Chapter 26: Chen Heng’s Weakness

1. Tan Tian had circled the glass cabinet several times, admiring it, and finally stopped in place, looking at Jian Huaifeng with fervor: “Let’s shoot this set. It suits you perfectly. I can’t imagine how beautiful you’ll look wearing this headpiece!”

Jian Huaifeng had been to the theater many times since then. He had seen this kind of headpiece on performers on stage.

Such phoenix crowns were mostly used for noble consorts, princesses, or wealthy young ladies. The costumes and props were solemn and magnificent, always delivering a direct visual impact of beauty to the audience.

He naturally liked this set too, nodded in agreement, and was about to take it out.

Zhao Jun reached out to stop him. He and Jian Huaifeng had been running around together since childhood, so he had naturally met his hot-tempered second sister. Not only met her, he had been hit by her. “Wait, this is your second sister’s stuff. Since she keeps it in a glass cabinet, she must really like it. Aren’t you afraid she’ll hit you if you just take it out?”

What he was really afraid of was that if Jian Junya found out about this and knew he was one of the culprits, given how close their two families lived, he definitely wouldn’t escape punishment.

Actually, Jian Huaifeng had already messaged Jian Junya before coming and gotten her permission. Although Jian Junya liked these things, it wasn’t the kind of liking where she just wanted to collect them for herself. She had a sense of responsibility toward the art of opera. If someone was interested in this art and willing to learn about it, she would be even happier.

But Jian Huaifeng occasionally liked to tease, and he felt like teasing him. “What are you afraid of? My second sister isn’t here. Just don’t let her find out. If you’re afraid she’ll find out, you can leave.”

Zhao Jun: “…”

How could he leave after Jian Huaifeng said that? Now he inexplicably felt like a thief, and it felt even more thrilling. He felt even more that not going to Li Qiming’s boring gathering was the right choice.

Seeing that the silk butterfly white pearl phoenix crown had been taken out, Zhao Jun finally remembered he still didn’t know what they were sneaking around for. “So what exactly are we using these things for?”

No one paid him any attention. Jian Huaifeng had already gone with Tan Tian to choose costumes. Tan Tian had done a column where he gave random pedestrians makeovers and took photos, covering all styles, even touching on the ancient style circle.

In the end, he selected a costume that was overall emerald blue with touches of bright red to match the phoenix crown. He also chose a cloud collar adorned with golden silk tassels. Finally, when all the accessories were chosen, they got stuck on the headpiece, not knowing how to start.

Qin Jianqing looked at the pile of nets, pads, and hairpins and felt dizzy. “Why are there so many wig pieces? How do you put them on?”

Tan Tian also shook his head. The costumes and makeup in the ancient style circle weren’t this complicated. If they got it wrong, the result would be a bizarre mess, and posting it would make them a laughingstock.

“I’ll do it myself,” Jian Huaifeng said.

Qin Jianqing hadn’t yet realized who was speaking. It couldn’t be Jian Huaifeng. “You? You know how to do this?”

Zhao Jun’s voice came almost simultaneously, his jaw practically dropping to the floor, revealing he was even more surprised than Qin Jianqing.

It was like someone telling him that his straight, rough-skinned buddy actually knew how to do makeup in private, and was surprisingly good at it, making him want to throw up even the leftovers he’d eaten. But Jian Huaifeng naturally didn’t fit that comparison.

He wasn’t rough; his skin was even smooth and delicate, and he was as exquisite as a BJD doll. Whether he was straight or not, Zhao Jun had never thought about it, and wasn’t thinking about it now. He just still couldn’t associate Jian Huaifeng with knowing how to do makeup, especially heavy Peking opera makeup.

Qin Jianqing also seemed very unconvinced that he could handle this. He advised, “Nephew, just looking at the stuff on this headpiece, you can tell how complicated it is. If we can’t manage it, you don’t need to force it. You might hurt yourself, or pull out a few handfuls of perfectly good hair. That wouldn’t be worth it. Why don’t we find a professional to do it?”

“I can give it a try. I usually learn from the internet,” Jian Huaifeng said.

He wasn’t joking. He had been busy grinding progress for his piano title and the basic tasks for the high school entrance exam, so he hadn’t had much chance to do other tasks. The tasks under “Pear Garden Little Oriole” had only recently appeared.

But that didn’t stop him from developing a strong interest in this art after going with Jian Junya to the Peking opera theater to see “The Unicorn Purse” for the first time.

Although he hadn’t unlocked the master class yet, and had no chance to find a real-life teacher, he had been searching online for theoretical knowledge about the opera profession. He naturally understood basic things like headpieces.

At least now he knew what the thing in Qin Jianqing’s hand was called and where it should be worn.

It was also Jian Huaifeng’s first time doing Peking opera makeup and styling. With the handy buff and a lot of theoretical knowledge, two hours later, he finally finished the entire headpiece. Next, Tan Tian would do his makeup.

Tan Tian had a unique understanding of his photography style. Although it was a Peking opera look, he didn’t paint his face according to traditional Peking opera character makeup. Instead, he modified it based on Jian Huaifeng’s slightly Westernized, mixed-race features.

Just like that, from start to finish, three hours passed in a blink. The sunlight had deepened in color and was slanting in through the window.

Zhao Jun had long been overcome by drowsiness. He searched for a while but couldn’t find a single chair in the huge walk-in closet, so he simply leaned against a glass display case, sat on the floor, and fell asleep.

When he woke up, Tan Tian was just draping the cloud collar covered in golden tassels over Jian Huaifeng.

Jian Huaifeng slightly spread his arms to let Tan Tian adjust his clothes. Jian Junya’s collection was naturally of impeccable quality, all hand-embroidered stitch by stitch. Under the light of the setting sun, which looked like scattered gold, he seemed in a daze like a noble lady who had walked out of an ancient painting.

Zhao Jun felt as if he were dreaming, staring at the scene without blinking, so awake that he forgot to breathe.

When he came to, Zhao Jun was so captivated by this unrealistic scene that he didn’t even react when his phone vibrated dozens of times. Finally, his leg went numb from the vibrations, and he irritably pulled out his phone. Sure enough, it was Li Qiming in the group chat urging him.

He didn’t reply and turned off his phone.

Qin Jianqing had been holding his phone and taking pictures since the makeup started. He said he wasn’t an assistant, but he had actually taken on the role of photographer’s assistant. After the entire styling was complete, he took another ten shots in rapid succession, then looked down and tapped the screen quickly.

Jian Huaifeng noticed his action and quickly reached over to press down on his phone. “Don’t send it to Grandpa Qin. Grandpa Qin will definitely tell Uncle.”

“Hey, how did you know I was going to send it to Grandpa?” Caught, he didn’t continue sharing the photos. He flicked the pearl on the phoenix crown on Jian Huaifeng’s head and said, “Why are you so afraid of letting Brother Wei know? Is he going to eat you?”

Jian Huaifeng was also stumped. Wei Nanting certainly wouldn’t eat him. Wanting to hide it from him was just a subconscious thought. When someone insisted on a reason, he frowned and thought carefully.

It seemed that last time at Qin Louyue’s house, he had planned to livestream, but couldn’t because he was underage. At that time, Wei Nanting misunderstood and took his phone away as soon as he entered the courtyard.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t noticed. He had always thought Wei Nanting didn’t like him doing these things, probably thinking it was a waste of time.

Seeing Jian Huaifeng insist, Qin Jianqing put down his phone, indicating he wouldn’t send it. “You won’t even let me share it. You went through all this trouble for this photoshoot just to hang it in your room and admire yourself? I didn’t know you were so narcissistic.”

Jian Huaifeng said, “…I’ll post it online.”

Qin Jianqing said, “Since you’re posting it online, Brother Wei will see it sooner or later. What’s the use of hiding it from him now?”

Jian Huaifeng pondered. Would Wei Nanting really pay attention to such boring things?

He didn’t think so.

“Alright, alright, stop dawdling. Let’s go take the photos now. The sun will set soon.” Tan Tian packed up the gear and hurried them out.

On the way here, they had roughly discussed where to shoot. Originally, they planned to shoot in the studio he had set up in his workspace, but after the styling was done, he felt it would be a waste not to shoot outdoors, so he switched to Plan B at the last minute.

But this Plan B Tan Tian mentioned was only described as an outdoor location, without saying where. When asked, he was quite anxious. “It’s a private garden that happens to be open to the public today. I already made a reservation when I included it in the plan. Let’s head over first. If it closes, we don’t know when it’ll open again.”

Jian Huaifeng was now weighed down and walking was very inconvenient. He could only slowly hold the railing and go down the stairs step by step. After a few steps, his neck already felt stiff.

Now he understood how amazing those performers were who could put on a full costume and still dance gracefully on stage. Without ten years of practice offstage, how could they move like lotus flowers in the wind on stage?

“Here, let me help you,” Zhao Jun, who had been walking behind, suddenly caught up and extended his hand.

Jian Huaifeng glanced at him and didn’t refuse. Going down the stairs was indeed inconvenient. So he held Zhao Jun with one hand and lifted his hem with the other. He finally made it to flat ground and felt a bit more at ease.

Qin Jianqing turned his head and saw this, couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Little Zhao, you’re quite aware. You’ve already been promoted to Little Junzi so quickly?”

Zhao Jun looked at himself, bending over carefully guarding Jian Huaifeng’s steps, and indeed looked like a fawning little eunuch. However, he didn’t feel embarrassed. He just rolled his eyes at Qin Jianqing and immediately picked up his phone to make a call.

Tan Tian went out first to hail a cab. The car arrived before long, but when he saw the narrow back seat, he immediately told the driver to cancel the order and go back.

Are you kidding? It took so long to get Jian Huaifeng’s outfit ready. If it got bumped, knocked, or messed up, it would be like adding a flaw to flawless white jade. He couldn’t stand that kind of imperfection.

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