Chapter 49: Whose Prize Was Taken?

Chu Luoxi truly did not wish to doubt Senior Brother Xiao and Cold Road’s good intentions, for from start to finish she had never sensed any malice. Yet sometimes, without a reason, peace of mind was elusive.

She felt she had little that others might covet, but it was better to clarify matters than to muddle through. Besides, debts of gratitude—they were never easy to owe.

Looking up slightly, she met Xiao Jingxuan’s gaze. His eyes shone like the myriad stars in the heavens, as if a feather floating upon water, and his voice, clear and bright, remained as pleasant as ever. “You needn’t worry. Our company currently has no other artists. Rather than let this recommendation go to waste, Junior Sister, why not give it a try?”

Cold Road agreed, nodding with expressive enthusiasm. “Qiuxian is the sort who climbs the ladder quickly and is notoriously stingy. It’s rare for him to let us recommend a candidate. If you don’t use it, it’ll expire and be wasted. That would be a real shame.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Luoxi was surprised. Was it true that Scenic Entertainment had no other artists? In her previous life, she had followed Xiao Jingxuan’s career but never realized Scenic Entertainment was his company. Thus, she knew little about it.

Moreover, by the time she graduated, Scenic Entertainment had already achieved a meteoric rise. Its status in the entertainment industry rivaled the top companies, challenging the old giants. Its artists flourished, competitions were fierce, and it was nearly impossible for ordinary people to enter.

How unexpected! In just two short years, Scenic Entertainment still had only Xiao Jingxuan as its sole artist? The great Xiao was truly remarkable. As an artist, he was formidable; as a company founder, unparalleled.

Hearing the name “Qiuxian,” Chu Luoxi was momentarily stunned, then suddenly enlightened. How could she have forgotten? “Rivers and Mountains” was precisely Qiuxian’s masterpiece, the work that made him a legendary director. Originally, he debuted around the same time as Li Shuangmu and others, achieved fame concurrently, and gained his current status simultaneously. The paths they took were always neck and neck, advancing together.

But after “Rivers and Mountains,” Qiuxian left the others far behind, ascending to legendary status. From then on, whenever he started a new project, actors flocked to him. Even movie stars seeking popularity would lower their demands to join his productions.

Yet he was stubborn; casting was his sole domain, and no one—producers or investors—could interfere. In an entertainment market where producers reign supreme and directors are second, he was a true outlier.

Still, his popularity and fame among audiences meant countless investors waved their money, begging him to direct. Naturally, his spine remained straight and proud.

It was strange, though. The world of directors was much like the actors’ circle, where moving from television to film was the dream and inevitable trend for many. But Qiuxian, despite achieving legendary status in television, never transitioned to film. He always remained the leader among TV directors, puzzling many.

Nevertheless, his rigorous casting never betrayed his reputation; every production became a hit, making him a director whom audiences remembered and would watch for the actors he chose.

“I’m not planning to sign a contract. Wouldn’t that be a big loss for you?” Now that Chu Luoxi understood, she realized this was simply a favor from Xiao Jingxuan. She recalled Qiuxian was Scenic Entertainment’s resident director. For so many years, he had helped Scenic Entertainment dominate the television market, guiding batches of artists to popularity and laying a solid foundation for many stars.

“Loss?” Cold Road’s eyes sparkled, his smile sly as a fox. “Is it that you lack confidence in yourself, Junior Sister Chu? We see a bright future for you. Even if you don’t sign with us, you won’t sign with any other company. Who knows, maybe Scenic Entertainment will profit from you in the future. How could it be a loss?”

His words were blunt, but Cold Road made it perfectly clear: the favor they bestowed today would be repaid in time.

Chu Luoxi smiled serenely, finding herself rather fond of Cold Road’s candor. Such exchanges of favor were natural, not calculated or driven by ulterior motives. Given their current relationship, she dared not say she would never work with Scenic Entertainment in the future.

“In that case, I’ll give it a try!” The opportunity was before her; there was no reason to refuse. Besides, she was genuinely interested in “Rivers and Mountains.”

“Tomorrow, go to Imperial Capital Film City for the audition. Whether you win the role depends on you, Xiao Xi, so make sure you show your best. Don’t be careless.” Cold Road chuckled, offering reminders in the manner of a seasoned agent.

“Of course. Where in the film city?” Chu Luoxi rolled her eyes, unceremoniously. She knew well enough: a recommendation was just that. Whether the opportunity ultimately belonged to her depended on her abilities. Qiuxian was not the type to accept anyone just because they’d been recommended.

But what exactly did Cold Road want to call her? Sometimes “Junior Sister Chu,” other times “Xiao Xi,” and occasionally even the nauseating “Xi Xi.” It was truly exasperating! Apparently, his choice of address depended entirely on his mood…

“Tomorrow, I’ll have Ding Ju contact you. She’ll take you to the set so you won’t have to find it yourself.” Xiao Jingxuan’s smile was warm, his mood evidently very good.

“Ding Ju? Isn’t she your new assistant?” Chu Luoxi was surprised.

“I’ll lend her to you. I have more than one assistant anyway,” Xiao Jingxuan replied matter-of-factly, leaving Chu Luoxi unable to argue and ultimately agreeing silently.

Privately, Chu Luoxi reflected. Accepting so easily was unlike her; why hadn’t she refused? Where had her rejection gone?

“By the way, who was originally cast for the role? What happened?” Chu Luoxi suddenly thought to ask, certain that the artist must have been out of their mind. This was a Qiuxian production! Unless you were dead, you should crawl to it if you had to—who would dare to flake?

Cold Road’s expression turned odd as he sighed, unable to hide the schadenfreude in his tone. “You know her—she’s been the center of attention lately. Zhou Yuying, the head of the Jade Maiden Sect!”

“Ah…” Chu Luoxi understood the pointed sarcasm in Cold Road’s words.

Of course she knew about the recent scandal involving a certain actress. The situation was escalating, even overshadowing news about Dragon Roars Across the World and the great Xiao’s new album. After all, the former two had been stirring controversy for a long while and fatigue was setting in. This sudden new topic naturally diverted media attention. As in her previous life, the more it was debated, the hotter it became—reporters were all too happy.

She hadn’t expected the role to have belonged to Zhou Yuying. It seemed Qiuxian, that upright old man, simply couldn’t tolerate her anymore. With “Rivers and Mountains” about to start filming, scandals were unacceptable. His decisive casting change was exactly the sort of thing Qiuxian would do.