Chapter 52

Upon hearing Actress Liang Yue’s words, Actor Zhao Qian was momentarily stunned but quickly regained his composure. He nodded noncommittally in agreement. "That young lady Xia Xi does have a unique voice. She might even have a chance at winning. You’re certainly observant."
Xia Xi had initially been enjoying the lively exchange, never expecting the topic to suddenly shift to her. She froze for a moment, awkwardly rubbed her nose, and smiled without saying a word.
Being dragged into the conversation out of the blue felt like an unwarranted disaster to her.
She could clearly tell that Actress Liang Yue and Actor Zhao Qian shared a close relationship, only two people with a very strong bond would tease and mock each other so freely.
Obviously, their mutual banter and playful disdain were perfectly natural, but suddenly involving a third party meant that person had better remain silent, as saying too much could lead to mistakes.
Moreover, Xia Xi’s status compared to theirs was like night and day. At this point, she could only listen obediently, she had no right to speak up.
Silence is golden!
Although Liang Yue and Zhao Qian seemed to casually praise Xia Xi in their conversation, it’s often said that unintended words can carry unintended weight. After their compliments, the already chilly atmosphere grew even colder. An awkward tension lingered among the four, and the high regard the two veteran actors showed for Xia Xi inevitably made the younger participants overthink things.
Lin Wei’s expression flickered with unease. As soon as she spotted a fellow actress she was close with entering the room, she quickly stood up and left the area. Clearly, she hadn’t anticipated that the two esteemed veterans would praise that pretty but talentless airhead before she could even finish her flattery.
What were they thinking?
Though Lin Wei felt somewhat unsettled, she wasn’t panicked. She believed that once the two veterans spent more time with Xia Xi, they would quickly realize she was nothing more than a decorative vase with no substance. The disdain and resentment in her eyes were unmistakable, evident to everyone present. Her hasty departure, however, went unnoticed and caused no ripple in the room.
Liang Yue and Zhao Qian continued their casual, intermittent chatting, while Xia Xi remained absorbed in her own thoughts, seemingly lost in a daze.
For Xia Xi and the others about to compete, this incident was merely a minor episode. The pressing matter at hand was the upcoming Cross-Border Singing Joy. Though everyone appeared calm on the surface, this was, after all, a competition. Once you’ve signed up, who truly wants to lose?
As Xia Xi mulled this over, she watched the busy figures of the Cross-Border Singing Joy staff. She understood that the competition had officially begun. This time, the production team had clearly made thorough preparations and would not allow a repeat of the last-minute schedule change that had occurred previously.
The sight of those bustling figures and the unspoken tension in the air made Xia Xi nervous as well. Her heartbeat quickened involuntarily, a mix of anticipation and worry stirring within her.
Amid this atmosphere, time seemed to fly. Before anyone realized it, the contestants for Cross-Border Singing Joy had arrived one after another, and the live broadcast was about to commence.
There was, however, one peculiar scene.
Despite being young, Xia Xi was surrounded by very few young artists. It seemed as though the younger generation had unanimously isolated her. Instead, she was seated sporadically among a group of veteran artists: Zhao Qian, Liang Yue, renowned CCTV host Zhang Rusong, and seasoned crosstalk performer Feng Yuting. These elders sat quietly, occasionally sipping tea and engaging in brief, subdued conversations, a stark contrast to the lively, chattering energy of the younger crowd on the other side. The area was almost excessively tranquil. What surprised the veterans was that Xia Xi, a young woman, showed no signs of discomfort. She sat among them with composure and ease, blending seamlessly into the "old cadre" ambiance as if she belonged there.
How strange, don’t young people usually prefer excitement?
When the staff member who had been communicating with Xia Xi entered the competition break room, this was exactly the scene he witnessed: Xia Xi was sitting alone in the corner, quiet and composed. She didn’t seem eager to strike up conversations with others, nor did she appear idle or out of place. Instead, she had found a rare balance in the awkward atmosphere. Though she might not stand out, she was also hard to overlook.
"Little girl, your name is Xia Xi, right?" Perhaps the long wait had made everyone a bit restless, as the veteran crosstalk artist Feng Yuting turned to Xia Xi with a playful tone. "Sitting here with us, do you feel like you have nothing to talk about with us old folks?"
Xia Xi had been mentally rehearsing a song when her train of thought was abruptly interrupted by the sudden voice. She froze for a few seconds before lifting her head to look toward the source of the sound, only to be startled by the sight of four esteemed figures staring intently at her. She pursed her lips, her expression tinged with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, could you repeat what you said? I was thinking about something else just now and didn't catch it."
A flicker of understanding passed through Feng Yuting's eyes, but instead of repeating his earlier words, he changed the subject, suggesting he had a favorable impression of Xia Xi. "The competition is about to start. Aren't you nervous?"
"Not really," Xia Xi replied with an awkward smile. While answering Feng Yuting's question, she was also thoughtfully observing the other distinguished individuals around her who seemed to have nothing better to do.
First, let's talk about Feng Yuting, who was closest to Xia Xi. She was a renowned crosstalk performer and a celebrated female artist in China. Though crosstalk was typically dominated by men, there were always a few exceptions, and Feng Yuting's uniqueness had been a blessing to the crosstalk world. Her performances were exceptional, having won first prizes in world-class art competitions for the country on multiple occasions. It could be said that her reputation in the crosstalk scene was second to none, and she was considered a national treasure in China.
She appeared to be in her forties, with a dignified and neat appearance, sporting a sharp, short haircut. Feng Yuting's dark eyes held a hint of curiosity as she looked at Xia Xi, inadvertently creating a sense of pressure. Overall, she gave off an impression of sharpness and efficiency, making her seem like a very strict teacher.
Next to Feng Yuting was Zhang Rusong, who also seemed to be in his forties. He was an exceptionally talented and wise individual, with a face full of integrity and well-defined features. After all, he was a famous CCTV host who had anchored Xinwen Lianbo in his younger days, maintaining a respectable image. Later, he also hosted interview and legal programs like Jinri Shuofa and Xiangqian. Zhang Rusong was a household name in China and had once been humorously dubbed "Mr. Zhang the Jokester" by netizens for his brutally honest commentary during the Olympic opening ceremony. During that period, his remarks trended highly on Weibo, and people good-naturedly used his witty lines to create various memes and GIFs.
Then there were the Film Empress Liang Yue and Film Emperor Zhao Qian, who had been with Xia Xi for quite some time. As actors who had remained popular for so long, their looks were, of course, beyond reproach. Though they were also in their forties, being celebrities who paid more attention to skincare, they appeared younger than the other two distinguished figures, looking to be around thirty years old.
Of course, it goes without saying that Zhao Qian and Liang Yue are household names and nationally renowned heavyweight performers. As Xia Xi's idol, Zhao Qian undoubtedly possesses many remarkable qualities, for instance, he has starred in over 300 films and more than 40 TV dramas since his debut, and has now become an action superstar in Hollywood. Some might question how, in just twenty years since his debut, he could have appeared in over 300 films, could it be that each one was hastily produced?
But that’s not the case at all. "If Zhao Qian is in it, it’s a masterpiece", this is the public’s assessment of him, as well as his own standard. He is extremely meticulous about the works he presents to the audience, insisting that every film must be engaging, thrilling, and authentic. Naturally, this also reveals just how deeply he loves acting and how he has dedicated his life to it, which is precisely why Xia Xi regards him as a role model.
As for the last one, Actress Liang Yue, her fame and status fall slightly short compared to the previous three, largely because public opinion about her is divided. Admittedly, she has had a few notable works that people can name, but for some unknown reason, she later took on several poorly made films, which somewhat tarnished her reputation.
Even so, Liang Yue holds a highly influential position among Chinese-language film actresses and can be considered a leading figure among female artists in the industry.
"Are you feeling a bit awkward talking to me, unsure of what to say?" Feng Yuting chuckled lightly, looking at Xia Xi. "Don’t be so reserved, just treat me as your peer."
"Ah? How could I do that? A senior is a senior, I," Xia Xi swallowed quietly. "I still understand the proper etiquette."
"You-"
"Old Feng, take it easy. Look how you’ve frightened the young lady." Zhang Rusong, the renowned CCTV host, picked up the teacup in front of him and took a small sip, cutting off what Feng Yuting was about to say and easing Xia Xi’s embarrassment. "Come on, it’s been a while since we last met. Let’s have a toast with tea instead of wine."
Seeing that Feng Yuting and Zhang Rusong had shifted their attention away from her and started chatting with each other, Xia Xi quietly let out a sigh of relief and felt her tension ease. Truth be told, it would be a lie to say she hadn’t been embarrassed earlier, she genuinely didn’t know how to interact with elders who seemed stern, especially ones who were considered master-level artists.
Would they think everything I say is superficial?
But then again, we can’t help but be slightly impressed by the boldness of Fruit TV.