Chapter 167

Song Anyu was slightly startled, as if he hadn't expected Shen Li's soft and gentle personality to be so straightforward in saying a refusal.

But then he showed a relieved smile: "It's okay, what's there to apologize for?"

Shen Li still felt a bit guilty: "After all, you recommended me to the production team."

"It's really fine. Recommending suitable actors to the production team is a very common thing; not every time can it be successful. Don't take it to heart." Song Anyu comforted her in a soft voice.

Only then did Shen Li nod and solemnly thanked Song Anyu again. This matter could be considered over.

After Shen Li left, a trace of disappointment also welled up in Song Anyu's heart.

He hoped in his heart that Shen Li could act, otherwise he wouldn't have taken the initiative to recommend her to the production team, but he wouldn't force it if Shen Li didn't want to act, and he even had some premonition.

Because he had also read the script, and although this role was the heroine, it wasn't actually a role with highlights.

"Not even acting as the heroine—is she being a bit too high and mighty?"

Xiao Long on the side muttered in a low voice, seemingly a bit unable to understand Shen Li's train of thought.

Song Anyu glanced at him, and Xiao Long hurriedly closed his mouth, blinking his eyes innocently.

In the evening, Shen Ci arrived at "Platinum Hanjue" according to the address Lu Jinzhao gave her. Although Lu Jinzhao said the dress code was casual, Shen Ci wasn't really too casual and still chose a long dress and high heels that fit the occasion.

She reported the room number to the waiter and was led into the private room.

She wasn't late, but she wasn't too early either, only fifteen minutes earlier than the time Lu Jinzhao gave her.

But as soon as she entered the room, there were only two people inside.

One was Lu Jinzhao, and the other was someone Shen Ci didn't know.

Seeing Shen Ci arrive first, Lu Jinzhao was also a bit surprised. He hurriedly stood up to welcome her: "Oh, Miss Shen, I didn't expect you to be the first to arrive."

Shen Ci shook hands and greeted him nonchalantly, but she couldn't help but complain in her heart. She was arriving on time, right? Lu Jinzhao's reaction seemed as if he were very surprised that she had arrived too early.

Little did she know, this kind of dinner party was just like this. No capital party would arrive on time. The more powerful they were, the bigger the airs they put on; arriving half an hour late was nothing strange.

There were even those who arrived one or two hours late, which was also a common occurrence.

"Let me introduce Miss Shen. This is President Hui of 'Liyang Entertainment.' Our two companies can be considered long-term partners."

"Hello, Miss Shen. Nice to meet you." President Hui stretched out his hand enthusiastically, unable to hide his amazement upon seeing Shen Ci.

He had heard a little from Lu Jinzhao that this Miss Shen was very young, but he hadn't expected her to be this young.

After greeting each other, Lu Jinzhao wanted to let Shen Ci sit in a position very close to the main seat.

That position was weighty enough, but Shen Ci didn't want to sit there. At least in this occasion today, which was completely unfamiliar to her, she felt it was better to be low-key since she was a newcomer.

"Lu Zong, I'd better sit beside you; it's more comfortable," Shen Ci said with a smile. Without waiting for Lu Jinzhao to say more, she had already sat down in the seat beside him gracefully.

This position was almost at the end of the table because it was near the door.

It could be seen that even an entertainment company boss like Lu Jinzhao could only be ranked at the very end in terms of status and position at today's dinner party.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have been the two of them arriving first.

"Miss Shen, this isn't appropriate. Wouldn't it be better for you to sit in the upper seat?" Lu Jinzhao was afraid of neglecting Shen Ci and insisted on letting her change seats.

Shen Ci just shook her head with a smile: "I don't have so many formalities. Lu Zong, rest assured, as long as there's no problem with the project, I'll invest if I should. It's the same wherever I sit."

Upon hearing this, President Hui gave a thumbs up: "Miss Shen has vision and doesn't care about these superficial things."

Seeing this, Lu Jinzhao didn't insist anymore.

Time passed slowly, and it soon passed the agreed-upon 6:30.

It wasn't until nearly 7:00 that the door of the private room was pushed open again. Shen Ci actually recognized the person who entered this time.

Famous domestic actress "Dai Sirong"!

"Oh my, Lu Zong, President Hui, long time no see!"

As soon as Dai Sirong entered, she greeted them enthusiastically and familiarly. President Hui stood up with a laugh: "Oh, the big star has arrived!"

Dai Sirong was only 28 years old this year and was a highly renowned actress in the country. She had won some acting awards for TV dramas, and her strength could be considered quite recognized in the industry.

But what she lacked were film awards and box office results, especially since she had just transitioned from the small screen to the big screen. She needed more opportunities to show and prove herself.

And an actress as famous as her could be considered to have some status in the entertainment industry. But at today's party, to put it bluntly, she was just a foil. In the eyes of investors, actresses in the entertainment industry were like opera singers—vases at the wine table who accompanied drinking and laughing, not counting for anything at all.

There were only a few people in the room, and Dai Sirong naturally noticed Shen Ci at a glance.

She was young and beautiful, and the smile on her face was exceptionally calm.

Dai Sirong almost instinctively imagined Shen Ci to be like herself—an actress who came to this party to fight for opportunities.

Vigilance was naturally there, and so was the desire to win.

But there was more understanding. Dai Sirong had entered the industry at sixteen and had seen too many hardships of actresses. There was nothing wrong with working hard for what you wanted.

It was just that Shen Ci looked like a newcomer. Her conditions were good, but she probably couldn't fight for important roles.

"Hello there." Dai Sirong took the initiative to greet Shen Ci.

Just as Lu Jinzhao was about to introduce her, Shen Ci had already preempted him: "Teacher Dai, hello. I've watched your dramas and like you very much. My name is Shen Ci."

Dai Sirong often heard these words from juniors, so she was already accustomed to it, but she still replied with a cultured smile: "Thank you."

Shen Ci sat beside Lu Jinzhao, while Dai Sirong, a big star in the entertainment industry, could only sit beside President Hui.

As soon as Dai Sirong sat down, she chatted happily with the two entertainment company bosses. She was always at ease on such occasions, while Shen Ci watched the time pass bit by bit, her patience gradually fading.

Only then did she realize belatedly why Lu Jinzhao was so surprised by her appearance just now; it turned out that everyone would be late.

After waiting for a full hour, the others who were late finally arrived one after another.

Some were familiar with each other, and some were meeting for the first time.

Shen Ci also saw someone she recognized, and that was Sister Kuan. The reason she appeared here was that the project to be discussed today was related to the artist she had in her hands.

Until everyone arrived and the round table was full, Shen Ci fixed her gaze on the main seat.

That position wasn't one seat but divided by the center, with one seat on the left and one on the right.

The person sitting on the left was surnamed Yang, a slightly chubby middle-aged man whom Lu Jinzhao called Boss Yang.

And the person on the right was very interesting. He wore sunglasses and a short-sleeved shirt. His exposed right arm was tattooed with colorful flower patterns. He had a crew cut and a round face. Even through the sunglasses, one could tell he had a fierce look, as if he had just come out from inside.

Everyone move aside, Shen Ci is about to act cool!

(End of chapter)