Chapter 11: The Lively Welcome for the Newcomers

The Imperial Capital Film Academy boasts a grand venue dedicated to large-scale stage performances, known as the "Imperial Pavilion." It was donated to the alma mater by a wealthy businessman who had made his fortune. Needless to say, the facilities within are world-class. With seating for tens of thousands, the pavilion is often rented out for concerts and large stage productions.

For a freshman gala—a celebration for new students—it not only accommodates the entire student body but also leaves space for guests from outside. Admission is free; anyone interested can come watch, except for certain reserved seats, which are first-come, first-served.

No wonder Liu Yujia was so anxious, calling friends and inviting students from other schools to join the excitement. If you arrived late, you might not even get a seat, let alone one near the front.

Thus, in Liu Yujia’s urgency, Chu Luoxi barely had time for dinner; she was pulled away after only a couple of bites—what a waste!

The freshman gala is generally organized by the Student Council and juniors. Seniors are preoccupied with graduation, while sophomores have only just transitioned from being new students and are still settling in, so their role is merely that of spectators.

Of course, even if sophomores were required to participate, Chu Luoxi would have ignored it. In her past life, she avoided such events due to rumors of being "beaten," and even now, she had little interest.

To be honest, the Film Academy is never short of talented students; whether or not they’re in the acting department, staging a freshman gala is always a high-quality affair. Combined with the spacious venue and the return of many alumni celebrities, every event at the academy draws enormous crowds.

So, Chu Luoxi was dragged into the Imperial Pavilion by Liu Yujia, feeling a bit gloomy. Although it was still early, the place was already filling up.

"Is it always this exaggerated?" In her previous life, Chu Luoxi had arrived at the last minute and, as always, had her seat saved by her dorm mate Liu Yujia.

Their relationship back then was lukewarm, but they would still help each other out with small favors like this.

"See? That’s why I told you to come early! But you had to dawdle," Liu Yujia’s eyes sparkled as she scanned the vacant seats, her gaze sharp and searching, as though fitted with tracking spotlights.

Chu Luoxi hadn’t been dawdling—she simply wasn’t enthusiastic. After all, she’d experienced this before in her past life; she remembered most of the performances and who would appear, so it lacked novelty for her. If it hadn’t been for her friends’ excitement, she might not have come at all.

After choosing their seats, Chu Luoxi glanced around, feeling a sudden sense of déjà vu—she had sat in this very spot in her previous life. Many memories resurfaced when she encountered familiar scenes; details she thought forgotten came back to her.

After a brief moment of disorientation, Chu Luoxi, bored, played with her phone, letting Liu Yujia and Zhu Xueshuang chatter beside her. Liu Yujia did most of the talking, while Zhu Xueshuang simply listened or nodded in agreement.

As the clock ticked toward eight, the audience grew louder and more restless. When the host finally appeared and delivered the opening remarks, signaling the start of the show, Chu Luoxi looked back and saw the crowd, just as she remembered—heads packed together, standing-room only in the aisles and walkways.

She wondered where all these people had come from. Though there were no tickets, only acquaintances of the academy could get in; the scale of it was truly impressive.

It felt like watching a replay after many years. Chu Luoxi gradually appreciated the atmosphere, but lacked the fervor others possessed.

When the show reached its prime and Liu Yujia’s idol, Xiao Jingxuan, took the stage, Chu Luoxi felt as if she’d gone deaf. At this moment, it wasn’t just Liu Yujia going wild—the whole audience seemed to have lost their composure.

Peering past the excited Liu Yujia at Zhu Xueshuang, Chu Luoxi saw her eyes shining and cheeks flushed. She felt a sudden loss of interest, silently marveling at Xiao Jingxuan’s popularity. Either you weren’t a fan, or, if you cared at all, you were deeply invested—he had a legion of devoted supporters that inspired envy and admiration.

Chu Luoxi touched her chin, recalling—was she like this in her past life? That would have been far from calm.

The legendary Xiao Jingxuan, returning to his alma mater, wasn’t about to be dismissed after just a couple of songs; naturally, there would be some alumni interaction.

Watching Xiao Jingxuan stand tall beneath the spotlight, his sweat glittering like scattered stardust, radiant and dazzling, he embodied brilliance and elegance, almost divine, commanding worship. He seemed like a black hole, drawing all light and attention to himself, quietly standing there with unassuming strength, captivating every heart.

Indeed, Xiao Jingxuan’s personal aura was formidable. Chu Luoxi watched with interest as the host, despite trying to rein in his own presence, still appeared immature and dim in comparison.

Remarkable—no wonder he would become an international superstar. He was already so imposing. And that female host—Chu Luoxi remembered her well. Wasn’t she the one who, after graduation, went straight to the official channel and, after years of hard work, became its leading anchor?

The Film Academy offers broadcasting and hosting as a major and has produced notable presenters; in fact, the current news duo on the official channel are alumni.

The female host now bathing in envious gazes was a senior, rumored to have started her internship at the official channel over the summer. Yet even she couldn’t withstand Xiao Jingxuan’s overwhelming presence.

In her past life, Chu Luoxi’s reaction was much like the rest of the audience—her eyes glued to Xiao Jingxuan, unable to pay attention to anyone else. But now, she noticed something different: Xiao Jingxuan was deliberately restraining his aura, accommodating the host. Otherwise, the inexperienced girl would be overshadowed, ignored as a plain duckling, and rendered superfluous on stage.

But the host was evidently clever, maintaining an appropriate distance to mitigate her weakness and avoid getting too close, thereby earning more favor from the audience.

"Hmm?" Chu Luoxi leaned forward, elbows resting on her crossed legs, her palm supporting her cheek, eyes shining with an unusual light.

Previously, immersed in the event, her vision was clouded. Now, she saw the hidden dynamics on stage, finding it unexpectedly intriguing. One drama played out on the surface, but there might be many more behind the scenes.

As she savored this new perspective—something she had never noticed before—she suddenly heard the host, smiling with a hint of temptation, ask the lighting technician to select audience members for onstage interaction with Xiao Jingxuan. Chu Luoxi jolted, recalling that in her previous life, sitting in this very spot, she had been chosen as one of the three lucky participants, envied by all.