Chapter 165 - 139: The Beginning of the Scandal

Words : 1060 Updated : Sep 19th, 2025

Chapter 165: Chapter 139: The Beginning of the Scandal "Am I right?" Zhou Yun felt a bit guilty, avoiding Song Chi’s gaze, lightly biting her lips, and turned to look to the side, "No, no." Song Chi smiled and did not press further. "But, I’m also very happy that you can like this role so much." "It’s difficult to encounter a perfect casting for a film, but having one more such actor can make the film better by one degree. Don’t worry about lacking experience, the production team of ’Heart Inquiry’ consists of the most professional people. You also don’t have to worry about your performance being unacceptable and just hastily finishing the shoot, Director Kang is not Lu Yuan; he won’t stop until he pushes you to your limit." After touring the small courtyard, Song Chi took Zhou Yun to the filming site to meet Kang Xin. Coincidentally, they arrived just as Kang Xin was directing Su Yan in a scene. Su Yan was very humble in front of Kang Xin, eagerly taking guidance. After the filming started, she performed again, but Kang Xin was still not satisfied, so they reshot, and once more, he was not satisfied. Director Kang called cut, summoned Su Yan again, pointed out the areas she needed to adjust, and told her to take a two-minute break. Su Yan’s expression was somewhat serious. After all, Su Yan had been in the industry for many years, had acted in many films, and was rightfully at the top tier. On set, her performance repeatedly failed to get Kang Xin’s approval, making her temperamental. This was something she needed to adjust herself. Song Chi brought Zhou Yun to Kang Xin. "Director Kang," Zhou Yun bowed slightly to Kang Xin. Kang Xin took off his headphones and patted Zhou Yun’s shoulder. "You’re finally here." Zhou Yun felt a bit embarrassed and said, "Yeah, sorry, Director Kang, I’m here." Kang Xin said, "Tomorrow you have two scenes scheduled, right?" Zhou Yun was startled, shook her head and said, "I haven’t received the call sheet yet." Kang Xin said, "Afterwards, go try on the make-up for tomorrow; let me have a look." Zhou Yun found it strange, thinking to herself, hadn’t Kang Xin already seen her make-up test before? It was not until she met with the assistant director that she learned they were going to shoot her looking sick after the illness, requiring a sickly makeup. Zhou Yun was taken to the make-up room and met with the make-up artist of the crew, Li Chunhong. Li Chunhong was a very famous make-up artist, having collaborated with Kang Xin many times, and this time too Kang Xin had personally requested Li Chunhong. Li Chunhong brought his team to the set and upon seeing Zhou Yun, he smiled and said, "We meet again." Zhou Yun politely greeted, "Teacher Li." Li Chunhong was a master, with a large team of his own, now mainly taking on make-up jobs for artists’ regular activities, and rarely taking film crew assignments that paid much less. If not for Kang Xin’s influence, and Song Chi’s request, they could only have managed to get a few of his apprentices. Ordinarily, Li Chunhong wouldn’t stay with the film crew; he basically only handled fixed makeup, as well as certain scenes and more difficult makeup looks. He came to the set ahead of time today to finalize Zhou Yun’s makeup. Previously, Li Chunhong had only done three make-up looks for Zhou Yun, one from her brothel days, another as Prince Heng’s favorite concubine, and one depicting her solitary life later on. The character’s makeup had to match the styling. During the design phase, he based the makeup on Zhou Yun’s three primary looks. Zhou Yun sat down. Li Chunhong’s apprentice came forward to remove her makeup; he himself stood behind the chair, resting his cheek in one hand, studying Zhou Yun’s face in the mirror. He had a concept in mind, but to implement it onto a face required adjustments according to the actual face. Drafts and actual contours are different. Once the makeup was removed, Zhou Yun’s clean, tender face appeared in the mirror. Li Chunhong frowned immediately, saying, "You’re too young, your face is too full." Zhou Yun didn’t quite understand. What’s wrong with that? Li Chunhong explained, "The scene you’re shooting tomorrow is not just after falling ill, but after being sick for a long time, with the doctor already declaring no hope, and being taken back by He Mu. At that time, you haven’t had proper food for a long time, your face shouldn’t look so... radiant." Zhou Yun then understood. Li Chunhong was saying she was too unconvincing as a patient. Half an hour later, Zhou Yun looked at her own face, her complexion pale with hints of blue, even her lips white, looking frail. To her, this already seemed very "sickly." Yet Li Chunhong still seemed dissatisfied. He turned to look at a whiteboard on the side. Many photos were pinned on the whiteboard, all of women lying in hospital beds. Zhou Yun didn’t know where these photos came from, but she understood that Li Chunhong was referencing what real patients looked like. Li Chunhong pondered for a long time, then stared at Zhou Yun’s face again, and started his second attempt. This time, Zhou Yun felt she genuinely looked gravely ill, on the verge of death. "No, no, this is too realistic, it’s not pleasing to the eye," Li Chunhong rejected his work again. Zhou Yun thought to herself, how could someone gravely ill still look good? She cautiously said, "Teacher Li, maybe a patient can’t look good?" Li Chunhong glanced at her in the mirror, "What do you know." Zhou Yun silently shut her mouth. Li Chunhong started working again; this time, he had his junior apprentice remove Zhou Yun’s makeup again, starting from scratch. "Pay attention, you will do this makeup afterwards," Li Chunhong instructed his junior apprentice. The apprentice quickly nodded, saying, "Alright." Zhou Yun once again witnessed the magic in Li Chunhong’s hands. This time, Zhou Yun was astonished by the resulting appearance. Frail and emaciated, appearing ill and weak, without radiance, yet still ethereal and delicate, as if a slight bow would bring forth a row of clear tears. Something inside Zhou Yun shouted in amazement.

Chapter 165 - 139: The Beginning of the Scandal

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