Oops! I Became a Fan of My Rival Idol! - Chapter 56

“Don’t worry, the resources I have are all good,” Li Bin assured them.

 

Qiao Huihui laughed sheepishly, her face flushing as she said, “That’s good, that’s good.”

 

…

 

This time, the shooting location was quite far—in City G of another province—so they had to take a flight.

 

After Li Bin drove them to the airport and parked, Qiao Huihui and Shen Nanqing got out of the car, and the group discreetly entered the departure lounge.

 

Once on the plane, Qiao Huihui realized their seats were scattered. Li Bin was seated in front of her, while Shen Nanqing was two rows behind.

 

After settling in, she turned to glance at Shen Nanqing, feeling a little disappointed.

 

But just a few seconds later, Shen Nanqing suddenly stood up and walked over.

 

Qiao Huihui’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

Shen Nanqing stopped in the aisle beside their row, then leaned slightly toward the girl next to Qiao Huihui and asked politely, “Excuse me, would you mind switching seats with me?”

 

Under her mask, Qiao Huihui’s lips curled up slightly, her eyes sparkling with delight.

 

The girl abruptly looked up, sounding surprised. “Your voice… sounds so familiar.”

 

Her words caught both of their attention. Qiao Huihui looked at them curiously and asked Shen Nanqing, “Do you two know each other?”

 

Shen Nanqing studied the girl’s face carefully and shook her head.

 

The girl turned and laughed. “We don’t, but her voice sounds just like my idol’s.”

 

Idol?

 

Qiao Huihui had an inkling. She tentatively asked, “Your idol is…?”

 

“Shen Nanqing! Have you seen The Dazzling You lately? She’s so gorgeous!”

 

After instinctively gushing for a moment, the girl scrutinized Shen Nanqing, suspicion creeping into her gaze. “Actually, not just your voice—your figure looks a lot like hers too!”

 

Shen Nanqing tensed up nervously.

 

Qiao Huihui quickly covered for her. “Hahaha, maybe all beautiful people just look alike! Someone told my friend the other day that she resembled another actress.”

 

Shen Nanqing pitched her voice higher and added, “Yeah, yeah, maybe I just have a celebrity look-alike face. People have said that since I was a kid.”

 

As soon as her voice changed, the girl’s suspicion faded. She stood up and said, “Huh, now it doesn’t sound like her anymore. Maybe I imagined it earlier. You can sit here—I’ll take your seat.”

 

Qiao Huihui beamed sweetly. “Thank you, sis~”

 

Shen Nanqing sat down beside her and wiped a thin layer of sweat from her forehead.

 

Qiao Huihui tugged her mask halfway down and openly teased, “Hahahaha… celebrity look-alike face…”

 

Shen Nanqing pulled her into a hug and swiftly pinched her lips shut, cutting off her laughter.

 

“Mmph… mmph!” Qiao Huihui glared at her indignantly.

 

But Shen Nanqing remained completely unfazed by her threatening look. Instead, she leisurely squeezed the soft lips between her fingers and observed, “Like a little duck.”

 

Furious, Qiao Huihui reached out to pinch Shen Nanqing’s mouth, but Shen Nanqing blocked her with her other hand, causing Qiao Huihui’s hand to smack Li Bin on the back of the head instead.

 

Li Bin clutched his head and turned around.

 

Seeing the two of them, he gasped in shock. “No way… Are you two really not getting along?”

 

“How are you already fighting before we even get to the set?”

 

Qiao Huihui and Shen Nanqing: ???

 

Looking at their stunned faces, Li Bin laughed. “I was just joking with you.”

 

The two sighed in relief, then glanced at each other’s disheveled appearances before letting go simultaneously, sharing a knowing smile.

 

Seeing that they seemed to have “made up,” Li Bin turned away reassured and went back to sleep.

 

Shen Nanqing lowered her head to check her phone, while Qiao Huihui, feeling a bit bored, began playing with the other’s fingers with great focus—interlacing them one moment, hooking them the next, then gently pinching the fingertips…

 

Though Shen Nanqing appeared engrossed in her phone, her slightly trembling lashes and gradually reddening ears betrayed her distraction. The tingling numbness from the playful pinches sent tremors straight to her heart.

 

After enduring this sweet “torture” throughout the flight, the plane finally landed.

 

Shen Nanqing retrieved her hand, subtly shaking it a couple of times as if to dispel the lingering ticklish sensation.

 

The group boarded the car sent to pick them up and arrived at their destination.

 

Upon entering the studio, they found people already waiting for them.

 

Li Bin stepped forward to exchange pleasantries with the photographer before introducing both parties.

 

“This is Mr. Zhou, one of the most renowned photographers in the country.”

 

Zhou Zhiping quickly waved his hands modestly. “Oh, I wouldn’t go that far.”

 

After shaking hands with Qiao Huihui and Shen Nanqing, he swiftly moved on to business.

 

“You’re probably still in training, so let’s not waste time. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can wrap up.”

 

No sooner had the two girls arrived than they were whisked away, surrounded by a team heading to the makeup room.

 

Li Bin sat quietly in a corner, content to observe.

 

Over an hour later, Qiao Huihui emerged, lifting the ornate, intricate hem of her gown, just as Shen Nanqing happened to push open the door opposite her.

 

At the sight of each other, both froze momentarily.

 

Qiao Huihui’s makeup was exquisitely beautiful—a small sparkling crown adorned her head, her face embellished with various gems and pearls. Her dress, reminiscent of European medieval court fashion, was extravagantly luxurious, even her high-heeled shoes studded with tiny diamonds.

 

She looked every bit the noble princess stepping out of an oil painting.

 

Shen Nanqing, on the other hand, was the complete opposite.

 

Her long hair had been braided into delicate strands, streaked with hints of green. A single emerald pendant hung from her forehead, her only ornament, while her ears were now pointed like an elf’s. Her outfit was strikingly simple: a camouflage-green crop top revealing a slender waist, paired with matching pants tucked tightly into combat boots.

 

At that moment, Qiao Huihui finally understood how Shu Bailian must have felt during the performance. All she wanted was to rush over and cover up that exposed sliver of Shen Nanqing’s waist.

 

She didn’t want anyone else to see it.

 

But they were in public, so she couldn’t openly act on her impulse. Resigned, she walked over to Shen Nanqing’s side, sulking slightly.

 

Sensing her subdued mood, Shen Nanqing asked, “Not happy?”

 

Qiao Huihui shook her head, silently grasping her hand and giving it a light, petulant squeeze.

 

Zhou Zhiping approached, his eyes alight with admiration.

 

“Perfect! Exactly the vibe I imagined!”

 

“Let me explain today’s shoot concept,” he said, pointing at Qiao Huihui. “You—human princess.”

 

Then, gesturing to Shen Nanqing, he added, “And you—elf princess.”

 

“And so the story goes like this: one day, a human princess is being chased by villains and accidentally stumbles into a forest. While lost, she enters the territory of the elves and meets the elven princess, and the two become good friends.”

 

“Qiao Huihui, what you need to portray later is a state of innocence, fragility, and fear. When you meet the elven princess, show curiosity mixed with a hint of fear, and from start to finish, maintain that natural nobility befitting a princess. Understood?”

 

Qiao Huihui nodded.

 

Got it. In other words, no matter the circumstances, even if the princess rolls into a mud pit, she must straighten her posture with grace.

 

“Shen Nanqing, you need to be aloof and cold, embodying the purity and detachment of an elf—indifferent to everything, free from desires and emotions. But after meeting the human princess, you’ll need to shift slightly. Remember, this is your first time seeing a human. Show curiosity and surprise, but without strong facial expressions—convey it through your eyes.”

 

After listening, Shen Nanqing also nodded to indicate she understood.

 

The performance required by the magazine wasn’t demanding, and with her acting skills, it would be effortless.

 

Seeing how obedient both of them were, Zhou Zhiping nodded in satisfaction and set up the camera. “Alright, let’s begin.”

 

First were the individual shots.

 

Qiao Huihui lifted her skirt and struck a pose. When the crew member shouted “Run!”, she began sprinting forward with all her might. Her expression was fearful, glancing back from time to time, and because of her delicate physique, she stumbled as she ran.

 

Midway, her shoes flew off, and she ran barefoot into the forest.

 

Zhou Zhiping kept praising, “Good, good, just like that! Tilt your head a little more—perfect!”

 

By the time Qiao Huihui’s part was done, he was thoroughly pleased.

 

Then it was Shen Nanqing’s turn. The elegant and agile elf darted through the forest, leaping between trees and shooting an arrow at her prey.

 

With her acting skills, there were naturally no issues. Zhou Zhiping was even pleasantly surprised and praised her several times.

 

Finally came the duo shots. The two took their positions as instructed and adopted the appropriate expressions.

 

The first shot was their initial meeting: the human princess walked barefoot through the forest but was startled by the sudden appearance of the elf.

 

After the fright, the princess tried to maintain her composure, looking at the elf with restrained curiosity.

 

The elf, after a brief moment of surprise, watched the princess with wary calmness.

 

The second shot depicted their growing acquaintance: the princess told the elf about her plight, and the elf led her back to her treehouse, gently wiping the dust from the princess’s face.

 

The third shot captured their friendship: after some time, the two had grown very close and become good friends. The elf pulled the princess along as they ran by the stream, both wearing joyful smiles.

 

The fourth shot was their farewell: the kingdom’s guards arrived to retrieve the princess. Surrounded by them, she boarded a carriage and cast a reluctant glance back at the forest, while the elf watched her from a hidden spot among the treetops.

 

It must be said that when a photographer’s inspiration strikes, it’s a formidable thing. Originally, they had agreed on only a few themes, but Zhou Zhiping came up with new ideas during the shoot, leading to additional scenes like falling into water, playful moments, and stargazing.

 

By the end, Qiao Huihui’s calves were aching, and only then did Zhou Zhiping finally call it a wrap, satisfied.

 

“Alright, let’s call it a day here.”

 

Qiao Huihui quickly plopped down onto the seat, while Shen Nanqing lowered her head and gently massaged her legs.

 

But Qiao Huihui’s gaze… drifted to the other woman’s waist.

 

Swallowing hard, she couldn’t resist reaching out with a mischievous hand, lightly grazing that smooth, toned waist.

 

Shen Nanqing abruptly looked up at her.

 

Qiao Huihui: “…Wow, abs.”