Chapter 58: Are You Out of Your Mind?

"Pure coincidence, I suppose. A friend of mine happened to be a judge at that competition, and he told me that painting suited me very well. He also said that for someone so young, the artist possessed incredible skill and was bound to make a big name for themselves in the future."

Tang Xi couldn't help but chuckle. Her naturally bright and charming features seemed, when she smiled, like a spring breeze sweeping across a hillside full of wild flowers—the scent of blossoms, grass, and a free, comfortable freshness washing over him.

Bo Xuyao's gaze fell upon her face, and the corners of his lips curved upward involuntarily.

"So, your friend tricked you; this artist is still completely obscure."

Bo Xuyao remained unconcerned. "Just a temporary silence."

"I'll take Mr. Bo's business then. Please help introduce more clients to me in the future, Mr. Bo." Tang Xi brought her hands together in a pleading gesture. "Of course, I'll pay Mr. Bo a commission based on the selling price. I won't have you working for nothing."

"It's a deal, then."

As they spoke, Bo Xuyao's phone buzzed with a private message from a forum board: "Five million, how about it? As far as I know, you only spent fifty thousand to buy that painting. Now I'm offering to multiply it a hundredfold. Besides me, no one else would be willing to spend five million on such an ordinary painting. You should be down on your knees thanking me."

Bo Xuyao let out a cold laugh. He could easily imagine the other person's condescending expression, convinced that five million was enough to strike him dumb with awe.

His slender fingers slowly typed out a line on the screen: I'll buy your life for five million—will you sell?

The other party replied almost immediately: "Are you insane? It's just a painting, how can you compare it to a life?"

Bo Xuyao's pupils constricted. "That *is* my life!"

He exited the forum and caught Tang Xi's curious gaze, which she had no time to hide.

Perhaps his expression just now had been a bit fierce, contrasting sharply with his usual cultured and refined demeanor.

"A troublesome client." He shrugged, glanced at his watch, and asked, "Shall I give you a lift?"

"You don't even know where I'm going."

"Since we're staying at the same hotel and on the same floor, it's likely we're heading the same way."

Tang Xi didn't believe his nonsense and took the bus to the studio on her own.

The project had just started, and everything was in preparation. Today, the engineering team was coming to take measurements and get the set ready.

As part of the costume department, she had her own office.

"Hello, Teacher Tang." As soon as she walked in, a young girl bowed to her. "I'm your senior assistant, my name is Xiao Qing."

The project team had recruited two assistants for her. She had already reviewed their resumes; both were costume assistants with over a year of experience.

Xiao Qing was from the mainland, stayed to work in Hong Kong after graduating from university there, while the other assistant was a local from Hong Kong named Ah Xing.

"No need to call me 'Teacher'. I'm just like you, and I haven't been in this industry very long."

Counting every day, it had only been two years. Later, when Gu Yu's company had projects, he would bring the costume design proposals home for her to review.

She could be considered someone working behind the scenes of the behind-the-scenes.

"Rules cannot be broken," Xiao Qing insisted. Tang Xi didn't say anything further.

Before long, the other assistant, Ah Xing, also arrived. After a brief self-introduction, the group dove straight into their busy work.

The director's team had sent over the script early on. For the next phase, they needed to read through it quickly, summarize the stylistic characteristics of the characters' costumes, and establish an overall direction and framework.

This was a martial arts epic set against the Ming Dynasty backdrop, telling the story of the embroidery-clad imperial guards who fought to the death to protect their sovereign during the transition from the late Ming to early Qing dynasties, ultimately perishing in the Curse Water Disaster.

The film involved two dynasties as well as the contemporary setting of Burma, placing exceptionally high demands on costume design.

It had to satisfy the film's visual tone and texture while respecting historical accuracy so as not to invite criticism.

"Teacher Tang, these are the books you asked for." Xiao Qing carried a stack of books and placed them on Tang Xi's desk.

Tang Xi put down the script and rubbed her sore eyes. "Thank you."

"Teacher Tang, do you know Gong Weiwei from the makeup department?" Seeing that she had finally set her work aside, Xiao Qing seized the opportunity to gossip.

"I don't. What about her?"

"She's only been on the crew for a few days, and she's already chummy with everyone. Today, even the set builders received drinks from her."

Tang Xi frowned slightly. "Are you trying to ask why our costume department didn't get any drinks, and whether there's some personal grudge between her and me?"

Having been seen through, Xiao Qing blushed. "Teacher Tang, I was just curious, nothing more."

"I don't know her. I only saw her once at Young Master Huo's welcome banquet." She picked up her phone. "What do you and Ah Xing want to drink? I'll order for you."

"No need, Teacher Tang, really no need."

Tang Xi ordered several cups of coffee anyway. "It's true that I wasn't thoughtful enough. Thank you for the reminder."

Whenever she buried herself in work, she tended to forget everything else.

Her two assistants addressed her as 'Teacher', so she couldn't leave them feeling left out while other departments enjoyed perks.

"Xiao Qing, go to the garment factory this afternoon and finalize these fabrics." Tang Xi handed her a handwritten booklet.

"Teacher Tang, aren't you a bit too fast? We can already finalize the fabrics now?"

Normally, one had to determine the exact quantity and material of the costumes before going to the factory to order the fabrics. Once the fabrics were ordered, they basically couldn't be changed, so the costume department had to be extremely cautious.

"The fabrics I've chosen are for the armor. Besides the cloth, we'll also need copper and iron. The exact quantities are all listed in the booklet."

The film contained a considerable number of battle sequences, requiring vast armies of "thousands of men and horses."

Military uniforms would constitute the largest portion of the costumes—numerous and complex—requiring the factory to prepare in advance. Otherwise, factoring in the sewing time, they simply wouldn't make it.

"I'll go right now then." Clutching the booklet, Xiao Qing hurried away.

By evening, Tang Xi found the director and showed him several sets of imperial court costume proposals.

The director hadn't expected her to move so quickly; in just a few days, she had already sketched out so many drafts.

When Young Master Huo had first invited her from the mainland, he had harbored doubts and dissatisfaction.

For a major production like this, they should naturally hire a veteran designer with years of experience and a resounding reputation in the industry.

As for this Miss Tang, she seemed to have been away from film and television costume design for quite a while, even if she had once won a highly prestigious award.

He had watched that movie too, and the costume design had indeed been eye-catching.

Yet someone who hadn't done this work for two years suddenly taking on such a massive production was bound to be restricted at every turn.

Regardless of which big shot had forced her into the crew, he had already prepared to sit back and watch her make a fool of herself.

"You must have been preparing this for a long time, right?" No one could draw these drafts in just two or three days.

Tang Xi replied, "I certainly came prepared."

Director Xu laughed and nodded repeatedly.

He liked young people like this—their eyes brimming with a desire to win, never fighting an unprepared battle.

"I'm quite optimistic about these drafts. Let me discuss it with the producer and give you an answer as soon as possible."

It was ten o'clock at night by the time Tang Xi finished her work. She packed her laptop into her bag, intending to stay up late at the hotel to sketch a few more drawings.

There were very few late-night buses. Tang Xi waited for a while and couldn't help checking her phone again.

Just as she was debating whether to hail a taxi, a car slowly pulled up in front of her.