Chapter 23: Could You Take a Look at Her?

"Cut! Good, that's a wrap." The director spoke with unusual excitement, letting out a breath of relief. As a friend, he was well aware of how inexperienced Ji Yanjin was at acting, and he'd already prepared himself for a lengthy battle, ready to work overtime tonight if necessary.

But to his surprise, the MV heroine Ji Yanjin had invited brought him an unexpected delight. Not only did she breeze through her own scenes in one take, her casual remarks greatly reduced Ji Yanjin's number of retakes.

Clearly, this beauty not only understood her own part inside out, but could also guide others to grasp theirs...

In truth, Chu Luoxi hadn't done much, just behaved in ways that seemed eccentric or mad to outsiders—pulling faces, waving her arms and legs, sometimes prompting Ji Yanjin to laugh naturally at the right moment: whether it was a hearty laugh, a gentle smile, or a captivating grin, Chu Luoxi always seemed to find a way to bring out the most fitting, heartfelt expression from the leading actor. The results on camera were, naturally, impeccable.

Thus, the reins of the performance had slipped from the director's hands and landed in Chu Luoxi's. As director, he only needed to seize the moment and instruct the camera to be at the right angle, and most scenes were finished in one or two takes—an efficiency he had never dared to hope for.

Everyone relaxed, including Ji Yanjin, but Chu Luoxi was left miserable, feeling utterly exhausted. Guiding others in acting was far more draining than stepping onto the stage herself, especially since, whether or not she was in the scene, she had to rack her brain and expend energy.

After finally finishing tonight's work ahead of schedule, Chu Luoxi nearly collapsed. If it were just her own scenes, she could easily soldier on for another twelve hours—after all, acting had become second nature to her; she barely needed to think.

"This was such a thankless favor," Chu Luoxi slumped into her chair, heedless of appearances, rolling her eyes at those beside her. "Hey, Xiaojin, you'd better stick to singing!"

Please, don't make that leap from singing to acting. The fans might love it, but it's a nightmare for those behind the scenes.

Ji Yanjin rubbed his nose, feeling a bit frustrated. Acting meant being so close to the camera lens, and he was not used to it at all—it was nothing like being on stage. "Is it really that bad?"

"It's very bad, okay? I honestly wonder how those two idol dramas you starred in ever got made!" Chu Luoxi didn't hesitate to criticize him.

Nowadays, idol dramas care only about looks, not acting skill. But after filming two TV series, shouldn't he have picked up something useful?

"That was ages ago. I've long forgotten how it felt. And I wasn't the lead or even a major supporting character. I barely had any scenes, so I never really got the experience," Ji Yanjin admitted sheepishly.

"If you don't pay me next time, I'm not doing it," Chu Luoxi declared angrily. Honestly, she'd rather work overtime filming midnight scenes for days on end than take on this kind of thankless task. In a word: exhausting!

"Alright, alright. Next time, with your price, I wonder if I can even afford you," Ji Yanjin coaxed, truly believing that Chu Luoxi was destined for greatness.

"It's tough being a student, you know it well. My time will come soon enough," Chu Luoxi replied leisurely, not the least bit anxious. The sense of urgency she once felt in her previous life was long gone.

"You've worked hard. Let's go get some rest—I booked rooms already." With the director announcing the end of the shoot, Ji Yanjin spoke up.

Chu Luoxi nodded and stood, only to notice the noise around them had suddenly faded into a strange silence.

Curious, she looked up—and immediately joined everyone else, not daring even to breathe too loudly.

A man in ancient costume walked toward them from not far away, his long hair fluttering, his robes billowing gracefully. His steps were unhurried and fluid, elegant as water, serene as a chrysanthemum, yet he had the bearing of a king of the night, gazing down upon all things with an aura that inspired awe and reverence. Most striking were his jet-black eyes, shimmering with the light of a thousand stars, dazzling and divine. It was as if a poetic painting from ages past had come to life before them: distant, lingering, enough to bewitch the soul.

Blinking, Chu Luoxi couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Could Master Xiao tone down that natural, overwhelming aura a bit? Was it really necessary to make such a celestial entrance? This wasn't the "Dragon Roars Across the World" production crew; they had no immunity to such grandeur...

Ji Yanjin snapped out of his astonishment, furrowing his brow almost imperceptibly. He nudged Chu Luoxi with his elbow and teased, "Hey, hey, he's here for you, isn't he?"

"Oh, is he?" Chu Luoxi glanced at him, then continued admiring Brother Xiao's unparalleled elegance—such moments were rare.

With no other thoughts, she watched as Xiao Jingxuan approached and stopped before her. Chu Luoxi again caught that pleasant scent, and then heard that alluring voice, clear as ever: "Director Li, what do you think of her?"

Utterly bewildered, Chu Luoxi wondered: Was he trying to recommend her for something? She still hadn't figured out when she and Master Xiao had become so familiar. Strange things happened every day, but today seemed particularly odd...

It was then that everyone realized, under Xiao Jingxuan's imposing presence, another person was there.

Chu Luoxi's pupils unconsciously contracted. This Director Li was an acquaintance, too!

Li Shuangmu, a renowned TV director famed for his pursuit of visual beauty. Perhaps it was fate; in her previous life, the first role she ever played, even as an extra, was in one of his costume dramas, and her first leading role was also under his direction in a period piece. It seemed Director Li Shuangmu had a special fondness for historical dramas.

At least, in Chu Luoxi's memory, she'd rarely heard of him directing anything else.

Still, her prior interactions with Li Shuangmu amounted to those two times—when she was an extra, she only knew him from afar. So, in truth, she wasn't particularly familiar with him.

Li Shuangmu scrutinized Chu Luoxi up and down with his not overly large eyes, thinking for a long while before finally saying, "Not sure. She'll need to audition."

"Hmm?" Chu Luoxi was baffled. An audition? Could someone please explain what was going on?

Ordinary people wouldn't feel comfortable being scanned like that, but in the acting world, you had to get used to being sized up and evaluated. She'd endured it countless times in her previous life, and was long accustomed to it.

Before you earned your place, there was only ever the chance for others to pick you. You were fated to be the "meat" on display.

"Brother Xiao?" Chu Luoxi looked to Xiao Jingxuan in confusion, hoping he'd explain. After all, shouldn't she at least know what was happening?

"It's a good thing!" Xiao Jingxuan's legendary dark eyes settled on her, his brow lifted in a gentle smile. "Our crew has an important role to fill, and since you're here, I asked Director Li to come see if you're a good fit."