Huayu 2021: Isn’t he in the technology field?

Chapter 153 Gossip, An Unexpected Invitation

Dilraba tapped the armrest of the seat lightly with her fingertips, her voice extremely low.

"The one in the nude dress..."

She gestured with her chin toward the stage.

"Teacher Yang Caiyu is the current girlfriend of Chen Jinfei, the godfather of Teacher Liu Yifei."

Jiang Qing followed her gaze and saw Yang Caiyu under the spotlight chatting and laughing with the people around her. She was dressed sexily and had exquisite makeup. She was indeed very outstanding among the five female protagonists. Moreover, she had deep facial features and her appearance was somewhat European and American, like a mixed-race person.

The key point is that upon closer inspection, she bears a striking resemblance to Liu Yifei.

Suddenly, a flurry of camera shutters clicked from below the stage. A reporter in the front row pushed his camera extremely close, almost shoving it into the faces of the actresses.

Moreover, it's clear that Yang Caiyu and another actress with bright red lipstick received special treatment.

Jiang Qing remembered that Han Zijie had just introduced her; the actress with the big red lips was named Jiang Shuying, I think? Something like that.

"Boss Chen is investing even more in her than he did in supporting Teacher Liu back then."

Yang Wei chimed in with a smile.

"Last year, Mr. Chen and this Ms. Yang were photographed celebrating their birthdays on a yacht, and the fireworks alone cost seven figures."

Dilraba nodded in agreement, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"I heard that Professor Liu's team now even needs to confirm the guest list when reporting events."

Her eyes sparkled, and she seemed particularly excited when talking about these gossips.

Jiang Qing glanced at her, knowing that this older sister was trying to divert attention from the awkward atmosphere just now, but other people's happy reactions to crickets were not fake at all.

Sure enough, everyone loves gossip, and top female celebrities are no exception.

Behind-the-scenes footage was playing on stage, and Yang Caiyu's lines could be heard through the speakers.

"Are we destined to be trapped by our families of origin? I..."

Jiang Qing noticed that some staff members were whispering in the back aisle. The girl holding the folder gestured towards Yang Caiyu with a meaningful smile.

Looking around, I see that many people are like this.

From this perspective, this gossip is something that everyone knows.

Yang Wei remembered something funny and burst out laughing. When he saw Jiang Qing and the other person looking over, he quickly explained the reason.

“Last year’s Bazaar Charity Night was even more outrageous. Two vans were stuck in a standoff in the parking lot for half an hour, and in the end, Ms. Liu left directly through the fire exit.”

He mimicked the posture of a security guard directing a car to back up, and his elbow almost hit Fang Chengxiao's water bottle behind him.

"Uh, I'm sorry."

"It's alright, it's alright, Producer Yang, you're too kind."

Cheng Xiao hurriedly waved his hand to indicate that it was okay, but he was secretly glancing at Jiang Qing out of the corner of his eye.

Reba saw her reaction and, recalling Jiang Qing's earlier applause for her, understood the situation.

It seems that a casual gesture from our President Jiang touched a young girl, and this girl...

Her gaze lingered on the other person's chest, and she subconsciously hunched her shoulders slightly.

She really is a gifted person!

Jiang Qing didn't think much of it, just glanced at the two of them and then stopped paying attention.

His gaze swept over the empty seats in the second row, where a woman's blazer was draped over the back of the chair.

Just then, the big screen switched to the audience seats, where Liu Yifei's seat was now empty. As the director hurriedly cut away from the camera, a few suppressed snickers came from the front row.

"To be honest, President Chen is a ruthless person."

Dilraba Dilmurat lightly touched her lower lip with lipstick, her eyes sparkling with a smile.

"Back then, he booked Diaoyutai State Guesthouse to celebrate Teacher Liu's birthday. Now he's moved into Jinmao Mansion with his new love. I heard that even the property managers are the same people."

Yang Wei lowered his voice to reply.

"Do you know what's the most amazing thing?"

He mysteriously raised one finger.

"It is said that the villa where Yang Caiyu lives now has the same house number as Teacher Liu's birth date."

Suddenly, the sound of a chair being dragged came from the back row. Cheng Xiao stretched his neck forward half an inch, obviously also eavesdropping on the gossip.

Seeing Jiang Qing and the others looking over, she shrank her neck shyly and sat up straight quietly.

This girl is interesting.

Jiang Qing smiled and then looked away.

During the interactive segment with the main cast on stage, when Yang Caiyu took the microphone, the applause from the audience noticeably thinned out.

A few minutes later, Han Zijie's concluding remarks came through the microphone.

"We hope to showcase the power of mutual support among women in the new era."

One of the investors in the audience suddenly burst out laughing, then hurriedly covered it up with a cough.

Dilraba turned sideways, covering her mouth as she approached Jiang Qing, her voice carrying a faint scent of roses.

"Does Mr. Jiang think that this tacit understanding between the two of them to avoid each other can be considered another form of lingering connection?"

As she spoke, her fingertips unconsciously traced the leather texture on the seat armrest, her eyes fixed on him without blinking.

Before Jiang Qing could answer, the lights in the room suddenly blazed on.

When Yang Caiyu stepped off the stage with the main creative team of "Ode to Joy", her high heels made a crisp sound on the metal steps, like the pendulum of a countdown clock.

"That's it."

He answered Reba with a smile.

She seemed completely unsurprised, smiled and nodded, then sat up straight.

The scene fell silent for a brief moment.

According to Jiang Qing, Penguin's grand finale project today is "Dream Record," and they should be making their appearance soon.

Sure enough, shortly after Yang Caiyu took her seat in the fifth row, Liu Yifei returned to the second row and even nodded and smiled at Jiang Qing as she passed by.

He also noticed that Chen Xiao, the male lead of "Dream Record", followed Liu Yifei and sat down next to her.

And if he remembered correctly, the male protagonist was apparently from his hometown.

Both of them had changed their clothes, clearly in preparation for going on stage later.

At this time, it was already close to four o'clock in the afternoon, and Han Zijie on stage began to pave the way for the appearance of the "Dream Record" creative team.

He gave the on-site director a look, and the instant he adjusted his tie knot, the beam of light from the dome suddenly narrowed into a pillar of light.

The large screen displays the carved beams and painted rafters along the banks of the Bian River in ink wash style, while the sound of a pipa drifts in with the clear, melodious shouts of vendors.

"Everyone, please take a look..."

Han Zijie turned to the side, stretched out his arm, and gestured towards the big screen, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"Our Penguin has spent three years meticulously crafting the pinnacle of Song Dynasty aesthetics, 'Dream Record'!"

The audience erupted in applause, and almost all the guests could see Han Zijie's, or rather Penguin's, confidence and ambition in this drama.

After all, this drama marks Liu Yifei's return to the small screen after sixteen years, and that alone is enough to attract many people.

Whether the actresses present admit it or not, when it comes to national popularity, no one dares to challenge Liu Yifei.

This includes another top female celebrity present, Dilraba.

As applause swept through the venue, the main creative team, led by Liu Yifei and Chen Xiao, ascended the steps.

Liu Yifei, dressed in a moon-white robe with intertwined floral patterns, gracefully ascended the steps, her shawl cascading down like a cascading silver river.

The moment she turned around, adorned with a restored gilded floral crown, the sound of camera shutters erupting in the media area nearly lifted the roof off. Jiang Qing noticed that Yang Caiyu in the fifth row suddenly straightened her back, her taut jawline illuminated by her phone screen in the dim light.

"This outfit is worth the entire annual costume budget of a third-tier film crew."

Yang Wei craned his neck forward and smacked his lips as he spoke.

"So beautiful! I heard the headdress is a 1:1 replica of a piece from the Palace Museum's collection."

Jiang Qing couldn't tell whether he was marveling at Liu Yifei's beauty or at the extravagance of her clothes.

Liu Yifei walked to the front of the stage and gracefully bowed, the curve of her wide sleeves resembling the auspicious crane in Emperor Huizong's painting.

Chen Xiao followed closely behind, clasping his hands in a respectful bow. His indigo round-necked robe accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, making him look like a handsome young man straight out of an ancient painting.

They are a handsome couple, a feast for the eyes.

The sound of camera shutters in the media area suddenly became as dense as hail, and the men in suits in the front row neatly adjusted their cufflinks.

A young actress wearing a starry sky dress subconsciously pulled her backless dress up a little, only to find that no one was looking in her direction.

Jiang Qing remembered that she was one of the five new beauties from "Ode to Joy 3" just now, and her name was Zhang Huiwen.

The reason I remember her is that when I was chatting with Xiao Ye just now, she mentioned that Zhang Huiwen is also an artist under Hesong Entertainment, and is from the same company as her.

Han Zijie gestured to the staff to bring over the prop tea table.

"I heard that you two have studied tea ceremony for a long time?"

"Our production team invited three tea ceremony masters to be stationed on set to provide guidance..."

Liu Yifei picked up the tea whisk, and with a flick of her wrist, the foam gradually formed cloud-like patterns.

As she spoke, her eyes darted around, and out of the corner of her eye, she caught Jiang Qing whispering to Yang Wei.

When Dilraba joined their conversation, she paused slightly, but fortunately Chen Xiao's gesture of showing off the teacup blocked the media's camera.

"Actually, the most arduous part is filming winter scenes in the summer."

Chen Xiao responded with a smile.

"Wearing five layers of brocade in 40-degree heat, the stage manager had to come and reapply loose powder every ten minutes."

The large screen then played behind-the-scenes footage at the appropriate time.

Liu Yifei squatted in front of the blower, touching up her makeup, with stray hairs at her temples sticking to her reddened neck with sweat.

When the clapperboard flashed "NG 27," several investors in the front row exchanged meaningful glances.

Han Zijie raised the teleprompter at the opportune moment.

"Could you share your most unforgettable filming experience with us?"

Liu Yifei smiled and looked at Chen Xiao beside her, making eye contact before nodding slightly to Han Zijie.

"During the week I was filming the water scene in Hengdian, I had to soak in the water for six hours every day."

She suddenly raised an eyebrow at Chen Xiao, her expression subtly alluring.

"Thanks to someone's invention of ginger and honey water."

"This story starts with the props department."

Chen Xiao smiled and unbuttoned his collar, revealing his collarbone, which had been rubbed red by the wires.

"then."

A knowing chuckle rippled through the audience.

Jiang Qing noticed that an advertising representative next to her nudged the person sitting next to her with a teasing smile.

"This segment is enough to generate twenty trending topics."

He couldn't help but smile; it seemed that in this setting, all people could see was profit.

It has to be said that this finale was quite impressive, with nearly half an hour of interactive content, making many people feel sleepy.

"Therefore, we say that this is not a simple ancient puppet show, but a long scroll depicting the daily life of the Song Dynasty."

When Han Zijie was giving his concluding remarks, he was interrupted by applause, and he took the opportunity to change the subject.

"I heard that Yifei is considering a modern-themed project for her next film?"

Liu Yifei was smoothing out the wrinkles on her sleeves when she heard this, and her gaze suddenly turned to the guest seats.

"I have been looking at a new notebook recently."

She paused, a playful smile curving her lips.

"Speaking of which, there is someone on site who is particularly suitable for the male lead, the pilot, in the script."

As if given a signal, the spotlight suddenly turned, and Jiang Qing's sharply defined profile suddenly appeared on the big screen.

A commotion suddenly erupted at the scene, and Cheng Xiao gripped the process booklet on his knee tightly.

"What do you think, Mr. Jiang?"

Liu Yifei tilted her head and smiled slightly.

Yang Wei was trying so hard to suppress his laughter that his shoulders were shaking, and Jiang Qing kicked him hard under the table.

Dilraba adjusted her posture, a polite smile on her face, but her fingernails dug into the leather armrests.

"Thank you for your kindness, Teacher Liu."

Jiang Qing stood up gracefully and took the microphone handed to her by a staff member.

"But I don't know how to fly a plane. Is there a quick way to learn?"

Liu Yifei gently waved a round fan to cover half of her face, but her eyes gleamed with a sly light.

"There are professionals accompanying you, Mr. Jiang, so there's no need to worry."

As the fan moved away, the moment she winked at the camera was captured simultaneously by more than a dozen cameras.

The moment the media area erupted in chaos, Dilraba bent down to straighten her skirt, while Cheng Xiao twisted the program booklet out of shape.

Yang Caiyu, sitting in the fifth row, suddenly stood up and left her seat, her champagne-colored skirt sweeping over an unopened gift bag.

"Thank you for your kind words, Teacher Liu."

Jiang Qing maintained her smile, speaking at a measured pace.

"You can look at the script when you have time."

He responded politely, but had no thoughts whatsoever in his mind.

Even if he were to act, it would never be the woman on stage who would be his leading lady.

Han Zijie cut to his introduction at the right moment, but the spotlight lingered on Jiang Qing for three more seconds.

As Jiang Qing sat down, she saw Yang Wei vigorously poking at his phone screen.

"Old Jiang, you're trending again."

He shoved the trending search term "Jiang Qing the pilot" right in front of Jiang Qing.

"Look, it's only been less than ten minutes!"

Suddenly, Dilraba, who was diagonally in front of him, twisted her lipstick to touch up her makeup. When the mirrored case snapped shut, the crisp sound startled Yang Wei.

Cheng Xiao, sitting in the back row, also felt that this producer, Yang, was really noisy!
Yang Wei realized something was wrong, quickly put down his phone, and raised an eyebrow at Jiang Qing.

Jiang glanced at him sideways, but didn't look at Dilraba. Instead, he took out his phone and checked the latest message notifications.

Dudu: "Oh, it's an invitation from the fairy sister (death smile)."

His face twitched, realizing that tonight's meeting was probably not going to be good!

(End of this chapter)