Starlet Taotie Chapter 30 (Part 2)
Chapter 30.2 The Most Primal Desire
Once Jiang Tao had finished getting her makeup done, He RanRan hurried over and quietly told her about Bi Chang’s earlier displeasure.
“Oh.” Jiang Tao didn’t care. Even if Bi Chang was unhappy, it wouldn’t stop her from eating one less bite of food.
The two of them had both individual and double portraits to shoot.
Bi Chang planned to have Jiang Tao shoot her solo photos first to find her rhythm before moving on to the double shots. As he had Jiang Tao pose, he said, “The theme of this set is a woman’s boldness and strength. So I need your eyes to convey sharpness, desire, ambition…
“You’d better find the feeling first. Don’t try to adjust yourself when I start shooting. You’ll just be wasting my time.”
Tong Tong’s heart was in her throat as she listened.
She had already asked around and knew that Bi Chang hated people who were late and celebrities. And Jiang Tao happened to tick both boxes.
Everyone nervously watched Jiang Tao as she settled into position.
But unexpectedly, Bi Chang didn’t reprimand her.
There was no trace of nervousness from Jiang Tao in front of the camera, despite this being her first proper fashion shoot.
She lounged back against the sofa, looking somewhat languid and satiated.
She wasn’t looking at the camera, yet the camera captured her instantly.
No matter what the background was, it was impossible to overlook her presence.
That kind of talent was as if she had been born for the camera!
But Bi Chang had seen plenty of talented models like this.
So what? A talented newcomer could disappear from the industry at any time.
What he needed was a special kind of vitality.
At that moment, he spoke. “Keep that pose, but make your eyes more murderous, more filled with desire…”
Tong Tong and He RanRan were both sweating nervously.
They both knew that whenever Bi Chang spoke, it meant he was about to start tearing into someone.
Just as Tong Tong was beginning to panic, her phone vibrated.
It was the food delivery. The coffee Tong Tong had ordered for everyone at the studio had arrived.
The deliveryman carried two large bags of coffee to the entrance of the studio and the rich aroma of coffee immediately drifted inside.
Bi Chang was just about to reprimand Jiang Tao when he saw her suddenly turn her head and the most primal desire burst from her eyes.
It pierced through his lens and surged toward the distance.
Bi Chang: “!!”
That intense, primal desire from the deepest depths of life struck him like an electric current. A shiver shot from his spine straight to the crown of his head.
Every instinct for beauty in his blood came alive.
His expression shifted as he frantically pressed the shutter. “Yes, exactly like that! Hold it!
“Cool! How Beautiful!
“Amazing! Give me a little more menace! Yes! Yes, exactly!!”
He RanRan: “???”
Mr. Bi, you weren't like this before!
Bi Chang was completely absorbed in the shoot.
Inspiration kept pouring into his mind, one idea after another.
He dared to say it. This would be the best set of photos he had taken all year!
He could already imagine how many people would be stunned by the photos when the magazine hit the shelves.
Just as he was lost in his fantasies, an assistant beside him carefully raised a hand. “Mr. Bi, can we start preparing for the double shoot now?”
Bi Chang: “...?”
What double shoot?
He suddenly remembered, this issue’s cover was a double cover featuring Jiang Tao and He RanRan.
The photos he had just taken could only be used for the inside pages.
Bi Chang was immediately deflated.
He said listlessly, “Yes.”
He RanRan: ...wuu…
But I don't want to shoot anymore.
The fashion industry was terrifying. From now on, she’d better just stick to acting!
…
Jiang Tao sat in her chair, waiting for the makeup artist to touch up her makeup.
Although she had just had a cup of coffee, what she really wanted now was food.
He RanRan came over at this point and took out an exquisite little lunchbox. “Jiang Jiang, I remember you like the pastries I make. If you don’t mind, you can have these.”
Jiang Tao: !!
“I don’t mind at all! I love them!”
He RanRan was actually a little embarrassed. Jiang Tao had helped her so much, yet she had nothing to repay her with. All she could do was make these little homemade pastries that weren’t worth much, which made her feel rather guilty.
However, when Jiang Tao opened the lunchbox and saw the pastries inside, even more delicate and fragrant than the last batch, her eyes nearly narrowed into blissful crescents.
She tried one.
Delicious!!
He RanRan had put a great deal of care into them. Every layer of the lunchbox contained a different kind of pastry.
And every single one tasted amazing.
After finishing them, Jiang Tao had already elevated He RanRan to the status of a celestial goddess in her heart.
The break came to an end when Bi Chang came to urge them.
Only then did the two return together and, with the help of the photography assistant, get into position.
Bi Chang gathered himself.
No matter what, he still had to do his job.
He picked up his camera again and declared, “Let’s continue.”
However, after only a few shots, he lowered the camera.
“He RanRan, your expression needs to be more confident!”
He RanRan flinched slightly.
Seeing this, Jiang Tao immediately stepped in front of her, shielding her from view. Her sharp gaze shot straight toward Bi Chang.
Bi Chang: “!!”
For a moment, he had actually felt killing intent in Jiang Tao’s eyes.
He RanRan took the time while Bi Chang froze to recover.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Bi. I’m ready now.”
“Wait.” Bi Chang stared at the photo he had just captured.
He RanRan’s lashes were wet with tears, her expression carrying a hint of fear and timidity. Meanwhile, Jiang Tao stood in front of her, shielding her, her gaze fierce and sharp, like a loyal protector.
Although the composition, lighting, and shadows were far from perfect, Bi Chang couldn’t take his eyes off the photo.
A bold idea suddenly occurred to him. “Everyone, come over for a meeting. We’re changing the theme!”
…
After they finally finished the shoot, He Ranran felt as if half her very existence had been spent.
Thankfully, Jiang Tao was there with her.
She hugged Jiang Tao, rubbing her head against Jiang Tao’s shoulder. “Jiang Jiang, thank you for today.”
Jiang Tao sensed the exact same emotion from her as she had from Tang Yuxia.
She was momentarily stunned.
Seeing her dazed expression, He RanRan smiled with pursed lips. “Jiang Jiang, I’m going back to my set to film. Once you finish your shoot and I have some free time, I’ll make you something delicious.”
Jiang Tao immediately snapped back to attention. “Okay!”
After the two parted ways, Jiang Tao caught another flight back to her set and continued filming the remaining scenes.
The next scene she had to shoot was one where Xie Wuyan was captured by Yue Jia once again. Just as Yue Jia was about to make her move, however, his senior sister stepped in front of him, determined to protect him even at the cost of her own life.
And when they thought they were certain to die, Yue Jia let them go.
Ann Lisa, who played the senior sister, had arrived while Jiang Tao was away filming the variety show and shooting the magazine. She had already finished filming the earlier scenes.
She had assumed Jiang Tao’s acting would inevitably lead to frequent NGs, making things difficult for the entire production team.
But when she asked around, every answer she got was the same: “Jiang Tao’s acting is amazing.”
Ann Lisa didn’t believe it. She knew how bad Jiang Tao’s acting was. They must have been saying that to save Director Zhou’s face. Everyone knew Director Zhou had passed over Sang Ling in favor of Jiang Tao. If they said Jiang Tao’s performance was bad, wouldn’t that indirectly call Director Zhou’s judgment into question?
Ann Lisa decided to expose Jiang Tao’s façade.
As luck would have it, the day after Jiang Tao returned was the day they were filming the scene where the senior sister stood in front of Xie Wuyan and faced Yue Jia head-on.
Shao Zemo, who played Xie Wuyan, kindly reminded her, “Lisa jie, shouldn’t you steel yourself a little beforehand?”
Ann Lisa: “???”
Shao Zemo coughed. “You haven’t acted opposite Jiang jie before. You have no idea how terrifying she is…”
Ann Lisa sneered inwardly.
She hadn’t expected a grown man like Shao Zemo to be such a coward.
“Don’t worry. I’m not afraid of her. I’ll stand in front later and block your view if you like.”
Shao Zemo let out a long sigh of relief and said gratefully, “Lisa jie, you’re such a good person!”
The actors nearby also looked at Ann Lisa with admiration.
Ann Lisa: “…”
Why is everyone on this set so weird?
She didn’t think much of it.
Once Jiang Tao had finished her makeup and came out, the three of them prepared themselves for rehearsal.
Shao Zemo pulled out some beef jerky he had prepared in advance and offered it to Jiang Tao. “Jiang jie, you don’t need to take the rehearsal too seriously. Just save your strength for the actual shoot!”
Jiang Tao accepted the bribe, so naturally, she agreed.
Ann Lisa, however, grew increasingly speechless.
Once the props and lighting had all been adjusted, the trio quickly ran through the scene once.
Ann Lisa had thrown herself fully into the performance this time, determined to show what she was capable of.
Zhou Zhilan nodded. “Not bad, Xiao An. Keep it up when we shoot for real.”
“Got it, Director,” Ann Lisa replied.
Jiang Tao’s perfunctoriness during the rehearsal caused Ann Lisa to inwardly smirk. So everyone really had been praising Jiang Tao just to save Director Zhou’s face. Once filming started, she would crush Jiang Tao with her acting skills.
The trio touched up their makeup and returned in front of the cameras.
Zhou Zhilan: “Three, two, one, action!”
Shao Zemo lay sprawled on the ground, looking utterly battered and disheveled. Jiang Tao stared coldly down at him, one hand curled into a claw as she prepared to strike.
“Stop!” Ann Lisa rushed forward and stood in front of him.
Her eyes filled with tears as she lifted her head, ready to face death without flinching.
“!”
Director Zhou: “Lisa! Your tears are supposed to well up in your eyes. They’re not supposed to fall!”
Ann Lisa: ...Wuwuwu, but it's out of my control!
