Gu Hechen probably finally realized that it was useless to say those threats to Ning Fei, and said in a deep voice: “…This time, for Cenxi’s sake, I’ll let you off. In the future, Morning Sun Studio will reject all cooperation with Albert. Do you understand?”

“We are cooperating with Y brand and V Magazine. President Gu is being so generous, why don’t you just replace their appointed photographer on the spot and vent your anger on a working person.” Ning Fei sneered, “And there were so many people on the set today. Su Cenxi and Albert didn’t say a few words, and they didn’t even touch each other. Does this count as excessive interaction? President Gu, if you have the ability, call Su Cenxi over now, and then say to me in front of him: ‘Su Cenxi is Gu Hechen’s alone. I can decide who sees him, talks to him, and cooperates with him. No one else can interfere, including Su Cenxi himself.’”

Gu Hechen was silent on the other end.

Of course he couldn’t do this. Although he always restricts Su Cenxi in his behavior, he would never admit it verbally. What he says basically is for Su Cenxi’s good, occupying the moral high ground. Domineering presidents, or other domineering things, are basically this broken virtue.

However, Ning Fei didn’t really want Su Cenxi to stay away from Gu Hechen. After all, Gu Hechen had a lot of resources, and it would be a waste if Su Cenxi didn’t take advantage of them.

So, before Gu Hechen thought of a good argument to attack again, Ning Fei spoke again: “Alright, President Gu, don’t come to me to show your power over such trivial matters. Your role is much, much bigger than a photographer. Would I sell Su Cenxi for a set of promotional photos? If you really don’t like Albert, have your secretary tell V Magazine not to have Albert photograph you. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up. Next time you give me an emotional garbage call, I’ll charge a psychological consultation fee, bye.”

After saying that, he didn’t wait for Gu Hechen to answer and directly hung up the call. It wasn’t until he hung up that he realized that Su Cenxi had just sent a message.

Su Cenxi: [Actually, he turned on the speakerphone for me to listen. I heard what you said just now. He sometimes does seem to treat me like a private possession.]

Su Cenxi: [He probably let me listen to this call to warn me by warning you, right?]

Ning Fei: …

–Tsk, I didn’t confront Gu Hechen to make you two break up. Don’t treat me like an emotional tree hole!

Agent Ning had no choice but to reply: [Besides work, I won’t interfere in your affairs. If it really doesn’t work, think about the rhetoric I taught you before.]

After replying to this, Su Cenxi didn’t send any more messages immediately. Instead, a stranger sent a friend request, ID was very straightforward: Headhunter Reba.

The content of the friend request was also very straightforward: [Hi, I’m a headhunter from ST Agency. There are high-paying positions suitable for you. Are you interested in chatting?]