Everyone in the Entertainment Industry Thinks I’m a Flirty Diva [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 69

Chu Xi froze.

Her gaze darted to her phone on the sofa, and her expression turned regretful.

She suddenly felt like she’d been caught cheating red-handed and hurried to explain: “Listen, I don’t actually want to watch that beefcake show or anything!”

“But she secretly sent me photos—I had to at least pretend to be interested!”

“Don’t look at me like that! Do I seem like that kind of person?!”

Chu Xi grabbed her phone and saw the video Xiao Yan had sent of the beefcake performance. Panicking, she tried to delete it but accidentally hit play instead.

Warm lighting, bronzed skin, chiseled muscles, a sculpted physique—accompanied by the screams of women in the venue.

Xiao Yan’s voice was exceptionally clear: “Ahhhh so handsome!!! Holy shit so handsome ahhhh!!!”

Gu Mingjing: “………………”

Chu Xi looked like she was about to cry with a pained expression.

She finally fumbled to turn off the video, by which time Gu Mingjing’s face had darkened to an extreme degree.

“Enjoying the view?” He sat on the sofa and asked lightly.

Chu Xi felt that if she dared say “yes,” she might not survive the night. She swallowed hard and cautiously studied the man’s handsome face.

Today he wore an overcoat with trousers, sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed. A glimpse of his ankle peeked out from the trouser leg—lean and slender, looking damnably attractive.

Chu Xi thought back to the scenes in the video Xiao Yan had sent, then looked at Gu Mingjing before her. This time her attention wasn’t on his face or ankles, but his hands—the slender wrists, the long fingers.

This man’s very existence was a blessing for hand fetishists.

Chu Xi swallowed again, suddenly gaining a profound understanding of what people meant by the subtle beauty of Eastern aesthetics.

“Half-hidden behind a pipa,” this kind of restrained allure often stirred the heart more deeply than outright exposure.

She tentatively moved closer. Seeing Gu Mingjing didn’t reject her approach, they ended up facing each other.

Chu Xi reached out to loop her arms around his neck and answered his earlier question: “They are, of course, good-looking.”

Gu Mingjing’s brows furrowed.

Chu Xi hurriedly added: “But no matter how good-looking they are, none can compare to you.” She felt like she was coaxing a jealous child.

Simple words, even carrying a trace of her little cunning, yet they were undeniably pleasing to hear. Gu Mingjing’s furrowed brows gradually relaxed as he gazed at Chu Xi’s smiling face before him, his eyes darkening bit by bit.

He reached out to cradle the back of her head, and Chu Xi cooperatively leaned in for a kiss.

She wasn’t afraid anymore. Fu Bai and the others would return late tonight, and with no schedule tomorrow, they’d surely sleep in. So probably, no one would come to disturb her room.

A sleepless night.

Perhaps it was some local holiday, as fireworks unexpectedly lit up the sky outside—one after another, sparks streaking through the darkness before seeming to vanish momentarily at their peak, then exploding spectacularly under the anticipation of suspended hearts, colorful flames igniting the black night, beautiful reflections dancing on the hotel window glass.

Meanwhile, in the penthouse suite, Assistant Gao yawned.

He’d said it before—with Miss Chu Xi here, booking another room for President Gu was completely unnecessary.

——

The next day, birds chirping in the street trees were the first to herald the morning.

Paris Fashion Week was nearing its end, and attending female celebrities were preparing for their final itineraries.

Chu Xi had no work today. Her team had returned too late after enjoying last night’s performances and were all sleeping in their respective rooms.

Chu Xi also slept curled up in Gu Mingjing’s arms like a kitten.

Gu Mingjing woke first, a faint smile playing on his lips. He idly played with the soft ends of Chu Xi’s hair before texting the hotel to order breakfast.

While Chu Xi had no activities today, Xia Qiao in the same hotel was already bustling with preparations.

In Suite 4007, the manager was frantically inspecting Xia Qiao’s face.

The lightweight yet decently concealing foundation might show a slight makeup texture when viewed up close, but under the camera’s makeup-absorbing lens, it would look like naturally flawless skin. Her eyebrows, having undergone semi-permanent treatment, required no filling. Paired with delicate brown tightlining, natural-toned contouring, and a cherry-colored lipstick dabbed on with fingertips, the makeup was absolutely perfect.

Sometimes, light makeup is even harder to achieve than heavy makeup. It was no wonder they had woken up at six in the morning to prepare—this face perfectly embodied the concept of a “no-makeup makeup look.”

Not only was her face meticulously done, but her hair had also been freshly washed and blow-dried. Using an ionic hairdryer against the natural direction of her strands, she had created that effortlessly tousled, just-woke-up volume.

Xia Qiao checked herself in the mirror again. “Are you sure? It really doesn’t show?”

Her manager nodded, giving her a firm look. “Relax, no one will be able to tell you’re wearing makeup.”

Xia Qiao: “Good.”

The manager glanced at the time. “They’ll be here soon. I’ll head out first. Do your best—impress them.”

Xia Qiao: “Alright, go ahead.”

Once the manager left, Xia Qiao took one last look in the mirror and finally flashed a satisfied smile.

This Paris trip included a major task: a live broadcast requested by the collaborating magazine, showcasing the morning routine of a female celebrity—her skincare, makeup, and styling process. Soon, the magazine’s editor and stylist would arrive. However, Xia Qiao absolutely refused to let her fans see her with a greasy face and bird’s-nest hair right after waking up. So, she had gotten up early to apply this no-makeup makeup look, allowing her to effortlessly maintain the image of a “natural beauty goddess.”

Xia Qiao stretched lazily. Perfect.

Meanwhile, the magazine editor had already arrived at the hotel entrance with the stylist. Due to budget constraints, they weren’t staying at the same hotel as Xia Qiao and had to find their way over using the address.

[Hey Qiao, are you awake? We’re on our way!] The editor sent Xia Qiao a WeChat message.

Xia Qiao quickly replied: [Just woke up. Come on over.]

Editor: [Got it.]

Relieved by the artist’s response, the editor checked the time and started the livestream.

The broadcast had been announced in advance on the magazine’s official account, and many fans had been eagerly waiting. The moment it went live, they flooded in.

Watching the viewer count skyrocket in the top-left corner, the editor realized the livestream was far more popular than expected. Since when had Xia Qiao become this in-demand?

The editor greeted the audience: “Hello, everyone! We’re at the hotel entrance now, waiting for the elevator.”

Then she glanced at the bullet comments and realized these fans didn’t seem to be paying much attention to her?

[Looking forward to Qiaoqiao~]

[Qiaoqiao is so sweet to her fans, doing another livestream for us]

[Only someone naturally gorgeous would dare to livestream their morning makeup routine. Our Qiaoqiao is a true beauty]

[Chu Xi fans, watch closely this time! If you dare say our Xia Qiao looks terrible without makeup again, we won’t let you off easy!]

Someone replied below:

[Ohhh, so scary~]

[Watch we shall, that’s why we’re here]

[Hahaha, who was it that got beaten so badly last time they cried for their mommy and ran away? Hahahaha “won’t let us off” my ass]

[When it comes to beauty comparisons, has our Brick Squad ever lost?]

……

The magazine editor was utterly confused by these comments.

What’s going on?

This livestream should’ve been for Xia Qiao’s fans only, so why did it feel like some strange creatures had infiltrated the chat today?

And why was the livestream so lively with so many viewers?

Luckily, she had a backup phone. The editor quickly pulled it out to investigate.

Finally, she understood.

After losing the last photoshoot comparison and getting thoroughly beaten by Chu Xi’s fans, Xia Qiao’s fans had stewed in anger until they couldn’t take it anymore. They started provoking Chu Xi’s fans again, saying, “Your Chu Xi was just a supporting actress in Qiaoqiao’s drama. Winning with a single meme doesn’t prove anything. Our Qiaoqiao is prettier than your Chu Xi.”

Chu Xi’s fans initially ignored the weaklings, but Xia Qiao’s fans kept at it, comparing overly sharpened photos of Chu Xi to Xia Qiao’s meticulously edited glamour shots, trashing Chu Xi while praising Xia Qiao. That’s when Chu Xi’s fans couldn’t stay silent—you want a comparison? Fine, let’s compare.

This time, it was a battle of edited photos, from light makeup to heavy makeup, modern looks to period costumes, even down to selfies posted on Weibo. No matter how much Xia Qiao’s fans refused to admit it, Chu Xi won every round.

The Brick Squad emerged victorious once again with grace and dignity, ready to dust off their hands and call it a day—until Xia Qiao’s fans shamelessly clung on, insisting on comparing bare-faced photos, claiming true beauty lies in no makeup.

Of course, the Brick Squad wasn’t intimidated. Bring it on. Did Chu Xi lack bare-faced photos? Naturally gorgeous with flawless skin, her no-makeup look was so youthful she could pass for a teenager. Were they scared of Xia Qiao?

Then they saw the “bare-faced” photo Xia Qiao’s fans provided.

“………………”

You call that a bare-faced photo? With lipstick, eyeliner, and even false eyelashes? That’s what you consider no makeup?

Get lost. We don’t have time for this nonsense.

Even Xia Qiao’s fans seemed aware their “bare-faced” photo wasn’t convincing. Xia Qiao had rarely appeared without makeup since her debut. Just as they were floundering, they spotted the magazine’s Weibo post—Xia Qiao’s Paris trip would conclude with a livestream of her morning beauty routine.

Xia Qiao’s fans were thrilled. “Say our Xia Qiao can’t handle the spotlight? She’s about to go bare-faced on livestream! Come compare if you dare! Watch and see how gorgeous our Qiaoqiao is!”

Chu Xi’s fans naturally responded, “Who’s scared of who? If Xia Qiao dares to livestream, we dare to watch. Bring it on.”

Thus, the two fanbases made a pact to tune in that morning for Xia Qiao’s makeup livestream and compare her bare face to Chu Xi’s.

After reading all this, the magazine editor: “………………”

No wonder so many people flooded into the live stream—those strange creatures turned out to be Chu Xi’s fans.

Who knew a simple beauty contest could stir up such a fuss? The rivalry between opposing fanbases is getting more baffling by the day.

But whatever, more viewers meant more exposure. The magazine editor adjusted her expression and continued speaking into the camera: “Now we’re in the elevator! Aren’t you all excited to see Xia Qiao?”

Xia Qiao’s fans:

[Ahhhhhh Qiaoqiao we love you forever!!!]

[Cheering like crazy for Qiaoqiao—her beauty must shine today ahhhhh!]

[I can’t breathe, my heart’s racing just thinking about seeing Qiaoqiao soon!!!]

Chu Xi’s fans: →_→

Secretly gossiping in their group chat: “They’re so cringe.”

“Is this really necessary?”

“They seem kinda… not the brightest.”

…

The elevator doors opened, and everyone followed the editor’s camera into the hotel hallway.

The editor looked up, scanning the room numbers based on the info provided by Xia Qiao’s team, murmuring: “4007, 4007, where’s 4007?”

Then her eyes lit up. “Found it.”

The hotel had an old European-style decor, with even the room numbers crafted in an ornate, classical font with elegant, curling digits.

This must be the one. The editor eyed the doorplate.

She whispered to the live stream: “We’re at the door now—knocking any second!”

Xia Qiao’s fans spiraled into another frenzy.

Chu Xi’s fans remained expressionless.

The editor gently knocked on the door and, hearing movement inside, even added a polite “Bonjour” for good measure.

Both fanbases in the live chat immediately spammed:

[No makeup! No makeup! No makeup!]

After a brief wait, the lock clicked softly.

Fans held their breath at the sound.

Xia Qiao’s fans: Here she comes! Qiaoqiao’s bare face better deliver!!!

Chu Xi’s fans: Time to screenshot and obliterate them with Xi Bao’s flawless no-makeup pics. Heh~

Both fanbases, along with the magazine editor, waited in tense silence.

The lock turned fully, and the door creaked open—just a crack at first.

Then, it swung wide.

The editor beamed, lifting the camera with a cheerful “Qiaoqiao, you look—” but froze mid-sentence at the sight of the person standing in the doorway.

At the same time, in the live broadcast interface, the camera panned upward from below, capturing a man in a bathrobe who had just appeared at the doorway of the room—right in Xia Qiao’s live stream.

One second,

Two seconds,

Three seconds.

It was as if the entire world had fallen silent.

A man. A man in a bathrobe.

And then… the fans went wild first.

Xia Qiao’s fans:

[AHHHHH WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON AHHHHHH]

[WHY IS THERE A MAN IN XIA QIAO’S ROOM?! WHY IS THERE A MAN?!]

[This man, this man—isn’t this Chu Xi’s famous ultra-wealthy fanboy?!]

[It’s Gu Mingjing! Gu Mingjing AHHHHH!]

[OMG he’s so handsome, seriously so handsome]

[To the person above saying he’s handsome—snap out of it! Why would Chu Xi’s rich fan be in Qiaoqiao’s room?!]

Chu Xi’s fans were also so shocked their souls nearly left their bodies.

They had expected to see Xia Qiao when the door opened, but instead, the camera captured… one of their own?

Though they wanted to lose their minds like Xia Qiao’s fans, Chu Xi’s fans forced themselves to stay composed.

Calm. Stay calm. Don’t panic. We’re fans who’ve seen big scenes before.

Then, after staring at the man on the screen for a long while, Chu Xi’s fans finally steadied themselves, their eyes turning cold as they sneered.

Oh? So this is the guy who claimed to be our Xi Bao’s fan? The one who topped the fan rankings? The self-proclaimed die-hard Chu Xi stan? And now, here he is—in Xia Qiao’s room.

Hah. Liar. A complete fraud!

While Xia Qiao’s fans were still losing their minds, Chu Xi’s fans had already regained their composure.

[Why is he in your Qiaoqiao’s room? Because CEO Gu is hooking up with your Qiaoqiao, that’s why.]

[This has to be Xia Qiao’s doing, right? Forcing a man with another woman’s fan status to admit his identity.]

[CEO Gu, since you’re sleeping with another woman, please stop falsely claiming to be a Chu Xi fan, okay?]

[Do you think our Xi Bao is naive? What do you take her for? Sleeping with her rival while pretending to be her devoted fan? Do you think our fanbase is easy to mess with?]

[The Chu Xi Defense Squad hereby announces that Gu Mingjing, CEO of Yuanjing Group, is officially expelled from our fanbase.]

[No matter how rich he is, we don’t want him anymore!]

[We’re giving this man to you, Xia Qiao and Xia Qiao’s fans.]

[Yeah, take him!]

[And what’s that on his chest? Looks like marks? Wow, must’ve been quite the wild night. Heh.]

…

Some of Xia Qiao’s fans eagerly claimed Gu Mingjing, while others stubbornly refused to acknowledge him, making the live chat utterly chaotic.

Meanwhile, at the hotel scene, the magazine editor, seeing the man’s furrowed brows, felt their heart skip a beat and instinctively took a step back.

“Uh, well…”

Before the editor could finish, the sound of slippers shuffling across the floor was heard again.

Then, right before the editor’s eyes—and in the chaotic live stream—another person appeared.

She wore a sweet nightgown, her hair slightly messy, clearly just woken up, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

Unaware of the people outside, she walked over to Gu Mingjing, yawned delicately, and looked up at him with a soft, groggy voice.

“Didn’t you say breakfast was here?”

Only then did she seem to notice someone at the door. She turned slightly, directly facing the live camera in a daze.

Her skin was snow-white, her neckline graceful, and on her collarbone—two unmistakably vivid love bites.

It was Chu Xi.