Chapter 191 - 191: The Leader of the Era

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

The rejection was straightforward and left no room for negotiation.

However, Lin Qingqian wasn’t annoyed and her eyes were calm. “Is it convenient for me to know the reason?”

Vin flicked the cigarette butt with her good-looking fingers, and the silver ashes fell silently. Her red lips moved slightly. “I’ve seen your style. You admire our national style too much. Although you can gain popularity for a while, you’re ultimately not going to become mainstream.”

Han Liubai’s gentle brows furrowed slightly, but he was not in a hurry to refute. He subconsciously looked at the quiet woman beside him.

Lin Qingqian’s eyes were calm as she said unhurriedly, “The national style is indeed not mainstream, whether it’s now or in the future, but right now, ‘Z’ needs it very much.”

Vin frowned. “What do you mean?”

“In the past two years, the sales of ‘Z’ have been declining day by day, but you still insist on not inviting traffic and not doing any gimmicks. I admire your moral character, but with all due respect, the end result is that you will be eliminated by history.” Lin Qingqian bluntly pointed out the biggest problem of ‘Z’ magazine now.

Vin’s exquisite features were filled with anger. “You mean we should go with the flow and film whoever is popular and follow the trend?”

Lin Qingqian smiled lightly and shook her head. Her red lips said word by word, “What I mean is… we should be the leader of an era, not followers of the trend. ”

Vin was stunned. Her pupils constricted. She looked at the woman in front of her in surprise and disbelief.

To become a leader ot the era was easier said than done.

“The leader of the era?” Vin’s red lips twitched slightly, and her tone was stern.

“Who do you think you are? How arrogant!”

“I’m not the leader of this era, nor is it anyone.” Lin Qingqian’s calm voice was neither humble nor arrogant as she said, “It’s a group of people who stick to their initial hearts and dreams. It’s everyone who wants to make this world beautiful.”

Not to mention Vin, even Han Liubai’s eyes lit up at this.

Her words were full of power and hope. They were more like a spring, irrigating all those who harbored the seeds of their dreams, allowing them to sprout and grow.

The anger in Vin’s heart gradually dissipated. She looked at her delicate face and was in a daze. She didn’t even react when the cigarette butt burned her fingertips.

Then, Lin Qingqian took her cigarette and extinguished it on the trash can beside her.

“Everyone knows how to say nice things!” Vin came back to her senses and said in a clear voice, “How can I believe that you can really do it?”

Lin Qingqian pursed her lips. “Just say what you have to say.”

Vin glanced around the studio. “Li Wenwen is not in the right state for filming. If you can settle it for me, I’ll seriously consider working with you.”

Lin Qingqian nodded and agreed without hesitation. “Okay.”

In the lounge.

Li Wenwen sat in front of the mirror while the makeup artist touched up her makeup.

Lin Qingqian knocked on the door and entered. Li Wenwen’s eyelids lifted slightly as she sized up Lin Qingqian.

“Hello, Miss Li. I’m Lin Qingqian. I’ll be your styling consultant for the upcoming shoot.” Lin Qingqian went straight to the point.

Li Wenwen frowned. “You?”

Lin Qingqian nodded. “Chief Editor Vin has already agreed.”

Li Wenwen raised her eyebrows slightly and said calmly, “In that case, alright.”

Lin Qingqian glanced sideways at the makeup artist. “There’s no need to touch up her makeup. Help her remove her makeup.”

The makeup artist was stunned. “Huh? Remove her makeup?” She was so shocked that her eyes almost fell to the ground. Lin Qingqian nodded. “Remove her makeup and change her clothes.”

The makeup artist didn’t move and looked at Li Wenwen carefully.

Li Wenwen’s expression was calm. After glancing at Lin Qingqian, she said, “Do as she says.”

With Li Wenwen’s cooperation, Lin Qingqian went to set up the venue.

Although the sales of “Z” magazine were not as good as before, the team was experienced. Even though they changed the filming set at the last minute, their actions were very fast. In the chaos, they met Lin Qingqian’s requirements in an hour.

When Vin and Li Wenwen walked into the studio, they were stunned.

The originally small studio was paved with a green lawn by Lin Qingqian, and a layer of silver ashes was laid on the lawn.

Vin looked at Lin Qingqian in confusion. “Do you know what the theme of our next issue is?”

“Spring” Lin Qingqian replied softly. Every year, “Z” would release a theme that matched the four seasons. The next issue would be the theme of “Spring”.

“Then why did you change the setting to…” Vin paused and chose her words carefully. “The wilderness? This is the opposite of our theme.”

Lin Qingqian curved her lips. “Who said that spring must be filled with greenery? Haven’t you heard of the saying—The wildfire burns unceasingly, but the soring wind brings rebirth?”

Vin was stunned.

Li Wenwen’s eyes lit up. “Your idea is very special. May I ask why you want me to change into this white dress?”

Lin Qingqian looked at her. “I don’t have any special intentions. It’s just that when I was young, I ran around in the wilderness and saw my sister in a white dress running in the fields. The ashes dyed the dress black and it felt very artistic.”

Li Wenwen did not ask any more questions and let the photographer start filming.

Lin Qingqian and Han Liubai stood at the side and watched, while Vin watched the cameraman take real-time photos in front of the screen.

After changing into the set and costume, Li Wenwen looked much more natural in front of the camera. She didn’t even need the photographer to advise her on poses. It was as if she had already integrated herself into this scene.

Halfway through the filming, Vin no longer needed to stare at the monitor. She walked in front of Lin Qingqian. “Looks like I was wrong previously. You’re a very talented stylist.”

“Thank you for your praise. I wonder if we can talk about cooperation now.” Lin Qingqian asked.

Vin nodded. “Of course. I look forward to working with you.”

The corners of Lin Qingqian’s lips curled up slightly. She paused for a moment and said, “Pardon me for asking, but are you planning to sell this issue of the magazine both as hardcopy and softcopy?”

Now that the Internet was developed and the physical industry had suffered a blow, many magazines began to make electronic magazines to seize the market in order to keep up with the trend.

Z reacted a little slower in this aspect. Compared to the electronic sales of the other two magazines, it was weak and couldn’t improve.

Vin looked doubtful. “Is there a problem?”

“This is just my personal suggestion. If you don’t mind, you can listen to me first.”

Lin Qingqian suggested to not sell electronic version for their next issue, but release the filming highlights for free in advance.

Firstly, Li Wenwen was not a popular celebrity to begin with, so the production of an electronic magazine couldn’t increase their sales. Secondly, since Z Magazine had a shortcoming in this aspect, it should play to its strengths and avoid its weaknesses. It could just specialize in physical sales.

Vin felt that what she said made sense, but the specifics still needed to be discussed with a few departments as it was not up to her to decide.

This was an internal matter of the company, so Lin Qingqian naturally wouldn’t say much. After confirming the opportunity for cooperation, she left with Han Liubai.

Before leaving, Li Wenwen’s manager came over and took the initiative to ask for Lin Qingqian’s business card.

The collaboration with Z was quickly finalized.

Lin Qingqian didn’t forget what she said before. She wanted to treat Han Liubai’s friend to a meal.

A light flashed in Han Liubai’s eyes. He said gently, “My friend is overseas. Why don’t I help you make an appointment next time?”

Lin Qingqian nodded. “I see. Then you must inform me when your friend comes back.”

Han Liubai smiled. “Alright.”

“I have to thank you for this.” Lin Qingqian glanced at the time on the computer. “I’ll treat you to dinner tonight. Call Suisui, Xiaoying, and the rest over.”

Han Liubai was about to say no, but Suisui bounced in and said happily, “Qianqian, you’re treating? Then I’ll quickly book a restaurant.”

“You’re more enthusiastic than anyone else when it comes to eating.” Lin

Qingqian glared at her.

“No.” Suisui denied it righteously. “I promise I’ll be more proactive if you bring

Lu Qinshang.”

Lin Qingqian: “.. ‘

Han Liubai: “… ‘

The two of them looked at each other helplessly.

Suisui skipped out to book a restaurant.

Suisui did not book a table in the most popular hotpot restaurant. She booked a private room in another hotpot restaurant.

As the four of them ate and chatted, Suisui suddenly cursed. She was so angry that she almost threw her cell phone into the hotpot.

“What’s wrong?” Su Ying asked curiously.

Suisui looked up and said indignantly, “Qianqian, we’re being scolded on the trending searches.”

Lin Qingqian took out her phone and opened Weibo to see the trending topic #Shi Guang Studio and Z Magazine#.

When she clicked on it, she saw that the official Weibo account of Z Magazine had announced its cooperation with Shi Guang Studio. At the same time, it revealed the depth of the styling consultant for the next issue’s theme, “Ash”.

The comments were not anticipation or congratulations, but doubts and abuse.

Shi Guang Studio only knew how to create gimmicks and traffic to benefit from the interest in the national style. A powerful magazine like Z collaborating with Shi Guang Studio was basically ruining their own reputation.

The loyal fans of Z Magazine were instiga ted and strongly requested to cancel their collaboration with Shi Guang Studio and not do anything retro.

There were even many people who scolded Qianqian. It was actually a team operation and not something done by a single person at all. Otherwise, why would they not dare to appear?

Lin Qingqian’s Weibo and Shi Guang Studio’s official Weibo account received a lot of malicious attacks.

Su Ying said worriedly, “Sister Qingqian, I’ll go and publish a public relations article.”

Lin Qingqian smiled calmly. “No need. Continue eating.”

“Ah?” Suisui was surprised. “They’re already scolding you like this. How can you still eat?”

Han Liubai didn’t use Weibo. When he heard Suisui’s words, he only turned his head and couldn’t hide the worry in his gentle eyes.

Lin Qingqian picked up a yellow trout with a plate and said, “So be it if they scold me. It’s not like I’ll lose a piece of flesh. If I don’t eat properly, I might really lose a kilogram of flesh.”

Suisui “…”

This reason… was so powerful that no one could refute it.

Lin Qingqian could keep her composure, but Vin could not. She called after a while.

Lin Qingqian let them continue eating while she went out to answer the call.

There was no need to be anxious about comforting Vin. Everything would go according to plan, and there was no need to specially eliminate the negative comments on the Internet. As long as the next issue of the magazine was released, all the negative comments on the Internet would naturally be shattered.

Vin was relieved to see that Lin Qingqian was even calmer than her. She was familiar with the few spam accounts and managed to get some information.

Before hanging up, she hinted to her that this matter was premeditated and was completely directed at her..