48 Dinner

Ye Zhenzhen, wearing a gray cashmere shawl, had just finished dealing with the polite CEO of an entertainment company and exchanged a glass of juice from a waiter when she saw Jiang Anna, dressed in a champagne-colored haute couture gown, walking gracefully towards her, her dark red hair styled into large waves and draped over her shoulders.

Behind him followed Ye Qinglan, dressed in a black suit, as handsome as an elf prince.

Their obvious mixed-race features and taller stature than most Asians drew a lot of attention from the audience.

"Zhenzhen, it's been a long time." Jiang Anna gave Ye Zhenzhen a warm hug as soon as she came up. "You look so beautiful today! This sapphire necklace suits you perfectly."

"Anna, William, you're here too!" Ye Zhenzhen hugged the other girl back, noticing that the girl was a little taller than her. "Your dress is beautiful too, it matches your hair color perfectly!"

The young man with black hair and green eyes nodded steadily, his eyes fixed on the girl in the blue dress.

"Thank you, this is my favorite color." Jiang Anna looked around and said with an exaggerated expression, "Where is Mr. Gu? How could he bear to let you come alone? That's so ungentlemanly! No wonder I didn't see you on the red carpet today."

"He..." Ye Zhenzhen opened her mouth to explain.

A hand landed on her waist from behind.

Gu Tingshen returned with the auction catalog in his hand and asked with a smile, "What were you talking about?"

Ye Qinglan's gaze fell on the hand around Ye Zhenzhen's waist, her brow twitched, and she said coldly, "Mr. Gu is indeed very busy, he can't even spare the time to accompany Zhenzhen on the red carpet."

"It's me who doesn't want to leave." Ye Zhenzhen frowned and spoke after being interrupted several times.

“The media and fans outside were in complete chaos, and Zhenzhen didn’t like to join in the fun, so I accompanied her straight in to study the auction items for tonight.”

Gu Tingshen smiled and gently adjusted Ye Zhenzhen's shawl, giving her a reassuring smile before handing her the catalog.

Then, she turned her gaze to Ye Qinglan and said, "It seems you don't really know Zhenzhen very well. Compared to the red carpet, she is more concerned about charity itself."

As the man raised his hand, the sapphire cufflinks on his wrist gleamed.

Ye Qinglan's eyes narrowed, and she realized that the details of the two people's dresses matched each other.

Not only was the silk handkerchief in Gu Tingshen's jacket pocket the same material as Ye Zhenzhen's dress, but the gemstones and styles of their accessories were also identical.

Anyone can tell that these are two sets of custom-made couple outfits.

Seeing that Ye Qinglan's expression was not good and that the tension between the two men was getting stronger, Jiang Anna stepped forward to smooth things over, "You men are so boring. Zhenzhen and I went to play over there!"

After saying that, he pulled the bewildered Ye Zhenzhen away.

Gu Tingshen smiled reassuringly at Ye Zhenzhen, who was looking at him with concern, "Go ahead, see if there are any items you like to bid on."

"Let's go, let's go. All they do when they get together is talk business. It's not interesting at all." Jiang Anna's voice gradually faded into the distance.

“We’ve known each other since childhood, and we were even classmates in university. I know all her preferences.” Ye Qinglan’s gaze grew colder. “But Mr. Gu, why pretend to know Zhenzhen so well? Have you two even known each other for three months?”

"So what? You only glimpsed a bit of her past through blood ties." Gu Tingshen's smile vanished. "But I possess the present and an infinite future."

"She loves freedom and hates being tied down; she would never fall in love with someone like you!"

"And what kind of person are you, Mr. Ye? A baron who can't even escape his mother's control and can't even choose his own marriage partner?" Gu Tingshen sneered, his words extremely sarcastic.

"You?!" Ye Qinglan was completely enraged upon hearing this, and questioned in a low voice, "She has loved art since she was a child and despised the scheming in the business world, but now she has to struggle to survive in this dirty circle, being scrutinized and vilified by the media, and what have you done? Have you protected her in the slightest?!"

"What do you take Zhenzhen for? A flower kept in a greenhouse?" Gu Tingshen shook his head and sneered. "You underestimate her too much. She has chosen this path and is going down it without hesitation. I will only respect her choice and accompany her on the way."

He looked at Ye Qinglan, a hint of pity in his eyes, "You don't understand her at all. Don't use your imagination to desecrate her career."

Ye Qinglan stood there, stunned, for a long time without moving.

---

"Tao Tao, you're getting lazier and lazier! You're not even walking the red carpet? What a waste of such a beautiful dress and jewelry!" Zhao Nanqiao walked the red carpet with the crew and saw Ye Zhenzhen in a blue dress. She went up and put her arm around Ye Zhenzhen's shoulder. "Anna, you're here too? Where's William?"

"What? You scared me. I'm exhausted. I don't need attention or traffic, I'm not going to join that fun." Ye Zhenzhen was standing opposite Jiang Anna. After speaking, she turned to look at her, looked her up and down, and exclaimed in shock, "Were you abused by the director? You've lost so much weight, your face is so thin!!"

"What abuse! I'm working out, look at my biceps!" Zhao Nanqiao flexed her arms, showing off her muscles. "Where's your husband, Lao Gu? Wasn't he supposed to come with you?"

“William is chatting with him, Zhenzhen and I are coming over first,” Jiang Anna pointed to the two people in the distance, “Don’t mind them, it’s not interesting.”

"But they don't seem very friendly..." Ye Zhenzhen looked over, still somewhat worried, feeling that the two people were hostile.

"Men, what's that saying again? They're always jealous of each other!" Jiang Anna waved her hand dismissively. "They're both CEOs, they're similar types, it's inevitable that they'll dislike each other a little, but they won't fight, don't worry."

“Let me see, this sapphire necklace is quite interesting.” Zhao Nanqiao helped to divert her attention, pointing to the sparkling gemstone necklace around her neck. “This doesn’t seem to be a modern design style. Where did you find it? This kind of plain cut suits you very well, making you look gentle and graceful.”

“The lines are soft, graceful, and gorgeous; it looks like the Edwardian style to me,” Jiang Anna said, leaning closer to examine it. “It really suits you.”

"Wow, you're so knowledgeable! I love the jewelry style from that era too!" Ye Zhenzhen looked at Jiang Anna with admiration. "Your dress and diamonds are beautiful too. The burgundy color is almost the same as your hair color. Wow, even your nails are burgundy, so exquisite!!"

"Isn't it beautiful? I love burgundy the most, doesn't it make me look like a vampire queen?" Jiang Anna held up her hand in front of the two of them, showing off her manicure. "I did it myself!"

"Really? That's amazing! It even has a cat-eye effect!" Ye Zhenzhen's eyes widened.

"You made this yourself? Wow, you're a technical genius, girl!" Zhao Nanqiao also came over to examine it. "You're so skillful. I can't even cut my nails this symmetrically."

"Come to me if you want to get your nails done. I recently bought a lot of pretty nail polish..."

When girls get together, they talk endlessly about makeup, manicures, skincare, hairstyling, clothes, and bags.

After the red carpet event concluded, the live broadcast camera panned to the venue, where the host came on stage and began reciting his lines, signaling the start of the evening's activities.

Zhao Nanqiao, whose seat was with the film crew, got up and left. Jiang Anna and Ye Qinglan, however, shared a table with Ye Zhenzhen.

The number of viewers in the live stream had skyrocketed to an alarming level, and the comment section and Weibo discussion area were bustling with activity, all discussing the red carpet show that had just taken place.

[Since when can all these monsters and freaks enter the entertainment industry??? I turn on the TV to see handsome men and beautiful women, not silicone and technology!!!]

[I watched the entire red carpet, but I didn't see Ye Zhenzhen at all! My eyes, already damaged, desperately need a beautiful woman to heal them!!!]

[Ahhh, I saw her! She's inside!! At the table in the center!!!]

Holy crap!!

Wow, this is the kind of stunning beauty who should be walking the red carpet!!! Camera, give us a close-up, I want to see her!!!

Honestly, I disagree with Ye Zhenzhen's withdrawal from the red carpet. Even if her acting is terrible, her looks and charisma are undeniable! After seeing all those other freaks, seeing her is a true beauty treat!

[These celebrities in China are not only bad-looking, but their taste is also terrible! I used to be a big fan of Bai Xue's looks, where is my aloof fairy?! What kind of awful clothes did they choose?!]

[Bai Xue's outfit choice today was absolutely outrageous! The stylist should be taken out and beaten!!!]

[Does this "pure and innocent" girl want to transform into a "sexy" woman? The problem is, she doesn't even have the looks! Other girls look like an S from the side, while she looks like an I. What is she trying to show off?!]

[The person upstairs is so sarcastic! That "I" is absolutely perfect!!!]

In Ye Zhenzhen's fan group, everyone was watching the live stream online, laughing heartily at the comments. Seeing their former rivals suffer was incredibly satisfying! These past few days have been just so awesome!

[Think back to a few months ago, Bai Xue's fans were attacking Zhenzhen, hurling incredibly vulgar insults. And now? Her idol herself is a disappointment, relegated to the back of the red carpet, while our Zhenzhen is in the center of the event!!]

Zhenzhen has found her niche! She's the investor herself, and this investment plan has attracted so many up-and-coming directors! Taoyao is definitely going to take off!!

[Haha, I just went to their plaza and the old fans were still brainwashing their own people, saying that she's determined to transform into a more serious, talented actress!! It's hilarious!!]

[Transformation? Snow White? Moving from the comfort zone to the disaster zone?!]

[Haha, sister, that's an amazing description!!!]

[Zhan Yan and Zhou Jin have been incredibly strong this season, shining brightly under the spotlight. While Zhenzhen's own acting skills aren't the best, her ability to train her team is top-notch!]

[During the interview, Zhan Yan said that she was able to remain so calm only after undergoing grueling training from her boss; otherwise, she would definitely have shown her weakness.]

[Haha, he's both proud and resentful about the special training. His expression is so complex, it's hilarious!]

[Peach Blossom Academy's reputation as the best training institution remains intact!! Look at their demeanor! So elegant and relaxed, making all those celebrities look like hunched-over losers who can't even walk properly!!]

After the live stream camera panned around the scene, especially giving several close-ups of Ye Zhenzhen and her group's table, viewers in the live stream noticed something interesting.

[The four of them at this table are so eye-catching; their style is completely different from the business tycoons next to them!!]

[Damn it! I can't watch the stage anymore. The camera's on this table, I just want to drool over their faces!!!]

[Ahhh, the Peach Blossom Couple's matching outfits look so good!!! President Gu is so gentle, and Zhenzhen is so ethereal!!!]

Are those two foreign celebrities? They look unfamiliar, like they're mixed race, and they're so good-looking and well-matched!

The red-haired girl kept talking to Ye Zhenzhen. It seems good-looking people only like to hang out with even better-looking people.

These two beauties together are twice as stunning!! And since ancient times, red and blue have always been a... well, don't they look like a vampire queen and a sea princess?!

[Eating everything will only make you nutritionally balanced!! The person upstairs will say more!!]

[President Gu is watching you!! Quickly say the Peach Blossom Couple is real, just kidding!]

After the performance, the auction officially began. The first few items were not expensive; they were just a warm-up.

Jiang Anna flipped through the catalog with some boredom, and an embroidered screen caught her attention.

"Zhenzhen, did you donate this screen?" She pointed to the picture and showed it to Ye Zhenzhen.

"Yeah, isn't it beautiful? I designed it." Ye Zhenzhen said softly, her expression revealing a hint of pride.

She also designed a screen with blooming peach blossoms on one side and a lush peach tree on the other, a beautiful double-sided, three-dimensional embroidery.

As a result, Gu Tingshen only glanced at it before confiscating it and placing it in his study at home.

Jiang Anna gave her a thumbs up.

Sitting next to her, Ye Qinglan silently withdrew her gaze and looked at the stage.

When the fan was displayed on the big screen, the host smiled and introduced it: "This item was donated by Ms. Ye Zhenzhen of Taoyao Film and Television. It uses the traditional Suzhou embroidery technique of double-sided embroidery with different colors to vividly show the beauty of the peony. One side is a red peony and the other side is a pale yellow peony, showcasing the charm of embroidery art!"

The starting bid for this item was 150,000 yuan. After several bids, it reached 300,000 yuan, which was basically the maximum price.

As the host was about to announce the end, a cool male voice rang out, "One million."

The entire audience erupted in uproar, and all eyes turned to the person holding the sign.

The live stream camera focused on him, showing the black-haired, green-eyed mixed-race youth smiling at the person opposite him before putting down the sign in his hand.

The auctioneer quickly brought down the gavel, and applause erupted in the room. Many people were asking each other who this generous and handsome man was.

The live stream chat exploded immediately.

[Wow, where did this handsome guy come from?! I need all his information in one minute!!]

Is this the happiness of the rich? I feel like my understanding of the value of money has collapsed! A million! He spends that much more decisively than I would spend a hundred!

[Nobody else is bidding, so why is this guy still raising his price?! I don't understand, but I'm completely shocked!!]

[This is a charity auction! This handsome guy just wants to donate! He's handsome and kind-hearted; it seems that good looks often come with a beautiful soul!!]

Ye Zhenzhen was surprised for a moment, but quickly figured it out. She guessed that Ye Qinglan wanted to use the screen to donate money to the gala.

Next, Ye Zhenzhen bid 2 million for a Qinan agarwood bracelet. This 14mm diameter bracelet is a rare sinking-grade agarwood, suitable for men to wear.

"Zhenzhen, this size is suitable for boys, right? Who are you going to give it to?" Jiang Anna rolled her eyes and asked curiously.

“Give it to my dad. He doesn’t sleep well. The aroma of agarwood can calm the mind and soothe the nerves, which might improve his sleep.”

"Oh~ Uncle will be very happy to receive it!" Jiang Anna glanced at the two silent men at the table and smiled brightly.

After the auction, on the way home, Zhao Lu drove while Ye Zhenzhen and Gu Tingshen sat in the back seat.

Ye Zhenzhen held a jade bracelet in her palm and played with it.

The violet bracelet with green accents has a fine, smooth texture and excellent translucency. It's rare to find a vibrant purple with a touch of lively, ethereal green that doesn't appear dull. It's truly stunning.

This was the final item up for auction tonight, which sold for 8 million.

"Too expensive," Ye Zhenzhen muttered as she looked at the items.

"Don't you like it?" Gu Tingshen pulled her hand over and examined it closely, not knowing whether he was looking at the jade or at her fair, jade-like hand.

"I like it, but it cost too much." Ye Zhenzhen felt she got ripped off. "William kept raising the price, so 8 million is a bit too high."

“Anyway, it was donated to charity, and you got a bracelet you like for free,” Gu Tingshen said with a smile. “You could say you made a profit.”

"Wouldn't it be better to donate to our own foundation!" Ye Zhenzhen rolled her eyes at him. "Our use of funds would be more transparent."

Seeing Ye Zhenzhen's oblivious expression, Gu Tingshen couldn't help but chuckle softly, without exposing Jin Qinglan's covetous intentions.

"What are you laughing at?" Ye Zhenzhen asked, puzzled.

"It's nothing." Gu Tingshen shook his head, the frustration stirred up by Ye Qinglan dissipating considerably.

[Author's Note]

[Peeking through face][Peeking through face][Peeking through face] Bonus chapter~~~