Chapter 23 Warning

He Wen stared at Lin Xi with eyes full of jealousy and hatred before lowering her head.

“Miss Lin, you must be joking. What could I possibly be thinking?” He Wen quickly regained her composure, speaking to Lin Xi with a calm and indifferent tone, as if the madness from earlier had never happened.

Watching her transformation, Lin Xi couldn’t help but silently praise her—no wonder she was the leading lady at Xingchen! That acting skill was truly something to behold.

“What I meant, Miss He, you know well enough. You’re a sensible person—you should understand what can and cannot be done. It hasn’t been easy for you to reach your current position. Why ruin yourself over something that doesn’t belong to you?” Lin Xi’s words were forthright; she hoped He Wen would think things through herself.

Unexpectedly, He Wen was provoked by her words and instantly lost control, her tone sharp and her composure gone: “What do you mean, something that doesn’t belong to me? Those things were meant to be mine! Only I deserve to stand by Gu Yao’s side. I’m the only one who’s fit to be the young mistress of the Gu family! Who is Wen Jin anyway? She’s not worthy! She doesn’t deserve to compete with me!”

Perhaps it was the accumulation of too much agitation today, but He Wen exploded all at once, her ambition laid bare before Lin Xi with no attempt to conceal it.

Lin Xi regarded her obsession with a blank expression, as if watching a farce. “Miss He, you’ve misspoken.”

After venting, He Wen realized her lapse in manners. She forced a smile, as if unconcerned that Lin Xi had seen through her. “Miss Lin, you’re just the goddaughter that Mr. Gu acknowledges, aren’t you? Isn’t it a bit presumptuous to meddle? This is between me and Gu Yao—it’s not your place as an outsider to interfere!”

Lin Xi curled her lips at her words. “Of course, I have no right to interfere. I’m just giving you a reminder, since this involves my best friend and my brother.”

“Even if Wen Jin wasn’t here, do you really think you could marry into the Gu family? Do you like my fourth brother, or do you like the Gu family’s power? Do you think my fourth brother is blind to your intentions, or that my godfather would tolerate you marrying into the family? Did Sister Liang Jingru give you the courage?”

Lin Xi spoke with no regard for company ties or He Wen’s status as the leading lady. She had never been one to play nice or shy away from conflict. Having grown up spoiled by her brothers, she was used to saying exactly what was on her mind—she simply didn’t reveal it often.

He Wen was almost livid with rage at Lin Xi’s words, her veins bulging as she raised her hand to slap Lin Xi, only for Lin Xi to catch her wrist and toss it aside.

“How dare you speak to me like that!” She jabbed her finger at Lin Xi, seething.

“You’re nothing but a goddaughter! How dare you try to lord over me and throw your weight around? I’m only tolerating you for Gu Yao’s sake—who do you think you are? Once I marry into the Gu family, you’ll be finished!”

“And right now, I’m still Xingchen’s leading lady! With my status, I could ruin you—a pretty face with no real work to her name. You think you can act as a bully just because you have Mr. Gu’s backing? Dream on!” He Wen’s voice rose, echoing through the empty office.

Lin Xi was unfazed, rubbing her ear with an effortless charm, though the gesture was anything but demure. “Miss He, putting aside whether or not I’m Mr. Gu’s goddaughter, just me saying I don’t like you is enough for my fourth brother to never choose you, let alone marry you into the Gu family. Remember that.”

She then nonchalantly picked at her nails. “As for your position—even as high as it is, Xingchen made you what you are. And Xingchen can just as easily destroy you. I’d be sorry to see a film queen fall from grace.”

He Wen’s expression changed at her words, though she seemed unconvinced. Yet Lin Xi didn’t give her a chance to retort. Her next words pushed He Wen to the brink.

“Oh, by the way, I accidentally hit record just now. I wonder what my fourth brother would think, hearing how the gentle, gracious film queen he knows actually acts like this behind his back?” Lin Xi said, innocently tilting her head as she waved her phone.

He Wen completely panicked. She had been far too careless—now Lin Xi held all the cards. She lunged for the phone, but Lin Xi shifted lightly, and He Wen grabbed only empty air.

Lin Xi pocketed her phone and smiled. “Don’t worry, Miss He. As long as you don’t entertain any further schemes, this recording will never see the light of day. You’ll remain Xingchen’s leading lady, basking in glory. I have no interest in dealing with you. I trust you understand what’s at stake. I’ll take my leave now.”

Without waiting for a reply, she turned, waved her hand, and left.

The decision now rested entirely with He Wen. From the very start, Lin Xi never intended to harm her—only to warn her against any underhanded moves.

As Xingchen’s leading lady, He Wen represented the company as well. Her downfall would harm Xingchen too, unless they terminated her contract. Now, it was up to He Wen to decide.

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It was the end of the year, and major award ceremonies at home and abroad were underway. The most prestigious and anticipated domestic event, the Golden Film Awards, was being held that very night. Lu Yuxiu was among the nominees and had already left to attend.

Before leaving the set, he hadn’t forgotten to remind Lin Xi to watch the live broadcast. Lin Xi put on an air of indifference, but when the ceremony began, she couldn’t help but open the livestream—her body betraying her heart, as always.

On screen, Lu Yuxiu wore a tailored black suit that made his legs appear long and straight.

He sat quietly, exuding both grace and restraint. His features were strikingly handsome. No matter how low-key he tried to be, that arresting face made it impossible for anyone to ignore his presence. His lowered lashes added a touch of cool aloofness.

The dazzling lights seemed to meld with him, and after watching for a while, one could almost believe the radiance emanated from him.

He’s so handsome! Lin Xi couldn’t help but sigh—the heavens seemed to have favored him especially.

The camera often found him, and the fans in the back couldn’t stop screaming.

“Who will take home the Golden Film Award tonight?” The veteran artist on stage drew out the suspense as he prepared to announce the most anticipated award, shaking the gilded card in his hand.

The audience grew restless, each person shouting the name of their favorite star. Among them, Lu Yuxiu’s name resounded the loudest. After all, he released a new film nearly every year, each one a masterpiece. He had already won the Best Actor award at the Golden Film Awards twice, and his chances this year were high.

For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the card, and even Lin Xi, watching from her screen, felt a flicker of nervous anticipation.

The camera zoomed in on Lu Yuxiu. He still wore the same calm, detached expression, as if none of this had anything to do with him.

“The winner of the 2020 Golden Film Award for Best Actor is—Lu Yuxiu! Congratulations!”

A collective cry erupted from the fans, leaping to their feet—surprised, yet not surprised at all.

In the midst of the clamor, Lu Yuxiu rose from his seat with composure and walked to the stage, every movement exuding an elegance that could make one swoon.

The lights and the crowd were merely his backdrop. Every pair of eyes sparkled as they watched him—admiration and awe from the male artists, amazement and shyness from the women, fervor and adoration from the fans.

All gazed on as this coldly handsome man ascended to the highest honor.

Strangely, though he was only twenty-five, he already carried the poise of a seasoned artist.

He accepted the trophy from the veteran with a polite nod, then stepped up to the microphone to give his acceptance speech. The entire hall held its breath, hanging on his every word.

He located the section where his fans were seated, gave a perfect forty-five-degree bow, and simply said to everyone, “Thank you.” Then he stepped down. The fans’ cheers thundered through the hall once more.

This was the Lu Yuxiu seen on screen—his acceptance speeches were always so succinct, never changing.

Now Lin Xi understood why his fans respected and supported him so unconditionally—because he gave them equal respect and trust.

He always kept his fans close to his work, but far from his private life.

By keeping himself pure and unattainable, preserving an air of mystery, he ensured that no one ever projected anything onto the roles he played. Every character was just that—a character, never himself.

That was the secret to Lu Yuxiu’s success!

Lin Xi’s admiration for him surged.

If Lu Yuxiu knew, however, he’d surely cough up blood. He’d only wanted his future wife to see how handsome he was, hoping to win her heart with his looks once more. Never did he expect to become her model senior, her inspiration to work harder...

That was never his intention!

After watching Lu Yuxiu’s acceptance speech, Lin Xi was filled with energy and threw herself into her work with renewed vigor.

Lu Yuxiu, meanwhile, regretted his actions for days. If only he hadn’t asked her to watch—now she’d grown even more distant, focused solely on her career.

That morning, Lin Xi arrived early on set as usual.

But something felt off about the atmosphere. Lu Yuxiu hadn’t come to her dressing room first thing as he usually did, and there were none of the little snacks that Miya always left for her. Habit, she realized, was a dangerous thing.

People greeted her as usual, but their gazes seemed to hold a deeper meaning. Even Director Lu said something odd: “Today is going to be unforgettable.” It left Lin Xi with a vague sense of foreboding.

On set, she found Lu Yuxiu reading his script as he waited for his scene and went over to rehearse with him.

“Did you not sleep again last night? Your dark circles are so heavy.” Lin Xi noticed the bloodshot in his eyes and the shadows beneath them.

His expression softened, the hard lines of his face relaxing, yet a rare fatigue showed through.

Lu Yuxiu turned his head slightly, not wanting her to see him like this. “It’s nothing. I just didn’t rest well—too much to do.”

“Then leave it to Zhou Jun and get some proper rest,” Lin Xi insisted. She couldn’t understand why he never took care of himself, especially when he was so strict with her.

Zhou Jun, standing nearby, felt wronged by Lin Xi’s icy glare—caught in the crossfire for no reason.

“Heh…” Lu Yuxiu chuckled softly. His little Xi was finally worried about him—a good sign.

“There are some things I must do myself, and I do it willingly.” He fixed his gaze on Lin Xi, his determination unwavering.

Lin Xi was momentarily dazzled by his earnest eyes, her heart skipping a beat.