Chapter 44: Unveiling the Tang Dynasty Theme

Chapter 44: Unveiling the Tang Dynasty Theme

After the release of the *Iris* New Year cover, it received widespread acclaim. Unlike Naomi's usual indifferent, cool-girl style, this time, under Emily's lens, she showcased a rare hint of sensuality. The styling and makeup were bolder than usual.

Despite Naomi's seductive appeal, there was an underlying message in the photos—a sense of untouchable aloofness that made her seem like the kind of woman you could never truly have. Emily had managed to capture this intriguing duality, and Naomi had delivered it flawlessly. As one popular comment put it, "It's got that flirtatious vibe, but in the most sophisticated way possible."

The behind-the-scenes feature also highlighted the unexpected challenges they faced during the shoot, with the editor-in-chief praising Alisa's professionalism. Emily garnered another wave of positive feedback.

Following the success of the *Iris* cover, Emily received more offers from magazines and advertisers. However, as she sifted through the proposals, none of them truly excited her.

It had been nearly half a year since her return to photography, and Emily found herself hitting a wall. Commercial shoots had brought her fame and fortune, and the thrill of making money was undeniable, but she also felt a growing sense of emptiness.

She missed the days back in college when she would wander around with her camera, capturing whatever caught her eye. Back then, both her mind and her camera were fulfilled.

Emily made a quick decision: she would take a break from commercial work for a while. She handed over the studio's day-to-day operations to her team and set off on her own with just her camera, hoping to find inspiration and reconnect with her passion for photography.

Her first stop was Japan. On her last visit, she had come across a temple with striking Tang Dynasty architecture, and it had stayed on her mind ever since.

On her first day back in Japan, Ethan texted her:

**Ethan:** Where did you go?

Ethan had turned into her personal timekeeper, sending her daily check-ins whether she was traveling for work or just going about her day. Emily, on the other hand, came and went as she pleased, never feeling the need to update him.

She looked at the message, and a mischievous smile spread across her face. She snapped a quick photo of a claw machine in a small shop and sent it to him.

**Emily:** Revisiting old haunts. 😊

Ethan replied with a string of ellipses.

**Ethan:** When are you coming back?

Emily didn't answer his question. Instead, she sent him a photo she had taken earlier of the ancient temple.

**Ethan:** It's beautiful.

**Ethan:** You don't usually photograph buildings.

Emily paused, realizing that he was right—she rarely focused on architecture.

He really did know her well, didn't he?

**Ethan:** There are a lot of Tang-style buildings in Japan.

Emily stared at the message, a lightbulb moment popping into her head: what if she created a series of photographs themed around Tang Dynasty elements?

She was about to share the idea with him when more messages came through.

**Ethan:** Let me know when you're coming back. I'll pick you up.

**Ethan:** Come back soon.

**Ethan:** [Image]

Emily opened the image and, upon realizing what it was, let out a sigh.

It was a photo of a claw machine, seemingly taken in his penthouse.

He had actually bought a claw machine for their home…

So, he wanted her to come back soon so they could battle it out again?

Ethan really knew how to hold a grudge!

**

Two weeks later, Emily returned with a camera full of photos. After traveling around, she didn't feel tired at all. In fact, she was more energized than ever, brimming with new ideas.

Once back, she immediately contacted a few models and began shooting a series of photos themed around Tang Dynasty elements.

The models had distinctly modern, fashion-forward looks, and Emily had no intention of dressing them up as Tang Dynasty characters. Instead, she incorporated Tang elements into their outfits, makeup, and the overall setting. The resulting photos had a striking contrast between ancient and modern aesthetics, creating a unique blend of art.

Emily combined this series with other photos she had taken of Tang-style architecture, murals, traditional clothing, and even the popular Tang Dynasty-inspired "never-falling" dancer, to create a personal photography exhibition titled *Tang·Charm*.

Though it was a small-scale exhibition, the media caught wind of it and expressed a keen interest in covering and interviewing her.

Alisa had always been known for her commercial photography, so people were curious as to why a Western-raised photographer would suddenly want to put on a Chinese-themed art exhibit.

Emily didn't keep it a secret. She invited the media, magazines she had previously worked with, and some peers from the industry, treating it as an opportunity for exchange and learning.

On the day the media was invited, the atmosphere was lively. Magazine editors were captivated by the model photos, eager to secure them for covers. Reporters asked plenty of questions, many of which were quite sharp. One journalist directly asked Alisa if she felt that commercial photography lacked sophistication, hence her shift to artistic exhibitions.

Emily smiled openly, responding candidly that she didn't believe commercial photography was inferior to artistic photography.

"My commercial work is profitable, but somehow, the moment photography involves money, it's seen as less elegant, less refined. I don't think that's the case. Commercial photography has its own artistic value. Just look at the ads from major fashion brands abroad, or the old photos in fashion magazines—many of them are now considered art.

Some of the commercial shoots in our country today are important records of our fashion evolution. I believe that in the future, these works will also be recognized as art…"

As she spoke, several reporters in the front row nodded in agreement, clearly satisfied with her answer.

"Now, I have a question—"

A man's voice suddenly cut through from the back of the room.

Emily turned toward the sound, her expression freezing in surprise.

Among the unfamiliar faces, one person stood out—Ethan's cousin, Daniel.

What was he doing here?

She had almost no interaction with the Harrison Family.

Daniel strode forward from the back, his gaze fixed intently on Emily.

"I have a question for Photographer Emily," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Would you consider getting a huge divorce settlement an artistic expression as well?"