novellhall 63, Photography Magazine
63, Photography Magazine
They didn't make too much noise that night. After fooling around for a while, the two of them fell into a deep sleep, clinging tightly to each other.
The tranquility of the early morning didn't last long before it was shattered by Luo Yonghao's phone call.
Li Jingcheng answered the phone quickly, and his efficient voice came through the receiver, "Jingcheng, get ready, we're on our way to pick you up. No need for makeup, GQ has a dedicated makeup team there."
Since joining CJ, Lee Kyung-sung seems to have stopped setting alarms, and his manager reminds him of everything.
Luo Yonghao's voice came again, asking, "Also, what does Jingcheng want for breakfast? The usual, soy milk and fried dough sticks?"
Lee Kyung-sung lowered his voice and hummed in agreement, his gaze falling on Bae Joo-hyun, who was still fast asleep beside him. Her eyelashes were long and curled, her breathing was even, and her cheeks had a lingering blush, making her look soft and cuddly.
He lowered his voice and added, "Also, bring a breakfast that Korean girls like to eat, something light."
Luo Yonghao on the other end of the phone was silent for a second. It seemed that there was someone else at his home, most likely the SM trainee. He lowered his voice and said, "Okay."
After hanging up the phone, Luo Yonghao turned to his driver, Wang Zilu, and said a few words. Then he leaned back in his seat, his gaze fixed on the street scene rushing past the window. His expression unconsciously darkened, and he didn't say another word.
Lee Kyung-sung got up quietly, careful not to wake Bae Joo-hyun. After a quick wash, he looked at himself in the mirror.
This is the effect after dual cultivation, even more obvious than expected. The light blue dark circles under my eyes have completely disappeared, the skin around my eyes is delicate and firm, without a trace of fatigue, my complexion is rosy and full, and I look refreshed.
He didn't linger. He wore a simple black T-shirt underneath, a gray-black down jacket on top, and thick casual pants. After a quick tidy-up, he got up and went out.
When the door opened, Luo Yonghao was standing there, holding the breakfast in his hand. "Trainees always eat this kind of breakfast."
"Thank you." After thanking him, Li Jingcheng took the breakfast and glanced at it: two boiled eggs and a bottle of low-fat milk.
The door wasn't closed. Luo Yonghao glanced inside but didn't choose to go in, even though he was still very curious about Bae Joo-hyun.
Turning around, Lee Kyung-sung quickly placed Bae Joo-hyun's portion on the dining table. He then glanced at Bae Joo-hyun sleeping soundly in the bedroom, and a slight smile unconsciously appeared on his lips. A gentle smile shone in his eyes, suggesting that she must be having a sweet dream.
He hesitated for a moment, then leaned down and gently pecked her soft lips. The movement was tender.
As he walked out to his car and opened the door, Li Jingcheng greeted him with a smile, "Brother Yonghao, Brother Zilu, good morning."
"Good morning, Jingcheng," Luo Yonghao and Wang Zilu responded.
After exchanging brief greetings, Li Jingcheng took the breakfast that Luo Yonghao handed him and immediately felt Luo Yonghao's gaze fixed on him.
There were no dark circles under my eyes as I expected, and my skin even seemed to be in better condition than yesterday. My neck and collar were clean, without any hickeys or scratches.
Luo Yonghao breathed a sigh of relief – thankfully, it wouldn't affect today's filming.
He looked up and met Luo Yonghao's gaze, only to see a hint of satisfaction in the other's eyes, and he nodded slightly.
Immediately, Luo Yonghao, with a serious expression, began to give instructions on the precautions for filming.
"Today's shoot is for a solo cover of GQ KOREA magazine, along with eight pages of inside photos. It took place in a professional studio in Seongsu-dong, Dong-gu, Seoul, with the magazine's dedicated team handling everything – top-notch equipment. Don't be too nervous, but be your best."
"The magazine will provide all the necessary attire. A stylist will be on-site to adjust your outfit according to the different themes of the cover and inside pages. You will be shooting solo the entire time, so focus on highlighting your own aura and style. Just concentrate on the camera. If you have any questions about styling or posing, feel free to communicate with the stylist or photographer. Don't be afraid to ask."
"Also, today's shoot will be fast-paced. We'll shoot the cover first, then eight pages of interior pages. The interior pages are divided into four different style sections, so you'll need to switch between them and adapt to the different shooting requirements."
Li Jingcheng listened attentively, nodding occasionally in response. He just needed to cooperate with them. "I understand, Yonghao-ge, don't worry."
The car quickly arrived at a professional photography studio in the city center. As soon as we entered the gate, we saw a middle-aged man in a smart suit and gold-rimmed glasses walking towards us, followed by a female photographer holding a shooting script—it was Kim Min-jae, the editor-in-chief of GQ KOREA.
Luo Yonghao quickly stepped forward to introduce, "Kyung Sung, this is Kim Min-jae, editor-in-chief of GQ KOREA. Editor-in-chief Kim, this is Lee Kyung Sung, the artist featured in this photoshoot."
Kim Min-jae extended his hand, his smile gentle and his tone familiar, "Kyung Sung-ssi, it's great to finally meet you in person. You truly deserve to be called the nation's heartthrob. Compared to your photos, your bone structure in person is so superior, with sharp and textured features. It's exactly the fashion style that GQ wanted, perfectly matching our cover and inside page theme. We are honored to work with you."
Li Jingcheng extended his hand in return, his attitude humble, "Hello, Editor-in-Chief Jin. It is my honor to cooperate with GQ. I would also like to ask for your and your team's help today."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Kim Min-jae took the shooting script from his assistant, pulled Lee Kyung-sung to the rest area, and began to discuss the shooting process and requirements in detail. The two chatted for over ten minutes, without any abrupt instructions, more like a conversation between friends.
Lee Kyung-sung knew that this was the advantage of having CJ as a backer.
After the discussion, Kim Min-jae patted him on the shoulder and smiled, "Very good, Kyung-sung, you are very quick to understand. We don't need to say much. I believe today's shoot will go very smoothly. You go and coordinate with the styling team first. We'll go and adjust the equipment. If you have any problems, whether it's styling or camera work, feel free to contact us anytime. Don't hesitate to ask."
"Okay, thank you, Editor-in-Chief Kim." Li Jingcheng smiled and stood up, following Luo Yonghao towards the styling area.
Staff members moved about busily, setting up the scene, adjusting professional photography equipment, and arranging haute couture clothing and accessories—everything was in perfect order. Luo Yonghao led Li Jingcheng to their private dressing room, where the magazine's makeup team was already prepared.
After a brief discussion about the shooting theme and style, the stylist began to do Li Jingcheng's makeup and hair.
The makeup was sophisticated and elegant, without unnecessary embellishment. The focus was on brightening the complexion, refining the facial contours, and minimizing imperfections, making his features more defined and his overall aura more prominent on camera. His hairstyle was a simple and neat slicked-back style, which, combined with the cover look, gave him a composed and sophisticated sense of style, perfectly matching the tone of GQ KOREA magazine.
After makeup, Li Jingcheng changed into his cover look: a black velvet suit with a white silk shirt underneath, the collar slightly open, no tie, and black patent leather shoes. Standing tall and straight, he was guided by staff to the photoshoot area.
The photographer had already set up his equipment. The set was simple yet sophisticated, with a pure black background and soft lighting to highlight the subject.
During a break in the official cover shoot, GQ's video team had already set up their equipment. Unlike the static beauty of still photography, this video interview focused more on capturing Lee Kyung-sung's dynamic and captivating personal charm.
"Jingcheng, let's take a few test shots first." The photographer raised the camera, observing through the viewfinder. "Okay, look here, make your gaze a little more determined... relax your shoulders, make your aura a little more composed... very good, maintain this state!"
At the photographer's command, Li Jingcheng relaxed his body, adjusted his posture, and looked up at the camera. His eyes were sharp yet gentle, and a faint smile played on his lips. He was neither deliberately flamboyant nor lacking in focus.
When the first cover photo was taken, the digital assistant next to him looked at the screen and couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, "Wow, this bone structure... he's really blessed with natural talent. The lines of his profile are like a sculpture."
Kim Min-jae, who was watching on set, nodded slightly. Looking at the screen through the monitor, he whispered to the art director beside him, "It feels like we don't even need to retouch the photos. The original images are usable straight out of the camera. They captured that sense of opulence and relaxation so perfectly."
The shoot went exceptionally smoothly. Li Jingcheng seemed born for the camera; his posture, whether standing or sitting, and even the subtlest finger movements, were full of expressiveness. Whenever the photographer suggested a new composition, he could always quickly grasp it and provide the most precise feedback.
"Perfect! This is exactly the GQ Man we wanted!" The photographer excitedly pressed the shutter, even forgetting to call "cut." "Kyung Sung-ssi, you really know how to use the camera, that's fantastic!"
The makeup and photoshoot took just over four hours, and all the key shots for the cover were completed in a very efficient manner, which surprised the staff on site.
"Kyung Sung-ssi," Kim Min-jae said, his voice filled with undisguised admiration, "to be honest, the final photos are even better than I expected. After this shoot, I think you'll immediately become a darling of the fashion world. Not only are you handsome, but more importantly, you have that kind of unwavering, story-telling quality that you possess even amidst the hustle and bustle of the world—something many actors or idols lack."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Li Jingcheng and Luo Yonghao, before extending an invitation.
"You've worked hard today. After Jingcheng's video interview, I'd like to treat you to lunch. There's a really good barbecue restaurant nearby. We can also talk about future promotional collaborations. I wonder if you have time?"
Lee Kyung-sung glanced at Luo Yong-ho, who nodded slightly. Although Lee Kyung-sung was still thinking about Bae Joo-hyun at home and Lim Yoon-ah, whom he was still trying to win over, thankfully his dinner appointment with Lee Hye-ri was in the evening.
"Then I'll gladly accept your kind offer. Thank you for your hospitality, Editor-in-Chief Jin," Li Jingcheng said politely with a smile.
"Okay! It's settled then, see you in a bit!" Kim Min-jae patted him on the shoulder with satisfaction, then turned to instruct his assistant to pack up the equipment.