Chapter 153: Chapter 153-Get closer
The director nodded solemnly.
"Dear Lilian," he said, with a tone that carried the weight of authority, "you must understand— a woman’s beauty shines brighter when complemented by a man."
The bearded director had only thought of pairing them after seeing Morrison. The man was stunning—sharp, chiseled features, effortlessly charming, and a body that looked perfect for the camera. On top of that, he carried an elegant aura that translated flawlessly on film.
And yes, a woman’s beauty should be highlighted by a man. But what really thrilled the director was the way this man looked at Lilian—there was something in that gaze, something electric. He could already imagine the sparks that would fly if they shot together. For a photographer, nothing could be more exhilarating.
"No way!"
Lilian rejected him instantly, without hesitation.
"My brother would never agree either. Why don’t you call him and ask?"
She was certain that Bert, who didn’t like Morrison, would refuse immediately if the director dared to call him.
Besides, she refused on principle. A male-female photoshoot would inevitably involve intimate poses. People standing stiffly on opposite sides looked absurd. There was no way she was going to pose closely with Morrison. She had no relationship with him whatsoever right now; she wanted nothing more than to stay far away. And yet, this audacious old man expected them to shoot together?
Morrison, at first, had also wanted to protest. He hated photoshoots in general. The idea of a man posing all cute and flashy in front of a camera was nauseating.
And then there was the matter of his image. His face, his status, his image—it all had value in the domestic market. Now he was being asked to lend it for Bert’s promotional photos for free? It felt like a rip-off. If it were for someone else, maybe he could offer a friendly nod. But for Bert, who had tormented him for so long... he couldn’t feel any goodwill.
Yet the next second, a thought flashed through his mind: a male-female photoshoot would require intimate gestures. His objections evaporated.
Fine. He could endure it—for the chance to get that close. And, well, if it helped Bert’s promo, that was just a bonus.
Lilian assumed that invoking Bert’s authority would make the director back down. After all, Bert was paying for the shoot, wasn’t he?
But the bearded man was bold to the extreme. He puffed up his chest and declared,
"Dear Lilian, while Mr. Bert may be the boss, I am the photographer. Since he hired me for this shoot, how we shoot is entirely my decision. I do not need his permission at all."
"You—"
Lilian snapped, fuming at his audacity. She turned to Morrison.
"Hey! As the person involved, shouldn’t you have a say?"
She remembered how much he hated photoshoots. When they were together, it was always her taking the pictures, sneaking a few shots while he wasn’t paying attention. If she tried to make him pose deliberately, he would stiffen and resist.
So Lilian assumed he would refuse this time too, and she silently pinned her hope on him.
Morrison, stroking his chin, turned to the bearded man.
"Well," he drawled, "if you want me to cooperate for this photoshoot, shouldn’t you ask the person involved first?"
The bearded man raised an eyebrow, a glint of amusement in his eyes.
"Aren’t you willing?" he teased, clearly seeing how eager Morrison was to shoot alongside the young lady.
Morrison sauntered forward, blocking the man’s shoulder as he guided him aside. He spoke with a confident, slightly arrogant air.
"I’m not that easy to please," he said.
From Lilian’s perspective, Morrison was dragging the bearded man off to refuse, so she relaxed and continued touching up her makeup, completely unaware of what was actually happening.
Once Morrison had them aside, his demeanor changed. A sly smile curved his lips as he asked the bearded man,
"When we’re shooting, can I... kiss her?"
The director laughed heartily.
"Of course! Whatever you want, you’ll have it—as long as you’re willing to stand by her side."
Morrison narrowed his eyes, thinking for a moment.
"Then I also want all the photos you’ve taken of her before."
From their brief conversation, Morrison could tell that Lilian had collaborated with this photographer many times before. The bearded man must have a full archive of her previous shoots. Morrison wanted them—not just as souvenirs, but also as a way to look back over the past year of her life.
The photographer snorted.
"You’re asking for a lot. Do you even know how much one of these shoots costs? Bert pays for every single shot, piece by piece."
Morrison turned to leave.
"Then forget it."
But the bearded man grabbed him, gritting his teeth.
"You’re a sly one, young man," he said. Then he added, "But you’ve come to the right person. She’s been under my lens since she started modeling."
Morrison immediately realized his request had been granted. He slapped the photographer’s hand in agreement.
"Deal."
He had also noticed the photographer’s intense desire to have him in the shot. Artists like him were stubborn perfectionists. They wanted Morrison to join the shoot, and if he refused, it would be frustrating for them. That’s why Morrison had cleverly added the request for all of Lilian’s previous photos.
By the time Lilian finished her touch-ups, Morrison was walking back alongside the photographer. She immediately asked,
"So... you told him you wouldn’t do it, right?"
Morrison raised his hands helplessly.
"Sorry, the photographer is just too enthusiastic. I couldn’t resist, so..."
Lilian scowled.
"You—"
But she couldn’t find words to scold him, so she turned to protest at the photographer instead.
"I don’t want to do it! Having a man standing next to me is so awkward! You know I’ve never shot with a male model before—I’ll probably mess it up."
Over the past year, she had only ever done female fashion shoots. Male models always had their own sessions. She had never worked with Morrison before—and, more importantly, she didn’t want to.
The bearded man, however, was unyielding.
"As long as you follow my instructions for expressions and poses, everything will be fine."
Before Lilian could argue further, he nudged her toward the set. Morrison went to change into a suit, and soon, Lilian found herself reluctantly standing next to him, directly under the photographer’s lens.
She didn’t want anything to do with Morrison, so her expression remained icy.
She expected the photographer to have them pose intimately, but surprisingly, he didn’t give any such instructions. He simply told her to act naturally, like she had in previous shoots. Click-click-click, the camera worked away. Lilian had no idea what Morrison was doing beside her—and didn’t want to know.
Without any forced intimacy, she slowly relaxed, her posture becoming more natural.
After a while, the photographer instructed them to stand face to face.
"Get closer. The closer, the better."
Lilian froze, unwilling to move. Only after repeated urging did she reluctantly lean forward slightly. Morrison, however, moved on his own, leaning his face toward hers.
Instinctively, Lilian raised her hands to push him away—but he slipped an arm around her waist. She couldn’t push him off.
There they stood, pressed close, face to face. Morrison lowered his voice near her ear, smiling.
"Cooperate a little so we can finish quickly. I’ve only had a few leftover pieces of bread this morning. I’m starving."
He sounded pitiful. Lilian bit her lip, trying not to laugh—and tried even harder to keep her composure.