Chapter 46

Ji Jing had initially thought that his business trip would last only a week, but even after that week had passed, he still hadn’t returned.

At first, Tang Ruan didn’t feel much about it, but after a few days, she started to miss him a little.

She realized that she might actually like Ji Jing more than she had thought.

Fortunately, she didn’t have too much time to dwell on her feelings for him, as the day for the makeup artist interview at An Xun came quickly. Tang Ruan had already submitted her application and successfully secured an interview. The makeup artist interview was a bit different from others because each candidate had to bring a model and apply makeup to them within the specified time, though they wouldn’t be told in advance what kind of makeup to do.

At first, Tang Ruan had planned to bring Cheng Mushi with her, but Cheng Mushi had an unexpected work commitment. So in the end, she asked Ji Ling.

When Ji Ling found out that Tang Ruan wanted to bring her to the interview, she was absolutely shocked.

In the car, Ji Ling kept asking, “Sister-in-law, this can’t be real, right? You really want to go for the interview?”

Tang Ruan couldn’t help but laugh at her, “You’re already sitting here with me. Am I still lying to you?”

Ji Ling rubbed her neck, still in disbelief. “I’m just surprised. I thought you didn’t like working outside.”

Before, Ji Ling didn’t know much about Tang Ruan, but she was aware that Tang Ruan had always been dismissive of outside work, often cold and distant toward others. Ji Ling didn’t feel a strong dislike for her, but she hadn’t liked her much either. Over time, their relationship grew closer, and Ji Ling came to really like Tang Ruan.

However… the idea of Tang Ruan working, especially doing makeup for others, still felt a little surreal to her.

To have her sister-in-law serve someone by doing their makeup, that person must be a national leader, right?

…

Tang Ruan didn’t know what Ji Ling was thinking. She simply said softly, “I’m an outsider, so if I want to get better, I’ll need to learn. Plus, I’m a little bored at home. Working outside wouldn’t be so bad.”

Ji Ling couldn’t help but agree.

“That’s true. It’s boring not working, but working is also exhausting,” Ji Ling said.

Tang Ruan laughed. “Doing what you love makes the exhaustion worthwhile.”

“Mm-hmm.” Ji Ling encouraged her, “I believe you can definitely do it, sister-in-law.”

She leaned closer to Tang Ruan, her face full of smiles. “If you get the job, can you get me an autograph from my favorite celebrity?” She winked playfully at Tang Ruan.

Tang Ruan chuckled. “Can’t your brother get you one?”

At the mention of this, Ji Ling became irritated. She sighed and said, “My brother told me I should stop chasing celebrities.”

Tang Ruan: “…”

They continued chatting and laughing, and soon they arrived at the interview location.

–

The interview was hosted by An Xun, a makeup artist who now had her own studio. She had two apprentices who had been trained for a long time, and this time she was looking to train two more.

The location was not in a remote area; it was in an office building in the city center. When Tang Ruan and Ji Ling arrived, there were quite a few people in the lobby, some standing, some sitting.

The interview was scheduled for 9 AM, and it was now 8:50 AM.

After waiting for a while, someone directed them to their assigned seats. There were many people attending, but due to an initial screening, the number of people present had been somewhat controlled.

Ji Ling counted the people and whispered to Tang Ruan, “I overheard one of the sisters say that over thirty makeup artists came.”

Tang Ruan nodded. “It’s fine. I’m not worried.”

Ji Ling’s eyes brightened. “I’m not worried either. I believe in you, sister-in-law.”

Tang Ruan smiled and patted her on the head.

…

An Xun was a woman with a cold and elegant appearance, typical of the high-end, indifferent look often seen in the entertainment industry. She was very beautiful and young, though she had been studying makeup and specializing in ancient styles for so long that she gave off a vibe that didn’t feel modern.

When she entered the room, many people in the lobby gasped.

Even Ji Ling leaned over and whispered, “What a beautiful sister. How old is she?”

Tang Ruan whispered back, “She’s twenty-eight.”

That was indeed young, a successful woman in her prime. She had started working in film crews as a makeup artist when she was a teenager, and now she had been in the industry for over a decade, longer than most others.

An Xun’s voice was soft, matching her poised demeanor.

The makeup look for the interview was inspired by a Tang Dynasty style. An Xun showed them a photo, and they were all to replicate it. How close they could get to the original depended on their skills.

Although makeup steps were generally similar, there were many small details that, if not attended to, could result in a big difference.

Tang Ruan had done her research before coming, so she felt confident after seeing the photo.

She first washed Ji Ling’s face before beginning. There were time constraints, as they not only had to apply makeup but also style hair, which required careful time management.

Once the signal was given, everyone quickly got to work in a focused frenzy.

–

The makeup wasn’t particularly difficult, but to make it stand out or look exceptional was a bit more challenging.

Tang Ruan didn’t pay attention to the other makeup artists; she focused solely on her own work. Ji Ling also quietly cooperated, not speaking and assisting with everything Tang Ruan needed.

…

An Xun descended from the podium, her white flowing dress making her stand out in the crowd. After a quick scan of the room, she went to the breakroom.

Once inside, she immediately received a phone call.

“Hello?”

“Has everyone arrived?”

An Xun thought of the people she had seen outside and replied softly, “Yes, they’ve all come, and they’re very focused.” She paused for a moment before asking, “Your girlfriend?”

Xi Zijin chuckled, “Don’t you know who my girlfriend is?”

An Xun replied, “… I don’t.”

Xi Zijin didn’t press the issue, his voice lowering, “What do you think?”

An Xun fell silent for a moment, thinking about Tang Ruan’s makeup technique. “It’s not bad, but I saw how she works. It’s a bit chaotic, all done according to her own habits.”

That was her critique. She had been learning from her master since she was young, and her education had been very systematic. An Xun had been in the industry for over a decade, and now she could handle everything on her own. She loved what she did and, likely due to habit, could easily spot the level of expertise in others.

Xi Zijin responded with a casual hum. “No need for any backdoor favors. You decide. I’m just giving a little heads-up.”

An Xun raised an eyebrow. “Sure you’re just giving a heads-up?”

Xi Zijin smirked, his voice low, “An Xun, is it because I haven’t dealt with you for a few months that you’re getting a bit too cheeky?”

An Xun replied dryly, “… Shut up.”

She thought for a moment. “I’ll follow the normal process. If her makeup blows me away, I’ll hire her.”

“Mm, do it your way.”

In truth, Xi Zijin had been helping Ji Jing by making a call on his behalf. Ji Jing knew about their relationship but had kept it under wraps. If not for helping Tang Ruan, Ji Jing might not have pushed to reveal what was going on between Xi Zijin and An Xun.

Xi Zijin didn’t mind if Ji Jing knew, but An Xun didn’t want their connection to be exposed. To help his friend, Xi Zijin was willing to make the call, even though it was all hush-hush.

Greeting them and asking a few questions wouldn’t be a big issue, as long as An Xun didn’t use any backdoor tactics.

After ending the call, Xi Zijin sent a message to Ji Jing, then left it at that.

–

Everything was proceeding smoothly on Tang Ruan’s end. She finished her task within the allotted time and was now waiting for feedback.

She and Ji Ling were near the end of the queue, showing no signs of impatience.

An Xun walked from the front toward the back. When she caught sight of the makeup on Ji Ling’s face, she paused for a moment before moving on. After surveying the entire room, she spoke in a cool, composed voice, “Thank you all for your hard work today. The results are in.”

Her gaze swept the room before settling on a woman in the front row. This woman, a moderately well-known makeup artist in the industry, seemed to have some acquaintance with An Xun—her name was Xu Ya.

“The first one is Xu Ya,” An Xun announced.

The room erupted into applause, and envious eyes turned toward Xu Ya.

An Xun’s eyes shifted toward Tang Ruan and Ji Ling. After a brief silence, she uttered, “Tang Ruan.”

Gasps of surprise rippled through the crowd as heads swiveled toward Tang Ruan. A completely unknown makeup artist with no name or reputation—how had she outperformed them all?

Tang Ruan smiled lightly. There was no surprise in her eyes, no extra emotion on her face. She remained calm as she said, “Thank you.”

The crowd murmured in hushed tones.

An Xun smiled faintly and explained, “If anyone has questions, you’re welcome to observe her technique. The makeup adheres smoothly, and more importantly, it matches all of my requirements.” She added evenly, “I wanted Tang Dynasty-inspired makeup. Many of you went wrong with the lipstick. While techniques can be learned, if you truly paid attention, you would have taken note of my requirements when I first opened the hiring process.”

The crowd was left speechless.

Sometimes, preparation and attentiveness matter more than anything. An Xun had always believed that skills could be acquired, but diligence and dedication were irreplaceable.

What truly impressed her was Tang Ruan’s passion for this style of makeup. Technique could be refined later—but that, she wouldn’t say out loud.

After hearing this, the others accepted the decision, even if some remained begrudging.

When the crowd dispersed, An Xun kept Tang Ruan and Xu Ya behind.

The two exchanged introductions. Xu Ya glanced at Tang Ruan with mild surprise. “Hello, I’m Xu Ya.”

“Tang Ruan.” She smiled slightly. “You can call me Ruan Ruan.”

Xu Ya chuckled and nodded before turning to An Xun. “You’ve got a good eye this time.”

Her familiar tone made it clear that they were well-acquainted.

An Xun nodded lightly, then looked at Tang Ruan. “Ruan Ruan, did you study this before?”

“No,” Tang Ruan admitted honestly. “I just like it.”

An Xun’s lips curved into a smile. “Liking it is good. People are serious and focused when they do something they love.”

The three of them discussed their next meeting and exchanged contact information. Afterward, Tang Ruan and Ji Ling left together.

–

As soon as they got in the car, Ji Ling bubbled over with excitement. “Ahhh! Sister-in-law, you’re amazing! You actually passed!”

Tang Ruan chuckled. “Maybe I just got lucky.”

Ji Ling grinned. “Nope, it’s your talent.” After a moment’s thought, she asked, “So, are you officially An Xun’s apprentice now?”

“Not yet,” Tang Ruan clarified. “An Xun said this isn’t just about taking on apprentices. She wants us to first master the Tang Dynasty makeup for her upcoming drama, The Great Tang. After that, she’ll decide if she wants to keep us.”

She sighed. “Her standards for apprentices are really high.”

Ji Ling patted her shoulder in consolation. “That’s okay. Even if you’re not her apprentice, learning from her is already a win.”

Tang Ruan laughed. “That’s true.”

Becoming An Xun’s disciple wasn’t her primary goal. What mattered most to her was learning as much as possible. An Xun’s expertise made her a source of admiration and inspiration for Tang Ruan.

As they chatted and laughed, Ji Ling insisted that Tang Ruan treat her to a meal to celebrate her success.

“What do you feel like eating?”

“Hot pot! It’s winter, after all,” Ji Ling said, bundling herself tighter in her coat. “Let’s grab something simple for lunch, then go shopping, and finish the day with hot pot before heading home to sleep—how does that sound?”

Tang Ruan smiled, thinking it was perfect timing since Ji Jing wasn’t home.

“Sounds good. We’ll sleep at my place tonight, and I’ll take you to school in the morning.”

“Great!”

They made their plans. For lunch, Tang Ruan took Ji Ling to a nice restaurant instead of grabbing something quick. Afterward, they shopped for hours, displaying the seemingly endless stamina unique to women. It wasn’t until the afternoon that they finally slowed down and went for hot pot.

By the time they returned home in the evening, Tang Ruan’s phone battery was dead.

“Ling Ling, you take a shower first. I’ll put these things in the attic.”

“Okay.”

Tang Ruan placed some sample items in the attic before coming back down. Ji Ling had already finished her shower.

After both had bathed, Ji Ling flopped onto Tang Ruan’s bed, hugging her and whining playfully, “I’m not sleeping in the guest room tonight. I want to sleep here with you!”

“Sure,” Tang Ruan agreed without hesitation. “It’s just the two of us here, anyway.”

Ji Ling nuzzled closer and sighed dramatically. “My brother’s so pitiful. He can’t sleep hugging his wife, but I can! I’m going to rub it in next time—his wife is so soft and smells so good!”

Tang Ruan: “…”

T/N: dear readers, please check out my translation too~ your support means a lot to me <3