Bai Wanxue listened quietly to the excited makeup artist’s request and explanation.
Her pale red eyes blinked, seeming to process the complex meaning behind the other’s words.
A few seconds later, she slowly spoke, her voice still soft, yet carrying an undeniable sense of boundary.
“First, thank you for the compliment, Big Sister. Wanxue is very happy.”
She politely expressed her thanks first, then shifted her tone, her words peaceful yet firm as she drew the line.
“However, Wanxue’s little face… can only be touched by people she likes.”
Under everyone’s surprised gazes, she continued explaining in that straightforward, matter-of-fact tone.
“So, before reaching out to touch Wanxue’s face… please work hard to make Wanxue like you first. This is a necessary prerequisite. Meow.”
“Ai…”
The makeup artist sister’s shoulders slumped instantly upon hearing this, letting out a sigh that was both defeated and understanding.
She withdrew her eager hand and muttered, “As expected… it’s similar to what Zhi Ai-chan said back then… this kind of ‘strangers keep away, territory-conscious’ cat-like behavior…”
She turned to her colleague beside her, complaining with a wronged expression.
“Really now… I’m not some perverted stalker… I just wanted to study perfect skin texture…”
A wave of good-natured laughter rippled through the dressing room.
Su Yuqing also breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed Bai Wanxue, though blunt, handled it quite appropriately.
In fact, this kind of “direct rejection” had become part of her personality.
Seeing the discussion about skin come to an end, Su Yuqing timely steered the conversation back to the main topic.
She clapped her hands, pulling everyone’s attention back to work.
“Ahaha, well then… everyone, shall we pause the small talk and ‘academic exchange’ for now?”
She smiled and looked toward the few designers from the styling team who had been working diligently.
“Speaking of which, regarding Wanxue’s first official stage outfit, do you esteemed styling masters have any concrete ideas or preliminary plans now? Manager Huang and the Chairman are both waiting to see the initial results.”
A female designer wearing black-framed glasses and an artistic bun immediately raised her hand from behind a mannequin, her face flushed with the unique mix of fatigue and excitement from working through the night.
“Yes, yes! Big Sister Su, over here! Come see the first draft design sketches our styling team finalized just this morning after ‘brainstorming’ all night!”
She picked up a thick sketchbook, quickly walked over, and spread it open in front of Su Yuqing like presenting a treasure.
Other designers also gathered around, starting to explain all at once.
“Look, Sister Su, we carefully studied Little Wanxue’s audition video from yesterday, as well as her very, very distinctive personal style of casual wear,” the bespectacled designer said, pointing at the sketches with passionate enthusiasm.
“Overall, we still adhere to what you mentioned before—an idol’s personal characteristics are their soul. So, in the design, we completely used Little Wanxue’s ‘British-style maid outfit’ from yesterday’s audition as the foundational inspiration source!”
“Right!”
A male designer added, his fingers tracing over the sketches.
“While retaining that classical, exquisite, and slightly mysteriously rebellious tone, we made bold, modernized, stage-adapted improvements to the skirt length, layering method, and the tailoring of the top! We added more room for movement and visual impact. However—”
He emphasized his tone, pointing to several details on the sketch.
“Elements like the ‘Katyusha’ headdress, the apron with symbolic embroidery, the leather corset, and this design language that blends classical styles—these most representative features of a maid outfit, which also best highlight Little Wanxue’s personal traits—we’ve artistically processed and perfectly preserved them all!”
“Finally, after反复推敲 and revisions, we designed this preliminary plan—the ‘Night Star Maid Costume’!”
The bespectacled designer concluded, her eyes sparkling with pride in their work.
“It has both heritage and innovation, meets the needs of an idol stage, and fits Little Wanxue’s personal气质 perfectly! We think it has great potential!”
Su Yuqing took the sketchbook and carefully flipped through it.
The clothing on the sketches was indeed exquisite.
Based on Bai Wanxue’s original style of dress, it had become more gorgeous,灵动, and more suitable for singing and dancing on stage, while still retaining that unique, mysterious beauty somewhere between a doll and an elf.
She had to admit the styling team’s efficiency and standard were indeed high.
“Mmm~”
Su Yuqing nodded with satisfaction, closed the sketchbook, and looked toward Bai Wanxue, who had been standing quietly to the side the entire time as if the discussion had nothing to do with her.
Smiling, she passed the choice over to her.
“The design is excellent, everyone worked hard! So then, Wanxue, what do you think? Do you like this preliminary design plan for your stage outfit? Any further improvement ideas or opinions you can bring up now to these brothers and sisters?”
Everyone’s gaze once again focused on Bai Wanxue.
After all, almost everyone present knew in their hearts:
This was her clothing, her stage.
So her opinion was crucial.
Bai Wanxue’s gaze swept over the sketchbook in Su Yuqing’s hands, then slowly lifted to meet Su Yuqing’s smiling eyes.
She didn’t look at the expectant designers, nor did she carefully scrutinize the sketch details.
After a moment of quiet, she gently spoke in that eternally calm, ethereal voice, saying something that made everyone slightly taken aback.
“As long as Master likes it, that’s fine. Meow.”
“Huh…?”
Su Yuqing was momentarily stunned, not quite processing it.
Bai Wanxue took a small step forward.
Her pale red eyes reflected Su Yuqing’s somewhat bewildered face.
She repeated it, her tone so理所当然, as if it were the only truth in the world.
“As long as Master likes it, thinks it looks good, thinks it’s suitable… then, no matter what clothes Wanxue ends up wearing, no matter what kind of stage she stands on, Wanxue thinks it’s all acceptable.”
“Wanxue trusts Master’s judgment. So, Master can decide. Meow.”
A brief,微妙 silence fell over the dressing room.
The designers looked at each other.
The makeup artists exchanged glances.
These words sounded like complete trust and dependence, but for some reason, after the previous conversation about “imitation,” “personality,” and “boundaries,” hearing this “as long as Master likes it” now… somehow made people feel… behind this极致 “obedience,” there seemed to be a hidden, indescribable stubbornness and purity.
It wasn’t that she lacked personality.
On the contrary, her personality seemed entirely anchored to the “Master’s” likes and dislikes.
This was more impressive than any unconventional styling or slogan, and also… more stirring to the heart.
Su Yuqing’s hand holding the sketchbook tightened slightly.
She looked into Bai Wanxue’s eyes, which seemed capable of swallowing all the world’s doubts but could only reflect her own image.
That complex mix of warmth and anxiety once again churned and surged within her.
She felt that this time, she really had picked up a… one-of-a-kind, and wholeheartedly “belonging only” to her, “big trouble.”