Chapter 134 - First Gig

"My friend?"

Dion's ears clapped as soon as he heard Devon's call. He turned his head to the entrance, wide-eyed, as this man was one of the side characters that played in the drama they watched.

"Director Fang is looking for you and..." the man trailed off as his eyes veered towards the woman next to Bella. His brows raised, seeing that Devon was staring at him with eyes sparkling brightly.

"Director Fang is looking for you, Bella. I came here to tell you that." the man repeated while staring at Devon, offering her a kind smile. 

Dion, who was seeing this, could not help but scrunched his nose up. Still, he didn't speak and let Bella nod as she stood up from her seat. Meanwhile, although Devon was glad to meet him in person, she just stayed there, awestruck. 

"Dev, Brother Dion, I'll come back." Bella looked back before marching towards her colleague. 

As they walked away, the man with her inquired. "Is she the one you recommended?" 

"Yes. Don't think anything funny. She's taken."

"I only think she is cute." He chuckled, shaking his head as they walked away. "Also, why would I think of anything like inviting her for dinner? I don't like trouble."

Bella's eyes squinted as he gazed at his side. "You..."

"You haven't heard?" the man quirked a brow, casting her a knowing look. "The woman who was with Dion all the time. Everyone in the entertainment industry knows that she is the future matriarch of the Qin Family."

Bella gasped in disbelief, as this news hadn't reached her yet. Meaning, someone tattled about Devon and her relationship with Lewis. She didn't know if this was a good or bad idea since Lewis detest gossips. 

"You're quite fast to get on her good side," the man commented, making her stop in her steps. "Surely, you never run out of luck. If you have anything to spare, please give me some."

She gazed at the man's back and then looked around her. What did the man say? Did he think she befriended Devon just because she was Lewis's lover? Also, did he say luck? Was that all they see behind her success? Just luck?

Her hand balled into a fist, eyes glinting. "That jerk... did he come to call me just to say all that? What a dork."

*****

"He looks different in person," Devon muttered, smiling happily, as she didn't expect to see such a familiar face. It made her happy, of course, but since she had been studying, she didn't want to act rashly. 

"Goodness. For a moment, I thought you will come to him and ask for an autograph or something." Dion heaved a sigh of relief, realizing that Devon was slowly becoming more modest — although she was already one. 

"Why would I do that and embarrass myself and Bella?" 

"Nothing, sis. I mean, you just have to continue this character development."

Devon smiled, sitting down while staring at him. "It's my first job, so I wanted to behave myself."

"That's good, then." Dion rocked his head lightly as they waited. 

The two of them waited until Bella returned. Once she did, they didn't have time to idle as everyone got busy on their own. Bella was supposed to only have a cameo. However, since things changed, she would have a few scenes.

Devon and Dion, on the other hand, weren't as much as busy as her, as Devon didn't need to do much. All she had to do was to stand beside Bella, laugh with her, walk with her like a lackey. She was an extra, after all. 

Also, Devon didn't have a glam team, so all she did was changed into a much more decent outfit and wait. It was a good thing Dion was with her to keep her company until it was time for them to shoot their scenes. 

"Good luck!" Dion cheered her on and Devon smiled, nodding. 

"Fighting~!" Devon raised both her fist before she followed Bella, who was already in character and not talking too much. 

While Dion watched Devon go away, he furrowed his brows. "Fighting...? I should tell her not everything on the internet is true."

******

"That's all you need to do." Director Fang slapped the script against his palms after briefing the two of them. 

Bella nodded. "Alright. Got it."

"You're so reliable, Bella!" Director Fang praised, followed by a joyous chuckle before shifting his eyes to Devon, who stood behind Bella. His eyes went from her head to toe, scanning this person who Bella personally recommended to bring.

"All you have to do is stay behind her, alright? Also, that expression is good."

"Which expression?" Devon tilted her head to the side, blinking innocently.

"Haha! Bella, your artist is an excellent choice. I like it, she's already in character." Director Fang patted Bella's shoulder. "Anyway, whenever you are ready, we can start."

"Alright." 

As the director walked back to his seat, Devon raised her brows. She didn't understand what was the director talking about as she was simply staring at him. She gazed at Bella and wanted to ask, but the latter seemed she didn't need a distraction.

"Dev." Bella turned her head to Devon, smiling subtly. "What Director Fang said is your expression is already good. You read the script, right? You might not have a dialogue, but your expression should speak a thousand words."

"A thousand words of insult? I know." Devon nodded reassuringly, as the script said that one of Bella's lackeys will only have to act mute, but look at everyone as if they were below her.

Bella stared at Devon and could not help but smile. In this industry, her conversation with the male actor previously was normal. It was not Devon's fault that some people were undermining her talent and success. 

Soon, they started. The scene was Bella's character, a veteran actress, bumping into the female lead. The female lead would accidentally spill some coffee on Bella's clothes, and they would have a minor confrontation. 

"Action!" as soon as that word rang in their ear, Bella's eyes sharpened as she walked through the corridor with her lackeys behind her.

"Ahh!" the female lead, who was walking in hurry, bumped into Bella as soon as she took a turn. Bella's brows furrowed slightly, gazing down at the spilled coffee on her white blouse. Once the female lead realized what happened and recognized Bella, her eyes slowly widened.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Senior!" the female lead rushed to her to wipe the coffee off of her. However, just as she did, they all stopped when they heard a loud "CUT!" from the microphone.

"Clarisse, your angle is bad!" Director Fang complained, speaking through the microphone. "We can't see your face."

"I'm sorry, Director Fang." Clarisse, the female lead, bowed apologetically.

"Alright, let's do it again. Bella, have a change of clothes." 

Bella didn't respond and just looked at Clarisse. Once their eyes met, Bella's brow arched. 

"So this is the game you want to play, Clarisse?" she inquired with a stern tone. 

"Don't make it sound like I did it on purpose, Bella." Clarisse smiled sweetly, but Bella wasn't buying this innocent act. Clarisse was a popular actress who started around the same time Bella debuted. The two of them had been rivals ever since, and they didn't really like each other by instinct.

"So unprofessional," Bella muttered before walking away to get changed. 

Meanwhile, Devon and the other two extras remained. As a makeup artist approached Clarisse to touch up her makeup, Devon studied her. She already had a grasp of what was going on and applauded Bella for dealing with it professionally. 

'She is like that one mistress I had encountered in my previous life. Someone who is inferior, so she tries to bring people down to make herself feel better.' Devon let out a sigh as she shrugged off the thought. She didn't want to meddle with it, as Bella seemed she was willing to let it go.

Shortly after, they resumed shooting the scene. However, they kept retaking it as Clarisse kept messing up and Bella had to change a couple more times. 

"Cut!" this time around, Director Fang's voice was laced with frustration, yelling at the mic. "Clarisse, what is wrong with you today?! This scene is so easy. Why do you keep messing up?!" 

"I'm sorry, Director Fang. I will do better, I promise!" 

"You better do! We've been doing all this, and Bella had already changed many times. Consider the people you're working with."

"Yes, Director Fang. I'm sorry." Since Clarisse's demeanor was polite and gentle, and she was acknowledging her mistakes, Director Fang couldn't scold her too much. 

"Sister Bella, let's go change again." Someone came up to Bella's side, while the latter just stared at Clarisse, who let out a snicker. 

"No wonder you are always below me," Bella finally voiced out, catching Clarisse's attention. "You lack work ethics. Just because I am playing a minor role for my friend, you are taking advantage of it."

"Sister Bella, I really didn't mean it." Clarisse didn't even hide the smirk on her lips this time. "I promise I will do better. This is the last time you will change."

Devon darted her eyes from Clarisse to Bella, seeing the latter's jaw tighten before turning around to change for the nth time. She heard Bella whispered, "pathetic," but that didn't faze Clarisse.

'This is bad.' She thought, staring at Clarisse, who was just smiling and walked back. 'Someone like her will only stop if... alright..' A smile appeared on Devon's lips when Clarisse look back at her upon sensing her gaze.