CH 26

Chapter 26

As soon as Xu Zhaixing and Zhao Jinjin entered the room, there was a discussion outside.

The man who just took the initiative to greet Xu Zhaixing was called Annan, formerly an editor at a top fashion magazine. And most of the designers and models in the room know each other and him, he was a good socialite.

As soon as the door was closed, he spoke.

“My goodness, 16 years old, this should be the youngest one in so many years, right?”

Another one said.

“Yes indeed, she is the youngest contestant that ever make it to the semi-finals.”

Annan sighed.

“The future generation is so fearful.”

Designing was not a profession where diligence could make up for incompetence. It attaches great importance on talent, it was right to say that 99% was made of talent and 1% for the effort.

Sometimes expertise and experience were not good as flash of inspiration.

If a 16 year old could enter the final round that must been what they call talent. When they were talking about her, admiration and envy were hard to hide. However one female designer on the far side of the makeup table who had not said anything, and was only busy doing the hair’s model suddenly spoke coldly.

“Design draft can enter semi-final but it will a different story for the final product. Talent for designing is important, but hands-on ability can’t be supported by talent. That is just exaggeration, not worthy of praise.”

Annan’s personal aesthetic has always been very fond of young girls with vitality and beauty. The little girl who just came in was the perfect representation of his aesthetic, and listening to her ridicule he couldn’t help but resent the latter.

“Since someone dares to come, it means they have what it got and is qualified and once she comes out we’ll know, but even if the finished product is not that good it is already impressive and awesome for a 16 year old to get here in the semifinals. If that is not worth the praise then what is it called?”

The female designers knows that he had wide range of contacts, her face didn’t look good but she did not speak further and just snorted.

But she said was also true.

In addition to finished clothes, the competition stipulates that the makeup and the hair of models—from head to toe should be done by the designer and not by other people. Only in this way could they represent their work as complete.

The female model who followed in just now was quite pretty but her hair was drape and her face obviously only had a makeup base and lipstick. After changing clothes and coming out, she still had to design her model’s hair and makeup.

Annan couldn’t help but worry about the little girl that he’d only met once.

As he was thinking about it, the door to the changing room opened.

All the designers stopped what they were doing and looked over in unison.

Zhao Jinjin walked out with the dress while Xu Zhaixing squatted behind her to take care of the long dress, pointing to the 27th dressing table she said.

“Sit over there, sit over there, put your hand down, and don’t step on it!”

Zhao Jinjin obediently let go of her hand and immediately the qing sha1 on the side of her waist slipped like a watery pattern. The dress behind her slowly unfolded with her pace, and for a moment the room was full of stars.

The eyes of everyone including the models all fell on Zhao Jinjin alone.

On their eyes, there was only one description.

Very beautiful.

From the top to bottom, from left to right it was like the fading night sky mixed with deep blue on the hemp of the dress melted into a starry broken diamonds that looked like floating. They couldn’t decide whether it was the person wearing was beautiful of the dress was beautiful as they complimented each other, reflecting each other making them more beautiful. Only after a long time did Annan murmured as he came back to his senses.

“I’ll vouch for that child.”

He didn’t continued putting on the makeup for his model and just directly squatted behind Zhao Jinjin from the back to the waist of the dress and final his line of sight landed on the hem of the dress that was full of diamonds.

There were at least a thousand of them.

He turned his head and asked Xu Zhaixing who was opening the makeup box.

“You sewed these on by hand, right?”

The difference between hand and machine was obvious in his eyes.

Xu Zhaiixing nodded.

Annan sighed incredulously.

“If I were to sew so many of these, my eyes would have to go blind, youth is good.”

As soon as the dress appeared, everyone was convinced. Annan was very fond of this little girl now, he hurriedly stood up and give her a business card.

“Meet me. My name is Annan, I’ll contact you often in the future!”

The business card was written as the editor-in-chief of Li Magazine and it was Xu Zhaixing’s turn to be amused.

Isn’t this one of the four major publications in the future?

No, at this time the Li magazine has not yet developed into one of the four major magazine and was still struggling on the edge of transition due to the impact of new media. In the past the marketing number drew a piece for S-star, the fans were quite excited at that time while Xu Zhaixing did not understand what the magazine cover mean to the star so she specifically do her homework and checked the information about this magazine and found out that they once almost closed down.

It was said that whoever it was and whoever turned the tide it had only revived the Li magazine as they abandoned the previous style and broke everything all from scratch.

Question was, she had forgotten who it was.

She put his business card away and politely extended her hand.

“Hello my name is Xu Zhaixing and I don’t have a business card.”

Annan smiled and shook her hand.

“You’re still a student right?”

Xu Zhaixing nodded.

“Yes, I’ll be in second year high school soon.”

Annan cheered her up.

“Go for it kid. By the way, do you know how to do hair and makeup?”

Xu Zhaixing wink at him and said.

“Yes, brother you go busy yourself. Your model is still waiting for you.”

Annan was in his thirties, long past the age to be called brother but when he heard her calling him brother the young girl has gained another level of affection from him.

Zhao Jinjin looked at all of these through the mirror and couldn’t help but mutter to Xu Zhaixing who started to do her makeup.

“What brother, he can obviously be your uncle.”

Xu Zhaixing poked her face and pinched her ear.

“Then he will not be happy.”

In the past, when she just graduated from school she used to call people who were more than 20 years older than herself as brother. This was the unspoken rule in the industry and a way of survival.

Zhao Jinjin was praising Xu Zhaixing in her heart: Miss is so awesome, miss is so cute whe she plays it safe.

Xu Zhaixing put on the base makeup and began to concentrate on her makeup.

Zhao Jinjin closed her eyes and asked apprehensively.

“Miss, do you know how to do makeup? Why don’t I do it myself? Can you tell which is eyebrow pencil and which is the eyeliner?”

“Shut up, I know all about it.”

“Aren’t high school student not allowed to wear makeup? I didn’t even know how to put on lipstick when I was in college. Are high school students so precocious now? Does the head teacher not care?”

“If you talk again I’ll turn you into a flower.”

Zhao Jinjin finally shut up.

Since Annan came early, at this time the model’s makeup and hair were done. He just let the model sit on the sofa to rest and went to Xu Zhaixing to observe.

Annan couldn’t help but asked.

“What’s name of the dress?”

Xu Zhaixing half squatted as she used a pen to draw a cinnabar mole at the corner of Zhao Jinjin’s eye and whispered.

“Fei Tian.”2                                    

Annan clasped his hand.

“I knew it, by just looking on the dress I know that the meaning of it has something to do with flying I really am right!”

While observing he could see at first glance that the little girl’s makeup technique was too skillful not only was she good but also fast. At first when he looked at the two curved thin eyebrows on Zhao Jinjin’s face he had some objections since this was not the popular shape of eyebrows and the eye makeup was not a good match. He was considering whether to voice out his opinion.

But as the eye makeup gradually took shape, he knew he was wrong.

Xu Zhaixing made the eye makeup was obviously in line with Chinese style. The uncoordinated curved eyebrows were immediately become the finishing touch making the whole face of the model graceful.

As the makeup gradually set, the amaze look on Annan’s eyes become more and more visible as he couldn’t help but asked another question.

“I haven’t seen this method of putting the makeup before, the shade you used is so innovative ah.”

Xu Zhaixing humbly said.

“No, I’m using the aesthetics of ten years ago.”

Several other designers have been listening to Annan asking questions since they could not just leave their models behind and asked themselves so they could only continue to listen. Zhao Jinjin opened her eyes and said.

“What are you doing? Don’t steal our miss secret techniques!”

Annan stared at her for so long and finally remembered who she was.

“Eh I know you, aren’t you the little snake demon from peach blossom! Wasn’t your name Zhao?”

Zhao Jinjin said.

“Zhao Jinjin! Jinjin, what little snake demon? I play the name of Qing Ling!”

Annan smiled slightly as he apologetically said.

“Okay, okay, I’ll remember that. Don’t you act on drama, then why are here modeling? Changing to modeling? What did you call Zhaixing, miss?”

Zhao Jinjin wearily said.

“You have too many questions.”

Then she went back and closed her eyes and stopped talking all together.

Xu Zhaixing: When a chatterbox meets another chatterbox there is always a party that will surrender.

After the makeup was done, Xu Zhaixing started to do her hair. She tied Zhao Jinjin’s long hair with a ribbon of the same color and with the dress and began to make a bun. Annan watched as she turned her smooth hair into such complicated and beautiful bun.

***

Zhao Jinjin’s beautiful swan neck and butterfly bones were all exposed making the whole person like a fairy who was about to fly. Whether it was the dress, or makeup and hair she looked like an immortal ascending.

Annan looked back at his model and said sadly.

“I doubt if you’re not going to take the championship.”

Xu Zhaixing cup her fist.

“Big brother has spoken too much.”

Zhao Jinjin looked at the mirror for a long time and finally concluded.

“I’m too beautiful that heaven cannot tolerate me.”

She looked at Xu Zhaixing like she was looking at a deity.

“Miss, if you become my exclusive hairdresser how great would it be.”

Xu Zhaixing packed her makeup case.

“You don’t like your current makeup artist? Then I’ll ask my brother to change one for you when we go back.”

“Hey what’s the use of changing to another one if it’s not you.”

Xu Zhaixing smiled and hurriedly let her rest on the sofa.

All the designers were finished, and soon it was time for the models to take the stage. Xu Zhaixing was on 27th, which gave Zhao Jinjin a lot of time to prepare.

Surrounding models were professional, some powerful designers even invited supermodel so in comparison with Zhao Jinjin, she was completely lay and would inevitably be nervous.

Xu Zhaixing gave her ten minutes to be prepared and “hypnotized herself to be so beautiful that heaven could not tolerate her” before finally letting her calm down.

When it was fourth group turn’s Xu Zhaixing walked her to the back of the entrance and lined her up then straightened her dress, she also gave her a jiayou gesture before retreating to the side to watch on the broadcast screen of the show.

Soon the voice of the host came from the front.

“Next on the runway is the work of designer number 27, Fei Tian.”

Zhao Jinjin took a deep breath, lifted her chin and walked out with raised step.

The runway was full of people, the white light kept on flashing but she did not squint nor look lost. Her expression was very well in place, like a noble fairy from the beginning to the end and after positioning herself for five seconds, she had walked from the end to end with perfect walked and attitude on the runway making the whole two minute walk extra-ordinary.

Standing in front of the judges, she did not miss the appreciation and amazement in their eyes.

Once she got on the backstage, she rushed over to hug Xu Zhaixing.

“Miss! It’s settled! Absolutely settled!”

Xu Zhaixing also praised her.

“Superb walk!”

The next step was to wait for the result of the semi-finals.

Zhao Jinjin has not eaten until now in order not to bloat, especially her belly so she could only take a few sips of water. Xu Zhaixing found her a box of yogurt to drink and then re-applied her lip makeup after drinking.

Annan’s model was also done with her runway, he was familiar with this area so he went to media magazine area under the runway for a walk. When he came back, he gave Xu Zhaixing a thumbs up.

“They’re basically talking about Fei Tian.”

He also smiled and Zhao Jinjin who was slumped on the sofa.

“And you, you’re going to be popular.”

“I want to drink coke and eat spicy hotpot.”

Hearing what Zhao Jinjin said Xu Zhaixing remembered the hot and spicy restaurant she pass by every time she went to Cen Feng and since the spicy hot pot was particularly good she told her.

“Tonight I will take you to eat but do not tell Brother Yun.”

Zhao Jinjin’s eyes lit up and swallowed several mouthfuls.

When all the models were finished, the finalist came out an hour later. Foreign organizers were good at this point, they were fast and cut the mess quickly unlike Chinese who were always formalistic and have a lots of processes.

All designers and models waited at the entrance listening the host announcement as he called out their name and walked out one by one.

Xu Zhaixing was the ninth contestant to be read out.

She and Zhao Jinjin glance at each other and walked out arm in arm.

The runway has been replace with spacious stage and once the most eye-catching number 27 “Fei Tian” was called out audience and everyone else cheered up and clapped.

But as Xu Zhaixing came out, this group of people were frozen.

Wait this little sister, looks a little small ah?!

Even the host was stunned for a few seconds but with his year of experience and professionalism he immediately reacted.

“I did not expect our 27th designer is actually so young. We have invited someone amazing ah.”

Xu Zhaixing followed Zhao Jinjin to stand and the host then announced the rest of the list.

It was her fist time on stage, she once dreamed of the being on the stage so it would be false to say that she was not excited. But probably because of many things that had happened in recent years her ability to control her emotions has become stronger so even though her heart was rolling with joy on the surface she still look calm.

And even notice Xu Yan was sitting in the second row.

When their eyes met, Xu Yan smiled and gave her a thumbs up.

She couldn’t help but smile too.

At this time, the camera happened to move to her capturing her smile and appeared on the big screen.

The youthful and tender smile of the little girl, her features have not matured yet and her face still has a little baby fat but her bright and eyes were like the sunlight, gentle and soft warming up a human heart.

Cheers rose as the other camera snapped a picture of her.

There were twenty people who entered the final round. Designers would explain their works on turn and then the judges on the stage would comment on them, Zhao Jinjin turned slightly sideways and asked in a low voice.

“Have you thought about what to say?”

“No, I got the worst grade in language.”

Zhao Jinjin got anxious.

“Why don’t you write it down first and then memorize it!”

“I don’t remember there was this. Do not panic, just watch me do this on the spot.”

Zhao Jinjin recalled the few red carpet she had attended, those who had spoken before like the film queen and movie stars quietly taught her.

“You have to thank your parents, your teacher and friend and the organizers…..”

Just then the host handed over the microphone and said with a smile.

“We are finally on the 27th, seeing everyone’s voice and the judges eyes they must have been curious about out little designer.”

Xu Zhaixing took the microphone and in Zhao Jinjin’s desperate gaze she pursed lips and spoke.

“Hello everyone, hello to judges also. My name is Xu Zhaixing I am the designer of Fei Tian.”

The judges at the bottom were all international celebrities like Scarlet the founder of the famous brand SV immediately said.

“The question I’m curious about and it should be the question everyone is most curious about is how old are you?”

Entries were anonymous, and the judges were only learning now who the designers of each entry was.

Xu Zhaixing replied.

“I’m 16 years old.”

Getting the expected answer, there was still gasp at the bottom.

This was the youngest designer since the competition was held, and she made it to the finals!

Liu Chenghua the vice president of the Clothing Design Association has the most iron face and asked nonchalantly.

“Can you guarantee in front and to all of us that this work was done independently by you alone, from design to production?”

Xu Zhaixing nodded.

“I promise that Fei Tian is my work alone.”

This was a competition that the entire fashion industry was watching, there was no way fake it. Her gaze was firm and her voice was strong, Li Chenghua nodded his head and then asked.

“Tell us about your design concept.”

Here we go, here we go, here comes the most important one!

Zhao Jinjin was so nervous that her palm were sweating non-stop and couldn’t help but turn her head to look at Xu Zhaixing.

But she saw her in daze.

Miss why are you in daze at the most critical moment!!!

It was about ten seconds or so before she heard Xu Zhaixing speak.

“The design of Fei Tian is inspired by an ancient poem.”

She looked at the dazzling lights in front of her and smiled sweetly.

“I want to ride the wind and return.”

***