Chapter 68: Internal Consumables

Generally speaking, professional makeup artists always have several complete sets of cosmetics on hand to suit different skin types. Of course, if someone gets on their bad side, they can make things difficult for you without hesitation. There’s no need for immediate effects—they can simply accelerate the deterioration of your skin, and that’s not their fault, but the fault of the cosmetics. If your skin isn’t resilient enough, you have no one to blame but yourself.

“Yes, yes, Liu, here are the cosmetics Xiao Xi usually uses, take a look…” Ding Ju, who had been struggling with how to bring up the topic, immediately jumped in at these words. She placed a small case in front of the mirror and looked at Liu Yun with a sigh of relief.

After all, Chu Luoxi was a newcomer, and her role was far from the lead. To insist on using her own cosmetics would seem presumptuous and might leave a bad impression on the makeup artist. That’s why Ding Ju hesitated for so long; only after Liu Yun took the initiative to ask did she dare bring them out.

Unexpectedly, Chu Luoxi had actually brought her own set, but didn’t reveal it from the start. Liu Yun couldn’t help but regard her more favorably. Opening the professional makeup case, he was immediately taken aback by the dense array of various, comprehensive cosmetic products. “Well, Luoxi, you certainly came prepared—this set is almost as complete as my own toolbox!”

Chu Luoxi, still rather bewildered, coughed awkwardly and replied with some embarrassment, “How could that be? This is just a set I use personally…”

Before she could finish, Liu Yun interrupted with a cry of surprise, “Wait, these are internal-use products? Where on earth did you get them?”

While Liu Yun was visibly excited by the sight of high-end products from his professional field, Chu Luoxi was secretly shocked. She glanced innocently at Ding Ju, then looked closer and suddenly realized—weren’t these the very cosmetics used during the MV shoot for Xiao Jingxuan? She remembered all the products used at that time were freshly unsealed. Now, in this makeup case, there were still several untouched ones from before, all arranged in complete sets!

The dazzling variety was enough to make anyone’s head spin—no wonder Liu Yun was so amazed.

Last time, she’d been too focused on reading the script while getting her makeup done to notice, but now it was clear: these cosmetics were indeed a complete set, all without any labels or branding. So-called internal-use products are specially researched and produced by professional departments, funded personally, supplied only for internal use, and never sold on the market. Such cosmetics are far superior to mass-market products.

At the very least, they minimize the damage cosmetics can do to the skin.

Generally, acquiring internal-use products requires connections, background, seniority, and a considerable sum of money. Only top-tier celebrities at the pinnacle of the industry can hope to use such things. For them to appear in the hands of a newcomer—no wonder Liu Yun was so astonished.

For a moment, everyone who heard Liu Yun’s exclamation was filled with curiosity. Just how powerful was this newcomer’s background?

Caught completely off-guard, Chu Luoxi shot Ding Ju a sidelong glance, but seeing her shrink her neck helplessly, she knew it wasn’t the time to question her. She could only continue with an awkward laugh: “A friend gave me the set. If you hadn’t said anything, Liu, I wouldn’t have known they were internal-use products!”

This, at least, was the truth. Although her “friend”—the great Xiao—was certainly influential, she really hadn’t realized until just now that this set was for internal use only.

Liu Yun looked at her with some disbelief and a touch of envy. “That means your friend must be quite something!” As a makeup artist, he naturally yearned for a set of internal-use products himself. Regardless of the source, such items were peerless—never anything less.

“Heh…” Chu Luoxi kept up her awkward laughter, not daring to say anything about “a gift for connections” or the like. The price of a single set of internal-use cosmetics was enough to feed someone for a lifetime. As a newcomer, there was no way she could afford to pretend to be wealthy—plenty of top-earning stars couldn’t consume such things regularly. Besides, she couldn’t impose on Senior Xiao for another favor; the debt would be too great.

Fortunately, she wasn’t a real rookie, or she might have let something slip and made a mess of things—one that would be impossible to clean up.

She couldn’t help but glance up at the ceiling. Oh, Senior Xiao, are you trying to make her a target of jealousy?

Still, she had to admit, the presence of these cosmetics had led many to assume she had a powerful background. People who’d gotten along with her before now seemed even more eager to cultivate her favor, which, for her, wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Especially when it came to Huang Zixue’s dinner invitation that evening. It was originally meant for her and Qin Shi, but somehow it expanded into a large gathering, including the director, producer, and several lead actors. Even though not everyone from the crew went out, dinner that night was upgraded for all.

At the table, the director introduced Chu Luoxi to everyone. Perhaps the story about the cosmetics had already spread, and nearly everyone knew by now. Their attitude toward her was warm and courteous, and overall, the atmosphere was harmonious.

The only person with any complaint was Huang Zixue. After a few rounds of drinks, he began to grumble, “Director Qiu, this isn’t fair. I was the one hosting, but how did it turn into your welcome banquet for Luoxi? If it’s a welcome banquet, you should be paying, not me!”

Qiu Xian could only laugh helplessly. Was this really worth fussing over? “Alright, Zixue, if you get drunk and affect tomorrow’s shoot, you’ll be treating us every day!” A blatant threat, but as the director, his word was law.

Huang Zixue, stifled by the retort, put on a show of fake tears and snot—his antics were worthy of a comedy, and the whole group erupted in laughter, further lightening the mood.

Chu Luoxi felt genuinely grateful to Huang Zixue. His dinner had given her the chance to integrate into the crew, and the director had simply taken advantage of the opportunity. As for a formal welcome banquet upon joining the crew, she didn’t feel she was quite entitled to that honor yet.

After the gathering, on her way back to the dorm, Chu Luoxi packed up some tasty treats to share with Ding Ju.

Sure enough, as soon as she entered, she found Ding Ju curled up on the bed with her laptop. Chu Luoxi’s eyes sparkled; she used the food as bait to occupy the computer for herself.

After chatting online for a while with Bai Yun, Zhu Xueshuang, Liu Yujia, and the others, and seeing that Ding Ju had nearly finished eating, Chu Luoxi finally said in a low, meaningful tone, “Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”

Qin Shi had already informed her that Ding Ju would be rooming with her; this room was originally intended for Chu Luoxi and her assistant. Now, it was settled. Since that was the case, some things needed to be clarified. Ding Ju had a habit of being mysterious—best to avoid being caught off guard again, like with the makeup incident.