Campaign

Shi Yen didn't panic when she discovered the hickey on her neck, but it was a nuisance.

She had to use a concealer to cover her purpling skin and apply foundation over it to match the tone of her neck.

She then moved on and changed, heading over to the filming studio.

Shi Yen and her team managed to create a formula using sweet alyssum, lily of the valley, and vanilla for a base. For the cologne, she added cedarwood, sage and mint for a cold-smoky attractive scent.

After the bottles went into production, she provided her staff with two bottles each to test out the scents, and they gave her honest feedback. She then reworked the formulas until, finally, she and her team created the final product.

The bottle was made of glass, creating a rainbow effect under the sunlight. The perfume handles were in the shape of a crown. Whereas, the cologne was designed in the shape of a lion, with the head as the cap.

Shi Yen couldn't believe she was the face of the campaign, and out of all of them, it had to be about fragrances.

She met with the female director, who gave her a rundown of the set, and she guided her to the changing department.

The changing department had a whole rack of lingerie sets, from corsets to bodysuits and silk chemises to suspenders and fluffy robes. Shi Yen's eyes sparkled. There was something about wearing thin pieces of clothing that made her feel empowered of her body though she'd only ever wear stuff like this at home, alone, when she'd be deep in wine and chocolate-covered strawberries.

Shi Yen picked a short white bustier top and matched it with white lacy underwear and suspenders. She then put on tight-fitted business suit over her lingerie since she had to do separate shoots.

The first shot was modest. Shi Yen was alone, subtly smiling as she used and demonstrated the perfume. The other shot would be a transition from her using the fragrance, to stripping her clothes as she approached her male castmate on a bed, like a lioness prowling towards the lion for a mating session.

She had to seduce him, noticing that she was getting lost in his scent as well—pheromones as the animal kingdom calls it.

"Great!" said the female director after Shi Yen completed her more modest version of the ad. "Let's prepare for the next shot."

Shi Yen released a breath.

A handsome actor walked in, half-dressed; he lay down on the bed of the set. Shi Yen stiffened. She didn't feel like moving forward, despite how attractive the person was. She didn't know him.

She made herself walk, but it wasn't sexy; it was forced and unnatural.

"Pause," the director shouted. She walked towards Shi Yen and said, "Miss Yen, I don't want you to do something you don't feel comfortable doing. If we need more time or another actor, then let me know. We can work on something."

Shi Yen nodded. "Thank you."

She didn't want to quit. This needed to be done, and it was her idea to do a mature campaign.

Shi Yen then tried again, and she failed. "I'm sorry," she apologized.

"Don't be," replied the female director. "Do you have any male friends that would be willing to do the shoot with you?"

Shi Yen stepped out of the room, calling Fang Qi. He answered. "Is this call going to be quick? I'm currently very occupied," he said.

Shi Yen rolled her eyes. "Can you give me Yuan Shun's number?"

"How do you not have it?" he asked.

"Just give it to me," she responded.

"All right."

He ended the call and immediately texted her Yuan Shun's number.

Shi Yen felt like this was a stupid idea. And would he even agree to do it? What if he's busy?

She called, and he answered immediately.

"Hello…?" he questioned.

"Shun. It's Yen. I need you to do me a favour," she said.

"What do you need?" he replied, surprise lacing his tone.

"I need you to come over and help me with some work."

Without even asking what type of work it was, he replied, "give me the address, and I'll be there as soon as I can."

Shi Yen was surprised. She then hung up the call and sent him a pinned location, and he arrived twenty minutes later.

Yuan Shun stepped in, wearing his sleek-black suit, so fitted and clean, that it could swoon anyone within sight. He saw her and stalked towards her. "Are you okay?"

She nodded. "Yes. Nothing's wrong. I just need you…"

He waited for her to finish what she was saying.

"I just need you to help me film. Can you be my partner? We won't shoot your face. But I need a male castmate to be within the frames. We can shoot you from behind at different angles, avoiding your face," she said, biting down her lower lip. She should have told him what she was planning to do for the shoot over the phone, but she was afraid he'd say no.

He then said, "all right. Just let me know what I'm supposed to do."

Shi Yen's eyes widened. "I…thank you," she said.

Shi Yen then introduced him to the female director, and the woman flushed, eyes wide. The director then said to Shi Yen, "What he's wearing is good, better than what we have in our department. He doesn't need to change."

Shi Yen nodded and went to a different set. The director then gestured Yuan Shun towards the other set for the bed scene. He arched a brow, not knowing what to expect. He kicked off his shoes, sitting on the edge.

The director instructed him to lie down and to go along with the actress. He did that. Why did he feel like he was filming a rated x movie? His eyes widened. What is Shi Yen into? Maybe he was overthinking it.

He noticed that Shi Yen was filming in the other room. She then opened the door, stepping through in her business suit.

He just watched, not knowing what to expect.

Shi Yen then discarded her jacket slowly. She then began to unfasten the buttons of her blouse as she kicked off her heels. She then slowly and sensually, pulled her pants down.

Yuan Shun's eyes widened.

Shi Yen was gracefully stripping in front of him, revealing what else she was wearing beneath. She smirked at him.

She wore lacy white lingerie. She then walked towards the bed, swishing her hips slightly as she climbed on end. She then crawled towards Yuan Shun, eyes locked with his.

Instant nosebleed.

"Cut!" yelled the director. The woman then passed him a tissue box as Yuan Shun wiped his nose. Yuan Shun wasn't mentally prepared for this, and yes, he was used to seeing her with exposed skin, but not in fancy lingerie while seducing him.

"Are you okay?" Shi Yen asked him, looking worried.

His eyes met hers, giving her a slow nod. "Yes," he replied.

Shi Yen smiled. "Good," she replied, returning to the first position.

She had to do it all over it again, and Yuan Shun felt like he was being tortured.

The director instructed them to go with the flow, and so, Shi Yen met him on the bed, beginning to undo his tie, unfastening the buttons of his shirt with his jacket still on. His partly exposed shirt created a v, revealing his tanned skin and refined curved muscles.

Shi Yen then straddled his hips, running a palm from the column of his neck to his midriff. Her silky black hair draped over her shoulder; her lips were enticingly red with lipstick.

The fan blew air, and the draped white curtains billowed, covering them occasionally within the camera frames.

The angles of the camera excluded his face. When the camera shot his back, Yuan Shun sat up, holding Shi Yen. "You smell very good," he said, burying his face in her neck. Shi Yen titled her head back sensually.

She then sprayed something on him, and she pushed him down on the bed as she began to smell his torso, making her way up.

Her hips bucked and moved on him. Yuan Shun wouldn't be able to get aroused since they weren't alone, but she was mercilessly touching his body.

"You cruel, wicked thing," he whispered.

Shi Yen smiled, immersing herself in the scene as if it was a dance between them. Yuan Shun flipped positions, mounting her. She was breathless and panting beneath him, her chest rising and falling. His eyes widened.

"Perfect!" shouted the director.

Yuan Shun then pulled away from Shi Yen.

She then stood up and placed a robe over her body and said, "thank you." She then strode towards him in slow steps. "I owe you."

Yuan Shun faced her, with something like desire. "Noted," he replied softly.

Afterward, the director then showed them the shots. Shi Yen and Yuan Shun watched the video. Indeed. The video only showed Yuan Shun's body as Shi Yen straddled him.

The director then said to Shi Yen, "His response to you was unexpected, and will definitely make this product sell."

The video cut off when he flipped positions, pinning her to the bed. When people watch it, it would be left to their imagination about what happens after.

Yuan Shun then realized that this video was a commercial, and Shi Yen was the face of the product. It would surely sell. Not only because she was beautiful, but because it would appeal to people who have crushes, who are in-love, who want to impress people. It was smart of her to do.

Most likely, this commercial would appear on certain streaming services, and the other shot she did, fully-clothed, would only appear on the family-friendly sites. This was great marketing.

After it was over, Shi Yen changed and approached him again while he was sitting in the waiting room. She then gave him a gift bag.

"Thank you for doing this," she said to him.

Yuan Shun looked away and flushed. Lately, he was seeing her smile more often, and it was too captivating, too bright.

She grasped one of his hands, interlacing them together. She looked at their entwined hands, and Yuan Shun's heart thumped and raced. He pulled away from her. "I'm sorry," he said and stormed away with the gift bag in hand.

Shi Yen watched his retreating figure.

He looked defeated—torn. She placed a hand over her chest, wondering why it hurt.