When she saw Xu Chun all dressed up, Zhu Yaya's eye twitched.
What on earth was this!
Xu Chun was wearing a multicolored gauze dress, with a leopard-print hairband on her head. Her face was caked in powder, deathly pale, with thick black eyebrows like Crayon Shin-chan, and bright red lipstick on her lips. At first glance, one might think it was a female ghost coming to claim a life.
This? Just this?
And it's supposed to dazzle the entire audience?
With skills like this, they're still the top makeup artist team in the entire capital?
Zhu Yaya felt she had been massively deceived.
But others didn't seem to think so. Some backstage staff who saw Xu Chun's getup gasped sharply, whispering about how pretty Xu Chun looked.
Murong Beichen also wore an expression of being dazzled, nodding in satisfaction as he pulled out a legendary black card from his trouser pocket and gave it to the team leader of the makeup artists: "Not bad. Truly worthy of being the top makeup artist team in our entire capital! My woman now indeed dazzles the entire audience!"
The team leader smiled obsequiously: "Of course, of course, our AK Studio's skills are the most professional. It's also because this young lady's natural features are too good."
Xu Chun looked dreamily at her reflection in the makeup mirror, and then Zhu Yaya clearly heard Xu Chun say in a dreamy tone—
"Today, Murong brought many makeup artists to dress me up and picked the prettiest gown for me to wear. Standing in front of the mirror, I don't even know who the girl inside is anymore."
The watermelon Zhu Yaya was chewing almost choked her to death.
Murong Beichen stepped forward, full of deep affection: "Chun'er, you are really, truly so beautiful like this."
Xu Chun's face turned red again—ah, no, the white powder caked on her face was too thick to tell if she was blushing.
Murong Beichen gave Xu Chun a devilishly charming smile: "Now, the outfit and makeup are all settled. Chun'er, let's find a quiet place together! I'll teach you the most popular ballroom dance. I created this dance myself when I was only ten years old. I guarantee it will make your dance performance dazzle the entire audience."
Murong Beichen and Xu Chun walked off hand in hand.
Zhu Yaya watched their retreating figures, feeling a sense of foreboding in her heart.
"Congratulations on successfully completing the thirteenth task. Reward: three years of lifespan and twenty thousand RMB."
The system's announcement dispelled the gloom of disgust in Zhu Yaya's heart.
It was Gavin's voice! It was her Brother Qizi!
"System, system, can you use that voice just now to talk to me some more?"
"Please complete the tasks as soon as possible." Still Gavin's voice.
"Again!"
"Please complete the tasks as soon as possible."
...
Wuwuwu, she was so moved.
Now there were only half an hour left until the New Year's Eve gala began. Zhu Yaya heard Teacher Wang's irritable voice: "The flowers? The flowers? Why haven't the flowers needed for the skit been delivered yet!"
A staff member answered softly: "We've already contacted the florist. They said they'll deliver the flowers right away."
"Then why aren't they here yet!"
Backstage was somewhat chaotic.
Zhu Yaya thought for a moment and went to find the makeup artist who had done her makeup earlier, asking her to touch it up.
The makeup artist hastily touched up her makeup, even applying some lipstick for Zhu Yaya, before going off to help another performer.
Zhu Yaya examined herself in the makeup mirror. This makeup artist's skill was much better than that of the so-called top-tier AK Studio.
Zhu Yaya was wearing a strapless gown, her shoulders exposed. Although the concert hall had heating, it still got a bit chilly after a while.
Just as Zhu Yaya was about to go find her coat, she suddenly felt something being draped over her shoulders. She looked up and saw it was actually Yan Heng!
Yan Heng was wearing a white turtleneck sweater, which gave him the air of a refined young nobleman. His coat was now draped over Zhu Yaya's shoulders.
Zhu Yaya was both delighted and curious, her tone rising a bit: "Brother Yan! How did you get here?"
Yan Heng looked calm and pointed to a large bouquet of flowers being held by a staff member nearby: "I'm working a temporary job at a flower shop. I'm here to deliver flowers."
Zhu Yaya: ...
When did Yan Heng start working at a flower shop?
And, back to that unsolved mystery, just how many jobs has Yan Heng had?
The staff member holding the flowers complained: "You're too slow."
Yan Heng said calmly, "Sorry, I saw an elderly person fall on the way and went to help them, so it delayed me a bit."
"Alright, be faster next time."
Yan Heng nodded: "Okay."
Zhu Yaya wanted to take off the coat Yan Heng had draped over her: "Brother Yan, you should wear this coat. I'm afraid you'll be cold."
Yan Heng pressed down on the coat draped over her shoulder with his left hand, frowning, his tone commanding: "Wear it."
"But..."
"I'm not cold." Yan Heng interrupted her, withdrawing his left hand to hold Zhu Yaya's hand.
The tips of Zhu Yaya's ears turned red, her palm feeling the warmth transmitted from Yan Heng's hand.
Yan Heng's hand was very dry.
Zhu Yaya flusteredly pulled her hand back, forcing calm: "Haha, in that case, I'll borrow Brother Yan's coat then." Her voice grew softer as she spoke.
Yan Heng just looked at her, not saying anything.
For a moment, the atmosphere between the two became somewhat awkward.
Just as Zhu Yaya was racking her brains for something to say, Yan Heng suddenly spoke up.
He cleared his throat lightly: "You, you look very beautiful today."
Zhu Yaya found a topic, delightedly lifting the hem of her gown and slowly twirling in front of Yan Heng: "I think so too. How is it? The dress is nice, right!"
"Mhm."
"They even helped me with my makeup!" Zhu Yaya cupped her little face, smiling goofily.
Yan Heng lowered his head to look at the face Zhu Yaya was holding up, his gaze very focused: "This eye makeup is very pretty."
"You understand these things?" Zhu Yaya was surprised.
Don't most boys not understand makeup?
"I once at..."
"Alright, you don't need to say it, I know." Hearing this opening, Zhu Yaya guessed, "Have you helped other girls with their makeup before?"
There was even a hint of jealousy in her tone that she herself hadn't yet noticed.
"That, I haven't," Yan Heng shook his head lightly, "I just watched them do it."
Zhu Yaya didn't know why she felt relieved: "Oh, I see."
"Wait," Yan Heng's gaze stopped at the corner of Zhu Yaya's lips, "Your lipstick isn't applied properly."
"Where? Where?" Zhu Yaya grew a bit anxious, "I'm about to go on stage soon."
"Don't worry, I'll help you wipe it."
Yan Heng pulled a few tissues from the tissue box on the dressing table. He used one hand to lift Zhu Yaya's chin, the other holding a tissue, ready to wipe.
Because of the significant height difference between them, Yan Heng leaned his body towards Zhu Yaya, almost covering her completely.
Zhu Yaya watched Yan Heng's face getting closer and closer to hers, her heart pounding along with it, and she couldn't help but swallow.
