Chapter 462 - 461: IF Route: Did the Big Shot Vie for Favor Today? (30)

Chapter 462: Chapter 461: IF Route: Did the Big Shot Vie for Favor Today? (30)

Shi Lan had been with Yan Huoshui on the set of "God" for half a month. Today, he had some free time and took the cat to a photoshoot for a magazine collaboration that Zhang Chen had arranged.

The people at the magazine hadn’t expected to actually get Yan Huoshui. After all, Yan Huoshui wasn’t signed with an agency and operated independently, usually choosing projects based on personal preference. They had simply taken a chance and made a sincere offer, and to their surprise, it had actually worked.

On the day of Yan Huoshui’s arrival, everyone at the studio came out to welcome him.

His popularity was currently at its zenith. His search volume on the trending topic lists was the highest every day, and people often went viral just by casually using his hashtag. The magazine’s editor-in-chief was grinning from ear to ear. The original plan was to print a hundred thousand copies, but now he was pulling Zhang Chen aside to negotiate an increased price and print run.

They had caught this windfall, so of course, they had to strike while the iron was hot.

The photoshoot was a one-time job, and Zhang Chen was happy to earn a little extra. He left Xiao Li to look after Yan Huoshui and went off to negotiate with the editor-in-chief alone.

Xiao Li knew Yan Huoshui didn’t like people getting too close, so he conscientiously blocked the studio staff. Fortunately, everyone knew their place and understood what a rare opportunity this was. After an initial burst of excited cheers, they voluntarily cleared a path for him, not wanting to delay his makeup session.

Yan Huoshui’s fame was owed, in part, to his good looks. On television, even in a fleeting glimpse as a supporting character, he could still effortlessly capture everyone’s attention. His handsomeness put him on a completely different level from other male celebrities.

That’s why many male celebrities in the industry didn’t dare stand next to him. Fortunately, Yan Huoshui wasn’t fond of walking red carpets or posing for photos and skipped most events, much to the relief of his male peers.

But upon seeing him in person, the people at the studio discovered he was even more handsome than he appeared on screen. His sharp, well-defined features were so naturally perfect they barely needed any makeup, and his every move was captivating.

However, the theme of this shoot was "Spring and Summer," which called for a softer look. Yan Huoshui’s features were striking, and when he wasn’t smiling, his fox-like eyes held a sharp, piercing coldness. To better fit the theme, the makeup artists put extra effort into his eye makeup.

Yan Huoshui couldn’t hold the cat while getting his makeup done, so Shi Lan watched from the side with Xiao Li. Even though she’d had the good fortune to be around plenty of handsome men lately, a flash of astonishment still crossed her eyes when she saw Yan Huoshui’s new look.

’Never mind what Yan Huoshui’s character is actually like; at least my bestie was right. This face is the real deal.’

Taking advantage of the perks of being a cat, Shi Lan was usually a little tyrant, emboldened by her owner’s power. She’d even pressed a paw to his nose before. She was certain he was all-natural, with no signs of having gone under the knife.

It was one thing to be handsome, but his skin was also fair and smooth. Shi Lan couldn’t help but feel a little jealous. Moreover, he often stayed up late at night but somehow didn’t have any dark circles.

She nestled in Xiao Li’s arms, her eyes fixed on him. Her expression was remarkably rich, shifting from dazed to fierce in an instant. While the makeup artists in the room were focused on serving Yan Huoshui, he was watching the little cat’s every glance in the mirror.

The corners of his lips couldn’t help but curl up. As his newly-worn, light green colored contacts shifted slightly, they gave off a bewitching, soul-stealing charm. The makeup artist currently drawing his eyebrows stared, mesmerized, for a few seconds. Her ears grew warm, but she quickly regained her composure.

When Yan Huoshui noticed the makeup artist’s gaze, his smile vanished. He waited patiently for them to finish.

This was the fastest makeup job the artists had ever done. They had originally scheduled two hours but were finished in just half an hour. They then spent a little more time on the hair and styling.

The "Spring" theme was predominantly green, meant to create the image of a dreamy elf. So, Yan Huoshui wore a long, light-green wig, a woven-grass circlet on his head, and an asymmetrical, forest-green robe. He carried a wooden bow and arrows, and combined with the gentle, soft makeup, it all cultivated a beauty that was at once wild and natural, yet also tender and serene.

Once his look was complete, he ignored the astonished gazes from the crowd and quickly took the cat from Xiao Li’s arms. A pleased smile touched his lips. "You little glutton, have you been secretly watching me?"

Shi Lan would never admit that she’d been staring, dumbfounded, again. She pretended not to understand and turned her head away. Seeing the makeup artists and everyone else in the studio staring without blinking, she felt, ’It’s only normal for me to be mesmerized too.’

Yan Huoshui knew she was ignoring him on purpose. Feigning displeasure, he ruffled her head, messing up her sleek, round little head of fur until it looked like a frizzy explosion.

Shi Lan shot him what she thought was a discreet glare, but Yan Huoshui, who had been watching her closely, caught it. Instantly, his lips, glossed with a light red lipstick, curled up even higher.

And so, another round of sharp gasps came from the onlookers.

Shi Lan had been watching everyone else, not realizing that she and Yan Huoshui had become the center of attention themselves.

The juxtaposition of the beautiful, pure white kitten and the wild youth who looked as if he’d just stepped out of a forest created an even stronger aura of spring. The little cat seemed to become a spirit of the woods herself—nimble and adorable. The two of them complemented each other perfectly.

The editor-in-chief, chuckling as he finished his talk with Zhang Chen, happened to see this scene. Inspiration struck instantly. He couldn’t help but call out to Zhang Chen again, "Tell me, if we were to include Teacher Yan’s cat in the shoot, how much extra would that cost?"

Zhang Chen’s eyes lit up. His gaze landed on the distant pair, and he silently chanted in his heart, ’My cat Benefactor.’ On the surface, however, he maintained a calm and collected facade, gesturing a number to the editor-in-chief.

"This is my Brother Yan’s beloved pet’s first public appearance. The price, of course, won’t be cheap."

The editor-in-chief stared at his hand for a long moment, internally conflicted. But when he looked up at the perfectly harmonious pair in the distance, he agreed.

"Okay."

And so, before Shi Lan knew what was happening, a small, woven-grass necklace was placed around her neck, and just like that, she was part of Yan Huoshui’s photoshoot.

As a cat with a human soul, combined with her past experience in travel photography, she couldn’t help but subconsciously find the camera and pose perfectly, even when she was deliberately trying to act like a normal cat.

At first, the editor-in-chief felt he’d spent too much. But looking at the results, he couldn’t help but feel that he had gotten an incredible bargain.

’This cat... she’s magical!’

’I’ve never seen such a photogenic cat!!’

That look in her eyes... she felt like a true spirit of the wild had descended. She had intended to focus on Yan Huoshui, but she found her gaze constantly drawn to the white cat instead.

’If this cat didn’t already have an owner, I’d want to snatch her up and raise her myself.’

After the shoot, Yan Huoshui noticed that more and more people were staring at the cat in his arms. He tore his gaze away from the cat, his faint smile vanishing as a chill washed over his face. He swept a displeased glare across the room, hugged his cat with blatant possessiveness, and narrowed his eyes menacingly. With a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, he asked, "What are you looking at? Never seen someone else’s cat before?"