No Acting Tonight [Entertainment Industry]

[Content Warnings]

1. Character setup: The gong, Tan Juefei, is an actor from an elite family, with a straightforward and focused personality. The shou, Chu Zhimiao, is resilient and knows how to draw people in; his family background involves realistic depictions of pain. Readers who dislike class differences or nuanced inner monologues, please take note.

2. Romance pacing: A slow-burn relationship, with feelings growing through professional interactions. No sudden lovestruck behavior or instant romance.

3. Plot focus: Their relationship develops through professional scenes involving acting practice and character development. The entertainment industry is depicted realistically, but not darkly.

4. Potentially sensitive elements: There are mild hints of a power imbalance (investor x actor), but the story emphasizes professional respect and mutual attraction. It also includes typical entertainment-industry elements such as gossip about supporting characters and industry competition.

5. Style notes: The writing is delicate and realistic, with plenty of detail about acting and the characters' inner thoughts. Readers who prefer fast-paced plots may need some time to adjust.

Wishing everyone a wonderful read~⍤

Chu Zhimiao, a low-profile actor with barely any name recognition, has a secret weapon: eyes that look at even dogs with deep affection, and a unique talent for winning hearts without saying a word. Three years in the entertainment industry have taught him that what he lacks isn't acting skill, but a dazzling enough stepping stone.

Then an opportunity arrives. The renowned director's blockbuster, Dark Tides, opens auditions for one of its two male leads. The other lead is Tan Juefei, an icy film emperor whose family background, acting skills, and popularity are all top-tier. At the audition, Chu Zhimiao gives a steady performance, but the famously picky Tan, whose standards are said to be downright abnormal, puts him on the spot: "You're acting too gently." He even holds Chu Zhimiao firmly by the wrist.

Chu Zhimiao looks up, his smile gentle, but with a hook hidden in his eyes. "Then why don't you teach me, Teacher Tan?"

He thought it would be just an ordinary trial, but from then on, this big shot gives him "special attention." They rehearse alone, Tan shares his studio password, and he even notices when one of Chu Zhimiao's buttons comes loose... Tan Juefei's gaze follows him like a shadow, strict and focused, as if determined to dissect him from the inside out.

Chu Zhimiao diligently works on the script, all the while feeling a little uneasy. Is this man interested in my acting, or in... me? Wasn't he supposed to be a distant, icy mountain, fit only to admire from afar? Why does he push so hard during their scenes together, yet seem surprisingly down-to-earth in private?

As Tan Juefei watches this young man, who seems mild but is unyielding at heart, he finds for the first time that perhaps the entertainment industry isn't so boring after all. His performance needs a key, and Chu Zhimiao happens to be shaped exactly like one.

Tan Juefei: "Is he flirting with me or not?"

Chu Zhimiao: …

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