My Fortune-Blessed Leading Lady
Chapter 247: Makeup Photo Controversy

Chapter 247: Chapter 247: Makeup Photo Controversy

Qu Dongdong was getting her makeup done in her own private makeup room, but she brought her own exclusive team.

Such a diva.

Even the award-winning actress Lan Yi wasn’t as high-profile as her. In the Diyang Group, Lin Zhan’s team was top-notch in every respect, and only someone with Bo Yan’s extreme uniqueness, a super diva, would have a dedicated team.

But when Bo Yan was with Lin Zhan’s team, she adapted very well to Lin Zhan’s makeup artists.

Everyone knew about Lin Zhan’s temper, and it was unexpected that Qu Dongdong would be such a big shot.

Director Lin’s face was extremely ugly. Director Lin Zhan had selected three actors—Bo Yan, Yuran, and Lan Yi, who played the Empress Dowager—because in the whole story structure, those were the three people he appreciated the most. As for the other roles, they were arranged by the two assistant directors. He had thought that after having worked with him for so long, the assistant directors couldn’t possibly be that blind.

Seeing what he saw today, was it just blind? They were downright sightless, okay?

The two assistant directors were quite embarrassed. Lin Zhan’s face changed rapidly, and he almost collapsed in an instant, "Is this the ’carefully chosen’ lead actress that you two told me about?"

The assistant directors chuckled awkwardly, "Director Lin, there might be some misunderstanding, or maybe when I spoke with her, she didn’t understand, or maybe I misspoke."

Lin Zhan scoffed, "I can overlook this, as long as her acting is up to par. I can pretend not to see the little flaws in her character. But if her acting later on is worse than Afu from the bun shop in Tengluo Alley, you two can get lost as well."

"The dumbest thing I hate teaching is idiots. As for you two, your stupidity can no longer accommodate your foolishness, do you get it?"

The two were scolded quite badly, and while they didn’t dare to resent Director Lin, they had quite a few complaints against the self-established Qu Dongdong.

Yuran was set to have her photo taken in her costume as a female general, with a high ponytail exuding a rainbow-like momentum, sharp eyebrows like blades, and a refreshing heroic aura. She was the first to emerge from the makeup room. Director Lin, who was grumbling earlier, suddenly shut his mouth when he saw Yuran come out.

He had been worried if Yuran could pull off the imposing manner and sharpness needed for the female general. But seeing her at this moment, Lin Zhan’s eyes suddenly brightened. He had seen the costume fitting photos of Yuran as Tang Wan.

There was no problem with her aura; it didn’t feel like a cheap imitation but rather like a Tang Wan with a completely changed bloodline.

He thought that gentle and dignified roles like ’the daughter of a distinguished family’ were more suitable for Yuran in the city, but after seeing today’s costume fitting photos, Director Lin Zhan felt that he had been too narrow-minded, and Yuran’s versatility was too strong.

The military uniform suited her as if she was born for it, as if she had stepped into the world of the female general Xie Qingcheng.

The costumes of Qu Dongdong and the Empress Dowager Lan Yi were more troublesome, so Lin Zhan decided to take the costume fitting photos of Yuran’s character Xie Qingcheng first.

Director Lin had been considering whether he should give some pointers, given the young lady’s lack of acting experience, but before he could open his mouth, Yuran had already moved in front of the backdrop and positioned herself correctly in front of the camera lens.

Without a single error.

Lin Zhan: "...Do we still need to pay the assistant director? They can do that job themselves."

Yuran lifted her gaze and asked Director Lin, "Director Lin, is there a problem with my position? If there is, I can try another one for you to see."

Lin Zhan: "..." Girl, you’re practically a living goddess, aren’t you? Here to save me trouble? Heavenly casting.

Lin Zhan spoke with earnest, "Then let’s make a switch."

Yuran slightly turned aside, arms crossed over her chest, eyes sharp, features refined, exuding a compelling valiance, and with a great figure enhanced by the clothes fluttering in the wind. Lin Zhan was a casting genius—not in terms of selecting characters but angles.

He could capture the most beautiful moments of a person on camera, which was one of the reasons why so many people wanted to work with Lin Zhan. Because he could unearth the most powerful aspect of an actor, some even clarified their own positioning after working with him just once.

The two assistant directors beside Lin Zhan marveled, "Director, where did you find such a celestial being? Such a timesaver."

Having reviewed Yuran’s makeup test photos, Lin Zhan’s prior concerns were swept away completely, as if they had never arisen.

Qu Dongdong, freshly out of makeup with completed photos, walked out elegantly and luxuriously, completely at odds with what Lin Zhan had wanted to see.

Was a refined and luxurious girl likely to touch people’s hearts?

As the emperor of the Great Shun Dynasty, what type of beauties hadn’t Emperor Shun of Tang seen? Even the likes of Xie Qingcheng failed to move him; so for a girl that could captivate the emperor, starting off so opulently, could she truly attract Emperor Shun of Tang?

She could not, absolutely not.

Lin Zhan’s complexion darkened instantly, and he asked with a stern voice, "Who decided on this makeup? I remember I have mentioned before what kind of makeup I wanted. The heroine’s initial makeup test is supposed to be pure and charming. You go for luxury and elegance as if you think others don’t know you’re rich, right?"

Qu Dongdong’s face turned white upon being reprimanded. The makeup artist had hinted to her what kind of makeup Lin Zhan wanted to see, and she knew starting with such an opulent look might not be good.

She herself had said that she would take any issues upon herself.

She thought if Director Lin Zhan saw how well she fit the role, he would surely not get angry.

But to her surprise, he was instantly furious at first glance, and now she was somewhat scared, stammering, unable to utter a word.

Lin Zhan grew even more displeased, "Who did this makeup?"

The makeup artist bit her lip, looking at an immovable Qu Dongdong, and bravely stepped forward, "Director Lin, sorry, it was I who did it."

Director Lin snorted coldly, "Do you think your makeup skills are so divine that I, with my old eyes, cannot discern which period’s makeup you’ve done? That I’d compliment you for matching the character?"

The makeup artist broke out in a cold sweat, shaking her head, "No."

"Not," muttered Director Lin, "Not, then why are you showing off needlessly? Are you dumb or am I dumb? Is what I say so hard to understand? Is it really that hard to do a simpler makeup? If it is so difficult that you can’t do it, don’t we have a team here? Stop being self-conceited, go back and redo it, and if it’s not done well, don’t bother shooting the makeup test today. In fact, we might not need you at all."

After venting his anger, Lin Zhan noticed that Gu Jinshen and Lan Yi, who had finished their makeup, had come out—makeup done by his team, adhering to his instructions, which eased his mood slightly.

"You two come over and get the makeup photos taken first."

Gu Jinshen walked over with a smile, exceptionally eager to please, "Director Lin, if I don’t do well, please don’t scold me, just guide me, and I’ll correct it immediately, alright?"