HuaYu: Starting with Photography to Navigate the Entertainment Industry

"Or...or I could be your girlfriend."

This is what Zhu Zhu said afterward.

Although the sound was very soft and faint, Xu Lang still heard it.

"girlfriend?"

Xu Lang couldn't help but scratch his head.

"Again?"

I turned down two people in a row the other day!

Am I someone who needs a girlfriend?!

Xu Lang was puzzled:

How wonderful those girls were in my previous life! They came specifically for the "mutual exemption" arrangement, so I didn't have to waste any words. It was so convenient and hassle-free.

It's so hard to find a "mutually free" deal these days!

Damn!

Xu Lang slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing what was going on.

Twenty years later, the market for private homes has matured and become more accepting, and girls are more open about it.

But now it's 2004, and there's no concept of "private funds" anymore, let alone "mutual exemption".

"Am I supposed to incubate and cultivate this market myself?"

Xu Lang didn't want to go against people's opinions, so he quickly dismissed the idea.

Looking at Zhu Zhu, who was bowing her head and blushing, Xu Lang felt a stirring in his heart.

In fact, he understood what Zhu Zhu meant; it was a tacit agreement, a deal.

However, this "deal" was still labeled as a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship.

After all, it was easier for her to accept and more serious to say it that way.

But Xu Lang doesn't want a girlfriend, not even in name only.

After pondering for a moment, Xu Lang had an idea. He tentatively asked:

Do you know about "mutual exemption"?

"Mutual exemption?" Zhu Zhu shook his head. "No... I don't know what that means."

Xu Lang thought for a moment and then explained the meaning of "mutual exemption" itself.

"Mutual exemption" refers to a situation where the photographer and model don't have to pay for the photoshoot; they waive their fees for each other.

"oh."

Although Zhu Zhu had never heard of the term "mutual exemption," he was aware of such a thing.

But that's all between two novices, for example, a newly hired photographer who needs to find models to practice his photography skills;

A new model also needs a photographer to help her hone her photography skills.

It's like two newly hired nurses practicing injections on each other, each getting what they need.

But Xu Lang is different. Does he still need to find models to practice his skills?

Zhu Zhu looked up at Xu Lang, his eyes revealing...

"Mutual exemption? Between the two of us? Is that really possible?"

"Can!"

Xu Lang gave an affirmative answer, but before Zhu Zhu could speak, he added:

"But the content I'm filming will be a bit more explicit, so you'd better think it through."

"what?"

Zhu Zhu had been in the modeling industry for two or three years and had seen quite a few people. How could she not understand what Xu Lang meant?

Her face, which had just been flushed with embarrassment, turned pale again, and she couldn't help but take a few steps back.

"What...what do you want to do with my photo?"

Zhu Zhu's reaction made Xu Lang overjoyed.

It's you who took my photo, not what you want to do to me.

There are huge differences here.

"Don't worry, I just like looking at and taking pictures. I won't use your photos to do anything illegal. In fact, I don't even need the photos."

Xu Lang's approach can be considered a roundabout way to achieve his goal.

Start by watching and taking pictures. Once the sense of shame between men and women is gone, the rest will naturally follow.

The phrase "no photos" gave Zhu Zhu a lot of courage.

Having explicit photos in someone else's hands is like having leverage over them.

Isn't this the same logic behind the naked loan scams of later generations?

"This isn't urgent, think it over carefully."

As Xu Lang spoke, he turned around and prepared to leave.

As soon as he turned around, Zhu Zhu grabbed his hand.

"As long as you don't want photos, I'll agree to your request. As long as the actions or poses aren't too outrageous, I'll try my best to cooperate."

That's so satisfying?!

Xu Lang turned around to look at Zhu Zhu, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily curved into a smile.

Doesn't that mean the goal has been achieved?

"Okay, it's a deal then."

"It's a deal!"

Xu Lang and Zhu Zhu high-fived each other, and the verbal agreement was thus finalized.

When are you planning to film it?

Zhu Zhu looked at the luxurious lounge, then at the time; there was still an hour left.

"Let's do it now."

"Alright!"

Xu Lang took his camera out of his bag, and while he was organizing his equipment, Zhu Zhu also took out her makeup bag.

"Xu Lang, look, is this enough makeup?"

After establishing the cooperative relationship, Zhu Zhu stopped calling him "teacher" and addressed him by his first name.

Xu Lang glanced at it and saw that it had everything: foundation, eyebrows, lips, setting powder, and cleansing tools.

They even had Vaseline, blotting paper, moisturizing spray, and razor blades for the shoot.

"Wow, you've got a pretty complete set of equipment!"

"Of course, we're professionals."

As Zhu Zhu herself said, she is a professional. Once she entered the filming preparation stage, Zhu Zhu became exceptionally efficient.

After understanding Xu Lang's filming intentions, she began preparing many things on her own.

"Xu Lang, let me finish the base makeup first. It's better if you handle the special styling later."

"no problem."

After finishing her base makeup, Zhu Zhu ran up and down the stairs to borrow a few outfits from the underground photography studio.

Zhu Zhu held up a long dress in front of her, swaying her body.

"Xu Lang, what do you think of this outfit?"

"this..."

Xu Lang pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said,

"This is hard to tear."

"Well..."

Thinking about the meaning behind the word "tear," Zhu Zhu's face turned red again.

She changed into a silk robe and asked again,

"What about this one?"

"This is quite expensive, isn't it a waste to tear it up?"

"Too."

After trying on several outfits, Xu Lang finally settled on a burgundy slip dress.

"This one will do."

"Okay, then I'll put it on and you can see how it looks."

This is another aspect of Zhu Zhu's professionalism; once a deal is made, he doesn't drag things out or pretend at all.

Soon, the door to the inner bedroom reopened, and Zhu Zhu, wearing a low-cut halter dress, came out.

Xu Lang only glanced at it before feeling his mouth go dry.

This Zhu Zhu is truly an exceptional beauty!

Her stunning figure, paired with a sexy low-cut halter-neck mini dress, perfectly showcased the allure of her body.

Especially her lower body, the soft, form-fitting short skirt suddenly bulged out from her waist, the angle and curve of which were breathtaking.

"Yes, it's beautiful!"

"Thank you for the compliment."

Zhu Zhu smiled slightly at Xu Lang, "Then it's up to you now."

"No problem, I'm a professional at this!"

Xu Lang pressed Zhu Zhu in front of the makeup mirror, took out eye makeup tools from his makeup bag, and began to apply makeup while explaining:

"The base makeup should look pale, like it's bloodless, and there should be traces of tears on the face, so that it looks pitiful."

Xu Lang's movements were very skilled. In less than five minutes, a pale face appeared in the mirror. Especially under his eyes and on his cheeks, the tear tracks were heartbreaking.

This was the first time Zhu Zhu had seen Xu Lang put on makeup. He had been a little worried at first, but now that he saw it, he immediately felt relieved.

"This skill level is far superior to that of the makeup artists at FHM magazine."

Next, we move on to the eye makeup.

Smudged eyeliner, reddened eyes, and messy eyelashes.

As she drew, Zhu Zhu watched, and even though she knew it was fake, she was still captivated by what she saw.

Especially the corners of her eyes and the whites of her eyes, it looks like she's been crying for a long time.

"Finally, remove half of this double eyelid, and it will be perfect."

As Xu Lang spoke, he resumed his work. After finishing, Xu Lang stood up straight and examined Zhu Zhu in the mirror.

"Take a look for yourself, what do you think?"

Zhu Zhu looked at himself in the mirror, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

"Xu Lang, you're really amazing. To be honest, considering your skills, your price of three thousand is really not expensive."

"Now I know, they were all crying and haggling with me before."

Xu Lang said irritably.

"It's not that your skills are bad, it's that I really don't have the money."

Zhu Zhu spoke quite frankly.

"Alright, now for the lips!"

As he spoke, Xu Lang reached out and wiped her full, rosy M-shaped lips.

"what!"

Zhu Zhu was startled, not understanding what he meant.

"What...what are you doing?"

Xu Lang looked at his fingers, then at Zhu Zhu's lips, and frowned.

"Are you using a matte lip gloss?"

"yes."

"That will be a bit more troublesome."

Seeing Xu Lang looking for makeup remover pads in his makeup bag, Zhu Zhu also realized what was going on:

He was trying on makeup.

According to the shooting direction Xu Lang mentioned earlier, the most direct manifestation of a woman's brokenness after being ravaged is lipstick.

The thought of being forcibly kissed, or violently kissed, with lipstick smudged, is enough to make one's heart clench.

Soon, Xu Lang found some cotton swabs. He stood to the side, bent over, and used one hand to hold Zhu Zhu's chin while the other hand applied the cotton swab to her lips.

Unlike the eyes and cheeks, the lips are one of a woman's "sensitive organs." Feeling her lips being rubbed and stroked, Zhu Zhu's heart inexplicably raced.

Looking at Xu Lang so close by, their breaths mingled, and the atmosphere grew increasingly ambiguous.

"A focused man is truly attractive!"

As Zhu Zhu was pondering this, he saw Xu Lang sigh and toss the handful of cotton swabs aside.

"No, this lip treatment won't work."