Song Mianfeng slept very well that night, and the next day when he went to the studio, he was in a great mood, as if he had encountered something joyful. Plus, there was no shooting scheduled for that day, just a few photos to send to the magazine, so it was a very relaxed work arrangement.

After finishing the photos for the magazine, it was already past eleven o’clock. Song Mianfeng organized the photos, sent them to the person in charge at the magazine, and stretched his muscles, thinking about what to have for lunch while considering whether to take a short break in the afternoon.

A WeChat message popped up, and Song Mianfeng glanced at it. It was from Fu Qingshan. He poured himself a glass of warm water before opening the message.

[Fu Qingshan: Sir Song, I need your help urgently.]

Song Mianfeng almost choked on his water when he read the term “Sir Song.” After swallowing, he asked through voice message, “Has your account been hacked?”

Fu Qingshan sent two voice messages to prove that it was really him and that his account hadn’t been hacked.

“No, I have a real problem and need your help.”

“Can you help take a set of headshots? The originally scheduled photographer had a sudden accident, and the situation is a bit complicated. It’s a long story that can’t be explained in a few words. We can’t find another photographer now, and Wang Letian is not in S City. Do you have time to help out in this urgent situation?”

“I do have time—Sir, I’m in a good mood today, so sure.” Song Mianfeng replied concisely. “When and where, and who am I photographing?”

“At two o’clock this afternoon, at the Old Opera Stage.”

Fu Qingshan didn’t mention who they were photographing, whether he was being mysterious or just found it difficult to ask. He simply said that Song Mianfeng would find out when he arrived.

After being together with Lu Yin Zhen, Song Mianfeng was no longer as averse to portrait photography as he used to be. Plus, there was a professional need for it. Moreover, since Fu Qingshan asked for his help, it didn’t matter who he was photographing.

However, when he talked to Lu Yin Zhen on the phone, it became a matter of him going to take photos of a beautiful woman in the afternoon, with a tone of bragging, deliberately provoking Lu Yin Zhen.

His immature behavior made Liu Chengyin, who was packing up the equipment nearby, frequently glance over, feeling that people in love were really lacking in intelligence.

The Old Opera Stage was an abandoned theater where Song Mianfeng had taken plenty of material shots before, so he was familiar with the route.

Upon arrival, he realized that the Old Opera Stage had been rented out by a film crew, who had made some simple repairs and set up scenes for filming. Cars could only be parked in roadside parking spaces, and it took about ten minutes to walk in. There were security guards patrolling the perimeter, and no casual onlookers could be seen.

Fu Qingshan had arranged for Yu Xiaoxi to wait outside. After picking up Song Mianfeng and Liu Chengyin, Yu Xiaoxi briefly explained the situation to them and led them inside.

It was a Republican-era drama. The previous female lead, relying on her financial backing, had caused delays in the production and demanded various changes to her scenes, resulting in a chaotic plot. Several directors couldn’t bear it anymore and replaced her. Now they needed to reshoot the makeup photos for the new female lead. The previous and current female leads were originally rivals, and with the addition of new grievances, it complicated matters. This was the third photographer they had arranged who had canceled at the last minute. Hearing about it, no one was willing to get involved… They simply couldn’t find anyone else, so Fu Qingshan used his personal connections to invite Song Mianfeng.

This drama had nothing to do with Fu Qingshan, and the situation didn’t seem related to him either. Song Mianfeng was curious and planned to ask Fu Qingshan about his relationship with this female lead when he saw him.

The director knew of Song Mianfeng, so it was considered fortunate for the crew to be able to invite him to help with the makeup photos. The director was pleased and warmly greeted Song Mianfeng, engaging him in conversation without giving him a chance to question Fu Qingshan.

After exchanging greetings with the crew, Song Mianfeng didn’t see the new female lead. The stage manager said she was still doing her makeup and asked him to wait a while longer.

The makeup for stage performances was meticulous work, and Song Mianfeng fully understood. After briefly discussing the background and plot with the screenwriter, and inquiring about the directors’ vision for the makeup photos, he took Liu Chengyin to the stage to adjust and set up the camera and various lighting equipment.

With no one else bothering them, Song Mianfeng finally found the opportunity to ask Fu Qingshan, “Did someone owe you money, or does someone have something on you to make you suddenly intervene in this matter?”

Fu Qingshan was silent for a few seconds, then sighed almost imperceptibly. “Just think of it as me wanting to please a girl.”

“Who?” Song Mianfeng stretched out the word, “You? Trying to please whom?”

“…Chu Zhaoying.”

The name was familiar to Song Mianfeng. He had heard Wang Letian and the others gossip about it not long ago. He had been busy with work since returning to S City, almost forgetting about it.

“The matchmaking partner arranged by the family? Chu Zhaoying from the circle? The current female lead in this drama?”

“Yeah…”

Song Mianfeng couldn’t help but burst into laughter, following the spirit of “shared joy is double joy.” He started typing in the WeChat group, thinking, “Let me laugh for a while first.”

In front of Fu Qingshan and the crew, he didn’t dare to be too outrageous. After posting the gossip in the WeChat group, he put away his phone.

As the curtain for the makeup session was lifted, a figure dressed in a large blue robe and plum-patterned cape, with a pearl crown on her head, gracefully walked out.

Song Mianfeng chuckled. “Miss, you’ve come out the wrong door. You should come out from the entrance.”

When entering the stage, there was indeed a particular way to do it. Chu Zhaoying had forgotten for a moment and felt like she was in the play, wanting to go back and walk through again.

Fu Qingshan hurriedly stopped her. “He’s just joking with you.”

Chu Zhaoying walked towards them, slightly embarrassed, and greeted, “Mr. Song.”

Still in the mannerisms of the play, she raised her eyebrows and bowed politely.

Song Mianfeng gestured, “No need for formality.”

“Is your makeup ready?” The director came out from behind, followed by the assistant director and the instructors, asking, “Mr. Song, are you ready?”

“We’re ready.” Song Mianfeng looked at Chu Zhaoying. “Miss, are you looking for your character’s state, or should we start shooting directly?”

Chu Zhaoying was playing the role of Mei Fei in the makeup photos for the first time. With two identities overlapping, she felt a bit unsure.

Song Mianfeng noticed her nervousness and discomfort and started a conversation with her. “Which character are you portraying?”

“Mei Fei.”

“What scene are you portraying?”

Chu Zhaoying slowly gathered her sleeves and replied, “I’m singing about Emperor Tang Minghuang Li Longji selecting a woman through a color selection song, choosing a girl named Jiang Caiping. He favored her greatly and bestowed upon her the title of Consort Mei because of her love for plum blossoms, even building a pavilion for her. However, shortly after, Emperor Tang Minghuang met Yang Yuhuan, grew tired of Consort Mei, and neglected her. Later, An Lushan rebelled, and Consort Mei died in the chaos… After Guo Ziyi quelled the An Shi Rebellion, Emperor Tang Minghuang returned to the palace. One day, he happened to visit the plum pavilion and recalled Consort Mei, feeling sorrowful, he fell asleep. In his dream, he vaguely saw Consort Mei coming to tell him about their separation. When he woke up, he felt sorrowful and sighed, returning to the palace.”

Seeing her relax and gradually get into character, Song Mianfeng smiled and said, “okay, action—”

Chu Zhaoying sang a segment of “Coming Down from the Pavilion.”

She had previously played Consort Mei and was deeply understanding of the character. It was just that she was constrained by her identity as a famous actress earlier, which affected her performance. But as she danced down from the pavilion with a white jade flute in hand, her dance was like a stunning swan, she became that “in the Palace of Chang’an, no combing or dressing, why bother comforting loneliness” Consort Mei, every expression and movement was true to her role.

With Chu Zhaoying immersed in her role, the shooting went much smoother.

Song Mianfeng only occasionally asked her to redo a pose if he missed capturing a movement. They spent over half an hour shooting, then Chu Zhaoying changed into a plain-colored cheongsam, preparing to shoot her role as “Feng Sheng” in the play.

While Chu Zhaoying was changing, Song Mianfeng sat in the audience seats below the stage, exporting photos on his laptop and selecting the photos they had just taken for “Mei Fei” with the director.

Liu Chengyin stood in an inconspicuous corner, typing on his phone.

It was already past four o’clock when all the shooting was finished. Liu Chengyin went to collect the equipment, while Song Mianfeng, together with several directors, went through the photos again to confirm the selected makeup photos.

Chu Zhaoying also watched alongside them.

Before this, she had heard of Song Mianfeng’s name and knew that he was a well-known photographer in the industry, but even more famous was his aversion to being photographed. Over time, he gained a reputation for being aloof and arrogant.

Today, seeing him in person, Song Mianfeng was clearly gentle, and the makeup photos turned out well. She was even slightly amazed when she saw the photos, finding each one impressive and wanting to keep them all for herself.

Fu Qingshan was checking the messages on WeChat group. After seeing Song Mianfeng’s message in the group, Wang Letian and the others exploded with excitement, mentioning him repeatedly. Both of them had been busy and hadn’t checked their phones. Now that they were done, they took out their phones and saw over 99+ messages on WeChat, all urging them to give out red envelopes.

To calm Wang Letian and the others down, Fu Qingshan sent out a red envelope of one yuan.

Wang Letian quickly claimed it and then complained, “Song always sends out red envelopes of 99 yuan, and you only send one yuan, aren’t you feeling guilty?”

Fu Qingshan was about to reply when his sleeve was tugged. Looking up, he met Chu Zhaoying’s eyes, bright and clear.

“Fu Qingshan, can you ask Mr. Song for the negatives of today’s photos for me? They don’t need to be retouched, just send them to me directly.”

Chu Zhaoying was smiling, but her request reminded him of her appearance when she was hiding away, crying. Her tears were scalding, rolling down one by one, making him feel helpless.

His expression softened. “I’ll ask him for you later.”

Chu Zhaoying smiled and thanked him.

The girl with bright eyes and white teeth smiled, her eyes curved like crescents, and her “thank you” was full of cheer, as if a tail was wagging behind her happily.

Fu Qingshan looked at her smiling face, and unconsciously, his lips also curved up.

…

After packing up the lighting equipment, Liu Chengyin placed his phone on the nearby table, seemingly waiting for a message. He occasionally glanced at the screen.

After collecting the equipment, his phone screen lit up, showing a new message on WeChat. He instinctively glanced towards Song Mianfeng’s direction.

Song Mianfeng was still talking to the directors, completely unaware of his side. Liu Chengyin’s heart relaxed slightly, and he replied to the message with “I’ll have someone come pick you up,” hesitating for a moment as his gaze paused on Fu Qingshan and Fu Qingshan’s assistant, before ultimately walking towards Fu Qingshan.

^[1]Author’s Note: Peking Opera “Consort Mei”: Mr. Cheng Yanqiu adapted this play in 1925. It premiered on September 20, 1928, at the Minghe Society Night Opera Huayue Garden. This … Continue reading