CHAPTER 54
In November, the city of Shencheng felt cool and gloomy on this early winter night.
At eight o'clock, Assistant Gao was already back home. Her boss had a social engagement, allowing her to leave work early to rest. She didn't want anyone over to keep her company, so she comfortably ordered takeout hotpot and turned on her internet TV to eat while watching.
The celebratory event jointly organized by Boyi and Penguin Platform's parent company took over several floors of a five-star hotel, with grandeur. The red carpet was being live-streamed on the internet platform.
Fans had already gathered at the venue early in the morning. From the camera's perspective, the place was packed with people holding various support banners and light sticks.
As Assistant Gao glanced around, she noticed many 'gardeners' at the event and couldn't help but smile. Holding her phone, she entered the gardener group.
Yes, Assistant Gao had disguised herself as a twenty-something young person using a QQ account to enter Xiaoyuan's fan group. This was not just any fan group, it was filled with Xiaoyuan's true fans, including the famous Duo Miaojiang, and Assistant Gao had put in some effort to gain access.
The group chat was already bustling with activity, all waiting for Xiaoyuan's red carpet appearance.
The first to arrive was the male lead, Fang Hao. He wore a bright pink suit, looking slightly thinner but radiant, with a bright smile and an air of confidence. Thanks to the drama, the negative effects of his previous scandals had suddenly disappeared, and his popularity had soared. Wherever he went, female fans screamed until they were hoarse.
In the gardener group, discussions erupted: [Fang Hao is even more popular now, to be honest, it's definitely because our Sister Xiaoyuan is boosting him!]
[Yeah, he really turned things around this time, tsk!]
[Do you think Lu Jingnian will make an appearance tonight? We haven't seen her in months!]
[Ugh, if she doesn't show up to her own company's party, then she's really not 'thawed out' yet.]
[Poor thing, she's probably afraid of being torn apart by Fang Hao's fans.]
[Loving a man without responsibility is just sad, she's sacrificed her own future for him.]
[Ahhhh, Zou Yirui is here!]
[Hahahaha, I was kind of shipping her and Xiaoyuan...]
[The YunYao CP, it even trended before, haha!]
Assistant Gao scoffed and shook her head vigorously. Ah, she just couldn't admit which CP she truly supported, according to popular sentiment, if she did, everyone in the group would 'drop dead' instantly.
Seeing an enthusiastic group member comment below, [Although Zou Yirui's acting skills are limited, she at least has the support of Tonghua. She has quite a few resources. I hope our Sister Xiaoyuan can maintain a good relationship with her and maybe even benefit when needed.]
Assistant Gao sighed.
"Sister Xiaoyuan" had once been so close to the most powerful and wealthy person in Tonghua, having access to any resources she wanted, yet she turned it down!
Ah, those were the days.
Assistant Gao clutched her heart.
What a pity!
She used to be able to enjoy the gossip up close, but now her work had lost much of its fun.
She thought that after the big boss resolved that PR battle, she would make some gesture towards Xiaoyuan, like—calling her?
What had that unfulfilled phone call been about? But then there was no follow-up? Was that really it?
Assistant Gao felt a pang in her heart as she realized she might never know.
What a pity!
The big boss had reverted to her old ways, not only had she not signed any new contracts, but even those brief moments of "casual chats" were gone.
Assistant Gao worried once again that the big boss would leave her hanging. She put down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth.
Suddenly, the crowd on the screen erupted in excitement. The camera turned to follow their gaze and revealed Xiaoyuan stepping onto the red carpet.
The crowd was instantly ignited, as if fireworks had been thrown into a silent night.
Xiang Xiaoyuan linked arms with a handsome man, wearing a silver fringe dress with a "X"-shaped diamond-encrusted strap design from the chest to the neck. As she moved, the silver fringe flowed elegantly around her curvaceous body, as if light was entwined around her, exuding grace with every step.
Her long hair was styled up, with two braids intertwined and loosely flowing like vines behind her head, revealing a crystal-clear neck and shoulders.
She embodied both youthful vitality and feminine charm, stunningly beautiful.
Assistant Gao exclaimed in amazement, seeing the fans on the screen staring blankly as she walked by, Xiaoyuan waved and smiled at them, prompting them to scream in excitement.
The group chat had already gone crazy:
[Oh my god, I'm dead, I'm dead!]
[Crime scene! No survivors!]
[She's even more beautiful, what's happening?]
Assistant Gao nodded, realizing that luck favors those who are already famous, the more popular the star, the brighter they shine.
[Who's the guy next to her, is he her brother?]
[He's so handsome too! My favorite type—refined and gentle, he even resembles her a bit.]
[Yeah, I heard that the suit Xiaoyuan wore in 'I Love You!' was borrowed from her brother and tailored, so it must be him!]
[Waaaa, she suffered so much before! She deserves this!]
[She's finally getting the recognition she deserves, thanks to all of us supporting her!!!]
......
Boyi was extravagant and well-connected, inviting many directors, veteran actors, producers, and rising stars from the industry, along with dozens of media outlets. Amidst the laughter and chatter, everyone was enjoying themselves.
Xiaoyuan accepted interviews from several media outlets, placing her empty glass down and picking up another one. She felt like she had become quite seasoned and was now comfortable in such settings.
Zou Yirui, dressed in a blue cocktail dress, walked towards her. "Busy lady, how are you?"
Xiang Xiaoyuan smiled at her, "I was just looking for you earlier."
Zou Yirui was also dressed to impress in a stunning blue that complemented her fair skin. The short dress highlighted her long, straight legs, making her quite the eye-catcher.
She walked closer and looked Xiaoyuan up and down, a hint of envy in her tone. "You look so beautiful that I don't even want to stand next to you."
Xiaoyuan smiled gently, a pair of Chanel Ruban bow earrings quietly sparkling at her ears, complementing her features as if there were stars in her eyes.
Zou Yirui was momentarily stunned.
"You're teasing me, you're also very beautiful," Xiaoyuan said, speaking the truth. Zou Yirui rolled her eyes on the spot, feeling a bit annoyed, "You're crossing the line! Have you learned to lie with your eyes wide open?"
"How could I?"
Zou Yirui shot her a playful glare and pulled out her phone. "Look at this! Is that you trending on hot searches? And your dress—so infuriating!"
......
After exchanging a few jokes, they found a quiet corner to take a break.
"Look at Fang Hao," Zou Yirui nodded towards him, "He was just hugging me earlier, acting like nothing happened."
Glancing at Xiaoyuan, "He seems a bit different now."
The Fang Hao now was nothing like the shy, sunny boy she had first met during "Their Little Affairs."
"Of course," Zou Yirui chuckled, "He has successfully transformed this time, riding high on his success."
"What about Lu Jingnian?" Xiaoyuan asked quietly.
Zou Yirui shook her head at her.
Sighing softly, Xiaoyuan had thought about messaging Lu Jingnian, but then felt it was inappropriate, fearing she might misunderstand and think she was showing off in front of her.
Others might say Lu Jingnian had made a foolish move, harming both herself and others.
But Xiaoyuan felt that it was her being true to herself and her inner feelings.
She persisted, disregarding others, even herself.
She found it somewhat bittersweet.
She murmured, "I came across an interview with Teacher Lu Yue a few days ago, she said, 'In this industry, the more famous one becomes, the harder it is to be oneself.'"
Lu Yue and Zhu Ehua were two actresses in the Chinese film industry whose legacy remained unmatched.
Zou Yirui glanced at her, "That's ironic, Teacher Zhu once said, 'The more famous I become, the more I enjoy being myself.'"
Lu Yue and Zhu Ehua, two legendary actresses, have comparable achievements and fame. Even though these veterans are not as active in acting now, their words are still treated as sacred by many younger actors.
However, their worldviews were quite opposite.
Xiaoyuan still couldn't fully grasp the meaning behind their words.
In this circle, everyone wants to be famous. That famous version of oneself is loved by others, and in turn, one comes to love it even more, making it easier to abandon the old self.
Lu Jingnian was loyal to her feelings, while Fang Hao had forsaken his.
Xiaoyuan suddenly recalled a moment on the set of "Their Little Affairs," where Lu Jingnian and Fang Hao were sitting together. She patiently went through her lines with him, and Fang Hao listened earnestly. At one moment, she smiled and nodded, and his eyes sparkled as he smiled back.
It was a warm, genuine, and touching scene.
Zou Yirui suddenly patted her, and Xiaoyuan looked up to see Fang Hao already approaching them, a smile playing on his lips. "Let's go together for the interview." he said.
Zou Yirui jokingly blinked, "Sure, we'll support you."
"Hey, don't joke around..." Fang Hao turned to Xiaoyuan, his tone softening a bit. "We're both here to support Sister Xiaoyuan."
Xiaoyuan didn't want to respond directly to that. She smiled gently, "Let's not joke, really, our male lead is the most important and the most outstanding."
Ah, now she's also learned to say these scripted lines.
She felt she couldn't be too straightforward, especially in front of Fang Hao.
She wasn't sure if her words were convincing, but Fang Hao beamed at her, even extending his arm in a gentlemanly gesture to escort her.
Xiaoyuan smiled, looking at Zou Yirui, who pursed her lips. "Hey, Fang Hao, you go ahead and let us ladies walk behind."
Fang Hao withdrew his hand, still smiling, "Ladies first, of course."
"Well, then, no need to be polite." Zou Yirui took Xiaoyuan's hand, and the two affectionately walked past him.
"Why has he become so slick?" Zou Yirui joked, lowering her voice.
"Yeah, it feels a bit strange." Xiaoyuan said quietly, looking ahead.
"Let's ignore him. Look at the camera, someone is taking our picture." Zou Yirui leaned closer to her shoulder. "Please, Sister Xiaoyuan, let's get our 'YunYao CP' trending tonight!"
Zou Yirui's teasing made Xiaoyuan laugh.
The camera flashes captured them.
......
The three of them took turns being interviewed, while executives from their respective companies watched from nearby. Xiaoyuan saw her brother and Cai Juan smiling as they watched her.
Their eyes were filled with joy and pride.
To have the closest people witness one's moments of glory, to make them proud, was a very happy moment.
But why wasn't she completely happy yet?
She felt like something was still missing...
Glancing around at Zou Yirui, Xiaoyuan asked intentionally, "Is it just you from Tonghua here?"
"How could that be? Several managers from our company are here."
"Isn't your big boss coming?"
Zou Yirui glanced at her strangely, "Why would she come to such a small event?"
Xiaoyuan was taken aback for a moment. "Oh."
As the last interview wrapped up, Xiaoyuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although it was late at night, the people on-site were still enthusiastic and chatting lively. However, Xiaoyuan, for some reason, suddenly felt everything around her becoming dull and tasteless.
She squeezed out of the crowd and went up to the roof bar of the hotel, looking out at the dazzling night view of the Bund.
She opened her phone, and the lifestyle app reminded her that thunderstorms were expected in the next couple of days.
Rain...
She was dressed too lightly, and with the wind blowing, she shivered a few times and then retreated.
Cai Juan followed her and pulled her in, "Tired?"
"Yeah, Cai Juan, should we head back?" With her schedule packed these days, she was genuinely feeling worn out.
"Sounds good. I'll go look for Brother Zhishi, and we'll head back first."
"I'll go with you." Whenever she stood alone, others would come up to chat. She had had enough socializing for one night and wasn't in the mood for more.
Cai Juan understood and led her to find Xiang Zhishi. They went downstairs to the hotel lobby to wait for the car.
Xiaoyuan slightly tilted her head to admire the colorful, luxurious crystal chandelier in the building.
"What's wrong?" Xiang Zhishi asked her softly, noticing her expression.
"..." Xiaoyuan shook her head, she couldn't quite explain it.
At that moment, a woman approached from the side. Dressed elegantly with exquisite makeup, Xiaoyuan suddenly sat up straight, then shrank back down after seeing her clearly.
It wasn't Assistant Gao...
Her heart felt like it had been gently poked by something, tightening momentarily—no pain, just a strange tingling in her arms.
After a few seconds, she finally understood what was happening.
She wanted to see Wei Zhuang.
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