Everyone in the Entertainment Industry Thinks I’m a Flirty Diva [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 82

Wanting to study was, of course, a good thing.

On this point, Gu Mingjing naturally supported Chu Xi’s decision.

But when it came to what kind of education, their understanding diverged.

Gu Mingjing assumed Chu Xi meant studying abroad—spending some time and money to gild her credentials. With many prestigious schools in the UK and US, he could donate a couple of buildings to ease her admission after some preparation.

Just as he hesitated over the prospect of being separated if she went abroad, Chu Xi clarified that she wanted to take the national college entrance exam (Gaokao) in China.

Though Gu Mingjing had attended university abroad and never taken the Gaokao, he knew it was an arduous and brutal exam. Millions of students across the country spend over a decade preparing for this single test.

Gu Mingjing looked at her: “You’ve made up your mind?”

Chu Xi nodded firmly. “Yes!”

Seeing the hesitation still lingering in Gu Mingjing’s eyes, she added, “This isn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. I’ve thought about it for a long time. I want to continue my studies, no matter what I choose to learn. I feel like that’s the only way my life will feel complete. My grandma and parents would definitely be happy if they knew. I don’t want to go through life with just a high school diploma forever. I used to have pretty good grades, and when I went on variety shows, I realized I still remember most of the knowledge. With a full-time tutor for a year, I should be able to get into university.”

She took Gu Mingjing’s hand and took a deep breath. “You’ll support me, right?”

Gu Mingjing smiled and reached out to pat the back of her head. “Does that mean no more acting?”

Chu Xi replied, “At least not until after the college entrance exams. Maybe I’ll act again when I have time later.”

Her entry into the entertainment industry had been an accident—discovered by a talent scout who told her she could earn two thousand yuan for a single commercial. Later, she muddled along with Gu Mingjing for two years. Chu Xi couldn’t say she loved or hated the job, but since she was in it, she wanted to do it well. That was why she later worked hard to improve her acting skills and prove herself. But life had more than one path, and now she wanted to make a choice. While she was still young, continuing her education was the most important thing. She had already prepared herself mentally—even if taking a year off for the exams or focusing on studies afterward meant fewer acting opportunities, even if she wasn’t as popular as she was now, she wouldn’t regret it.

She embraced her glamorous present but wasn’t afraid of an ordinary future.

Gu Mingjing looked into Chu Xi’s bright, stubborn eyes and felt like his little one was practically glowing.

“It might be really hard. Are you ready?”

Chu Xi: “Yes!”

Chu Xi went to the studio and somewhat awkwardly told Fu Bai about her decision to take a year off to prepare for the college entrance exams.

Surprisingly, Fu Bai didn’t seem shocked. “Central Academy of Drama or Beijing Film Academy?”

Chu Xi: “Uh, we’ll see.”

She hadn’t listed those two schools as her top choices. Most artists in the industry enrolled in acting programs but spent the year filming outside, barely showing up at school except maybe for finals.

Fu Bai nodded. “Alright then, good luck. The academic requirements for those schools aren’t that high anyway.”

Chu Xi didn’t understand why Fu Bai was so calm. She was at the peak of her popularity now—her role in Misty Abyss had even earned her a nomination for Best Actress at this year’s awards. Fu Bai had been rolling up his sleeves, ready to push her career further. With such a golden opportunity, her sudden decision to take a year off should have made him furious.

Fu Bai’s studio only had her as its star artist. If she stopped working, the studio would lose its pillar and probably return to its previous struggling state.

Chu Xi said guiltily, “Fu Bai, I’m really sorry. Go ahead and scold me.”

Fu Bai gave her a mysterious smile. “What’s there to be sorry about? Haven’t you noticed the studio’s almost empty today?”

Chu Xi looked around and realized many things were indeed gone, and there were hardly any people around. “What’s going on…?”

Fu Bai: “President Gu is renovating.”

Chu Xi looked horrified. “Did Gu Mingjing lose his mind and decide to turn this place into a farm?!”

“No.” Fu Bai suddenly wondered if Chu Xi had been permanently affected by the drugs from her kidnapping. “President Gu invested in the studio. We’re expanding and gearing up for bigger things.”

He handed Chu Xi a stack of photos: “These are all our newly recruited trainees. What do you think?”

Chu Xi looked at the photos and finally relaxed, nodding. “Oh.”

She would have to thank Gu Mingjing again later.

Chu Xi had an upcoming drama, Blood of the Mountains and Rivers, set to air within the year. Even if she wasn’t taking on new projects, she still had to attend the year-end awards ceremony where she was nominated for Best Actress. So, she hadn’t officially announced her hiatus. After the kidnapping incident, fans had been deeply concerned about her well-being, knowing she must have suffered severe psychological trauma and needed time to recover. Though they missed her, they didn’t want to disturb her. However, Chu Xi had been absent for so long that fans were growing restless—until she quietly logged in and posted a Weibo update.

Just one photo: a desk with an open copy of Five Years of College Entrance Exams, Three Years of Mock Tests.

Fans immediately understood, staring at the photo in disbelief.

Those who followed her knew she had dropped out of school years ago. Her previous variety show appearances also revealed her strong academic potential and genuine desire to study. Now, with this sudden post—was she really…?

Xi Bao is actually going to take the college entrance exam!

Though this meant she would be shutting herself away to prepare, leaving fans without updates for a long time, their idol was pursuing her dream and improving herself. No matter how much they missed her, how could they not support her?

[Xi Bao, go for it! Study hard and ace the exams!]

[Are you applying to acting school? Honestly, Xi Bao’s acting is already amazing. Laugh-cry.jpg]

[Xi Bao is always pushing herself to grow. Do what you truly want to do—Brick will always support you!]

[Ugh, seeing my idol work so hard… This high schooler is crawling back to study.]

[This college student is crawling back to cram for the CET-6.]

[This grad student is crawling back to read papers.]

[This PhD candidate is crawling back to… eh, might as well count how many hairs I have left.]

[HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA]

Chu Xi’s Weibo post trended, and almost everyone was shocked to learn she was preparing for the college entrance exam.

At the peak of her popularity, with stellar reviews, instead of capitalizing on it with more projects, she was going into seclusion to study?

If she was taking the exam, it would surely be for an acting school—many child stars in the industry did the same, balancing work and study, cramming in the last couple of months. Was it really necessary for her to shut herself away like this?

[Probably because her foundation is weak. She hasn’t been in school for years. The cutoff scores for acting schools are easy for regular students but tough for someone who’s been out of the system for so long—she needs serious prep.]

[Didn’t she flaunt a “genius student” persona on a variety show before? Starting to doubt that now…]

[I can believe being bullied and forced to drop out of school because you’re too pretty and envied by the mean girls, but adding the “pretty and top student yet forced to quit” persona is a bit much.]

[No need, really no need.]

[Anyway, wanting to study is always good. Keep it up!]

Chu Xi ignored the comments and quietly prepared for her exams, only reappearing at the year-end awards ceremony. Dressed in a stunning deep-sea blue gown, she won this year’s Best Actress award for her role as Han Yi in Misty Abyss, a well-deserved victory.

By February of the following year, Chu Xi showed up again at the entrance exams for the Performance Academy and the Drama Academy. Having already won Best Actress, the exams were practically a formality for her. The internet buzzed with speculation about whether she’d choose the Performance Academy or the Drama Academy. Some wondered why she’d shut herself away for so long just to prepare for these exams—surely her academic skills couldn’t be that bad.

In March, Blood of the Mountains and Rivers, starring Chu Xi, aired on national television, soaring in ratings with her flawless performance.

Netizens: Alright, maybe she’s not great at studying, but her professional skills are rock-solid.

Chu Xi kept a low profile until the national college entrance exams (Gaokao), not even being recognized by fellow test-takers in the same exam hall—truly under the radar.

At the end of June, Gaokao scores were released.

Every year, people are curious about celebrity exam results, and Chu Xi generously shared hers on Weibo:

Chinese: 120

Math: 127

English: 131

Science: 265

Total: 643

Chu Xi’s fans: HOLY SH—!!!

Onlookers: HOLY SH—!!!!

Chu Xi: “Wuwuwu…”

After checking her score, she clung to Gu Mingjing’s neck, eyes red. All those sleepless nights and relentless effort over the past year had finally paid off.

Gu Mingjing had also worked hard, acting like a study companion—sometimes even tutoring her after work.

While other child stars in the same exam cycle bragged about being “academic geniuses” despite barely passing, Chu Xi’s Gaokao score trended online.

Three digits. Starting with a 6.

No wonder she’d isolated herself for nearly a year.

Some had mocked her for taking a year off just to prepare for the Performance Academy, implying her grades must be terrible. Well, now they could see for themselves—how’s that for a slap in the face?

[With scores this good, going to the Performance Academy would be a waste!]

[Our Xi Bao is amazing! Mom loves you!]

[Pfft, what kind of “genius” only scores 600+ and can’t even get into the top two universities?]

This time, even bystanders couldn’t stay silent.

[If you’re gonna call her “not a genius,” then show us your own top-tier student results, troll.]

[She studied for a year and got this score. Most people couldn’t achieve this even after years of cramming.]

[Ignore the haters—probably just jealous fans.]

After the excitement over her scores died down, Chu Xi busied herself at home choosing a university and major.

She hadn’t been set on the Performance Academy to begin with—taking the arts exams was mainly a backup in case she couldn’t get into a university in City B. She’d promised Gu Mingjing she’d study there, and she meant it.

With her results, she could easily get into any top-tier university in City B—except the two absolute best.

When the admission notice arrived, she got into her first-choice school—but not her first-choice major. Sitting in front of her computer, Chu Xi stared blankly at the words “Finance” on the screen, feeling lost.

When she was filling out her college applications, she flipped through some guidebooks and posts about university choices and found that most of the content was similar. The general trend was clear: if a student’s family had average means, they should choose computer science; if the family had assets to inherit, finance was the way to go.

But her family had no assets to pass down.

However, once the admission results were out, there was no turning back—she had heard that transferring majors at this school was quite difficult. Gu Mingjing leaned over, one hand resting on the back of her chair and the other on the computer desk. “Not happy?”

Chu Xi pursed her lips. “This major is for people whose families have assets.”

Gu Mingjing raised an eyebrow. “How do you not have any?”

Chu Xi: “Huh?”

He pulled out a ring from behind her. Chu Xi sat in her computer chair as he knelt on one knee before her. “Marry me, and you will, won’t you?”

Chu Xi: Well, that made sense.

– The End –