“You look surprised. Is there a problem?”
Tao Xixue walked over to Jiang Ran with the Photo Album.
Seeing Jiang Ran still dazed, she spoke up.
Jiang Ran looked up.
“Didn’t we agree to take photos? Why is there a bed?”
Tao Xixue gripped the Photo Album and said solemnly, “Since these are lifestyle photos, the bedroom is the easiest to simulate compared to the Library, a kitchen, or a living room.”
“If we wanted lifestyle photos, we could go to the streets or a tourist spot… and… that…”
Jiang Ran glanced at the set again.
Besides the bed, there was a wardrobe and several dressing tables.
The more she looked, the more it didn’t feel right.
Jiang Ran swallowed hard.
Tao Xixue placed her hand on Jiang Ran’s shoulder.
“Some cameras are inconvenient to take outside. Do you see that camera next to you? That one costs 500,000. This other one costs 300,000. If you break them outside, could you really afford to pay me back?”
Jiang Ran swallowed again, never imagining these things would be so expensive.
“Are they really that expensive?”
“Of course. Why would I lie to you? Come on, the dressing room is here. I’ve prepared the clothes for you in advance. They’re all new. You can keep them after we finish the shoot.”
Tao Xixue pushed Jiang Ran toward the dressing room.
When they reached the entrance, Jiang Ran nervously pulled back the curtain, only to be pushed inside a second later.
“There are numbers on the wall, from one to four. We’ll just take four sets of photos.”
“Oh…”
Jiang Ran entered the dressing room.
After locking the door, she pulled the curtain labeled with the number one.
A light purple dress hung on the rack.
The hem was designed to be very short.
Although it was a dress, the size was a bit too small.
Pulling the dress off the rack, Jiang Ran held it up against herself and realized the hem was much shorter than she had imagined.
‘Can I really wear this?’
Jiang Ran couldn’t help but want to back out.
Just then, Tao Xixue’s voice urged from outside.
“How’s it going? Do you know how to put it on? If it’s too difficult, I can help.”
“N-No need!”
‘What the hell? Having someone help me put on a dress?’
Jiang Ran took off her jacket and tried to put on the light purple dress.
The silk gauze texture felt exceptionally real.
She tugged at the hem, but it barely covered her backside.
There was still a significant gap between the hem and her knees.
Awkwardly pulling the curtain open, Jiang Ran pressed down on the dress.
“Relax. We’ve rented this place for the day. No outsiders will come.”
“There’s no need to use these kinds of clothes to practice Photography. I’m… I’m practically exposing everything.”
Jiang Ran’s cheeks burned.
She regretted coming out.
If she had known earlier, she wouldn’t have agreed to the shoot.
Seriously, why did she have to cover Gu Ge’s medical expenses?
“Short is good. Otherwise, how can I showcase the stockings I prepared? You won’t be exposed once you put them on. Let’s go.”
Tao Xixue pulled Jiang Ran forward, while the latter desperately tried to stay put.
“Slow down, slow down. It’s breezy.”
Tao Xixue looked back, her eyes fixed on Jiang Ran’s thighs.
“Is it? But I haven’t even seen what color you’re wearing today. It’s still not short enough.”
“Damn it, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”
“Of course. I’m planning to pay you a salary of 3,000 per hour. Is this how you treat your Benefactor?”
Tao Xixue slowed down and then threw Jiang Ran onto the bed.
“Pick one and put it on. I’ll handle the recording.”
Jiang Ran: “…”
Her gaze gradually went blank.
For a moment, she didn’t know what to make of this.
She turned her head toward the various stockings on the bed and swallowed.
Calling them stockings was an understatement; they were almost as transparent as plastic wrap.
She rummaged through them before finding a pair of white cotton stockings.
“Why did you pick those thick ones? Should I just give you a pair of long johns?”
Tao Xixue urged her as the camera in her hand flashed with white light.
“I just happen to like these. I’m not used to the others.”
Jiang Ran took off her sneakers and stepped onto the edge of the bed.
Her hands trembled slightly as she held the stockings.
She looked at the cameras around her and felt very uncomfortable.
“Slower. No need to put them on so fast.”
“Huh?”
Jiang Ran looked at Tao Xixue blankly.
After hesitating, she simply pulled them up slowly.
Tao Xixue nodded in satisfaction and went behind the camera.
At the same time, she took out a camera to record Jiang Ran’s expression.
Flames erupted in her hand, igniting the photo she had just taken.
Filled with an invisible fear and grievance, Tao Xixue bit her lip, her body resonating with the emotion.
The purple in her eyes deepened into a dark pool.
Pressing the camera, she watched the aggrieved Jiang Ran.
The joy in her heart reached its peak.
‘Yes, this is the feeling.’
The first stirrings of excitement, along with a trace of imperceptible indulgence…
On the large bed, Jiang Ran suddenly felt the unease in her heart lightening bit by bit.
It lightened to the point where she felt there was nothing wrong with what she was doing.
‘H-Has… Has she already accepted this role?’
Jiang Ran’s eyes were filled with despair, but soon, that feeling of fear returned to her body.
She looked in shock at her sweaty palms and then at Tao Xixue, who continued to take photos in the distance.
She swallowed.
After pulling the stockings all the way up, she smoothed her skirt and sat on the bed.
At the same time, the photo in front of Tao Xixue had burned away.
Looking at the disappearing photo, she exhaled softly, her gaze falling on Jiang Ran, who was now fully changed.
‘Is the duration of the Exchange of Five Senses related to the intensity of Jiang Ran’s emotions?’
“Student Jiang, you can stand up now. You can curl one leg on the bed and step on the slipper with the other foot. Yes, just like that.”
Tao Xixue pressed the shutter, capturing the final scene.
The image froze at the moment Jiang Ran cautiously stepped onto the slipper.
“Good. You can go change into the next outfit.”
“Oh…”
Jiang Ran breathed a sigh of relief, went to the dressing room, and pulled back the second curtain.
Compared to the first purple pajamas, the second outfit was much more normal.
It was a fluffy, light blue and cream-colored cake skirt.
Seeing that it was finally a long piece of clothing, Jiang Ran’s expression visibly brightened.
At least this skirt was quite long.
After putting on the cake skirt, she looked like a little cake crashing around as she walked.
She steadied her steps and came out of the dressing room.
At that moment, Tao Xixue took a photo and gave a command.
“Just walk over here.”
“Oh, okay.”
This time, Jiang Ran walked over naturally.
Once she reached the bed, Tao Xixue stepped forward to demonstrate.
“This time, the pose is to lie on the desk with your head resting on your hands.”
Jiang Ran nodded and walked to the desk.
Just as she sat down, she realized Tao Xixue had sat down beside her at some point.
“Aren’t you supposed to be taking photos?”
“This equipment can be operated remotely. I just need to use the controller. Don’t move, I’m about to press the shutter. Strike a pose.”