Cheng Ping was about to star in a TV series called “Black Sun.”

In the story, the police infiltrate a seven-day closed-door script murder game, capturing a real-life criminal among the players. Upon returning to the real world, they follow unresolved clues to catch another long-escaped murderer.

Thus, Li Baixi had to design two sets of appearances for all the main characters. One for their roles in the script murder game and another for their daily lives in the real world.

Li Baixi put aside all his other work, shut himself in, and watched several days of movies and TV dramas.

These were crime and undercover-themed works collected by his assistants. As it was his first time handling this kind of project, he needed to do thorough homework.

During this period, the makeup he did for the foreign actress, which had failed, was brought up by domestic media, sparking a wave of online debate. A few praised him for bringing Chinese style abroad, but most mocked him for failing miserably.

Li Baixi didn’t need to look to know how his peers would seize the opportunity to ridicule him.

The assistants were indignant but couldn’t reveal the actress’s behavior—complaining about clients is a big taboo in any industry.

Li Baixi calmly said, “You haven’t seen enough storms. This shows your master doesn’t mess up often.”

Assistant: “…That’s not necessary.”

“Besides, it also shows I still have room for improvement.” Li Baixi tied his hair into a high ponytail. “Knowing shame brings courage. Let’s get to work.”

Li Baixi started on the first sketch—for Cheng Ping’s character.

Cheng Ping played a mysterious player. Initially, the police suspect him because he knows every detail of the script murder game as if he has played it countless times to commit crimes in the confined space.

As the plot progresses, his true identity is revealed—he is the writer of the script murder game, infiltrating it with a different mission.

Assistant Yang was very curious.

She joined late and heard from Ma Koukou that Li Baixi was once a big name in the field, so she wanted to see him in action.

She saw Li Baixi pull out a pad covered in thick dust from the corner, charging it for half a day before turning it on.

Yang watched for a while but saw nothing impressive. Li Baixi, holding a pressure-sensitive pen, looked like he was rehabilitating, making a mark here and there, then erasing it.

Li Baixi shooed her away: “Don’t stand there, go find me some references.”

Yang went to gather materials.

An hour later, she returned: “Here are your… oh my god.”

Li Baixi: “That’s not needed for now. What is it?”

Yang: “Why did you become a makeup artist?”

Li Baixi spent two days drafting and sent the first design to the director: “Here’s how the subsequent plans will look. What do you think?”

The director was silent for a moment before replying, “Why did you become a makeup artist?”

Li Baixi’s studio officially took on the crew’s styling design.

He formed a new team, with some perfecting the sketches, others procuring or custom-making costumes closest to the designs, and some specializing in wigs—the script murder game had a European background, so the players had to dress as counts, ladies, and coachmen.

Of course, the busiest was still Li Baixi.

After seeing the sketches, the director gave him maximum creative freedom. The initial work was chaotic, and Li Baixi was swamped.

But the scenery in the new world was beautiful, and he was in an excited state.

The crew began setting up scenes, the costumes and props were being rushed, and the actors were mostly finalized.

Cheng Ping started studying the script early.

Although he had made some progress in acting, he knew his performance was still unstable. Especially since he had to act alongside Actor Lu for an extended period, he feared disappointing him if he didn’t perform well.

After reading the script for a few days, he became more nervous, closing the door to practice in front of the mirror, always feeling something was off.

After much thought, he sent a message to Li Baixi: “Can you send me my character’s design?”

Li Baixi quickly sent over a few sketches.

“Images 1 and 2 are the script murder looks, and images 3 and 4 are the daily looks.”

Cheng Ping stared at the sketches for a long time.

Cheng Ping: “Did you draw these?”

Li Baixi: “Yes. Were you going to ask why I became a makeup artist?”

Cheng Ping: “No, I was going to ask if the makeup industry is that competitive now.”

The design sketches were different from portrait drawings; they aimed only to show hairstyles and clothing, with occasional notes on key makeup points.

However, even in these simple sketches, Cheng Ping was vividly depicted, capturing the essence of his character.

The sketched writer looked listless and somewhat sickly, but his upturned eyes were fiery and stubborn.

Cheng Ping, staring into these eyes, felt a flash of inspiration in his mind. He tried to grasp it but failed.

Unwilling to give up, Cheng Ping asked: “What were your thoughts when drawing this character? I’d like to hear your interpretation.”

Li Baixi, quite satisfied with the design, gladly explained: “The script murder clothes are simplified and modified from European oil paintings, with the police in black tones and the writer in white tones.”

This writer, seemingly simple and confused on the surface, has a tragic past and a mission of revenge. Thus, he wears a pristine white silk shirt, perfect for staining with blood when he kills. The shirt has hidden pockets for a poisoned pen, delicate and fragile, matching his character.

“Since this outfit will appear in many episodes, I want to leave the audience some details to explore. I’ll custom-make the pen. As for the daily wear, it’s just ordinary homebody clothes—T-shirt and jeans, loose-fitting to make him look thin…”

As Li Baixi spoke, Cheng Ping finally caught his fleeting inspiration: “Why does he wear glasses? The script doesn’t mention glasses.”

Li Baixi: “Oh, because he’s a writer in real life and a poet in the game. Also, I once gave you a glasses look, and it turned out well, right?”

Cheng Ping joyfully said: “Adding glasses is a great idea! I can give the character a habitual action, like adjusting his glasses when nervous…”

Li Baixi found it interesting but didn’t have time to respond before Cheng Ping continued: “No, no, he’ll use the action to hide his gaze as he observes others.”

Li Baixi paused, realizing Cheng Ping had a high level of comprehension.

The writer, having turned his family’s tragic story into a script murder game, repeatedly participated to observe different players’ reactions, trying to recall memories of the killer.

“So, his gaze should always be unsettled, but he doesn’t want to attract attention, so he uses adjusting his glasses to cover it…”

Li Baixi: “Why don’t you try the action? I’d like to see it; it might spark new inspiration.”

Cheng Ping didn’t respond.

The conversation ended. Li Baixi slightly snapped out of his workaholic excitement, remembering the previous unpleasantness.

At the time of the makeup touch-up incident, Li Baixi was quite angry. He felt Cheng Ping had a terrible temper, and despite all his efforts, Cheng Ping had gone to his junior to fix the makeup just because it didn’t meet his expectations once.

Li Baixi felt disheartened, but then Cheng Ping brought him this job.

Li Baixi, having been through many ups and downs, knew that understanding people required observing their actions rather than listening to their words. But Cheng Ping’s actions were contradictory.

Did he misunderstand? What did Cheng Ping really mean? He couldn’t figure it out.

There was no response from Cheng Ping until five minutes later when a video call came through.

“I just ran out to borrow a pair of glasses.”

Cheng Ping prepared himself, facing the computer screen. He lowered his head to adjust his glasses, his eyes lifting with a probing look towards Li Baixi before casually shifting away.

“How was that?” Cheng Ping tossed aside the glasses, his spirits high. The breakthrough he had been searching for suddenly emerged.

Li Baixi was silent for a few seconds: “Wait a moment.”

Li Baixi left the frame, turning away to do something.

The conversation was interrupted again.

Cheng Ping calmed down a bit from his excitement.

Although they occasionally talked, it had been a long time since they had a chat like this. He didn’t even know when Li Baixi changed his hairstyle.

He thought the manager must have been overthinking. Li Baixi’s attitude didn’t seem like someone pursuing him.

Yet, for some reason, ever since hearing those words, he couldn’t help but notice Li Baixi’s expressions in the video.

At least there was admiration?

The design sketch sent by Li Baixi had beautified his real appearance somewhat.

Was it drawn from a reference photo? He didn’t remember taking a similar photo…

Li Baixi returned, holding up an A4 paper to the camera: “I just drew this. What do you think about wearing these glasses? I always feel vintage styles have a sort of ambiguous charm.”

Cheng Ping: “…”

Li Baixi: “?”

Cheng Ping: “You’ve drawn me too handsome.”

“Really?” Li Baixi turned the paper to check, “But you do look like this.”

Cheng Ping was momentarily speechless.

He still couldn’t understand Li Baixi’s intentions.

After some time, the crew officially started filming.

Although Li Baixi didn’t stay with the crew full-time, as the director, he needed to supervise periodically. On the first day, he personally did the makeup for several leading actors, setting the standard for his team to follow. Whenever new members joined or lead actors changed their look, he had to be present.

Li Baixi had now adopted the high ponytail as a fixed hairstyle. In the middle of winter, he wore a straight-cut wool dress, with high socks elongating his legs, combining sleekness with a hint of allure.

The crew members who hadn’t seen him before were stunned. An actress who didn’t know who he was even asked: “Teacher, which role are you playing?”

Li Baixi recognized her as the girl the junior had made up as a blue peacock. Finding her confusion adorable, he took her hand and kissed it: “I’m here to serve you.”

The girl blushed entirely.

Cheng Ping: “…”

Li Baixi started with Actor Lu’s makeup.

Actor Lu played the ultimate villain, who was deeply hidden. During the script murder game, he even helped the police catch a criminal. Only after the game, when the protagonist recalls his actions, does he realize he was the killer from years ago.

In the game, the villain’s role was a doctor. At this point, his appearance was quite positive, so Li Baixi intentionally softened his features.

Actor Lu, in middle age, still had defined facial lines, hinting at his handsome youth. Li Baixi accentuated his slender eyes and evened out his skin tone slightly. After minimizing the age lines, a refined and handsome doctor emerged.

Actor Lu marveled: “Makeup artists are amazing; they can even smooth out wrinkles.”

Li Baixi: “Those aren’t really wrinkles.”

Just then, Cheng Ping passed by, exclaiming: “Teacher Lu looks so handsome!”

Actor Lu smiled at Cheng Ping through the mirror: “Sweet talker.”

Li Baixi’s hand slipped a bit.

He remembered.

When Actor Lu had brought Cheng Ping into the crew, Li Baixi felt uneasy about his intentions. Cheng Ping seemed oblivious, wholeheartedly seeing him as a mentor.

On the first day of filming, every crew was a bit chaotic, and Li Baixi was busy, not even watching Cheng Ping and Actor Lu’s first scene together.

At lunch, he overheard Actor Lu explaining the scene to Cheng Ping.

Cheng Ping listened intently, almost like a diligent student taking notes.

Actor Lu seemed to enjoy it, finally praising: “Don’t worry, young man. You have a bright future. I’ll help you.”

Li Baixi: “…”

That sounded so familiar.

Back then, Octopus Movie King Zhang had said to him, “I’ll help you.”

Was this the standard line for middle-aged actors hitting on people?

In the evening, Actor Lu suggested finding a nearby restaurant for a celebration dinner, and Li Baixi, without hesitation, joined them.

Since bringing stars out in public was inconvenient, the crew booked the entire second floor of a private dining room.

Actor Lu kept Cheng Ping by his side, chatting and laughing the entire time.

Cheng Ping excused himself midway, presumably to the bathroom.

Just as he left, Actor Lu checked his phone and also stood up, murmuring: “Excuse me.”

Li Baixi waited for a while, but neither of them returned.

He grew restless. Thinking back to Actor Lu’s expression when he left, something seemed off.

I should check… Li Baixi thought, quietly heading to the bathroom.

The door was locked.

Li Baixi: “…”

The lock was simple and old. Applying a bit of force, he managed to open it.

Li Baixi stood at the door and listened, hearing sounds he shouldn’t be hearing.

A chill ran down his spine.

He stepped in quietly.

From the farthest stall, he heard deliberately suppressed sounds.

For a split second, he was furious, but then he reconsidered. Given Cheng Ping’s character, he wouldn’t just sit back and take it. He was young and strong; Actor Lu couldn’t use force on him.

Could it be that this passion was consensual?

Li Baixi found it hard to believe.

He closed the bathroom door and slipped into another stall. To avoid being seen through the door gap, he sat on the toilet lid, legs pulled up, eavesdropping.

All he could hear was Actor Lu’s voice. The other person remained silent.

What was Cheng Ping’s condition? Should he intervene?

As Li Baixi wrestled with his thoughts, he heard a faint sound from another direction.

The bathroom door opened again.

A chill went down his spine. Before he could react, someone walked to his stall and pushed open the slightly ajar door.

Cheng Ping returned from a phone call, seeing both Actor Lu and Li Baixi missing from the table.

Someone joked: “We thought you three went missing together, discussing what mischief to get up to.”

Cheng Ping’s heart sank, feeling something was off.

Thinking back to Li Baixi being harassed by Movie King Zhang, could it be…?

No, no, Actor Lu isn’t like that.

Denying his thoughts, he still found himself heading to the bathroom.

The door was locked but easily pushed open.

He entered silently and heard sounds he shouldn’t have heard.

Yet, all he could hear was Actor Lu. The other person remained silent.

Suspicious, he moved to a slightly ajar stall to eavesdrop.

Opening the door, he found Li Baixi sitting on the toilet lid, legs pulled up, looking up at him.

The posture was rather cute.