Wei Xing finally arrived at the company.
The moment she stepped inside, she felt dozens of eyes turn toward her. The staff whispered quietly, their gazes flickering with something between curiosity and… discomfort. Some even looked away quickly, as if afraid to stare for too long.
Wei Xing's heart sank. Tell me… Ruo Ruo's "genius" makeover is the reason for this…
She smiled weirdly, straightened her back, and walked calmly to a chair in the waiting area.
Then, the glass doors swung open.
Zhou Yu entered, stride quick, as if he was in a hurry to reach someone. His agent followed closely beside him, bodyguards in tow.
Wei Xing lifted her head slightly.
Their eyes met.
For the briefest second, Zhou Yu froze. The girl in front of him was not the Wei Xing he had caught a glimpse of yesterday. Her long hair was gone—cut into a shoulder-length style with fringe that framed her face. And her face… covered with faint freckles and little spots, the kind that dulled her glow but somehow made her look real. Fragile. Cute.
His lips twitched. He stifled a laugh under his breath, murmuring so softly no one else could hear— Why did she turn like this?
Cute. So cute.
By the time he stepped fully inside, his expression had already shifted into something serious and composed, his actor's mask in place.
The agent, however, frowned openly. He looked at Wei Xing, then leaned forward, puzzled. "What… what happened to your face?"
Wei Xing stiffened, instinctively raising a hand as if to shield herself. Her mind raced. She couldn't let anyone suspect.
Finally, she forced a small smile and answered, "This… is my true face. Yesterday I used makeup to cover it up."
The agent blinked, still doubtful. "Then why not wear it today?"
Wei Xing swallowed, lowered her eyes, and after a pause said softly, "The doctor told me not to put on makeup for so long. My skin needs to breathe… so, this is how it is for now." She gave a small shrug, pretending it didn't matter. "Is there… any problem, sir?"
Her voice was careful, polite.
The agent studied her for a moment longer before waving his hand. "No, no problem. And no need to call me sir—just call me big brother."
Relieved, Wei Xing nodded quickly, her smile more genuine this time. "Y-yes, big brother."
The agent clapped his hands together. "Good. Then, let's go."
Zhou Yu glanced at her once more, his expression unreadable. But deep in his eyes, a trace of amusement lingered.
The agent glanced at Wei Xing as they walked down the corridor, his tone half-stern, half-casual.
"Since you're new to this, let me explain clearly. Being an assistant to an actor is not just carrying their bag or fetching water. You are their shadow. Understand?"
Wei Xing blinked, then nodded quickly. "Yes, big brother."
He continued, ticking points off on his fingers. "First, schedule management. Zhou Yu has a tight calendar every day—interviews, endorsements, rehearsals, filming, events. You must know his schedule better than him. If he forgets, you remind him. If something changes, you adapt immediately."
Wei Xing listened carefully, clutching her small notebook. Her mind kept repeaing his words.
"Second, health and image. Make sure he eats on time, takes his medicine if he's sick, and rests when he can. But remember—actors often push themselves. Sometimes he won't listen. That's when you have to be clever. Persuade without nagging."
Wei Xing's lips pressed tight. Persuade him? She barely knew how to persuade.
"Third," the agent lowered his voice, glancing around the corridor before continuing, "privacy. This is most important. An actor's image is like glass—one crack, and it shatters. Whatever you see, whatever you hear—inside the van, on set, even in his private moments—you keep it to yourself. If I hear a single rumor linked back to you, you're done."
Wei Xing's shoulders stiffened. She nodded again, more firmly this time.
"Fourth," he added, "you must anticipate. Don't wait for instructions. If you see the sun is too strong, prepare an umbrella. If you see he's thirsty, have water ready. If his clothes are wrinkled, find a steamer. Anticipate his needs before he even says a word. That's what makes a good assistant."
Wei Xing scribbled notes in her head, her nerves tangling tighter.
Finally, the agent gave her a small smile. "One more thing. Zhou Yu may look cold sometimes, but don't be scared. He's easy to get along with if you don't cross his lines. Just remember—he's not your friend, not your idol. He's your work. Keep it professional."
The agent checked his phone, scrolling quickly before glancing at Wei Xing again.
"Hm. There will be an endorsement event by the evening," he said casually, but his eyes were sharp. "It's one of the big ones—fashion brand, lots of cameras, lots of press. Zhou Yu has to be flawless. That means you take care of everything behind the scenes."
Wei Xing straightened. "Everything…?"
"Yes. Let me break it down for you." He tapped the screen as though counting. "First, wardrobe. The stylist will hand over the clothes, but you must make sure they are delivered on time, steamed, and set in the dressing room before Zhou Yu arrives. A single wrinkle will be caught by cameras."
Wei Xing nodded, "Yess".
"Second, the car. Coordinate with the driver. The event location is likely crowded. Zhou Yu must not wait in the heat or be pushed around by fans. Time his arrival so it looks effortless."
Wei Xing's throat went dry. "Effortless for him, endless planning for me".
"Third, communication. Keep in touch with me and the brand's team. If they make last-minute changes—say, a walk on the red carpet, or an extra photo shoot—you need to adjust. Smoothly. No panicking."
She held her notebook tighter, scribbling shaky notes.
"And last," his tone softened just a little, "watch his mood. Actors have to smile even if they're tired, even if their head hurts. If you see he's stressed, distract him. If he's hungry, get him something quick to eat. If he looks uncomfortable, fix it before it shows on his face. Remember—his image is the product."
Wei Xing hesitated, then asked in a low voice, "And… if I make a mistake?"
The agent gave her a flat look. "Don't." Then he added, more gently, "If it's small, I'll cover you. But if it's big, it could ruin the endorsement and Zhou Yu's reputation. So don't let it happen."
Wei Xing forced a brave smile, though her palms were damp.
As they neared the dressing area, the agent clapped her shoulder. "Think of it this way. Tonight is your test. If you can handle an endorsement event smoothly, then you can handle the rest."
Wei Xing nodded, heart pounding. "Endorsement event… fans… flashing cameras… such a holy crap..? It's gonna be a long day wei xing ." Murmured herself.
"…and one more thing," the agent added as he taking his phone back from his pocket. "Wear a mask during the event to avoid fluctuations. Too many eyes, too many cameras. No need for extra attention. Also—" he opened his WeChat, holding it out—"add my number. If anything happens, you call me first."
Wei Xing quickly searched through her bag, hands fumbling in panic.in bag— Lip balm, tissues, notebook—where was it? Finally, at the very bottom, she pulled out her backup phone. With a small sigh of relief, she added his contact.
The agent nodded. "Alright. I'll be busy handling the brand team. Just look after him. Zhou Yu's in his room."
With that, he walked off briskly, already on another call.
Wei Xing stood there for a moment, clutching her phone, before turning toward the hallway. Her feet felt heavier with every step as she approached Zhou Yu's door.
She hesitated. The door was half-open, just enough for her to sneak a glance inside. Zhou Yu was there, sitting on the couch, half-bent forward with a script in his hands. His cap was tossed aside, and his hair fell loosely over his forehead. The expression on his face was… different. Not the sharp, polished actor everyone knew, but something quieter, more focused.
Wei Xing's breath caught. She couldn't help it—her eyes lingered a little too long.
And then, as though sensing it, Zhou Yu suddenly turned around.