Chapter 35

Shen Youwei had asked Xie Mingqiu if they should go barbecue at Lize Park this weekend. She guessed Guan Shanyan had heard about it from her godmother.
“Lize Park isn’t mine. If you want to go, just go.” She said, carrying Tianquan back to her room. Guan Shanyan watched her close the door, his lips forming a straight line.
“You left work so early today?” Xie Mingqiu, opening the door, was surprised to see him standing there. “What are you doing standing here?”
“Nothing, just got back.”
He walked toward his room. Xie Mingqiu called after him: “Where’s Youwei? We bought some marinated food. Tell her to come out and eat first.”
“!” Guan Shanyan didn’t reply but went to Shen Youwei’s door and knocked. “Mom says come out and eat the marinated food.”
Shen Youwei quickly opened the door and walked briskly to the living room: “Godmom, I’m here!”
“Woof woof!” Tianquan followed her, little legs moving fast.
By the time Guan Shanyan had changed his clothes, Shen Youwei was already eating. Tianquan sat at her feet, looking up with big eyes. But Shen Youwei didn’t give him any meat: “No more eating. You’ve stayed here a week and gotten chubby. He Man will scold me.”
“Woof!” Tianquan still stared, trying to get a little meat.
Guan Shanyan opened some dog treats and fed Tianquan. Tianquan still wanted Shen Youwei’s food, but since she wouldn’t give it, he reluctantly ate the treats.
Shen Youwei frowned at him: “Why are you feeding him? If He Man asks, you’ll take full responsibility.”
Guan Shanyan: “Not my responsibility. When my parents are home, they often sneak him treats too.”
Shen Youwei: “!”
She had followed He Man’s feeding instructions strictly, yet Tianquan had still gotten plump!
Xie Mingqiu came out of the kitchen and overheard their conversation. She immediately said: “We exercise him after feeding. All the calories are burned, so it’s like he hasn’t eaten. Besides, Tianquan hasn’t gained weight.”
“!” Shen Youwei swallowed her bite and smiled: “Godmom’s right!”
Xie Mingqiu glanced at her: “Don’t eat too much, you’ll have lunch soon.”
“Okay.” Shen Youwei replied, taking another bite.
Guan Shanyan watched her: “You eat so much every day. How can you say Tianquan eats too much?”
“I’m different.” Shen Youwei straightened her back. “I’m an adult; I can make my own decisions.”
“By dog standards, Tianquan’s an adult too.”
“But you said it, he’s a dog.” Shen Youwei glanced at him. “I understand you. It’s easier to empathize with your own kind.”
Guan Shanyan: “!”
On Friday, after a big breakfast, Shen Youwei brought Tianquan to her studio.
Zhong Lingling officially started today as Shen Youwei’s new assistant. They prepared for the next day’s work together and tidied up the studio a bit more.
All security cameras were installed today. Learning from last time, Shen Youwei placed a camera at the changing room entrance so anyone sneaking in would be clearly recorded.
“This system is expensive for a reason. The video is very clear, and the sound is excellent.” Shen Youwei sat at the computer, checking the footage around the studio, nodding in satisfaction.
The studio space had been gifted by Luo Yu. Shen Youwei had paid for the renovation herself. Luo Yu’s friends gave her a friendly discount, but because she chose top-quality items, the renovation still wasn’t cheap.
Initially, spending the money hurt a little, but seeing her beautiful studio, she felt it was worth it.
The money she spent today, she could earn back tomorrow!
After a full day at the studio, Shen Youwei treated Zhong Lingling to a meal and drove her home.
For a moment, Zhong Lingling couldn’t tell who was the boss and who was the assistant.
She must have done good deeds over the years to get such a good job!
The next day, Huang Yiqin’s event was in the afternoon. Shen Youwei waited at the studio from early morning.
Zhong Lingling, just starting as an assistant, was nervous about receiving a celebrity. She checked the supplies once more and then saw Huang Yiqin’s car parked outside the studio.
Zhong Lingling immediately went forward to greet them and led them upstairs. While bringing water, she took an extra glance at Huang Yiqin.
Shen Youwei had also seen the short drama Huang Yiqin had previously starred in. She had to admit that the vertical-screen format, filters, and proportions of the short drama did make the actors look better.
Still, Huang Yiqin had some natural foundation. With proper makeup and styling, she could definitely go viral, just like Nan Xu.
Shen Youwei guessed that was the reason they came to her.
After communicating with Huang Yiqin, Shen Youwei followed the previously designed look charts to do her makeup and hair. Today’s event was held in a shopping mall. Based on the brand’s tone and the venue layout, Shen Youwei custom-tailored this look for her.
Unlike Nan Xu, Huang Yiqin suited simpler, more understated styles. The simpler the design, the more it highlighted her unique features. For today’s work, Shen Youwei also watched Huang Yiqin’s drama. Huang Yiqin’s figure was smaller than Nan Xu’s, and she played the “delicate wife” in the show, but her facial features and proportions weren’t of that type.
Huang Yiqin’s team originally wanted a look closer to her character in the drama, since the role was more recognizable to the public than she herself. But Shen Youwei’s plan went completely in the opposite direction. Her manager initially wanted her to modify it, but Huang Yiqin agreed to Shen Youwei’s design.
“Your design is actually quite bold, but it matches my usual style perfectly,” Huang Yiqin casually chatted while getting her makeup done. “I like it at first glance. I’m excited to see how it turns out.”
Shen Youwei was confident in her design, but the updo she planned for Huang Yiqin was tricky. She wasn’t sure if she could perfectly recreate it.
It took until noon to finish the makeup and hair. Huang Yiqin was trying this cool-toned makeup for the first time, and paired with Shen Youwei’s updo, she actually looked somewhat regal.
“I knew I wasn’t wrong. Teacher Shen’s skill is phenomenal.” Huang Yiqin was very satisfied with the look. She knew her team wanted to tie her image more closely to her character, which could be both good and bad for an actress.
Rather than constantly repeating herself, she wanted to give the audience something fresh, even if it carried risk.
Shen Youwei had chosen a traditional-style top paired with long pants, elongating her proportions. The embroidered patterns on the clothes were also a highlight.
At the last red carpet event, Nan Xu had stolen all the attention. Huang Yiqin’s team came prepared this time, with a marketing plan ready.
Shen Youwei’s job was only to do the styling. Everything afterward wasn’t her concern. But, like last time, she stayed in the studio to keep an eye on the situation.
The brand for this event was a relatively unknown domestic skincare brand, but Huang Yiqin could only get this endorsement after her short drama became a hit. It was currently her only endorsement deal.
The male lead of the drama already had three endorsements and was about to act in a long series.
Thinking of this, Shen Youwei couldn’t help but feel a bit wistful. Just like with Nan Xu, after the short drama went viral, the male lead benefited more. Now, thanks to last time’s red carpet photos, Nan Xu’s popularity overtook the male lead. Shen Youwei hoped Huang Yiqin could also break out.
Soon, she noticed Huang Yiqin’s team ramping up efforts. Videos of Huang Yiqin attending the brand event were already appearing on multiple platforms.
The videos were shot from fans’ perspectives. Some were real fans, others were likely the team. Actors always looked more lively in motion, and Huang Yiqin looked beautiful. The captions were all promotional phrases like “Reaching a new level of beauty.”
The videos quickly gained traction and made it to trending lists. Throughout the event, people kept posting clips. Afterward, Huang Yiqin’s company released a set of professional event photos, each looking like a cinematic shot.
It was obvious her company had invested money.
A Weibo post tagged Shen Youwei. She reposted it, claimed credit for the styling, and even posted her design sketches in the comments.
Unsurprisingly, celebrity stylist Shen Youwei trended again.
She logged off Weibo, satisfied.
“Boss, today’s styling was a huge success! I saw online everyone praising you!” Zhong Lingling sat beside her, excited, holding her phone. “Your skills are truly amazing!”
“Flattered, flattered. Just performing as usual.” Shen Youwei waved her hand modestly.
Zhong Lingling zoomed in on Huang Yiqin’s photos and continued complimenting her boss: “I didn’t expect Huang Yiqin to suit this style. She’s never looked this beautiful to me!”
Shen Youwei said: “Makeup is meant to emphasize strengths and minimize weaknesses. To do it well, you must first understand your own strengths and flaws.”
“That makes perfect sense!” Zhong Lingling gave her a thumbs up. “No wonder you’re my boss.”
Shen Youwei accepted the compliment gracefully, then humbly reflected: “But my makeup and hairstyling skills are limited. What I did for Huang Yiqin is already my peak level.”
“Boss, you’re too modest. I watched while you did the updo, it was so complicated!”
“That’s why I said it’s my peak level! Anything harder, I wouldn’t even try!”
For bigger projects in the future, she would still need to cooperate with professional makeup artists, while she focused on styling design.
“Alright, great work today. Go home and rest.”
“Okay, boss!” Zhong Lingling happily packed up and left. “I’ll send you the organized emails later!”
“Sure. You don’t need to come tomorrow. I’ll pick an auspicious day for our official opening.”
“Got it!”
After Zhong Lingling left, Shen Youwei packed up and went home. When she saw photos of Huang Yiqin’s event online, she knew the promotion had succeeded.
He Man even sent her congratulations. She also received multiple private messages on WeChat, replying to some and ignoring others before browsing online again.
After an afternoon of online activity, Huang Yiqin went viral, but things developed differently from what Shen Youwei had imagined.
Nan Xu’s fans, Huang Yiqin’s fans, and Shen Youwei’s own fans had started clashing. The Weibo she reposted became one of the main battlefields.
[Shen Youwei, don’t forget who made you famous. And now you betray us?]
[I used to like you, but do you know Huang Yiqin and I are rivals? [smile] Why style her? Unfollowed [smile]]
[We helped promote your studio using Nan Xu. Now you betray us by styling Huang??]
[I’m amazed at you Nan Xu fans, do you even know how many fans Shen Youwei has? Who made who famous?]
[Laughing so hard. When we 2V trended daily, you didn’t even know where she was hiding.]
[Saying Shen Youwei became famous because of Nan Xu is the biggest joke I’ve heard this year.]
[She just styled my girl. Why are some people so upset [tea emoji]? Fine, support Shen Youwei only styling us, others stay away.]
[Don’t be fooled by fake Huang fans. Our anti-black account has already exposed them. They’re deliberately stirring trouble.]
[Laughing, those people’s homepage is full of Nan Xu yet they blame us.]
[Why does your feud affect us VV? [smile] Shen Youwei innocent casualty +1.]
[Shen Youwei is only a stylist, can people understand that?? She signed no binding contract with anyone, FYI!]
[Whatever, Shen Youwei, you’re beautiful! Support her solo debut! [crazy emoji]]
“!” Shen Youwei never expected that in just one afternoon, things would escalate like this. She roughly understood that Nan Xu and Huang Yiqin were rivals, after all, at the last red carpet, Huang Yiqin had been ridiculed by Nan Xu’s fans.
But, even the stylist got blamed??
In the future, when styling stars, would she have to understand the feud between them first?
He Man, active in the gossip scene, immediately messaged her: [Whoa, you got scolded again? This is what being a female star is like!]
Shen Youwei: [smile]
He Man: [Nan Xu’s fans are one thing, but Huang Yiqin’s fans also scolded you? How did you tolerate that??]
Shen Youwei: [smile] [Because they haven’t paid the final installment yet.]