Gu Heping patted his shoulder and said meaningfully, "Stay calm."
——
The banquet was held in a five-star hotel in Fengtai District. Upon entering through the revolving doors, a metal sign was prominently displayed. The lobby was decorated, with flower baskets and banners lining the reception area on the right; any one of them belonged to a prestigious company or organization. In the center was the red carpet area for guests, with a densely packed signature board, and dozens of media outlets were already in place.
Xiao Shun had never seen such a spectacle before. Standing in the corner, he looked at it like he was looking at a kaleidoscope. For a moment, he grabbed Zhao Xiyin's arm and exclaimed excitedly, "Yang Cheng, it's Yang Cheng! My goddess! Can I get her autograph!"
Zhao Xiyin grimaced and frowned, "Ouch, ouch, ouch!"
Xiao Shun stared longingly at the red carpet, only to be dragged away by Zhao Xiyin, who said, "How can a man like you be so infatuated?"
They entered the banquet hall through the general admission passage. Zhao Xiyin deliberately arrived early, taking advantage of the low number of people, and found a seat where she wouldn't stand out, planning to stay for half an hour and then leave.
As more guests arrived, dressed in vibrant colors, their elegant attire and graceful figures creating a dazzling spectacle. Many were celebrities rarely seen on screen. The lights flickered on and off, transforming the space into a fairyland. After adjusting, Xiao Shun relaxed and began eating and drinking freely, showing no signs of stage fright.
For some reason, Zhao Xiyin was restless, staring blankly at the crystal candlestick on the table, and listlessly picked up a piece of mousse cake and stuffed it into her mouth.
Suddenly, a female voice came from behind, "west Yin?"
Zhao Xiyin turned her head, "Huh?"
Before her stood a tall, beautiful young woman, her figure accentuated by a burgundy dress that highlighted her curves. Her smile was captivating. Zhao Xiyin, with a mouthful of cake, struggled to swallow, looking somewhat disheveled. She composed herself, her expression gradually calming, and accurately called out the name: "Lin Lang."
Lin Lang turned his head and smiled, "Long time no see."
Xiao Shun, standing nearby, immediately became alert. He had heard Li Ran mention that this person and Zhao Xiyin were classmates at the Beijing Dance Academy, and their relationship was delicate, likely related to the saying "two dragons cannot share the same abyss." Lin Lang was proud and arrogant, and also a skilled dancer; if it weren't for Zhao Xiyin, she would definitely be the most eye-catching one. Zhao Xiyin's professional skills were too strong back then, and she had the face of a nation's first love, easily winning over the audience on stage. This was a natural advantage; she was born to be this way. Lin Lang was suppressed for two whole years until Zhao Xiyin had that stage accident.
They have a class WeChat group. Since Zhao Xiyin's incident, she has never spoken in the group. She can only know a little bit by occasionally checking the messages.
Afterwards, Lin Lang was recommended by the academy to participate in the National Young Dancers Competition, and went to Spain for an exchange performance, winning numerous awards. Her Weibo account has millions of followers, and the world of fame and fortune is already beckoning, which is exactly what she aspires to—a perfect match.
Lin Lang smiled sweetly, "west Yin, you haven't changed at all, you're still as beautiful as you were in school."
Zhao Xiyin smiled faintly, "No."
Lin Lang feigned ignorance and asked, "Is your leg better now? Can you still dance? I often get injured too. There's a spray that's really good; I'll get it for you later."
These words concealed a knife, the tip of which was exposed, and it was plunged viciously into Zhao Xiyin's body.
Xiao Shun was furious, but Zhao Xiyin didn't care and laughed heartlessly, "No need, no need, you're too kind."
Lin Lang nodded regretfully, "Alright then. I won't keep you company. I need to change my clothes; I have a performance to do later."
Xiao Shun said coldly, "Whose bad breath is suffocating me?"
Lin Lang's expression changed slightly. She glanced at him, but didn't get a pleasant response.
After she left, Zhao Xiyin said helplessly, "You have no grudge against her, why are you being so hostile?"
Xiao Shun was unhappy: "Should we save this hypocrite for the New Year if we don't confront him now?"
Zhao Xiyin chuckled, raised her index finger to poke his right shoulder, and quietly gave him a thumbs up.
Just then, there was a commotion at the door, and several bodyguards in black suits surrounded the group; behind them were the real VIPs for the evening. Xiao Shun, with his sharp eyes, exclaimed, "Your teacher!"
Dai Yunxin, ranked third, looked elegant and poised in a dark green cheongsam as she chatted quietly with renowned director Pang Ce beside her.
Zhao Xiyin was standing at the very edge of the crowd, greedily eating a cream puff on the table, and hadn't had a chance to look up yet. But she could sense that Xiao Shun next to her was acting a little strange.
Zhao Xiyin first turned her head to look at Xiao Shun, only to see his face filled with astonishment, mixed with a hint of weariness and disbelief. This expression was too strange. Zhao Xiyin asked, "What's wrong?"
As she asked the question, she followed the gaze forward. What she saw stunned her.
At first glance, Zhao Xiyin saw Zhou Qishen.
Amidst the dazzling lights and surrounded by admirers, Zhou Qishen, dressed in a black shirt and a suit vest, perfectly accentuated his narrow waist and long legs. His hair was styled, revealing his full forehead, making him strikingly handsome.
The second person I saw was Meng Weixi.
After several years, the image in my memory has become blurred, and I can't tell if he's changed. He seems to have grown taller and thinner, but the only thing that hasn't changed is his spirited demeanor; he's always the most dazzling one in a crowd.
Two men, one at the very back and the other at the very front. Each had an accompaniment, and both were chatting and laughing.
Zhao Xiyin instinctively stepped back, but Xiao Shun quietly supported her, saying, "If you step back any further, you'll bump into someone."
She kept her head down, expressionless.
Xiao Shun held her hand tightly and whispered, "Sister Xi, it's okay."
With both ex-lovers and ex-husbands present, anyone would be at a loss. Zhao Xiyin didn't pretend to be a saint; she sighed, looking both worried and amused, "What kind of trouble has Teacher Dai gotten me into? It's enough to scare me half to death."
But leaving is no longer an option.
Dai Yunxin pinpointed Zhao Xiyin's location with pinpoint accuracy, then gestured with her eyes, her smile radiating satisfaction. Zhou Qishen, standing closer to Dai Yunxin, also looked over. Upon seeing her, he frowned slightly, clearly surprised.
The moment Zhao Xiyin met Zhou Qishen's gaze, the word "depressed" seemed to tip the scales in his favor. Zhao Xiyin awkwardly tugged at the corners of her mouth, and her gaze towards Zhou Qishen revealed a more natural expression of emotion.
The banquet officially began only after the distinguished guest arrived. By the time Zhao Xiyin looked up to search, Zhou Qishen was already engrossed in the clinking of glasses and could not be seen in the distance.
After listening to the host's words, even Xiao Shun understood.
This grand event had two main highlights. It was both the launch ceremony for the large-scale musical film "Nine Thoughts" and the first public appearance of the new leader of Fantian Entertainment after the change in its senior management.
Seeing that Zhao Xiyin was lost in thought, Xiao Shun, fearing that she might overthink things, squeezed her hand even tighter.
Zhao Xiyin glared at him, "Don't let your imagination run wild."
The attitude wasn't very good, but Xiao Shun was actually delighted because he knew that Zhao Xiyin was really alright.