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

Chapter 368 A Subtle Gap, Still Unwilling to Accept It

At 7 p.m., the banquet hall of the Rosewood Beijing Hotel was already brightly lit and bustling with people.

A huge crystal chandelier poured down bright light, illuminating the gleaming marble floor.

Soft background music and mixed perfume scents floated in the air as waiters, carrying champagne, moved silently among those in suits and ties and those in elegant gowns.

Peng Guanying and Cai Wenjing from the "Unexpected Arrival" crew were talking quietly in the area near the dessert section. Peng Guanying occasionally pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, while Cai Wenjing would cover her mouth and laugh heartily at his antics.

Not far away, several key members of the cast and crew of "He Dun's Little Cola" gathered together.

Yang Zi, wearing a bright yellow short dress, was sipping her juice and listening to Jing Boran talking beside her.

Jing Boran wore a dark blue velvet suit, which made him look quite formal.

"Zimei." Jing Boran leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and asked with a hint of curiosity, "You knew President Jiang before. Is this person... easy to get along with? If we run into each other later, I don't know how to greet him. He's a few years younger than me."

Yang Zi put down his cup, smiled, and was about to speak when he caught a slight commotion at the entrance of the banquet hall.

Her gaze followed the direction and she saw a group of people entering the hall.

Leading the group was Fan Luyuan, the president of Kuzi Video, and walking beside him was Jiang Qing, the protagonist of the recent discussion.

Jiang Qing had changed out of his casual daytime clothes and was now wearing a dark gray plaid suit, which made him look even taller and more upright.

He wasn't wearing a tie, and the top button of his shirt was casually undone. Compared to the refreshing and casual look he had during the daytime interview, he exuded a more composed and reserved business aura, but his effortless ease remained unchanged.

He stepped half a step back to the side, followed by Liu Junjie, the director of the Lighter film crew, as well as Zhang Jingyi, Zeng Keni, and others.

Zhang Jingyi also changed her outfit, wearing a champagne pink halter dress that hugged her body curves. Her long hair was pulled up, revealing her three-dimensional facial features and perfectly showcasing her superior bone structure, making her look dignified and radiant.

She was very close to Jiang Qing, and their outfits matched quite well.

"Speak of the devil and he appears."

Yang Zi gestured to Jing Boran to look towards the entrance, raising her chin slightly.

"Look, isn't that it?"

Jing Boran immediately looked in the direction she indicated. Not only him, but many people in the banquet hall who were originally chatting in twos and threes also seemed to sense it and turned their gazes toward the entrance one after another.

When they saw Fan Luyuan, the person in charge of Kuzi Video and president of Ali Entertainment, a figure who could shake the industry with a stomp of his foot, slightly turning his head and with a respectful smile, personally leading Jiang Qing and his group inside, a subtle commotion mixed with surprise and understanding inevitably arose in the crowd.

Even though many people present knew that Jiang Qing held a superior position, they were still quite shocked to see Fan Luyuan treat him with such courtesy and even a somewhat respectful attitude.

Fan Luyuan didn't care about the gazes around him. He stopped and walked into the banquet hall, facing Jiang Qing. He took the initiative to extend his hand and leaned forward slightly.

"President Jiang, it is an honor to have you here!"

The executives from Kuzi Video and Ali Entertainment who followed behind him also wore smiles and acted respectfully.

Jiang Qing calmly extended her hand to shake his, a gentle smile playing on her lips.

"Mr. Fan, you're too kind. Thank you for your kind invitation."

"Not at all, it's our honor that President Jiang could come."

Fan Luyuan shook hands with him, his tone warm.

"Mr. Ma specifically asked me to convey his regards to you. He keeps saying that he hopes you can visit Lin'an again sometime when you have some free time, as he has recently acquired a lot of fine tea."

The voice wasn't loud, but it was enough for those nearby who were listening intently to catch the key information, and they were even more surprised.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qing's smile remained unchanged, and she nodded slightly.

"Mr. Ma, you're too kind. Please tell Mr. Ma that once I'm done with this busy period, I'll definitely make time to visit you."

"Okay, okay! I'll definitely pass it on!"

Fan Luyuan nodded repeatedly before letting go of her hand. He then turned to Liu Junjie, Zhang Jingyi, and the others, exchanging pleasantries with them one by one. However, compared to his attitude towards Jiang Qing, he displayed more of the politeness of a superior to a partner, and less of the obvious respect he showed.

All of this was observed by the surrounding guests.

Other members of the Lighter crew, such as Zeng Keni and Zhao Zhiwei, maintained polite smiles, but their eyes revealed a little unease.

They usually deal with producers and mid-level managers of the platform; when have they ever seen the president, who holds the highest authority in the platform, treat an actor with such humility?

Even though this actor's identity goes far beyond that.

This gap has brought about a real and tangible impact.

Zhang Jingyi stood slightly behind Jiang Qing, watching Fan Luyuan's almost cautious demeanor as he spoke with Jiang Qing, listening to the suppressed gasps of amazement around them, her face still maintaining a bright smile, in accordance with the etiquette of this occasion, but she felt a strange emptiness in her heart.

This is a very subtle feeling.

During daytime interviews, they were still a pair who could joke and tease each other.

Just a few hours ago, during dinner, he would carefully scald and wash her dishes and chopsticks, and banter and joke with his sister, like someone you could easily reach.

She... had kissed him more than once.

But at this moment, in this glittering yet hierarchical arena of fame and fortune, he seemed to be enveloped in an invisible halo, a sense of distance that was awe-inspiring, forged by wealth, status, and wisdom.

He is Jiang Qing, the founder of Wuwen Technology, someone who can have an equal dialogue with the leaders of internet giants and even be consulted, not just Li Xun, whom he plays, or Jiang Qing, the actress who acts alongside her.

This realization made her instantly aware of the insurmountable gap between them, and the burning affection in her heart seemed to shrink back slightly as if blown by a cold wind.

But the next second, she completely banished that thought.

No matter who he is, I like him.

That's enough.

In a relatively secluded corner of the banquet hall, Hu Lianxin held a glass of champagne, gazing at Jiang Qing's location from afar. Her meticulously adorned nails, decorated with rhinestones, shimmered beautifully against the backdrop of the shimmering golden liquid in her glass.

She had clearly put a lot of effort into her outfit tonight, choosing a striking white lace halter dress.

The dress clung to her tall and graceful figure, with bold cutouts on both sides of the waist revealing a section of firm, fair skin. The back also featured a large open back design, with smooth skin extending all the way to her waistline, making her sexy and alluring without being vulgar.

Her thick, jet-black hair was neatly styled into a bun at the back of her head, revealing her graceful swan neck and clear, sculpted facial features.

With her high nose bridge, deep-set eyes, and full red lips, enhanced by glamorous makeup, she appears even more radiant and charming, exuding an allure that combines elegance with understated seduction.

She hoped to attract someone's attention.

Looking at Jiang Qing, who was surrounded by Fan Luyuan and a group of platform executives like a star, and watching him calmly and skillfully deal with those people she usually had to work hard to curry favor with, her eyes burned with longing.

She imagined herself standing in his position, beside him, enjoying the envious, awe-inspiring, and flattering gazes around her—how glorious that would be!

Just imagining that scene makes my heart tremble.

She believes that her looks, figure, and acting skills are no worse than Zhang Jingyi's, and she even knows better how to use her own advantages.

Why can't it be me standing next to him?

This intense desire almost overwhelmed her reason. She subconsciously straightened her back, making her beautiful body lines stand out even more. She adjusted her expression to make herself look more radiant and charming, her eyes fixed on Jiang Qing's figure, searching for any possible opportunity to go up and talk to him.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Jiang Qing, Fan Luyuan personally led him and the lighter's main creative team toward the main guest area.

People along the way kept trying to approach Jiang Qing to say hello.

"Mr. Jiang, hello! I've heard so much about you!"

A well-known producer squeezed through the crowd and handed over his business card.

Jiang Qing didn't stop walking, but nodded slightly, signaling Chen Duo behind her to take the business card. Her attitude was humble, but she exuded an aura that made her unapproachable.

"Dr. Jiang, I am..."

Another stylishly dressed investor also tried to strike up a conversation.

Jiang Qing glanced at him, merely curving her lips politely, without lingering, and continued her low conversation with Fan Luyuan beside her.

Wherever he went, people naturally made way for him, their eyes following him, whispering among themselves.

"See that? That's Jiang Qing..."

"He has even more presence in person than he does on screen!"

"Even President Fan was so polite to him!"

"I heard his company's valuation has gone up again!"

"This is what you call truly top-tier resources..."

These whispers lingered in the air like background noise.

As Yang Zi watched Jiang Qing and his group walk by, she nudged Jing Boran, who was still somewhat dazed, and lowered her voice.

"See? Whether someone is easy to get along with depends on who they are and the occasion. When we first met, they were quite easy to talk to, and they weren't pretentious at all when we ate together; they were even quite humorous. But here..."

She shook her head slightly.

"He and we are from completely different worlds."

Jing Boran looked at Jiang Qing's retreating figure and nodded with deep feeling. His earlier thought of going up to greet her and chat with her completely vanished; the difference in their abilities was simply too obvious.

Accompanied by Fan Luyuan, Jiang Qing arrived at the main guest area.

Immediately, others gathered around, mostly high-level executives of the platform, representatives of important investors, or highly renowned directors and producers.

Jiang Qing remained composed throughout, shaking hands, exchanging pleasantries, and business cards with people. She occasionally threw in a well-placed joke, eliciting knowing smiles from those around her. The atmosphere was harmonious yet maintained an unspoken boundary. Zhang Jingyi and the other crew members were led to a section closer to the main guest area and took their seats.

Watching Jiang Qing navigate among those big shots, despite being younger than many of the people present, she was clearly the center of attention. Her effortless demeanor made her initial enthusiasm dissipate, and the emptiness in her heart deepened.

She picked up the juice the waiter brought, took a sip, and stared blankly into space.

Zeng Keni leaned closer and whispered a sigh in her ear.

"My God! I knew Dr. Jiang was impressive, but I didn't expect him to be so... so prestigious! President Fan personally greeted him! Just now, President Fan led a group of people to greet him at the door, and I was completely stunned! And President Ma even brought a message... Jingyi, aren't you under a lot of pressure?"

Zhang Jingyi snapped out of her daze, forced a smile, and answered in a low voice.

"A little, but thankfully he's usually very approachable."

It seems that he was just too low-key in his daily life.

Zhao Zhiwei also came over and clicked his tongue twice.

"Dr. Jiang is a true master! A complete and utter defeat! I feel like I could brag about working with him for the rest of my life!"

His words were tinged with sarcasm, yet they also revealed a great deal of truth.

Being able to participate in Jiang Qing's film and television works, or even just to know him, is certainly a valuable qualification for these young actors.

The dinner officially began later.

Fan Luyuan took the stage and gave a brief speech, once again emphasizing his gratitude to Jiang Qing for her presence and his anticipation for the upcoming premiere of "Lighter and Princess Dress".

Along with that, several other works that will be released in November were also mentioned, but they were clearly just mentioned incidentally.

Amidst applause, Jiang Qing was invited to the stage by Fan Luyuan.

He stood in front of the microphone, relaxed, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below, his voice coming through the speakers.

"Thank you, Mr. Fan, and thank you to Kuzi Video for your hospitality. I'm very happy to be involved in this lighter project, and it's been a pleasant experience to work with such an excellent team. I hope everyone will enjoy it after it airs, and I wish Kuzi Video great success with this series."

Concise yet thorough, the message expresses gratitude to partners, anticipation for the work, and consideration for other projects on the platform, demonstrating a well-rounded approach.

The audience responded with enthusiastic applause once again.

Zhang Jingyi clapped along, looking at the radiant man on the stage, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

Appreciation, admiration, a sense of distance, and a hint of unspeakable disappointment were intertwined.

After the speeches, there will be a time for free discussion and lunch.

Jiang Qing naturally became the center of attention, with people constantly coming up to toast her and strike up conversations.

He did not refuse, but most of the time he only took a small sip, and the conversation was kept to a short few minutes, with Chen Duo assisting him as needed.

Hu Lianxin finally found an opportunity.

Holding a glass of wine, she took a deep breath, put on what she thought was her most perfect smile, swayed her hips, and walked through the crowd toward Jiang Qing, who had just finished a conversation with an investor and was taking a short break.

The white skirt swayed gently with her steps, and her snow-white skin on her back was particularly eye-catching under the light.

"General Manager Jiang~"

She spoke in a soft and charming voice, stopping a step away from Jiang Qing.

Jiang Qing turned her head upon hearing the voice, saw it was her, her eyes flickered, but she simply nodded slightly.

"Miss Hu."

He was somewhat surprised by the girl's persistence, even though he hadn't given her a kind look last time.

"Mr. Jiang, it's been a long time. I've been wanting to find another opportunity to thank you for your hospitality that day since last time."

Hu Lianxin tried her best to make her tone sound natural and familiar, and subconsciously leaned forward slightly, trying to close the distance and show off her graceful figure.

Jiang Qing's gaze swept over her overly heavy makeup and deliberate posture, his tone distant.

"No need to be polite, it was just something I did."

After saying that, he turned his gaze to another platform executive who was walking behind her, showing no intention of continuing the conversation.

Hu Lianxin's smile faltered instantly. Before she could say anything more, Chen Duo stepped forward and politely gestured for her to leave.

"Ms. Hu, I'm sorry, Mr. Jiang has other matters to attend to."

Hu Lianxin blushed with embarrassment, her carefully maintained bright smile almost crumbling. Seeing that Jiang Qing had already turned around to shake hands and exchange pleasantries with that executive, not even sparing her a glance, she could only bite her lip in frustration and slink away, feeling utterly defeated.

Her carefully chosen battle attire seemed to have no effect whatsoever.

This little incident didn't attract much attention, but similar scenes had already happened more than once around Jiang Qing tonight.

As the banquet progressed into its later stages, Jiang Qing was finally able to temporarily escape from the constant social engagements.

He picked up a glass of water and strolled toward the relatively quiet area by the floor-to-ceiling window.

Zhang Jingyi was here, gazing absently at the dazzling night view of Beijing outside the window.

Jiang Qing walked to her side and stood still, also looking out the window, softly breaking the silence.

Feeling a bit bored?

Zhang Jingyi was startled by the voice, turned around and saw it was him, then smiled apologetically.

"Huh? Hmm... It's alright, I just need some fresh air."

She paused for a moment, then couldn't help but add softly.

"You've been keeping busy the whole time."

Jiang Qing took a sip of water, understanding dawning on her.

"That's just how these occasions are, so I don't like attending banquets."

He turned his head to look at her.

"How are you doing? Are you adjusting well?"

Her tone was natural, as if she had returned to being the partner who would care whether she had eaten breakfast on the set of Luyang.

Looking into the familiar gentleness in his eyes, Zhang Jingyi felt the invisible barrier in her heart loosen a little.

She nodded, her tone becoming more relaxed.

"Yeah, it's a bit... well, eye-opening."

She chose a more subtle word.

She had attended some banquets in the past, but rarely had someone like Fan Luyuan present, nor so many platform executives.

Jiang Qing seemed to understand her unspoken meaning, smiled, and said nothing.

The two were silent for a moment, standing side by side watching the dazzling lights and bustling traffic outside the window.

After a while, Jiang Qing suddenly spoke, her voice calm.

“No matter what others think, the show is about to premiere. You are Zhu Yun, and I am Li Xun. At least in the eyes of the audience, that’s how it will be for a long time.”

He turned his head and looked at her gently.

"So relax. Tonight you're just the leading lady at a promotional party for your new drama, so just enjoy the experience."

His words were like a gentle breeze, softly dispelling the fog in her heart.

Yes, no matter how many amazing identities he has, at this moment, they are first and foremost partners who have worked together to complete a project.

Moreover, they had mutual feelings for each other.

Zhang Jingyi took a deep breath, and when she looked up again, the smile on her face became much more genuine and bright. She nodded vigorously.

"Yes! You're right!"

Just then, director Liu Junjie called out to them from not far away.

"President Jiang, Jingyi, come here for a moment. President Fan said he'd like to discuss some details regarding the later stages of the promotion..."

Jiang Qing gave Zhang Jingyi a meaningful look.

"Let's go."

"it is good."

Zhang Jingyi responded and followed behind him, heading back towards the center of the commotion.

Her steps were much lighter than before.

Inside the banquet hall, light and shadow intertwined, and the noise of people continued unabated.

Hu Lianxin also witnessed the entire scene of their conversation.

She bit her lower lip lightly, her gaze following Jiang Qing's figure.

No matter what, today can't end like this!
(End of this chapter)