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

Chapter 320 Speculation from the Outside World, Cheng Xiao's Embarrassment

The photo of Jiang Qing at the entrance of Xiaomi Science and Technology Park was posted online by a passerby, and the hashtag "Jiang Qing appears at Xiaomi headquarters" immediately became a hot topic.

In the photo, Lei Jun, along with Lu Weibing, Wang Teng, and other core executives, stood at the bottom of the steps, all smiling like Maitreya Buddhas, as if welcoming visiting leaders.

Even through the photo, Lei Jun's hand on Jiang Qing's shoulder looked exceptionally warm, almost as if he wanted to pull him into his arms.

In the comments section of the trending topic, many netizens flocked to the site after hearing the news.

"Wow! What a show of force! Lei Jun personally led the welcoming party, Jiang Shen's status is off the charts!"

"Wasn't this the treatment you received last time from a leader of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology?"

"I'm guessing it's related to car manufacturing!"

"I think President Lei is really happy, his smile is practically reaching the sky!"

"Shouldn't the focus be on Jiang Shen? He hasn't been seen for two months, and he's still so handsome!"

"Sisters, don't block me! I want to lick the screen!"

……

Tech blogger "Hardcore Digital" quickly published an analysis: "Note the position of Lei Jun's left hand, pointing towards the Xiaomi Auto R&D Center! Combined with Jiangqing Wuwen Technology's strength in the AI ​​field, it can be almost concluded that the two parties will engage in a deep partnership in the field of Xiaomi Auto's intelligent driving!"

The automotive media outlet "Electric Planet" poured cold water on the idea: "The idea is wonderful, but intelligent driving is not a voice assistant. The implementation of algorithms requires massive amounts of road test data. Xiaomi entered the market too late, and the data moats of Tesla, XPeng, and NIO cannot be crossed in a short time. No matter how brilliant Jiang Qing is, he can't conjure up data. I am not optimistic."

The online debate was raging, but the fans' camp presented a completely different picture.

"Brother! It's been two months! Do you know how I've been getting through these two months? I've been surviving on my 18th viewing of 'The Beginning' and watching behind-the-scenes footage!"

In Jiang Qing's super topic, listeners were as excited as if it were Chinese New Year.

"Lighter and princess dress! Pants! Play it for me! Now! Immediately! Bring it up here quickly! I've got a little money! I could lick Li Xun's school uniform photos a million times!"

"Is the Taowu production team dead? The sponsorship for the second season is almost over, right? Why don't you hurry up and weld Jiang Shen's name onto the guest list?! Last season's viewership was all thanks to Jiang Shen!"

"The three major platforms are begging you to open your eyes! The male lead who's got a phenomenal hit drama in his hands, why aren't you handing over the script? Jiang Shen can handle everything from historical dramas to contemporary romances, suspense, and sci-fi! Hurry up! Don't let him sit idle!"

"Putting everything else aside, just look at today's scene, and you've got the perfect template for a business elite! It's time to make a business drama!"

"I don't want to think about it too much. Let's bring out the lighter to satisfy our cravings first! Or you could add more bloopers!"

"Is Jiang Shen going to stop acting altogether? There hasn't been a single word about it lately."

"I heard that Jiang Shen was behind the scenes for the movie 'All or Nothing' that Zhou Ye and Meng Ziyi just joined."

"So you're letting others do the acting, and you're not going to do it yourself?"

"Actually, I think..."

The trending topics section has completely turned into a giant wishing well, a place for creative ideas to flourish.

Some people photoshopped Jiang Qing into the poster of "The Three-Body Problem" and captioned it "Luo Ji's latest work." Others edited together behind-the-scenes photos of him and Zhang Jingyi at the "Lighter" event and mixed them with the background music of "The Beginning," saying, "This time it must have a happy ending."

Some people even started a poll asking "Who would you most like Jiang Qing to co-star with in her next drama?" The names of Chen Duling, Meng Ziyi, Dilraba, Zhao Jinmai, and Zhou Ye were repeatedly mentioned, and fans were fighting fiercely over them.

Two months later, Jiang Qing's first public appearance sparked widespread discussion online.

-

At Yuehua Entertainment's headquarters, the air pressure in the CEO's office was so low it felt like you could wring water out of it.

Du Hua slammed the tablet down on the desk; the screen displayed a photo of Lei Jun embracing Jiang Qing.

Her well-maintained face was now clouded with gloom, and her fingers tapped irritably on the table.

"See that? He's chatting and laughing with Lei Jun! And what about us? Yibo is still at home picking his toes! How long has it been? We've lost all our business deals, and we haven't received a single script! If this continues, how will Yuehua fill out this year's financial report?!"

Wang Yibo stood in front of the table with his head down, his hat brim pulled low, obscuring his expression, but revealing a taut jawline that showed his dissatisfaction.

Assistant Xiao Wu stood by, not daring to utter a sound.

"Last time, you couldn't bring yourself to apologize, fine, I understand! Young people are hot-blooded. But what about now? They're clearly not taking us seriously! Last time, when the fans caused trouble, they directly got the official media to name them and their legal department to send a letter! If this feud isn't resolved, you can expect to be sidelined until your contract expires!"

Du Hua looked at Wang Yibo in front of him, getting angrier and angrier as he spoke, his chest heaving.

Wang Yibo suddenly looked up, his eyes reddening beneath his hat brim.

"Mr. Du, it wasn't me who told the fans to go and hurl insults! You were the one who told me not to worry about the fans' reactions..."

"Shut up!"

Du Hua interrupted him sharply.

"What's the point of saying all this now? Besides, get this straight, they don't care about you at all, understand? Maybe they've already forgotten about you! Right now, you're the one who needs their help! It's all about posture! Do you even know what posture means?!"

She took a deep breath, suppressed her anger, and turned to her assistant.

"Xiao Wu, contact Jiang Qing and tell him that I'm hosting a banquet at Lanting tonight, and I'll personally apologize to him with Yi Bo! I'll adopt the lowest possible stance!"

Xiao Wu looked hesitant, but forced himself to speak.

"Mr. Du, we... can't get through to him."

The office fell into dead silence.

Wang Yibo clenched his fist.

If it weren't for Du Hua, he would have already stepped in to restrain the fans. Now the problem is all on his shoulders, and most importantly, he can't even find a way to apologize.

Du Hua rubbed her throbbing temples, and suddenly, as if she remembered something, she looked sharply at Xiao Wu.

"At the last Tencent Video press conference, didn't Xiao Xiao speak with Jiang Qing? And... add him on WeChat?"

Xiao Wu was taken aback for a moment, then immediately nodded in confirmation.

"Yes! Xiao Xiao mentioned it when she came back, saying that President Jiang is very easy-going."

Du Hua's eyes lit up instantly, as if he had grasped a lifeline.

"Quick! Go and fetch Xiao Xiao here! Right now!"

"Yes!"

Xiao Wu responded and quickly turned and ran out.

Wang Yibo stared at her retreating figure with a grim expression.

He and Cheng Xiao were friends, and he never imagined that one day he would need her help, just to meet another man.

Cheng Xiao was sweating profusely in the dance studio when Xiao Wu urgently summoned her to Du Hua's office, leaving her somewhat bewildered.

Looking at Wang Yibo's ashen face and then at Du Hua's extremely low mood, her heart skipped a beat.

"Aunt Du, you were looking for me?"

Cheng Xiao asked politely, his gaze sweeping over Wang Yibo.

Du Hua's expression instantly changed, and he put on an unprecedentedly warm smile, getting up and personally pulling Cheng Xiao to sit on the sofa.

"Xiao Xiao, are you tired from dance practice? Come sit down, what would you like to drink?"

Cheng Xiao was flattered but then realized something was wrong.

"No, no need, Aunt Du, please tell me what's wrong."

"Oh, why are you being so polite with me?"

Du Hua patted her hand affectionately.

"I called you here because there's something important, and only you can help with it."

She pointed to the photos on the tablet.

“President Jiang is in Beijing, as you know. There was a misunderstanding between Yibo and President Jiang before. I wanted to host a banquet at Lanting tonight to personally apologize to President Jiang. But we can’t get in touch with anyone from President Jiang’s side. Don’t you have President Jiang’s WeChat? Do you think you could help me make an appointment with him? Just say that I, Du Hua, sincerely invite him and hope he will do me the honor of attending.”

Cheng Xiao's heart sank.

Looking at Du Hua's eager yet oppressive gaze, and then at Wang Yibo's embarrassed yet expectant expression beside her, she instantly understood her predicament.

I was used as a stepping stone.

"Mr. Du, I..."

Cheng Xiao's throat was dry.

"I only exchanged a few words with President Jiang at the press conference and we added each other on WeChat. We're really not that close... I'm afraid I might bother you without permission..."

"What are you afraid of!" Du Hua's smile remained unchanged, but his tone left no room for refusal.

"It's just a friend helping to pass on a message! President Jiang is such an easygoing person, he won't blame you. Xiao Xiao!"

She leaned forward slightly, lowered her voice, and coaxed him gently.

"Think about it, this isn't just for the company, it's also for Yibo's future. If the misunderstanding is cleared up and the resources are restored, wouldn't I be even more dedicated to your development within the company?"

The phrase "soft yet firm" has a self-evident meaning.

Cheng Xiao's fingers unconsciously tightened around the hem of her clothes.

She certainly didn't want to be a mouthpiece, and she didn't want Jiang Qing to think she had ulterior motives.

But Du Hua's words, once spoken, seemed to bind her like an invisible rope.

After a few seconds of silence, under Du Hua's increasingly oppressive gaze, Cheng Xiao resignedly took out his phone, his fingertips trembling slightly as he found the sunset profile picture.

“I’ll give it a try, but Mr. Jiang might be really busy… and might not pay attention to me.”

"Try it! Try it now!"

Du Hua immediately beamed with joy.

Cheng Xiao took a deep breath, opened the chat box, and carefully considered his words:

【Hello Mr. Jiang, this is Cheng Xiao. I'm sorry to bother you. Our General Manager Du learned that you are in Beijing and would like to invite you to dinner at Lanting tonight. Would you have time to join us? I'm so sorry to bother you. (bows)】

The message was sent, and the small "delivered" status felt like a stone weighing on Cheng Xiao's heart.

She placed her phone screen-up on the coffee table. Three people, six eyes, all stared at that small space. For a moment, only slightly rapid breathing could be heard in the office.

One minute, five minutes, ten minutes passed, but the screen remained completely still.

Du Hua's smile gradually faded, and her fingers began tapping on the table again.

Wang Yibo turned his head to look out the window, his face stiff.

Cheng Xiao felt like she was sitting on pins and needles, her cheeks burning, wishing the floor would crack open and swallow her whole.

Just as embarrassment was about to engulf the entire room, Cheng Xiao's phone screen suddenly lit up!
Instead of a text reply, Jiang Qing's WeChat voice call request popped up directly!

"Buzz...buzz..."

The sudden vibration startled Cheng Xiao so much that he almost threw his phone away.

She frantically grabbed her phone, looked at Du Hua, and her eyes were filled with panic.

Du Hua's eyes lit up, and he waved his hand urgently to signal her to answer quickly, lip-reading to urge her on.

"Answer! Put it on speakerphone!"

Cheng Xiao took a deep breath, swiped his finger across the answer button, and simultaneously turned on speakerphone.

"Hello? Miss Cheng Xiao?"

Jiang Qing's gentle voice came through the receiver clearly, echoing in the quiet office.

"Mr. Jiang! It's me!"

Cheng Xiao's voice trembled with nervousness.

"Sorry, I was in a video conference and my phone was on silent. I just saw this."

Jiang Qing's voice was natural, with a hint of apology.

"I saw your message. Why did you suddenly ask me to dinner?"

He spoke in a relaxed tone, as if chatting casually with a friend.

Du Hua immediately frantically winked at Cheng Xiao, then clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture.

Looking at Du Hua's almost humble posture, and then at Wang Yibo's instantly straightened back, Cheng Xiao felt a mix of emotions.

She bit her lower lip, deciding to tell the truth, her voice carrying a reckless honesty, and a hint of barely perceptible embarrassment.

"President Jiang, I'm so sorry to bother you... It's... it's President Du's side. They want to sincerely apologize to you for the cyberbullying you caused by the fans of our company's artist, Wang Yibo. President Du wanted to express his apology to you in person, and Yibo is here too. I... I'm just passing on a message..."

Her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, her face turning bright red with embarrassment.

There was silence on the other end of the phone for two seconds.

The brief silence made the air in the office almost freeze.

Du Hua's heart leaped into his throat, and Wang Yibo clenched his fists again.

Immediately afterwards, Jiang Qing's knowing laugh rang out, carrying an air of complete understanding.

"Heh... I knew it. Mr. Du, there's no need to be so polite. There's no need for an apology; the matter is over."

Upon hearing this, Du Hua's face lit up with joy, but then he realized that Jiang Qing had no intention of meeting him, so he quickly gave Cheng Xiao a meaningful look.

Cheng Xiao's face fell, and he answered the question tremblingly.

"President Jiang, President Du still hopes to express his apologies to you in person."

There was silence again on the other end of the phone.

"That's it..."

Two or three seconds later, Jiang Qing's voice slowly rang out.

"Since Mr. Du is so kind as to invite us, and the location has been decided, let's go to Lanting. What's the time?"

What a twist!

Du Hua was so excited he almost jumped up, and immediately mouthed to Cheng Xiao.

"Seven o'clock! Seven o'clock!"

"Is 7 PM a convenient time for you?"

Cheng Xiao quickly relayed the message.

"Seven o'clock is fine."

Jiang Qing acted decisively and efficiently.

"Send me the specific address via WeChat."

"Okay, okay! Thank you, Mr. Jiang! Sorry to bother you! See you tonight!"

Cheng Xiao felt relieved and thanked him repeatedly.

"Well, see you later."

After Jiang Qing finished speaking, she hung up the phone decisively.

"Beep...beep..."

The office was silent for a moment when the busy signal sounded, then Du Hua burst into loud laughter.

"Good! Good! Xiao Xiao! You've done a great job this time!"

Du Hua was overjoyed and patted Cheng Xiao's shoulder heavily, as if the oppression he had just exerted on her had never existed.

"I knew President Jiang was so magnanimous! Quick! Send over the location of Lanting!"

She paced excitedly around the office for a couple of steps, then suddenly remembered something, looked Cheng Xiao up and down—he was wearing a simple sports vest and had no makeup on—and immediately frowned.

"Oh my silly girl! You're planning to meet President Jiang like this? Hurry up! Go back now! Have the styling team do a good job of getting you ready! Clothes, makeup, hair—go for the highest standard! Be beautiful! Be stunning! Make sure you entertain President Jiang properly!"

The implications in her words were blatant and undisguised.

Cheng Xiao's heart clenched, and the slight relief he had felt just now because Jiang Qing had agreed vanished instantly.

She lowered her eyes, concealing the resistance in them, and responded softly.

"Understood, Aunt Du."

She glanced at Wang Yibo beside her, and when their eyes met, he immediately turned his face away.

Ah……

Cheng Xiao gave a self-deprecating laugh, turned around and walked out of the office.

(End of this chapter)