The Vicious Cannon Fodder Despised by Everyone Really Doesn't Want to Go Viral - Chapter 14

Lin Zhiyu did not have to wait for Mu Yunji to cause trouble. Instead, he was greeted by a car and a new assistant sent by Xu Dongdong.

The original owner’s previous assistant had resigned long ago because the pay was low, the work was excessive, and the person was difficult to serve. The newly assigned assistant was a college intern with eyes full of clear stupidity, which reminded Lin Zhiyu of himself when he had first graduated.

Therefore, when the assistant deviated from the designated route for the third time, Lin Zhiyu merely raised his head to glance at him lazily and did not say much. On the contrary, the assistant kept startling himself, acting as if Lin Zhiyu might suddenly erupt and eat him alive. Fortunately, they eventually arrived at the film base on time.

“We have designed several different looks for Xie Yunce based on the novel’s setting. Teacher Lin, please try them on first, and we can make adjustments if anything is unsuitable,” the assistant director said while leading him into the dressing room.

In the studio, staff members were adjusting the lights. Perhaps because they had just finished their previous task and were bored, the moment the door opened, Lin Zhiyu heard two makeup artists whispering to each other.

“Why is Mu Yunji here today? Does he have a filming task too?”

“He is probably here to accompany a friend. I just saw him talking to someone, the one in the cafe who looks like a celebrity. It is a pity, though,” the makeup artist said, suddenly pointing toward her own leg.

“Are you talking about the one in the wheelchair?” The other makeup artist paused while packing her things. “That seems to be his brother, does it not?”

“Huh?”

“Did you not know? Mu Yunji’s family is incredibly wealthy. His brother is the largest shareholder of Starry Entertainment. However, due to some high society drama, the two of them do not get along well, which is why Mu Yunji signed with Infinite Entertainment.”

“How do you know all this?”

“When you interact with many people, you are bound to hear some gossip,” she replied. “Moreover, that man also seems to be an investor in this drama. He is likely here to inspect the work today.”

The assistant director cleared his throat twice. One of the makeup artists reacted first, immediately falling silent and walking over.

“You must be Teacher Lin who is playing Xie Yunce. I will be doing your styling.”

Lin Zhiyu smiled at her and sat down. His gaze, however, drifted out through the glass window of the dressing room. From this angle, he could see the cafe downstairs.

The gray and white exterior of the cafe was exceptionally cold and detached, with silver white light reflecting off the glass windows. Mu Sui was sitting by the window. His movements as he picked up his coffee were slow and deliberate. He wore a smoke gray suit that fit him perfectly, exuding a sense of cold, ascetic elegance.

Standing opposite him, Mu Yunji was shouting incessantly about something, his face filled with impatience. Mu Sui seemed completely oblivious to his brother’s near explosive behavior. After taking a sip of coffee, he seemed to sense something and suddenly turned his head to look over.

The windows of the dressing room were one way glass, which Lin Zhiyu had noted before entering. Yet, at this moment, he felt a strange sense of being caught. He felt as if Mu Sui’s gaze was fixed firmly upon him.

Just then, the makeup artist’s brush swept across his eyelid. His eyelashes fluttered instinctively. Thinking he was simply unaccustomed to the process, the makeup artist comforted him, “Do not worry, Teacher Lin. I am very skilled; I will not poke you.”

Lin Zhiyu shook his head to indicate it was fine.

“However, Teacher Lin, this beauty mark of yours is truly well placed. It makes one focus instantly on your eyes.”

Lin Zhiyu asked her, “Do I need to cover it?”

The makeup artist replied, “No. We have discussed it. Since the original author frequently writes about Xie Yunce’s eyes, this mark is perfect. It will save us a lot of trouble.”

The lines of Lin Zhiyu’s eyes were somewhat sharp. The makeup artist deliberately layered several tones of warm eye shadow and used eyeliner to slightly press down the upward curve of his brows. This made his features appear much gentler and less aggressive.

After skillfully finishing the makeup, she attached his hairpiece. Thanks to his untrimmed wolf cut, Lin Zhiyu’s hairstyle could rely on his own hair, making it look much more natural than a full wig. The top portion of his hair was tied high with a jade crown, while the rest cascaded down his back. His bangs were curled and set with hairspray.

The person in the mirror was suddenly transformed into a spirited young nobleman. Even Lin Zhiyu found the change quite novel.

The Blue Bird was a Xianxia drama, so the costumes pursued an ethereal beauty. However, since Xie Yunce was a sword cultivator, he could not simply wear wide, flowing sleeves into battle. Therefore, the production team designed his outfits with narrow sleeves, sometimes layered with a thin gauze vest. The colors were mostly light shades like cyan, green, and white. His slender and strong waist was tightly bound by a sash, and the shimmering embroidery on his robes was faintly visible.

When Lin Zhiyu emerged after changing, he adjusted the bracers on his wrists. The staff members present caught a glimpse of him, and their eyes were instantly drawn to him. The assistant director looked him up and down several times before excitedly making a video call to Zhao Jinyu.

“This casting is perfect! All our visions of Xie Yunce have come to life at this moment!” he exclaimed.

The new assistant was also active, holding up his phone to take photos and videos. Lin Zhiyu noticed the sweat on the assistant’s forehead and reminded him, “The crew probably will not allow those to be posted.”

“It is fine,” the assistant replied. “When the drama airs, I will edit a video for you, Brother Lin. I guarantee those haters will be completely won over by your face.”

Lin Zhiyu thought to himself, “Why do you seem more worried about my career than I am?”

“Where is the sword? Bring Xie Yunce’s sword over. Let us take a few photos to see the effect.”

Lin Zhiyu was handed a heavy sword. Its appearance was plain and unremarkable, with the hilt simply wrapped in hemp rope, which suited Xie Yunce’s free and casual character. The lights were positioned, and Lin Zhiyu drew the sword suddenly according to the photographer’s instructions.

The silver light reflected from the blade fell across his eyes. His brown pupils appeared lighter, and the red mark under his eye became even more captivating. The assistant director clapped his hands in praise repeatedly, looking much like a seal.

Mu Sui had appeared outside the studio at some point. Standing behind him, Mu Yunji had a face that looked as if someone owed him a fortune. He stood behind the wheelchair with his arms crossed. The conversation of the staff members he had overheard while walking over still echoed in his ears.

“I have to say, although Lin Zhiyu has a bad temper, that face is truly exquisite. The assistant director was full of praise after just one look.”

“I feel like his temper has mellowed a lot. When I went into the dressing room earlier to get something, he even smiled at me. Maybe he really intends to turn over a new leaf.”

“His temperament is good too. No matter where he stands, he is well proportioned and pleasing to the eye. This job has at least one perk; we get to admire different handsome men and beautiful women every day.”

Mu Yunji let out a huff and looked at Lin Zhiyu in the studio with disdain. His features were average. His body was average. Well, he glanced unnoticed at the curve emphasized by the waist sash and mentally measured it. His waist was a bit thin, at least.

Lin Zhiyu seemed unaccustomed to the flash of the cameras. He could not help but blink several times, and the corners of his eyes turned red. After the first set of photos, the makeup artist came forward to touch up his makeup. Under the assistant director’s instructions, she added several sword wounds and bloodstains to his nose and the corners of his mouth.

“Alright, this has a great feel to it.”

Lin Zhiyu suddenly arched an eyebrow and looked toward the lens with a faint, half smile. Blood splattered across his cheekbones, and the moisture in his eyes mixed vulnerability with stubbornness. He looked exactly like a rebellious lone wolf.

Mu Yunji was momentarily dazed. He felt a strange sensation strike his heart, making half of his body go numb.

“Did you find some inspiration?”

Mu Sui’s scoffing voice interrupted his wandering thoughts. Mu Yunji snapped his head down and realized that Mu Sui had already turned around and was staring at him coldly. There was no emotion in those deep eyes, but Mu Yunji felt a chill run down his spine, as if a cold blooded animal had crawled over him. It was a stifling, uncomfortable feeling.

“What inspiration could I possibly get from looking at this face?” Mu Yunji snapped back. “I am not like some people who have mediocre taste and are not picky at all.”

Mu Sui’s finger tapped the armrest of the wheelchair inconspicuously. His tone was cold as he said, “I thought you were enjoying the view just now.”

Mu Yunji reacted as if his tail had been stepped on. He shouted, “Mu Sui, do you think I am afraid to scold you? Are you intentionally trying to disgust me?” He continued, “You have seen enough, have you not? If you are done, then leave. I am busy going back to write songs.”

Mu Sui gave him a cold, sidelong glance.

“Fine! If you will not leave, I will! You can wheel yourself back!”

By the time Lin Zhiyu finished the last set of photos, his facial expressions were stiff. He rubbed his face muscles, which felt as if they had gone on strike, and hurried into the changing room. Nothing made him happier than finishing work.

The assistant had told him earlier that there was a good hot pot restaurant near the studio, and there would be a long line if they arrived late. He desperately needed a hearty dinner to save his exhausted body.

However, perhaps because he moved too quickly or because of a design flaw in the costume, his hair got caught on something while he was removing the second layer. It pulled on his scalp, causing a sharp sting. Xie Yunce’s costumes were custom made with exquisite embroidery. Lin Zhiyu did not dare to move recklessly, fearing he might damage the garment and force someone to work overtime to fix it. He called out his assistant’s name.

However, that unreliable intern was nowhere to be found. Lin Zhiyu called out for a long time but received no response. He was almost ready to give up and walk out in his disheveled state to seek help when he noticed familiar wheels stopping outside the changing room.

“Mr. Mu?”

“Yes.”

“Thank goodness. If no one had come, I would have shouted myself hoarse.”

Through the curtain, Lin Zhiyu thought he heard a faint chuckle. He wondered if Mu Sui was mocking his clumsiness. The next second, the dark curtain was pulled back by a pale hand. A cold scent of leather and tobacco washed over him. The wheelchair slid into the narrow changing room, making the cramped space feel suddenly stifling.

“You cannot get it off?” Mu Sui leaned back in his wheelchair. His tone was light, yet it carried an indescribable weight.

Lin Zhiyu looked down and turned his back. He felt the pervasive scent of perfume and a sense of pressure, like a high hanging moon that one could neither look at directly nor escape.

He suppressed his discomfort and whispered, “Could you please take a look? Is it stuck somewhere?”

Mu Sui’s gaze fell vaguely upon his waist. He said slowly, “Squat down; I cannot see you from this height.”