Chapter 136: That Complex Glance

When Chu Luoxi looked at Xiao Jingxuan with eyes full of admiration, he was not particularly pleased. He disliked Chu Luoxi’s idol worship; he already had plenty of fans and didn’t need her as one more.

Chu Luoxi was completely unaware of this. Xiao Jingxuan’s presence eased her burdens, and she was blissfully happy inside.

The people asking her for autographs believed in her bright future. But for the great Xiao, many were truly his fans. Chu Luoxi even saw some rush back to their dorms during training to fetch Xiao Jingxuan’s albums—some new, some from earlier releases—to get his signature.

Fortunately, the camp of this particular company was somewhat special. Usually, outsiders wouldn’t come here; otherwise, Chu Luoxi was quite certain that the great Xiao wouldn’t be leaving today.

Before they finally parted ways, inexplicably, Xiao Jingxuan engaged in a sparring match with Yan Han. What shocked Chu Luoxi was that the great Xiao was indeed formidable—he could even hold his own against Yan Han in this regard. Watching this, the soldiers’ eyes gleamed with envy, and their admiration for their original idol seemed to deepen.

“What are you staring at?” Xiao Jingxuan calmly asked as Chu Luoxi’s gaze made him uneasy.

“Senior Brother Xiao, you’re really amazing,” Chu Luoxi sincerely exclaimed.

Yan Han was the company commander of the special unit, top-tier in combat prowess. Yet the seemingly slender Xiao Jingxuan could match him, which was truly surprising.

Hearing this, a faint smile curved Xiao Jingxuan’s lips, his eyes sparkling like stars. Cold Lu, who was driving ahead, discreetly scoffed—“Isn’t it just a compliment? He’s been praised countless times since childhood, but he’s never reacted like this before.”

Chu Luoxi simply sighed in admiration. Xiao Jingxuan didn’t reply, but after they returned home and shared dinner, the great Xiao suddenly said, “If you want a training partner, you can ask me.”

“Huh?” Chu Luoxi returned to her room in a daze, unable to help but wonder if Xiao Jingxuan’s words meant that his bout with Yan Han was merely to show her he was capable of being her sparring partner.

Pausing for a moment, a complex emotion flickered in Chu Luoxi’s eyes. She then dashed into the bathroom, luxuriated in a warm bath, and collapsed into a deep sleep.

The next day, Chu Luoxi rested well to prepare for the upcoming audition.

Early on the third day, Lan Lun appeared in her room and then drove her to a spacious, abandoned factory.

As they drove, Lan Lun said, “The director is Fan Li. He emphasizes the overall effect more than individual ability. During the audition, you need to pay close attention to that.”

Lan Lun was simply fulfilling his duty as an agent. Chu Luoxi curled her lips slightly—couldn’t he be a bit more tactful? For a complete novice, such blunt words might unsettle them, leaving them unsure of how to perform.

Luckily, she had experience and was quite familiar with director Fan Li.

Fan Li’s style was to serve the collective rather than the individual; the overall visual impact mattered most, with individual brilliance secondary. That was why, in her previous life, he had chosen a less skilled performing arts soldier as the female lead to maintain the overall tone.

Moreover, Fan Li was a director who straddled television and film—he didn’t limit himself to either. As long as a script moved him, the medium was irrelevant.

Therefore, the depth of performance and the sense of integration into the whole mattered immensely, and she would have to gauge that balance herself.

Arriving at the abandoned factory, aside from the staff preparing, many others had come to audition. Scanning the crowd, Chu Luoxi noticed they were all on Lan Lun’s list. She couldn’t help but admire how well Lan Da Ji knew his competition—his influence was indeed considerable.

Unfamiliar with the other candidates, Chu Luoxi didn’t engage but went straight to the production office to check in, picked up the script, and found a seat to study the scene she was to audition for.

She had already read the entire script; the script in her hands was a storyboard for a particular scene she needed to perform, so she took it seriously.

Lan Lun noticed her focus and merely signaled his assistant, Ding Ju, to look after her before heading to the director.

Chu Luoxi was unsurprised to see Ding Ju acting as an assistant, but her feelings were complicated. She ought to understand Xiao Jingxuan’s thoughts by now; if her emotional intelligence were negative, it still wouldn’t excuse her ignorance.

Yet, when the thought struck her, she realized that Ding Ju might have been assigned from the start for her sake—Xiao Jingxuan’s side probably didn’t need an assistant.

What surprised and frustrated her even more was that despite knowing something was off with Xiao Jingxuan, she still didn’t refuse Ding Ju’s presence. Perhaps she simply didn’t want to refuse. The situation was complicated.

Chu Luoxi glanced at Ding Ju, who was busy networking with other assistants, her eyes conflicted. In the end, she sighed and decided to set it aside for now. No one could guarantee she wasn’t just imagining things—it was best to wait and see.

Lan Lun greeted Fan Li, instantly transforming into a refined gentleman as they chatted.

“Director Fan, looks like you’re ready to make things happen this time!”

“Heh, I’m just joining the fun. The entertainment industry has been quite lively these past two years,” Fan Li smiled knowingly, alluding to Li Shuangmu’s ‘Dragon Roars Across the World’ and ‘Crystal,’ as well as Qiuxian’s ‘Schemes of Beauty and Power.’ If they didn’t work harder, the awards over the past two or three years would be swept up by others.

This was both enviable and inspiring.

“It’s definitely lively, which shows the industry is warming up and making significant progress,” Lan Lun said with a perfect smile. “Your ‘Blood Phoenix’ isn’t simple either.”

“Enough with the flattery. Which artist did you bring?” Fan Li seemed to have a good rapport with Lan Lun, though in truth, he wasn’t optimistic about the actresses auditioning. He felt they lacked the certain essence he desired; if not to add some highlights to the TV series, he would rather choose a professional female soldier.

Lan Lun pointed to Chu Luoxi, who was absorbed in the script, confident in his choice.

“Oh, looks promising. But let me warn you, if she doesn’t meet my standards, don’t blame me for being harsh,” Fan Li nodded seriously but wasn’t expecting much. Besides, it was hard to judge without seeing her on camera. They’d have to wait and see.

“You’re funny. Do you think I could force you to pick a lead?” Lan Lun shrugged, unconcerned. What mattered was talent; that was more valuable than flattery. He had observed Chu Luoxi’s recent efforts closely.

“You seem very confident!” Fan Li was somewhat surprised. He rarely saw Lan Da Ji so assured—not just in words or expression, but a deep, heartfelt conviction.