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“Evening Headline: [Breaking News] Yang He unfortunately fell from her horse and was injured during the filming of the large-scale historical drama ‘Song of the Frontier.’ She has been sent to the hospital for treatment, and filming has been suspended. Yang He’s studio has issued an announcement, stating that all recent activities will be suspended. The premiere and fan meeting for the film ‘Farewell, Cradle,’ written by and starring Yang He, originally scheduled for May 28th in Beijing, will also be affected.”
Luo Mingjing received a call from Yang He’s agent at 2:30 AM.
“Yang He is injured,” Luo Mingjing told Shi Min, who had woken up after he hung up. “Her agent said she fell off a horse during filming and hit her head. The situation isn’t optimistic. They’re trying to contact specialists, and she won’t be back anytime soon.”
After hearing this, Shi Min called Shi Chu. He answered the phone immediately, saying, “I already know. I’m on my way to the airport. Go back to sleep, don’t worry.”
Shi Min thoughtfully said, “It might be very serious.”
“Do we need to do anything?”
“No need,” Shi Min shook her head. “Yang He’s studio is running smoothly, and now my brother is there too, so there won’t be any problems. What you should be concerned about is your promotion. If I remember correctly, she was supposed to come back this Saturday to reshoot the promotional short films for Xiaoman and Xiazhi.”
Luo Mingjing was momentarily stunned.
He simply hadn’t had time in the first half of the year to assemble a team for Jingjie Studio. As a result, when faced with a sudden situation, there was no one to help him come up with a solution.
“Do you have any ideas?” Shi Min asked. “At least the Xiaoman promotional video needs to be ready by next week. She filmed a few shots last time. I’ll contact the editor from Channel 2 to help you cut a slightly shorter version.”
“The duration won’t be consistent, and if there are too many empty shots, it will look very perfunctory,” Luo Mingjing frowned slightly. “I’ll discuss it with post-production tomorrow.”
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The next day, after the editor reviewed all the footage Yang He had previously shot, he said, “If we really cut it, the time is sufficient, but there are no side-view try-on effects of the clothes. You see, it’s all front and back shots.”
Luo Mingjing knew about this situation. The last time Yang He filmed the women’s wear promotional video for Xiaoman (Grain Full), he wasn’t on set. After filming, when he saw the footage, he realized there were some flaws in the side waistline of the try-on outfit. So, he discarded all the side shots and contacted Yang He to reshoot Xiaoman this Saturday, aiming to release the promotional video next Monday.
Time was tight. The promotional video couldn’t lack side-view try-on effects of the clothes. The Twenty-Four Solar Terms series also had an exclusive endorsement contract, meaning no one else could be featured.
Luo Mingjing was fretting when his assistant, Ashley, timidly raised her hand: “Um... Boss, your cross-dressing...”
Luo Mingjing didn’t immediately understand what she was saying: “What? Do you have any suggestions?”
“Your cross-dressing,” Ashley secretly glanced at Shi Min, and seeing she had no objections, she raised her voice, “Boss, you became famous through cross-dressing. The Goddess can’t come to the recording due to health reasons. As the designer of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms, if you reshoot the side shots, we can explain the reason at the end of the video. Plus, you can explain the design concept of this outfit, no need for a separate long article introduction. More people will watch a video introduction, and everyone will understand.”
Luo Mingjing hesitated, but Shi Min made the decision: “Then let’s do it. Mingjing, go change.”
Luo Mingjing was bewildered: “Now?”
“I’ll take you next door to the makeup artist. After棚3 finishes with that little girl, we’ll go,” Shi Min stood up, ready to act immediately.
Ashley happily said, “Finally, I’ll get to see Boss transform in person!”
Luo Mingjing said unconfidently, “Will we lose customers?”
“Turn around and look in the mirror,” Shi Min asked. “Does it look good?”
Luo Mingjing remained silent, but Ashley quickly answered, “It looks great!”
“As long as it looks good,” Shi Min said. “There’s a reason for this; it’s not a show. Feel free to shoot.”
Luo Mingjing finally relented and obediently sat in front of the makeup mirror. Shi Min turned to the staff on set and said, “Everyone’s hard work is appreciated later. Not too many shots are needed, just focus on the side effects of the clothes. Try to keep it low-key.”
________________________________________
Half an hour later, Luo Mingjing stood on the set.
The photographer adjusted the lens and said, “Not that expression, smile.”
Luo Mingjing’s eyelashes fluttered twice. He dejectedly said, “Can’t smile.”
“Why can’t you smile? Designer Luo is about to fly abroad for the exhibition, isn’t he? And the baby is about to be born. Both family and career are flourishing, so you must be feeling wonderful inside. Give us a smile!”
That was true. Luo Mingjing’s gaze shifted to Shi Min, and upon seeing her faint smile, he finally relaxed his tense body, exhaled slightly, and gave the photographer a dignified smile.
The main color of the Xiaoman solar term is misty blue, like the sky after a fresh rain, or the green wheat in early summer fields—tender and gentle. A slight breeze can stir the hem of the skirt, which ripples like wind passing over a wheat field.
When his hair draped over his shoulders and the sheer shawl were gently blown by the wind, Shi Min suddenly felt an urge: she wanted to tell the whole world that this man, this gentle and bright man, was the one she deeply loved.
She had found him in a vast crowd. She had wiped the dust off him, allowing him to reveal his original brilliance.
Mingjing, at this moment, he finally shone brightly, just like his name.
Shi Min couldn’t suppress the stirring in her heart and tilted her head to ask Ashley, “Does he look good?”
Ashley: “Radiant. Director Shi, um... May I ask if Boss has any brothers? Older or younger, single, no partner, looks like him, acts like him, and has similar talent and character!”
Shi Min chuckled softly: “Fiona asked the same question. The answer is... no, he’s one of a kind.”
Ashley patted Shi Min’s shoulder, sighing and shaking her head: “Director Shi, you must cherish him. Good men are already rare commodities, and someone as dreamy as him, there’s probably truly only this one.”
Shi Min suddenly crossed her arms, a confident smile on her face: “To be honest, someone like him, if he weren’t with me, he wouldn’t be with anyone else either.”
Luo Mingjing was a special person. Regardless of whether he had suffered the wounds life inflicted upon him, he was always unconventional.
Some would be drawn to his brilliance, but few would find themselves able to journey alongside him.
This was the price of being special; being different inevitably made it hard to find a companion.
And Shi Min, she too was special.
If finding a soulmate in this world was like matching a pot with a lid, then before meeting Luo Mingjing, Shi Min thought she would never find a lid as special as her.
The year she went to college, Mrs. Zhang once told her: “Shi Min, you are different from most girls. Your mother doesn’t even know how to define you. They say your mother gave birth to you and your brother with reversed genders, but your mother doesn’t think so. You’re not like the boys they talk about; you are a girl, but you are special. You are so special that your mother thought for a long time and couldn’t find a word to define you.”
“But Shi Min is Shi Min,” Mrs. Zhang finally said. “Your mother appreciates your uniqueness. It is these differences that make you better than others. But Shi Min, you must remember that special people will encounter more difficulties in life. So, your mother hopes you will never deny your uniqueness because of setbacks, and never suffer because of it.”
“More difficulties?” Shi Min asked, expressionless, “Like?”
Mrs. Zhang: “...Like finding a suitable lover.”
“I don’t look for suitable,” Shi Min shrugged. “I look for my ideal partner.”
Mrs. Zhang was rather helpless: “My daughter, you won’t find one.”
“If I don’t find one, I don’t find one,” Shi Min said indifferently. “Ideals are hard to achieve. It’s up to fate.”
________________________________________
The photographer gave a thumbs-up, signaling the end of the shoot. Luo Mingjing finally breathed a sigh of relief, thanked each staff member, and walked to Shi Min’s side, displeased: “Why have you been standing this whole time? Are you tired?”
Shi Min gently held his hand, naturally kissed it, and said, “I was captivated by you.”
Luo Mingjing lowered his voice: “Don’t flirt with me in public.”
“Fate,” Shi Min looked at him tenderly, then suddenly smiled, “Luo Mingjing, I truly am heaven’s favorite.”
“That’s why you met me,” Luo Mingjing actually understood what she was saying. He carefully hugged Shi Min, his hair falling to obscure them from others’ view. In that instant, he gently kissed her smiling face.
________________________________________
On Monday, the Xiaoman promotional video was released.
Everyone was surprised to find that this season’s video featured the designer.
“The day the cross-dressing master finally remembered his true calling.”
“Oh, not bad!”
“To say something that might attract haters, I think the Fairy’s cross-dressing is the best-looking and most stylish among all cross-dressing masters! His aura is on par with Yang He, and Yang He is a film queen! The actress I admire most in the entertainment industry!”
“Mm, no haters, honestly, it’s just beautiful. The Fairy’s cross-dressing is comfortable and natural, and it has a feeling of a refined lady from a scholarly family.”
“Sob sob sob, the little brother’s eyes are so beautiful... I wonder if the clothes would look good on me.”
“...I don’t care, I’m buying it anyway! It can be worn in different styles. I bought Lichun (Start of Spring) and wore it to meet my in-laws for the first time. They praised me for dressing well and having good taste; I was so happy. I’m buying Xiaoman too, it’s just so beautiful!”
“Holy cow, the big sister upstairs successfully sold the idea, I’m placing an order now.”
“Sisters, the Twenty-Four Solar Terms series truly enhances your temperament! Just pick any solar term blindfolded, and it’ll look good! I call these clothes the ‘ex-boyfriend dresses,’ get it? Last time I ran into my ex on the street, I was wearing Guyu (Grain Rain), and his eyes went wide. He looked totally disbelieving, hahahaha, so satisfying!”
At the end of the video, Luo Mingjing explained the design philosophy and concepts, finally explaining his reason for appearing in the video.
He had worried about losing customers, but unexpectedly, after the promotional video was released, not only did his popularity not decline, but it actually showed signs of skyrocketing.
________________________________________
As the Xiaoman video topped the trending lists of major websites, Luo Mingjing and Shi Min were at the airport seeing off Mrs. Zhang.
Mrs. Zhang had received a call from her son and was rushing to a border hospital with several surgical experts to visit Yang He.
After seeing Mrs. Zhang off, Luo Mingjing asked Shi Min, “Why aren’t your brother and Yang He together?”
“Different pursuits,” Shi Min paused, then added, “But, all roads lead to the same destination. They will be together.”
Luo Mingjing asked curiously, “At first, I thought your mom didn’t like Yang He. Now, I see that your mom cares a lot about her.”
“They have a bond,” Shi Min said. “My mom became Yang He’s agent after she resigned from children’s programs.”
“Really?”
“Yes, perhaps you weren’t paying attention to entertainment news during those years,” Shi Min said. “The five years you were at your lowest point were the golden five years when my mom helped Yang He soar. In the end, Yang He found her own blue sky. Although my mom gets angry and curses her for ‘scamming resources and sleeping with my brother for free,’ she understands Yang He’s choice.”
Luo Mingjing was silent for a moment, then said, “Your family... is the best family I’ve ever seen. The best home made up of the best people—understanding, very open-minded, and respectful of every member...”
“So...” Shi Min said, “Yang He will also come back. After all, her situation is similar to yours. This is the only place that can truly be called home.”
The two intertwined their fingers, slowly turning from Chang’an Road into the alley.
Old trees sprouted new buds, and two cats crouched at the art studio door, awaiting their return.
Luo Mingjing smiled, then suddenly asked, “Shi Min, want some candy?”
“What flavor?”
“Sweet,” Luo Mingjing lowered his head and gently kissed her soft lips.
Shi Min smiled sweetly: “The only sweet I’ve ever liked in this life is called Luo Mingjing.”
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