Xu Gui and his group had already eaten breakfast, so after meeting up with the people from *Fashion*, they headed directly to the filming location.
Twenty minutes later, their car stopped at a pier.
"This filming is at sea, so we need to take a cruise ship out to sea first," a staff member explained, leading them to a cruise ship docked at the pier. "Originally, it was said that we would film in the nearshore area, but after Mr. Bell inspected the area, he felt that the seawater here was not clear enough and not suitable for filming, so he strongly requested that we move the filming location to the deep sea."
Mom Bell, the chief photographer for *Denla*, the main brand of *Fashion*. Yes, the chief photographer for *Denla*, not the sub-brand *Fashion*. There are even rumors that he is actually one of the shareholders of *Denla*, one of the owners behind it, and a nobleman from Country Y with a powerful background.
In short, speculation about Mom Bell has been rampant, but no definitive conclusion has been reached. However, one thing is certain: he wields considerable influence within *Denla* magazine. Otherwise, he couldn't have single-handedly chosen Xu Gui as the cover model for *Fashion*'s autumn collection.
According to Kuang Ming, initially, Mom Bell wanted Xu Gui to be the face of *Denla*'s main brand, but *Denla* executives called him crazy.
Kuang Ming: "When he heard this, he also thought Mr. Bell was insane, and even thought he might have misheard.
*Denla* is a high-end luxury brand from Y country. In previous years, its models and spokespeople were all top-tier international figures. How could Xu Gui, a newcomer, be chosen?
What else could Mr. Bell be but madness?"
However, more than a businessman, Mom Bell is an artist. As a top global photographer, he strives to create truly stunning works. To this end, he has traveled to remote, undeveloped forests and war-torn countries, his pursuit of art bordering on fanaticism.
Therefore, such words coming from Mr. Bell don't seem so surprising.
However, the final result was clear: the people at *Denla* magazine didn't agree to Mom Bell's unreasonable request. After all, Mom Bell might be considered crazy, but they weren't. If they really let Xu Gui, an unknown, faceless, and unconnected person, become their model, *Denla* would be a laughingstock in the industry.
Although Mom Bell's unreasonable proposal was rejected without hesitation, something happened later, and Xu Gui ended up becoming the cover model for *Fashion* magazine's fall issue.
Kuang Ming: Although we don't know exactly what happened in the end, the final outcome was favorable to them. Sometimes, an artist's madness isn't a bad thing.
...
Xu Gui and her group had already boarded the cruise ship.
As soon as they boarded, a tall, muscular foreign man with a full beard enthusiastically embraced Xu Gui: "Oh, my muse! I've finally met you!"
Xu Gui: !
Xu Gui immediately took two steps back, looking at the man warily.
The man stopped, looking at Xu Gui apologetically, and said in surprisingly fluent Mandarin, "Sorry, I was too excited... Don't worry, I'm not a bad person."
Kuang Ming, who was a step behind Xu Gui, stood beside her and quickly introduced her: "This is Mr. Mom Bell. Thanks to Mr. Bell, we had the opportunity to collaborate with *Fashion*."
He gestured to Xu Gui with his eyes.
Xu Gui looked at the foreign man in front of her curiously, then exclaimed, "You're Mom Bell..." She had truly heard so much about him.
Bell smiled at Xu Gui and said, "I've watched your live stream. You're really amazing. How do you know things that haven't happened yet? Fortune telling... Is this a special skill of yours in China?"
His tone was full of curiosity.
"Chinese Kung Fu?" Xu Gui thought for a moment and nodded, "You could say that."
Fortune telling is a "specialty" of China, with a long history, so it can naturally be considered a uniquely Chinese "kung fu."
Bell was very curious and asked Xu Gui how she could predict these things. Xu Gui could only tell him, "It's a talent! Just like how others are born knowing how to swallow and drink water, I was born knowing how to tell fortunes."
She looked at Bell and asked, "Mr. Bell, would you like to try?"
Bell was flattered, "May I?"
Xu Gui gestured for him to sit down on a seat on the cruise ship. Kuang Ming, watching her gesture, twitched his lips slightly—anyone who didn't know better would think she was the owner of the cruise ship.
Bell readily agreed and sat down opposite Xu Gui.
"Mr. Bell, what would you like to have your fortune told?" Xu Gui asked him.
Bell thought for a moment and said, "Miss Xu, just tell me anything, anything is fine..." He was more curious about Xu Gui's amazing ability than what he wanted to be told.
Xu Gui glanced at him and nodded, "Okay."
She looked at him and began, "Mr. Bell, you were born into an extremely wealthy family. When you were six, you were kidnapped. This kidnapping nearly cost you your life. You still have a bullet hole in your chest..."
As Xu Gui recounted her story, Mr. Bell's expression gradually became somewhat strange.
A staff member nearby watched and whispered, "Mr. Bell, did Miss Xu say something wrong?"
"No," Bell shook his head, "She didn't say anything wrong. On the contrary, she's right. She's got everything right."
If he hadn't been a complete stranger to Xu Gui, he would have suspected she was from his family's side. Otherwise, how could she know so much about his past?
"Chinese Kung Fu is truly amazing," Bell exclaimed, his eyes practically shining as he looked at Xu Gui.
Hearing this, Kuang Ming, who greatly admired Xu Gui's abilities, breathed a sigh of relief—although he knew Xu Gui was formidable, he was genuinely afraid something might go wrong and affect Bell's impression of them; that would be disastrous.
Fortunately, Xu Gui had completely won over Bell with his own abilities.
At this moment, the crew had already started the cruise ship and headed towards their filming destination. As for Kuang Ming, seeing Xu Gui and Bell chatting so happily, he also walked to the side, discussing the upcoming filming with the *fashion* staff.
Meanwhile, only Xu Gui and Bell remained chatting.
"...Mr. Bell, are you going to a chaotic country soon?" Xu Gui asked suddenly, his gaze on Bell intense.
"Wow!"
Bell exclaimed dramatically, looking at Xu Gui in amazement: "How did you know that? Did you calculate it?"
He then added, "I do have this plan, or rather, it's just a future plan of mine; it's not finalized yet."
On this earth, there are peaceful and tranquil places like China, but there are also chaotic places filled with war. After finishing his filming, Bell planned to go to such countries to gather material.
However, this was still just an idea; he had only mentioned it once to a close friend, and even he himself wasn't entirely sure about it, yet he heard it from Xu Gui.
Bell: This is truly shocking.
Xu Gui said, "I don't recommend you go there."
Bell: "Why?"
Xu Gui lifted his eyelids to look at him, his expression indifferent, and said, "Because it's very dangerous; you'll die there."
Bell was taken aback, then fell into deep thought.
"Are you sure?" he asked Xu Gui repeatedly.
Xu Gui nodded: "I'm very sure; if you really go, you'll definitely die."
Bell frowned.
As an artist, although outsiders often say they value art over life, in reality, Bell still valued his life highly. Every time he went to a chaotic place, he made ample preparations.
If he really went to a war-torn area this time, he would certainly have taken safety precautions, yet even so, he still got into trouble?
Bell thought for a moment and decided to abandon the plan altogether; after all, he preferred to live than die.
"Miss Xu, you really are amazing." He couldn't help but praise Xu Gui again.
Xu Gui asked curiously, "I thought you would doubt my words."
"Heh," Bell waved his hand dismissively, "There's a saying among you Chinese: 'Listen to others and you'll eat your fill.' I'm very good at listening to people's opinions."
Bell's assistant, standing to the side, thought: ...That's the biggest lie ever! During the shoot, you seemed to have completely forgotten that saying. You were more stubborn than anyone else. We assistants tried to persuade you again and again, but you still went headlong into it.
The assistant naturally didn't voice his inner thoughts, maintaining an elegant and proper smile on his face.
...
Xu Gui and the others were filming in the deep sea area, at Bell's insistence.
The water in the deep sea was less polluted, cleaner, and richer in underwater resources, making it more suitable for the scenes Bell wanted to film. After the cruise ship reached its destination, it stopped. Before that, Xu Gui was taken to the dressing room for makeup and styling.
The theme of this issue of *fashion* is the sea, which sounds very elegant, but to put it simply, it's about people and the ocean (the sophistication suddenly disappears). As for the most important "person" in the theme, the brand's makeup and styling for Xu Gui this time is intended to be that of a mermaid.
Mermaids have always been an extremely popular topic, and they've been photographed to countless degrees both domestically and internationally. To create a truly outstanding work requires a photographer's skill.
Bell's choice of this theme is undoubtedly a testament to his confidence in his abilities.
About two hours later, Xu Gui was... ( The sentence is incomplete and ends abruptly.) The makeup artists from the party emerged from the room, surrounded by others. As she appeared, everyone on the deck was busy with their tasks. Upon hearing the makeup artists' cheers, they all turned to look.
Then, their eyes widened slightly in unison.
Xu Gui was now dressed as a mermaid.
Her hair, originally jet black and habitually tied up, had been permed and dyed a deep green by the makeup artist—a dark, almost blackish green that only reflected a hint of green in the sunlight.
Xu Gui had a small, fair face, and this color made her face appear even more radiant . Her skin was translucent, like a newly hatched egg, extremely pretty.
She also had makeup on, a thick, heavy layer. The makeup artist explained that this was to improve the filming effect; they were going to go into the water later, and if the makeup was too light, the photos might not turn out well. Therefore, Xu Gui had to suppress the urge to touch her face.
As for her costume, it was a typical mermaid outfit: a bodice, a fishtail, slender limbs, a waist so small it could be encircled with one hand, and fair, radiant skin that was dazzling in the sunlight.
However, everyone's attention was drawn to Xu Gui's face. Xu Gui's features were very well-proportioned, and her features were... She was quite attractive, but not exactly stunningly beautiful. However, at this moment, she was undeniably captivating, radiating an inhuman arrogance and coldness.
More than her beauty, they noticed another quality about her: danger, pride, and power.
She stood there, yet seemed to exist in another dimension, a distinct being entirely different from humans, as if she truly were a mermaid with a human torso and a fish tail.
How could such a unique, sharp, and alluring beauty not seize everyone's gaze?
"Perfect!" Suddenly, an exaggerated exclamation snapped everyone out of their daze.
Following the sound, they saw Bell, his expression exaggerated and his eyes burning, walk towards Xu Gui. He gently embraced her, exclaiming, "That's right, this is the mermaid I've been looking for!"
He wanted to curse as he said this. He wanted a "mermaid," an inhuman being, but what had everyone else recommended?
A mixed-race person?! How could they even think of that?
Ha! He wanted an inhuman presence, not a mixed-race one. He wanted someone who, just standing there, made people feel like she existed in another dimension, a powerful and dangerous being.
Bell had looked at many celebrities and models before, but hadn't found the right one, until he saw Xu Gui's photo circulating online.
The instant he saw the photo, he knew: Ah, he'd found her.
He'd found the protagonist he wanted.
And as it turned out, his choice was correct; Xu Gui standing before him now was the best proof.
"Perfect! This is the best mermaid in my mind..." He exclaimed,
his reaction was exaggerated, his emotions were too intense, and his gaze towards Xu Gui was extremely burning, as if he were looking at his beloved, filled with fervent love.
Xu Gui: "..."
She couldn't help but purse her lips.
"Don't move! And don't laugh, you won't look good when you laugh!" Bell suddenly said loudly, his expression stern.
Xu Gui: ?
She felt that this person had suddenly become neurotic.
"Mr. Bell is just like that," a staff member from *Fashion* explained to Xu Gui, "When it comes to filming, his emotions become very sensitive, and everything has to give way to his filming."
Kuang Ming casually said, "Artists always have some quirks."
Xu Gui nodded thoughtfully.
"Teacher Xu, drink some water." Yuan Lu handed Xu Gui a water bottle with a straw, urging her to drink. After Xu Gui finished, Yuan Lu applied sunscreen to her, making sure every exposed inch of her skin was protected.
The weather was very hot today, especially at the ocean, where the sun was even more intense. Everyone's exposed skin was burning hot, and without protection, Xu Gui's skin would likely peel after filming.
The staff were preparing for the shoot when one of them asked Xu Gui, "Teacher Xu, can you swim?"
Xu Gui, who was obediently drinking from her water bottle, raised an eyebrow and confidently replied, "I can swim!"
Upon hearing this, the staff member nodded slightly and then asked, "Can Ms. Xu hold her breath underwater?"
"Yes, I can."
"How long can you hold your breath? Two minutes?"
Xu Gui pondered for a moment and shook her head, saying, "I haven't calculated it precisely."
The staff member indicated that they understood and then asked, "Could we test it? Because the filming later might require you to hold your breath underwater, Ms. Xu, we need to know exactly how long you can hold your breath so we can make arrangements during filming."
Xu Gui had no objection to this, while Kuang Ming repeatedly confirmed the safety issues with the staff.
A few minutes later, everything was ready, and Xu Gui put down her phone, preparing to go into the water.
Before her phone screen went black, the image on her screen could be vaguely seen; it was a search result for netizens, and the search box contained the sentence: "How long can a human hold their breath underwater?"
Splash!
With a splash, Xu Gui jumped into the sea.
This was a shallow area in a remote sea. Compared to the artificial lake in the park last time, the water here was much clearer, with a bright, clear blue quality. After Xu Gui jumped in, she felt her pores open up, and her limbs stretched out comfortably.
As a turtle, she loved water. Every night, if conditions and time allowed, she would definitely take a bath; otherwise, she always felt dry.
However, the narrow fish tank could never compare to the vastness of the ocean. In the sea, Xu Gui felt her stiff body relax. She didn't even need an adaptation process after entering the water, since she came from the water herself.
Beside her were staff members wearing diving suits and oxygen tanks. Their main purpose was to ensure Xu Gui's safety. If Xu Gui showed any signs of being unable to hold her breath, they would immediately rescue her to prevent any accidents.
Xu Gui glanced at them but didn't pay them any attention. She swam around the area first, and then began to dive.
As she dived, she kept track of the time.
She had just checked; the person who could hold their breath the longest had done so for twenty-two minutes. She was only slightly behind, probably around eighteen minutes.
Eighteen minutes—that was plenty of time!
Xu Gui thought to herself, feeling even more relaxed and carefree.
Meanwhile, those on the surface noticed the rope tied to Xu Gui was getting longer and longer.
Everyone: ? ?
"What's going on?" Kuang Ming asked anxiously, pointing at the rope.
The staff quickly reassured her, "Mr. Kuang, don't worry, I'll contact the people underwater right now..." For easier communication, their underwater team was equipped with communication devices.
At this moment, the staff contacted the underwater team.
"...What's wrong with Miss Xu? Why is her rope still falling?"
"Uh, Miss Xu is diving deeper. We stopped her, but she seems to be doing well and doesn't seem to need our help for now."
The staff: ? ?
He glanced at the still-falling rope, only one thought in his mind: How deep has she dived?
Fortunately, this was a diving area, and soon the rope binding Xu Gui stopped moving. By then, Xu Gui had reached the seabed.
The shallow water wasn't too dark; dappled light seemed to fall from above, swaying occasionally. As Xu Gui swam to the seabed, schools of fish swam past her. She reached out her hand, and the fish weren't afraid of her at all, gently touching her fingers with their mouths.
Xu Gui also saw sea urchins. This remote area had many sea urchins, each one plump and large. Xu Gui considered digging some up, but she didn't have any tools and had to give up.
The staff around her were watching the time, waiting for Xu Gui to show signs of exhaustion so they could bring her back up. However, as time passed, Xu Gui showed no signs of fatigue or breathlessness; instead, she seemed even more at ease.
She swam with the agility and freedom of a real fish, appearing even more comfortable than they were, still wearing their diving suits.
Underwater staff: So, is this reasonable? The underwater
crew's shock was unknown to the surface crew. Only the crew member with the stopwatch kept looking up and down, watching the time tick by, feeling the veins on his forehead throbbing. Five
minutes had passed, and looking at the calm, still sea, Kuang Ming couldn't stand it any longer. He looked at the crew member beside him and couldn't help but ask, "Why haven't they come up yet?"
The crew member replied, "...Let me ask again."
The underwater crew member who had been contacted was speechless.
They looked at Xu Gui, who was surrounded by fish and playing with them, and said in a somewhat ambiguous tone, "Miss Xu seems to be having a lot of fun with the fish."
Kuang Ming and the others were completely bewildered.
Bell stood on the deck edge, looking into the water, and turned to ask the timer, "How long has Miss Xu been underwater?"
The timer's voice held an unconscious gasp of surprise: "Eight minutes."
Bell took a breath, looked at Kuang Ming, and exclaimed, "Mr. Kuang, did you know Miss Xu could hold her breath this well? I thought she could only hold her breath for three minutes!"
Kuang Ming: ...To be honest, this was the first time I'd ever heard of her underwater breath-holding ability.
Bell was rather pleased. The better Xu Gui held her breath, the easier the subsequent filming would be. Underwater filming really tested an actor's breath-holding skills, and now it seemed Xu Gui was simply the chosen one for their "fashion" theme.
My judgment was truly excellent!
Bell was very proud.
*
For the next while, everyone on deck was quiet, especially as time passed and the person underwater still hadn't surfaced, the atmosphere on deck became even more subtly quiet.
After the staff repeatedly contacted the underwater crew, only to receive the answer "all is well," Kuang Ming began to get restless.
At this moment, he even started to conspire, wondering if something had happened underwater, if Xu Gui had been in trouble, otherwise why hadn't she come up after ten minutes?
Kuang Ming was also somewhat regretful; he felt he should have gone into the water with her, at least with him watching over Xu Gui, he would have noticed immediately if anything happened to her—he had forgotten that he couldn't swim at all, and was even somewhat afraid of water.
"Why haven't they come up yet?"
Finally, before Kuang Ming could even ask for the first time, with a splash, a wet figure appeared before everyone on the deck.
In the water, Xu Gui was holding a lively, wriggling fish, excitedly shouting to Kuang Ming on the boat, "Kuang Ming, look! I caught a really big fish! This fish must be delicious!"
Don't ask her how she knew the fish was delicious; it was the hunting instinct of a sea predator, her instinct telling her that this fish was definitely tasty.
After being terrified for half a day, Kuang Ming saw Xu Gui jumping around and said, "...Please call me manager."
What an impolite brat.