After Differentiating into an O, Pampered by an A - Chapter 9

At the AS Magazine photo shoot.

This magazine focuses on fashion, beauty, and lifestyle as its selling points and has become extremely popular domestically in recent years. Many artists compete for a spot, so Ye Xing was somewhat surprised that the original host had managed to secure such resources.

However, once Ye Xing finished her hair and makeup and saw herself in the mirror, she couldn’t help but click her tongue.

I guess this is what it means to literally eat because of your face.

Ye Xing wore a red fisheye dress made of silk fabric that was as smooth as water, accentuating her graceful figure. Paired with a refreshing summer makeup look, whenever she raised her eyes, a hint of allure seeped from the corners, making her look like a mermaid who had accidentally strayed into the mortal world.

Ning Youyou walked in carrying a refreshing glass of sour plum juice, staring at the actress under the bright studio lights. “Wow, Sister Xing-xing, this look is a total killer! No way, I have to send this to Sister Ling so she can appreciate it too.”

Ye Xing took the icy juice, her red lips curving upward as she steadily accepted the compliment.

Soon after, a staff member came in to remind them that the photographer had arrived and they could head to the set. Ye Xing reluctantly set down her glass of icy relief and followed them out.

On the way there, she had searched online for today’s collaborator—Cheng Yizhou. He was an Alpha and had won numerous photography awards both domestically and abroad, earning the title of “Genius Photographer.” He was known for accurately pinpointing an artist’s unique traits to create exclusive, high-quality editorial spreads.

Looking at her styling today, Ye Xing was very much looking forward to working with him.

Guided by the staff, Ye Xing arrived at the shooting area. Under the intense lights, a white bathtub was half-filled with clear water. Seeing this, Ye Xing was momentarily surprised. “Teacher Cheng, this is…?”

Cheng Yizhou was busy adjusting his camera. As if he hadn’t heard her, he kept his head down and didn’t give Ye Xing so much as a glance.

Seeing this, Ning Youyou felt that Cheng Yizhou’s behavior was extremely disrespectful to her artist. She wanted to step forward and say something, but Ye Xing stopped her.

Ye Xing gave a shallow smile and said softly, “Teacher Cheng, I’m ready. Let’s begin!”

It’s fine, she thought. Artists are always arrogant, especially genius ones.

Thus, Ye Xing waited patiently as Cheng Yizhou tinkered with his equipment. Perhaps because of her calm and patient attitude, Cheng Yizhou actually looked up and caught a glimpse of her. After his long fingers finished adjusting the lens, he spoke tonelessly: “Alright, Teacher Ye can get into the tub now.”

“Teacher Cheng, you should at least communicate the theme and ideas for today with Sister Xing-xing, otherwise…” Ning Youyou couldn’t hold back anymore. This Cheng Yizhou was acting like a bigger star than the actual celebrity.

But before she could finish, Ye Xing lifted her skirt and walked toward the bathtub. Without a word, her jade-like feet were already submerged in the icy water. Cheng Yizhou ignored Ning Youyou and simply signaled to the lighting technicians and staff.

Soon, the set officially entered shooting mode.

With his camera in hand, Cheng Yizhou was dead serious. “Teacher Ye, go a bit further into the water.” “No, stylist—wipe off some of her lipstick.” “Good, hold that angle—staff, splash the water.”

Just like that, Ye Xing, dressed in her red gown, was soaked in the tub for a full hour. If she hadn’t seen how seriously Cheng Yizhou was working, she would have wondered if the original host had some sort of grudge with him and he was taking personal revenge.

“OK, last one. Staff, help Teacher Ye up.”

As soon as Cheng Yizhou spoke, Ning Youyou rushed up with a bath towel to wrap Ye Xing. “Sister Xing-xing, are you okay?”

Drenched and shivering, Ye Xing pursed her lips and said softly, “I’m fine. We said we’d cooperate with the photographer. I wonder how the shots turned out.”

Cheng Yizhou was already looking through the images. Ning Youyou finally couldn’t help but complain, “Sister Xing-xing, I think Photographer Cheng went too far. Does he treat every artist like this, or is he looking down on you because of the news from a few days ago?”

A staff member nearby handed over some hot water. Hearing Ning Youyou’s words, the person shook their head. “No, Teacher Cheng just has that kind of temper. No matter how big the star or how beautiful the woman, he’s always like this. Teacher Ye, let me take you to change.”

Ye Xing nodded and walked to the dressing room wrapped in her towel.

Fifteen minutes later, Cheng Yizhou called her over for the photo selection. Ye Xing had changed her clothes, though her hair was still damp. The moment she saw the finished shots, all her resentment vanished.

On the screen, a woman with wet skin and hair leaned against the tub. Her pale skin radiated a soft glow, and her peach-blossom eyes were misty and enchanting. The contrast between red and white created a powerful visual tension. In the photos, Ye Xing was filled with a sense of “fragile beauty.”

Cheng Yizhou looked at Ye Xing, the corners of his mouth curving slightly. His voice was crisp: “Thank you for the hard work, Teacher Ye. You performed well. I’m very satisfied with these photos. I believe this issue of AS will see a new breakthrough in sales.”

Hearing the praise, Ye Xing gave a slight nod.

The morning shoot finally ended. Ye Xing felt like her bones were falling apart. She climbed into the van and slumped into the seat. “Ah… life isn’t easy, an artist selling their craft… I’m so tired, Youyou.” She sighed toward the ceiling, her lashes drooping.

Turns out being a celebrity isn’t as glamorous as it looks on the surface!

Ning Youyou felt bad for her. She patted Ye Xing’s knee and encouraged her, “Sister Xing-xing, the morning work is over. I’ll take you to eat.”

“I don’t want to eat, I just want to go home and sleep,” Ye Xing replied weakly.

But as soon as she said that, Ning Youyou’s phone rang. The screen showed Ding Ling was calling. Ning Youyou answered, hummed a few times in response, and hung up. She turned to Ye Xing. “Sister Xing-xing, it looks like you can’t go home to sleep this afternoon. Sister Ling said there’s a gathering tonight. A director is starting a new variety show and wants you to go meet them.”

Hearing this, Ye Xing instantly perked up. “A variety show? Is the pay high?”

Ning Youyou didn’t know the details and could only shake her head. Ye Xing glanced at the clock on the car’s screen; it was getting late. “Alright, let’s go eat first!”

It wasn’t that Ye Xing was greedy. It was just that as a cannon fodder, she had no power—she had to at least have money. With money, she could buy a new property and move far away from Shen Yushu.

Who the hell wants to be her neighbor!

Ning Youyou navigated to a nearby private restaurant with good ambiance and high privacy. They had a simple meal. Because of the evening engagement, Ye Xing was dragged to a spa club—a female star had to be exquisite from head to toe. Ye Xing used that time to get a beautiful nap.

Night fell like ink, thick with an unshakeable allure. A red sports car pulled up at the entrance of a villa courtyard. A giant water curtain partially obscured the ancient-style building, and the sound of flowing water helped one find inner peace.

Kong Zhen, standing at the door, saw Shen Yushu get out of the car and immediately broke into a bright smile. “Aiya, President Shen, you’re here! Please, come in. I’m truly touched that you graced us with your presence today.”

Shen Yushu was truly traumatized by Kong Zhen’s flakiness. When she received the call, she nearly blacklisted her, but she couldn’t withstand the woman’s thick skin—she kept calling the office. Kong Zhen claimed she wanted to apologize and thank her for what happened at the bar.

So, to secure the acquisition of Kong Zhen’s bar, Shen Yushu reluctantly showed up. She was actually quite satisfied with the elegant venue Kong Zhen had chosen.

“President Kong, you’re being too polite. I accept the apology. As for the compensation, I told your manager last time: use the bar as your thanks.” Shen Yushu held out her fair palm with a serious expression.

Kong Zhen took a deep breath, looking helpless. “Shen Yushu, you’re too much! Why are you so obsessed with my broken bar? Your Shen family has a massive empire; you shouldn’t need it!”

Shen Yushu nodded in agreement. “Mm, I don’t care for it. But your family’s assets are worth something. It’s not a bad idea for me to flip it and donate the money to an orphanage!”

“Heh, you really dare to dream! Alright, alright, I’ve been waiting for you forever. Let’s go in; my wife has been waiting for a while too.” Kong Zhen pulled Shen Yushu inside.

Behind them, a black van slowly drove into the parking lot.

Ye Xing emerged, wearing a black gown with perfect makeup—noble and cold, like a rose blooming quietly in the night. She waved goodbye to Ning Youyou and saw Ding Ling coming out of the lobby.

Just as she was about to call out, Ye Xing felt her vision blur and her head go heavy. Actually, she had felt unwell since the magazine shoot ended. Even though it was summer, being soaked in cold water for an hour had likely given her a cold. But since Sister Ling placed such importance on tonight’s meeting, Ye Xing had persevered.

However, she was feeling worse by the minute, and her glands were beginning to tighten.

“Ye Xing, you’re here! Come on, I’ll take you in. You need to make a good impression on this director today. The company wants to arrange a variety show for you to build up your public image.”

Ye Xing smiled and agreed, but the moment she lifted her foot, her steps felt incredibly heavy. Ding Ling’s focus was entirely on tonight’s opportunity; she was determined to land this resource. Perhaps because Ye Xing was wearing makeup, she didn’t notice her artist’s state wasn’t right and pulled her toward the private room.

Passing through a wooden screen, they found five or six people seated around a crystal table. Ding Ling introduced Ye Xing to each of them. They were all producers or investors. Ye Xing gathered her spirits and put on her professional smile.

Finally, at the main table, was Director Li Guan. Last year, she had created a hit celebrity dating show that achieved critical acclaim and became the number one show in national ratings. Every star who appeared on that show either saw a career revival or moved up a tier. Ye Xing needed a show like this to reinvent her persona.

Li Guan was an Omega in her forties. The moment she saw Ye Xing, her eyes lit up. She knew Ye Xing was beautiful, but she hadn’t expected her to be this stunning in person. “Ye Xing, I’ve finally met you. Indeed, your temperament is outstanding—you’re even more beautiful than you are on screen,” Li Guan smiled, inviting Ye Xing to sit beside her.

Anyone with eyes could see what the director was thinking.

Ye Xing felt her cheeks burning and didn’t even notice Li Guan’s blatant sizing up. She didn’t sit down. Instead, she picked up her glass. “Thank you for the compliment, Director. I’m late; let me toast you.”

After finishing her drink, Ye Xing made an excuse to go to the restroom. Just as she picked up her phone, a WeChat from Ding Ling arrived.

[Go home first. Dammit, this Director Li has designs on you. I’ll handle things here. I’m calling Youyou back to pick you up.]

Ye Xing replied “OK.”

Because of that glass of alcohol, her head was even heavier now, and her breathing was becoming labored. She leaned against the sink to steady herself for a long time, then decided to head out for some fresh air.

But as she turned, her legs went weak. Instinctively wanting to grab something, she suddenly caught a smooth, slender arm. The slight coolness of the skin made her feel a bit better.

Shen Yushu, suddenly grabbed, was surprised to see the familiar face. But what shocked her even more was the scorching heat coming from Ye Xing.

Ye Xing’s consciousness was fading, but the familiar scent of perfume in her nose brought an inexplicable sense of peace to her heart.

“Sister… I feel so bad!”