Chapter 35: The Leading Lady Pays a Visit

No matter what, Chu Luoxi had no choice but to accept this favor from Li Shuangmu. With the release of this version of the trailer, the character Yun Tianxue, whom she played, would be firmly engraved in the audience’s memory and very likely become a classic. In doing so, she had maximized the prominence of a supporting role. She didn’t quite understand why Li Shuangmu would do this, but for her personally, it was all benefit and no harm.

“Chu Luoxi, are you free? Let’s find a time to have a cup of coffee!” Li Shuangmu was as direct as ever, getting straight to the point.

She laughed, “Sure, Director Li, but since we’re studying vocal music, we don’t really drink much coffee. How about tea instead?” Chu Luoxi made her suggestion half in jest, never one to refuse outright.

Rather than ordering something she wouldn’t touch later, it was better to choose a comfortable setting from the start. She didn’t believe Li Shuangmu’s invitation was genuinely about sharing a drink.

“Of course, that’s fine. Honestly, I’m not much for those foreign things either—I just thought you young people liked them.” Li Shuangmu laughed heartily, his manner easy to like.

“I’m not one to fawn over foreign trends! How about after four o’clock, Director Li?” Chu Luoxi joked, checked her schedule, and gently steered the conversation back on track.

“All right, five o’clock, at that spot not far from your school…” Li Shuangmu named a place with practiced ease, clearly no stranger to the Imperial Film Academy.

After hanging up, Chu Luoxi felt a little dazed. Five o’clock was practically dinnertime—going out for tea then? Wouldn’t she end up hungry? Li Shuangmu’s “straightforwardness” was almost over the top, to the point of being single-minded. Worried something might go awry, Chu Luoxi decided to eat a little something before leaving.

She was always punctual for appointments, preferring to wait herself rather than keep others waiting. She didn’t know why, it was simply her habit. But this only applied to friends; as a newcomer in the entertainment industry, arriving early was a must. Once she gained popularity and status, when and how to make an appearance would become an art in itself. Otherwise, it would mean she didn’t understand the rules or was devaluing her own worth. At times, being overly “humble” did one no favors.

Thus, mastering this balance was crucial.

So, when Li Shuangmu arrived and found Chu Luoxi already there, admiration flickered in his eyes. He had arrived fifteen minutes early, yet she was even earlier, proving she truly understood the rules of the trade.

Nowadays, newcomers who understood etiquette always fared better, and if they had genuine talent, their chances of success increased dramatically.

“Didn’t expect you to be even earlier than me. Have you been waiting long?” Li Shuangmu said with a good-natured smile, waving for a pot of tea.

“Not at all, I haven’t even had time to sip my tea yet,” Chu Luoxi replied politely, gesturing to the steaming rose tea before her, the water level hardly touched.

The two chatted about this and that, Chu Luoxi patient and composed, waiting for Li Shuangmu to broach the real subject.

“‘Dragon Roars Across the World’ is about to air. By the looks of it, things are going well.” Li Shuangmu spoke casually, his eyes crinkling with satisfaction.

“Congratulations, and thank you, Director Li, for your trust,” Chu Luoxi replied sincerely.

Although the second trailer a few days ago had brought publicity back on track, the first trailer had already handed her a tremendous boost—she owed him this favor.

“That’s because you have the ability.” Li Shuangmu’s eyes twinkled as he changed the subject. “I just received a new script and wondered if you’d be interested. Honestly, ever since I saw your performance, I’ve wanted to work with you again.”

Chu Luoxi was not surprised; she had half expected this when she received his call. She smiled calmly, “Director Li, you really do keep busy. ‘Dragon Roars Across the World’ hasn’t even aired yet. What’s this new script?”

She’d already decided that in this life, she would only take roles she wanted to play, so she didn’t accept immediately, even though this was a tremendous opportunity for a newcomer.

Li Shuangmu was a bit surprised by her composure, but he didn’t dwell on it. He pulled a script from his briefcase. “Take a look first, see if you’re interested. This time, I’m talking to you about the lead role.”

At those words, Chu Luoxi’s heart, which had been indifferent, trembled slightly. To be offered a female lead so soon in her new life was astonishing. In her previous life, she’d struggled for years after graduation before reaching this point.

She opened to the first page and couldn’t help but frown. She hadn’t expected Li Shuangmu, known for his exquisitely stylized period dramas, to hand her a modern script—and, to her dismay, it was a youth campus idol drama.

“Crystal Love?” So it was this one! Chu Luoxi was struck by a wave of realization, her slender, pale fingers tapping lightly on the all-too-familiar title.

In her past life, Li Shuangmu rarely touched modern dramas, especially idol dramas with little technical depth. From start to finish, there was only this one. Yet his pursuit of visual beauty was a perfect fit for the genre. In the end, “Crystal Love” became a sensational hit—not only was it a rare classic among mainland idol dramas, but it also catapulted a whole group of young actors to stardom. For a while after the show aired, a slew of imitators followed, and idol dramas dominated prime-time television.

One had to admit, in the world of television, Li Shuangmu was a trendsetter, one of the top-ranked directors.

Chu Luoxi had trained herself to read scripts quickly, and knowing the final product of this drama, she flipped through it even faster. If she hadn’t been concerned about making a good impression, she might have only glanced at each page.

“Finished already?” Li Shuangmu was a bit taken aback. He had just started up his tablet, intending to give Chu Luoxi time to read carefully, but she seemed to be done already.

“Yes,” Chu Luoxi replied with a slightly awkward smile, aware that her speed might come across as dismissive.

“What, not interested?” Li Shuangmu frowned, a trace of displeasure in his voice—he thought she hadn’t read it seriously.

“To be honest, it’s a good youth idol drama. Amid the clichéd Cinderella storyline, there are some refreshing elements. If performed well, it’ll be quite compelling…” Sensing Li Shuangmu’s mood, Chu Luoxi quickly shared her thoughts on the script, making it clear she had read it carefully and meant no disrespect.

As she laid out her understanding of the story in an orderly, insightful manner, Li Shuangmu’s mouth fell open slightly, his face frozen in surprise.