Chapter 7 I wished I could disappear into a crack in the ground. ...

Fu Xiaodan had no problem with it, "Perfect timing, my sister is also an actress."

"Why haven't I seen you bring him out before?" Cao Jun smiled, seeing that Sheng Yi didn't remember ever seeing him before. "We're all in the same circle, so we might have a chance to work together in the future."

Upon hearing this, Fu Xiaodan perked up, "She acted in 'The Overbearing King's Nightly Pampering' before, I don't know if you've seen it."

Sheng Yi: "..."

Actually, the title of the script she initially received wasn't nearly as outrageous as it sounds. But she couldn't say anything now. After all, "The Overbearing King's Little Darling" didn't exactly sound sophisticated.

Cao Jun, as expected of a worldly man, was immediately noticed by Sheng Yi. She noticed his facial muscles twitch slightly, but he quickly suppressed the twitch and continued the conversation in a steady voice: "Oh, I've seen that drama. The princess in it was portrayed so exquisitely by Teacher Sheng."

Sheng Yi has completely given up, saying, "Just call me Sheng Yi." She's too lazy to correct anyone, since the princess in the drama died as soon as she appeared.

As they spoke, they had already walked up to Wen Shili.

Stripped of his elaborate performance costume, Wen Shili sat on the sofa in casual clothes. Without any large logos, Sheng Yi couldn't tell if it was a high-end brand. His white shirt was rolled up, revealing a small section of his arm; the smooth lines clearly showed signs of exercise.

I heard that these singers exercise even more than actors every day to maintain their stamina. But thinking about it, it makes sense; after a three-hour high-intensity concert, Wen Shili still looks energetic.

It must have been that Cao Jun had already informed him beforehand, because he behaved very gently and politely when facing them.

"This is the planning teacher from Brother Shen's company; we've had meetings together before," Cao Jun introduced.

In such situations, Fu Xiaodan always maintains a very professional demeanor, although her flashy face stickers and hairstyle diminish this credibility.

She greeted Wen Shili with a smile, then restrainedly praised his singing skills and stage design, finally ending the conversation with the words, "It was truly unforgettable."

Sheng Yi listened to her chattering away and became quite anxious about what was to come. She really hadn't prepared any lines.

Before she could even prepare her introduction, Cao Jun had already introduced her. Sheng Yi quickly reached out and gently shook hands with Wen Shili, saying, "Hello, Teacher Wen."

Wen Shili politely grasped her hand, a slight smile playing on his lips, and said, "Hello."

They touched and then parted. Sheng Yi unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as Sheng Yi was about to shrink back to Fu Xiaodan's side, she heard Cao Jun say again, "I watched that drama that Teacher Sheng acted in with Brother Li." As he spoke, he winked at Wen Shili, and Sheng Yi could even see his lips moving. It was the title of that drama that was both eye-catching and ear-catching.

No way, why are they still doing this position? She lowered her head, wishing she could disappear into the ground.

Sheng Yi didn't want to recall her character in that drama, nor did she want others to bring up her past achievements again. But she could feel Wen Shili's gaze shifting to her again as he introduced her, with a slightly scrutinizing look.

Perhaps he was simply curious who had the audacity to produce such a pile of garbage. In the eyes of these gifted individuals, the efforts of mediocre people were utterly insignificant.

Just like its cheesy title, there wasn't a single normal aspect to that drama, from the plot to the costumes and makeup. To be honest, she didn't know how such a crude production passed censorship.

Actually, she had two roles in the works at the time, and the characters seemed similar, both stereotypical and one-dimensional. Sheng Yi couldn't see the difference between them no matter how she looked at them, so she simply chose one based on the salary.

However, when the final product was released, she overestimated her mental resilience.

If she had known she would be dug up and desecrated now, she would have thought a few more seconds before acting. Of course, by this time she had selectively forgotten that the play chosen by the other tribe had also topped the list of most ridiculous dramas back then.

The girl's face flushed red and then turned pale. Unlike their previous encounters, Wen Shili could sense that she was more... flustered now.

In fact, if Cao Jun hadn't brought it up, he would have found it hard to connect the current Sheng Yi with the charming concubine in the drama.

Her face was completely unadorned, yet she dressed in bright red and green in the film in an extremely exaggerated manner. Whether she was crying or laughing, she was just like a pre-determined tool, so flamboyant that even laymen could find fault with her.

In fact, she played a part in enabling him to go on to act.

Thinking of this, Wen Shili couldn't help but say with genuine sincerity, "Professor Sheng has a bright future ahead of him."

Sheng Yi's lips twitched. Don't think she couldn't tell that this was a roundabout way of saying that she had a lot of room for improvement.

But what they said wasn't wrong. After performing in that "classic" play, none of the roles she took on afterward could match the amount of screen time in that one. Otherwise, Fu Xiaodan wouldn't have to rely solely on that play to introduce herself.

Fortunately, Wen Shili didn't have time to pretend to be familiar with her.

The celebration banquet was held at a restaurant in the city. Cao Jun hurriedly took Wen Shili to make preparations for the next event. Sheng Yi and Fu Xiaodan had come by subway, so they could only hitch a ride with the staff.

When they arrived, the hall was already filled with laughter and cheerful conversation. Except for the main table, which was still empty, the hall was almost full. If it weren't for the large screen displaying the words "Wen Shili's Tour Concert Celebration Banquet," Sheng Yi would have thought she had stumbled upon a feast in some village.

For this performance, everyone was on edge, and it was rare to get a full night's sleep. Now that it's finally over, we should do whatever makes us happy.

Sheng Yi and Fu Xiaodan arrived late and chose a corner seat. The table was full of unfamiliar faces; they glanced at them before looking away. Fu Xiaodan, as always, was very popular in these situations, quickly establishing a rapport with just a few words.

Sheng Yi sat to one side, enjoying the peace and quiet, looking around. Unexpectedly, she actually spotted someone who looked familiar.

Xiao You!

The moment the name popped into her mind, the girl at the door noticed them and, upon recognizing her, smiled in a crescent-shaped curve.

Sheng Yi had a natural affinity for Tian Mei, not to mention that in this gathering of strangers, he suddenly had an ally, and he couldn't hide the joy in his eyes.

The two hadn't contacted each other since adding each other on WeChat, and Xiaoyou had almost forgotten that she had such a friend in her contact list. But in that fleeting glance, Shengyi's face naturally caught her eye.

His clear eyes stared straight at her, initially in disbelief, then filled with overwhelming joy, making her unable to help but reflect on herself, wondering if she had started something and then abandoned it.

She waved to Sheng Yi, who was sitting there bored. She happily abandoned Fu Xiaodan and ran towards this "friend" she had only met once.

What are you doing here?

Sheng Yi was still immersed in the joy of meeting an old friend in a foreign land and did not notice Xiao You's momentary stiffness.

"I came with my boss."

"?" Sheng Yi had assumed she was an unemployed employee like herself, but she hadn't expected her to have already signed with a company. She asked with a hint of envy, "Which company did you sign with?"

"Star Entertainment".

"Oh—so you and Wen Shili are in the same company!" Sheng Yi realized, no wonder Xiao You was so familiar with Wen Shili's information. She felt a mix of pride and awkwardness.

They were colleagues at the same company. No wonder. For these younger colleagues who hadn't yet made a name for themselves, Wen Shili must have been a towering figure, someone difficult to surpass.

Before she could think any further, a thunderous sound suddenly erupted in her ears. Sheng Yi looked up and saw a crowd surrounding a man, slowly entering the banquet hall.

The guests, who were busy socializing, paused for a moment upon hearing the commotion, only to be drowned out by a wave of applause and cheers. Those further away even stood up excitedly, craning their necks to look at the main table.

The main character arrived, and the banquet officially began.

The on-site host was temporarily filled by a teacher from the performance team. His opening remarks were humorous, exciting, and emotional. Wen Shili sat in the audience with a slight smile on his face.

With the atmosphere built up, Wen Shili was urged by the crowd to go on stage. He changed into a simple hoodie, held the microphone, and gave a brief presentation.

Sheng Yi listened half-heartedly. His hands were broad, and his fingers were indeed as beautiful and slender as his fans had praised. The difficulties during the preparation process were glossed over by Wen Shili in a few words, and he humbly thanked all the staff for their hard work.

Dressed simply, he faced the thunderous applause and praise with the composure of a child.

"That's just how he is," Xiao You muttered to Sheng Yi, sounding exasperated. "He's such a fake."

Sheng Yi didn't know if he was always this composed, or if he had simply found a balance through countless experiences. Whether on a dazzling stage or in a bustling crowd, he seemed to switch between them with ease.

If the roles were reversed, I'd probably be so excited my voice would be trembling, let alone the fact that so many people's livelihoods depend on him. But he just acts like nothing's wrong.

When she came to her senses, there was already someone else next to Wen Shili.

He looked vaguely familiar. Sheng Yi was trying to remember where he'd seen him before when suddenly someone nearby shouted, "Mr. Lin, aren't you going to say a few words to everyone?"

His loud voice drew laughter from the audience, and the people on stage also looked over with smiles.

A thought flashed through Sheng Yi's mind, but before she could grasp it, she heard Xiao You say, "I'm going over there for a bit, we'll talk later." With that, she had already disappeared.

Cao Jun was engrossed in his conversation when he saw Xiao You pull out a chair and casually sit down beside him. He glanced at the main table, "Not going to sit with President Lin?"

"No, no." Xiao You shook her head so hard it was almost blurry, subtly glancing in Sheng Yi's direction. This person seemed to be still immersed in the feeling of being Wen Shili's junior sister, and hadn't had time to explore it further. If it were any later, who knows?

Mr. Lin, the CEO of Xingchen Entertainment, is quite well-known in the industry.

As soon as Sheng Yi returned, Fu Xiaodan caught her, asking, "Why did you take so long?"

"I just saw a friend and we chatted briefly."

Fu Xiaodan nodded in agreement, agreeing that it was indeed advisable to get out more. These days, it's not a case of good wine needing no bush; knowing more people might come in handy someday.

Unlike those dull banquets, this celebration was extremely streamlined. The organizers were also very generous, with a constant stream of dishes and drinks being served.

Sheng Yi huddled in a corner, engrossed in enjoying her meal, and had no time to pay any more attention to the person in the center.