Chapter 56 (1/2)

The makeup artist’s eyes lit up when he saw Yan Huan emerge from the dressing room.

The cheongsam had not been particularly beautiful to look at when it had been hanging on the clothes rack, it had been left to gather dust, as it was too small for most actresses. The makeup artist was therefore surprised to see that Yan Huan had been able to put it on; he had been prepared to have to alter it for her, or to get a different cheongsam, but that was no longer necessary. The actress was a perfect match for the dress. He could not help feeling impressed: what an incredibly thin waist! How does she do it?

“Have a seat.” The makeup artist gestured to the chair beside him. He rubbed his hands with glee— he was determined to create the perfect Hong Yao.

Yan Huan sat down. She placed her hands on her knees as the makeup artist studied her facial features.

“You have a very photogenic face.”

Yan Huan simply smiled in reply. The woman in the mirror was young and beautiful; she was a flower that had just begun to bloom.

The makeup artist obviously knew what he was doing. He did not use a lot of makeup on Yan Huan as she was young, naturally pretty, and had good skin. Her exquisite features and perfectly symmetrical face meant that he did not have to use makeup tricks to alter the shape of her face, either.

Yan Huan enjoyed watching herself in the mirror. She loved watching the makeup artists turn her into different characters: seductive, glamorous, innocent, charming. All of these characters were her, yet at the same time none of them were actually her. Now, her eyes twinkled merrily as her red lips curved into a small smile; there was the scent of the night jasmine, the ye lai xiang in Chinese, on her breath.

She gently hummed the classic song Ye Lai Xiang as she stood up. From the very moment she put on her costume she was no longer Yan Huan, but a strong-willed prostitute who refused to resign herself to her fate.

She now exuded the unmistakable aura of a woman who sold her body for a living.

When she emerged from the makeup room, Su Qiao and Qi Haolin had already finished taking their full-costume photos. The two lead actors had other things to do and excused themselves.