Everyone in the Entertainment Industry Thinks I’m a Flirty Diva [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 17

Early the next morning, before dawn, the soldiers participating in the field training had already packed their gear and assembled.

The six guests, who had once been scolded for their sluggishness during roll calls, now moved with lightning speed from waking up to assembling. They even arrived at the gathering point ahead of schedule, standing in formation. The camera panned over them—clearly, they were all excited for the day’s training, brimming with energy despite the early hour. Chu Xi, in particular, stood out. Bare-faced under the unforgiving high-definition lens, her skin was strikingly fair compared to the others. The difference between her with and without makeup was merely a matter of “beautiful” and “even more beautiful.”

With the hour still early, the livestream had fewer viewers. Though Chu Xi had appeared makeup-free in previous episodes, seeing her like this now still left many in awe—and envy.

[Her bare face is unbeatable.]

[Chu Xi looks so young here—I’d believe she’s underage. laugh-crying emoji]

[Please, Chu Xi, share your skincare secrets! whimpering]

[Her skincare products were confiscated on the first day—what routine? This complexion is clearly natural.]

…

On-site, Company Commander Wang had already finished explaining the day’s training tasks and rules.

Today’s training mission was a hostage rescue operation. Special personnel would play the role of terrorists guarding the hostages. The location of the hostages had been confirmed—an abandoned factory at the mountain peak. Six guests and other soldiers training today would carry out the counter-terrorism mission to rescue the hostages. Anyone shot by the terrorists during the operation would be eliminated, and the remaining participants would be scored based on their performance to determine the outstanding soldier of this exercise.

The terrorists in the exercise were armed, and the jungle was overgrown with bushes. The path up the mountain was guarded by enemy sentries and a large minefield, severely testing the soldiers’ field combat skills and teamwork.

Among the six guests participating in the training, one would be chosen to play the hostage.

As the name suggested, the hostage would have to be tied up all day, waiting for their teammates to rescue them.

However, the hostage wasn’t entirely without agency—during captivity, they could try to outmaneuver the enemies and find a way to escape on their own.

Despite Company Commander Wang repeatedly emphasizing that being a hostage was also an excellent training role, no one really wanted to play the part of someone tied up most of the time. Knowing that none of the guests might volunteer, the production team adopted a fair, just, and transparent method of allocation: drawing lots.

When it came time to draw lots, the live comments automatically flooded with:

[Will Chu Xi be chosen by fate again today?]

[The chosen one Chu Xi is about to work her magic]

[Don’t tell me it’s Chu Xi again—she’s been the unlucky one every time since the show started].

Chu Xi drew her lot but hesitated to open it.

She didn’t want to be the hostage! She wanted to join the combat training and fight the bad guys with everyone else!

While Chu Xi hesitated to check her lot, the other male guests had already begun looking at theirs.

“I’m on the rescue team,” Yu Yiyuan announced happily, the first to speak.

“Rescue team too,” Zhao Mincong unfolded his lot.

One by one, the male guests revealed their results—none of them had to be the hostage. In the end, only Chu Xi and Yan Zhun’s lots remained unopened. The unlucky one who would play the hostage in the combat training would be decided between these two.

Chu Xi’s heart leaped into her throat as she nervously glanced at Yan Zhun beside her.

Yan Zhun looked relaxed as he unfolded his lot. After reading it, he calmly stated, “Rescue team.”

Yan Zhun was also on the rescue team, which meant the unlucky hostage was…

Chu Xi shuddered, her lips turning pale. Still unwilling to accept it, she slowly unclenched her tightly gripped hand to reveal the lot inside.

The words “HOSTAGE” appeared in her line of sight.

Chu Xi: “………………”

Live comments:

[HAHAHAHAHAHA it’s Chu Xi again]

[This is too tragic, how is it always her HAHAHAHAHA]

[“Although it’s tragic, why do I find it so hilarious?!”]

Even the male guests on-site couldn’t help but crack a smile.

Chu Xi also laughed, though her expression looked more like crying.

The other five happily shouldered their guns and began their combat training for the day.

Only Chu Xi was left, bound tightly and transported to the factory at the mountain’s peak.

With the hostage in place, the exercise officially began.

Chu Xi was taken to a small room inside the factory, guarded by a terrorist armed with a gun.

Sitting on a stool with her hands and feet tied, Chu Xi glanced at her guard. Apparently, the task of watching over her wasn’t too bad—the guy had even pulled out two cans of cola, opened one, and started drinking.

“What are you looking at?!” the terrorist barked when he noticed Chu Xi staring.

Startled by the shout, Chu Xi pouted. “Can I have a sip of your cola? I want some too.”

The terrorist was probably encountering such a request from a hostage for the first time in his life and froze for a moment.

Chu Xi stared longingly at the cola in his hand, clearly craving a taste.

The terrorist immediately chugged the rest of his drink, crushed the empty can, and let out a belch. “Want some? No way! Stay put!”

Chu Xi was so scolded she began questioning her life choices.

She was miserable. Why was she always the one getting picked on?

All she wanted was a sip of cola—what had she done to deserve this?

She wished she could be outside, fighting the terrorists head-on, instead of being tied up like a crab and yelled at by the bad guys.

The live broadcast’s main screen focused on the soldiers carrying out their mission outside, while a small window in the bottom-right corner showed Chu Xi, still tightly bound.

On the main screen, the male guests were defusing landmines and ambushing sentries—tense, thrilling, and action-packed. Meanwhile, in the corner, Chu Xi lay slumped on her stool, looking utterly defeated.

Comments flooded in:

[“HAHAHAHA public humiliation at its finest”]

[“I’m worried Chu Xi might fall asleep”]

[“She just got yelled at by her guard—so pitiful HAHAHA”]

[“Asking for cola? Chu Xi is too adorable!”]

After laughing it off, most viewers turned their full attention to the main screen, barely glancing at Chu Xi in the corner.

Chu Xi kept sneaking glances at her guard, trying several times to strike up a conversation, but each attempt was met with a sharp rebuke.

She gauged the passage of time by the shifting sunlight streaming in from outside.

After what felt like an eternity, distant gunfire and explosions echoed from afar.

Bored out of her mind, Chu Xi perked up at the noise. “Are they attacking?”

“Shut up!” the terrorist snapped.

Chu Xi pursed her lips.

The sounds outside faded, leaving silence once more.

Alone in the small room with her guard, Chu Xi waited and waited until, finally, the terrorist had an urgent matter—nature called.

Chu Xi rolled her eyes at his anxious expression.

Serves you right for drinking two cans of cola without sharing a single sip.

Outwardly, she grinned sweetly. “Need to use the bathroom?”

Caught off guard, the man glared at her.

He was torn—if he left to relieve himself, who would watch the hostage?

Chu Xi shrugged. “I know you’re worried I’ll escape, but you tied me up so tight—how could I possibly run?”

The terrorist snorted dismissively.

Chu Xi: “If it’s that bad, just go right here in front of me. Pee away, I’ll watch. I don’t mind anyway, and I’m sure a big man like you doesn’t either. Hehe.” After saying this, she deliberately whistled twice.

“You!” The terrorist was furious. The whistling made his bladder tighten again, and he considered just relieving himself in the room. He shuffled to the corner, about to undo his pants, then turned around to find Chu Xi staring straight at him without a hint of embarrassment or hesitation.

The terrorist: “………………”

He couldn’t go.

Out of six guests, why did they have to pick a woman as the hostage?!

Chu Xi feigned innocence: “Why aren’t you peeing?”

Gunfire sounded outside again, much closer this time.

On the big screen, the soldiers were gradually advancing toward the mountaintop, while the terrorists stood their ground, defending their position. Each time the soldiers charged, the terrorists fired down from above, forcing them back with suppressing fire.

For a moment, the battle reached a stalemate.

Viewers watching the live stream felt as if they were on the scene, tense and exhilarated:

[Ahhhh, charge already!]

[Yan Zhun got three kills today—so cool!]

[Can’t they flank from behind?]

[Damn, those terrorists hit several people in a row—what now?!]

[Thank goodness Chu Xi was taken hostage today. The men’s combat is way more exciting to watch!]

[Exactly! If Chu Xi were here, they’d have to protect her.]

Few noticed the new development in the bottom-right corner, where a thoroughly defeated Chu Xi and her terrorist guard had reached another impasse.

After several attempts, the terrorist guarding Chu Xi simply couldn’t bring himself to drop his pants and pee under her unwavering gaze. Scolding her for being unladylike, he decided to step out instead.

With the terrorist gone, Chu Xi was left alone in the room.

She silently counted in her head.

Sure enough, when she reached twenty, the terrorist suddenly burst back in, gun raised. Clearly, he hadn’t left at all—he’d been waiting outside the door before making a surprise return to check if she was trying to escape.

He found Chu Xi sitting obediently on the stool, showing no signs of fleeing.

Chu Xi looked puzzled. “You… you finished peeing so quickly?”

“Hmph! Stay put!” The terrorist put down his gun and went out again.

Only after he left this time did Chu Xi finally spring into action.

It turned out she hadn’t been idly arguing with her captor all day. With her hands tied behind her back, she’d spent hours secretly rubbing the ropes against a slightly protruding nail on the side of the chair’s backrest. Persistent effort wore through stone – the rope was nearly frayed through.

Sure enough, when the terrorist guarding her left for the second time, Chu Xi exerted a little force and the rope snapped immediately.

With her hands free, she immediately bent down to untie the ropes binding her ankles without wasting a second.

Fully unbound, Chu Xi stood up.

Viewers who had been focused on the main screen only noticed the anomaly in the bottom-right corner when Chu Xi rose to her feet.

[Holy shit Chu Xi is standing!]

[How did her ropes come loose?!]

[What’s happening! Ahhh what did I miss!]

Many shifted their attention to the small screen.

Chu Xi stood up and glanced at the door.

Escaping through it risked a direct confrontation with her guard, and the abandoned factory undoubtedly housed other terrorists – far too dangerous.

Her gaze moved to the window.

She ran over and looked down. Fortunately, it was only the second floor.

But even from this height, while the fall wouldn’t be fatal, serious injury was likely.

What to do? What to do?

Panic set in – her captor would return from his bathroom break soon.

Circling the room, Chu Xi suddenly spotted the rope that had bound her.

The rope!

It was her lifeline. She quickly tied one end securely to the window’s air conditioning bracket and let the other end dangle down.

Climbing onto the windowsill, she assessed the drop again.

Then swallowed hard.

Her training had included rope climbing and rappelling – she’d performed decently under the squad leader’s supervision during two drills. But now there was no instructor guiding her, no safety mat below.

Gunfire erupted continuously, signaling intense combat between their forces and the terrorists.

Hearing the fierce gunshots, Chu Xi gripped the rope, steeled herself, and began descending step by step, her feet braced against the outer wall until they touched solid ground.

On the ground, she scanned her surroundings and sprinted away from the gunfire.

Viewers watched stunned as Chu Xi unexpectedly freed herself, rappelled down, landed safely, and fled.

Her escape proceeded surprisingly smoothly.

With their forces attacking from the south, the terrorists concentrated all defenses there, leaving other areas unguarded. Chu Xi ambushed the lone sentry at the back door, took his gun, and escaped.

Meanwhile, at the scene, the standoff between their troops and terrorists continued.

Rescue plans were debated one after another, all determined to save the hostages from the terrorists’ clutches.

After finalizing their plan, the group resolved that this time, they would either succeed or perish—no retreat. They were prepared for a life-or-death battle against the terrorists, their expressions solemn and resolute, ready to sacrifice themselves.

Squad Leader Liu gave the final pep talk to his comrades: “Brothers, are you ready to eliminate the terrorists and rescue the hostages?”

“Ready!” they shouted in unison.

Just as they finished their oath and were about to launch the final assault, a sudden noise came from behind.

Chu Xi, panting heavily after running all the way with the gun she had seized, arrived at the critical moment. Standing behind the group who had been preparing to rescue her, she said:

“Uh, well… I came back on my own.”