novellhall Chapter 26: Fan Bingbing Makes Her Appearance
Chapter 26: Fan Bingbing Makes Her Appearance
"Fan Binbin! Fan Binbin!"
"Fan Binbin, I love you!"
"Fan Binbin is so beautiful!"
At Beijing Capital International Airport, Fan Binbin and his entourage, who had just landed, were surrounded by a large number of fans holding various signs at the airport exit, and the flashes of more than a dozen reporters filled the air.
Fan Binbin stopped with a smile and began signing autographs for fans, gently persuading them:
"Please don't push, there's enough for everyone, take your time, I'll leave after I finish signing."
"Wow, Fan Binbin is so gentle!"
"Exactly! Unlike other celebrities who are arrogant and domineering."
It took Fan Binbin a full half hour to fulfill her fans' requests and prepare to leave. However, reporters surrounded her van, holding recording pens and cameras.
"Fan Binbin, could you talk about how satisfied you are with your audition for 'A Battle of Wits'?"
"I heard your debut solo album, 'Just Beginning,' is going to be released in about two weeks?"
"I heard that you and another Bingbing are competing for the cover photo of Marie Claire magazine, is that true?"
"A reporter interviewed another Bingbing, who said she was 90% confident she could land the cover photo for the latest issue of Marie Claire. What are your thoughts on this?"
"..."
As her interpretation of the issue became increasingly outrageous, her agent mother immediately stepped forward and spoke out sternly and loudly:
"Fan Binbin has done his best, but the choice of Marie Claire is not up to any one actor. I believe that with the professionalism of Marie Claire magazine, they will definitely choose the most suitable candidate for them." After saying that, he left immediately.
Fan Binbin remained silent throughout, maintaining an elegant smile, and entered the car under the protection of his manager and mother.
As the car door closed, the excellent sound insulation of the car interior instantly became quiet, and the black glass completely blocked the view outside.
Fan Binbin's smile vanished instantly. After letting out a long breath, her back was no longer straight. She kicked off her high heels, leaned weakly against the backrest, and looked exhausted and gloomy.
Fan Binbin said dejectedly, "Mom, is there really no hope for me to get a cover photo in Marie Claire magazine?"
Xiao Fan's first agency was Qiong Yao's company.
Later, he was discovered by Wong Jing-hua and followed her for several years.
Two years ago, Wang Jinghua left Huayi Brothers, and Fan Binbin was unwilling to leave.
So the two parted ways amicably.
At her insistence, Huayi also granted her wish to have her mother come and be his agent.
The cover of "Marie Claire" magazine that she mentioned is one of the rare resources in the domestic fashion industry.
It is one of the top five women's fashion magazines in China (VOGUE, ELLE, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, and COSMO).
Almost any female celebrity, no, even male celebrities, are the same.
Any celebrity with ambition in their career will place great importance on being featured in these five major publications.
Zhang Chuanmei thought for a moment and then spoke, considering the matter carefully:
"I heard that Li Binbin is now very close to the wife of international tycoon Rupert Murdoch. Her image is also more mature, and your image is not very advantageous in this respect. Your face is too sweet, like a pretty older sister next door, which is not the kind of high-class face that is required for fashion resources."
When did being sweet and pretty become a flaw?
Fan Binbin, who hadn't yet evolved into her complete form, smiled wryly, but she knew her mother was right, and said expectantly:
"Then, Master Guo Sanxing is our last hope."
Zhang Chuanmei nodded solemnly:
"Yes, Master Guo Sanxing is our best choice."
This Master Guo is now one of the top ten fashion photographers in China, and even a guest lecturer at the Beijing Film Academy.
Last year, he was named one of the top ten fashion photographers in China.
In an era before the dominance of digital post-production, he relied on his solid traditional lighting and composition skills to become a regular cover model for major magazines such as Harper's Bazaar, Fashion Magazine, and Estée Lauder, photographing leading actresses from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and mainland China at the time.
Fan Binbin's current status is actually not quite up to Guo Sansheng's level.
But she really does spend money.
She was prepared to offer five or even ten times Guo Sansheng's normal fee in exchange for the master taking her photos.
Her trip back to Beijing was specifically to take photos of Master Guo.
The purpose was to obtain Master Guo's works and endorsement, thereby increasing her competitiveness in the competition with Li Binbin for the latest cover photo of "Marie Claire" magazine.
Just as they were talking about the master, Zhang Chuanmei's phone suddenly rang:
"Hey, what?! When did this happen?... Okay, I understand. Please tell Master Guo to take good care of his health. Hahaha, we're fine, don't worry."
Zhang Chuanmei hung up the phone with a grim expression.
"Master Guo has acute appendicitis and has been hospitalized for surgery, so he can't come over."
A somber mood instantly filled the car.
Acute appendicitis is not a serious illness.
Even with surgery, I should be able to go back to work in at most two weeks.
But by then, Li Binbin had probably already secured a spot with Marie Claire.
The daylily buds have gone cold.
"Ah!" Assistant Xiao Liu, who was sitting in the third row, suddenly exclaimed.
Zhang Chuanmei's cold gaze immediately pierced through:
"What's wrong?"
Xiao Liu hurriedly handed over a magazine:
"Mrs. Zhang, Sister Fan, please look at the latest issue of VOGUE."
Zhang Chuanmei frowned as she took it; it turned out to be the cover photo and related posters for VOGUE magazine.
This episode features Gong Li, a household name in China.
One of them is the photo of Gong Li wearing the costume from the revised version of "Curse of the Golden Flower," looking expressionless in front of a bronze mirror.
In the photo, Gong Lifeng sits solemnly before a bronze mirror, her face expressionless. The intense light reflected from the mirror casts jagged shadows on her face; the upper half is unfathomably dark, while the lower half is almost transparently bright. This simple photograph evokes the image of a doomed empress locked in a gilded cage.
"This..." Fan Binbin exclaimed in shock, "The filming is absolutely amazing! And..."
She counted them carefully.
Including the cover photo, insert photos, and small posters, Gong Li has a total of 23 different photos in this issue of VOGUE.
"VOGUE China is only in its third issue so far. Is Gong Li Zhang Yu's mistress? Why is VOGUE China giving her so much face?" Fan Binbin couldn't help but complain sourly.
Zhang Yu is the main person in charge of the Chinese edition of VOGUE magazine.
She has a masculine name, but she is actually a woman.
Her agent's mother, however, wasn't focused on that; instead, she said:
"Bingbing, didn't you notice how incredibly well every single one of Gong Li's photos is?"
"That's normal. After all, it's VOGUE, and their domestic edition has only been on the market for a short time. Naturally, they have to pay attention to quality. It would be strange if the photos weren't good."
"That's not how it works."
Zhang Chuanmei shook her head and said with certainty, "I read every issue of VOGUE magazine, including the international edition, the Asian edition, and the last two domestic editions. Although the photos in them are very good, well..."
Zhang Chuanmei frowned and looked down at the magazine cover in her hand.
"None of the photos on those other issues are as good as today's."
"Don't you think the photos in today's magazine are absolutely stunning, the kind you just want to keep looking at?
Yes.
Fan Binbin composed himself.
She looked down at Gong Li in the magazine again.
Gong Li looks absolutely stunning in this issue of VOGUE.