Chapter 81: Joining The Group
Summer job? Xuan Xia’s first thought was Qu Xingxuan.
So the next day, when Xuan Xia left the Daoist Temple, she saw that Qu Xingxuan had already changed clothes and taken over Daoist Master Qin’s position, becoming the one doing fortune telling.
Qu Xingxuan hadn’t expected that he had just come to hang out for a few days, but the next day he turned into a summer worker.
And he even called it: training!
When Qu Xingxuan watched Xuan Xia leave, amid the envy, he suddenly wondered if he had fallen for Xuan Xia’s trick. She had tricked him into coming to Changsheng Temple not to entertain him, but to make him do hard labor!
Doing hard labor was one thing, but the uncles and aunties who came for fortune telling always looked at him with suspicious eyes, thinking he wasn’t as reliable as Daoist Master Qin, which made Qu Xingxuan very unconvinced.
Qu Xingxuan’s fighting spirit was aroused, and he secretly resolved to make these uncles and aunties see what he could do.
With Qu Xingxuan covering the shift, Daoist Master Qin finally had some free time and saw Xuan Xia off for a bit.
Actually, it was just from the backyard to the temple gate.
Xuan Xia thought he was seeing her off because he had something to tell her, but he had nothing to say; he was just simply seeing her off.
“Then we’re off, goodbye Daoist Master Qin.” Xuan Xia glanced at the message from Yang Wanxiu and took the initiative to say goodbye.
Daoist Master Qin hummed in acknowledgment, then glanced at Li Xinze.
Li Xinze nodded at Daoist Master Qin with a look of full understanding.
“Brother Li, let’s go.” Xuan Xia called to Li Xinze again.
In the end, she couldn’t refuse Daoist Master Qin’s kindness and agreed to let Li Xinze go with her to Hengcheng.
Xuan Xia originally felt there was really no need to bring Li Xinze; not only did she have Yang Wanxiu with her, but Ji Ziyao was also on the film crew. Besides, there were many crews at the Hengcheng Film Base, and even more people, so she really wouldn’t be alone.
What’s more, Li Xinze was his bodyguard; what did it mean for her to take him away?
But Daoist Master Qin said that if she really felt bad about it, the temple could cover Li Xinze’s wages for this period.
Xuan Xia really wanted to retort, what’s the difference from him still paying the wages? The money was all earned by him!
Anyway, after arguing for most of the evening, Daoist Master Qin stuck to his position, and Xuan Xia could only compromise.
Worst case, once she got her filming wages, she could personally pay Li Xinze’s wages.
As for the temple’s surplus, she temporarily didn’t want to use it privately; the temple needed money for all sorts of things from time to time.
……
When Xuan Xia met up with Yang Wanxiu bringing Li Xinze, Yang Wanxiu was also surprised by Xuan Xia bringing a bodyguard onto the crew.
Seeing Li Xinze in his sharp suit, he really had more presence than some bodyguards of popular stars!
Yang Wanxiu couldn’t say it was wrong for Xuan Xia to bring a bodyguard onto the crew, but she leaned close to Xuan Xia and quietly suggested: “Xiaxia, don’t you think bringing a bodyguard is a bit too flashy?”
“How about letting this big brother change it up and say he’s an assistant to the outside?”
Bringing a bodyguard was indeed too flashy, especially for a small newcomer like Xuan Xia with no status, and it was bound to give people something to talk about. But saying he’s an assistant was different; even the most clueless artist bringing an assistant onto the crew was normal and acceptable.
After hearing this, Xuan Xia directly looked at Li Xinze and told him Yang Wanxiu’s suggestion.
Li Xinze responded indifferently: “Whatever Miss Xuan says.”
“Then we’ll go with Xiuxiu’s idea.”
Li Xinze’s new role was settled.
The three also boarded the high-speed train to Hengcheng.
***
The three arrived in Hengcheng, then transferred to the Film Base, and by then it was dinnertime.
Xuan Xia had no time to go to the hotel first to drop off luggage and headed straight to the film crew.
Ji Ziyao was waiting for her on the film crew.
Though she was just a small supporting actor with only a few scenes, she still needed to try makeup and styling.
Plus, with the changes to the filming tasks, she had to settle the makeup and styling issue tonight; tomorrow she might have to go to the film set to wait.
The long-awaited reunion with Ji Ziyao began with his line: “How come you look like you’ve gained weight?”
Xuan Xia’s face darkened, and she immediately retorted: “I weighed myself last night; I haven’t gained weight!”
“Really?” Ji Ziyao touched his chin, his gaze lingering on Xuan Xia’s face for two more turns.
Xuan Xia: “…”
“You really haven’t had any milk tea lately?” Ji Ziyao asked her.
Xuan Xia suddenly felt guilty; she had drunk some yesterday, but could she admit it?
Fortunately, Ji Ziyao didn’t press the issue and soon said: “Whatever, whether you’ve gained weight or not, start controlling your diet from tomorrow.”
Xuan Xia obediently agreed: “Okay.”
Ji Ziyao’s gaze turned to Li Xinze following behind and asked: “Who’s this?”
Yang Wanxiu quickly answered for her: “This is Xiaxia’s on-set assistant.”
“On-set assistant?” Ji Ziyao skeptically sized up Li Xinze.
Why did he feel like he looked more like a bodyguard than an assistant? Look at that build, that righteous look on his face.
Then he looked at Xuan Xia again and in the end said nothing.
“Let’s go, head in.”
Ji Ziyao took her to the film crew’s makeup room.
At this hour, there were still quite a few people in the makeup room; some were getting makeup done, some eating takeout—these were all supporting actors with night scenes.
The actors in the makeup room mostly looked at Xuan Xia with curious eyes when they saw her.
The production had been filming for a while, and they all knew Ji Ziyao as the agent for Female Third Lead Lu Mindan in the drama. Now seeing him bring someone, some in the know already realized Xuan Xia was the actor replacing the male second lead’s white moonlight role.
The makeup try-on work soon began.
As the male second lead’s white moonlight, though Xuan Xia only had seven scenes, the costume was five sets, each quite different, and the makeup had to be adjusted accordingly.
The most time-consuming part was also changing makeup.
By the third set, Xuan Xia was already hungry, but as a small supporting actor during a busy time, it was impossible to pause for her to eat first.
What’s more, with the costume on, she wasn’t allowed to eat her fill anyway, to avoid affecting how she looked on camera.
Fortunately, the makeup and styling went very smoothly. Xuan Xia had a stunning appearance; with the costumes on, she already lived up to the white moonlight title, and with the makeup and styling matching, she looked even more like a person from a dream.
The photographer in charge of the look test photos kept nodding and told the watching Ji Ziyao: “Director Pan will definitely be satisfied.”
Ji Ziyao smiled and flattered from the side: “It’s all because you shoot so well.”
After look test photos for every costume and corresponding makeup were done, the work finally ended.
Only after removing the makeup did Xuan Xia exhale, and she gained further thoughts on this work.
Ji Ziyao came over and patted her shoulder: “Tired, huh?”
Xuan Xia said: “Not too bad.”
“Let’s go, I’ll take you to the hotel.” Ji Ziyao said as they walked: “Fastest is probably waiting on set tomorrow, but it shouldn’t be morning, so you can still sleep in.”
Xuan Xia followed behind him, responding.
Yang Wanxiu and Li Xinze followed behind her.
Just as they reached the door, Ji Ziyao suddenly stopped and exclaimed in surprise: “Teacher Jiang?”
“Hello, I heard the actor I’m acting with has arrived. I came to meet her.”
