Rise and Slay: From Scandal Queen to Academic Genius
Chapter 88: Ji Xizhi’s Blocking Is Just Too Precise!

Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Ji Xizhi’s Blocking Is Just Too Precise!

The makeup artist finished pulling out her tools and turned around to start finding Xiao Yuan to get Ji Xizhi’s exclusive makeup products.

But as soon as she turned around, she saw Xiao Yuan with a completely dazed expression.

Makeup artist: "Huh?"

As she glanced down, several big words on the postgraduate exam special test papers clearly appeared in her sight.

Makeup artist: "???"

Ji Xizhi was sitting in front of the makeup mirror, she had already taken out her phone and opened the literature she needed to read today.

Seeing Xiao Yuan behind her saying she needed to take the makeup products, she remembered the test papers she gave Xiao Yuan last night and casually added a comment.

"Take those test papers out too. Later, when I’m filming, you can work on them in the makeup room. It won’t waste your study time."

Ji Xizhi said this calmly and as a matter of course.

She originally thought she didn’t need to bring Xiao Yuan for the ad shoot, but Xiao Yuan insisted on coming and helped her pack so many things. Naturally, she had to consider Xiao Yuan too, so after finishing her review summary last night, she also packed Xiao Yuan’s study materials.

This way, after Xiao Yuan finishes reading and learning, she can quickly go through a test paper and won’t feel idle.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuan’s entire face twisted.

"Sister Zhi Zhi... you really don’t need to pack all this..." Xiao Yuan said with a mournful face, wishing she could throw the bag back home, "I don’t mind the delay, I don’t even need to study."

Ji Xizhi asked in surprise, "Didn’t you say you wanted to be a good assistant for me?"

Xiao Yuan: "..." The words got stuck in her throat.

Fine! She’s going all out for this assistant position!

Xiao Yuan’s face went numb as she mechanically pulled out the makeup products one by one to the makeup artist.

Then she resignedly sat down beside her, starting to read and work on the problems.

The makeup artist was completely stunned. Holding the makeup tools in her hand, she listened to the conversation between Xiao Yuan and Ji Xizhi, her face turning pale.

Oh my! Even being Ji Xizhi’s assistant requires studying for exams; what would happen if she became Ji Xizhi’s makeup artist?

The makeup artist deeply regretted just applying for this job, but before she even had the chance to regret it.

Ji Xizhi looked up and asked her, "Did you say you wanted to be my full-time makeup artist?"

Makeup artist: "..."

Can we pretend that was just a dream?!

Ji Xizhi thought for a moment and then said, "I don’t have a full-time makeup artist right now, but if..."

As soon as the makeup artist heard the word ’if,’ her mind was filled with automatic playback of ’postgraduate exam,’ ’criminal law,’ and ’real question.’

A storm brewed in her mind, and she decided to come clean.

"Teacher Ji, I was just asking, I’m not switching careers! I really can’t handle the graduate exam, just spare me!!!"

The little brush in the makeup artist’s hand was trembling so much it was about to leave a phantom trail.

Ji Xizhi, seeing this, withdrew her gaze in regret and simply responded.

The makeup artist finally exhaled a sigh of relief. Just in that second when Ji Xizhi tried to make her take the graduate exam, she had an epiphany.

The trouble of a bit of bad luck is nothing compared to the horror of having to take the graduate exam! As long as her makeup skills are strong enough, she will eventually make a comeback and return to the top.

But the criminal law graduate exam? There’s no eventual day for that.

-

There were three short segments in the ad shoot. While Ji Xizhi was getting her makeup done, she first read a piece of literature and then read the script all the way through.

The ad script wasn’t difficult, and there weren’t many lines. Ji Xizhi could memorize it after going through it once.

After finishing makeup and changing clothes, as she went out, even the director was taken aback.

During the audition, Ji Xizhi was in formal attire, looking stunning and aggressive. At that time, he thought her face was too dazzling.

But now, Ji Xizhi seemed to have transformed, like an attractive colleague at an ordinary company. Beautiful, yes, but with a relatable appeal rather than an untouchable allure.

The director was very satisfied and quickly walked over to Ji Xizhi with broad steps and praised her:

"Yes, yes, this image is great, just the feeling I wanted!"

Then he quickly pulled out the script and started explaining it to Ji Xizhi.

The shoot today was mostly in the form of a story, with Ji Xizhi playing the lead role. Obviously, having a good image and speaking skills weren’t enough alone; being on camera required some acting skills, especially in advertisements that needed a touch of exaggeration without being too ridiculous.

Some shots needed close-ups of Ji Xizhi’s expressions.

The director explained the script in great detail, even describing the camera positions and shots at the scene, fearing that Ji Xizhi wouldn’t understand.

After all, Ji Xizhi had never acted before; she’d only been on singing and dancing stages, where her facial expressions had been criticized without mercy, hence the initial online negativity she faced.

After going through the whole scene, seeing Ji Xizhi listening intently, the director couldn’t help but reassure her,

"Take it easy! It’s actually not hard, we have all day to shoot. If things aren’t going well, doing more takes is fine. We can always edit later, as long as we accomplish what’s needed!"

Ji Xizhi carefully recalled the details the director had just explained, then looked around the setting, planning her movements and positioning in her mind.

Once everything was confirmed, she slowly nodded, "Okay, I’ve remembered it."

The director assumed Ji Xizhi was focused on making sure the shoot went well, nodded, and took his place at the monitor.

The other photographers were also ready. Among them was an experienced main photographer, who happened to overhear the director’s talk of many takes.

Feeling deflated, he thought shooting just three short ads taking many takes wasn’t ideal; it might be a long day.

Prepared to stay in the studio until dark, he gloomily started shooting following the director’s cues.

The first scene was set in a company setting, primarily about contract law.

Ji Xizhi’s role was about being overworked and unfairly dismissed due to not having a contract. She was to play a young person initially intimidated and manipulated by her boss, who later, after learning about contract law, bravely protected herself with legal tools.

There needed to be a significant emotional and expression arc from the beginning to the end.

The director watched Ji Xizhi enter the scene, still a bit worried, wanting to see how she performed before suggesting adjustments.

Resting his chin on his hand, he watched the monitor intently.

Ji Xizhi appeared on the screen slightly hunched, eyes downcast, holding a folder, completely shedding the composed look she had offstage. She looked like any ordinary worker on their way to hand in a report to the boss.

She portrayed a long-term manipulated youth vividly, stopping with precision in front of Camera 2’s shot range.

The set was quite large and besides a master shot, the director set up various cameras to capture different positions. Usually, actors don’t need to think much about these things; they move roughly to where the set stage is marked and start performing, leaving the rest to the photographers.

But now... Ji Xizhi’s positioning was incredibly precise!

The photographers didn’t even get to display their skill, only watching Ji Xizhi effortlessly and naturally reach the center of the lens.

The director’s hand supporting his chin trembled a bit, thinking perhaps Ji Xizhi just got lucky.

But within less than a minute, he saw Ji Xizhi perfectly move to the next spot.

Then, transitioning smoothly to the next scene, Ji Xizhi, like a programmed robot, navigated seamlessly to each camera’s center, matching the scene’s theme accurately, as though she genuinely belonged there as the character.

The director got absorbed by it, not even having the chance to call out a cut, quickly ending the entire scene.

Director: "?" Was it over?

Photographer: "?!?" Over... over already? Now the director needs retakes at this level?!