Chapter 114: He Actually...

“I see, I hadn’t really paid attention before,” Xiao Jingxuan said thoughtfully, though it was hard to tell whether he truly believed it or simply didn’t care.

After easing the mood a bit, Chu Luoxi and the others proceeded inside. The Imperial Hall was designed to be closed off, allowing it to maintain a comfortable temperature.

Though mentally prepared in advance, seeing Cold Lu and Lan Lun through outsiders’ eyes still unsettled Chu Luoxi, stirring a restless feeling in the wind.

Cold Da Ji wore a frostbitten expression, as if someone owed him eight million. His icy demeanor was so intimidating that those who might have approached hesitated, backing away respectfully. Within a three-meter radius, no one dared to get close, a far cry from his usual loquacious self.

In stark contrast, Lan Da Ji smiled like a gentle spring breeze, completely overturning his usual image. Charming and skillful in social graces, he appeared extremely smooth and popular, constantly surrounded by three or more people, the lively buzz never ceasing.

“Ah—” Chu Luoxi sighed deeply, overwhelmed.

“What’s wrong?” Xiao Jingxuan, accustomed to such scenes, showed no surprise.

“Nothing much, just that following these two managers gives me a grim premonition. I just hope I don’t end up as conflicted as they seem,” Chu Luoxi lamented, genuinely feeling a twinge of regret.

Xiao Dashen’s seat was near the front, and considering he had already walked the red carpet, there couldn’t be many behind him. As the awards ceremony was about to begin, Chu Luoxi naturally went to find her seat.

Fortunately, Ding Ju had scouted ahead, so Chu Luoxi didn’t waste much time. To her delight, she discovered her seat was not far from Zhu Xue Shuang and Liu Yu Jia’s. She arranged to sit together with them.

“How does it feel?” Chu Luoxi teased, amused by their flushed and excited faces.

“I thought about it a lot before walking out, but once on the carpet, I didn’t know what to think. I was just focused on not falling,” Zhu Xue Shuang said with a laugh, admiring Chu Luoxi’s composure even more.

“Exactly. I hardly ever wear such long dresses; I was so unaccustomed that I clung tightly to Director Li, terrified I’d trip if I wasn’t careful,” Liu Yu Jia said, still shaken by the experience. Her first time hadn’t been entirely pleasant.

A reporter stumbling might be overlooked, but a star falling would cause a scandal. If there were any indecent photos, the once obscure newcomer could become nationally infamous overnight.

Clearly, many were waiting for someone’s embarrassing moment. Some, desperate for fame and unscrupulous, wouldn’t hesitate to stage such a scene; such incidents weren’t unheard of.

“You’re lucky. The more nervous you are, the easier it is to make mistakes. It’s better to stay calm,” Chu Luoxi said with a smile, well aware of a newcomer’s mindset. Everyone knew the logic, but very few could truly pull it off. Some things aren’t mastered by mere understanding.

For this awards ceremony, the three of them were merely supporting players. Chu Luoxi was fortunate to have a nominated work; Zhu Xue Shuang and Liu Yu Jia were purely there to soak in the atmosphere, just along for the ride.

The Best Supporting Actress award was considered fairly significant and was scheduled toward the end.

Online, a crowd who had watched the red carpet was still buzzing with excitement. Especially a devoted fan who had taken numerous recent screenshots of Chu Luoxi’s stunning photos and posted them in the forum. The pride and satisfaction radiating from those images were palpable.

“Too bad our Xi Xi walked out with King Xiao. Most of the camera’s focus was on him, so there weren’t many shots of Xi Xi. Otherwise, we could have made a highlight reel,” the fan lamented, admiring the screenshots with regret.

Chu Luoxi appeared only once every six months or so, making each appearance precious. Every glance felt like a treasure, reluctant for the moment to end.

“Even so, being with King Xiao is a huge advantage. Look at those reporters—before, they didn’t even know who Xi Xi was. Now, she’s officially recognized by the major media,” another fan added appreciatively.

Several active members of the forum gathered for this “big event,” flooding the thread with posts.

“Look at how beautiful Xi Xi is! Every screenshot from any angle is so pleasing to the eye. By the way, King Xiao’s constant help—do you think he has some ulterior motive?”

“Ulterior motive? What motive? Aren’t they senior and junior disciples in the same school?”

“Ha! Bless you for your innocence. There are tons of senior and junior disciples at Imperial Pictures. Why would King Xiao only help our Xi Xi and not the others?”

“Exactly! Xi Xi has done a TV episode and a music video, all with King Xiao. Not counting Ji Yan Jin’s cameo, now the red carpet too—doesn’t that seem a bit too close? Is it just a simple senior-junior relationship?”

“Well, what’s wrong with that? Our Xi Xi is talented, capable…”

Though the reasoning was weak, it brought a knowing smile without much further debate. They were fans of Chu Luoxi—perhaps occasionally a little speculative, but never disparaging her reputation.

Amid their chatter and live streaming, the conversation suddenly shifted to the ongoing film festival, interrupting their flow. The devoted fan widened his eyes in disbelief: “What? Xi Xi is nominated for Best Supporting Actress? How did I not know this as her number one fan?”

Many film festivals now included online voting, and the University Film Festival was no exception. The fan was beside himself, regretting missing the chance to vote. This news was a thunderbolt for him!

“Ha! Number one fan, you should step down. How could you not know such a big deal? I voted already. I thought everyone here knew, so I didn’t campaign.”

“Same here, I thought everyone knew…”

Everyone fell silent. So no one had mentioned it because they assumed others already knew. In the end, nobody spoke up, and the poor fan was left in tears.

“It’s really nothing to worry about. Xi Xi’s experience is still limited, and the character Yun Tian Xue is rather marginal. Compared to others, Xi Xi’s chances aren’t high. Our forum isn’t large, and even if everyone voted, it wouldn’t change the outcome,” someone tried to console.

Within less than a minute of the post going up, the Best Supporting Actress winner was announced—and it wasn’t Chu Luoxi.

“Well, so she didn’t win. Makes sense. It’s surprising she was even nominated.”

“The nomination itself means her talent is recognized. Our Xi Xi is truly a powerhouse… Hooray! Best Supporting Actress or not, it’s not important. Next time, she’ll win Best Actress!”

The fans took it in stride. Though disappointed, they weren’t disheartened. Instead, they eagerly anticipated more classic works from Chu Luoxi in the future.