Chapter 32: Moonlight in Front, Melon-Eating Marmot Behind

Rise has thrown away their final shred of "decency"!

"I understand the logic, but which grandson set up these trending topics for me: #Chi Ye forcibly crashes Scream Night to save teammates# and #Chi Ye, the captain's responsibility#?"

Chi Ye was puzzled.

What on earth does me "forcibly crashing" have to do with saving my teammates?

"Brother Chi, they're all looking at us..."

Keke was sweating profusely and poked Chi Ye.

Chi Ye looked up.

Sure enough, he discovered that the people who had originally gathered around him had scattered in a flurry, their gazes strange.

The security guards from Kiwi were looking on with vigilance, eyeing them like tigers.

Chi Ye: "?"

"It has nothing to do with me, I don't know anything, I'm not familiar with them!"

No one believed him.

Chi Ye: "..."

Zhang Xianming, I hope you go to hell too!

"...Clear the scene, we're running a bit behind, quickly cut back to the live stream and continue the schedule."

The chief director glanced at Chi Ye, his expression unreadable, as if he were issuing a warning.

After the chaos caused by Peng Chen, Shen Qingyu, Zhang Xianming, and the rest of those demons and monsters, he had developed PTSD from the name Rise!

Damn it, not a single good person in that Chicken Claw group!

The surrounding staff hurriedly agreed, security cleared the scene, and the host returned to the stage.

The red carpet proceedings continued.

But the commotion just now had been far too loud; many big stars in the waiting area had already stepped out of their cars and were craning their necks to look over.

Chi Ye even saw the curious gaze of the Old Buddha.

After making eye contact, he shrugged, signaling: I didn't expect those bastards to pull off so many stunts either.

The big stars who followed were all distracted, walking with hurried steps, not wanting to linger on the red carpet at all.

—Bad luck!

Of course, for every person who felt it was bad luck, there was another whose curiosity was bursting.

Following the renewed cheers from the fans and media on-site, a tall female star with a pure temperament stepped onto the red carpet.

She was wearing a Miraggio glacier-cracked haute couture gown, cold-toned pearlescent satin that flowed like moonlight as she moved; her cold temperament highlighted her already pure features even further.

The moment she appeared, the magnesium lights around the red carpet seemed to come back to life, detaching from the previous drama and flashing like crazy.

Click, click, click.

"Miss Shang, look here, look here!"

"You-shu, ahhh!! You look so beautiful today!"

"The nation's White Moonlight is here!"

Fans around them screamed, but Shang You-shu’s clear eyes wandered nimbly, her peripheral vision glancing toward the direction where the three members of Rise had just been carried away.

There was still a faint sound of arguing over there, and she subconsciously wanted to stand on tiptoe to see, but her 15cm crystal sky-high heels forced her to abandon the thought.

She secretly regretted wearing these cursed shoes today!

"Miss Shang, look here!"

"The grass on the grave is already three feet high, you're late! Look at the camera!"

The media was getting anxious.

A second-tier star accompanying her also looked embarrassed, sweating profusely: "Miss, stop looking, they've already been carried away!!"

Shang You-shu: "..."

She turned her head back, a perfectly poised, reserved smile appearing on her flawless face, showing not the slightest discomfort amidst the countless flashing lights.

Swish, swish.

The lights flashed even faster.

Chi Ye watched this one of the Four Little Dan actresses, who was as famous as Sheng Ning and Jin Xia, feeling puzzled in his heart.

Is this the unlucky one who supported Meng Yixun, only for Meng Yixun to collapse herself?

It looks like... she wasn't affected by Meng Yixun's collapse at all!

But that makes sense.

The four little flowers of the domestic entertainment industry each have different paths: Sheng Ning is the most arrogant, Jin Xia is a little drama queen, and as for the remaining two, Shang You-shu and Shi Jinwei, one plays the "White Moonlight" persona while actually being a pure lover of gossip, with a temper so good it has no limits and a popularity rating probably N times higher than the Old Buddha.

I heard that she's had seventy or eighty gossip accounts dug up, which shows this lady's passion for tea.

As for Shi Jinwei... not familiar, but people in the industry call her "Little Sheng Ning."

Which means she's not a good person!

"Miss, it's time for the interview, don't space out!"

On the red carpet, her second-tier partner reminded her, and seeing the interview camera approaching, he hurriedly straightened his chest and back, using hairspray hidden in his palm to gently pinch a "stray" hair, releasing a fragrant scent.

Seeing this, Shang You-shu subconsciously thought of the novel she read last night.

The male lead in it used a pine-scented balm...

She muttered softly: "What was the name again..."

"'The Overbearing Prince's Gentle Pet,' or 'The Evil General's Entanglement'... I've read too many lately, I'm getting them mixed up..."

Second-tier star: "?"

What the hell is "The Overbearing Prince's Gentle Pet"?

Did Miss Shang stay up all night reading novels again?

He was speechless, afraid that if they stayed any longer, Shang You-shu's "cold White Moonlight" persona would collapse... although it was already "common knowledge"... he urged her to leave quickly.

Shang You-shu wasn't angry, smiling and waving at the stage, and the two left the red carpet to enter the inner venue.

Chi Ye watched the two walk away, then turned to look at the Old Buddha's position, checked the time, and figured that in two more people, it should be the Old Buddha's turn.

"Let's get ready to go in too."

Chi Ye reminded Keke, and after two more A-list stars passed, screams and magnesium lights just as intense as before flashed again.

"Xiaxia! Daughter! Mommy loves you!"

"Xiaxia is so beautiful today!"

"Why does Xiaxia always dress so conservatively, her figure is so good..."

Draped in a galaxy, Jin Xia stepped onto the stage elegantly. Unlike the coldness Shang You-shu deliberately displayed, Jin Xia had an innate nobility and pride like a white swan; she didn't need to perform, just standing there made others feel inferior.

Chi Ye rarely saw this side of her.

Standing on the red carpet stage, in front of the magnesium lights, the Old Buddha seemed to transform into the most beautiful elf in the venue.

Furthermore, her strongest point compared to the other little flowers was—a face full of regal air, charming and exquisite + a generous figure that, despite her deliberate attempts to be conservative, could never be hidden.

Most girls dislike Jin Xia because of her face, and even more because her figure is too good; any woman who sees it will feel jealous.

"She really is beautiful. This Scream Night was worth it, seeing so many sides of the Old Buddha."

Chi Ye sighed, and then, he suddenly noticed that the surrounding magnesium lights and the audience's gazes were all focused on him.

Chi Ye: "?"

What happened?

"Teacher Chi!"

Jin Xia walked across the red carpet, but instead of entering directly like the others, she ran toward him like a little elf once she was sure she was off-camera.

"Teacher Chi, help me carry my train, let's go in!"

The Old Buddha gestured with her long skirt tail. Chi Ye was stunned, glanced at the surprised or jealous gazes around him, came back to his senses, walked over to help her lift the train, and entered the inner venue.

"..."

There was a silence all around.

After a long while, someone said sourly: "He's really eating this soft rice, isn't he?"

"Heh, it's just lifting a skirt, it's perfectly normal."

"Speaking of which, Chi Ye and Jin Xia seem to have CP fans already..."

Meanwhile.

Inside the venue, the three of them walked in, instantly cutting off the cold air and being hit by warmth.

He helped the Old Buddha lift her galaxy-like train, glanced at the idle team members following behind her, and asked in confusion: "Why didn't you just go in earlier? I was already prepared to go in."

Jin Xia fluttered her beautiful peach-blossom eyes and said coquettishly: "I just wanted everyone to know that you're my friend, and they can't target you just because of Sheng Ning!"

Chi Ye: "..."

The Old Buddha was reasonable and articulate: "That bad woman Sheng Ning has a heart smaller than a needle's eye, and this is her home turf. If I weren't by your side, what would you do if you got 'bullied'?"

Chi Ye first nodded, then shook his head: "Probably not."

"Hmm?"

Jin Xia was puzzled.

Chi Ye: "I've learned a few moves from Teacher Shi; if it really came to a fight, she probably wouldn't be my match."

Jin Xia: "..."

"When things settle down, I want to learn too!"

This time, it was Chi Ye’s turn to be speechless.

"Um... ahem, Teacher Chi."

Jin Xia’s peach-blossom eyes darted around sneakily. Seeing Sister Mi and other members of the team walking this way, she finally asked in a hushed tone: "Did you buy the spring water?"

Chi Ye: "?"

Only after reacting did he realize the Empress Dowager was asking about milk tea.

"Not yet, I was afraid it would get cold."

"It’s fine, I drink it cold anyway!"

Jin Xia’s eyes sparkled: "You can go buy it when you have a moment later, it’s okay."

Chi Ye was surprised: "Aren't you unable to drink cold things?"

Jin Xia: "..."

"Got it, I’ll put it in a thermos for you, that way it’ll be hot!"

Chi Ye suddenly realized.

He really was still too oblivious!

Jin Xia’s beautiful peach-blossom eyes curved into crescents, and she hummed: "Mm-hmm! Right, let’s do that!"

Well, he’d made her happy again!

"..."

While the two were talking, members of Jin Xia’s team walked over, along with other artists who had finished the red carpet and were here "exchanging pleasantries."

Naturally, with Chi Ye’s arrival, everyone’s gaze fell upon him, and the murmurs gradually faded.

Clearly, the topic everyone was discussing had to do with Chi Ye.

Whether it was Jin Xia’s earlier "fury for the sake of a handsome face," or the red carpet incident that had just occurred and was destined to "shock" the entertainment industry.

"Rise doesn't keep idlers."

Chi Ye vaguely heard someone sneer. He turned his head and saw two familiar figures walking toward them.

"Girl, don't say that. We're all friends, it’s not good."

Lu Xiaoming frowned slightly, but Lin Jingyi felt refreshed, thinking Teacher Lu was truly too manly.

"Teacher Lu."

Chi Ye greeted him.

"Xiaxia, Chi Ye."

While Teacher Lu lectured Lin Jingyi, he was just as curious as a cat himself, asking Chi Ye, the "person involved": "What exactly happened?"

Chi Ye: "Which incident are you asking about?"

Teacher Lu: "..."

He felt awkward, yet he found this direct communication with Chi Ye quite comfortable: "The red carpet, of course..."

Could he dare ask more about the business between you and Jin Xia?

Jin Xia herself was right here!

He paused and said in a low voice: "I saw Peng Chen leave with a dark face just now; he didn't even stay in the lobby long. No idea what he went off to do."

"What is wrong with him?"

Chi Ye: "The guy came here on stilts."

Teacher Lu: "..."

It wasn't appropriate for him to comment further, but he just felt that Chi Ye’s mouth was truly unforgiving.

He turned to look around and noticed everyone else was watching them vaguely, with some wanting to come over and greet them.

Teacher Lu was well-liked; he had been the center of everyone’s conversation just moments ago, so his walking over naturally drew attention.

Unable to say much, he could only sigh cryptically: "We’re all in the same circle... you and Sheng Ning, you say... sigh, if you need anything, just tell me... I’ll host a dinner for you..."

His voice suddenly trailed off, his gaze passing strangely over Chi Ye to look behind him.

Chi Ye was startled and turned around.

He saw a pure and flawless face staring at him thoughtfully.

Chi Ye: "?"

Shang Youshu snapped out of it, then smiled without a word, stepped back a few paces, poked the floor with her diamond-encrusted nails, and exclaimed: "Oh my, look everyone, the pattern on these tiles is so unique."

Everyone: "..."

Shang Youshu blinked and looked at the ceiling light: "And this ceiling light, it looks like the revolving lantern from episode 48 of *Empresses in the Palace*."

Everyone was stunned and looked up.

She turned around nonchalantly, lifted her skirt, and fled at high speed toward the "Gopher’s Safe House."

I was just passing by and happened to hear something, so I paused; how can you call listening to gossip about a gopher 'eavesdropping'?

It was a pity, though, that she hadn't actually gotten any tea; that Chi Ye hadn't said anything at all!

Everyone turned back and watched her retreating figure in silence.

After a long while, Chi Ye looked at Teacher Lu: "Is that a 'white moonlight'?"

Teacher Lu was silent: "If you cut open the moonlight, it’s a sandy watermelon."

Everyone: "..."

Jin Xia blinked her beautiful peach-blossom eyes, puzzled: "If Sister Shang wanted to listen, why didn't she just ask? It’s not a secret."

She had no interest in such gossip and couldn't understand Shang Youshu’s way of thinking.

Chi Ye shook his head: "You don't understand, the stolen ones are more exciting."

Jin Xia: "?"

"Ahem."

Seeing the two getting more and more off-track, Teacher Lu coughed twice and raised his arm to check the time: "It’s almost time, shall we go in?"

"Let’s go."

"Mm."

The group nodded and entered the main venue of the Scream Night Gala from the entrance hall.

The place had long been set up, and many artists who had finished the red carpet were already seated.

This year, the seating at the Scream Night Gala wasn't in rows, but arranged in round tables.

Of course, the order of the round tables, their front-to-back and near-to-far positions, was equally important.

Top-tier A-listers like Jin Xia, Shang Youshu, and Sheng Ning usually sat at the front tables closest to the stage and cameras. A bit further back were the leading actors, second-tier young actors, and actresses, and only then came the second-tier traffic stars.

Further back still were the up-and-coming talents heavily promoted by major companies and platforms.

Established middle-aged actors and top-tier film stars rarely attended such platform galas, so there weren't many of them. The only two top-tier film actors who did come were seated in the absolute center, even more central than Jin Xia.

Chi Ye was arranged at a table four or five rows back, which was actually a bit further forward than his current status, though not by much.

Sitting here, he wouldn't be mocked by rivals or passersby for "climbing the social ladder," yet he could still vaguely "raise his own value" in a subtle way.

All in all, this arrangement by the Empress Dowager was unexpectedly meticulous, which surprised Chi Ye greatly.

As it turned out...

This surprise turned into a misunderstanding not long after.

Because, not long after he sat down, he saw Director Zhang of *Cycle* walk over with a dejected look and sit down next to him.

Chi Ye: "?"

"Why did you come over here?"

Director Zhang: "?"

"Didn't you pull strings to get me here?"

Chi Ye: "..."

Fine, he understood now; this wasn't the Empress Dowager’s arrangement. She wasn't that "meticulous," and he had even refused such an arrangement before.

It must have been Sister Mi who helped handle it.

Hmm... he hadn't expected that Sister Mi, who seemed indifferent to him, could actually do something like this.

"Yeah... I pulled strings, so what?"

Chi Ye accepted it calmly, leaving Director Zhang speechless.

"Alright, enough about that. I’ll just ask you, can *Cycle* be finalized or not?"

Hearing this, Director Zhang sized Chi Ye up and nodded helplessly: "Yes, yes, you’ve already pulled strings like this, who would dare not finalize it for you? You living ancestor!"