Translator: Vemmy Special Thanks to Walter vi Britannia Again for Editing and Proof Reading! I’m not sure if I should have the footnotes on the bottom or as hover-over text. I’ll put both on this chapter, tell me your preference~? Mu Mu stated honestly, "Your body language was excellent but the feeling is lacking. What do you think is the theme that the product is trying to express?"
The director rushed to answer, "The perfume can be used regardless of gender. After use, both men and women will be attracted. It conveys a beauty and sex appeal that exceeds the boundaries of gender."
"Exactly, the model is very skilled in showing the sex appeal, but from the beginning to the end, the eyes are cold, I can't feel the warmth from you."
Ling Mao Er contemptuously retorts, "This is a high grade perfume, not the cheap scents used by prostitutes, are you asking me to show a smiling face and flirt to the camera?"
"I'm not asking you to sell yourself, I just wish that you can express a sex appeal that comes from within."
Seeing the atmosphere become more and more strained, the director quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.
"What Teacher Mu said makes sense, it is quite hard to grasp the degree of sex appeal to show. Too little and it would be reserved, too much and it would become indecent, to be able to express sex appeal artistically is very difficult. Ling Mao Er's performance might be a bit aloof, but I feel that keeping it at this level is OK, we aren't taking erotic photos after all, a suitable amount of aloofness is beneficial to the product's image as well.
Since this was how the clients felt, Mu Mu dropped the subject, "Alright then, let’s continue."
He once again picked up his camera, aiming it at Ling Mao Er and continuously pressed down the shutter, but it was clear to everyone that he still wasn't satisfied and his thick brows remained tightly knitted together.
Ling Mao Er's attitude was also affected and was no longer as focused as before. The cooperation this time was destined from the very beginning to not go very smoothly.
Mu Mu once again stopped the photoshoot.
"Can the model's position be changed a bit?"
Ling Mao Er ill-temperedly asked, "How do you want me to change it?"
"Do you mind if I go up to demonstrate?"
"Suit yourself"
Mu Mu left his camera with an assistant, walking to Ling Mao Er's side, with a hand on his shoulder and a hand on his waist, Mu Mu indicated for Ling Mao Er to bring his waist forward while maintaining the position of his head and shoulders.
This movement inevitably brought the two close together and Ling Mao Er could smell a unique scent coming from Mu Mu's body, a smell that made people extremely comfortable. (Vemmy: RIP Ling Mao Er…..)
"What perfume do you use?" Ling Mao Er suddenly grabbed him.
Mu Mu was bewildered by his action, "I don't have a habit of using perfume."
Ling Mao Er doesn't believe him, his sense of smell was the ability he was most proud of after all, "I clearly smelt a fragrance coming from your body."
Mu Mu didn't know whether he should laugh or cry, "Everyone has a unique smell, it could be attributed to the living environment. I raised various flowers at home, I'm guessing the scent you smelt was that of the flowers?"
"Is that so….."
Disappointed, Ling Mao Er released his hand, however, the scent was so pleasant and he couldn't resist taking a few deep breaths. A limp and numbing feeling spread from his fingertips, his entire body felt as if it was immersed in sugar, his inner cat was already rolling around in a fantasy. (Vemmy: Ahhh he's a goner)
Mu Mu vaguely felt the change in his mood, asking, "What's the matter?"
"I'm…." Ling Mao Er stopped the rest of the sentence. "Fine" was no longer sufficient to describe the predicament he was currently facing. Under the public gaze, an unspeakable part of Ling Mao Er's body was beginning to get restless but today, the stylist had chosen a rather skintight outfit for him. If he received even a little more stimulus, he fears that his moral character would not be preserved.
"….I'm fine." He squeezed the words out from between his teeth.
Mu Mu no longer pursued the topic, "Then we'll continue with the position that was just corrected."
"Could I take some time to work up the feeling?"
"Of course."
Mu Mu retrieved his camera, turning to look towards where Ling Mao Er was standing with his eyes closed under the spotlight, patiently waiting without any indication of rushing the model.
A few moments later, Ling Mao Er opened his mouth, "I'm ready."
He slowly opened his eyes, as if changing to a different person. Everyone who saw this scene felt as if they had been shocked.
Even the hand that Mu Mu used to hold the camera came to a standstill, when he finally reacted, he quickly raised the camera to capture the image.
"That's right, just like this." his voice was a bit excited, "Excellent!"
His assistant holding the reflector was a bit dazed. If not for Mu Mu calling for him, he may not have remembered to change his position.
The director covered her rapidly beating heart, this kind of Ling Mao Er really exceeded her expectations. Despite knowing it was dangerous, one cannot control their desire to get close. She was already planning to apply to use the best position for this advertisement.
The Ling Mao Er who was the focus of everyone's attention had his provoking gaze trained on the lens of Mu Mu's camera the entire time. This was exactly what the other had been asking for, an allure that came from within, expressed by Ling Mao Er to perfection.
The desire in his body made him restless. In other people's eyes, Ling Mao Er's performance in the camera fully expressed his charm, but he was well aware that he had been holding back his urge to throw himself at and gnaw on Mu Mu the entire time. The photoshoot process that was a pleasant surprise for Mu Mu was not very enjoyable for Ling Mao Er.
"Last shot." Mu Mu brought his camera closer. Ling Mao Er bit on his lower lip, slightly tilting up his head, exposing his elegant Adam's apple and collarbone, misty eyes gazing attentively at the camera. Even the experienced Mu Mu felt his heart skip a beat at this somewhat commonly used expression.
"Alright." He pressed down on the shutter one last time before impatiently lowering his head to flip through today's results, this was without a doubt a photoshoot he was incredibly pleased with.
"Teacher Mu, was my performance satisfactory?" Ling Mao Er's attitude was still haughty, the gaze he fixed on Mu Mu was a bit dangerous.
"Extremely wonderful, your performance today was outstanding." Mu Mu's praise was heartfelt.
He raised his head and smiled but immediately sensed that something was off with Ling Mao Er's expression.
"That's good, if there is an opportunity, we can collaborate again." Saying so, without shaking hands with him, Ling Mao Er turned and left. Ke Le awkwardly smiled apologetically, chasing after Ling Mao Er after repeatedly bidding them farewell.
"Mao Er, your attitude will very easily offend people"
Ke Le started up the car, not forgetting to lecture the Ling Mao Er in the back seat.
Ling Mao Er didn't even remove his makeup, sitting in the car with a huff, "There's a smell on his body!"
"What?" Ke Le started, "Mu Mu has body odour?"
"You're the one who stinks, it's a fragrance!"
The scents that Ke Le can think of which can be considered pleasant to Ling Mao Er are very limited, "He was hiding dried fish on his person?"
Ling Mao Er felt that talking to him was a waste of time. "Even if I said it, you wouldn’t understand."
Ke Le really doesn't understand, a scent that Ling Mao Er considers pleasant that is not fish, could it be a mouse? Could it be that Teacher Mu raised a hamster at home?
"Yi?" Out of the corner of his eye, Ke Le saw Mu Mu standing by the side of the road, seemingly waiting for a taxi.
He steered the car over.
"Teacher Mu."
Mu Mu lowered his head, seeing it was them, answered, "Its you, what a coincidence."
"Where are you going? May we send you there?"
"This….isn't very convenient [for you] is it?"
Mu Mu's glaze flickered over the Ling Mao Er sitting in the back seat, feeling that the latter seems to have some animosity towards him.
"No such inconvenience, come on." Ke Le enthusiastically beckoned, "Do you have luggage? Let me open the trunk for you."
Unable to reject their kindness, Mu Mu got into the front passenger seat in the end.
"Sorry for the inconvenience, I came straight to the studio from the airport and haven't had the chance to return home to pick up my car."
"A mere trifle, you are too polite. Oh right, where do you live?"
"The Huayuan community on the west side of the city, is it along the way for you? If it's a detour, could I trouble you to drop me off at the subway station?"
Ke Le almost stomped on the accelerator, "No, really?
"What's wrong?"
"We live in the same community!"
"We?"
"Mao Er and I."
"Such a coincidence?" Mu Mu was flabbergasted, "So the two of you live together?" (Vemmy: Someone is jealous~)
"We are neighbours, because Mao Er is really bad at taking care of himself, living nearby makes it more convenient to take care of him, help him c…." (Vemmy: help him clean his litter XD)
"Ke Ke!" The Ling Mao Er in the backseat started coughing.
"……cook when he has cravings and such."
Ling Mao Er rolled his eyes.
"So it’s like this." Mu Mu smiles, "Unexpectedly, we are also neighbours, how come I haven't seen you before?"
"We just moved here, the company arranged the living quarters, we lived in the northern suburbs before."
Mu Mu nodded, "It’s really such a coincidence, when you have time, come visit my place."
"Okay!" Ke Le doesn't treat himself as an outsider, "Teacher Mu, do you raise hamsters at home?"
"No I don't, are you afraid of hamsters?"
"Oh, no I'm not, I was asking because Mao Er doesn't get along with hamsters, I'm afraid of startling it."
The "it" that Ke Le is referring to is the hamster, but to Mu Mu, it naturally sounded as if "it" was referring to Ling Mao Er. Having never thought that someone with "Mao" in their name would be afraid of hamsters, Mu Mu wants to laugh a bit.
Ke Le dropped Mu Mu off at the entrance of the building, "Mao Er and I live on the 8th floor."
"If you have time, feel free to contact me." "No problem!"
Ke Le hummed a short tune while starting the car, turning a few times to reach the parking lot.
"We're home, is there anything you want to buy?"
"Cheese, fish sausage." Ling Mao Er immediately listed.
"Wait for me here!"
After parking the car, Ke Le quickly walked towards the supermarket, buying fish sausage and milk, but when he returned, Ling Mao Er had disappeared. (Vemmy: I swear Mao Er said he wanted cheese above! Auuuuthoooooorrrr)
"We're going upstairs Mao Er, Mao Er?"
In front of the building, there is no person/cat. No matter if its Ling Ren>[8] Er or Ling Mao Er, there was no trace of them.
[1] 媚俗地卖笑 – He's basically asking if Mu Mu wants him to prostitute himself on camera. Mao Er is really harsh.
[2] 哭笑不得 – idiom meaning "between laughter and tears", finds the situation funny but also embarrassing.
[3] 见多识广 – idiom meaning "experienced and knowledgeable", to have seen a lot and be experienced.
[4]咦 – an expression of surprise.
[5]盛情难却 – idiom meaning "It would be ungracious not to accept your kindness".
[6]它 vs 他 – read the same way. The first one means "it", usually refers to something with no or no known gender, often used for animals, is a gender neutral term. This is the one Ke Le used, indicating the hamster. The second one is "him", used by Mu Mu to refer to Ling Mao Er. Very easy to mix up when speaking because it is pronounced identically.
[7]猫 – mao, means cat.
[8]人 – ren, person. Basically saying that whether it was the human version or the cat version, there was nothing.
So Mao Er found out that Mu Mu smells absolutely amazing, why do you think that is?