Chapter 193

Chen Lan's expression turned gloomy in an instant.

"I told you long ago not to look for those second-generation rich kids; they're all the same dead-end types as their old men, knowing only how to act cool and play the tough guy."

Zhang Baizhi felt a bit embarrassed and wanted to defend her boyfriend.

But looking up at the frost-faced Chen Lan, she stammered and dared not speak.

"Giving him opportunities is useless. Just because his old man has a good relationship with Li Zong, why would you follow a man like that?"

Seeing her on the verge of tears, Chen Lan began to soften her tone.

"A-Zhi, Zhou Xingchi also said you have talent, and Lu Kuan recognizes your ability too; otherwise, he wouldn't have recommended you as the female lead. You must seize this opportunity!"

Xiang Tai patted her twice and didn't say anything more.

A loud drum doesn't need a heavy hammer; she understood the personality of this goddaughter of hers.

Zhang Baizhi just had an unfortunate family background since childhood and craved affection and warmth.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have retired at the peak of her career to marry and become a housewife in the future.

But Chen Lan believed that letting her see the glittering world of the entertainment industry and seeing more possibilities for her own life would lead her to make the right choice.

For the current Zhang Baizhi, it was just a matter of being unable to see things clearly for a moment.

It is one thing to offer oneself voluntarily to strive for an opportunity, but it is another thing entirely to be forced into it as a tool for a transaction.

Zhang Baizhi returned to her apartment, dejected, and just as she opened the door, there was a sudden loud bang!

"Ah!"

The little heavenly king of Xiangjiang laughed as he turned on the lights, holding a confetti cannon in his hand.

"A-Zhi, congratulations on your nomination for Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards for 'Lost in Time'!"

"I specifically avoided the paparazzi today to give you a surprise. Are you happy?"

Not knowing if it was because she had drunk too much alcohol today or if her mind had been influenced by Chen Lan's words before she left, Zhang Baizhi looked at her boyfriend in a daze and squeezed out a smile with great difficulty.

Xie Tingfeng smiled helplessly: "What's wrong, A-Zhi? Were you lectured by Xiang Tai?"

"No, thank you, A-Zai."

Her girlfriend's spirits were clearly low, likely due to being too exhausted from work, so Xie Tingfeng didn't think too much about it and thoughtfully helped her take off the bag from her shoulder.

"Who are you eating dinner with tonight?"

Zhang Baizhi hesitated for a moment before telling the truth.

"Lu Kuan? Why is he coming to Xiangjiang? Why would Xiang Sheng invite him?"

Boss Lu was Zhang Baizhi's demon of lust, and also Xie Tingfeng's inner demon.

Especially on the day of the audition in the inquiry realm, he had rushed into the office thinking he had been cheated on, only to find after a scuffle that it was Liu Yifei who was in the same room as Lu Kuan.

It was truly embarrassing beyond words.

Recalling that scene later felt even more humiliating than actually being cheated on.

How insecure and how much must one hate Lu Kuan to be so paranoid and fighting ghosts in the void?

"He's here to promote a movie, 'Shoplifters'."

Zhang Baizhi didn't want to mention this person in front of her boyfriend and tried her best to show a trace of a smile on her face.

"A-Zai, I'm so tired today. Why don't you go back and rest early? Don't you still have to do post-production dubbing for 'Jade Goddess of Mercy' tomorrow?"

Seeing that his girlfriend was acting normally, Xie Tingfeng temporarily suppressed his thoughts about that name.

"A-Zhi, will you come home with me tomorrow?"

"Huh?"

Xie Tingfeng gently took her soft hand: "Didn't you say you always wanted a home? I want to take you back to meet Deborah. We'll get engaged next year!"

"As soon as the Film Awards end in April next year, we'll get engaged!"

The expression on Zhang Baizhi's face was quite dramatic, which Xie Tingfeng interpreted as surprise.

Yet she herself seemed only somewhat startled.

Looking at the fresh flowers and candles in the apartment, and smelling the pleasant scent of the aromatherapy, Zhang Baizhi tried hard to make herself appear happy.

Once, this was a scene and atmosphere she had longed for, but...

When she looked up again at this second-generation star boyfriend with his slicked-back hair, another face appeared in her mind involuntarily!

She gently rubbed her temples; perhaps she had drunk too much tonight, her head hurt so much.

Xie Tingfeng was captivated by the charming movements of the beautiful woman and couldn't help but feel a surge of desire. He leaned closer to her on the sofa and held Zhang Baizhi's shoulders.

"A-Zhi, the water in the bathtub is ready. Shall we take a bath together?"

Seeing his girlfriend's beautiful red lips looking so tempting, Xie Tingfeng could no longer hold back and lowered his head.

Bathtub? Bathing?

The keywords exploded in Zhang Baizhi's mind. She opened her eyes in terror, watching that familiar face gradually overlap with the boyfriend in front of her, closing in!

"No! Director Lu! Don't!"

She pushed the man in front of her away in a daze, the crazy and extreme erotic past of that day appearing before her eyes.

The dense stubble when he hugged her from behind, the phone he stuffed into her hand during the collision...

Xie Tingfeng was already sensitive to this name, and his girlfriend's ambiguous, coy refusal made him completely furious!

"A-Zhi, what are you saying!?"

Veins bulged on his forehead, and his two hands fiercely clamped onto his girlfriend's shoulders, as if he had lost his mind, his fingers sinking into the girl's tender flesh.

"Why did you call Lu Kuan's name? Did he... did he bully you?"

"That day in the inquiry realm, did you two actually... actually?!"

Zhang Baizhi suddenly woke up, her eyebrows raised as she looked at Xie Tingfeng.

"You're actually still doubting me? Didn't you see it with your own eyes that day? He was in the room with Liu Yifei, what does that have to do with me!?"

She couldn't admit it, absolutely couldn't admit it.

Xie Tingfeng's father and mother were both respectable people with extensive connections in the Xiangjiang entertainment industry.

If he went home like a good boy and cried about it, it would only cause Xie Xian and Deborah to be dissatisfied with her.

Besides!

If it weren't for your impulsive behavior, would I have been taken by Huo Wenxi to apologize?

Lu Kuan didn't just mess with me! He messed with you too!

"Get out! Get out right now!"

"Xie Tingfeng, I want to break up with you! You heartless thing!"

Xie Tingfeng felt a mix of emotions; he certainly didn't want to believe this was the truth.

But a man's intuition told him that the "don't" his girlfriend had just blurted out.

Contained too many stories behind it.

Stories of some secret intimacy.

"A-Zhi, I treat you with sincerity, I hope you do the same."

"Let's both calm down and talk tomorrow."

Xie Tingfeng suppressed his rage and grief, and fled the apartment as if escaping.

He went downstairs in a daze, only to be met by a crowd of paparazzi who had caught wind of the news.

The entertainment reporters in Xiangjiang were impervious to reason, their words were incredibly harsh, and the text they wrote was even more sensational.

They created a unique style of yellow journalism, where even the smallest matter could be written into a grand article!

The paparazzi snapped photos, and microphones were shoved in his face.

"Tingfeng, did you go up to have a romp with A-Zhi?"

"Tingfeng, it ended so soon after you went up? Is 'sucking Zhi' a bit too fast?"

This pun was quite the essence.

It was similar to the "35-hour slaughter of the city" report when Xiong Dailin stayed overnight at Guo Fucheng's house.

"Tingfeng, I heard you've been having trouble with Zhang Baizhi recently? What's the reason?"

"Tingfeng, have you really broken up with Wang Fei?"

Xie Tingfeng pushed them away impatiently, walking toward his car with a cold face.

In the past, the person who teased him about being a "quick shooter" would have already been scolded severely.

The little heavenly king of Xiangjiang had also become much more subdued.

Everyone felt it was boring; the second-generation star was not what he used to be, and even provocation didn't work anymore.

Only one paparazzo pursued him relentlessly.

"Tingfeng, your girlfriend might be crowned Best Actress (Emperor) before you, and she's joining the new movie of Lu Kuan's entertainment company in the inquiry realm. Any thoughts?"

Xie Tingfeng turned around in anger and cursed at him!

"Thoughts your mother! If you want to know, go ask Zhang Baizhi, go ask Lu Kuan!"

The reporter was baffled; how did this sentence hit his G-spot?

But at least there was some content to write about.

"Xie Tingfeng leaves the building in less than thirty minutes after 'sucking Zhi', mentioning his old rival, the mainland Lu Zai, with extreme anger!"

Other paparazzi swarmed up.

"A-Wen, good tactics! In the future, if you want to force him to speak, just use the name of 'Laundry Kuan' to irritate him, haha!"

The next day, the 'Shoplifters' crew held a premiere ceremony at the Broadway Cinematheque in Xiangjiang.

The artists under Boss Li were all dressed up and attended in full force!

The mainland distribution of 'Shoplifters' was handled by China Film, and the copyright for the Taiwan region and Southeast Asia was sold outright to Jiang Zhiqiang's Edko for 25 million.

The copyright for Xiangjiang and Japan/Korea was given to Emperor for 40 million as a guaranteed distribution, and the box office figures beyond 40 million would be shared by the two companies according to the agreed ratio.

The 40 million guaranteed distribution price was a friendship price; this was a favor Lu Kuan gave in advance to outmaneuver Golden Harvest next year, and at that time, he would inevitably need Boss Li to help him secretly.

Emperor's distribution business and entertainment agency business had also extended to Japan and Korea. At the end of the year, they would sign the Korean music diva Lee Hyori and even have her play the drums with Jackie Chan at the signing ceremony to build momentum.

"Master Lu, thanks to your guidance last time, otherwise I would have had to deal with the police at my age, which would have been shameful!"

Boss Li looked at this newly developed mainland ally of his with a beaming smile, extremely satisfied.

The "Dance Shadow Operation" came to an end, and other big shots of later generations fell into the water one after another, only Boss Li made preparations in advance and was spared.

"Not at all, a straight body doesn't fear a crooked shadow. Li Dong is a blessed person, it would have been the same whether I said anything or not."

Boss Li affectionately hugged his shoulders, preparing to take him to greet the socialites of Xiangjiang.

Xiang Huaqiang and Chen Lan also walked over with Zhang Baizhi.

"Master Lu, the movie is very exciting. Li Dong is worthy of being Li Dong, his judgment of people is truly accurate!"

Boss Li laughed heartily; romantic, elegant, yet decisive in killing and cutting, he was quite like himself when he was young!

Zhang Baizhi hadn't slept all night last night, and now she let go of her inner demons, smiling charmingly and flattering Boss Lu a few times.

Huo Wenxi called over a photographer to take a commemorative photo of Lu Kuan and several big shots.

This high-standard premiere ceremony today was unsurprisingly hyped into the headlines, also to promote his own movie.

Among them, the photo of Chen Lan instigating her goddaughter Zhang Baizhi to personally serve wine to Boss Lu at the banquet was also leaked by the paparazzi.

Coupled with the rumors of the discord between the Xie and Zhang couple that had been rampant recently, it made people's imaginations run wild.

Changsha Huatian Hotel.

Liu Xiaoli and her daughter were staying together, and the little girl was sulking as she looked at the news about Lu Kuan and Zhang Baizhi on the portal website.

She angrily closed the interface and opened her blog, skillfully logging into her alt account to vent and output.

Yang Siwei knocked on the door and entered, her face full of joy.

"Xixi, Auntie, it's confirmed, Most Popular Actress! It's in the bag!"

Liu Xiaoli's face was full of happiness, and she excitedly hugged her daughter: "That's great, Xixi, you're amazing!"

Venice had been visited, the red carpet had been walked, the Golden Horse Awards had been attended, and the criticism had been dealt with.

Even if it was a Golden Lion Award-winning film, it was an honor belonging to the director and the entire crew.

This "Most Popular Actress" award at the Golden Eagle Festival was the first individual honor on her daughter's acting path, how could she not be excited!

Liu Yifei asked suspiciously: "How could the organizing committee notify us in advance? Aren't they afraid the crews that didn't win will run away?"

"Most Popular Actress is one spot, but there is also the Audience's Favorite Actress award, you have that too, sharing this honor with four other actresses."

Just a multi-yolk egg.

She didn't say that she had relied on Boss Lu's influence to find Yao Jia and asked her to inquire about the inside story.

This was a voting award, which wasn't that authoritative to begin with, and besides, it wasn't a black-box operation, just inquiring about news in advance.

"By the way, Yao Jia said the organizing committee invited Boss Lu to present the award!"

Liu Yifei's eyes lit up when she heard this, but before she could inquire in detail, she was ruthlessly struck by Yang Siwei.

"However, it is said that he has to go to Taiwan after finishing the roadshow in Xiangjiang, so he might not be able to come."

The little girl thought of the news footage she had just seen, and her eyes dimmed again.

She took out her phone and wanted to call him, but didn't know what to say.

Liu Xiaoli's mind was now completely filled with the Most Popular Actress award, and she couldn't care less whether Lu Kuan could come or not, snatching the dried figs from her daughter's hand.

"Stop eating! You have to wear a gown tomorrow!"

Liu Yifei fell back onto the bed with a dejected face, the joy of winning not visible on her face, looking like she had lost the will to live.

Boring, truly boring.

September 28, 2003, Hunan International Convention and Exhibition Center, the 4th Golden Eagle TV Art Festival awards gala opened.

Since it was called an art festival, it certainly couldn't just start distributing pork after the hosts babbled a few words; it was bound to be a night of singing and dancing.

The art festival was hosted by Zhu Jun and Zhou Tao, a selection that was also voted on, which caused some controversy.

Li Xiang, who was suspected of asking tricky questions to Liu Yifei on 'Happy Camp', was suspected of ballot stuffing in the "Best Host" category.

Before the awards, the organizing committee eliminated 450,000 invalid votes, and she fell from first to sixth place, an incident that even alarmed the Hunan police and the China TV Artists Association to intervene in the investigation.

Liu Yifei also contributed a performance, singing 'Warm' after Fei Xiang's 'Clouds of Hometown'.

"Xixi, you're amazing!" Liu Xiaoli and Yang Siwei offered encouragement to the daughter who came off the stage.

She herself had a normal expression; such performances were not once or twice.

In September, Zhou Jielun also invited her as a guest to perform at his concert in Beiping.

After the performance, the awards ceremony began item by item.

The director of the 'Chinese Paladin' crew, Jiang Wei, had already gone on stage three times in a short while, receiving the awards for Outstanding Work, Best Art, and Best Screenplay.

Entering the actor award segment, Li Baotian became the biggest winner. This year, his 'Miracle Doctor Xi Lai Le' performed excellently, helping him win the awards for Best Performing Arts Actor and Most Popular Actor.

Next was the Most Popular Actress award, but unfortunately, only Liu Xiaoli was excited.

Yang Siwei already knew the result in advance, and Liu Yifei was as calm as water.

Suddenly, a stone was thrown into the lake of her heart.

The host Zhu Jun announced on stage: "Let us invite the Venice Golden Lion Award winner, Cannes Best Director, Mr. Lu Kuan, to present the award to young actor Liu Yifei!"

Festive and magnificent music sounded, and Lu Kuan, who had just arrived from Xiangjiang after a drunken banquet in the morning, walked to the podium.

Boss Lu was in a slim-fit Kiton haute couture suit, with an unrestrained gait and an elegant and handsome appearance, smiling as he watched Liu Yifei go on stage.

In order to avoid the situation of chasing girls in a crematorium in the future, he had to start brainwashing the little Liu who had already decided he was "of poor character."

Don't girls of this age like this set?

First, reveal through A-Fei inadvertently to Yang Siwei that he couldn't come, then appear in a cool way, calling it a surprise.

It wasn't a good thing to always use frustration education on her; coaxing and deceiving, coaxing first and then deceiving.

"It is a great honor to represent the organizing committee to present the Most Popular Actress award to Miss Liu Yifei. This is the highest recognition from the vast audience for you, keep working hard!"

The Linger fans off-stage applauded excitedly, and some gossiping entertainment artists also observed their interaction at close range.

Is there really something going on between these two?

Liu Yifei's mouth hadn't closed since she went on stage.

She was wearing a rose-colored half-shoulder dress today, plus the mature makeup specially arranged by Yang Siwei to improve her age perception.

Standing beside Lu Kuan, there didn't seem to be an age gap of 6 years.

The little girl finally had a happy expression of winning, and Lu Kuan very gentlemanly lowered the microphone for her and stood aside.

"Thank you, little... Director Lu, for presenting the award to me..."

Before she finished speaking, there was a burst of laughter from below. What is little Director Lu? Where is my Boss Lu small?

She had a slip of the tongue for a moment, wanting to say little Lu.

Liu Yifei pursed her lips in embarrassment, quite like the bold and generous village girl described by the media, and reorganized her language.

"Thank you to the Golden Eagle Awards organizing committee, thank you to the audience who voted for me, thank you to Director Jiang, the director of 'Chinese Paladin', and thank you to Teacher Lu beside me who brought me into the big screen."

"Without the recognition of the organizing committee, without the love and support of the audience, and without the earnest teachings of the two teachers, it would be difficult for me to get here."

"Of course, I also want to thank you, Ms. Liu Xiaoli, thank you, Mom!"

The short acceptance speech was difficult to describe the excitement in her heart at this moment, perhaps because of the appearance of someone, making the honor at this moment particularly brilliant.

The little girl walked off the stage gracefully, her hopping steps a world of difference from yesterday's frustration.

Next was the moment for the actresses to share the eggs, and Liu Yifei shared the Audience's Favorite Actress award with actresses like Mei Ting, Lu Liping, and Xie Lan.

With the frustration education that Boss Lu had always given her, she also knew very clearly that she was just taking advantage of the role and the voting.

Therefore, even though her data was first in this award, she still humbly asked the aunt and sister generations like Lu Liping to stand in front when receiving the award.

Old-generation artists like Xie Fang, Tian Hua, and Qin Yi in the guest seats all nodded secretly.

(End of chapter)