Inside the “Apple Pie” Modeling Agency’s photo studio.
“Click!”
The spotlight switched on, illuminating the shooting area with perfect clarity.
The air was thick with the scent of cosmetics, and the photographer was carefully adjusting the angle of the lighting.
Liu Zhe stood to the side, his palms sweating with excitement, though he forced himself to remain calm.
Before Qing stepped onto the stage, he tried to coax her into revealing her home address and information about her parents, but Qing refused to say a single word.
Liu Zhe even tried to use his connections to look into Qing’s background, but he found nothing.
Miss Qing was like someone who had appeared out of thin air, with no traceable information.
Could she really be some kind of fairy descended to the mortal world…?
The thought flashed briefly through Liu Zhe’s mind.
He immediately slapped his own face, reminding himself that he was a staunch materialist!
***
In theory, becoming a model required guardian consent, but Liu Zhe didn’t want to let such a talent slip through his fingers. He decided to act first and ask for forgiveness later—if anything went wrong, he would take responsibility.
Qing sat quietly in the corner before the makeup mirror, allowing the stylist to brush something gently across her face over and over.
The stylist applied blush to her cheeks while sighing in admiration, “Brother Liu, where did you find this gem? Her skin is almost flawless without much base makeup.”
“I’m so envious of you, little sister…” The stylist gazed at Qing’s delicate features.
Qing remained silent, like a finely crafted doll being posed. She didn’t respond to the stylist, which made the stylist feel awkward.
Seeing the stylist’s puzzled expression, Liu Zhe explained, “She… seems to be mute.”
“Oh, I’m sorry!” The stylist apologized. “Here, try on this dress, okay?”
She handed over a white dress for Qing to change into.
***
When Qing emerged from the changing room, the stylist’s face lit up with joy.
“All done! Perfect! You were born for the camera, Miss Qing.”
Liu Zhe hurried forward, “Miss Qing, are you ready? It’s simple—just like we discussed. Listen to the photographer’s directions and relax.”
The dress’s skirt flowed like a waterfall as Qing gave a slight nod to show she understood.
However, the shoot did not go as smoothly as expected.
***
“Okay… Miss Qing, look over here… yes… now give me a… hmm… a lazy feeling? Like you just woke up this morning, sleepy and hazy?” The photographer tried to guide her.
Qing looked at the lens, trying to grasp what ‘lazy’ and ‘hazy’ meant.
She tilted her head slightly and let her eyes glaze over, but instead of appearing lazy, she looked more like… daydreaming?
“Uh… alright, let’s try something else! Be cool and aloof! Yes! Imagine you’re the Ice Queen!” The photographer changed tactics.
Qing pursed her lips and lifted her chin.
The result was still unsatisfactory.
“Stop, stop…” The photographer lowered the camera and scratched his head. “Miss, can you show a little… emotion? Even just a tiny bit.”
“Curiosity? Longing? Or even a hint of world-weariness!”
Emotion?
Qing didn’t understand. When it came to emotions, the first thing she thought of was Lu Yuan crying by the gravestone that day.
***
The atmosphere in the studio stiffened, and Liu Zhe’s forehead began to sweat. He quickly tried to smooth things over, “Director Wang, Director Wang, she’s a rookie! She’s just nervous! Miss Qing, relax, move however you like—yes, just walk around casually. We’ll do some candid shots!”
Qing understood “walk casually.” She began to step forward, circling under the harsh lights.
At first, the photographer frowned, but as he watched, his brows gradually relaxed. His gaze grew more focused, even tinged with excitement, as if he had discovered a new world.
“Wait… don’t stop! Keep walking!” He suddenly raised his camera, and the shutter began clicking like a storm, “Click click click—!”
With no specific directions, reduced to the simple mechanical act of walking, Qing unexpectedly slipped into a strange state. She didn’t look like she was modeling clothes, but more like a lost spirit wandering the human world alone.
“This is perfect! Just like that! Hold it! No expression at all! Yes! Look at me! Exactly!” The photographer was ecstatic, lying on the ground to find angles and snapping furiously. He muttered nonstop, “Genius! This natural ‘despair’ vibe! This pure vacuum-like emptiness! Incredible tension!”
Liu Zhe stood dumbfounded nearby, then a surge of joy welled up inside him.
He had bet right! Miss Qing was indeed a genius!
***
When the shoot ended, the photographer eagerly ran to the computer to review the raw photos, repeatedly exclaiming in amazement. Assistants gathered around, showering praise.
Qing stood alone in the center of the now dimming studio lights, indifferent to the excitement around her.
Liu Zhe rushed over enthusiastically, “Miss Qing! It was a huge success! Director Wang says the photos are simply perfect! You’re definitely the next—”
His words stopped abruptly.
He saw Qing slightly tilting her head, eyes fixed intently on a small assistant in the corner of the studio.
The assistant was playing clips on their phone of the Magical Girl Nightingale Squad handling a calamity.
The screen’s light flickered in her pale green pupils.
Liu Zhe suddenly realized that the “vacuum-like purity” he sensed during the shoot might not have been entirely an artistic effect.
***
“Miss Qing~ time to remove your makeup now,” the stylist smiled as she stepped forward, wiping off the foundation from Qing’s face. Qing began removing her earrings and other accessories.
“Miss Qing, your performance today was truly perfect!” Liu Zhe approached with a gentle tone. “You worked hard, really. Is there anything you want? I’ll get it for you!”
He tried to bridge the gap between himself and the model with material rewards—his usual method for dealing with models.
Qing hesitated slightly while removing her earrings. She looked up at Liu Zhe and extended her hand.
Liu Zhe froze for a moment, then quickly unlocked his phone and handed it over.
So direct… Liu Zhe smiled wryly.
Wait… she doesn’t have a phone? After a moment’s thought, he decided to just give Miss Qing a phone—it would make communication easier.
Qing took the phone and tapped the screen a few times. She didn’t open any shopping or map apps but instead opened the browser.
Curious, Liu Zhe leaned closer, wanting to see what the silent beauty was interested in.
She typed two characters into the search bar:
【Lu Yuan】
A flood of information about Magical Girl Lu Yuan appeared on Qing’s phone screen.
Qing found a photo of Lu Yuan in battle, then turned the phone toward Liu Zhe and pointed at the image.
“Huh?”
The smile on Liu Zhe’s face froze.
He had imagined many things she might want—dresses, jewelry, or even a new phone—but he never thought she would want a person. And not just any person, but a popular magical girl.
“Lu… Lu Yuan? Magical Girl Lu Yuan?” He stammered in disbelief. “Miss Qing… you want her… autograph?”
That was the most reasonable explanation he could think of. After all, young girls admiring magical girls was common.
But Qing shook her head and pointed again at Lu Yuan on the screen.
“Then… you want to meet her?” Liu Zhe felt his thoughts lagging behind Qing’s. “That… that’s hard. Magical girls are busy, and their whereabouts are usually confidential…”
Qing’s eyes grew stubborn.
She took back the phone, typed a few words, then handed it back to Liu Zhe.
【Want, Lu Yuan.】
【Any way possible.】
【Please, help me.】
She looked up, once again presenting her request.
No pleading, no explanation—only the most straightforward appeal.
Liu Zhe stared at those lines of text, then at Qing’s flawless, stunning face.
He never expected that the first desire expressed by this rare gem he had discovered would be… someone as unreachable as a magical girl.
What exactly is going on inside this girl’s head?!
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