Chapter 75: Someone Suited for This Circle

"Really?" Liu Yun asked skeptically, though he believed most of what Chu Luoxi said just by looking at her expression. Yet a small part of him still questioned the newcomer—he couldn't quite understand how she seemed so familiar with all things related to period costumes.

"It's true. You can check as much as you like." Chu Luoxi nodded with a smile, subtly sizing up the people in the room. As expected, aside from Liu Yun the makeup artist, there was no one else of comparable status present. Perhaps he really was special.

"Luoxi, this new concubine has caught the eye of Master Liu, the great makeup artist. How remarkable!" Yu Yuyun approached, teasing as she spoke, her gaze radiating gossip as it flickered between Chu Luoxi and Liu Yun.

"Hehe, Sister Yuyun, you're making fun of me again." Chu Luoxi responded with just the right amount of "shyness," displaying the reaction any newcomer ought to have. Some topics were best avoided, lest they become impossible to shake off.

As for the "great makeup artist" Yu Yuyun mentioned, Chu Luoxi was secretly startled. This person was clearly extraordinary; to be addressed so respectfully by someone of empress-level stature—he certainly couldn't be underestimated.

The cast of "Rivers and Mountains" truly hid many talents; even a shared makeup artist turned out to have such an impressive background?

Chu Luoxi felt rather fortunate. Thankfully, she’d shown proper respect from the start; otherwise, she might have stumbled badly. But why would a person of such status choose to hide among "ordinary folk," keeping such a low profile? Who knew how many actors had unwittingly revealed themselves to him!

"What nonsense are you talking about? You should know to keep your mouth shut!" What startled Chu Luoxi most was Liu Yun's stern and reproachful tone toward Yu Yuyun. This—this—this man concealed himself far too well!

Chu Luoxi watched Liu Yun, his expression excessively calm, as if everything was perfectly normal. Most unnerving was that Yu Yuyun wasn’t offended at all; instead, she looked chastened, showing she'd accepted the rebuke.

Her mind went blank. Chu Luoxi felt even more conflicted. Was this reborn world truly so mad? Was it testing the strength of her heart?

After a few words with Yu Yuyun, Liu Yun shifted his attention, now watching Chu Luoxi with amusement. This newcomer was the most interesting he'd ever encountered. She displayed all the reactions expected of a novice, yet there was not a trace of awkwardness. It was as if she already knew what a newcomer should be like, so she was always perfectly poised in every situation.

For example, at this moment, she was acting as if she'd guessed he might not be ordinary, yet her composure suggested she wasn't at all nervous or flustered.

"I'm just a makeup artist. Isn't your behavior toward me a bit much?" Liu Yun squinted lazily, like a cat, smiling as if he'd seen through her thoughts.

Chu Luoxi raised an eyebrow and composed herself, her demeanor as if she were talking to an old friend—warm, close, yet unruffled. "Are you really 'just' a makeup artist?" How could a mere makeup artist command the respect of someone at the top of the entertainment world? When did show business become so unruly? It made no sense.

"See, this is much more comfortable. I'm not your peer; you don't need to pretend." Liu Yun's eyes brightened, his interest deepening.

"Oh, you saw through it? Seems my acting still isn't good enough," Chu Luoxi smiled, her whole being radiating a sweet aura that made people want to draw closer.

"It's not your acting that's the issue. Yesterday, when I did your makeup, I already knew what kind of person you were. Seeing another side of you, it's obvious you're putting on a facade." Liu Yun spread his hands, indicating that once you've seen someone's true nature, you'd have to be blind not to spot their mask.

"Uh... Could it be that you disguise yourself as 'ordinary' just to see people's true selves?" Chu Luoxi asked skeptically. Many actors let their guard down around this group, unless they're masters of pretense. Most would choose to ignore or even bully him.

"Perhaps. But why do you pretend to be so much of a newcomer?" Liu Yun's curiosity was piqued. He felt Chu Luoxi didn't seem like a novice at all, despite her deliberate performance.

Chu Luoxi shrugged indifferently and rolled her eyes. "I am a newcomer..."

She left the sentence unfinished, but both of them understood. A newcomer could be quite skilled professionally—that could be called talent. But if a newcomer wasn't new in certain ways, it could spell trouble. The entertainment world had its own rules and hierarchy: newcomers might rise quickly, but they couldn't cross boundaries before earning their place.

"Alright," Liu Yun got the gist, a bit speechless but even more impressed by Chu Luoxi's sense of propriety. How many people failed to grasp this and never found their moment?

In just a couple of days, hadn't the director, producer, and all the main actors—regardless of gender—been won over by her? Even if she wasn't especially close to any of them, there were certainly no enemies.

"You win. You're the second person I've ever met who's truly suited to this industry." Liu Yun had to admit, some people might do well, but that didn't mean they belonged here. Temporary success didn't guarantee future or lasting fame. But Chu Luoxi made him see someone perfectly suited for show business: able to get along, knowledgeable, and possessed of both skill and talent.

Chu Luoxi understood his meaning perfectly, raised her eyebrows, and smiled. "Thank you for the compliment. But I'm even more curious—who was the first?"

It was often the observers, like Liu Yun, who saw things most clearly.

"You might know him—Xiao Jingxuan," Liu Yun replied without riddles, his expression thoughtful.

Chu Luoxi was stunned for a moment; she hadn't expected to hear such a familiar name. Then she smiled warmly. "So it's Senior Xiao!"

Given that it was the great Xiao, there was nothing more to say. He was indeed someone perfectly suited for show business. As for herself, she'd spent more than twenty years honing her skills; if she weren't suited, she shouldn't even have started.

"He's your senior? You're from Emperor Shadow?" Chu Luoxi hadn't been around long, so Liu Yun didn't know much about her background, and their conversation hadn't touched on this before.

"Actually, it's thanks to Senior Xiao that I'm here. He recommended me." Chu Luoxi nodded, thinking there was no need to hide this. Anyone interested could find out; it was hardly a secret. Besides, she and Liu Yun were getting along well, possibly even becoming friends, so there was no reason to be secretive.

"Oh, he introduced you here?" Liu Yun was quite surprised, finally realizing that Chu Luoxi's "Senior Xiao" wasn't just someone from the same school, but a genuine, recognized connection.

"Surprised, aren't you?" Chu Luoxi asked with a hint of amusement. In fact, she was surprised and delighted herself—overjoyed, really! That the great Xiao would recommend her for a job? What a blessing earned in her previous life!