Chapter 107: With Him, There Are Benefits

The Chinese University Student Film Festival isn’t an event exclusively for university students; rather, it is an awards ceremony jointly organized by several leading film and television universities. Although it is called a film festival, in one particular year, television categories were added, greatly broadening its audience and receiving an overwhelmingly positive response. Since then, this inclusion has continued.

Today, the awards are conducted with strict fairness and transparency. The fact that the university student film festival holds a prominent place attests to its authority. Moreover, this award leans toward the youth market and serves as a barometer of popular trends. For celebrities, winning at this festival signifies recognition from the younger generation.

Youth endorsement often guarantees box office success and viewership ratings. Generally, the most passionate fanbase belongs to this age group—they represent sincerity, fervor, and wholehearted admiration, without much concern for rational considerations.

Strictly speaking, the role played by Chu Luoxi as Yun Tianxue hardly qualifies even as a supporting role; her screen time was brief and concentrated, almost like a background extra. Thus, she was extremely surprised to be nominated.

“It’s just a nomination; you won’t win,” Lan Lun’s next remark left Chu Luoxi feeling awkward. Was it necessary to be so discouraging? Even if she understood the reality, couldn’t he let her indulge in a little fantasy?

Chu Luoxi discovered with a dark expression that Lan Lun was a sharp-tongued man, delivering remarks that cut straight to the heart and caused emotional pain.

“So, you chose to tell me this after Brother Xiao, implying that I have to follow closely in Brother Xiao’s footsteps to attend the film festival?” Chu Luoxi glanced sideways, deeply suspecting that was exactly his meaning. Otherwise, shouldn’t he have mentioned the nomination first?

“With him, you stand to gain quite a lot,” Lan Lun said earnestly, and indeed, that was the truth.

Chu Luoxi broke out in a cold sweat. So, her nomination was a minor matter; being Xiao Jingxuan’s companion was the real deal! Suddenly, she understood—Lan Da Ji loved to teach through discouragement. Having such a manager meant she had to prepare a heart as tough as diamond.

Xiao Jingxuan chuckled at Chu Luoxi’s eye-roll, confident that as she got to know Lan Lun better, she would encounter even more helpless moments.

As dinnertime approached, Chu Luoxi tearfully realized that the great Bai Yun had finally remembered her. However, since Brother Xiao was treating her, she decided not to return the call and let Bai Yun and Yan Han handle their own matters, contentedly hanging up and enjoying her meal.

The two men were probably only coming to their senses because they were hungry. They could continue discussing matters over dinner, and Bai Yun’s curiosity was far from satiated; his enthusiasm was not so easily diminished. Thus, she resolved not to be just a backdrop.

“By the way, where’s Cold Da Ji?” Chu Luoxi asked curiously. Just as the words left her mouth, a chill swept through the room, as though the temperature had dropped.

Glancing at Lan Lun, Chu Luoxi hesitated. Weren’t he and Leng Lu already at odds? She had only mentioned him briefly; was it really necessary to emit such a cold aura?

No wonder Leng Lu wasn’t around. Could this be the legendary “with you, no me; with me, no you”? Tsk, tsk, this “love-hate” relationship seemed far more intense than she imagined, Chu Luoxi silently mused.

“I’m going to get some extra dishes,” Lan Lun said with his usual impassive expression, but his whole demeanor grew colder, a hint of frustration flashing in his dark eyes.

“Uh…” Chu Luoxi stared dumbfounded as Lan Lun left, sensing a whiff of sulking. She stiffly turned to Xiao Jingxuan and asked, “What’s going on? Is he angry?”

With complete nonchalance, Xiao Jingxuan continued his relaxed posture and calmly reassured her, “Don’t mind those two. They’ve been like this since childhood—always awkward around each other. Except for big events, it’s rare to see them together. In recent years, it’s gotten worse. They can’t even mention the other’s name in person. Leng Lu reacts even more strongly.”

Eyes wide, Chu Luoxi finally understood that their enmity was far deeper than she had imagined. “You’ve known each other since childhood?” No wonder Xiao Da Ji and Cold Da Ji were so close. In the previous life, some tried to sow discord between them, but none succeeded…

“Yes, you could say we grew up together,” Xiao Jingxuan said with a gentle smile, eyes tinged with nostalgia. “Lan Lun and Leng Lu were born on the same day; Lan Lun is just ten minutes younger. Perhaps that’s where the friction began. They’ve been at odds ever since.”

Just imagining their interactions was enough to fill the air with tension. Chu Luoxi found it hard to picture their “battles” when together. “If that’s the case, why is Leng Lu your manager, not Lan Lun?”

Xiao Jingxuan sighed helplessly. “Originally, it was decided by drawing lots. Leng Lu just got luckier.”

“Drawing lots?” Chu Luoxi was shocked. So the golden partnership everyone admired was actually the result of a lottery?

“Yes! So, Lan Lun has always wanted to sign a powerful star. He’s not trying to beat me, but to beat Leng Lu,” Xiao Jingxuan said with amusement. Watching their rivalry sometimes felt childish, yet the two brothers enjoyed the ongoing struggle.

“You must be joking!” Chu Luoxi, though subtly complimented by Xiao Jingxuan as “formidable,” was preoccupied with other thoughts. “If the manager works behind the scenes and wants to beat Leng Lu, doesn’t that mean the signed artist has to beat you?”

“Heh, that signed artist is you,” Xiao Jingxuan chuckled, finding Chu Luoxi’s thoughts wandering far beyond reality, never considering herself as part of the equation.

“Uh…” Chu Luoxi was utterly flustered, feeling immense pressure. For a moment, she regretted it, fearing she couldn’t bear the heavy expectations Lan Lun placed on her.

Though the conflict between Lan Lun and Leng Lu was personal, they never let it interfere with their professional duties. Seeing how Lan Lun, like her, wasn’t eager to take on projects confirmed this. Their competition was private and did not cause resentment.

If Lan Lun were desperate to defeat Leng Lu, he wouldn’t have offered Chu Luoxi such complete freedom. So, she had nothing to worry about.

On the contrary, Chu Luoxi was intrigued by the love-hate story between Lan Lun and Leng Lu. She secretly asked Xiao Jingxuan, learning much more about her manager and gaining deeper understanding.

“Brother Xiao, having two childhood friends like that must have made growing up quite an adventure!” Chu Luoxi whispered, leaning in so Lan Lun wouldn’t overhear and risk another cold blast.

Lowering his head slightly to meet her close presence, Xiao Jingxuan stiffened slightly, unwilling to move. A faint, delicate fragrance lingered at his nose. “Adventure? No, it’s been more like a thrill ride.”