The stylist pulled the clothes rack out, removed the dust film, and said, "Come on, let me help you change your clothes."
Xu Chacha has always felt that many children's clothes are better made than adult clothes, and this design can be categorized as the former.
I don't know what kind of fabric it is, but the skirt looks soft and lustrous, yet it doesn't lose its shape or become shapeless despite the cotton fabric.
The outermost layer of the skirt is covered with a light gauze with relatively dense mesh. The patterns on the skirt were all hand-embroidered by the designer with silver thread, stitch by stitch, and the production process took a full five years.
Cha Cha had heard of this designer's name; he was a senior figure in his seventies. For a garment to be so carefully chosen by him, its significance must be extraordinary.
With the help of a stylist, Xu Chacha changed into a dress. The light pink color made her skin look fair and delicate, and her legs looked slender and straight under the skirt.
This dress was made according to the original model's measurements, but larger than usual. Because Xu Chacha is slim, even though she is a few centimeters taller than the original model, she doesn't feel particularly tight wearing it.
She sat in the chair with her eyes closed, obediently letting the stylist apply makeup to her face.
"I heard it was designed for her granddaughter." The stylist chatted with her assistant. "Her granddaughter is also pitiful. She had a difficult childbirth and almost stopped breathing. She almost didn't make it. She was saved with great difficulty, but it turned out she was mute and had a very weak constitution. She can't even withstand the slightest bump or bruise."
"Then let's do this..." the assistant hesitated.
"What can we do?" The stylist curled his lip. "You know Hua Jie's personality, and the contract clearly states that in case of unforeseen circumstances, the designer must cooperate with us to complete the photos first."
"well."
They probably thought Xu Chacha wouldn't understand, so they spoke without restraint. In fact, Xu Chacha heard every word and felt quite uncomfortable about it.
"Can't we do what Auntie did and let the next friend take her place first?" Xu Chacha looked up and asked.
The stylist was surprised, but still answered seriously, "We've tried everything, you're our last lifeline, sweetheart."
If they want to change the person, they need to change more than just the photos and clothes. They also need to change the already written interview with designer Lang Shu. Finding a model is fine, but finding a designer with a similar level of fame to Lang Shu for the interview is simply wishful thinking.
As a fellow designer, Hua Jing expressed sympathy and understanding for Lang Shu and his granddaughter's plight. However, as the editor-in-chief of EV and a businesswoman, she couldn't let those emotions affect her work.
Xu Chacha pursed her lips into a straight line, and the innocent smile on her face faded, replaced by a somewhat somber expression.
"What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"
In the past, even if Xu Chacha faced the possibility of being criticized by the designer's fans, she would have gritted her teeth and taken the job. Willfulness and the right to choose were the rights of those who had a way out. All she could do was work hard to earn every penny that would allow her to leave her life of dependence on others.
This time, she didn't want to think about it anymore. When she saw this dress, all Xu Chacha could think about was the old designer's painstaking efforts, stitch by stitch, and his unreserved love for his granddaughter. No matter what the reason, she couldn't wear it to take pictures with a normal mindset.
The skirt on her body felt like a large hand tightly gripping her, making it hard for her to breathe, and she just wanted to take it off as soon as possible.
"I'm sorry, sister." She jumped off the chair. "Can I stop filming?"
"Are you feeling unwell?" the stylist asked anxiously. "Are you in a bad mood, or did the makeup hurt you? Let's take a break, okay?"
Xu Chacha shook her head, her dark eyes reflecting their anxious expressions. "You should go back to that designer grandpa. In his heart, even if he loses money for you, he probably wouldn't want to see this dress worn by other friends."
The stylist was stunned; she hadn't expected Xu Chacha to be so thoughtful at such a young age.
However, what he said wasn't wrong. Hua Jing wanted to act first and ask questions later, so that once the matter was done, Lang Shu wouldn't have the right to refuse.
Given Lang Shu's personality, he might very well just throw the penalty for breach of contract at him.
"Sister, help me take this off." Xu Chacha pulled her hand and dragged her towards the dressing room. "Can we wait until that little sister is better before we take the photos?"
The stylist was soft-hearted and remembered Hua Jing's instructions, so he dared not disobey.
"I'll go talk to Aunt Jingjing." Xu Chacha noticed her concerns and strode out with her short legs.
Hua Jing was discussing set design with the photographer when she saw Xu Chacha wearing the clothes and her eyes lit up. She clapped her hands and said, "I knew she looked good in it."
“ is beautiful. Do you want to consider signing a contract with Auntie and becoming a model for us?” Hua Jing cupped her face in both hands, with the force of kneading dough.
"Aunt Jingjing, I want to take a picture."
Xu Chacha frowned, her cheeks flushed, and Hua Jing held her hands so hard she could barely speak, making the atmosphere anything but serious.
"What did you say?" Hua Jing withdrew her hand. "I don't want to film. Why?"
She thought it was Xu Chacha's childish nature, that she had experienced the novelty and then backed out at the last minute because she was afraid of the camera.
“This dress was a gift from Grandpa Lang to his granddaughter, Cha Cha can’t take it away.” Xu Cha Cha said earnestly, then folded her hands in front of her and bowed to Hua Jing. “I’m sorry, Cha Cha has caused you trouble.”
"If you don't want to take pictures, then don't. Why are you bowing? Your auntie will think you're being mistreated here." Hua Jing quickly helped her up and sighed, "You're so sensible, it makes your auntie seem so cold-blooded."
Xu Chacha shook her head and patted her shoulder reassuringly, "Aunt Jingjing is also thinking about the older brothers and sisters here. Chacha understands you."
These words struck a chord with Hua Jing. As the editor-in-chief, she was in charge of the livelihoods of a group of people, so she had to consider things more thoroughly and prioritize the overall situation than others.
EV children's wear is far less successful than Fashion Weekly, with sluggish sales. Several times it went on hiatus, and she had to pull strings and find interviews to revive it. So, even if nothing major happens, as long as a loophole is found, ceasing publication and laying off staff would be perfectly reasonable.
Hua Jing wasn't joking when she told Wen Mubai that she was going bald; her anxiety had become so severe that she needed sleeping pills every night to fall asleep.
“I read your magazines too.” Xu Chacha raised her head. “There are just too many words, it’s tiring to read. My dad can understand them, but he still doesn’t know what to buy after reading them, so he ends up buying me a bunch of expensive and ugly dresses.”
When comparing various magazines, Xu Chacha discovered a serious problem with EV children's clothing.
—Sacrificing the magazine's readability in order to elevate its so-called "class."
The target audience for children's clothing magazines is mostly high-income families with young children. These families are busy with work and have to take care of their children's basic needs when they get home. They rarely have the time or energy to read through lengthy interview articles.
They don't want to settle for buying a few generic clothes for their child in a shopping mall, nor do they have much time to compare brands' value for money or research recent fashion trends. What they need isn't high-end style, but simply convenient choices.
"So, my dad is a bit slow. Every time he buys clothes, he only looks at the price. Actually, he doesn't like many of them, and they're not comfortable to wear."
Hua Jing pondered Xu Chacha's words and realized that their children's clothing magazine did indeed have these issues.
Previously, they always regarded this as a unique feature of EV, thinking that their name alone was a fashion trendsetter and a synonym for high-end. They only thought about how to attract customers with high-profile designers, but never considered the real needs of their clients.
She clenched her fist and pressed it against her forehead, pondering for a moment, when a bold and impulsive idea popped into her head.
"How about this?" Hua Jing looked at Xu Chacha and said, "Let's not take pictures in this outfit anymore. Let's take pictures of something else. Would you still be willing to help Auntie take pictures?"
"Really?" Xu Chacha didn't expect Hua Jing to come up with a solution so quickly. "Okay! Chacha is willing."
Hua Jing called her assistant and asked her to prepare clothes, and then asked the stylist to take Xu Chacha to change.
Fearing her assistant wouldn't be fast enough on her own, Hua Jing went to the warehouse with her. They had many sample garments sent by their collaborating designers, which they would occasionally take out to modify and wear again when they remembered. Now they were putting them to good use.
Lang Shu's interview was a single page, and to fill that gap, shooting only one or two sets of photos was definitely not enough. Hua Jing didn't care about that, so she grabbed a trolley and threw any clothes she liked into it, then had her assistant push the entire shoe rack out.
The two moved quickly; Xu Chacha had just changed her clothes when the door to the lounge was knocked open.
Hua Jing had Xu Chacha stand to the side, and then took the clothes to compare sizes. If the size was right, she would casually put them together as a set and hang them on the clothes rack. In just a few minutes, four or five sets were hung up.
"Don't just stand there, go change the child's clothes."
The stylist picked up a set of clothes and led Xu Chacha into the dressing room.
Xu Chacha didn't waste any time. She reached out her hands and put on her headgear as needed. After changing her clothes, she was pressed down into a chair and put on heavy makeup.
Because she had to coordinate with many outfits, she only received a simple base makeup and enhancements. However, given Xu Chacha's beautiful face, even light makeup looked very natural and fresh.
The blush was a shimmery light pink, and after applying it, Xu Chacha's cheeks looked like a juicy peach. Her thick eyelashes were curled enough without even needing an curler, and paired with her clear, glassy eyes, Xu Chacha looked as beautiful as a doll.
After completing her first look, Xu Chacha was immediately placed in the photography studio, with reflectors and cameras all pointed at her.
Having not done her old job in a long time, Xu Chacha was caught off guard by the photographer's sudden burst of energy. However, her initial surprise was brief. As the camera clicked, she quickly changed angles and poses to match the photographer's pace.
“Friends, let’s not act cool, let’s smile more.” The photographer put down his camera to demonstrate for Xu Chacha.
First, he poked his cheek with two fingers, then he cupped his face with both hands, and without exception, he always showed a silly grin with his big white teeth.
Xu Chacha: You look down on my professional skills?
It's just being cute, anyone can do that.
Xu Chacha's long-dormant competitive spirit surged within her. She held her breath and grinned broadly at the camera.
"Yes, yes, yes! That's it." The photographer clicked his head and pressed the shutter much faster.
Actually, she was already eye-catching enough just by standing there, and now she's smiling sweetly at the camera with her eyes crinkled, perfectly showcasing her youthful charm and liveliness.
Not only was the photographer taking pictures, but the housekeeper Zhang, who was standing behind, also couldn't help but take out his phone and send the photos to Mr. and Mrs. Xu in real time.
Xu's mother: Ahhh, my baby is so cute! Take a few more pictures, quick, quick, quick!
Father Xu: I took a closer look, but I couldn't see clearly.
Butler Zhang: [Image] x10
Father Xu: Pat the left side too.
Butler Zhang: [Image] x10
Father Xu: Is it the angle of the front side (1)?
When Butler Zhang finished taking another set of photos and sent them to the group chat, Xu's father and mother had already changed their profile pictures to photos of Xu Chacha.
It looks remarkably similar to the couple profile pictures of young people on the internet.
Hua Jing put together her outfit and stood next to the photographer to supervise her. She was worried that Xu Chacha, an ordinary person, would feel awkward and uncomfortable in front of the camera.
Who would have thought that Xu Chacha could change her poses and expressions so quickly, more skillfully than many child models who have been in the industry for four or five years? She even seems to know which angle of her face looks best and adjusts herself automatically.
Because of Xu Chacha, the progress was faster than expected. A set of clothes could be photographed in just a few minutes. In one hour, she changed into five sets of clothes, moving around like a doll without uttering a single complaint.
After the fifth outfit was finished, Hua Jing took the initiative to call a pause, "Let the child rest for a bit, her lips are dry, go drink some water."
Housekeeper Zhang immediately took Xu Chacha's precious thermos cup over, opened the lid, and handed it to her.
"Aren't your legs sore from standing for so long? Let me massage them for you."
"Thank you, Grandma." Xu Chacha took the water glass and declined the massage from Butler Zhang. "No kneading or pulling, I don't find it tiring at all."
Shooting five outfits is nothing. Before she had any income, she even took on online modeling jobs, shooting hundreds of outfits a day was a common occurrence.
Xu Chacha held the pink teapot in both hands, took a big sip, her cheeks puffed out so much they couldn't hold any more, and then swallowed it down in large gulps.
The soup was at the perfect temperature, not too hot, and the flavor of American ginseng was refreshing and invigorating.
It's just that she's too young to take supplements, and she gets nosebleeds all the time.
"Burp~ Ha!" After drinking half a pot in one go, Xu Chacha closed her eyes happily, letting out a sigh in her old-fashioned voice.
"Huh? Whose child is this? They look so pitiful." Xu Chacha patted the head.
She recognized the human voice and turned around in surprise, "Auntie!"
Wen Mubai had already changed into her everyday clothes. Her style of dressing has always been the type that "uses her pretty face to do evil."
Just like today, even the most basic sleeveless T-shirt and high-waisted jeans, her tall figure makes her look fashionable in the photos.
"Are you tired? Did that auntie bully you?" Wen Mubai examined her outfit, not realizing that this little girl had such a good figure.
Xu Chacha isn't particularly tall, but her hips are quite high (146cm), her neck is long, and her upright posture makes her look refreshed.