Chapter 253
[I’ve figured it out, only Sister Liu is giving serious critiques.]
[For a moment I thought this was a genuine review segment, but of course it turned abstract again.]
[I’m dying, not a single proper one among them.]
The next set of photos was from Qiu Chengye and Liu Woxing.
They shot a French countryside style theme, in a carefully constructed secret garden in town.
In the first photo, the woman wearing a headscarf rode a beautiful white horse, while the man in fancy attire held the reins below, lifting his gaze with a devilish smile.
In the second, Liu Woxing ran through the garden, the breeze lifting her skirt—free and unrestrained. Qiu Chengye chased behind, his expression the same devilish smile.
In the third, they crouched together among blooming flowers. The bright blossoms made Liu Woxing’s face even more radiant. Qiu Chengye tilted his head to look at her with deep affection—devilish smile.
In the fourth, Liu Woxing lifted her skirt to spin among the flowers, Qiu Chengye raising his hand to dance with her, eyebrow arched—devilish smile.
In the fifth, they gazed at each other through a glass window. Liu Woxing smiled sweetly, while Qiu Chengye squinted deeply, tongue pressing his cheek—devilish smile.
[Is this a garden or the Daqing Oil Field?]
[Does Sister Liu get hazard pay for this shoot?]
[Not kidding, I feel like Kitty Bro is attacking me with his face.]
[Ahhhhh save me, before I thought people were too harsh calling Qiu Chengye a “mediocre man who thinks he’s special,” but this set of photos reeks of it.]
[Did the photographer deliberately choose these photos? Hahaha]
[If you saw the shoot, you’d know—the photographer picking these was already doing his best.]
“How is it?”
Qiu Chengye, however, was utterly pleased, smugly flicking his hair as if he was the most handsome. His confident gaze swept the others. “Are you all stunned by my handsomeness?”
Xie Mi stroked her chin. “A lively, innocent countryside maiden and her… mediocre stablehand?”
Qiu Chengye’s smile froze. “?”
“Hmm…”
Shen Moqing also thought seriously for a moment, then looked at him. “Why don’t you compensate me a little money?”
Qiu Chengye: “??”
“I actually think it looks good.”
Xu Shuangrong stepped in at just the right moment to flatter him: “Many people freeze up in front of the camera, but Mr. Qiu shows no such thing. He’s very confident. Confidence doesn’t equal mediocrity.”
Qiu Chengye’s expression eased at last, clearly enjoying the flattery.
But Xie Mi had no intention of indulging her.
“Then why don’t you shoot a set with Qiu Chengye?”
Xu Shuangrong instantly went silent.
Qiu Chengye: “???”
“From the overall look and atmosphere, it’s actually not bad.” said Xiao Jingxi.
Lai Bingxuan: “Cut Qiu Chengye out, and it’d be perfect.”
Qiu Chengye finally lost it—he couldn’t let his pride be stomped like this.
“They also shot photos themselves! Of course they won’t admit mine look better. These reviews don’t count. I want to see the audience’s opinions!”
“This…” Director Niu glanced at the livestream comments, thought for a moment, then handed over his phone. “Go ahead, look.”
Qiu Chengye snorted confidently and snatched the phone, eager to see the praise.
The audience comments read:
[Sister Liu looks so beautiful! And the stablehand next to her is… still alive.]
[The show is too much! Kitty Bro’s mouth is crooked already and you still won’t let him rest. I’m reporting you for exploiting guests!]
[Why are you insulting Kitty Bro? Don’t you know these photos were sponsored by Nike? His mouth is mimicking the Nike logo! Do you even realize how dedicated he is?!]
[Just wait, in three years Kitty Bro will transform into the Dragon King, then you’ll all regret it.]
Qiu Chengye: “???”
Now he was truly speechless.
After the chaotic critiques for the first three groups, the final group’s photos finally appeared.
Since the other groups had left first for their shoots, they hadn’t seen this last group’s styling.
So when photos of Xie Mi and Shen Moqing running hand in hand along the beach appeared, everyone froze instinctively.
A man in a black suit and a woman in a pure white dress that looked like a wedding gown ran freely against the backdrop of soft white sand and the azure sea.
The man looked back at the woman, his eyes brimming with unspoken emotion.
The woman looked up at him too, her smile radiant in the sunlight, dazzlingly beautiful.
The first photo hit like a critical strike, a king bomb from the very start.
Since it was rare to see Xie Mi so dressed up and not talking, the stark contrast made it all the more breathtaking.
“Beautiful.” Liu Woxing blurted out, her eyes full of delight. “Teacher Xie and ‘freedom’ really do match perfectly.”
Qiu Chengye stared in disbelief at the photo, then at the real-life Xie Mi. “This is… you?!”
At that moment, Xie Mi was quietly gazing at the screen. Her profile lines were smooth and refined, her clear bright eyes like autumn water reflecting the moon.
Looking like this, when she wasn’t talking, she really was…
“What’s the matter, girlie?”
Hearing Qiu Chengye’s voice, Xie Mi turned her head. “Don’t recognize your dad?”
The brief spark of amazement in Qiu Chengye’s eyes instantly vanished.
Nope. Not the same person. Definitely not the same person in the photo!
[Old Xie was perfectly fine… until she opened her mouth.]
[Anyone got a mute drug sponsor? A crowdfunding would work too.]
The photographer who had shot Xie Mi and Shen Moqing stood by, looking utterly satisfied and proud.
Don’t be shocked too soon—this was only the first photo. The best was still ahead.
Director Niu pressed the remote, and the second photo appeared.
Xie Mi and Shen Moqing barefoot in the surf, chased by incoming waves, running to shore while laughing brightly at each other.
This was a candid shot taken as they played in the water. The lively atmosphere made the photo seem alive, as though you could hear their laughter through the screen.
The third photo.
Shen Moqing half-reclined on the sand, propped on his elbow, while Xie Mi had toppled into his arms, one eye squinted shut, looking playfully cute.
Xiao Jingxi’s face immediately darkened, his expression growing uglier.
Meanwhile, Xie Mi rubbed her chin in thought.
If she remembered correctly…
This was when she’d been running in heels, accidentally flung one straight at her forehead, grimacing in pain, then tripped Shen Moqing, nearly strangling him with his own tie as she clutched it, both of them crashing onto the sand together.
At the time, the two of them had been screaming in pain and chaos—so how on earth did the photographer manage to capture such a perfect shot out of that mess?
He’d even turned her grimacing face into an adorably coquettish wink.
This was insane.
Beside her, Shen Moqing chuckled lowly. “Looks like we’re better suited for candid shots.”
“Isn’t that the truth.”
Carefully posed shots turned to disaster, but casual candids turned into masterpieces.
The natural nemesis of “born-to-take-bad-photos” had finally been found.
