CHAPTER 545: CHAPTER 465 INTENTIONALLY TARGETING

Hearing her name, Xu Jiaojiao immediately walked over to the assistant director.

"Go get your makeup done, hurry up."

The words sounded polite enough, so Xu Jiaojiao didn’t say another word and headed straight to the makeup room.

As soon as she pushed the door open, she saw a few actors waiting in line for their turn. She walked over, only to hear someone say with disdain, "Hey, hey, we were here first. You need to stand behind us in line. Don’t cut in."

Xu Jiaojiao was bewildered, unable to understand what they meant by cutting in line. She was sure they had only just arrived when she got there. Confused, she argued, "I was here first, and the assistant director specifically told me to come get my makeup done first."

The two actresses exchanged glances, sizing Xu Jiaojiao up as they muttered to each other.

"She really thinks she’s some big-shot actress. Doesn’t even know her place."

"Using the assistant director to pressure us? As if we’re not handpicked by the director himself."

"Exactly. Some people just have such inflated egos."

"Forget it, don’t bother with her. She really thinks she’s the star here."

Their voices weren’t loud, but with them standing right in front of Xu Jiaojiao, it was hard to pretend she didn’t hear them. Just as she was preparing to argue back, the makeup artist spoke up impatiently.

"There are a lot of people today, so everyone line up properly. We can’t afford to delay the filming later. The actors for the first and second scenes, get your makeup done first. Xu Jiaojiao, you’re not in the first few scenes, so get to the back of the line."

Upon hearing this, Xu Jiaojiao panicked.

She thought to herself: The assistant director told me to get my makeup done early, so it’s obvious I’m in the first few scenes. Now the makeup artist is saying I’m not—who should I believe?

"You heard that, right? Just move to the back already."

"Some people don’t have the slightest sense of awareness."

Annoyed voices surrounded Xu Jiaojiao, and the other actors all cast contemptuous glances in her direction. The atmosphere became unbearably awkward.

"Does this look okay? Isn’t the makeup a little too plain?"

Xu Jiaojiao stared at herself in the mirror, feeling dissatisfied with how lackluster the makeup seemed.

"If you don’t like it, you can do it yourself. You brought your own makeup anyway, didn’t bother to bring a proper makeup artist either."

Xu Jiaojiao felt utterly mortified. She had considered hiring a personal makeup artist but didn’t want to settle for someone who might not suit her. This time, she hadn’t asked Qin Miaomiao for help, and now she was regretting it as she found herself at the center of all this tension.

"I..."

Unable to say anything, Xu Jiaojiao swallowed her pride and walked away silently.

Her assistant noticed her displeased expression and quickly asked what had happened.

Handing her makeup bag to the assistant, Xu Jiaojiao suppressed her anger and walked into the film set.

"Assistant director, is it my scene next?"

The assistant director, busy directing people, caught sight of Xu Jiaojiao and frowned irritably. "Who said it’s your scene next? Go check the script for yourself and stop getting in the way here."

Confused, Xu Jiaojiao glanced at the assistant director and blurted out, "But you told me earlier to get my makeup done. Isn’t the next scene mine?"

"Your scene? When did I say that? I tell every female actor to get their makeup done early, not just you. Don’t think you’re special just because you’re the lead actress. Go wait over there."

Xu Jiaojiao stared at the assistant director in shock and disbelief. Noticing the peculiar glances from the other actors, her brows furrowed tightly.

It seemed things weren’t as she had imagined. Someone was intentionally targeting her.

"Don’t get mad, don’t get mad. You promised President Qin you’d endure it and focus on delivering a good performance. Don’t stoop to the assistant director’s level."

Listening to her assistant’s advice, Xu Jiaojiao’s anger began to subside.

"By the way, I haven’t seen the director anywhere. Go find him for me."