Chapter 21: The Art of Redemption

Chapter 21: The Art of Redemption

"Photographers are such posers, always flaunting their high-end personas. I heard she's got a major financial backer behind her."

"Really? But I've heard that her skills are terrible. Her photos are all about Photoshop; the original shots are hardly worth looking at. Yet, magazines are still scrambling for her. It's laughable. I wonder what makes her so special..."

Emily: "…"

Emily was always principled: you could insult her intelligence, but not her beauty. You could even insult her beauty, but never her professional skills.

Emily pushed the door open with a clatter and walked in with a blank expression.

The two girl group members froze, their heads still huddled together. They stood up instinctively after a few seconds of shock. One girl bit her lip and opened her mouth to say something to Emily, but the other quickly gave her a meaningful look to silence her.

She turned to Emily with a "What are you going to do about it?" expression.

Emily looked back at her, seemingly unperturbed.

"You might have some misconceptions about photography. Photoshop is a tool every photographer uses," Emily said calmly and sincerely. Her tone was unusually gentle, unlike her usual demeanor.

"But I use it very sparingly and generally not on models."

She paused, glancing at the girl group members with a hint of amusement before she smiled.

"However, for someone like you, there might be more need for Photoshop."

The girl's eyes widened. "What do you mean?!"

Emily gave her a dismissive glance, uninterested in continuing the conversation. She turned to leave but stopped at the door.

"By the way, aren't you curious about what I can do?" Emily asked them. "Aren't you working on the cover for the Valentine's Day special of 'Lover'?"

The girls were taken aback. "How do you know?"

Emily didn't answer but smiled lightly. "Don't bother with it anymore."

She raised an eyebrow. "Your cover's gone."

**

That evening, Emily called Jessica and mentioned the issue with the 'Lover' cover. Although Jessica complained, "Oh my, my dear lady, please have mercy," she immediately contacted the editor.

Emily, lounging in the top-floor infinity bath, calmly lit a scented candle for herself.

The 'Lover' special cover was originally a coveted spot that the editor had specifically sought out Alisa for. Emily was confident that the editor would rather replace ten models than change photographers, so she decided to leverage her position like Ethan did.

No, she was going to be even more noble and aloof than Ethan.

She was using her talent to her advantage :)

As expected, the editor immediately decided not to sign with the girl group and would seek new models instead, never once criticizing the photographer.

Emily's conscience felt a twinge, but she promised to help find the most suitable model and give her best effort in shooting.

'Lover' is a fashion magazine aimed at men and has always prided itself on being a "male aesthetic bible." Its covers are usually bold and trend-setting, featuring female stars.

The Valentine's Day special cover had to be nothing short of perfect.

The editor had been dissatisfied with the girl group, feeling they had "acceptable figures but lacked charm, missing that certain flavor."

Emily recommended Olivia. Olivia, now following a glamorous, mature route, had been posting pictures of her long legs and slim waist on Weibo. Since Emily had affirmed her aesthetic last time, Olivia now always took photos of her outfits before attending events, eager for Emily's input.

Emily might have been harsh with Olivia, but she truly helped her. Olivia's recent red carpet and street photos showed her improved aura, embodying a sophisticated sensuality.

The editor hesitated before shaking his head.

"She's beautiful and seductive, with a hot body, but there's an overbearing feeling—like she's trying too hard to please. It's not elegant enough, nor does it have a mysterious allure."

The editor, a Chinese literature graduate, summarized his requirements for the model: "We need that feeling—calmly flirtatious, coolly ambiguous!"

Emily: "…"

As a returnee from abroad, Emily didn't quite understand the editor's description and thought he was probably looking for a fairy :)

Jessica, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly approached the editor and whispered something in his ear. The editor's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Emily with renewed interest, a slightly smitten smile forming on his face.

Jessica, observing the editor's reaction, smiled and gave Emily a meaningful look—her gaze now resembling that of an emperor eyeing an innocent girl sent for marriage to a foreign land :)

Emily suddenly had an ominous premonition. She raised her hand defensively.

"What are you planning?!"

**

"You can leave now," Ethan said, not looking up as he flipped through some documents.

Jason, however, remained standing, looking troubled and hesitant.

Ethan glanced up at him. "If there's something, just say it."

Jason swallowed hard. "It's about Mrs..."

Ethan's sharp gaze snapped up. "Hmm?"

Jason cautiously pointed to the phone on the desk. "Chairman Harrison, you should have received the push notification..."

Ethan unlocked his phone and saw a message that had been pushed simultaneously by Weibo and various major video platforms:

"Star photographer Alisa takes center stage on 'Lover' cover! Breaking boundaries with revealing photos that showcase an amazing figure. Her seductive gaze will leave you breathless!"

Emily had initially refused to take the 'Lover' cover.

No way! She was a fairy who sold artistry, not her body!

But the editor insisted that Alisa was the muse he had been searching for, persistently persuading her.

Jessica had simply said, "You owe them a model, so make it up with yourself!"

Emily: "…"

Emily agreed but on one condition—she would handle the creative direction herself.

'Lover' covers had previously been quite risqué and bold, which she couldn't tolerate.

She could be sensual but only in a refined and elegant way.

She could be alluring but never vulgar.

Emily's shooting plan was as follows. She wore the black velvet dress from D-brand's spring/summer collection. The dress was bold and daring, designed like a bikini halter top with delicate gold straps that fell in a light, single-piece skirt. Her smooth, white shoulders and straight collarbone were fully exposed, with a small mole on her collarbone partially covered.

Emily's waist was naturally slim, typical of a model's tapered waist—an ant-waist. The dress highlighted her excellent waist-hip ratio, with the long skirt tightly enveloping her yet accentuating her curves.

Such a glamorous dress didn't need any exaggerated poses.

Emily had her stylist create a simple center-parted low bun and chose only long diamond earrings and a narrow diamond bracelet for accessories.

The shoot location was chosen freely. Emily moved the camera to the studio's tea room, left a European-style carved door as the backdrop, and had a black marble table brought in by assistants.

She posed casually by the table, her posture elegant and composed. Her entire demeanor exuded an effortless charm, with a hint of noble aloofness.

Facing the camera, she generously displayed her perfect curves, every inch of skin sculpted to perfection. With her back to the camera, her white, radiant shoulders, beautiful back, and delicate shoulder blades were tantalizing.

The marble's smooth surface reflected her slender figure, creating a graceful reflection. The real-life Emily was strikingly beautiful, while the reflection added a touch of mystery and story to the scene.

As a part-time model, the shoot was straightforward. Emily had already set up the lighting and composition. The assistants snapped a few shots, and the onlookers were mesmerized. Jessica remarked that watching Emily take photos felt like stepping into a fashion show.

The original photos were met with ecstatic approval from the editor, who said it was exactly the feeling he had been looking for—better than he had anticipated!

'Lover' decided to ramp up the special issue's promotion. With Alisa being a popular photographer and the cover so stunning, everyone sensed that the issue would be a hit.

Indeed, after multiple media outlets pushed Emily's cover photos, the searches for "Lover" and "Alisa" soared, and the promotion team's planned hot search was rendered unnecessary—Emily had already made it to the top.

For photographers, especially beautiful female photographers, the public's criticism was less harsh compared to that of female celebrities, and the comments were full of praise:

"She's so beautiful, it's killing me!"

"Her figure is absolutely perfect. There's not an ounce of excess flesh; her body is all in the right places!"

"Mom, look here, there's a black swan! I used to think 'Lover' was just a third-rate magazine!"

"Hahaha, third-rate magazine indeed, but I have to say, Alisa's cover really raised the magazine's prestige."

"I've heard rumors that this photographer comes from a distinguished background, a high-society lady from France, and now I believe it. Her aura is so sophisticated, reflecting her cultivation and knowledge, not something money can just buy."

"Who would have thought that such a stunning cover was created by such a stunning woman herself?"

"Some of you can talk about it, I'm just going to keep screaming!"

"I'll be more direct—I admit, I'm just craving her body!"