Chapter 2955: You Are My Fashion Darling 14

The director grabbed a microphone and walked to the center of the lawn, beginning to explain today's activity rules.

"All contestants, today is a special activity day after the fourth episode! We will hold a card‑drawing event that balances fun and skill."

"As you can see, the venue is split into red and blue teams. Later each contestant will randomly draw a numbered card; the big screen will sequentially show the corresponding pose for each number, and contestants will recreate the pose from the card, with judges scoring them. The team with the highest total score will earn the chance to film a new series advertisement."

"The pose could be done solo, in pairs, or even with more people. If it's a pair or group pose, contestants may freely invite teammates, or even another team or our judge instructors, to collaborate!"

The director said this, smiling deliberately toward the judges' bench: "Yes, the judge instructors can also join in today! If any contestant feels a special affinity with a certain judge instructor, feel free to boldly invite them to try!"

The red‑blue draw results came out quickly; as luck would have it, the top three from the previous episode all ended up on the blue team. Meanwhile, the red side, although it also had a few capable contestants, overall appeared slightly weaker.

The red team members immediately burst into lament.

On the blue team's side, the atmosphere was somewhat subtle.

Gu Chen Zhou stood at his position without a word, while Min Heng wore a flawless smile, yet subtly glanced at not‑far‑off Jin Chen, then drifted his gaze toward Qi Jing on the judges' bench.

Jin Chen...

Jin Chen was spacing out, watching a seabird fly across the distant sky.

The number drawn in the first round was Blue Team 6.

The big screen lit up the corresponding prompt: a partial silhouette from a classic fashion blockbuster, a duo move demanding high chemistry and atmosphere, and the one who drew the number‑6 card was Min Heng.

Min Heng hesitated between Jin Chen and Qi Jing on the judges' bench, pausing for a moment.

: Here it comes! It's a duo hug! Who will Min Heng choose?

: No need to say, he'll definitely pick Jin Chen!

: Not necessarily, Judge Qi Jing is still there; weren't Min Heng and Qi Jing on good terms before?

Under the camera's gaze, Min Heng seemed to have made up his mind, turning toward the judges' bench, giving a slight bow to Qi Jing and making an inviting gesture: "Teacher Qi Jing, I don't know if I have the honor to invite you to collaborate on this move? I will do my best to cooperate with you."

This choice was both unexpected and yet understandable.

Choosing teammate Jin Chen would certainly stir up some brotherly affection hype, but the risk is also high.

After all, Jin Chen's lazy demeanor makes it questionable whether he can cooperate well.

Before Qi Jing could even open his mouth to respond, he caught a glimpse of Chenshu letting out an almost imperceptible sigh of relief.

Qi Jing: "?"

He turned his head toward Chenshu with some confusion.

Although the two weren't close confidants in private, he was after all working for Chenshu, so their relationship was still decent; Chenshu noticed his gaze, turned toward him, and gave him a slight nod.

The meaning conveyed by that gaze, Qi Jing actually understood: it was roughly, "Agree to him, hurry up, don't dawdle."

Qi Jing: "……"

So Qi Jing stood up, walked to the center of the lawn, and said lightly to Min Heng: "Alright, let's begin."

Min Heng felt a surge of joy, quickly adjusted his state, and walked to the designated spot.

However, perhaps the blow from the scoring session the previous night left him somewhat restless and eager to prove himself before Qi Jing, so during the actual shoot he leaned in closer than the original image, unconsciously tightening his arms around Qi Jing, trying to create a tighter, more story‑like feeling.

Qi Jing sensed this over‑the‑line closeness, feeling Min Heng's breath on his ear, which made him feel a bit offended.

Qi Jing's brows furrowed, but because of the camera he didn't directly push him away.

The photographer captured several shots.

"Okay, that's enough." Qi Jing immediately stepped back two steps after the shoot ended, his voice colder than usual.

He looked at Min Heng, whose expression was still somewhat immersed in the performance, picked up the microphone, and said in a flat tone: "Contestant Min Heng, I hope you understand the difference between atmospheric tension in fashion photography and being lascivious."

As his words fell, the entire venue was stunned into silence for a moment.

Min Heng's smile froze, and his face turned bright red in an instant.

: Holy shit! Teacher Qi Jing's words are harsh!

: Although it's a bit blunt… Min Heng's hug just now really was a bit too tight.

: Teacher Qi Jing is a professional; if he says there's a problem, there definitely is.

: Is Min Heng just trying too hard to show off? It feels like he's overdoing it.

: Am I the only one wondering why Min Heng didn't choose Jin Chen? Aren't they good brothers?

: Come on, haven't you noticed they barely talk to each other now? It's just a plastic brother‑bond.

Qi Jing didn't glance at Min Heng again, turned and returned to the judges' bench; his face still wasn't great, and the faint disappointment and sense of unease in his heart grew stronger.

During this period, Min Heng's work and thoughts were far removed from the spirited contestant he initially remembered; could it be that he had simply misjudged him before?

The other judges also scored relatively conservatively, and in the end Min Heng received only 7 points.

Min Heng returned to his seat, dispirited, feeling as if a thorn pricked his back, and unconsciously blamed it all on Jin Chen again: if it weren't for Jin Chen suddenly achieving Opening Apertures, stealing the spotlight and Chenshu's attention, why would Qi Jing be so harsh on him?

After several rounds, the draw landed on Blue Team 4.

Jin Chen lowered his head to look at the card in his hand, then rose slowly.

This round's pose hasn't been announced yet, but many blue‑team teammates are eager to try, looking at Jin Chen with anticipation; they're not stupid—Jin Chen's popularity is surely high right now, and collaborating would definitely be a sure‑win exposure opportunity.

: Pick Min Heng for a brotherly‑feeling moment.

: Will he pick Gu Chen Zhou? Strong strong team‑up!

: Gu Chen Zhou's eyes lit up! Hahaha, even the aloof bro has moments of anticipation!

: No, why do I feel… his direction seems off?

Under everyone's gaze, Jin Chen walked past the seated Min Heng in the front row, who leaned forward slightly with anticipation.

Chenshu watched Jin Chen draw nearer, his smile deepening, yet saw that Jin Chen seemed not to intend to come over.

The smile at the corner of Chenshu's eyes faded for an instant, fleeting as it was, but still caught by Jin Chen, who kept watching him.

Like a cat that had been sure to get a dried fish treat, only to see the owner's hand turn elsewhere, it quickly masked its reaction, but that moment of bewilderment and grievance still leaked a trace.

A sense of pleased mischief welled up in Jin Chen's heart; he suddenly felt in a great mood—these days he often found himself easily getting this pleasant feeling because of that person, which was strange but not bad.

Jin Chen still passed by the anticipating Gu Chen Zhou, approached the judges' bench, bent slightly downward; his usual sleepy peach‑blossom eyes lifted, the naturally upward‑curving corners appearing sharper, and with that hint of mischievousness in his gaze they took on an almost provocative, alluring quality.

He gazed into Chenshu's eyes, "Mr. Chenshu, how about I invite you to collaborate?"

Comments:????!!!!

: Kid, you're so brave!

: As expected, it's Otaku Bro, I can do it again.

Chenshu chuckled lightly, his voice through the microphone in front of him spreading across the whole lawn, "It's my honor."