Rebirth: Spoiling the Obsessive Film Emperor Chapter 54

Chapter 54: Shooting an Advertisement  

Rong Yu’s hair was very soft, and the feel of it was incredibly addictive. Yin Chengjue accidentally ended up ruffling it for a bit too long before snapping back to reality. He awkwardly withdrew his hand and coughed lightly to mask his discomfort. "You took time off to come out, right? Do you have to go back soon?"  

"Yeah," Rong Yu replied, blowing on the chives by his lips. "I still need to prepare for the second performance. After that, we’ll start rehearsing for the stage play."  

"Have you memorized all the moves?" Yin Chengjue asked.  

"Of course."  

"Then don’t go back yet. I’ll take you to shoot an ad," Yin Chengjue said, checking his schedule. "This has already been negotiated with Hey Brother, Let's Debut! The ad will be inserted into the show’s broadcast, about thirty seconds long."  

"Sure! Is this considered official business?" Rong Yu asked curiously. "I’ve never shot an ad before. What kind is it?"  

Yin Chengjue: "A perfume ad—A&D, which stands for Angels and Demons. It’s a domestic brand, and the spokesperson is Film Emperor Donghuang Qingyan."  

Yin Chengjue picked up a piece of fish, elegantly removing the bones as he continued, "Back then, Donghuang Qingyan skyrocketed to fame after shooting an ad for this perfume. First, he dominated magazine covers, then entered the entertainment industry. His face alone guaranteed his success in the industry."  

He placed the deboned fish into Rong Yu’s bowl. "So, there’s a saying in the industry—A&D symbolizes a blazing start, a sign of smooth sailing ahead."  

Yin Chengjue curled his lips slightly. "I want to give this blessing to you. May your path be smooth, and may you achieve great success."  

Rong Yu froze for a moment before snapping out of it, his face lighting up with joy. "So… you specially prepared this for me?"  

Yin Chengjue: "…" Wasn’t the focus supposed to be on the ad?  

"Yes…" Yin Chengjue replied, amused.  

"Great! Since it’s something you specially prepared for me, I’ll do my best to shoot it well! I’ll also accept your blessing!" Rong Yu clenched his fists, eyes sparkling.  

Yin Chengjue felt like Rong Yu’s focus was slightly off, but upon reflection, it didn’t seem wrong, so he didn’t dwell on it.  

After informing Sally, Yin Chengjue took Rong Yu to shoot the A&D ad.  

Sally was a little annoyed that Yin Chengjue had taken over her job, but what could she do? He was the young master of the Yin Group. She could only swallow her complaints and dutifully notify A&D.  

Rong Yu’s looks were of the handsome type—even with makeup, he wouldn’t appear feminine.  

A&D’s regular photographer was Toner, an internationally renowned master whom many couldn’t hire even if they paid top dollar. After marrying his Chinese wife, Toner had settled in China, spending his days flaunting his happy family life and taking photos of his wife and kids.  

The only reason Yin Chengjue could get him was thanks to Qin Ke, Second Young Master Qin.  

Qin Ke and Toner were old friends, bonded by their shared hobbies. They often exchanged and discussed their artistic works, and over time, they became close confidants.  

"Oh! Mr. Yin, it’s been so long!" Toner spread his arms and gave Yin Chengjue a big hug.  

"And this must be our model?" Toner’s eyes swept over Rong Yu’s face and figure before giving him a thumbs-up. "Perfect! I can already imagine how stunning you’ll look after makeup!"  

Rong Yu smiled politely. "Hello, Mr. Toner. I’ve long admired your reputation."  

Toner laughed. "No need to be so formal. If Mr. Yin brought you here personally, then you’re a friend. My wife says friends shouldn’t stand on ceremony."  

Toner never went three sentences without mentioning his wife and kids—something everyone familiar with him knew.  

Rong Yu said, "Your wife must be very cultured and understanding."  

Toner’s smile instantly brightened. "Of course! She’s my angel and my little demon. She’s the art I’ve pursued all my life, the treasure I must protect forever."  

Getting carried away, Toner added, "Maybe you can’t understand this feeling. It’s hard to put into words."  

"No," Rong Yu said, glancing subtly at Yin Chengjue. His voice was so soft only he could hear it. "I understand… that feeling of wanting to hide a treasure where only you can see it…"  

Rong Yu was taken away for makeup, while Toner rested his chin on his hand, watching Rong Yu’s retreating figure with a puzzled expression.  

"What’s wrong?" Yin Chengjue subtly blocked Toner’s line of sight.  

Toner hummed. "Mr. Yin, I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before. Are you sure he hasn’t appeared in the public eye before?"  

Yin Chengjue: "He really hasn’t debuted yet."  

Toner: "What I mean is—aside from TV, I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere else. Where was it? Hmm…" Toner racked his brain but couldn’t recall.  

Yin Chengjue assumed Toner was mistaken. The places Toner frequented were high-end banquets and parties—there was no way he could’ve met Rong Yu before.  

"Wow!" Gasps and exclamations erupted around them. The two turned to see a man with snow-white long hair walking toward them, dressed in a golden-embroidered priestly robe.  

His eyes were slightly lowered, his snow-white lashes trembling like jade butterflies.  

His face, pale as fine porcelain, was adorned with delicate golden and silver tattoos, adding an air of mystery to his handsome features.  

Perhaps hindered by the wide sleeves of his robe, he walked slowly, but his posture was upright, exuding an imposing aura.  

"Good! Good! Perfect!" Toner exclaimed three times in a row. Before Rong Yu could even approach, he had already lifted his camera, snapping away.  

"Quick! Go to the set we prepared! The perfume—remember to use the perfume on the table!" Toner shouted excitedly.  

Rong Yu changed direction and walked into the glass greenhouse they had set up.  

The greenhouse was filled with pink roses—fake ones, of course. They’d be edited in post-production to look real.  

In the center was a green table, simple and unattractive, but its color made it easy to replace digitally. On it sat a small transparent perfume bottle filled with bright red liquid.  

Amidst the sea of pink flowers, the vibrant red stood out sharply, making it clear that it was the star of the scene.  

Toner didn’t give Rong Yu any directions, letting him improvise freely.  

Shooting an ad wasn’t a beauty pageant—the product was the focus, and everything else was secondary. Many celebrities failed to grasp this, turning ads into personal photoshoots and overshadowing the product itself.  

Rong Yu’s looks were undoubtedly top-tier, but would he make the same mistake?  

Standing behind the camera, Yin Chengjue silently worried for him.  

Toner seemed to sense his concern and reassured him, "Don’t worry. The first take is just a trial. I’ll guide him carefully afterward."  

On set, Rong Yu approached the perfume but didn’t immediately pick it up. Instead, he pulled a red rose from his pocket.  

"Eh? When did he take that?" Toner asked.  

"He grabbed it in the makeup room earlier," an assistant explained nervously. Unsure if this was allowed, he asked, "Should we cut?"  

Toner waved his hand, signaling for Rong Yu to continue.  

On camera, Rong Yu spread his fingers and crushed the rose petals directly over the perfume bottle. Some of the juice stained his fingertips and the pristine white sleeves of his robe.  

He lifted his fingers to his nose, inhaling lightly before smiling in satisfaction.  

From start to finish, his eyes never once looked at the camera, staying fixed on the petals and perfume, compelling the viewer to follow his gaze.  

"I can almost smell the roses!" Toner took a deep breath. "The fragrance clings to his fingertips, staining his pure white sleeves. They blend together seamlessly!"  

Then, Rong Yu stood, twirling the thorny stem between his fingers as he walked to a rocking chair nearby and lay down.  

The final shot showed the white-robed, white-haired young man lying peacefully in the rocking chair, eyes closed, lips curved in a faint smile, hands folded over his chest, clutching the thorny rose stem. He looked as if he were dozing—or perhaps already asleep.  

He seemed bathed in the floral scent, utterly lost in its comfort.  

Rong Yu never once touched the perfume bottle, yet he made it seem as though the intoxicating aroma of roses filled the air.  

And coincidentally, the theme of Toner’s perfume this time was—Indulge in Love.  

The red rose symbolized passionate love—a love so fierce it could ignite primal desire. Embrace it, accept it, indulge in it!  

It would be the most precious experience of your life.  

This was the message Toner wanted the perfume to convey.  

He never expected that, without any prior discussion, Rong Yu would perfectly capture exactly what he had envisioned!  

"Amazing! He’s absolutely amazing!" Toner cheered excitedly.