Chapter 12

Xia Xi suddenly snapped back to her senses, the anger she had felt moments ago belonged to the original owner of this body.
At this moment, Xia Xi had to admit that Da He’s decision to assign Song Yuan as her assistant was the right one.
To be honest, if Xia Xi had been alone just now, she would have undoubtedly acted on the original owner’s anger, disregarding others’ feelings and openly confronting that director.
But clearly, the drawbacks of such an action would far outweigh the benefits.
Her already tarnished reputation would undoubtedly worsen, and the valuable opportunity Da He had worked so hard to secure for her would likely go down the drain.
Just imagining the scenario, if she were to walk away now, she might feel momentarily satisfied, but she’d leave Da He with a mess to clean up, followed by his endless nagging in her ears, made Xia Xi shrink back silently.
Even the mere thought of that scenario filled her with a sense of dread, warning her to stay calm.
Anger brings momentary satisfaction, but the aftermath is a living hell.
When Song Yuan saw Xia Xi gradually calming down, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Earlier, seeing Xia Xi’s expression had worried her deeply, she feared Xia Xi would argue with the director’s assistant. If that had happened, being laughed at by others would have been the least of their worries; losing this acting opportunity would surely lead to regret later.
This, in fact, highlighted the difference between Song Yuan and Xia Xi. When faced with something she disliked, Xia Xi was always driven more by emotion than reason, prioritizing her own feelings and acting impulsively without considering the consequences, as long as it made her feel better in the moment. Song Yuan, on the other hand, was more rational than emotional. She placed benefits above all else, believing that enduring a little grievance was worthwhile if it led to greater rewards. Why engage in pointless arguments with irrelevant people?
If Xia Xi’s personality was like a firecracker that ignited at the slightest spark, then Song Yuan’s was a fire extinguisher, exceptionally skilled at defusing major issues and smoothing over minor ones.
It was precisely Song Yuan’s steady and patient nature in handling situations that made Da He choose her as Xia Xi’s assistant. He hoped that when Xia Xi acted impulsively, Song Yuan could help her weigh the pros and cons, guiding her to calm down.
Looking back now, Da He’s decision at the time had been remarkably foresighted.

Interrupted by Song Yuan’s intervention, Xia Xi gradually regained her composure, and her intelligence returned along with it. She glanced at the director’s assistant and noticed a fleeting look of disappointment in his eyes.
Disappointment?
Xia Xi narrowed her eyes. Disappointment about what? That she hadn’t publicly argued with him? Or that she hadn’t outright walked off the set?
In an instant, she realized that the director’s assistant’s earlier behavior had been a deliberate attempt to provoke her.
But why would he intentionally try to anger her? Doubt crept into Xia Xi’s heart. She couldn’t recall having any prior interactions with this person, so why was he targeting her for no reason?
Was he acting on someone else’s behalf? Helping someone settle a score? Or did he have some other motive?
Without enough information to go on, Xia Xi refrained from overthinking it. After a moment’s consideration, she said to Song Yuan, “Song Yuan, could you go to the set and fetch my water bottle for me? I’m thirsty.”
She felt like she was drinking more and more water these days.
Then, in a spot where the assistant director couldn’t see, Xia Xi secretly winked at her and whispered two words beside her ear: "Director" and "situation." Seeing Xia Xi’s actions, Song Yuan immediately understood. She nodded to show she got it and, with a sudden flash of insight, walked away.
Watching Song Yuan’s retreating figure, Xia Xi also let go of her wild thoughts, her emotions slowly calming down. She followed the assistant director at a steady, unhurried pace toward the makeup room.
She now realized that, without knowing exactly what had just happened, random speculation was pointless. Only after Song Yuan had figured out the whole story could she make her next move.

The person doing Xia Xi’s makeup was a young girl named Li Xuan, who had a lively personality. As she worked, she chatted with Xia Xi. "Sister Xia Xi, your skin is amazing, so fair and smooth! What skincare products do you use?"
After thinking for a moment, Xia Xi told her the two brands she used most often.
"Sister Xia Xi, we use the same brands!" the girl exclaimed in surprise, then pouted as she looked at Xia Xi’s flawless complexion. "But the results are totally different!"
Xia Xi chuckled lightly. "Maybe it’s the method. I use a sheet mask every day, and my skincare routine is quite elaborate."
"Elaborate?"
Xia Xi nodded and explained her skincare process in great detail, adding at the end, "If you follow my method, your skin will improve too."
"Oh my, I never knew so many steps were needed to get fair, smooth skin!" The girl felt dizzy hearing about the more than twenty steps and said with a pained expression, "That’s so hard."
"Yeah, it’s not easy," Xia Xi sighed quietly. But nothing in this world is ever simple. If you want to stand out, you have to pay the corresponding price.
"But Sister Xia Xi, I think you’re really straightforward," Li Xuan’s cheerful voice interrupted Xia Xi’s thoughts. She smiled and continued, "When other female celebrities are asked this question, they usually say they don’t use skincare products and that their good skin is natural. But you actually told me your entire skincare routine, even though I didn’t remember any of it."
Xia Xi paused for a moment, then said thoughtfully, "So, not using skincare products is the perfect answer?"
"Sister Xia Xi, you’re just, Anyway, you’re nothing like the rumors say. You don’t have any airs at all." Li Xuan looked at Xia Xi’s slightly dazed expression and couldn’t help but laugh. "I really don’t get why the entertainment news always reports that you’re a diva."
Xia Xi pouted helplessly and said, "Actually, I don't really get it either."
Just like that, the time Xia Xi had expected to be boring flew by as she chatted with Li Xuan. She suddenly realized that since coming to this world, many of the people she had met suited her taste quite well, how strange.
"Phew, finally done!" Li Xuan placed the powder puff on the table with satisfaction, looking at Xia Xi cheerfully. "Sister Xia Xi, you're so beautiful!"
"How beautiful?" Xia Xi was amused by Li Xuan's straightforward words.
"Sister Xia Xi, your current look is undeniably the number one beauty in Fate of Immortals, absolutely stunning. If you don't believe me, see for yourself." Li Xuan blinked at her and handed her a mirror.
Xia Xi took the mirror and saw the girl inside: skin so fair and delicate it seemed as if it could be squeezed to release moisture, dark and clear eyes like a spring pond, and vermilion-red lips that captivated the soul. The whole person exuded an elegant and graceful dignity.