Chapter 46: Zhou Jinchuan

"Tingyan!" Seeing Gu Tingyan go off to chase Su Tuantuan, Chu Sheng hurriedly stood up to call him back.

Su Tuantuan's face was filled with terror, her heart pounding; she lifted her dress and ran in her high heels, terrified of being caught by Gu Tingyan, and truly summoned the same energy she had used to run the 800-meter race back in school.

She just had a loose tongue and couldn't control her own mouth.

Su Tuantuan dashed a long way in one breath, stopped while panting, and raised her hand to slap her own mouth a few times: "Did you really have to be so snarky!"

She was filled with annoyance: "It would have been fine to just curse in my heart, why did I have to go and launch a full-frontal attack on Gu Tingyan and Chu Sheng?"

Gu Tingyan was her boss, after all!

When would she ever learn to remember that!

Su Tuantuan let out a deep sigh; the cursing was already done, so she would just have to muddle through and survive today first.

After comforting herself, Su Tuantuan crouched in a corner, and only after seeing Gu Tingyan walk past her did she lift her dress and run in the opposite direction.

This opportunity was not easy to come by, so she couldn't leave; she still needed to go and network to build some connections.

Su Tuantuan returned to the venue; by this time the banquet had already begun, so she casually picked up a glass of red wine and walked toward Director Wu in the crowd.

Su Tuantuan greeted him with a smile: "Director Wu, long time no see."

Director Wu smiled: "Oh my, the great manager Su, I heard Qin Shu landed Director Chen's film, congratulations!"

Su Tuantuan wore a smile on her face and flattered him: "It's all because Director Wu took a liking to my Qin Shu back then."

The flowery compliments poured out of her mouth one after another, yet she didn't sound hypocritical or artificial when praising others, and could even satisfy the other party's vanity.

"Director Chen praised Qin Shu, saying that in your TV series *Nameless Vessel*, you captured her true spirit, which is how he discovered her."

"When it comes down to it, you are the one who deserves the most credit for Qin Shu."

Several people nearby were slightly surprised after learning the reason why Qin Shu landed Director Chen's film, and their gazes toward Director Wu held a bit more appraisal.

Director Wu naturally couldn't compare to Director Chen, but he still held a certain status in the entertainment industry, and *Nameless Vessel* was one of his representative works.

Su Tuantuan's words made Director Wu beam with joy, and he laughed heartily: "Qin Shu even sent me a WeChat message specifically to thank me."

He raised his wine glass to clink with Su Tuantuan's and said with a meaningful smile: "For the next TV series, I look forward to collaborating with Qin Shu again."

Once the two said this, the actors nearby who heard them felt a stir in their hearts and began to have ideas.

Qin Shu had acted in Director Chen's drama, so the prestige would be different by then; if the two collaborated again, the traffic would be immense.

Su Tuantuan took the opportunity to promote Zhou Jinchuan, who was currently popular under her management: "Director Wu, please don't forget about our Jinchuan."

Director Wu nodded: "Certainly, certainly."

"Qin Shu didn't come, and you aren't with Zhou Jinchuan either?"

Su Tuantuan said: "He has things to do."

Director Wu looked behind her and smiled: "Your artists are all quite dedicated to their marketing."

Su Tuantuan looked over; her gaze landed on Zhou Jinchuan and that actress Yu Xing. The two were arm-in-arm, intimate and inseparable, mingling and drinking with numerous industry seniors.

Yu Xing was the little princess of the Yu Group and a newcomer actress who had starred in a TV series with Zhou Jinchuan, making them both explode in popularity.

Su Tuantuan had spent over a month camping out at the director's office for that TV series, suffering through a month of being turned away at the door.

She had brought all of Zhou Jinchuan's photos from high school to college, a video of his audition, and presented them to the director with full sincerity, even bringing an essay she had written on Zhou Jinchuan's interpretation of the male lead.

The director saw that she was just a young girl and that it hadn't been easy for her, and because of her strong perseverance, he agreed to see her once. Originally, he had intended to give the role to another male star in the entertainment industry who had some traffic.

Zhou Jinchuan was a newcomer, and he hadn't intended to use a newcomer.

After watching the materials Su Tuantuan brought, along with a video of the male lead's crying scene, he decided to replace the other actor and use Zhou Jinchuan.

Zhou Jinchuan was her artist, and she was the one who had single-handedly brought him to fame.

He was also her boyfriend.

Su Tuantuan's gaze rested on their linked arms, her smile not fading: "Yes, they really are quite dedicated."

Su Tuantuan said goodbye to Director Wu and set off walking toward the two of them.

Yu Xing was holding onto Zhou Jinchuan, introducing him to resources. As everyone in the entertainment industry knew, her status was that of the little princess of the Yu Group, so naturally, everyone had to give her some face.

Although the Yu Group couldn't compare to Xingchen Entertainment, it still had a certain influence in the entertainment industry.

She smiled: "In the future, I ask that everyone please take good care of our Jinchuan."

"If Xingxing says so, who would dare not to obey!"

Su Tuantuan walked over and called out to that back: "Zhou Jinchuan."

Zhou Jinchuan's back stiffened; he turned around abruptly, looking at her with a pale face, very surprised to see her here: "Why are you here?"

Yu Xing turned around, saw Su Tuantuan, and smiled: "Sister Su, you're here too."

She didn't let go of Zhou Jinchuan's arm, looking at Su Tuantuan with a beaming smile.

Su Tuantuan also smiled: "In an occasion like this, how could I not come?"

"I was just afraid that some people wouldn't want me to come."

Su Tuantuan looked at Zhou Jinchuan with a somewhat aggressive gaze: "Don't you think so?"

The smile on Zhou Jinchuan's face froze slightly; he let go of Yu Xing's hand and walked over to pull Su Tuantuan's hand away from the banquet hall, as he didn't want her to cause a scene and let people get a hold on him.

He had finally managed to become popular, and his future couldn't be ruined just like that.

Zhou Jinchuan brought her to a deserted corner and looked at her with a calm expression: "Why did you come?"

Su Tuantuan's eyes were red as she shook him off: "Let go!"

"I was scrubbed from the banquet list; was that your doing?"

Zhou Jinchuan lit a cigarette and leaned against the window, his brows furrowed tightly together.

He and Tuanzi had been together since high school, then got into the same university, and finally, he became an artist under her management.

They had been together for many years, but had never made it public.

Zhou Jinchuan exhaled a ring of smoke and raised his hand to wipe her tears: "Give me one year, and I will explain everything to you properly later."

"Tuanzi, trust me."

"I have nothing with her."

Su Tuantuan sneered and knocked his hand away: "Do you take me for an idiot to be coaxed?"

Zhou Jinchuan reached out and hugged her slightly trembling body tightly, his voice hoarse: "Believe it or not, the person I love has always been only you."

"Tuanzi, just give me one year."

Su Tuantuan did not believe Zhou Jinchuan was a fickle, romantic, and heartless person; she said with a trembling voice: "What on earth are you trying to do?"

His eyes were red as he apologized to her: "I cannot tell you, I'm sorry."

Zhou Jinchuan refused to tell her; he looked at her with eyes full of pleading: "Give me one year, and I will return to your side."

"As long as you still want me."

"Tuanzi, I will come back to find you."

Zhou Jinchuan cupped her face and kissed her deeply; he kissed with devotion and force, as if he wanted to crush her into his body, blocking the words of her interrogation in her throat.

Before she could react, Zhou Jinchuan gave her one last deep look, then turned and strode away.

Zhou Jinchuan was gone.

Leaving behind a kiss and these words, he left, leaving Su Tuantuan standing alone on the spot, watching his back as it grew more and more distant.

The lingering warmth on her lips remained, as if it were an empty dream, stirring up a hollow joy.

She looked up at the ceiling, but her tears still could not be suppressed and fell down.

Qin Shu has liked Gu Tingyan for nine years.

She liked Zhou Jinchuan, liked him for ten years.