Chapter 3 - The Third Realm (1/2)

Ann Yan smiled, “Last year, I was lucky to see Lin Runan at London Fashion week. I saw him apply makeup for the model of the main bout on the spot. Otherwise, his makeup technique wouldn’t come across to my mind.”

“Then my problems are more unpleasant. The board of directors asked us to find a way to sign Bai Yihan.

“But as an old saying goes, ‘A great man cannot brook a rival’. We have already had Li Mojun and I’m afraid that Bai Yihan wouldn’t be willing to join us.”

“Luckily that Bai Yihan’s main arena is in the big screen and our advantages in film are incomparable.”

On Monday morning, Mi Chen received a text message that the payment of being a temporary makeup artist at the music festival had been wired to her account! Although it was merely 800 yuan, Mi Chen felt like kissing the phone screen.

If the music festival was a dream, Monday was a reminder of the cruel reality. Mi Chen returned to the photo studio where she worked. Although she came back from abroad, she did not have any relevant work experience, so instead of being an “overseas elite”, she became a “NEET”.

Even her best friend Meow tried to persuade her, “Why don’t you just say that you have done makeup for a fashion magazine or you have done some chores in a fashion week. Will the employer really call the overseas companies to confirm it?”

But Mi Chen was not a good liar, and she didn’t feel comfortable about it. So Meow could only sigh, “When you have been in this society for a long time, and become more artful, you’ll no longer regard boasting as boasting itself.”

Mi Chen was not a popular makeup artist among customers in the photo studio. The reason was very simple that Mi Chen was not like other makeup artists who preferred using deep eye liner and bright colors to present an exaggerated effect so that after the “painting”, most of the customers would not recognize themselves. Most of the customers’ taste tended to be traditional, and by no means could they appreciate the “realism technique” of Mi Chen. A couple of days ago, a bride-to-be even lost her temper to Mi Chen!

The owner of the studio was so angry that he scolded Mi Chen mercilessly, “Have you really graduated from makeup school! Someone studying abroad turns out to be like that?!”

Some other artists said c as well, “Maybe because foreigners’ nose were different from ours, that’s why our overseas makeup artists can’t do her best!”

The owner of the studio was about to let Mi Chen go when several days ago, some couples came to pick up their photos and they were surprised to find that though Mi Chen didn’t paint them too much that “even their moms fail to recognize them”, they looked rather photogenic. There were two couples who actually appreciated that kind of style— “I’m still myself but my better self” vey much so they bought all the photos.

The owner then started to consider that maybe he should let Mi Chen stay but resort to another way of promotion.

Because of the promotion of the studio these days, there were several times more people coming to take photos than usual. Mi Chen was so tired that she didn’t even eat lunch. Some newlyweds who came to take photos were also picky and some of them had lost their tempers at her directly.

Countless times Mi Chen wanted to turn the make-up case upside down on these people’s heads. She didn’t understand why those people liked to paint themselves as a member of Visual Rock or a colorful parrot. But it was impossible to expect all people in the world to agree with her. According to Meow, if she couldn’t change the world she could only change herself. She had no choice but to give up the makeup skills she had learned in France and returned to the most popularly-accepted level.

As expected, customers’ impatience and anger became subsided.

Mi Chen didn’t leave work till nine o’ clock. She was so worn out that she was almost closing her eyes and swayed her way home.

When she opened the door, a very strong instant noodles’ smell came to her. Meow raised her head, took off her top and didn’t put on any pajamas for she hadn’t taken a shower, sitting in front of the table with a sort of gallantry. It seemed that Meow had worked overtime as well.

The smell of food made Mi Chen’s stomach start rumbling. She quickly went to Meow and found that the last bite was already in Meow’s mouth.

“Hey—how could you! You don’t even leave me a bit!”

Meow’s mouth is full of noodles and she said blurrily, “How could I know that you haven’t eaten anything! Or do you want me to throw it up for you!”

Mi Chen was encouraged and she seized Meow by her throat and said, “Good, then throw it up! Throw it up!”

Meow had no intention of losing so she squeezed the last bite of noodles into her stomach.

Mi Chen had no option but to loosen her up and looked for their storage cupboard. When she opened it, she found nothing but disappointment.

“I’m gonna die of hunger because of you…” Mi Chen collapsed on the chair feebly.

Her legs were puffed for she stood there at work for so long and she had no strength to buy stuff downstairs.

Meow felt kind of guilty and she then sparkled, “I say! There are some QQ noodles in the fridge! I’ll cook them for you!”

“What are you gonna cook it with? Soy sauce…”

“Hey! Don’t we still have the instant noodles’ soup? It smells great!”

“Okay! Instant noodles’ soup it is!” Mi Chen gave a like for Meow’s wit!

Back to junior high, they were eating one ice lolly together so Mi Chen didn’t mind if the soup was the left-over of Meow’s at all!

She crashed by collapsing like that in the sofa until the cooked QQ noodles with instant noodles’ soup was ready, and Meow pulled Mi Chen to the table.

“Meow! You’re the best and you cracked an egg in it! But when was it bought?”

“Well, maybe…last month…”

“Good, lemme have a taste to see if it’s off or not!”

Mi Chen scooped the egg to her mouth and smiled happily, “It’s a good egg!”