Chapter 46: No Need to Envy Me

Secretly rolling her eyes, Chu Luoxi felt deeply frustrated. She had anticipated the reaction from the two of them, which was why she didn’t dare reveal anything beforehand. But why was it like this? Was Xiao Jingxuan’s allure really so overwhelming?

From this, it was clear that in Chu Luoxi’s mind, the image of the great Xiao had quietly shifted. Yet, not so long ago, she too had been sensitive and excited at the mere mention of Xiao Jingxuan’s name.

“Hmph, if you keep nagging, I won’t give you the key points for the final exam. You can cling to Brother Xiao’s notes and let fate take its course!” Chu Luoxi threatened, resorting to intimidation. Otherwise, who knew how long she’d be subjected to their critique!

Honestly, was it really such a big deal? So what if she’d had close contact? Did it mean she didn’t have to take the finals? Could she skip revision and not fail? Really...

With their academic “life or death” at stake, the two immediately wilted, rushing forward to flatter her and never mentioning the matter again.

Originally, these final days before the end-of-term were meant to pass peacefully. After the exams, Zhu Xueshuang and Liu Yujia would head into the film crew, while Chu Luoxi, depending on circumstances, would likely retreat home and stay in. But good times never last. There are always those who can’t stand others’ happiness, who jump out at just the right moment to stir trouble.

Wang Yanan, who spent ninety-nine percent of the semester away from the dorm, suddenly returned that day, brimming with pride and swagger.

With a lofty, almost ethereal gaze that seemed to look down from the top of her head, she swept over her three roommates, her tone dripping with disdain: “I’m about to make my debut. There’s a TV drama casting me as the third female lead. Don’t worry, you don’t have to envy me. We’re all roommates, so if there’s ever an opportunity, I’ll look out for you.”

Like a peacock displaying its feathers, Wang Yanan delivered her proclamation, then, satisfied with the shock in six wide eyes, slammed the door and strode off...

The dorm was silent for quite a while. Chu Luoxi was the first to recover, breaking the odd atmosphere with a chuckle.

“Why did she even come back?” Liu Yujia glanced at Chu Luoxi, confusion clouding her face, then looked as if she’d been thoroughly disgusted, on the verge of retching.

“Pfft!” Zhu Xueshuang burst into laughter behind Chu Luoxi. “Isn’t it obvious? She came back just to show off!”

Chu Luoxi couldn’t help but laugh again, thinking that Wang Yanan’s intermittent idiocy must have flared up once more. What a character.

“Show off? What exactly is she showing off? I think she said she’s the third female lead? Are you sure it’s not the first or second?” Liu Yujia couldn’t keep the amusement from her eyes, grateful Wang Yanan had left quickly; otherwise, she might have brought up their own experiences.

“Heh, what does it matter? But, Yujia, our opportunity came thanks to Luoxi. As long as we do our best acting, that’s enough. It’s not something to brag about,” Zhu Xueshuang cautioned carefully. Though filming would happen during the summer, it would have to be reported to the faculty, since TV dramas often have long shooting schedules; they might even need to take leave next semester.

Most students might not know, but the teachers already did. Landing the first and second female leads directly might stir all kinds of gossip. Plenty would claim “sour grapes,” so they needed to stay vigilant, avoiding unnecessary jealousy.

Liu Yujia, though careless by nature, wasn’t stupid. She understood the gravity of the situation, nodding seriously to show she got it.

After a moment’s thought, Chu Luoxi quietly cautioned, “It was right not to provoke her just now. Wang Yanan is the type to hold grudges. This matter is far from over. If she learns about your opportunities, she’ll be consumed with jealousy and anger. Be careful around her—she has someone backing her, though I’m not sure who, but it seems they’re wealthy. Money makes things easy; who knows what tricks she’ll pull.”

She remembered that in her past life, Wang Yanan had boasted like this once, and she herself had felt furious and envious. But as it turned out, Wang Yanan never did land the role, and Chu Luoxi had caught her out and mocked her several times.

Later, she learned it was an urban drama, and the so-called third female lead was actually a minor “vase” mistress. Wang Yanan, if cast, would have been playing herself. But she disliked the role—a villain with few scenes—so she made such a fuss that even the director grew fed up and dropped her.

As for the drama itself, it never aired on TV and was relegated to circulation online.

In fact, every year, at least half of produced TV dramas fail to broadcast on television due to various reasons. After all, TV slots are limited, and stations vie for ratings, buying only reputed shows with star power and reliable directors. Compared to the flood of new dramas, there simply aren’t enough slots. Some dramas seem to air everywhere, while others never get a chance.

Fortunately, the current market lacks piracy and boasts massive online traffic. Many dramas are put straight onto paid streaming, recouping some costs and keeping the industry turning.

If a drama is high-quality but lacks connections for TV broadcast, rising to fame through the internet isn’t a bad path. There are many such cases over the years.

In short, that urban drama never became a sensation, but it earned decent reviews online. Wang Yanan’s own standards were just too picky; missing out was her loss. After that, her reputation suffered, and she never got another chance to debut.

News travels fast in the industry. Wang Yanan’s antics would have been known everywhere almost instantly; who would hire her after that? Besides, she was nothing but an ornamental vase—naturally, her prospects dwindled.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be careful,” Zhu Xueshuang replied solemnly, feeling Chu Luoxi’s advice was spot on.

“Being careful isn’t enough. She’s in the shadows, you’re in the light—it’s hard to guard against. If you have connections, find yourselves a manager, assistant, or even a bodyguard. You may be newcomers, but as first and second female leads, it’s entirely justified,” Chu Luoxi suggested earnestly, genuinely uneasy. She’d seen plenty of such incidents in her previous life—many people were destroyed before they ever got a chance to rise.

There is no shortage of talent or genius, but it’s hard to create a person, and so very easy to ruin one.