Song Jinlan is a film emperor, so his order on the red carpet was naturally later. Although he wasn't the last to walk the red carpet, by the time he finished and entered the inner area, almost all the artists participating in the ceremony had arrived and were chatting in small groups at different tables.
Several young artists noticed his presence, quickly stopped their conversation, stood up, and greeted him: "Hello, Senior Song Jinlan!"
"Hello, Mr. Song!" said one of the more talkative artists. "I especially love your film 'The Summer Wind Blows.' I hope I can get your autograph and take a photo with you after the ceremony!"
The young actor's two compliments struck a chord with Song Jinlan. Feeling flattered, Song Jinlan, maintaining his aura as a movie star, gave a perfunctory reply.
"We'll see. If we finish early and time allows, you can come to my lounge to take a photo with me."
"Really? Thank you, senior!" The young artist bowed deeply to Song Jinlan with utmost politeness.
Song Jinlan snorted and arrogantly walked away with her head held high.
Yes, he's a movie star! He's the goal many actors strive for their entire lives, a figure who commands respect and trembles in the eyes of newcomers and juniors!
He's a movie star; he should be more confident and bolder. Su Yanxi is nothing to him; he can definitely handle her!
While encouraging herself, Song Jinlan was also filled with unease. After finding her designated seat, she unconsciously fiddled with her dark green off-season suit.
This Armani 2022 early autumn haute couture set was just shipped directly from Italy to him a few days ago; because the design is so new, there is only one in the world—this one was handmade by the brand's designer.
He wouldn't have had the chance to wear this suit otherwise, because his reputation in the industry was so bad that he wasn't favored by the fashion world. Even borrowing a current season's haute couture suit was a difficult task, let alone an early autumn/overseason suit that was two seasons late. He found a stylist who desperately needed money and was willing to risk his career, and asked the stylist to impersonate another highly respected movie star to borrow this overseason suit for him.
While everyone else had prepared at least two outfits, Song Jinlan only had one.
He knew that "stealing clothes" was wrong, and that he would be exposed and blacklisted by the brand sooner or later, but he... he just couldn't swallow his anger.
He spared no effort, desperately wanting to defeat Su Yanxi completely in a single moment!
He couldn't stand Su Yanxi. Despite being a newcomer, she was so dazzling and outstanding, landing a good script and a big production for her very first drama; she was so beautiful and assertive, yet her approachability was terrifying, to the point that everyone around her was close to her and liked her!
Su Yanxi is so terrifying that he can even tame his ill-tempered nephew! That ingrate Song Yanqi, who previously claimed to hate Su Yanxi and asked for his help to deal with him, what happened? Su Yanxi offered him a small favor, and he immediately abandoned all grudges and switched sides!
What Song Jinlan disliked even more was the "commonality" between Su Yanxi and him.
Song Jinlan could tell that Su Yanxi, like him, was the type who used beauty as a weapon, with strong goals and direct methods. They were not only pleasing to the eye, but also abandoned morality, willingly becoming appendages of the wealthy.
Chapter 189
Just like him back then, Su Yanxi is a bloodsucking flea on the back of the neck of the rich, enjoying a comfortable life while recklessly sucking the blood of others.
They are the same, yet different. They are the same in their behavior, but different in their current situation.
He has already paid the price for his past misconduct—the price of long-term surveillance and suppression. So what if he has the title of Best Actor? Song Jinlan knows very well that in "that person's" eyes, he is just an annoying ant on a fingertip, easily crushed.
While he endured a long and grueling punishment, Su Yanxi was carefree, indulging in money and fame, living a life of unparalleled happiness.
Song Jinlan was puzzled. She wondered, why? Why was he living such a happy and comfortable life?
They all knew they were involved in a crime, so why isn't Su Yanxi being punished?
Song Jinlan felt a tightness in his chest and difficulty breathing due to his discomfort. In his oxygen-deprived state, he touched the emerald necklace on his chest, using the cool touch of the high-purity gemstone to soothe his anxiety.
He had gone to great lengths to borrow this necklace from Professor Cheng Zhenhua. He had made countless guarantees and explained his intentions to Professor Cheng Zhenhua before finally managing to borrow this "treasure"!
He was glad that Professor Cheng was already sixty years old, with a closed social circle and relatively limited access to information, so that Professor Cheng was unaware of his and the Zhou family's dark past; he was even more glad that after getting to know Professor Cheng, he had maintained a constant social relationship and left a good impression on Professor Cheng.
He used this necklace to relieve stress and anxiety. This expensive emerald necklace, along with the "absolute evidence" he possessed, would help him completely crush Su Yanxi! After the performance and banquet, he would go and pronounce Su Yanxi guilty!
Song Jinlan turned around confidently, and across two round tables, cast his gaze on Su Yanxi, who had her back to him.
Before he could even make a face, Su Yanxi, as if sensing something with radar, also turned her head.
The moment their eyes met, Su Yanxi gave him a disdainful smile.
The performance and dinner officially begin at 7:30 p.m. and will last for about two hours.
The event was supposed to end at 9:30, but artists started leaving after 8:15. Because of the cold weather, the organizers prioritized the more famous artists, scheduling important performances and awards ceremonies earlier and less important ones later.
The awards ceremony for Song Jinlan was held earlier in the event. Clearly, this was preferential treatment from the event organizers, allowing him to leave early after receiving his award.
In order to catch Su Yanxi, Song Jinlan did not leave immediately, but remained seated. Only after Su Yanxi had received several awards for "Red Flower" did Song Jinlan get up and leave the banquet hall, intending to ambush Su Yanxi at the other end.
However, before he could intercept the person, he received an important call on his phone. Upon seeing the caller ID, he immediately straightened his posture and answered the phone respectfully.
"Teacher Zhenhua, you're still up so late?"
Teacher Cheng Zhenhua is getting old and her hearing isn't very good. This phone call was made by her personal caregiver. The caregiver, on behalf of Teacher Cheng Zhenhua, questioned Song Jinlan: Why didn't you clarify the truth before lending the necklace?
Song Jinlan was extremely flustered, not expecting her embarrassing past to be exposed so quickly. She stammered, "I... I didn't know you didn't know, teacher! I thought... I thought you knew before you agreed to lend it to me!"
The caregiver asked again: Is it what you thought or are you deliberately hiding it? Even if we don't mention the past, why did you break your promise and use the necklace that Teacher Cheng valued to do "that kind of" thing?
This question stumped Song Jinlan. She half-explained, half-pressed, "I didn't! I didn't lie about why I borrowed the necklace; I really did borrow it to wear at the fashion gala! I was just showing off a treasure that Teacher Cheng cherished to everyone!"
The caregiver grew anxious and angrily joined Teacher Cheng in scolding Song Jinlan: "You still dare to argue? When you borrowed the necklace, you made your reasons sound extraordinary, but what was the reality? How many press releases and how much hype did you generate tonight because of that necklace?!"
"Teacher Cheng is happy to display his collection of treasures to the public and is also willing to lend the necklace to people with pure hearts who truly appreciate it, but you—you are just a bully using Teacher Cheng's name to flatter the powerful and belittle the weak!"
Song Jinlan: "I—"
"Stop making excuses! Please return the necklace to the Cheng residence by 8:00 AM tomorrow. If you fail to do so on time, we will file a police report for misappropriation of property!"
"That necklace is quite valuable. I hope you'll be smart and know how to respect yourself!"
Even in the ultra-wealthy, the personal caregivers possess an aura that ordinary people lack. Song Jinlan's head was buzzing from the scolding, and she still couldn't understand what she had done wrong to incur Teacher Cheng's dislike and aversion.
Is it because... there were too many press releases tonight? Because they all mentioned the owner of the necklace, namely Professor Cheng Zhenhua, so the professor felt disturbed?
"You must be very confused now, right?"
Su Yanxi's voice came from behind, and Song Jinlan jumped, turning around alertly to glare angrily.
"Su Yanxi?" He composed himself, trying to regain his arrogant demeanor as a movie star. "You eavesdropped on my phone call? How rude. Can't you young actors learn some manners and rules? Don't act like wild monkeys and rudely rudely to your seniors?"
"I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but your voice, unable to defend yourself, was so loud that I accidentally overheard it," Su Yanxi chuckled.
Chapter 190
He gestured to Zhou Tong with his eyes, asking her to open the practice room door. He had already asked someone to check it out; the practice room backstage at the gymnasium was empty, making it a perfect place for a secret conversation.
“You must have a lot to say to me, right? Come on, let’s say it all tonight?” Su Yanxi glanced at the empty practice room, then at Song Jinlan, before walking in.
"Fine, I'll say it then." Song Jinlan forced herself to stand tall and followed him.
He tried to keep his expression calm, but a sense of unease was rising inside him. He felt that Su Yanxi had taken the initiative and that he was being led by the nose.
After the two entered the practice room, Zhou Tong closed the door and left. Only Su Yanxi and Song Jinlan remained in the large practice room, and Su Yanxi could finally speak freely without any reservations.
"Let me give you some brief feedback first?" Su Yanxi chuckled, taking the lead in bringing up the topic. "Your team is really useful. They are a group of outstanding, enthusiastic, and proactive people. With them as the logistics team behind me, I feel very secure and at ease."
"Hmph," Song Jinlan wanted to laugh it off, but her snort still revealed a hint of gritted teeth. "Do you really enjoy collecting junk? Collecting junk is one thing, but treating other people's used goods as treasures is truly laughable!"
"Ha, haha, you actually say secondhand trash is useful?"
"Stop being stubborn. Look at you, putting on a brave face. Don't you find yourself ridiculous?" Su Yanxi said calmly. "It must be uncomfortable not having a new look, right? And the feeling of stealing clothes must have been unsettling and terrifying, right?"
"You—" Song Jinlan's face flushed red with embarrassment, and she clenched her fists in anger, as if she were about to hit Su Yanxi. "My clothes weren't stolen! My stylist borrowed them for me through proper channels!"
If Song Jinlan were to actually throw a punch at Su Yanxi, would Su Yanxi perhaps change his opinion of her character? Talking is one thing, but taking action is quite another—strength, courage, and impulsiveness are all indispensable; those who dare to throw a punch are far more ruthless and powerful than those who only know how to talk.
But the reality is harsh: Song Jinlan is all talk. Low-quality, repetitive, and boring talk.
So bored that Su Yanxi could easily gain the upper hand in the conversation, watching Song Jinlan struggle to defend herself like a clown.
"Legitimate? Using the name of a highly respected senior is legitimate?"
Su Yanxi got tired after only a few words. He was fed up with this endless, low-level verbal sparring; he was now going to start by destroying his spirit.
"You just said I like collecting secondhand goods? I don't understand that at all. The person who likes collecting secondhand goods the most is clearly you. You knowingly cheated on your husband, and were kept by the Zhou family's good-for-nothing son-in-law for almost two years; according to your logic, someone who collects secondhand goods and treats them like treasures is indeed—"
"It's you!"
Su Yanxi used the most vicious and devastating metaphor to satirize Song Jinlan.
Song Jinlan was terrified of having his past as a kept man brought up, because it would remind him of how carefree and unrestrained he had been, and how pathetic and disgusting he had been when the Zhou family's daughter took revenge on him!
Disgusting, disgusting, disgusting! It's even more stinky and disgusting than a half-dead black rat in a cage!
"Shut up!" Song Jinlan couldn't control herself and grabbed Su Yanxi's dress collar, starting a hysterical outburst. "You're not allowed to mention it! You're not allowed to mention it! You're not allowed to mention it! What right do you have to laugh at me and mock me? Do you think you can stay young and beautiful forever? Do you think you can stay as you are and be happy forever?"
"Impossible, impossible, impossible! My present is your future. One day your misdeeds will be exposed, and you will be punished and suppressed!"
Song Jinlan's voice trembled violently; rather than being terrifyingly hysterical, it was more like a display of sorrow.
It's really sad.
"You'll end up like me, a stinking black rat, a cockroach surviving in the cracks..." Song Jinlan's words were completely illogical, and halfway through her sentence she started questioning Su Yanxi, "Why?! Why are you so free and unrestrained now? Ahhh, you really found a good sugar daddy! I've seen all the pictures and videos of you and your sugar daddy having an affair—they're so intimate, so lovey-dovey!"
"I will definitely expose this to the newspapers and make you suffer the same fate!"
Su Yanxi gently slapped Song Jinlan's hand away and sighed softly.
He truly felt sorry for Song Jinlan. Of course, those who are pitiful and pathetic always have more hateful aspects to them, but…
The line, "Do you think you can stay young and beautiful forever?" still touched Su Yanxi deeply and made her very sad.
This foolish and pathetic guy still thinks to this day that he "lost" because he couldn't stay young and beautiful forever.
Although Su Yanxi also has concerns about maintaining his appearance, he only uses beauty as a weapon, never to please others. He has his own ideas and principles and is unwilling to be anyone's appendage.
He and Song Jinlan are absolutely, positively different.
"Do you really want to know why?"
Su Yanxi opened the jacket of her bespoke suit and rummaged around inside.
"Let me tell you: because I am peaceful and approachable and not easily angered, because I am gentle, kind and intelligent; because I am highly capable, and because I am self-disciplined and proud, I would never do anything that violates the bottom line of morality."
Su Yanxi pulled out the book. She had forgotten to bring her own when she left home this morning, so she had to borrow this one from her nemesis husband.
He pulled out a red item from his gray suit jacket, opened the first page, and showed Song Jinlan the group photos and text inside.
"Because I have a marriage certificate."
Author's Note:
#SuSuIsCertifiedToWork#
#My dog carries his marriage certificate with him, so he can use it in emergencies#
#69 Rumor: You didn't know about this rumor?