After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety
Chapter 168: I Don’t Believe It, I Won’t Leave

Chapter 168: Chapter 168: I Don’t Believe It, I Won’t Leave

"What’s going on? Do you think this is a marketplace? You can hear the noise all the way from the courtyard!"

Wei Xiao appeared at the doorway of the makeup room with his hands behind his back. As soon as his face showed up, the previously chattering room fell silent within seconds, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The lead figure in the crew, nobody dared not to recognize him.

Everyone fell silent immediately.

Wei Xiao didn’t go in either, as this makeup room wasn’t like the ones the leading cast had. It was filled with young girls in their prime, and he was afraid he couldn’t stand his ground if he went in. So, he simply surveyed the room from the doorway.

Finally, he pointed with his hand at a girl holding a costume and a work badge around her neck, "You, tell me what’s happening?"

The girl in the room, upon seeing Wei Xiao being brought over, breathed a sigh of relief. Compared to being scolded by Director Wei, she was more averse to being pointed at and told by the actress and her agent in front of her that she wasn’t doing her job well.

"Director Wei, Ms. Jiang and her agent are saying that the jewelry and costumes I assigned are incorrect, but I have checked carefully before. The costume for Qing Yuan is indeed like this."

Wei Xiao looked at the costume in her hand, then glanced over at the actress who had just stood up from her makeup chair not far away, frowning slightly.

In fact, he had felt that the actress and her agent beside her seemed familiar, but he just couldn’t recall where or when he’d seen them before.

It made sense, considering he had met at least a thousand actors as a director. The ones he remembered were either leads or important supporting roles in his shows or those well-known in the industry.

Not many small actors from the second or third tier caught his attention.

With an agent accompanying her, she probably had some fame, no wonder she dared question him.

"You’re the actress playing Qing Yuan, right? Since you passed the audition, you must have some understanding of the character Qing Yuan. So tell me, what is Qing Yuan’s personality like?"

Jiang Xiyu suddenly met Director Wei’s impassive gaze, and her heart skipped a beat.

She had clearly met and spoken with Director Wei before, yet why did he seem like he didn’t recognize her at all?

Suppressing her nervousness, she stammered, "Qing Yuan, well, Qing Yuan is loyal and protective of her master, highly valued by Emperor Yuan Zhao, and, and..."

"Enough, stop talking," Wei Xiao directly interrupted her, "To become the chief palace maid by Emperor Yuan Zhao’s side, which he wouldn’t decide haphazardly—loyalty is a given. What I’m asking is about Qing Yuan’s personality itself!"

Jiang Xiyu’s face turned red and white. She didn’t expect Director Wei to be so blunt. With so many people watching, he was putting her in an awkward position.

Unable to answer after a moment of hesitation, Wei Xiao’s patience ran out completely, "If you knew what Qing Yuan’s personality is like, you would know why she doesn’t wear bright clothes like Yue Zhi and other palace maids. If you still want to play this role, then just put on the costume obediently. If you really despise it, you know where the film city gates are. It’s just a palace maid role that others are eager to compete for; missing out on you won’t make a difference."

Jiang Xiyu forced a smile, gritted her teeth, and lowered her head to admit her mistake, "Director Wei, it’s my fault for disturbing you. I apologize."

Wei Xiao didn’t care whether her apology was sincere or not, given his mind was preoccupied with a more troubling issue, he casually waved his hand, "In my crew, everyone should behave properly. This is the only time; it won’t happen again." After saying this, he turned and left.

After he walked away, the people in the makeup room began talking in groups of three or four, but they all subtly distanced themselves from a certain corner.

Many of them had been flattering Jiang Xiyu upon seeing her, after all, Jiang Xiyu was much more famous than they were.

Though they couldn’t understand why she took on such a minor role, it was a rare opportunity to make her acquaintance.

Yet the project hadn’t even begun filming, and Jiang Xiyu had already displeased Director Wei. They, who would likely be staying with the crew for months, naturally thought twice.

Jiang Xiyu sat back on the makeup chair, letting the makeup artist insert those outdated-looking ornaments into her hair, her expression uncontrollably darkening.

And right beside her, Jiang Yuting added fuel to the fire, whispering in her ear, "Director Wei was really harsh, not giving us any face at all. We’ve met and talked before, yet he shows no appreciation for you taking on a palace maid role, begrudging you so much..."

"Stop it!" Jiang Xiyu cut her off with a low growl, her cheeks twitching uncontrollably.

Could she say that from the look on Wei Xiao’s face, he truly didn’t recognize them?

That’s what really felt utterly embarrassing!

"By the way," Jiang Xiyu cast a sideways glance toward Tao, who was quietly standing in the corner holding things, "have you found out which role Jiang Lingxi is playing? And who is playing the female lead?"

The makeup artists and photographers who were in charge of non-leading roles like hers had already changed on the first and second days of costume fitting, so she had to ask Tao to inquire with the staff who had been constantly with the crew.

Although, unsurprisingly, Jiang Lingxi was probably just playing the fourth female role, an early death character who might not have as much screen time as she did beside the main actress.

As for the female lead, she had been pondering it over the last few days but still hadn’t determined who had managed to replace Xu Qingmei.

Tao didn’t immediately respond, her chubby face full of conflict and difficulty.

But Jiang Xiyu didn’t notice her expression; not hearing a reply, she frowned and urged, "Say something. Don’t tell me you haven’t found out."

The latter half of her sentence made Tao instinctively flinch, and with a bracing heart, she said, "Jiang Lingxi is playing the female lead."

"Hiss!" Jiang Xiyu was playing with a hairpin, intending for Tao to extend her arm so she could prick it. In her surprise, she instead pricked her own finger, and a red bead of blood immediately appeared.

She stared at the blood drop, her pupils reflecting red.

Through gritted teeth, she squeezed out three words, "I don’t believe it!"

Tao dared not speak again under any circumstances.

Jiang Yuting also looked displeased, and realized that with the role Jiang Xiyu was playing, she would inevitably have to perform salutes to Jiang Lingxi during shooting.

"Don’t worry, I’ll investigate it myself."

But the investigation results didn’t improve their moods—it worsened them.

"How on earth did Jiang Lingxi get the female lead? If not, maybe you should just give up this role. Anyway, they haven’t filmed the costume fitting yet. We can afford the penalty for backing out from such a minor role."

Jiang Yuting thought Jiang Xiyu would be unable to hold back her anger at Jiang Lingxi playing the female lead, yet upon asking, she saw Jiang Xiyu shake her head slowly while caressing the wound on her finger, "No, I’m not leaving."

Jiang Yuting: "..."

Was she enraged, or what?

Tao, however, inadvertently caught Jiang Xiyu’s current expression in the mirror, and couldn’t help but shiver as she hugged her arms.

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