Chapter 173 A Good Show

After returning from watching the sunrise at Luanshan, Qu He devoted herself entirely to the Qinglan Cup competition.

The day after she returned, she received an email from the organizers congratulating her on her work being shortlisted for the finals.

Then, I received a message from Teacher Qi Mo: "Waiting for good news, good things are coming soon."

I had a vague sense of anticipation, but I maintained a cautiously optimistic attitude until the final results were announced.

According to the Qinglan Cup competition rules, finalists are required to give interviews to the media.

When Qu He arrived at the venue, the audience was full of reporters, their cameras and microphones looking intimidating.

She was somewhat surprised, as the Qinglan Cup had attracted attention in previous years, but mostly from professional media within the industry.

Today's event is almost on par with a major entertainment news launch.

But not long after, when Yan Shu entered the venue dressed in haute couture and wearing high heels, everything became clear.

So, they really did treat this place like a gossip press conference.

Yan Shu had obviously seen her too, and the moment their eyes met, a provocative smile appeared on her lips.

Her hand seemed to casually touch the mutton fat jade pendant around her neck.

Qu He stared at the jade buckle, her eyes flashing slightly.

Since the last online controversy, Yan Shu has remained silent for quite some time.

I thought she would stop there, but I never expected her to reappear here as a competitor.

After the organizers of the Qinglan Cup gave a brief introduction to the process, the press conference moved on to a Q&A session.

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd surged.

The professional reporters who regularly cover arts and crafts competitions in the front row were instantly pushed to the back by a group of excited entertainment reporters.

They pointed their cameras directly at Qu He's face, and their microphones and recorders seemed to be poking into her face.

"Ms. Qu He, may I ask about the current state of your marriage and relationship with Mr. Zhuang Bieyan?"

"Did President Zhuang forcefully remove the trending topics related to you last time because he felt guilty and wanted to cover up some truth?"

"An insider revealed that you are already separated and divorced. Was the photo of you at Beicheng University a few days ago just a show to maintain your image?"

One malicious question after another was hurled at Qu He.

The other shortlisted contestants around him were clearly displeased with their gazes.

Scholars, with their pride and integrity, always look down on such entertainment gossip.

Especially in such professional settings, allowing entertainment gossip to overshadow the event is disrespectful to both the participants and the competition itself.

Qu He's face darkened, and her gaze swept over the male reporter who had been shouting the loudest.

She picked up the microphone on the table and looked at the reporter: "Do you dare to repeat the questions you just raised in front of Zhuang Bieyan?"

Of course he wouldn't dare.

He was speechless for a moment, his face turning red, because he hadn't expected Qu He to put the problem so directly on the table.

He lost face and was secretly resentful.

Qu He stopped looking at him and turned her gaze to the entire room.

"Please be aware of the occasion. This is the interview site for the Qinglan Cup finals, a national-level professional arts and crafts competition. I will not respond to any questions other than those related to the competition entries.

As she finished speaking, her gaze swept across the crowd and landed on the elderly reporter with white hair and a fisherman's hat.

"Teacher Xu Ting," Qu He said respectfully, "did you seem to have a question for me?"

Xu Ting is a well-known cultural journalist in the industry. He is upright and his reporting is professional and insightful. He is present at major domestic art events every year.

Xu Ting was somewhat surprised, not expecting that this young man, who was always surrounded by gossip, would know her. Her little apprentice was so surprised that he forgot to bring his recording pen.

Just then, the security guards hired by the organizers arrived at the scene and quickly asked the entertainment reporters who were acting inappropriately to leave.

"Do you know me?" Xu Ting asked, her gaze scrutinizing him.

"I read your report when I was in college. Your article, 'Helping Porcelain Culture Go Global,' was a very important reference in my graduation thesis."

Qu He said sincerely, "Your dedication to traditional craftsmanship has always influenced me, and it is an honor to be interviewed by you."

The aloofness in Xu Ting's eyes gradually faded.

He originally had a so-so impression of Qu He, having heard some gossip about her before.

The fact that the Qinglan Cup added many new events this year has led to the assumption that it was a publicity stunt by capital.

But now my opinion of her has changed somewhat.

To remain calm and clear-headed amidst such chaos, and to be able to recall a report from over a decade ago, suggests that one has some knowledge of the industry.

He gestured to his apprentice beside him to turn on the recording equipment and begin the interview.

The more I read, the more I realized how eloquent Qu He was, and my eyes began to show admiration for her.

In the distance, Yan Shu was grinding her teeth to powder!

She learned that Xu Ting was coming and made a special effort to build a good relationship with him, hoping to use his interview to promote herself. However, Qu He stole the spotlight again!

Watching Qu He and Xu Ting chatting happily, and seeing Xu Ting's eyes gradually soften, he almost couldn't catch his breath.

The interview session has finally come to an end.

Qu He breathed a sigh of relief and was about to go back to the lounge to rest when she ran into Yan Shu in the corridor.

Their eyes met, and all the pretense of politeness and sisterly affection they had maintained in the past were utterly shattered at that moment.

The staff members walking in the corridor unconsciously slowed down and frequently glanced at them.

But the two said nothing, passing each other expressionlessly as if they were strangers, and went into their respective lounges.

Qu He entered the lounge and closed the door behind her.

She changed into a comfortable set of clothes and had only been sitting for a short while when there was a knock on the door.

"Teacher Qu He, I am a staff member of the venue. The car to pick you up has arrived at the parking lot on the first floor."

Qu He responded, packed her things, opened the door, and went out.

But the staff member who had knocked on the door earlier was nowhere to be seen.

She assumed she was too busy with work and didn't think much of it, so she pressed the elevator button and went downstairs.

Just as the elevator doors closed, Yan Shu's figure quietly appeared around the corner.

She watched the floor numbers steadily decrease, gave a cold smile, and then took out her phone to dial a number.

As soon as Qu He stepped out of the elevator, she was surrounded by a group of people who were filming her face with cameras.

The one leading the group was the reporter she had publicly confronted earlier at the event.

They were aggressive and clearly had planned this all along, coming specifically to ambush her.

Qu He's heart sank as she looked outside the hotel entrance, but there was no car waiting to pick her up!

So, the "staff member" who knocked on her door earlier...

"Qu He!"

The male reporter in the lead grinned and stepped forward. "What, you think you've become someone important just because you've climbed up to Zhuang Bieyan's high branch? You think you can look down on us? You even dare to have us kicked out? Who do you think you are!"

Before he could finish speaking, all the camera lenses behind him were pointed at her, and the flashes went off incessantly, hitting her face so hard she could barely open her eyes.

"Qu He, is it true that you interfered in Zhuang Bieyan and Yan Shu's relationship?"

"You went to great lengths to marry into a wealthy family, was it for money or for fame?"

"Was Zhuang Bieyan pulling strings and paving the way for your advancement to the finals of the Qinglan Cup?"

Their questions were increasingly malicious, deliberately leading her astray, and they didn't give her a chance to speak at all.

More and more people gathered around, some even filming and live-streaming on their phones.

The saying "three men can make a tiger" applies here; in this situation, no one cares about the truth anymore.

Qu He wanted to ask the hotel staff for help.

But the male reporter immediately saw through her intention and preemptively showed his press card.

He loudly announced to the onlookers and hesitant staff: "We are a legitimate media outlet and are conducting an authorized interview! Please cooperate and do not obstruct press freedom!"

This tactic worked as expected; those who had intended to step forward to help stopped in their tracks.

Qu He was forced to retreat repeatedly, and the flashing lights and interrogation made her feel physically uncomfortable.

She raised her hand to try to block out the light, but in the instant she looked up, she saw Yan Shu standing on the second-floor corridor railing, looking down at her.

It was like watching a good show.