Everyone in the Entertainment Industry Thinks I’m a Flirty Diva [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 46

The Survival Team waited at the exit for a while before the Victory Team finally stumbled out, crawling and wailing:

“Wuwuwu, it was too terrifying!”

“Save us! Mommy!”

“Damn it, stop chasing me! Stay away! Aaaaaah!”

Survival Team trio: “………………”

The entire production team: “………………” Fine, the script for this show will have to be rewritten.

The three members of the “Victory Team” stumbled out in a panic, ready to celebrate their narrow escape from the haunted house, only to find the “Survival Team” already waiting calmly outside.

On one side was the Victory Team, who had been brimming with confidence and chanting victory slogans before setting off. On the other was the Survival Team, who had started out dragging two visibly weaker members along, just hoping to make it out alive.

“You guys… haven’t gone in yet?”

“We’ve already come out.”

The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward.

The director pressed the stopwatch and picked up his megaphone: “I declare the Survival Team as the winners!”

“Yay!” The Survival Team raised their hands in celebration.

“Congratulations,” the Victory Team members clapped along.

The clapperboard snapped, marking the end of the haunted house filming. The crew began packing up. Chu Xi hesitated for a moment before quietly approaching the scriptwriter: “Scriptwriter.”

The scriptwriter jumped: “Wh-what’s wrong?”

Chu Xi puffed her cheeks: “Are the haunted house staff… okay today?”

She looked miserable: “I was just too scared. Their costumes were so realistic, and when I got scared, I… I just couldn’t control myself~”

The scriptwriter laughed at this: “Don’t worry, they’re very experienced. They’ve seen all types of guests—you couldn’t hurt them. Oh, and about that spiked club? They’ve decided to give it to you as a souvenir.”

“Huh? Oh.” Chu Xi blinked, surprised to receive a memento.

Meanwhile, the other guests gathered together, still shaken by their haunted house experience—especially the three from the Victory Team, who had much to say after their narrow escape.

“We lost fair and square. Your Survival Team was amazing.”

“Did your team encounter that female ghost with the spiked club inside? She was brutal, absolutely terrifying.”

“Yes! She was the worst—screaming while chasing us. My legs turned to jelly.”

“And those two groups of ghosts were fighting each other! That spiked club ghost took on multiple opponents single-handedly. Her combat skills were off the charts.”

“Ugh, it really scared me to death.”

Zhao Yu saw Chu Xi approaching and, recalling her roof-shaking scream when she encountered the bloody hand in the hallway earlier, figured she must have been terrified. He grinned and asked, “Chu Xi, right? Did your group see that spiked-club female ghost? Scared?”

Chu Xi had just walked over when the mention of the “spiked-club female ghost” made her react as if someone had yanked her pigtails. She covered her ears in a futile attempt to block it out. “I didn’t see anything! I don’t know! I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

The three members of the Victory Team didn’t expect such a strong reaction from Chu Xi and exchanged puzzled glances.

Just as they were wondering what was going on, a crew member packing up nearby shouted at Chu Xi while holding up a spiked club, “Chu Xi, do you still want your spiked club or not?”

Victory Team: ???

Chu Xi: (T＿T)

——

By the time the show finished recording, it was already late. Assistant Xiao Yan was driving, while Chu Xi, exhausted from a day of nervous tension and physical exertion from the activities, slumped in the backseat, clutching her souvenir spiked club.

The evening sky was picturesque with its sunset hues. As the car merged into the bustling evening traffic on the elevated highway, Chu Xi cracked the window slightly, letting the cool breeze brush against her face, easing her tension.

She had planned to head straight home but suddenly received a call in the car.

Caller ID: Assistant Gao.

Chu Xi puffed out her right cheek at the sight of the name.

Assistant Gao—it was definitely about Gu Mingjing again.

She didn’t feel like answering, but the phone kept ringing persistently, as if it had no intention of hanging up just because she ignored it.

From the driver’s seat, Xiao Yan, hearing the incessant ringing, couldn’t help but ask, “Xi Xi, why aren’t you answering?”

Chu Xi let out a vague “Hmm,” then, still holding the spiked club with one hand, reluctantly picked up the call with the other. “Hello?”

Assistant Gao: “Miss Chu Xi.”

The moment she heard his voice, Chu Xi couldn’t help but think of “Old Gao the Taobao Lover.” She steadied herself and asked, “What is it, Assistant Gao?”

Assistant Gao: “Well, Miss Chu Xi, there’s something I’d like to ask for your help with.”

Chu Xi: “Oh? What is it?”

Assistant Gao: “It’s about President Gu. He’s been in a terrible mood since yesterday—drinking and shutting himself away. I’ve rarely seen him like this. He won’t answer any of our calls, so I was hoping you could come and check on him.”

Chu Xi: “What?”

Her first instinct was that this was another one of Gu Mingjing’s schemes. She declined, “That doesn’t seem appropriate. I won’t go.”

Assistant Gao, sensing her disbelief, hurriedly explained, “It’s true, Miss Chu Xi. Please believe me. President Gu didn’t ask me to call you—he hasn’t seen anyone these past two days. This is entirely my own idea. I’m reaching out to you on my own, hoping you could help.”

Chu Xi couldn’t fathom why a man as financially free as Gu Mingjing would ever be depressed—unless Yuanjing had gone bankrupt. Suspicious, she asked, “Did Yuanjing go under? Is your President Gu broke now?” But that couldn’t be—a company as big as Yuanjing collapsing would be explosive news. Unless it was on the brink of bankruptcy?

Assistant Gao: “………………”

“It has nothing to do with Yuanjing, Miss Chu Xi. Yuanjing is doing very well. This is President Gu’s personal matter.”

Chu Xi let out an “Oh,” then remembered that at most, her current relationship with Gu Mingjing was what he had described—an idol and fan dynamic. They weren’t even friends. Since this was a private matter, she had even less right to pry. Hesitating, she replied, “Um, sorry, Assistant Gao. Maybe you should ask someone else? One of President Gu’s other friends or something. I really don’t think it’s appropriate for me to go.”

Assistant Gao pleaded, “If I could ask someone else, I wouldn’t be turning to you, Miss Chu Xi. This isn’t about business—it’s personal. We’ve known each other for over two years now. Consider it a personal favor to me, Gao Ming, okay?”

“And a favor to President Gu too. He’s really not doing well. He hasn’t said it, but I think the person he most wants to see right now is you.”

Assistant Gao had always treated Chu Xi with respect over the past two years, and their relationship was decent. His earnest tone made it hard for her to refuse.

But the mention of Gu Mingjing stirred something odd in her heart.

She wasn’t as afraid of him as she had been back when she was his little mistress, nor did she resent him as much as when he had tracked her down and presented her with a contract to sign. But as for any other feelings—she couldn’t quite put them into words.

Assistant Gao made Gu Mingjing sound like he was on the verge of death from a sudden depressive episode. It was unsettling.

Chu Xi recalled how Gu Mingjing had helped her retrieve the hotel surveillance footage to expose Xia Qiao. She did owe him a favor.

Glancing at the spiked club in her arms, she figured having it on hand would deter Gu Mingjing from trying anything untoward. After a long silence, she finally relented, “Fine, I’ll go take a look?”

“Wonderful! Thank you, Miss Chu Xi,” Assistant Gao said, relieved.

Chu Xi had Xiao Yan change their route to Gu Mingjing’s home.

Back when they were together, they had lived in an apartment in Nanjing District. Gu Mingjing himself usually stayed in a secluded villa nestled in the bustling city center. Chu Xi knew the address—he had taken her there twice before.

Standing at Gu Mingjing’s doorstep with her spiked club, Chu Xi took a few seconds to brace herself before pressing the doorbell.

She told herself she was only here out of kindness. As soon as she confirmed Gu Mingjing wasn’t dead, she’d leave.

The door didn’t open.

Pursing her lips, Chu Xi called Gu Mingjing. The line connected, but no one answered.

“Hey, are you home? I’m at your door,” she said.

“Could you open it if you’re there?”

She hung up, and sure enough, within half a minute, the door swung open from the inside.

Before she even saw him, the smell of alcohol hit her.

Frowning, she found Gu Mingjing standing inside, dressed in gray loungewear, his eyes bloodshot and his expression noticeably haggard.

However, Gu Mingjing in this state had a different kind of despondent, melancholic beauty, as if he could just change clothes and directly star in Hamlet.

Damn it, Chu Xi cursed under her breath—he was clearly alive and well.

Gu Mingjing remained standing at the door, seemingly with no intention of inviting her in. But that was fine by her. Chu Xi looked at him and said, “Someone asked me to check on you. Since you’re fine, I’ll be going now. Bye.”

Xiao Yan was still waiting for her in the car.

Just as she turned to leave, someone grabbed her wrist from behind.

Gu Mingjing’s voice was hoarse: “Wait.”

Then, a spiked club appeared before his eyes.

And behind it, Chu Xi held the weapon pointed at him: “Speak if you have something to say. No touching.”

——

The interior of Gu Mingjing’s villa was well-decorated—understated, luxurious, and tasteful. Yet it clearly looked like a man’s residence, cold and devoid of warmth.

Chu Xi sent Xiao Yan a WeChat message, telling her not to wait and to go home first. It wasn’t safe for a girl to be out too late.

After sending the message, Chu Xi shook her head at the empty liquor bottles on the bar counter.

Gu Mingjing opened the fridge and dug out a box of juice from the corner—leftover from Chu Xi’s last visit. Fortunately, it hadn’t expired yet.

Chu Xi kept her spiked club close at hand, as if ready to grab it at any moment. She took the juice Gu Mingjing handed her and muttered a thanks.

Sitting on the sofa, she sipped the juice and asked, “Why did you drink so much?”

She hated cigarettes, and alcohol wasn’t much better.

Gu Mingjing lowered his gaze slightly. “No reason.”

Chu Xi: “Oh.”

She finished the small juice box quickly, the straw making loud, empty noises. Gu Mingjing said nothing to her, and Chu Xi felt awkward just sitting there.

She had never seen Gu Mingjing like this before. Normally, he exuded an aura of wealthy, aloof dominance just by standing there. But the world was full of sorrows—who didn’t have their low moments?

Chu Xi thought Gu Mingjing was already incredibly fortunate. At the slightest sign of trouble, Assistant Gao scrambled to find solutions, coaxing and pleading until she was dragged here to keep him company. But back when she was at her lowest—her grandmother in the hospital, dropping out of school—she had endured those long, lonely nights all by herself.

“Stop drinking,” Chu Xi advised gently. “Have you eaten? Should I order you some takeout?”

Gu Mingjing: “No need.”

Chu Xi was exasperated by his stubbornness. Assistant Gao’s decision to coax her here was clearly a mistake. All that nonsense about only you can do this, the CEO wants to see you—complete lies.

She stood up from the sofa. “Well, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

Just as she turned to leave, Gu Mingjing, still seated, suddenly spoke: “Today’s my birthday.”

“Huh?” Chu Xi froze. His birthday?

She had never celebrated his birthday before and didn’t even know when it was. But based on what she knew of him, shouldn’t someone like Gu Mingjing be throwing a lavish party surrounded by friends? Why was he drowning his sorrows alone at home?

For a moment, Chu Xi was at a loss. Regardless, it was his birthday. Assistant Gao hadn’t told her, so she’d come empty-handed. Shouldn’t she at least give him a gift or something?

But now it was too late to go buy a gift. Chu Xi racked her brains until her eyes suddenly lit up at the sight of the haunted house souvenir spiked club she was still holding.

Chu Xi tentatively offered the club.

“How about… this?”