Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Yu (3 bottles); Lingran (1 bottle);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 43
The magnificent hall was bustling with noise, showcasing the extravagance of the organizers. Celebrities, holding champagne, approached directors they wanted to work with, their gowns lavish. Jiang Lai stood out from the crowd, but that was fine, because Xia Fanrou saw her in her purity and integrity.
Jiang Lai was wearing a black evening gown and a suit jacket, looking quite intimidating. Lin Zhi, standing next to her, looked gentler, her white dress making her appear harmless.
"Sister, don't we look like a black and white couple?" Jiang Lai whispered to Lin Zhi.
Lin Zhi rolled her eyes: "I just grabbed a dress on the spur of the moment."
"Oh~ they're such a perfect match so easily?"
Lin Zhi always had to be mindful of etiquette in public, otherwise she would definitely get a good whack on the head. Ever since what happened this morning, this person's mouth had become increasingly uncontrollable. If it weren't for her pretty face, she would be a female hooligan.
Xia Fanrou finished her negotiations, raised her wine glass, and walked over with a very polite smile: "I didn't expect President Lin to come in person."
Lin Zhi picked up a glass of champagne from the long table beside her: "I still want to thank you for taking care of Lai Lai."
Xia Fanrou and Lin Zhi suddenly became serious, and Jiang Lai, who was sandwiched between them, felt uncomfortable all over and got goosebumps all over.
A man approached from behind, dressed in a bespoke suit, and exuding a refined air: "Are you Jiang Lai?"
Jiang Lai turned around, her face lighting up with joy, and stepped forward to hug him: "Xu Dongdong? Long time no see! It's really fate to meet you here."
The man was introverted, with a reserved and elegant smile: "Senior, I've changed my name. I'm not called Xu Dongdong anymore."
Jiang Lai frowned: "What did you change it to?"
The man cleared his throat and straightened his back: "Xu Xiangdong."
Jiang Lai twitched her lips and said disdainfully, "It doesn't sound good. The original sounded better, didn't it, Xiao Dongdong~"
As she was talking, she reached out and started to ruffle his hair. If Lin Zhi hadn't stopped her in time, she probably would have already touched Xu Xiangdong's hair gel.
Lin Zhi frowned and cautioned, "Be mindful of the impact."
"Oh, sorry, I'm used to it."
Xu Xiangdong came over to greet Jiang Lai, and after exchanging pleasantries, he went to find his agent. Xia Fanrou was originally going to take Jiang Lai with her, but since Lin Zhi had arrived, she didn't need to stay any longer.
Once everyone was alone, Lin Zhi asked, "How did you meet that person?"
"Huh?" Jiang Lai was stunned for a moment before realizing that Lin Zhi was talking to her: "You mean Dongdong?"
Lin Zhi corrected, "Xu Xiangdong."
Jiang Lai smiled and didn't argue with her. She went along with her and said, "Okay, okay, Xu Xiangdong. He's our junior, two years younger than me. He's such a cute kid. Before, when I was in school, he would follow me around every day, calling me 'senior' this and 'senior' that. I heard he signed with a company, but it doesn't seem to be a big company."
"Who's talking to you or us?"
"You, aren't you still my senior sister?"
Lin Zhi took a sip of champagne and subconsciously glanced at Xu Xiangdong's position. He didn't seem like the person Jiang Lai had described. Lin Zhi was good at judging people; this Xu Xiangdong had something on his mind and wasn't as innocent as he seemed.
Lin Zhi was lost in thought when the mischievous Jiang Lai suddenly leaned over and whispered in her ear, "He's a bottom."
"So what if it's zero? What does it have to do with me?"
Jiang Lai squinted at the woman in front of her and muttered, "She says one thing but does another."
Lin Zhi didn't hear what she said clearly. She glanced at the people attending the party and finally locked her gaze on a woman. She handed Jiang Lai a glass of champagne and led her through the crowd toward the woman.
The woman had just finished talking to someone else when she saw Lin Zhi and greeted her warmly: "President Lin, it's been a long time."
Lin Zhi clinked glasses with her and exchanged polite greetings: "Yes, Director Qin, it's been almost two years, hasn't it? You have another script this time?"
Qin Huaiyu is a straightforward person. Her purpose in attending this banquet was clearly to select actors. Lin Zhi also brought people with her, so her intentions were obvious. She didn't beat around the bush and exchange pleasantries.
"Yes, this is the new recruit you've been training?"
Jiang Lai stepped forward at the opportune moment: "Hello, Director Qin, my name is Jiang Lai."
Qin Huaiyu felt the name sounded familiar, so she asked, "Are you that newcomer who's been making headlines on Weibo lately? The one who acted in 'The Island'?"
Lin Zhi: "Yes, I'm a newcomer. Director Qin, please take good care of me."
Qin Huaiyu nodded and looked Jiang Lai up and down: "How does she look in period costume?"
Lin Zhi looked at Jiang Lai, signaling her to reply.
Jiang Lai immediately understood and said, "I acted in period dramas during college, and I think I did pretty well. It mainly depends on your script."
"Mr. Lin, could you send me the documents later so I can take a look?"
"Okay, no problem."
Midway through the evening, the pianist sat down at the piano and began to play dance music. Compared to the music produced by the machine, the pianist's playing was more pleasant, with less machine noise and more the gentleness of the instrument.
People started dancing in pairs. Jiang Lai couldn't dance, so she sat on the sofa and watched them. Lin Zhi had taken her to find all the reliable directors, and now she had nothing to do. Jiang Lai felt bored and hesitated whether to leave early.
Seeing that she was bored, Lin Zhi held out her hand: "Want to dance?"
Jiang Lai thought for a moment. She wasn't afraid of making a fool of herself, but she was afraid of stepping on Lin Zhi's foot: "No, I won't."
Lin Zhi didn't insist. After the dance ended, Xia Fanrou came over and invited Lin Zhi to dance. Lin Zhi was surprised but didn't refuse. She got up and followed her into the crowd.
Jiang Lai looked puzzled, propping her chin up like a wronged woman as she watched the two dance. Lin Zhi danced the female steps, while Xia Fanrou danced the male steps; it was quite harmonious.
A person sat down next to her. Jiang Lai turned her head and glanced at them, saying indifferently, "Halo, Dongdong, we meet again."
Xu Xiangdong was in a bad mood: "Are you in a bad mood? Who's bothering you?"
Jiang Lai pouted, looking at Lin Zhi dancing with Xia Fanrou, feeling incredibly jealous: "Nobody's bothering me."
"Is that so..." Xu Xiangdong's eyes darkened, and he sighed several times. Even Jiang Lai, who was usually oblivious, could tell that her junior was in a bad mood.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Lai asked.
That's how people are. If you don't receive care and comfort, you can swallow any bitterness on your own. But as soon as someone cares about you and comforts you, tears and grievances burst forth like a flood.
Jiang Lai was stunned. A perfectly normal person suddenly started crying. Helpless, she got up and asked a waiter for tissues, then stood in front of Xu Xiangdong, saying, "Don't cry, there might be paparazzi here."
Xu Xiangdong took the tissue and wiped his tears: "Can we talk outside?"
Jiang Lai turned to look in Lin Zhi's direction. The two of them showed no sign of ending the conversation: "Go, hurry back."
"good."
The two walked into the fire escape. There was no one around, only the sound of the wind and the "clack-clack" of Jiang Lai's high heels on the ground.
The fire escape was a bit cold. Jiang Lai pulled her suit jacket tighter and leaned against the door: "Tell me, what happened?"
Seeing Xu Xiangdong sobbing, Jiang Lai grew anxious, kicked him, and yelled, "You're a man, and an artist at that! Have you forgotten what I taught you?"
Xu Xiangdong nodded, holding back his tears.
Before leaving school, Jiang Lai had a long talk with Xu Xiangdong. They were both comrades and shared the same dream of acting. Jiang Lai always took special care of him.
If you want to love someone, you must have the ability to protect yourself and your partner. Before you are mature enough, you must never expose yourself in front of the camera.
Xu Xiangdong remembered this, so he paid close attention to his image at all times, even changing his name, but...
"Senior, does your company... tacitly condone such unspoken rules? Or does it allow them, or even actively facilitate such connections?"
Jiang Lai's breath hitched, incredulous: "You... are you a man or a woman?"
Xu Xiangdong lowered his head, clenched his fists, and gritted his teeth as he spat out two words: "Male."
Disgrace—that was the only two words Jiang Lai heard.
Xu Xiangdong has a senior he has secretly loved for many years. He was in the same year as Jiang Lai and is now a model. The two have always kept in touch. In Jiang Lai's memory, the two have feelings for each other, but they haven't confessed their feelings yet.
The bigwigs in the industry are unpredictable; some like beautiful women, while others prefer young men with fair skin and delicate features. Most importantly, the latter are less likely to constitute a crime even if it's not consensual.
Has it happened?
Xu Xiangdong nodded: "It's really... disgusting. What if he finds out? Will he leave me? Will he despise me? I can never go back."
His body was trembling. Jiang Lai opened her arms and hugged the 1.8-meter-tall boy: "Dongdong, I heard from your senior that this matter is not so shameful. Why don't you use legal means to protect yourself? As for him... I believe he has feelings for you. He won't look down on you. Our Dongdong is the best."
"No, senior, there's no evidence... Even if there were evidence, we couldn't do anything to him." Xu Xiangdong's tears soaked Jiang Lai's clothes, but she showed no disgust.
"Well... then stay away from that person. Even if we can't let him in, we have to pull him down."
"No!" Xu Xiangdong gripped Jiang Lai's sleeve tightly, tears welling up in his eyes and soaking the ground. "The company took the money, and I took the resources. It's a matter of mutual consent, and I can't interfere!"
"So... this counts as being kept?"
Xu Xiangdong nodded, not daring to look up at Jiang Lai.
"Then why are you telling me this? Didn't you ask me to help you?"
"No, I want you to help me tell Ah Heng... stay away from me."
Jiang Lai shook him off and said coldly, "I won't say anything. If you really love him, leave the person who hurt you and don't want anything he gives you. You can still turn back now. Don't wait until it's too late to regret it."
Xu Xiangdong remained silent, head bowed, seemingly lost in thought. Jiang Lai glanced at her watch; Lin Zhi must be getting anxious.
"Think it over carefully. I can lend you money so you can break your contract with the company. You can leave and run away with him. But if you want to collude with them, then pretend I... don't know you."
Fame and fortune or love—that's a tough choice.
Before leaving, Jiang Lai left behind a sentence: "If you choose the latter, I will pretend I didn't hear what you said today."
Those in the entertainment industry should avoid meddling in other people's business.
Jiang Lai returned to the banquet hall and saw Lin Zhi sitting on the same sofa waiting for her. Lin Zhi clearly saw her but pretended not to.
"I'm sorry, sister, I saw you dancing and didn't tell you."
Lin Zhi turned her head away from her and said, "It's nothing."
Jiang Lai felt very tired and didn't have the energy to argue with Lin Zhi: "Sister, I'm so tired, I want to go back."
Lin Zhi was taken aback and turned to look at her. The child looked disappointed and tired. Lin Zhi pursed her lips, stood up and said, "Let's go back. The car is outside."
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Author's Note:
Dongdong is writing this to thank the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2022-04-13 21:52:56 and 2022-04-14 23:00:39, in order to promote the relationship between the main characters!