Chapter 67: The Person Who Cannot Be Offended

"Luoxi, where are you?" Ding Ju’s voice was full of surprise, tinged with helplessness. She had come to Empire Shadows School so early to find Chu Luoxi, yet somehow missed her? Oh dear, how was she supposed to explain this?

"The film crew, where else could I be?" Chu Luoxi replied, baffled by the question and perplexed by Ding Ju’s reaction.

"You went to the crew this early?" Ding Ju was speechless. Chu Luoxi had said yesterday she was busy and wouldn’t rush to the set, since the director’s deadline was today. But now, in the blink of an eye, she was suddenly so eager?

Chu Luoxi was even more at a loss. Why was "early" coming up again? Was she really that early? That seemed rather exaggerated.

"Did you need something?" Chu Luoxi decided not to dwell on the topic and steered the conversation back.

"Uh..." Ding Ju was thrown off, unsure what to say. Should she just admit that Director Leng asked her to follow Chu Luoxi? If she said that, she’d probably be fired on the spot. She had hoped to tag along to the crew and maybe bluff her way through, but now what should she do?

Being frank didn’t mean being foolish. Ding Ju hesitated, her eyes darting as she came up with an idea. "Director Leng sent me to the crew of 'Rivers and Mountains' to take care of some business. I thought since you were going, we might as well go together, but it turns out you’re already there." If the mountain won’t come to me, I’ll go to the mountain. Whatever happens, she’d just head to the set.

Seriously, was there ever an assistant as miserable as her? She felt more like a secret agent than anything.

"Oh, why didn’t you say so earlier? I’ve been here since quite early," Chu Luoxi replied with a hint of regret, suspecting nothing.

She knew Scenery Entertainment had invested in 'Rivers and Mountains', and besides, Qiu Xian was one of their people. So Ding Ju’s explanation, though accidental, made perfect sense to her; she didn’t think twice about it, otherwise she might have found it odd.

"Forget it, I’ll just come over myself," Ding Ju said, frustrated but relieved her excuse, though awkward, was passable.

After hanging up, Chu Luoxi stared at her phone in confusion, wondering why Ding Ju was so insistent on joining her. They were acquainted, but not close enough for this sort of thing.

Tsk tsk, coming back after her rebirth, why did the entertainment industry feel so strange? Or perhaps she simply hadn’t understood it in her previous life?

She shook her head quietly and refocused on her script. Once engrossed, time slipped by unnoticed, until Ding Ju appeared before her at midday, holding two lunch boxes, snapping her from her reverie.

"Hey, finished your business already?" Chu Luoxi asked in surprise, welcoming the help and accepting her lunch, ready to eat.

Dragging a stool over, Ding Ju sat down and opened her own meal, her mouth twitching slightly. "Don’t even ask. Director Leng wants me to stay with the crew, keep an eye out, and report back if anything happens." One lie required countless others to cover it. Luckily, she’d reported her situation beforehand, or else she’d never be able to lie so smoothly.

She’d finally realized: this supposed assistant for Xiao Jingxuan was actually meant for Chu Luoxi, though it couldn’t be made official. Her two bosses—what were they up to? Surely they didn’t have designs on the lovely Miss Chu?

"Oh, could it be you’ve been promoted?" Chu Luoxi said, congratulating her but privately marveling at Director Leng’s dedication. Even though Qiu Xian belonged to Scenery Entertainment, he still took everything so seriously. If 'Rivers and Mountains' didn’t become a hit, it would make no sense.

As for the promotion, Chu Luoxi thought such tasks shouldn’t fall to a simple personal assistant, so...

Ding Ju felt a pang inside, replying gloomily, "Promoted? Not at all. It’s just 'part-time.' I guess I’m simply the most available person at the company!"

She suddenly felt that lying with a straight face got easier the more she did it.

"Oh!" Chu Luoxi nodded, understanding.

Thinking it over, Scenery Entertainment must be busy these days. Xiao’s second solo album was a huge success, and the company would surely take advantage of the momentum, aiming for an extraordinary leap forward, exploding onto the scene. In just a few months, they’d be on par with the top companies.

Ding Ju had worried Chu Luoxi might press for details, but she needn’t have. Chu Luoxi had already supplied her with an excuse and asked nothing further, sparing her any anxiety.

After lunch and a brief rest, Chu Luoxi remained under the eaves, leafing through her script with careful attention.

"Luoxi, the makeup artist and stylist are free now. They’d like you to come over and discuss your character’s look," Ding Ju announced, returning to her proper duties.

Chu Luoxi never regarded Ding Ju as her assistant; if Ding Ju didn’t take initiative, Chu Luoxi would have handled her own affairs anyway.

"Alright, I’m coming," Chu Luoxi replied, thinking nothing of it, and entered the room, greeting the makeup artists and stylists politely and humbly, taking the chance to build rapport.

In a film crew, one could not afford to offend these people. If they decided to be creative with your makeup or styling, even the most promising talent could be ruined. She’d seen many such cases in her previous life; when it happened, even the prettiest women and most handsome men stood no chance. Why provoke them for no reason?

Some celebrities looked down on those working behind the scenes, but everyone was human, just with different roles. Was it necessary to act so superior?

Thus, Chu Luoxi’s attitude was pleasant and made everyone comfortable. In just a few words, they felt familiar with her. Unless there were innate conflicts, people rarely fell out without some vested interest.

Now, as work began on her face, makeup artist Liu Yun asked proactively, "Luoxi, did you bring your own usual makeup products? Or is there any brand you’re particularly sensitive to? Let me know in advance so I can avoid it."

Everyone knew actors had to apply all sorts of products to their faces every day, and makeup, after all, was made of chemicals. Even those claiming to be all-natural weren’t much different. Many celebrities who never appeared bare-faced had suffered because of makeup.

The damage from chemicals, coupled with the exhaustion of filming, meant their faces were often ruined after years in the business. It was only to be expected. Most stars, after a few years of fame, wouldn’t dare step outside without makeup, though not everyone started out that way.

Truly, natural beauty couldn’t withstand such relentless wear.

Chu Luoxi, with twenty years as an actress in her previous life, understood this deeply. Her martial arts training and some authentic traditional medicine techniques had kept her from being completely destroyed by makeup, but her skin still wasn’t great in the end.

Moreover, the difference between crews was significant. Some, whether from tight budgets or other reasons, used inferior products, which was even more disastrous. Thus, bringing your own makeup was always the best option.