Chapter 113: Let It Pass!

"Exactly, exactly! To the reporter from Film and Television Weekly, rest assured, we all heard it. If King Xiao tries to back out, any of us can testify for you." The host, a well-known figure in the industry, quickly caught on and playfully joined in, allowing the incident to pass off more casually.

Hearing this, everyone chuckled, their smiles kind and understanding. Since the person involved didn’t mind, there was no reason for anyone else to play the villain.

After all, this wasn’t some earth-shattering scoop. Compared to the film festival itself, it was merely a minor incident, not worth risking everything over. Most ordinary people wouldn’t be foolish enough to make a fuss over such a thing.

Moreover, the media present mostly adhered to positive reporting, not relying on gossip or sensationalism to grab attention. Showing some respect to the organizers was the simplest way to maintain goodwill.

“Ahem…” Wu Bin, having caught up, quickly stood and scratched his head sheepishly. “I was just trying to remind King Xiao, but I got bumped into instead, hehe…”

Everyone there was sharp enough to see through the setup. Though Chu Luoxi had initiated it, they all cleverly diffused the tension, so it wasn’t a big deal after all. In fact, the unexpected moment added some amusement to the live broadcast.

The broadcast team had intended to switch to another scene, but before they could, the matter was resolved, giving the viewers at home a full, entertaining spectacle.

“No need for reminders. Just contact my agent directly,” Xiao Jingxuan said with a slight curl at the corner of his mouth. Given the crowd, he naturally wouldn’t lie. Even if it hadn’t happened before, now it had…

Wu Bin was pleasantly surprised. Was this a case of misfortune turning into fortune?

Watching Wu Bin being politely escorted out by security, many other reporters felt a twinge of envy. This whole commotion had earned him an exclusive interview with Xiao Jingxuan? Had they known, they would have taken the risk too!

As media professionals, everyone knew Xiao Jingxuan never granted exclusive interviews. Film and Television Weekly had truly hit the jackpot this time…

The unexpected incident was soon forgotten; some didn’t even realize it had happened. The host finally moved both parties along to the next segment.

Chu Luoxi picked up a pen and signed her name on the backdrop with practiced ease, drawing several subtle glances from Xiao Jingxuan.

While other reporters focused on Xiao Jingxuan, Wu Bin kept his eyes on Chu Luoxi. He knew that if she hadn’t stepped in earlier, who knew how the situation might have ended?

Though an experienced journalist, Wu Bin couldn’t control such an unpredictable event. He had also clearly heard Chu Luoxi address Xiao Jingxuan as “Senior Brother,” which stirred a quiet emotion within him.

Such terms were not uncommon, but their meaning depended on context. For Xiao Jingxuan to agree to an exclusive interview because of Chu Luoxi’s single word carried a significance beyond the ordinary. Of course, Wu Bin kept this thought to himself. Having witnessed many ruthless climbs in the industry, he deeply understood how rare genuine kindness was. He was human, not a beast—repaying kindness with betrayal was simply not in his nature.

Chu Luoxi had no idea. She had acted solely to help the revered Xiao Jingxuan but ended up catching Wu Bin’s attention and, in the course of her entertainment career, gained a steadfast, positively inclined senior ally.

“King Xiao, won’t you introduce the beauty beside you?” The male host asked. Given the outdoor temperature, the female co-host was probably offstage to avoid collapsing after standing for hours, so he was alone.

The host knew Chu Luoxi’s identity and background, but this question reflected the curiosity of many media personnel. It was the most frequently asked question earlier, but due to the interaction, he handed the introduction over to Xiao Jingxuan.

Facing the eager, burning gazes of the press, Xiao Jingxuan smiled gently. “‘Yuan Que’—everyone’s heard of it, right?”

The crowd nodded enthusiastically, like a chorus. The host chuckled, saying, “King Xiao, you don’t play around. Promoting your album now?”

Xiao Jingxuan was unbothered. “Chu Luoxi is a junior sister at Imperial Pictures and the lead actress in the ‘Yuan Que’ music video.”

He didn’t mention her supporting actress nomination for “Cloud Snow,” aligning with Lan Lun’s opinion. Though Chu Luoxi’s acting was excellent, her co-nominees had stronger roles and were more experienced, making her less likely to win. It was better not to bring it up.

“Oh, so that’s her…” everyone suddenly connected the dots.

Chu Luoxi’s attire today was somewhat classical but quite different from the pure ancient costume in the “Yuan Que” video. It was hard for anyone unfamiliar to recognize her at a glance—such was the versatility of her striking features.

This showed just how sharp the fans who recognized her truly were, intimately familiar with their idol.

Though many reporters’ eyes lit up, sensing plenty of newsworthy angles, the host refrained from delving deeper into gossip. Under their eager gazes, he asked only a few trivial questions before releasing them, sparking some resentment and frustration.

Finally entering the Imperial Studio, the crowd was already bustling. The sudden rise in temperature made Chu Luoxi shiver involuntarily.

A large thermos lid steaming with warmth was handed to her. She sniffed the scent of ginger tea and drank heartily before looking up, smiling. “Ding Ju? You’re here too.”

Ding Ju grinned, raising her thermos. “Want some?”

“That’s enough!” Chu Luoxi nodded, feeling much warmer. The temperature difference indoors was really significant.

“How did you know he was from Film and Television Weekly? Do you two know each other?” Xiao Jingxuan took a sip to warm himself, genuinely curious.

Reporters from newspapers and weeklies differed from those at TV stations; their microphones lacked obvious logos, making it hard to identify them. Yet Chu Luoxi had spotted it when Wu Bin was still crouching on the ground, which was surprising. No one had noticed him until he suddenly appeared, almost causing a collision.

Chu Luoxi looked a bit embarrassed. Was Xiao Jingxuan’s observation really that sharp? She couldn’t very well admit she’d known Wu Bin from a past life! At that time, Wu Bin hadn’t yet reached the heights he would in the future.

“I just happened to glance at his press badge. Didn’t you see it too, Senior Brother Xiao?” Chu Luoxi gave a vague excuse that sounded plausible.