Everyone in the Entertainment Industry Thinks I’m a Flirty Diva [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 79

The heartless CEO Gu Mingjing couldn’t do as he pleased with a kid, but he could do whatever he wanted with a little enchantress.

The next morning, Chu Xi struggled immensely to crawl out of bed but managed to do so, rushing back to the set in Haicheng to continue filming. As Gu Mingjing drove her to the airport, listening to her complaints about him making her late, he couldn’t help but feel like he was sending his wife off on a business trip, leaving him to a lonely home.

Chu Xi’s “Misty Abyss” began promotion. Many industry friends she had worked with before actively reposted and promoted it. Even Gu Mingjing, who rarely used Weibo, after his previous post confronting anti-fans (“It’s me. Got a problem?”), broke his half-month silence to promote Chu Xi’s new drama.

Chu Xi replied to Gu Mingjing from her official account—marking their first public interaction on Weibo.

Chu Xi: [Thanks! Heart emoji.jpg]

CP fans: [No need to thank us! Just get married! Right now, immediately, this instant! The civil affairs office has already been moved here—figure it out yourselves!]

Compared to the widespread skepticism before the premiere of The Peach Blossom Promise, the reception before Misty Abyss aired was noticeably more positive.

Especially since Chu Xi’s fans spared no effort in promoting it, much bolder than their cautious approach before The Peach Blossom Promise aired.

Why the confidence? Because our Xi Bao has acting skills worthy of 40 points! Forty points—what does that mean? In an era where green-screen acting and rushed productions are rampant, the vast majority of actresses today are at this level! Our Xi Bao has already reached the industry average!

Still, many marketing accounts and media outlets poured cold water on the hype. Some fans really set the bar low for their idols—how can they brag about a mere 40 points? That level of acting might barely pass in a period idol drama, but Misty Abyss is a Deep Sea Film production. Say what you will, but every other lead and supporting actor in it is a seasoned veteran. Even the relatively weaker performer in the main cast, Gou Meiru, has at least a decade of acting experience. In that kind of environment, can Chu Xi’s 40-point acting skills really hold up?

Misty Abyss premiered under the watchful eyes of onlookers. The very first scene of Episode 1 showed Chu Xi’s character, Han Yi, chasing down a thief on the street.

Her appearance was refreshingly simple, clearly portraying someone new to society. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, her face nearly devoid of makeup, and her eyes brimmed with unyielding determination. The swift, agile moves she used to subdue the thief were unmistakably her own—the camera openly captured her face, clearly not a stunt double.

This role was almost unrecognizable compared to the pitiful yet detestable enchantress she played in the recently concluded The Peach Blossom Promise. If not for deliberate reminders, one could hardly tell it was the same actress.

Her debut was crisp, clean, and striking, leaving everyone pleasantly surprised.

On her first day at work, the female lead Han Yi brought a thief straight to the station. Just as the audience breathed a sigh of relief at the thief’s capture, a brutal murder case surfaced in the city outskirts. The killer’s methods were vicious, and their counter-surveillance skills were sharp. As the main cast investigated, the case only grew more convoluted, with another mystery emerging—this was clearly no ordinary homicide.

True to Deep Sea Film’s standards, Misty Abyss boasted an exceptionally tight script, with cases intricately interwoven. Beneath seemingly straightforward crimes lay complex webs of power and influence. Compared to the bloated, filler-heavy plots dominating current TV dramas, Mists of the Abyss was a breath of fresh air—fast-paced with zero dull moments, keeping viewers glued to the screen, afraid to blink lest they miss a crucial detail.

Each episode ended on a cliffhanger, compelling viewers to immediately click on the next. Once caught up, the agonizing wait for the next day’s update left them itching for more.

“Misty Abyss” premiered with the highest ratings in its time slot and continued to climb, dominating both national and urban viewership charts. Its online streaming numbers were equally impressive, with each episode racking up hundreds of millions of views. On Douban, it scored nearly nine out of ten, making it this year’s biggest hit—a resounding success in both ratings and acclaim.

The drama aired from Thursday to Monday, with two episodes daily, totaling eight per week. After the first eight episodes, viewers who had been on the edge of their seats finally got a chance to catch their breath.

And then—pure exhilaration.

It was amazing! Absolutely incredible! Unbelievably good!

The plot was intense yet tightly written, with no filler. The costumes, sets, and props felt authentic and immersive. Most importantly, the actors delivered powerful performances with natural on-set audio, their line delivery sharp and their acting nuanced—truly, an ensemble of seasoned performers…

Wait.

That realization made everyone pause.

If this was an ensemble of seasoned actors, what about Chu Xi, who had faced so much skepticism before the premiere?

Then it hit them.

Chu Xi… blended seamlessly among these veteran actors.

This wasn’t the kind of performance that could be faked with the 40-point acting seen in “Oath of Peach Blossoms.”

50? 60? 70? 80?

Turns out, the media who visited the set and praised Chu Xi weren’t exaggerating after all.

As for the exact score, they’d have to wait for more episodes.

Chu Xi’s fans were already on the verge of fainting from excitement.

They thought 40 points was already a miracle, but she kept surpassing expectations—our girl was really out here proving herself, ahhhh!

No matter what score others gave her, no matter the doubts and speculation, to us Bricks, she was always 100 points!

After an agonizing wait, Thursday finally arrived, and the next eight episodes began airing.

This week featured a crucial confrontation between Chu Xi and Gou Meiru, and many were watching closely.

Chu Xi had performed well the previous week, but some suspected it was only because she was being carried by the stronger actors. Now, facing Gou Meiru—whose acting in the first eight episodes had been noticeably weaker, with exaggerated expressions and heavy makeup—what would happen when the two shared the screen?

A collision between Gou Meiru and Chu Xi? It was bound to be a disaster.

Until the episode aired.

On one side was Gou Meiru, screaming hysterically with no tears in sight, like a reincarnated “Roaring Emperor.” On the other was Chu Xi, whose layered, immersive performance had viewers on the verge of tears—only for the camera to cut back to Gou Meiru’s over-the-top wailing, instantly killing the mood.

Then it became clear why Gou Meiru, usually so competitive and eager to stir drama, had stayed unusually quiet since the premiere.

How could she possibly brag?

In a head-to-head scene, she’d been completely obliterated by Chu Xi—an actress over a decade her junior.

So it wasn’t that Chu Xi only looked good because of her co-stars.

She was just that good all along.

When Gou Meiru roared like that, even the audience was startled through the screen, yet Chu Xi never broke character from start to finish—truly impressive.

The whispers from reporters during the earlier set visit had now exploded into a trending hashtag: #ChuXiPossessed.

[Why has Chu Xi’s acting improved so dramatically?]

[Maybe she’s been possessed by a late, great actress?]

[Honestly, her performance this time was genuinely outstanding.]

[Exactly! Not just the emotional scenes, but the action sequences too. She appeared in every one, and several looked so dangerous, yet she did them all herself.]

[Kinda turning into a fan here.]

[Right? No matter the industry tactics, delivering solid work is what truly matters. Count me in as a new fan too.]

[Same, but I still have to ask—is Chu Xi really not possessed? LOL. I’ll never forget how her past performances made me cringe so hard I got goosebumps.]

Chu Xi stared at the “possessed” hashtag, feeling utterly exasperated despite lacking the anatomy for such a sensation.

It wasn’t exactly joy, nor was it displeasure, but at least her efforts were finally being recognized. Invitations from major studios flooded Fu Bai’s inbox like snowflakes.

Then, a rookie idol making their acting debut gave an interview—possibly to ride the hype—and revealed something unexpected. They mentioned attending acting classes at a film academy alongside Chu Xi. While most classmates, already established artists, frequently skipped for schedules, Chu Xi never missed a session. She excelled and even earned top honors in their class.

With this revelation, the “possession” mystery was solved. Turns out, she’d been quietly leveling up all along.

First, the daily dawn vocal drills, then dedicated coursework—her work ethic was flawless.

While others chased paychecks, she invested time in honing her craft. And it paid off.

The Misty Abyss team later released behind-the-scenes footage.

The polished fight scenes hid brutal realities: Chu Xi sparring with actors twice her size, getting slammed onto concrete, her body mottled with bruises. Crawling over jagged rubble shredded her knees and palms, embedding gravel into raw flesh. Yet she never flinched as medics cleaned the wounds, even joking it didn’t hurt.

Crew members teased her permanent scent of analgesic balms. Despite stunt doubles being available, she insisted on doing it all. The most heartbreaking clip showed her harnessed for a high fall, only to crash back-first onto a stone ledge. Lowered in agony, she curled into a silent ball, face buried in her assistant’s shoulder—refusing to cry out.

Some actors post about paper-cut injuries for sympathy. Chu Xi, battered head to toe, never once complained online. “This is our job,” she’d say. “We’re paid to endure it.”

Even casual viewers ached watching; fans wept openly.

[My heart aches for my dear Xi Bao, wuwuwu]

[She’s really pushing herself too hard, it hurts to watch. I just want to rush in and give Xi Bao a hug]

[Xi Bao may look delicate, but she’s actually incredibly strong]

[I’m crying. Thank you, Xi Bao, for bringing us such an amazing work. Thank you for portraying Han Yi so beautifully][Xi Bao, promise me next time you can push yourself, but please take care of yourself, okay?]

[Mr. Gu must be heartbroken…]

[Don’t mention that Gu guy! We’re solo fans, not shippers. Solo fans need to maintain their dignity!]

Misty Abyss finally concluded after nearly two months of airing.

The ratings have all but secured this year’s top spot, with major networks repeatedly rebroadcasting it. Chu Xi soared to the forefront of rising actresses thanks to this drama.

Throughout the series, the evolution of her character Han Yi was strikingly clear—from a brash, fearless rookie to a cautious and meticulous professional. Yet, what remained unchanged was the determination in her eyes and her unwavering commitment to justice.

Even the subtle, unresolved romantic tension with the male lead by the finale became a topic of much discussion—all thanks to Chu Xi’s brilliant performance.

If critics were torn between scores of 50, 60, 70, or 80 after the first eight episodes, by the end of the series, entertainment bloggers and reviewers unanimously settled on one score:

90 out of 100!

The missing 10 points? Reserved for her youth and the immense potential for growth still ahead.

Chu Xi’s Weibo followers skyrocketed, with fan groups multiplying rapidly—all new fans drawn in by her acting and charm. Her once-timid fanbase now brimmed with pride, confidently promoting her to outsiders.

Exclusive Fan Translation

Get to know Chu Xi.

Goddess-tier visuals, 100% natural, zero plastic surgery. A fiercely loyal idol who adores her fans. Stellar acting, fearless dedication. Never lets her fans down. Best of all? Being her fan means no exhausting fan wars—her haters often self-destruct before her fans even lift a finger. Experience the bliss of stanning a top-tier, self-made rising star.

Our Xi Bao is stunningly beautiful, endlessly sweet to fans, and an incredible actress. Stanning her is pure joy!

Sure you don’t want to know more?

Fan-made promo cards spread like wildfire, pulling in waves of new fans. The fan communities buzzed daily with excitement—until one newbie timidly spoke up:

[Actually, I think our promo cards could use a little expansion…]

Others: [Expand what? Isn’t our Xi Bao perfect as is?]

Newbie: [Just… maybe mention our brother-in-law? He’s super handsome, and like, ultra-ultra-ultra rich. Everyone really should know about him!]

[President Gu’s new alt account, kick him out!]