Filming Set.
The dressing room door was closed, but the soundproofing was poor.
I could hear the staff walking back and forth outside and the photographer shouting as he adjusted the lighting.
I confirmed the door was locked.
Sitting in front of the mirror, I looked at the face in the reflection that hadn’t been made up yet.
It was an ordinary but pale face.
Three seconds later, I looked away.
I didn’t dare speak loudly, so I could only start muttering to myself.
“Damned Su Nian…”
I picked up the foundation.
“Damned paramecium, you single-celled organism…”
I patted the sponge.
“And that white-haired girl… she claims to know me? Hah — I didn’t even know her three days ago~”
I spread the makeup evenly.
“But, ugh… my Ten Million… o(╥﹏╥)o… ugh…”
Muttering was pointless, I knew that.
But if I didn’t say it out loud, I would feel stifled.
Ten Million.
Ten Million was just gone like that.
And then?
She was still asking why 5 kilometers was so tiring yesterday.
Chuxue was taking her for training today.
I didn’t know if that white-haired girl would take the opportunity to fish for information.
Meanwhile, I was here.
A swimsuit.
A photo shoot.
Putting those two terms together was a mockery of my very existence.
I took a deep breath and continued with the makeup.
Foundation.
Eye shadow.
Blush.
Lip glaze.
Layer by layer, I covered the face of Lin Zou.
The person in the mirror began to change.
The eyes were the same eyes, but the gaze had shifted.
The mouth was the same mouth, but the curve had altered.
Forty minutes later.
The person in the mirror had long pink hair draped over her shoulders.
Her eyes were bright, as if they contained light, and her lips wore the brand of lip glaze she was endorsing — today’s photo shoot required showing off this brand, which would earn some extra money.
She looked at me.
I looked at her.
Alice.
I stood up and turned around halfway to check every angle.
Although I had already checked the swimsuit, I only received it this morning — it was white with a bit of lace, backless, and used a pitifully small amount of fabric.
But everything that needed to be covered was covered.
They at least had that much sense.
The chest area was double-padded.
It wasn’t because it was needed; it was because things would go wrong if it wasn’t padded.
The chest binding was wrapped in three layers and secured with special tape, covering only the front part before I put on the swimsuit.
Every step had to be perfect.
If I made a mistake, I would be exposed in front of the camera.
Facing the mirror, I adjusted the shoulder straps.
“At least it’s not a bikini, but a cute-style swimsuit… aside from the back, which exposes everything,” I grumbled.
Finally, I turned around and pushed the door open.
The filming set was an artificial beach.
There was white sand, a blue background screen, a few fake coconut trees, and a giant blower — the kind specifically used to blow hair.
“Lady Alice!”
An assistant ran over, holding a schedule.
“We’ll start with a few sets of you walking along the beach, then move to the water’s edge, and finish with sunset silhouettes — is that alright with you?”
I nodded.
I didn’t speak.
I was in Alice Mode now.
My voice had to be sweet and soft, the kind that made people want to hear it again.
But right now, I didn’t want to say a word.
***
The shoot began.
“Good — Lady Alice, look to the left. Yes, just like that — excellent!”
The photographer’s voice came intermittently between the sounds of the shutter.
I followed his instructions, changing my poses.
Standing on the sand, hand resting on a fake coconut tree.
Sitting on a white chair, legs pressed together and tilted slightly to one side.
Lying on a beach towel, hand resting on my forehead to block the blinding lights —
“Great! Wonderful! Lady Alice’s expression is perfect!”
The shutter clicks pelted down like a rainstorm.
During the shoot, I took a moment to observe the “Supernova Alice” in the water to confirm my posture.
That afternoon, by the pool.
Alice stood in the water, which reached just past her knees.
This white swimsuit had been sent by the brand, claiming it “better suited Lady Alice’s temperament.”
White.
A bit of lace.
Backless.
Two pieces.
The upper half was a small bandeau with fine pleats across the chest, covering just enough while revealing a sliver of skin at the edges.
The hem of the top was wavy, swaying gently with my movements.
The lower half was a high-waisted short skirt, also white, with a ribbon tied at the side of the waist.
The edge of the skirt also had lace, clinging to my thighs and appearing faintly visible.
I maintained my smile, but inside I was thinking: ‘This blower is tangling my hair so much.
I’ll have to wash it for half an hour when I get back.’
“Alright, let’s move to the water’s edge —”
The water’s edge was a giant pool.
The water was warm, with a few fake petals floating on the surface.
I stepped into the pool, and the water came up to my knees.
The white swimsuit clung to my body as it got wet.
I glanced down.
It was a bit cold, but manageable.
“Lady Alice, could you move toward the middle a bit? Yes, further to the left — good! Stay right there! Look at the lens — perfect!”
The shutter sounds continued.
I kept smiling.
Just then —
“Eh? That person over there — “
A familiar voice came from the direction of the entrance.
My smile stiffened for a split second.
Then I turned my head, looking over with the most standard Alice expression.
Mayu and Rika.
Those two from Orient.
They were standing at the entrance, cameras in hand, with expressions of shock that said, “Oh my god, what are we seeing?”
“Rika, look quickly! It’s Alice!”
“No way — it really is Alice!”
They ran over, their high heels sinking into the sand and leaving deep prints all along the way.
The staff tried to stop them, but they backed off after seeing the passes hanging around the girls’ necks.
“Alice!”
Mayu ran to the edge of the pool, her eyes wide.
“What are you doing here shooting a photo book!”
“And it’s a swimsuit!”
Rika added, her eyes scanning me up and down.
“Oh my god, oh my god, is this still the Socially Anxious Alice we know — “
I maintained my smile.
My feet couldn’t stop wanting to step backward.
“Mayu, Rika… what a coincidence.”
My voice was sweet and soft, just like it was on stage.
Mayu’s mouth hung open even wider.
“That’s it! That’s the one! That’s Alice’s voice from the stage — !”
Beside her, Rika was laughing so hard she was slapping Mayu’s shoulder.
I laughed along with them.
But my mind was racing.
Why were they here?
The group from Orient — right, I heard the Manager mention before that Orient was too small and they were going back soon.
So they decided to finish their shoot here before leaving?
And we just happened to run into each other today?
How could I be this unlucky!?
“We’re here to shoot a photo book too!”
Mayu explained.
“The venues back in Orient were too cramped, so our Manager said we should just finish up here before going back — we didn’t expect to run into you!”
I had specifically chosen a time when there were few people, and the water here was so cold…
“And we’re both shooting in swimsuits!”
Rika added again.
“Oh my god, this is such a coincidence — “
Coincidence.
Yeah, quite the coincidence.
So much of a coincidence that I wanted to start cursing.
“Then… are you finished with your shoot?”
I asked.
“Just finished!”
Mayu said.
“That’s why we had time to wander around — and then we saw you!”
“How is your shoot going, Alice?”
Rika leaned in closer, her eyes fixed on my swimsuit.
“This looks so good! Where did you buy it?”
“Uh… the brand provided it…”
I took a step back.
Water splashed up, landing on my legs.
It felt even colder than before.
“Wow — Alice is so tiny. It’s even more obvious when she’s standing in the water!”
Mayu said suddenly.
My heart hammered against my ribs.
“Really, really!”
Rika leaned in too.
“Look, the water is already up to her knees!”
“Hahahaha — “
They started laughing.
I laughed too.
But I laughed very carefully.
Because they were right.
I was short.
Standing in the water made the height difference even more apparent.
If they got any closer, if they looked any more carefully —
“Lady Alice!” the assistant’s voice called out from a distance.
“We’re ready to shoot the next set — the sunset silhouette!”
It felt like a divine pardon.
“Then I’ll go head over to shoot…”
“Eh — wait a second!”
Mayu grabbed my wrist.
“We finally ran into each other; let’s chat for a few more minutes!”
The moment her hand touched my wrist, my entire body froze.
It wasn’t because of fear.
It was because — she had touched the edge of my chest binding.
‘It’s over, it’s over, it’s over!’