Chapter 290: The Dazed Little Look

The Weibo Night venue was packed — staff, celebrities, photographers — a steady stream of people coming and going.

Of course, there was no avoiding the networking and socializing, each with their own little circle.

Little circles all clustered around the big shots.

Da Heiniu and Zhang Xinyu hadn't broken up yet, whispering to each other in low voices.

Guoji Zhang was chatting and laughing with Wang Lihong; Da Baobei was giggling, saying something to Han Geng; Fa Ge was bantering cheerfully with Yu Pangzi; Yao Dazui was murmuring privately with General Manager Da Wang; Li Bailian had an arm around the shoulder of some big shot no one recognized.

The scene looked harmonious, as if everyone were on great terms, but soon they switched conversational partners — Da Baobei went off to chat with General Manager Da Wang again.

Guoji Zhang went off to laugh a big "heh-heh" with Liu Zhengyun.

Chen Zhixi was also chatting amiably with Jiang Zhiqiang; the two had spoken on the phone before, probably about their two films colliding at the box office again.

But Chen Zhixi couldn't really say much to him either, could only brush it off with a "ha-ha," saying she couldn't call the shots.

Fang Hong had made it clear he was firing blanks on this — nothing could be changed.

Other stars and artists either squeezed in a few words with the big shots when they could, or simply waited for their chance.

At this moment, Yao Dazui was bent at the waist, smiling ingratiatingly at a seated big shot, the two facing each other in conversation, her buckteeth on full display.

That big shot even held her hand and gave it a squeeze, and Yu Pangzi sitting beside him also ran his hand up and down her smooth arm.

At this point, Yao Dazui was still quite favored by directors and film and television companies.

The few chatted and laughed together, and when Yao Dazui stood up, she happened to see Liu Tianxian walking through the crowd — the smile on her face vanished instantly.

In its place came the look of a wronged wife.

The Principal had ruined her life, but the Principal was out of reach, so she could only give Liu Tianxian the cold shoulder.

Yu Pangzi and the several film-and-TV big shots beside him noticed Yao Dazui's face change, and turned to look as well.

Fa Ge had already left, gone elsewhere, but he had also spotted Liu Tianxian — his eyes narrowed slightly, carrying a dangerous air.

He still remembered the time during *Bronze Sparrow Terrace*, when Liu Tianxian set the tempo and let Wangyi watch him make a fool of himself.

Liu Tianxian was walking arm-in-arm with Zhang Jingying through the crowd, the two chatting and laughing, looking very close.

People around her still greeted Liu Tianxian — actors and stars like Zhong Hanliang, Chen Shu, Sun Li — all politely said hello.

After all, the Principal's fame spread far and wide, and Liu Tianxian was the Principal's old flame.

Zhang Jingying, in a little black dress, nudged Liu Tianxian beside her and gestured: "Look."

Liu Tianxian looked ahead and saw Yao Dazui's dark face, along with everyone else staring at her.

Although the hostility was obvious, she still kept a polite smile and nodded in greeting.

But what came back was the cold shoulder.

Yao Dazui didn't depend on the Principal to live anyway — no matter how fearsome the Principal was, at most he'd curse her online; he didn't have the clout to blacklist her.

At the very least, Huayi and Bona didn't give the Principal face.

"This person is really hateful — she was the one who cursed you first, yet now she's the one acting wronged." Zhang Jingying muttered indignantly, keeping her voice low.

"Don't bother with other people." Liu Tianxian was indifferent.

The two kept walking forward; Zhang Jingying sat down in her seat, together with Da Heiniu and Zhang Xinyu.

Liu Tianxian's seat was in the front row, alongside Guoji Zhang and Han Geng.

"Tianxian, come here a moment." Yu Pangzi, one leg crossed over the other, lounged on the sofa in full big-shot manner, beckoning Liu Tianxian over.

This fellow really liked to show off in front of the stars.

Liu Tianxian walked over and greeted him: "General Manager Yu."

"Have you been filming anything lately?" Yu Pangzi crossed his arms, still in his show-off pose.

Liu Tianxian stood before him: "No, I've been resting recently, haven't taken on any scripts."

"Oh, so you haven't been filming much then — run out of roles?" Yu Pangzi mocked.

The onlookers all wore expressions of watching a show.

That remark was mocking whether Yutu wasn't giving her any roles to film, as if Yutu didn't have many productions either.

Other stars didn't dare cross Liu Tianxian, but a big shot like this wasn't afraid — they were already at war, so what was wrong with teasing the Principal's woman?

"General Manager Yu, you jest. I'm not short on roles — I just filmed two productions this year and was genuinely a bit tired and wanted a rest. Of course I can't compare with a big businessman like yourself, General Manager Yu — you film so many productions a year. What productions did your company film this year, by the way?" Liu Tianxian shifted the topic, holding her forehead in a dazed, cute little look.

Yu Pangzi had been enjoying the flattery at the start, but his face changed at the last sentence.

"Sorry, I've been in a fog lately — I really can't remember what kind of productions your company filmed this year." Liu Tianxian patted her forehead, looking all confused.

She first established that she wasn't short on roles, and that Yutu wasn't short on roles to give her; then she implied that Bona's productions were all obscure, with such low box office that no one could remember them.

The faint smiles faded from the others' faces, turning solemn; Yu Pangzi's expression also looked very ugly.

This girl looks all soft and gentle, but her mouth is sharp.

Has she been with the Principal so long that she caught his foul temper?

Actually, Liu Tianxian couldn't stand hearing anyone speak ill of Fang Hong — they could say what they wanted about her, she could endure it.

"Tianxian, you should remember your place, remember what you are." Yu Pangzi tried to pressure her with status.

"I remember, General Manager. If there's nothing else, I'll head back." Liu Tianxian's expression was flat, as if she didn't care.

She didn't depend on him anyway — whether Yutu was involved or not, Bona wouldn't give her roles to film; it didn't matter.

That indifferent attitude only made Yu Pangzi angrier. He said forcefully: "Get your attitude right."

"Get whose attitude right? Don't try to throw your seniority around here — as if anyone cares about your little things." Chen Zhixi cut in, walking up to Yu Pangzi, giving him no face at all.

Although she wasn't Yutu's Chairman, she wouldn't back down to Yu Pangzi — Yutu's film and television business was under her management to begin with.

The surrounding artists and film people all kept their mouths shut, neither smiling nor speaking, afraid of offending anyone.

Both were people who controlled resources, and the resources in Chen Zhixi's hands were no fewer than Yu Pangzi's.

Her television and film businesses were both thriving — recently, the TV drama starring Fan Xiaopang in *You Who Came from the Stars* had kicked off its Propaganda Department campaign. "What mighty authority, Chairman Chen." Yu Pangzi looked at the person before him, eyes seemingly ablaze.

The Principal isn't coming out himself, so he sends someone like this.

"If you've got the ability, prove it on screen. Don't put on that holier-than-thou act—who are you performing for? If you weren't the boss of Bona, how many people would even pay attention to you?"

Chen Zhixi couldn't be bothered with this person. She tugged Liu Tianxian, signaling her to leave, not to stand around blabbering with someone like that.

Liu Tianxian showed no expression; she knew Chen Zhixi was standing up for her.

Yu Pangzi watched the two women's retreating backs, his face shifting between cloudy and clear. He had thought the Principal wasn't around and wanted to show off a bit, to flaunt his status and presence before the others. He hadn't expected to get roasted back.

No way around it—Jade Rabbit's results were too dazzling, which made them look dim by comparison.

The others said nothing either, and didn't offer Yu Pangzi any comfort, lest it seem like they were taking sides and offending someone—that would not be good.

Even some celebrities who were upset, like Yao Dazui, Da Mimi and the rest, had to swallow it. Even if they didn't want to, they had no choice.

Da Wang Zong watched from far away too, and said nothing. This sort of thing was nothing more than a war of words—you curse me, I curse you.

There was simply no way to do anything to the other side. Jade Rabbit was growing too fast; their attempts to blacklist her were like a child's game.

No way around it—young directors from Jade Rabbit kept popping up one after another, and all of them looked extremely talented.

They could only rely on old-timers like Feng Kuzi.

Yet this situation made some quick-witted people see an opportunity, like Guoji Zhang.

Seeing Liu Tianxian sitting next to her, she grabbed her hand with an ingratiating smile: "Tianxian, hello."

She seemed quite warm, which actually made Liu Tianxian a bit uncomfortable. She replied: "Hello, Sister Zhang."

Then she shifted her gaze and nodded in greeting to Han Geng.

One of these two was an internationally famous actress, the other the hottest top-tier star of the moment.

Before the Four Returnees came back, Han Geng was the most popular traffic star.

But Guoji Zhang was in trouble—her reputation had tanked in recent years, fewer and fewer directors wanted her, and she was doing worse than even Yao Dazui.

Don't think she wanted to go shoot TV dramas later on; she genuinely had no roles. After The Grandmaster, who remembers what she filmed? All garbage.

So what if she won awards? So what if she was once hugely famous? If capital doesn't want you, it simply doesn't want you—because you don't make money. It's that simple.

Actually, Guoji Zhang's circle is very small.

"Have you been filming anything recently?" Guoji Zhang made small talk.

"No, I'm resting."

"."

The two chatted idly. Weibo Night officially began, starting with an opening boy-group hot dance for the live audience.

Hosts Hua Shao and Li Ai took the stage, running through their script, recapping the year's buzzwords and hot news—what major events happened in 2012.

Of course, only the good stuff was reported; the bad stuff was left out.

Hua Shao at this point in time really was busy, hosting everywhere.

Weibo awards are different from other ceremonies that award based on works; here it depends on how popular you are and how high your topic visibility is.

When introducing the winners, they hyped up how exceptionally outstanding and beloved they were. The moment someone won, a whole crowd would go up—the awards were handed out like free wholesale goods.

For instance, the Annual Breakthrough Power Award being presented now had nine groups or individuals winning!

Zhen Huan Zhuan, Xin Bai Fa Mo Nu, The Voice of China, I Am Not Pan Golden Lotus Awards's novelist Liu Zhenyun, "Yuan Fang" Zhang Zijian, Lost in Thailand, Piao Zaixiang's "Gangnam Style," A Bite of China.

Just these—a whole pile of people going up, as if they wanted to fill the stage, and all for the same category of award.

The awards given were also a mess—Annual Extraordinary Figure, Style Figure, Elegance Figure, Demeanor Figure, and a whole bunch more.

There was also Most Watched Couple, won by Da Heiniu and Zhang Xinyu—don't they feel embarrassed winning this award?

Soon, it was Liu Tianxian's, Guoji Zhang's, Yao Dazui's, and Wang Laoer's turn to receive the Annual Demeanor Figure award.

When the hosts announced the four winners, Guoji Zhang stood up happily, and even looped her arm through Liu Tianxian's: "Let's go up together."

The two put on a good-sisters act. Liu Tianxian had no choice but to let herself be led up like that.

When the few of them got on stage, Yao Dazui and Wang Laoer had rather complicated looks in their eyes.

Yao Dazui didn't want to stand next to Liu Tianxian, afraid of being upstaged; Wang Laoer was complicated because of his past connection with the Principal, and now Liu Tianxian was so close with the Principal.

"Tianxian, you stand in the middle," Hua Shao directed.

Liu Tianxian was standing at the edge of the four, and hearing this, her eyes widened in confusion. What did he mean?

"Yes, stand in the middle position." Hua Shao didn't explain either, just had her take the C-position.

She was the most popular, the most talked-about—Weibo needed exactly this kind of thing.

Guoji Zhang stepped aside, letting Liu Tianxian take her spot, and stood in the middle with Yao Dazui.

But Yao Dazui didn't want to stand with her, and tugged Wang Laoer's sleeve, preferring to stand at the edge.

The scene was rather awkward. Liu Tianxian didn't mind, and upon seeing Wang Laoer, smiled and greeted him.

Wang Laoer gave a slight nod in return.

The audience seats ahead were noisy, glow sticks waving like a skyful of twinkling stars.

"Alright, now please welcome the presenter, Sina Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Cao Guowei, to the stage to present the honor," host Li Ai announced.

A man in a sharp suit, whose looks somewhat resembled Jack Ma's—though admittedly better-looking than Jack Ma—walked up.

Four Trophies were presented to the four of them in turn.

(End of chapter)