“Come, let me have a look at this face~”
Brother M pinched her chin, turning her head from side to side. “Good foundation~”
Xia Weiliang quickly greeted him, “Hello, Brother M, I am…”
“My Empress~” Brother M struck a delicate pose, giggling and swaying his body. “You’re quite the celebrity! Even when I’m not in the country, I’ve heard your legends – the fake heiress from a wealthy family, tsk tsk, your story is more dramatic than any script~”
“…”
Xia Weiliang forced a smile.
Doesn’t she have any dignity?
Nuo Mi, standing beside her, was as excited as a little Pomeranian. “Brother M, Brother M, what are you doing here? I love your work! Especially the ‘Brow Dye’ makeup you did for Sister Ya, I’m obsessed!”
“Oh, ho ho~ Little girl, you have excellent taste~”
Brother M turned to Xiao Nuo Mi. “Of all my works, why do you particularly like the ‘Brow Dye’ makeup?”
“Everyone says eye makeup is important, but I actually believe brow makeup is the most crucial! For instance, whether it’s straight brows, willow brows, crescent brows, or even fierce brows… every change in brow shape is a marker of a new fashion trend.”
Brother M covered his mouth with his hand, laughing heartily. “Aiyo, you little thing, you know so much! Very interesting, very interesting~” He turned and handed her a business card with a flourish. “My number, let’s go shopping together sometime, sister~”
Wow!
Xiao Nuo Mi was ecstatic!
“Definitely, definitely! Sister, sister!!”
Xia Weiliang asked, “Brother M, why are you here at our film set?”
He glanced back, throwing her a flirtatious wink. “I was involved in the styling for this drama.”
“Uh…”
Xia Weiliang felt awkward.
Did she, by any chance, alter the styling for “Lian Zhu” without authorization…
“You changed ‘Lian Zhu’s’ styling?” Brother M asked directly.
Just as she thought.
Aren’t you embarrassed?
Xia Weiliang was about to explain, but Brother M chuckled. “A fallen noblewoman is still a noblewoman. She should be pure and clean, shouldn’t she?”
Xia Weiliang was taken aback. Wasn't he here to reprimand her?
Sensing her confusion, Brother M smiled. “I didn’t do your styling. I only do the leads.”
Xia Weiliang: …
In short, she was resilient!
“I have another 30 minutes. Come, let’s begin.” Brother M clapped his hands. An assistant immediately came forward, pushing aside the assorted cosmetics on the table and setting out his entire custom collection.
Xia Weiliang and Nuo Mi covered their mouths in disbelief. Had some passing immortal descended? Brother M was personally going to do her makeup!!
During this time, word spread that Brother M was on set, and assistants from Shang Rongrong and Yuan Ting’s teams came to invite him. Brother M brushed them off with a simple “No time.”
Yao Qian, having finished her coffee, sauntered back.
The third floor of the hotel was entirely dedicated to their makeup and costume department. It was usually bustling with staff coming and going.
But as she rounded the corner into the makeup area, she saw a crowd gathered outside her designated dressing room.
“What’s going on? Why is everyone gathered here? Are you all that idle?”
Yao Qian pushed her way through with difficulty and was stunned when she saw Xia Weiliang.
Her makeup…
It was almost impossible to detect any trace of makeup, yet she looked radiant and clear. The makeup perfectly complemented her wheat field scene from the afternoon.
Did she do it herself?
Yao Qian, being a professional herself, knew that while nude makeup sounded simple, it was difficult to achieve. The makeup on Xia Weiliang’s face was clearly of master-level skill!
No matter how Xia Weiliang had managed it, this was a direct affront to her!
Yao Qian grew angrier and deliberately said, “Miss Xia, didn’t I tell you I wouldn’t do your makeup? Why are you still here? Heh, it’s no use begging me. Find anyone else you want, but I absolutely won’t…”
Yao Qian froze.
“Bro… Brother M?!”
As the person who emerged, exuding an elegant aura, was none other than the industry’s grandmaster, Brother M!
Brother M merely glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. “You are… that little assistant of David’s, aren’t you?”
Yao Qian nodded excitedly. “Yes, yes, yes! David is my teacher. I never thought Brother M would remember me~”
In terms of industry seniority, Yao Qian was practically a great-grandchild to him.
The David he mentioned was merely a junior assistant whom Brother M had mentored. David had only followed him for a short period, just one year.
Despite that, David’s career had soared over the years, and by claiming mentorship from Brother M, he had secured a place in the fashion industry. It was thanks to this that Yao Qian, riding on her teacher’s coattails, had managed to enter the film and television industry as a senior makeup assistant.
“Heh, little David’s taste has always been mediocre. When he followed Big Qiao, I told him that this industry requires innate talent, and he’s the type with ordinary aptitude.” Saying this, Brother M cast another disdainful glance at Yao Qian. “I didn’t expect your taste in assistants to be even worse!”
Yao Qian’s smile instantly froze. What did he mean by that?
Was he saying she wasn’t good enough?!
Faint chuckles from behind caused Yao Qian’s cheeks to flush red.
Brother M was the king of fashion styling. His words were tantamount to directly declaring her professional career over. Not only would she struggle to become a makeup or styling artist, but anyone named by Brother M would likely find it difficult to get hired in the future!
Xia Weiliang could see that Brother M was defending her.
She glanced at Yao Qian, who was so humiliated she wished she could sink into the ground. Her face was ashen, and she was on the verge of tears, head bowed.
Brother M paid her no mind. He turned to Xia Weiliang, smiling. “Darling, if you need anything next time, just ask me.”
“Thank you, Brother M. I’m truly grateful today!” Xia Weiliang thanked him sincerely.
Brother M leaned in and whispered in her ear with a coy laugh, “If you want to thank me, don’t thank me. I’m just fulfilling a request.”
Xia Weiliang blinked. Fulfilling a request…
From whom?
Seeing their intimate interaction, onlookers outside whispered amongst themselves.
“I didn’t realize it, but Empress’s circle of friends is truly extraordinary! First an award-winning actor, and now Brother M!”
“Exactly! She just stepped through the door of the film and television industry with her left foot and into the fashion industry with her right!”
With a flying kiss, Brother M, exuding an “I’m the coolest” attitude, swayed his impossibly slender waist and left with his assistant.
Seeing that it was almost time, Xia Weiliang prepared to head to the shooting location but was stopped by Yao Qian.
Yao Qian pointed at Xia Weiliang and loudly accused, “Xia Weiliang, what did I ever do to offend you? To slander me like that in front of Brother M? You clearly disrespected us makeup artists and changed the styling without authorization, then blamed me, making Brother M misunderstand me! Don’t think you can bully people just because you’re a celebrity! We makeup artists are people too, not your slaves!”
This tirade was delivered with tears streaming down her face.
“Hey! Look at Auntie’s fiery temper!”
Xiao Nuo Mi had been holding back her anger. Don’t think makeup is a small matter, that a few casual strokes would suffice!
One must understand that makeup, photography, and lighting all need to work in harmony. Only when angles, lighting, and makeup perfectly align can actors achieve their ideal state!
It’s often jokingly said online that an actor who offends the stylist or makeup artist ends up with a bad look and takes the blame.
Yao Qian, as a resident stylist and makeup artist, couldn’t possibly be unaware of this!
Her decision to abandon her duties this time could only mean she lacked professional integrity!
Nuomi was ready for battle!
“You—”
“Nuomi, let’s go.”
Xiao Nuo Mi’s passionate spirit was still simmering when Xia Weiliang decisively cut her off.
“Director Zhou dislikes lateness.”
Xia Weiliang had not given Yao Qian so much as a glance the entire time, nor would she be manipulated by her.
Hmph, trying to drag someone down with her in her final moments, this “big tea lotus” has no integrity! Su Dan Novel Net.
“Stop! You’re not allowed to leave!”
Her indifference enraged Yao Qian, who lunged forward, grabbed Xia Weiliang’s arm, and forcefully shoved her towards the makeup vanity…