They surrounded me right after the breakup.

Before the door to the private room was fully closed, footsteps echoed down the corridor.

The man who arrived this time was a young man; he walked quickly and had a tall, upright posture.

He wore a dark gray shirt, had deep-set features, high brow bones, and a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth when he smiled.

He had a high, straight nose, fair skin, and an air of scholarly refinement about him.

"Principal He!" The man greeted everyone with a bow as he entered. "I'm late, I got stuck in traffic."

Principal He stood up, his face beaming with smiles.

"Not too late, not too late, just in time for the dishes to be served."

He turned around and introduced him to Jiang Han: "President Jiang, this is Hu Ge, who also graduated from our school. He recently won the Magnolia Award."

Hugo!

Jiang Han smiled inwardly. These good-looking actors had indeed been taken in by this world.

The name is similar to what I remember, but he looks younger and more striking in person than he does on screen.

Hu Ge extended his hand, speaking in a reserved tone: "President Jiang, it's an honor to meet you."

Jiang Han pointed to the empty seat next to him: "Sit down! We're all alumni, no need to be shy."

Hu Ge sat down next to Teacher Zhao, draped his coat over the back of the chair, and listened quietly to Principal He speak.

Principal He raised his glass and gestured with his chin toward Hu Ge.

"You've come at the perfect time! President Jiang is back today, and we just finished discussing something important. You'll be happy to hear it."

Hu Ge put down his teacup: "Principal He, what's making you so happy?"

"StarMoon Media will hold special interview sessions at the school every year from now on. When President Jiang invests in film projects, he will give priority to reserving roles for graduates of our school."

Hugo's eyes lit up.

"Really? Then the younger students are in luck."

He stood up, raised his glass, and turned to Jiang Han: "President Jiang, this is a toast to you!"

Hu Ge downed half a glass of baijiu in one go, and once he sat down, he started talking non-stop.

"President Jiang, I happened to be on set the day the Jin Xing Show aired. After we finished work that night, several people came up to me and said, 'Your school has produced the most outspoken alumnus.'"

"I opened it and saw that it was all the truth."

"Besides, I've long admired Mr. Jiang's songwriting skills!"

Two female waitresses had been standing at the door of the private room for quite some time.

They were both students from a nearby university who were working part-time; one had a ponytail, and the other had short hair.

The principal and teachers often come here for meals and have seen quite a few celebrities, but today's lineup still exceeded their expectations.

The girl with her ponytail was carrying a tray with freshly cooked crab roe tofu on it.

She walked to the door, glanced inside, and froze, as if she were nailed to the spot.

A young man I'd never seen before was sitting at the head of the octagonal table.

He wore a dark gray shirt with the cuffs rolled up to his forearms, and his profile was sharply defined.

To his left sat a woman in a black dress with long, straight legs encased in extremely thin black stockings.

She wore a pair of stiletto heels, and the light shone on the curve of her calves, making the lines almost unreal.

Principal He was sitting on the right, smiling broadly with a wine glass in hand.

Next to him is Teacher Zhao from the school, and then Hu Ge.

They are all people you usually only see on TV.

But everyone unconsciously leaned towards the young man in the main seat.

That tilting is subconscious, just like a sunflower growing towards the sunlight.

She took a deep breath, carried the tray inside, and placed the crab roe tofu steadily on the table.

The short-haired girl followed behind, carrying a steamed sea bass; her hands were trembling slightly.

Principal He smiled and waved his hand when he saw how nervous the two girls looked.

"Don't be afraid, everyone at this table is one of us. You know Hu Ge, right?"

The girl with the ponytail nodded vigorously.

"That's President Jiang, the chairman of Xingyue Media. He's returning to his alma mater today, and we're hosting a welcome party for him."

The girl with the ponytail nodded again and said, "Please enjoy your meal," in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

As I was leaving, I almost tripped over the threshold, but the short-haired girl reached out and helped me.

The door to the private room closed gently, and the laughter coming from inside could still be heard through the door.

After leaving the private room, the girl with the ponytail leaned against the corridor wall, her hands covering her chest.

"That's Jiang Han, the one trending on Weibo. He's so much better looking in person than on TV!"

The short-haired girl also said in a low voice, "Hu Ge is here too, but I think the one in the main seat is the most handsome."

The girl with the ponytail nodded vigorously: "Didn't you notice? The girl sitting next to him is Shen Qingning!"

"They came with President Jiang, what are you asking about?"

Inside the private room, dishes were served one after another.

Crab roe tofu is so tender it crumbles at the slightest touch.

Crab roe wrapped around tofu, the umami flavor drilling from the tip of the tongue to the depths of the throat.

Braised pork belly with skin, alternating layers of fat and lean meat, and a perfectly balanced sweet and salty sauce – a classic Shanghai recipe.

The steamed sea bass was freshly killed; the flesh was snow-white, and you could see the distinct fibers when you picked it up with chopsticks.

Principal He frequently raised his glass, while Teacher Zhao occasionally chimed in with a few words.

When Hu Ge toasted, he didn't say much, but every word was sincere. The conversation ranged from the development of Xingyue Media to interesting anecdotes from his campus days.

Shen Qingning sat quietly on the left side of Jianghan.

When someone offered her a toast, she politely raised her glass.

She listened attentively when someone spoke.

There were no unnecessary movements or attempts to attract attention; they simply stayed quietly by each other's side.

But Shen Qingning's mind kept replaying scenes from her time in the entertainment industry.

Back then, she was still in the industry and would be asked to attend dinners with investors.

Offering toasts, keeping a smile, sitting all night without even getting a full meal.

She had once thought about when she could sit next to the head of the table, without having to please anyone or care about anyone's opinion.

Later, Shen Qingning realized that her idea was too naive.

Even at the level of fame she held before retiring from the entertainment industry, she still had to be toasted and greeted with smiles.

No matter how high you climb, there will always be someone taller than you above you.

But now, she sits to the left of Jiang Han.

When Principal He offered a toast, he first toasted Jiang Han, then her, without the slightest hesitation.

As Hu Ge spoke, his gaze swept across her face.

Teacher Zhao talked to her about the past, his tone as warm and friendly as that of a family member, without any formalities.

Shen Qingning suddenly understood that she used to think that she could earn respect by desperately climbing up the ladder.

What now?

She didn't even have to do anything; she just needed to sit next to Jiang Han to receive enough attention.

Shen Qingning picked up her glass and took a sip. The liquor was a bit spicy, but a warm feeling rose from her stomach after it went down her throat.

Shen Qingning glanced at Jiang Han, who was talking to Hu Ge about the movie.

She subtly moved her leg half an inch closer to him, her knee, encased in black stockings, gently touching his leg.

Jiang Han didn't stop talking, but his hand dropped from the table and gently stroked his thigh.

As the dinner was nearing its end, Hu Ge stood up.

"President Jiang, this is my last toast to you." He picked up the decanter and filled his glass to the brim.

"I gained a lot from today's meal. Not only did I get to know you, but more importantly, you made me realize that there are still people in this industry doing the right thing."

He paused for a moment, then said, "I've been acting for so many years and met so many investors, but no one has ever asked me, 'Do you think this role is suitable for you?'"

"You're the first one!"

Jiang Han raised his glass and clinked it against his.

"If you have any good projects in the future, feel free to contact me anytime. As long as it's a production by Xingyue Media, the pay is negotiable."

Hu Ge downed the cup in one gulp, and his eyes were a little red when he put it down.