Chapter 43: Seeing Me Makes You Want to Throw Up (Requesting Monthly Votes)

The next day, Qi Hao became Wang Zhiwen’s best man.

The bride-fetching ceremony was lively too.

But everyone was respectable; no one dared go too far. Qi Hao downed three glasses in a row and led the bride down to begin the rituals.

What if Wang Zhiwen, so defiant by nature, got angry and called off the wedding?

During the rituals, Qi Hao also took a seat at the banquet table.

Right beside him was — Miao Qiaowei!

The actor who played Yang Kang in the 1983 version of *The Legend of the Condor Heroes*, and also the version Qi Hao considered the most classic.

Qi Hao could truly say he grew up watching Miao Qiaowei’s works.

Last year, Miao Qiaowei and Wang Zhiwen starred together in a film called *Brothers: Alliance of Life and Death*, where Miao played Wang Zhiwen’s son.

But in reality, Miao Qiaowei was eight years older than Wang Zhiwen — the “son” was older than the “father.”

That film was marketed under the banner of the TVB Five Tigers.

But Leung Chiu-wai didn’t show up.

Qi Hao’s former gossip girlfriend Huang Yi also appeared in it.

But Qi Hao had too many gossip girlfriends; the studio didn’t even bother promoting it as a selling point anymore.

“Third Brother, let me toast you!”

Qi Hao grabbed the bottle and poured heavily.

Miao Qiaowei knew who Qi Hao was — a hot young actor from the mainland — and promptly raised his glass in respect.

“Don’t drink with him — he’s a god of alcohol!”

The short, cocky man speaking was Zeng Zhiwei, who had reignited his fame with *Infernal Affairs*.

He seemed annoyed that Qi Hao had toasted Miao Qiaowei first.

In terms of status, he clearly ranked higher — especially these past few years, he’d become wildly popular.

He was used to being the boss at drinking tables.

Meanwhile, Miao Qiaowei was clearly past his prime, now running an eyeglass shop.

Of course, he had no grudge against Miao Qiaowei — they were actually best friends.

But his nature was blunt, he spoke without filter, and with a few drinks in him, he said whatever came to mind.

He was just a foul-mouthed bastard.

He’d once been hospitalized and stitched up with twenty-nine stitches after mocking Rong Zu’er on a show.

“I grew up watching your work — this toast honors my childhood memories!”

Qi Hao drained his glass in one gulp.

Seeing this, Miao Qiaowei quickly drank his down too.

"You like Yang Kang? Why don't you like Weng Meiling!" Zeng Zhiwei pressed on.

He even started making jokes about the dead.

“Don’t rush — we’ll start at ten rounds later!”

Qi Hao didn’t like Zeng Zhiwei. Since the man was asking for trouble, he’d use him as an example to scare others.

Better to make someone else suffer than to suffer himself.

He knew Qi Hao was the god of alcohol — yet still dared to provoke him.

“How could I possibly match you…”

What Zeng Zhiwei really wanted to say was: Who the hell are you to drink with me?

But Qi Hao had been invited, made best man, and seemed to know everyone — he dared not be too bold.

Only mainland stars hoping to break into Hong Kong would let him boss them around.

“If you won’t drink, then shut up!” He Ping didn’t coddle him.

These Hong Kong artists always acted so high and mighty.

Whether Qi Hao toasting Miao Qiaowei first was proper or not, he was still a respectable mainland actor — they wouldn’t let outsiders bully him.

Besides, Qi Hao was the best man — effectively the deputy host of the banquet.

Toasting foreign guests first was perfectly acceptable etiquette. Whether he toasted Miao Qiaowei or Zeng Zhiwei first — who cared?

He Ping, Zhao Bao Gang, and others were happy to watch these Hong Kong stars squirm.

Luckily, others cracked jokes and diffused the tension.

At any crowded drinking table, knives and swords lurk beneath the surface. Today, with Wang Zhiwen’s wedding, things were relatively mild.

Otherwise, people might have pointed fingers, smashed bottles over heads.

“A friend comes from afar — however distant, he must be slain!”

Once drinking reached a certain point, everyone’s true nature showed — the drinking table was the most dangerous place.

Qi Hao then toasted Liu Dekai, and only after the third round did he turn to Zeng Zhiwei.

He poured three full glasses.

“I’m young and foolish — if I’ve offended you, please bear with me.”

Every cause has its effect — your retribution is me.

Zeng Zhiwei looked at the three glasses, then at Qi Hao, who’d already drunk several but showed no sign of drunkenness.

Finally, he swallowed them down in silence.

Many of the mainland big shots at this table had already drunk with Qi Hao the night before.

They’d keep coming to the mainland to launder money — it wasn’t worth angering these mainlanders.

In the past, they’d forced women to drink — never imagining they’d one day be forced to drink themselves.

Too weak to resist, they could only suffer.

“Good! More!”

If someone annoyed you, stab him in the ribs; if someone contradicted you, cut him down — press the advantage.

Take him down!

“No more, no more — I drank too much last night, can’t drink today. Already taking stomach medicine.”

Zeng Zhiwei waved his hands frantically.

Fuck, if I were thirty years younger, I’d face you head-on.

“You’re not leaving tonight, right? Then let’s meet up later…”

Qi Hao proposed another meeting with deliberate malice.

I want you to feel sick every time you see me.

He had a coal tycoon as his backer, could make his own money, and was a shareholder of Tencent — he didn’t give a damn about this old lecher.

The entertainment industry had many lechers, but most operated through transactions.

Zeng Zhiwei, however, played dirtier — he often forced himself on women, and not just one.

“I’ve got other things to do — next time, next time.”

Zeng Zhiwei dared not accept the invitation — the more forceful Qi Hao became, the more he suspected he had powerful backing.

He’d survived this long — he knew when to retreat.

Otherwise, he might get bagged outside the hotel and beaten in an alley.

“Leave him alive, haha…”

Jiang Wen chuckled.

Now you know how I felt yesterday — and you still laughed at me.

“Honestly, I can’t drink tonight either… haha…”

Qi Hao had that smug, cocky air of someone who’d won and was still rubbing it in.

He’d been used as a blade, lent by several mainland big shots to strike at Hong Kong artists like Zeng Zhiwei.

But it didn’t matter.

With his current status — no powerful father, no chance of fully joining their circle — being used as a blade was already a good deal.

Besides, he genuinely disliked Zeng Zhiwei.

Qi Hao had no intention of using the coal tycoon to boost his status.

I’m capital now — you can’t treat me like a drunk anymore.

The directors present — Jiang Wen, He Ping, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Zhao Bao Gang — were almost all arthouse directors.

Investing in their films was purely to give them a chance to indulge themselves.

The results were often terrible.

Jiang Wen made better films, but his budget overruns were just as bad as his directing — Qi Hao worried his first project might drive the coal tycoon into depression.

He’d prefer to find a director who could deliver both box office and critical acclaim.

Hmm — preferably one who was easy to work with.

After the minor incident, everyone kept drinking and watched the bride and groom interact.

Wang Zhiwen’s wedding went smoothly — even during the ceremony, you could tell his acting skills were exceptional.

On stage, he and his bride cried, cried again — giving the impression that a prodigal had truly returned.

Sun Nan led the celebrity golf team in a group rendition of *The Moon Represents My Heart*.

Qi Hao wasn’t asked to sing on stage.

He’d already captured Wang Zhiwen’s attention — no need to flatter further, especially since no money was involved.

And as the best man, he accompanied the groom and bride throughout the toasting segment.

In fact, toasting usually involves non-alcoholic drinks.

These days, it’s rare for a groom to be drunk into unconsciousness on his wedding day.

If you get the groom drunk, who’s going to consummate the marriage?

Qi Hao felt more like a mascot, constantly drawing curious glances from the groom’s and bride’s relatives and friends.

“Oh my, this young man is so handsome—much better-looking than on TV.”

“Does this guy have a girlfriend yet?”

“I remember seeing him on TV many years ago—how is he still this young?”

“I loved your show ‘Wrong Wedding, Right Groom.’”

“You’re so tall—different from how you look on TV.”

“When are you and Fan Xuexue getting married?”

“Qi Hao, let’s take a photo—I’ve been a fan of yours for nearly ten years!”

Almost all the female guests paid attention to him.

Men who saw his handsome face, even if they didn’t punch him, couldn’t give him a kind look.

After all, the way their own wives or daughters looked at Qi Hao…

Facing the enthusiasm of these older women, Qi Hao displayed excellent manners.

Reserved and well-behaved, with a touch of cool detachment.

So, for the most part, Qi Hao was quite docile—unless he encountered someone he disliked.

After finishing the Wang Zhiwen wedding reception, Qi Hao returned to the set to continue filming.

He didn’t know those three female spirits were planning to target him.

In fact, the female spirits hadn’t yet found an opportunity to strike.

First, Qi Hao’s driving a Santana 2000 became a topic of heated discussion—people found it bizarre that he would drive such a car when he owned a Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Did he like vintage models?

Then why spend so much money on a Rolls-Royce Phantom?

The dealership refused to reveal who ordered the car—not even the girl who took and leaked Qi Hao’s photo was spared; she was fired outright.

The dealership also sent some high-end car accessories as compensation.

They were worth tens of thousands of yuan.

The two fired girls had no right to know who ordered the car.

So, no one knew Qi Hao’s car was a gift—any normal person would think, who the hell gives someone a Rolls-Royce Phantom?

Not even his own father would be that generous.

Yet, among Qi Hao’s fans, his choice to drive a Santana instead of his Rolls-Royce Phantom required no explanation.

They would fabricate their own reasons.

After all, their Brother Qi Hao was simply too unique.

Even ordinary passersby thought it was genuinely humble and showed admirable character for him to drive a Santana despite owning a Rolls-Royce.

This favorable public image made other young male actors grit their teeth.

So, another wave of negative reports was released en masse.

This time, they didn’t target his Rolls-Royce or spread rumors about his love life.

It had already been proven that such tactics couldn’t harm Qi Hao.

So, everyone changed their approach.

First, a few small press releases were tested, then everyone quickly aligned their narrative, beginning to smear Qi Hao as having slept his way to the top with various powerful men.