Chapter 29: The Little Diva Flexes Her Power, Everyone Get Out of the Way!

Chi Ye: "..."

"I'll add three more bags of extra-spicy spicy strips for you!"

"Oh?!"

Lin Jingyi's eyes lit up, then she feigned reserve: "Spicy strips... what brand? I don't eat generic ones."

Chi Ye said casually: "Don't worry, air-freighted from France, soaked in gutter oil for fifteen days. Just eat them, one bite and you'll be speechless!"

Lin Jingyi was surprised: "Only fifteen days..."

Chi Ye: "Any more and I'm afraid I'd send you straight to the afterlife."

Lin Jingyi watched and giggled foolishly: "Haha, Mr. Chi, you're a sore loser!"

The two chatted idly for a while, and Chi Ye noticed that the Old Buddha was busy, so he said: "Alright, enough talk, let's chat when we meet later."

"Remember, buy them for me!"

"Don't worry, the bag is trash."

The two hung up, and the car fell silent.

"...That's all it took?!"

Keke was bewildered: "Is this reliable?"

Had those two even discussed "business" just now?

According to what Brother Chi said earlier, Director Zhang also had quite a significant background.

Yet, such a background was hitting walls everywhere regarding this matter.

Even if Lin Jingyi had a high status, it shouldn't be possible to settle it so lightly, right?

This was just too... "easy."

"Forget it, let's go there first and see."

Chi Ye's main style was being daringly conspicuous; he waved a hand: "Find a supermarket, let's get the Old Buddha some top-tier international delicacies."

"...Alright."

Keke felt inexplicably nervous. After finding a supermarket nearby and buying the "top-tier international delicacies" for Lin Jingyi, they got back in the car, found a remote parking spot—the area was already packed, there were no spaces left—and then the two got out and walked toward the entrance of the Scream Night venue.

"Brother Chi, do you think we should call Lin Jingyi again... I feel like she didn't quite understand what you meant earlier."

Approaching the entrance, seeing the dense crowd of fans, security personnel, and media reporters, Keke felt nervous again.

"Look at your lack of backbone."

Chi Ye walked through the crowd without changing his expression: "Follow me."

Keke hurriedly lowered his head and followed, silently praying not to be stopped, otherwise... that would be too embarrassing.

Just as he was thinking this, Keke heard a commotion from the surrounding crowd, along with the cameras of media platforms and major self-media bloggers, and surprised exclamations: "Chi Ye!"

"Is it real? Didn't he not receive an invitation?"

"He really came, damn, hurry up and film!"

"Is he trying to crash the red carpet? Has he no shame?"

"Chi Ye is here, that's a trending topic, that's traffic!"

Click, click, click.

In an instant, the flashes were dense, and the cameras in the "red carpet pre-warm-up area," which had been surrounded three layers deep, all turned in unison to film Chi Ye as he passed by them.

"Should we film?"

Beside the iQIYI camera position, a field director asked, both surprised and suspicious, out of professional habit.

"...Film it, give him some screen time."

Who would have thought that the red carpet director, who originally hated Chi Ye, would nod upon hearing this.

Field director: "?!"

The director glanced at him and thought, damn it, I don't know how this bastard managed to get a special pass either, but the higher-ups gave the order saying he's a special guest, what else can I do but film?

Thinking this, the official iQIYI cameras swung over.

Chi Ye didn't notice this; when he was halfway there, his gaze stopped on an area opposite him.

That was this year's Scream Night "red carpet pre-warm-up area."

At this moment, the pre-warm-up area was "sweating profusely," and several members wearing sexy, hollowed-out leopard print outfits in the middle of winter were twisting their bodies with "passion."

Zhang Xianming, Su Ran, Lin Zeyu...

Except for Chi Ye, the higher-status Peng Chen and Shen Qingyu, and the disgraced Jiang Yi, the remaining three of the seven members of Rise were here, "dancing passionately."

"The washed-up Chi Ye?! How did he get here?"

"Trying to crash it, are we? A female version of a carpet-star?"

"It's over, Scream Night is going to become Scream-in-Agony Night. All four of the 'Four Little' are in the inner venue this year, won't he just leech off them until they're numb?"

"Washed-up Chi Ye: Initiating, hunting time!"

"The rest of Rise is right here! Ahhh, this is too exciting, right?!"

"Rise is so pathetic, coming here to do suggestive dances in the middle of winter, only to be seen by their former captain, hahaha."

The fans and viewers watching the live stream on the iQIYI platform instantly rioted.

Over there, the three "lead dancers" of Rise also saw Chi Ye walking toward them.

They were stunned.

"Chi Ye?!"

The handsome guy with bulging muscles who was leading them saw Chi Ye and was shocked: "You're really going for it? Crashing it?!"

Chi Ye glanced at him: "Long time no see, how did you get so pathetic?"

Zhang Xianming's expression changed, embarrassed and angry.

Indeed, after the boy band Rise disbanded, some soared, some became actors, and even someone like Chi Ye could leech off popularity on variety shows, becoming a "variety show regular."

Only they, in the middle of winter, still had to work hard to twist their hips and do suggestive moves, with their heads hanging low and swinging their hips for all they were worth.

Others came to Scream Night to receive awards; only they were here to warm up the stage!

Chi Ye saw everyone "steaming hot" and was surprised: "So this is how Rise 'reunites'..."

Everyone: "?"

Chi Ye was puzzled: "Reuniting by twisting hips."

"..."

"Hmm..." He then acknowledged: "But you guys have improved. From working alone to teamwork, from doing suggestive dances on Xiaohongshu to Scream Night, that counts as a high-class suggestive dance."

The others: "..."

They didn't dare speak; the captain's "lingering prestige" remained.

Zhang Xianming sneered: "Likewise. At least we have invitations; you really have no shame, coming uninvited with so many people watching."

"Who are you trying to leech off inside? Or do you want to be deliberately stopped, lose face, and then harvest a wave of negative traffic?"

Chi Ye looked at him with surprise and strolled into the main entrance; the iQIYI security and the red carpet director nearby didn't stop him at all.

Everyone: "??!"

"No, how is he allowed in?"

Zhang Xianming pointed at Chi Ye: "He doesn't have an invitation!"

The director ignored him, and the field director frowned and scolded: "Keep warming up the stage, we're live!"

Zhang Xianming: "..."

He gritted his teeth, puffed out his massive pectoral muscles, and was furious: "Fine!"

"Come on, 3-2-1, keep twisting!"

Thump, thump, thump, thump...

The BGM started again, and the three members of Rise began to twist energetically again.

"They are too miserable, selling flesh in the middle of winter, do people really like watching this?"

Walking into the venue, the warm air conditioning enveloped the two, and Keke still had lingering fears: "Leopard print, hollowed-out, tight-fitting... let's take a step back, do girls really like this?"

"I think so too." Chi Ye thought for a moment and nodded: "Female viewers are truly pitiful, they can't get anything good."

Keke: "..."

"Let's go, I didn't expect to actually get in."

Chi Ye beckoned and walked toward the rest area inside the venue first.

The path was unobstructed; it seems the Old Buddha wasn't bragging, she really could handle it for him!

Hmm... next time I should buy the Old Buddha more spicy strips, she's so capable!

The two walked all the way to the backstage of the venue; in front was the red carpet and the main ceremony venue, and behind were the rest areas where top celebrities and guests did their makeup and styling.

Walking into the rest area, there were many round tables and sofas, and many artists who had finished their makeup and styling and were waiting to walk the red carpet were chatting in groups of three or five.

After Chi Ye walked in, he instantly attracted the attention of most people.

But the inner venue was the inner venue; it wasn't as noisy as the outside.

Of course, the surprise and shock in everyone's eyes were visible to the naked eye.

—Unlike the industry and the outside world, those who could sit here knew all about the rotten business in the industry.

How could Chi Ye appear here?!

This was iQIYI and Shengning's home turf; how did he get in?

Especially the latter.

Not long ago, rumors circulated within the industry that iQIYI had originally seen the buzz surrounding Chi Ye in "See You" and wanted to invite him, but Sheng Ning declared: "It's either him or me."

Subsequently, everyone knew that Chi Ye had effectively been sentenced to death, "soft-banned" by Sheng Ning's team.

But now...

You just appeared here, looking so fresh and lively?

Did this guy climb over a wall and sneak in?

Just to latch onto Sheng Ning and leech off her popularity again... Don't doubt it, "Chi Ye" has truly done such dramatic things before.

"Hello, everyone."

Seeing everyone staring at him, Chi Ye waved his hand in a very socially confident manner to greet them.

Everyone immediately withdrew their gazes, one by one, as if avoiding a venomous snake or scorpion.

"Brother Chi, don't be like this, it's so awkward."

Beside him, Keke kept her head down, tugging lightly on Chi Ye's sleeve to remind him not to act crazy.

"It's fine, we're all colleagues."

Chi Ye turned around cheerfully, bypassed this lounge area, and continued walking inside.

"No way... why is he still walking inside?"

"Holy crap, is he really going to force his way in to leech off them?!"

After he left, bursts of noise erupted from the quiet lounge area.

Watching his back as he continued deeper, everyone was "shocked" for a moment.

The waiting lounge area for the Scream Night is mainly divided into three sections.

The outermost area near the entrance is the largest and most crowded; the artists arranged here are not high in status or traffic, mostly newcomers and minor celebrities.

Walking further in, there are big names with established reputations in the industry, including both first and second-tier stars; further in still are the private lounges for top-tier celebrities, various capital bigwigs, and major directors.

The four most prominent "double-hit" stars and the four young "three-green" stars, who are the focus both inside and outside the industry, are all among them.

With Chi Ye walking straight in like this, it instantly reminded people of the "bad" scenes from the past.

"How did iQIYI security let him in? If Sheng Ning gets latched onto again, that would be a huge joke."

"What a god-tier man."

"I want to go in and see..."

Some wanted to go in, but upon thinking of their own status, they hesitated and felt awkward, knowing there wouldn't even be a place to sit if they went.

Of course, some minor celebrities with good social skills stood up and followed him in, acting as if "nothing was wrong."

"Brother Chi, it seems like someone is following us behind."

Keke reminded him.

"Oh, if they like to follow, let them follow."

Chi Ye didn't care about this; he took out his phone and sent a WeChat message to Lao Foye saying he had arrived, then sent another one to Zhang Dao.

Lao Foye replied quickly: [OK, received! The makeup and styling still need a bit more work, Teacher Chi, wait for me!]

Zhang Dao replied: [Damn, brother, did you really succeed in crashing it? What kind of background do you actually have?]

Chi Ye replied to Lao Foye: [Don't send "received" in the future, it's not very good.]

Lao Foye: [?]

Chi Ye: [Cows moo, horses neigh, and "cows and horses" (slaves/drudges) say received.]

Lao Foye: [There's such a saying?! [Shocked]]

Chi Ye: [Remember, you are not a cow or a horse.]

Lao Foye: [Alright, received!]

Chi Ye: [......]

He replied to Zhang Dao again: [Adult matters, don't go asking around like a child, come find me.]

Zhang Dao: [Where are you?]

Chi Ye glanced around and discovered he had already walked into a lounge area with a better environment, where everyone inside was currently staring at him with extreme astonishment.

[I'm in the second lounge area, come over.]

[Fine, you really are something, I'm impressed.]

After the two finished communicating, Chi Ye had already walked onto the aisle of the lounge area; he scanned it and found that this lounge area was indeed much smaller, and those sitting here were basically all familiar faces.

He often saw them on television and in movies.

He wanted to find a place to sit down, but discovered that this place was different from the outside lounge; outside there were big sofas where one could squeeze in, but here the conditions were better, with single seats, and there was simply no room for anyone to make space for him.

"Hello, everyone."

Chi Ye waved at the few people looking over; those people were stunned for a moment, but none of them showed any expression.

Chi Ye kept his composure and walked to the side of someone familiar: "Imperial Sister, squeeze over."

Chu Luanyu blinked her eyes, shifted half a buttock over, and lowered her voice: "You... how did you sneak in?"

"What kind of talk is that."

Chi Ye was displeased: "Can't I just walk in?"

Chu Luanyu thought for a moment and actually nodded: "Hmm, as expected of you, even iQIYI got crashed by you."

Chi Ye: [......]

He turned his head to look at the seat next to him; Shen Qingyu was currently staring at him with a livid face, not saying a word.

"What are you looking at?"

Chi Ye frowned and looked at Chu Luanyu: "Why is there a dog here?"

Damn!

Shen Qingyu cursed, but his heart was exceptionally shocked.

No, how did Chi Ye "transform into a living person"?

Wasn't he issued a "wanted warrant" by Sheng Ning?

Thinking of the various outrageous things Chi Ye had done in the past for popularity, he relaxed again and stared at Chi Ye: "Did you climb over the wall again?"

Chi Ye: [?]

"No, brother, have some shame. Sheng Ning is already scared of you leeching off her. You aren't even on the iQIYI list, so tell me, what are you here for? To be a clown?"

Shen Qingyu was not polite to Chi Ye at all: "The entertainment industry is not a place for someone with your brain to hang around. Listen to me, go back, don't lose face here."

Chi Ye: "Are you an idiot?"

Shen Qingyu: [?!]

Chi Ye stared at Shen Qingyu and sized him up, speaking bluntly: "You really aren't a good thing."

Shen Qingyu: [......]

Furious, he pointed at Chi Ye, his voice rising by several decibels: "What the hell did you say?!"

"Hey, hey, what are you doing, you two watch your image!"

Chu Luanyu frowned as she listened from the side and shielded Chi Ye: "There's no live stream here, but with so many people from the industry, do you want to be a laughingstock?"

Shen Qingyu didn't expect Chu Luanyu to actually "protect" Chi Ye; he was stunned, calmed down again, and looked at Chi Ye in surprise.

You still have this connection?

"Dogs don't have an image, don't insult dogs like that."

Chi Ye gave a simple evaluation and had already seen a young man jogging toward them.

Running while waving, that should be Zhang Dao.

"No, brother."

Shen Qingyu exploded here, pointing at Chi Ye: "Have some shame. Besides knowing how to leech off popularity, what else can you do? Look, is there a seat for you here? Forcing your way in, isn't it annoying?"

He spoke in a loud voice, not caring at all that these were all colleagues from the industry; for a moment, the people who were already paying attention to this side cast frequent glances.

Some even whispered to each other, pointing fingers.

"Is that Chi Ye?"

A certain film actress looked over and shook her head: "It's a bit outrageous, nobody invited him, and he actually managed to climb over the wall."

"I didn't believe it before, but now I do." Another traffic-starlet chuckled.

"Tsk tsk, Rise's connection is really good; if the fans outside see this, wouldn't they be happy to death?" A middle-aged veteran actor watched the excitement, thinking it wasn't big enough.

Chi Ye glanced over there and turned back to meet Zhang Dao's panicked gaze: "You're here."

"Brother... holy crap, are you really tearing into each other right here?"

After Zhang Dao arrived, he heard Chi Ye and Shen Qingyu frantically attacking each other and was dumbfounded.

Hearing the pointing and whispering of the people around him, his shock turned into numbness.

"It's fine, just exchanging pleasantries."

Chi Ye didn't care and looked at Shen Qingyu, who was still pointing at him and was annoyed that he hadn't paid him any mind: "Stupid dog, what are you looking at?"

Shen Qingyu: [?!]

"Don't, don't, don't..."

Zhang Dao hurriedly blocked the two of them, just about to speak.

Tap, tap, tap.

A burst of light footsteps suddenly arrived, and immediately after, a girl wearing an exquisite and gorgeous high-fashion gown, beautiful to the extreme, walked out from the inner room of the first lounge area.

Her sneaky demeanor vanished the moment she entered; she straightened her chest and back, looking poised.

She looked around and instantly locked onto the "liveliest" place on the scene; her charming peach-blossom eyes lit up, and she waved her little hand, calling out in a sweet, coquettish voice: "Teacher Chi, Teacher Chi!"

"Hmm?"

The crowd around turned their heads at the sound, and the moment they saw Jin Xia, they were all stunned for a second.

"You..."

Chi Ye also saw the Old Buddha, and his eyes lit up instantly.

Hmm... literally lit up.

He saw the Old Buddha wearing a floor-length gown custom-made by a famous French designer.

The dress was a brilliant starry blue, with patterns of a vast galaxy outlined in delicate silver thread and Swarovski crystals.

As she walked over briskly, the hem of the dress swayed gently, like a flowing galaxy.

Chi Ye had never seen the Old Buddha like this; she was stunningly beautiful, charming yet not vulgar, with the two diametrically opposed qualities of glamour and nobility appearing in one person simultaneously.

"You... this outfit and makeup..."

"How is it? Is it very pretty?"

Jin Xia spun around happily beside him.

"So expensive."

Chi Ye envied: "With so many gems and diamonds, it must be worth a lot of money, right?"

Jin Xia didn't take the bait this time, because she keenly sensed the strange atmosphere at the scene.

She glanced at Shen Qingyu, who was still pointing at Chi Ye with a constantly changing expression, then looked at the crowd around them, puzzled: "What's wrong with you all? What were you doing just now?"

Hearing this signature, sugary tone from within the circle, the crowd finally came to their senses and subconsciously stood up one by one.

"Xia Xia."

"Teacher Jin Xia."

"Xia Xia, why did you come out? I was just about to go look for you... your team said your makeup and styling were in a rush..."

"Xia Xia, you look so beautiful today."

Except for a few who hadn't worked with Jin Xia and weren't very familiar with her, almost everyone in the small inner area stood up, greeting Jin Xia with smiles on their faces.

"Hmm... I came out to pick someone up... hmm..."

Jin Xia's peach-blossom eyes blinked, and she glanced again at the awkwardly smirking Shen Qingyu, then suddenly took Chi Ye's arm affectionately and said in a sugary voice: "I came to pick up Teacher Chi. Teacher Chi and I agreed to go out and play together."

Everyone: "...?!!"

When Shen Qingyu heard this, he was instantly stunned.

Especially seeing Jin Xia's intimate gesture, his scalp went numb.

Outside the circle, people said Jin Xia was pretentious; among the Four Little Dan Actresses, she had the worst reputation with the public.

But within the circle, who didn't know that Jin Xia's background was "heaven-reaching"?

Sheng Ning was capital now, but Jin Xia's damn background was probably N times higher than Sheng Ning's current capital!

No, wait, did Chi Ye really get involved with Jin Xia?!

He felt increasingly panicked, both jealous and hateful.

"Did you guys bully Teacher Chi just now?"

Here, Jin Xia saw that everyone was silent, paused slightly, realized something, and scanned everyone present. The playful smile on her small face gradually disappeared, becoming a bit cold.

A pair of exquisite, beautiful peach-blossom eyes looked at Shen Qingyu: "Did you bully Teacher Chi?"

Shen Qingyu was stunned, thinking to himself, she really is pretentious enough!

Can you just ask something like this directly?!

Isn't she afraid of any negative impact?

But he was already panicked and hurriedly waved his hands: "Uh... no... Teacher Jin Xia, Chi Ye and I are teammates, we..."

"You what?"

The Old Buddha was indeed not afraid of bad publicity, because her reputation was already notorious. The little drama queen put her hands on her hips and pointed at Shen Qingyu: "What kind of teammates, what kind of teammates owe someone a loan and don't pay it back?"

"You are so annoying, who invited you here? I don't want to see you here!"

Everyone: "?!"

Everyone was stunned, but upon realizing it was Jin Xia who said this, and not someone else, it felt incredibly natural.

Then...

They all looked at Shen Qingyu in unison.

"No... I..." Shen Qingyu was furious, felt a moment of rage, his face flushed with humiliation and awkwardness, but he didn't leave.

"It's nothing, we were just having a normal conversation, what are you doing?"

Seeing this, Chi Ye pulled the Old Buddha, signaling her not to bother with this mess.

He was also a bit stunned now—he had never seen the Old Buddha like this, with the aura of a top-tier actress.

Hmm... this was the second time in just a few minutes he had seen a "side he had never seen before."

Jin Xia glanced at him, still a little angry.

This matter wasn't about whether to bother or not; it was about the person she invited—how could they be "bullied"?!

As long as it was something she had her eye on, it had to be the best!

It was like that with the persimmons from Yangzi, the cola, the spicy strips, and naturally, it was the same with people!

"Are you not leaving? If you don't leave, I'll call someone to make you leave!"

The Old Buddha took out her phone playfully.

"Hey! Xia Xia, what are you doing!"

Just then, her manager, Sister Mi, walked out from the inner room, glanced at the crowd, her expression ugly, and walked over quickly to snatch the phone from Jin Xia: "Don't make a scene!"

"Sister Mi, they bullied..."

"Stop it." The manager waved her hand, glanced at Shen Qingyu who had raised his head, and looked even more displeased: "You're an artist from Yuenar, right? Why are you making our Xia Xia angry?!"

Shen Qingyu: "...?"

I made her angry?!

It was clearly her "clout-chasing" me!

He felt more wronged than Dou E, but Jin Xia's team had no interest in listening to his "explanations."

—If Xia Xia was unhappy, then it was someone else's problem; it had always been this way, no ifs.

"Stay put, don't cause any more trouble, otherwise, even if you are an artist from Yuenar, you'll have to suffer a bit, understand?"

Shen Qingyu: "..."

He nodded with extreme humiliation: "Okay, I understand, Sister Mi."

Sister Mi didn't even look at his reaction, turned her head to glance at Jin Xia's arm linked with Chi Ye's, and narrowed her eyes.

"!!"

The Old Buddha hurriedly let go, her charming peach-blossom eyes darting around, and she tugged on her manager's sleeve secretly: "Sister Mi... let's go, let's go back first... we'll talk when we get back."

Sister Mi: "..."

"Fine, let's go."

The Old Buddha breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly pulled Chi Ye: "Teacher Chi, let's go, let's go inside and talk in detail!"

Chi Ye: "..."

Talk about what in detail?

It was like discussing state secrets.

Thinking this, he greeted Chu Luanyu, who had already eaten her fill of gossip, and Director Zhang, who had been watching in a daze and trembling, then followed behind Jin Xia into the innermost lounge area.