Chapter 128: Well-Deserved Reputation

Chu Luoxi sat on the sofa, lost in thought, her gaze wandering toward the kitchen where the great Xiao Jingxuan was busy at work. She felt a mix of surprise and genuine awe.

Xiao Jingxuan could actually handle a kitchen? Goodness, he truly was the omnipotent deity.

As she savored the meal—which was not just decent, but genuinely delicious—she glanced at him with a peculiar expression. Was there anything this man couldn’t do?

"Aren't you busy?" How did he have time to cook? It didn't make sense. As she wondered this, her appetite grew, and she found herself eating with relish, her expression suddenly softening.

"Even the busiest people need to rest," Xiao Jingxuan said, watching her eat with a smile. It seemed to make the food on the table look and taste even better.

Xiao's new album had just been released, which should have been the peak of his promotional period. Chu Luoxi had never seen him this idle. Moreover, the film he was slated to join was beginning production soon, leaving little time for promotions. It made no sense for him to be wasting time at home.

As she mused over this, she had no idea that a certain top manager was currently tearing his hair out over his client's stubbornness. The meticulously planned schedule had to be changed yet again, requiring endless negotiations and coordination. What kind of situation was this?

"That’s true. A balance of work and rest is the right path," Chu Luoxi agreed with a nod. If it weren't for this, she wouldn't have been able to mooch such a sumptuous dinner! And it was prepared by the great Xiao himself—she had to cherish this rare opportunity.

Hearing this, Xiao Jingxuan nearly choked on his soup. He remained silent, offering a rare moment of sympathy for his manager in his heart.

"Anything on your agenda lately?" Xiao Jingxuan asked, changing the subject effortlessly. He certainly wasn't prying into her whereabouts; Lan Lun was far too tight-lipped, and if she didn't want to disclose something, he wouldn't be able to get a word out of her.

"Not for the moment. Lan says he's still selecting projects," Chu Luoxi replied, eyes narrowing in contentment as she enjoyed the food. "I mean, I’d prefer to find a script to film. I’m not really interested in those entertainment variety shows."

To put it bluntly, variety shows were exhausting. When she had first been reborn, she’d watched Ji Yanjin get dragged through the ringer on one such program. It was only because she happened to be picked during a fan interaction segment that she’d been able to help him out, otherwise, he would have continued to suffer.

Because of that, Ji Yanjin had been incredibly grateful, and sensing that Chu Luoxi had an unusual understanding of him, he had reached out privately. Slowly, they had rekindled their friendship.

"It’s better not to do them for now," Xiao Jingxuan said calmly with a nod. At this stage, Chu Luoxi didn't have any major works to her name. Appearing on variety shows would either mean riding on someone else's coattails—like the *Jiangshan* production crew—or appearing shallow. It truly wasn't a good move.

Sometimes, popularity that exploded too quickly was hollow. The higher one was lifted, the harder one fell. Once popularity soared, it needed time to settle, and during that process, the slightest carelessness could lead to a disastrous loss.

Take Zhu Xueshuang and Liu Yujia, for example. They were treading carefully, like walking on thin ice, trying to suppress the rapid growth of their popularity to solidify their foundation, lest they suddenly slip and fall.

In contrast, the handsome Yu Chihao, who had starred in *Crystal* alongside those two, was a completely different story. He had become an overnight sensation, flooded with endless appearances and filming commitments. His agency and manager were fanning the flames, pushing him even higher.

The three of them had discussed it before: Yu Chihao was a cash cow right now, and the agency wouldn't be satisfied until they’d squeezed him dry. As for long-term development or his future? Who cared about that? The artist was the one walking the tightrope; the company had plenty of others, so what was there to fear?

After dinner, Chu Luoxi was thoroughly stuffed. She brewed a cup of tea and listened with great interest as the great Xiao shared some little-known stories about his early days in the industry.

Xiao Jingxuan had started his career as a freshman in college. Everyone saw his blindingly brilliant achievements, but the secrets behind the scenes were rarely revealed. Chu Luoxi listened with fascination.

Such personal stories were often filled with invaluable experience. How much she absorbed depended on her, but even with her own twenty-plus years of experience, she knew she still had much to learn.

Xiao Jingxuan looked on with a wry smile as Chu Luoxi curled up on the sofa and fell asleep. He was speechless, yet secretly pleased. Did this mean she felt safe enough with him to let her guard down completely? That was truly rare in this circle...

Consequently, when Lan Lun came ringing the doorbell like an executioner the next morning, followed by a barrage of phone calls, he was stunned to see Chu Luoxi emerging from Xiao Jingxuan's apartment. His signature icy, stoic expression faltered, replaced by a mixture of bewilderment, sighing, and utter shock.

This startled Chu Luoxi, who asked with wide, oblivious eyes, "What’s wrong? Is there something urgent? What happened?"

As she spoke, she wondered what kind of major crisis could cause such a reaction. Even Lan, who remained stoic even if the heavens collapsed, was making that face? Was it the apocalypse?

After composing himself, Lan Lun returned to his icy demeanor as if nothing had happened. "I have some scripts. Would you like to take a look?"

"Oh, sure!" Chu Luoxi’s spirits lifted instantly. She prepared to invite him in, dismissing her curiosity about his earlier facial expression—she wasn't one to pry.

After taking two steps, she suddenly felt awkward. She had forgotten that this was Xiao Jingxuan's apartment. Turning back, she saw the visible twitch in Lan Lun's mouth. She awkwardly turned, unlocked her own door, shut Xiao's door behind her, and then walked into her place with as much grace as she could muster.

These days, having a neighbor you were too close with could be quite a dilemma. Without realizing it, she had started treating Xiao's house as her own. Luckily, he had left early that morning, otherwise, she would have made another fool of herself.

She brewed a cup of tea for Lan Lun and one for herself, then sat on the sofa to look at the scripts. As for Lan, he could make himself at home; the apartment was so sparse it barely felt lived in.

The scripts Lan brought weren't numerous—only five. Chu Luoxi scanned them quickly. Having a capable manager was truly a blessing; she could tell these had been carefully selected. Not a single idol drama among them, and three-fifths were period pieces.

Most importantly, these five television scripts were all titles she had a good impression of—the kind known for having a good reputation and real substance.

It was clear that Lan’s eye for quality was well-deserved.