Everyone in the Entertainment Industry Thinks I’m a Flirty Diva [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 32

“Try out for which role?”

In the hallway outside the rehearsal room, Chu Xi thought she must have misheard the director’s assistant who had rushed to intercept her.

The assistant smiled and repeated, “The seductive concubine—the infamous, nation-wrecking concubine Liuli in the drama.”

Chu Xi: “Huh???”

The sample script included brief character introductions and plot summaries. Concubine Liuli didn’t have an overwhelming amount of screen time, but she was an indispensable and highly complex character—ruthless, manipulative, and the ruin of nations. On the surface, she seemed utterly incompatible with the roles Chu Xi had played before.

Beyond acting skills, an actor’s appearance was crucial to shaping a character. If an actor naturally fit the role’s visual requirements, the final performance often achieved twice the result with half the effort. Conversely, if their appearance didn’t align with the character, unless they possessed exceptional acting skills to compensate, most performances ended up awkward and unconvincing, sometimes even inviting ridicule. For instance, an actress playing a peerless beauty couldn’t look ordinary, and a heroic protagonist couldn’t have a shifty, untrustworthy face.

From the moment Chu Xi was discovered by a talent scout, she was told she had the face of an Innocent White Flower. After being signed by Gu Mingjing, her management team consistently cast her in roles that fit this image—pure, naive, and helpless, the kind who would cry when framed by a villainess and wait for the male lead to rescue her. Beyond that, Chu Xi had hardly ever tried any other type of role.

So when the director’s assistant asked her to audition for the role of the seductive concubine, Chu Xi couldn’t believe it.

The previous two groups of actresses auditioning had clearly divided into camps: those trying out for the male lead’s sister looked sweet and innocent, while those auditioning for the seductive concubine, Liuli, were all heavily made up and exuded powerful auras. No matter how you looked at it, Chu Xi obviously belonged to the sweet and innocent camp—with her Innocent White Flower, first-love face, how could she possibly play a femme fatale who brought kingdoms to ruin?

The director’s assistant noticed Chu Xi’s disbelief and hesitation and said, “Why would I lie to you? The director really did ask for you. Let me put it this way—your chances of landing the male lead’s sister are practically zero. Now you’ve been given another opportunity. Aren’t you going to take it?”

“I’ll go, I’ll go!” Chu Xi quickly agreed. Seductive concubine or not, as long as there was a chance, she had to try.

The assistant led Chu Xi to the rehearsal hall where the auditions for the seductive concubine Liuli were being held. The director was already seated, and a girl was currently auditioning for the role. Chu Xi stood to the side and watched. The girl was strikingly beautiful, and her performance was full of confidence—every gesture oozed allure. In every way, she looked more like the seductive concubine than Chu Xi ever could, making Chu Xi’s heart sink.

After the girl finished her audition and left, the director noticed Chu Xi waiting at the door. The director, surnamed Chen, was a well-known figure in the TV drama industry. He had vaguely heard some gossip about Chu Xi, but he didn’t care about that. As long as she wasn’t a scandal-ridden or legally problematic artist, she would be treated the same as everyone else—no special treatment, no judgment for auditioning for a supporting role. The most important thing was finding the right fit for the role.

The assistant handed Chu Xi a sample script for the seductive concubine Liuli. Before she could even read it twice, she was urged to take the stage.

Chu Xi had practiced the male lead’s sister’s scenes many times before coming, polishing every movement until they flowed naturally. But now, suddenly asked to play the seductive concubine, her lack of acting range was exposed. Her lines were weak, her hands fidgeted awkwardly, and she didn’t even know what expression to make. The entire performance was a disaster.

After finishing, Chu Xi first saw the director’s assistant shake his head.

Another missed opportunity, Chu Xi thought dejectedly.

The assistant was shaking his head, but as for the director…

Chu Xi saw him resting his chin on his hand, frowning as he studied her. His gaze wasn’t disapproving—just intensely observant, as if he wanted to see right through her, almost like he was about to ask her to turn around for a better look.

“I…” Chu Xi twisted her fingers, about to suggest she should just leave, when the director suddenly spoke to his assistant. “Never mind. Take her to the back and have her change into Liuli’s costume. Let’s see how she looks in full makeup and styling. No rush.”

The assistant had initially thought Chu Xi didn’t stand a chance, so she was surprised when the director asked her to try on the costume. However, she quickly nodded and led Chu Xi to the dressing room at the back.

It took nearly half an hour for Chu Xi to change into the costume and have her hair loosely styled. When she stepped back into the rehearsal hall, the wide train of the costume trailing behind her, the director was still engrossed in reviewing documents and didn’t notice her entrance. Chu Xi bent slightly and said softly, “Director Chen, um, I’ve changed.”

The director looked up and froze for a moment at the sight of Chu Xi standing obediently before her.

Then, slapping the table excitedly, she declared, “You’re the one!”

Director Chen pointed at Chu Xi, now fully dressed as the seductive concubine, her excitement unmistakable.

She hadn’t been wrong—this was perfect, absolutely perfect! Finally, someone had captured the essence of the character. For a role like this, the right look was everything; everything else came second.

Most film and TV adaptations portrayed seductive concubines with heavy smoky makeup, exaggerated winged eyeliner, and brows arched to the heavens—as if screaming to the audience, “I’m evil, I’m the villain!” But such portrayals only emphasized one thing: “wickedness,” completely missing the most crucial and soulful aspect of the character—her “allure.”

The more Director Chen looked at Chu Xi, the more pleased she became. The assistant had mentioned that Chu Xi had always been typecast as the Innocent White Flower? Whoever had pigeonholed her into that outdated, clichéd image had done her a great disservice. At first glance, Chu Xi might seem like the epitome of purity, but upon closer inspection, she was anything but. Her delicate features, flawless bone structure, and elegantly straight nose were striking, but what truly stood out were the faintly upturned corners of her eyes—her every glance, every smile, exuded a natural sensuality and charm. She was the perfect blend of innocence and seduction. Who wouldn’t believe she could enchant a foolish emperor into utter submission? Compared to overt seduction, the contrast of an angelic face adorned with those subtly alluring eyes was far more effective—like using a feather to move a mountain.

And then there was her naturally stunning figure—simply unmatched. In fact, hints of this transformation had already surfaced at the Golden Feather Awards red carpet. After years of wearing high-end ethereal gowns, Chu Xi had stunned everyone in a simple, figure-hugging two-hundred-yuan sundress, embracing a bold, sexy style for the first time. The audience response had been overwhelmingly positive, earning her the Best Dressed award.

Even after changing out of the costume and returning it to the stylist, Chu Xi still felt dazed as she prepared to leave.

Had the director really just decided on her like that?

It seemed so. The grand historical romance The Peach Blossom Promise—she was going to play the seductive concubine, Liuli.

Chu Xi still couldn’t believe the director had entrusted her with such a challenging role. Weren’t they worried about her notoriously wooden acting? That was bold.

She pinched the back of her hand—ouch, it hurt.

Alright, this wasn’t a dream. The director was just that daring.

Chu Xi stepped into the elevator, pressed the button for the first floor, and immediately pulled out her phone to text Fu Bai.

After a brief moment of weightlessness, the elevator stopped. Since no one else was inside, Chu Xi assumed they had reached the ground floor. Still typing her message, she walked forward without looking up.

Then she bumped into someone with a thud.

The elevator doors had already closed behind her. The first thing Chu Xi noticed was the deep blue suit the person was wearing.

“Sorry, sorry,” Chu Xi quickly apologized, but the person didn’t seem to react to her apology. She looked up and saw a familiar face. “A-Assistant Gao?”

“Miss Chu.” Assistant Gao smiled and nodded at her.

A shiver ran down Chu Xi’s spine as she suddenly remembered the gossip she’d overheard before the audition—the women had said the president of Yuanjing Group had come to Xinghui Entertainment today.

If Assistant Gao was here…

Chu Xi swallowed hard and glanced behind him.

Gu Mingjing stood there, elegant and poised, showing no reaction upon seeing her, as if they were strangers. His expression remained aloof and unapproachable.

Several others stood behind him, all dressed in sharp suits—likely Xinghui’s executives here to receive him.

Another elevator arrived. Chu Xi instinctively stepped aside as the group entered. Gu Mingjing brushed past her.

“Miss Chu, are you heading down?”

Hearing someone call her, Chu Xi turned and saw Assistant Gao holding the elevator door open, smiling at her.

She immediately shook her head. “No, thank you. You go ahead. The other elevator will be here soon.”

The doors slowly closed. Chu Xi exhaled in relief but couldn’t help stealing a glance inside. Though Gu Mingjing’s face remained expressionless, his gaze was fixed in her direction. Their eyes met and held until the doors shut completely.

Her heart pounded wildly.

Inside the elevator, Assistant Gao gave Gu Mingjing a complicated look.

He hadn’t planned on coming to Xinghui at all—until he saw Chu Xi’s name on the audition list for their new drama. Then he’d rushed over eagerly. Yet after arriving, he avoided meeting her, distracted during the meeting to the point of terrifying the presenters. Even though they were in the same building, he stubbornly refused to seek her out, as if determined not to see her at all.

And now, after finally bumping into her in the elevator, he still wore that cold expression, as if he hadn’t been the one eagerly chasing after her.

Was it really just because she rejected his confession last time? Was it worth it?

How was he supposed to win anyone over like this?

No one would believe it.

The elevator arrived. The group bid farewell to Gu Mingjing and dispersed. The driver had already pulled the car around.

Gu Mingjing got in without a word.

Since he didn’t specify a destination, the driver didn’t move. Assistant Gao turned around. “Mr. Gu, back to the company or…?”

Gu Mingjing cracked the window slightly. The voices of two men—Xinghui executives from earlier—drifted in.

“Wasn’t that woman in the elevator Chu Xi?”

“She really is stunning. No wonder her sugar daddy spent so much to pamper her for two years. What a shame.”

“What’s there to pity? Now that she’s lost her backer, it’s your chance. She’s so desperate she’s competing with nobodies for roles. Just throw some resources her way, and she’ll cling to you. After being played with for two years, there’s nothing she doesn’t know how to do. Perfect for serving you, isn’t it? You like skilled ones—this is a steal for you, hahaha!”

“Hahahahaha!”

Their laughter seeped into the car.

Inside the Phantom, Gu Mingjing’s fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest.

Assistant Gao had already noted down the two men in his little black book.

That evening, both of them received termination notices and were subsequently blacklisted by the entire entertainment industry.

…

Gu Mingjing returned to Nanjing Apartment that night—the place where he had once kept Chu Xi.

After Chu Xi left, he rarely came back here, but tonight, for some inexplicable reason, he found himself drawn to the place again.

His phone screen lit up with a message from Assistant Gao, reporting that the two executives from Star Glory who had offended Miss Chu that afternoon had already been dealt with.

Gu Mingjing tossed his phone onto the sofa and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.

After his shower, he emerged in a bathrobe, water droplets trickling from his hair, one by one, down his chest.

He grabbed the towel on his shoulder to dry his hair, then glanced at the bed in the bedroom.

Once again, the vulgar words of those two men from the afternoon resurfaced in his mind.

“After being played with for two years, there’s nothing she doesn’t know how to do,” and “We just like those who are good at it.”

Amid his anger, Gu Mingjing scoffed.

She didn’t know anything—all she did was cry, refusing this and resisting that. Two years, and not a single bit of improvement.

Yet why was it that he… damn it, couldn’t let go?

Every time, just one of her teary-eyed glances or a soft whimper while clutching the back of her hand was enough to drive him mad.

He knew Chu Xi’s “Innocent White Flower” persona was just a facade—and only he knew the truth. That was why, when he saw her red-carpet look with a slightly exposed décolletage, he had been so furious he threw his phone.

Gu Mingjing sat on the bed and opened Weibo.

He had created an account himself, following Chu Xi, her studio, and the “Brick Brigade.”

The Brick Brigade had just reposted a Weibo update from the official account of the drama Peach Blossom Promise—a promotional still of the character “Seductive Concubine Liuli,” played by Chu Xi.

At first, everyone found the casting announcement unreliable. Even ignoring her notoriously bad acting, Chu Xi—the epitome of the “Innocent White Flower” typecast—was actually playing a demon consort? Could she even pull off “seductive”?

Then they opened the promotional still.

The image, showcasing a role completely different from anything she had done before, left everyone stunned.

Holy shit—is this really Chu Xi?

Yes, it was Chu Xi. Chu Xi, trying a new style.

Both pure and bewitching. A femme fatale capable of toppling kingdoms.

No one had ever imagined Chu Xi could have such a side to her. No wonder her anti-fans had always insisted she wasn’t an “Innocent White Flower” face but rather a “little vixen” face. Now that she was fully embracing the vixen persona—who the hell could resist this?!

Gu Mingjing felt as if a treasure he had been tightly guarding had suddenly been exposed to the public, his heart clogged like a damp wad of cotton.