Chapter 13 I've Come to Take You Home
The dinner that night was interrupted by an impromptu overseas meeting hosted by Lu Jinyuan. Lu Jinyuan seemed apologetic, and Jiang Qingying expressed her understanding. After that, the two were busy with their own things, and if there were any problems occasionally, they could contact each other via WeChat.
Of course, this has never happened before.
When the day arrived for Jiang Qingying to attend the awards ceremony, she learned that Nan Chun would also be there. She was a little happier, at least she would have a sister to keep her company, and she would have a chance to joke around in the audience.
Nan Chun is a top-tier actress and the main focus of attention tonight, while Jiang Qingying is not. She doesn't even need to walk the red carpet; she just waits for Nan Chun to come over inside the venue after the awards ceremony begins.
Nan Chun was scheduled to walk the red carpet at the very back. Jiang Qingying waited a long time before she finally saw her enter, following her with her eyes the whole way, and teasingly remarked, "Nan Chun, the beauty, truly lives up to her reputation as the red carpet goddess of the Chinese entertainment industry!"
Nan Chun was wearing the world's number one luxury haute couture gown, a light pink sequined strapless long dress with a high slit on the side, subtly revealing the lines of her legs winding down to her hips. Three black butterflies were neatly arranged from top to bottom along the body's lines, a perfect blend of subtle sexiness and sweetness. A simple black halter neck rested at the waist, making her walk light and graceful, with a touch of elegance.
Nan Chun glanced at her and said, "President Jiang is not bad either. Your attire is low-key, but your face is really eye-catching."
Compared to Nan Chun's attire, Jiang Qingying was surprisingly low-key. She wore a black velvet mini-dress in the style of Hepburn, with little decoration except for the special treatment of the fabric pleats. She wore matching high heels, short, straight black hair, and a necklace with a small diamond pendant around her slender neck.
Her attire was simple yet exuded elegance, and her natural charisma was enough to command attention.
"I'm just a 'client' here to present an award; leave the spotlight-stealing to you celebrities," Jiang Qingying said.
Nan Chun covered her thighs with the blanket she had brought and gave half to Jiang Qingying. "But it's true that you're beautiful. The outfit is just the icing on the cake. Didn't you notice how many cameras and microphones are pointed at you?"
Jiang Qingying glanced around and smiled helplessly, "There's nothing I can do, it was given to me by my mother."
"Sometimes I really feel it's a pity; it's such a waste that you don't use your face for acting."
"I can't do it. All my emotions are written on my face. I have no acting skills at all. Which director would dare to cast me in a movie?"
Nan Chun was amused by her and covered her mouth with her hand, laughing non-stop. "I'm different. I'm more shameless. Being pretty and having a lot of online traffic is enough for me."
Jiang Qingying chuckled. Actually, Nan Chun's words weren't entirely true. Her acting skills had always been controversial in the entertainment industry, but Jiang Qingying didn't think her acting was bad. She was just picky about directors. Most directors only cared about how to make her face look pretty, but they didn't know how to portray her beauty and didn't integrate her acting skills with her face.
As they were talking, a new figure appeared in their line of sight. Jiang Qingying nodded her chin in that direction and said, "Hey, an extraordinary director has arrived."
She was referring to Liang Xiqi, a young film director who has swept international awards.
He is also the creator of Nan Chun's most famous work. Nan Chun's current status is entirely due to his film "Hear Me".
Nan Chun followed her gaze and briefly exchanged a glance with the passing man. The two nodded and smiled knowingly, ending their polite and formal greeting.
Then the man's handsome features turned to Jiang Qingying beside him, and he greeted her with a nod and a smile.
They were polite but distant towards each other.
Actually, everyone knows each other. Liang Xiqi was also born into a wealthy family. However, artists are often quite aloof, and since he spent his early years abroad, they can only be considered family friends rather than close friends.
Liang Qiqi found his seat and disappeared from their sight.
Jiang Qingying sensed Nan Chun's sudden drop in mood and quietly observed her, "What's wrong?"
Nan Chun quickly regained her composure, shook her head, and said softly, "It's nothing."
Jiang Qingying pursed her lips and didn't ask any further questions.
The awards ceremony and various performances on stage were proceeding in an orderly manner when suddenly the host called out a familiar name.
“Chen Shuyun”.
Jiang Qingying glanced at the people on the stage, and after confirming that it was indeed them, she turned her eyes to Nan Chun, "Why is she here?"
Nan Chun blinked, her face calm. "You don't know?"
"What should I know?" Jiang Qingying asked in return.
Nan Chun smiled and said, "She participated in a variety show and was quite popular. The platform gave her an encouragement award to motivate the newcomer."
"Is she going to enter the entertainment industry?" Jiang Qingying thought about it and still felt something was off. "She's so old and she's only now starting to venture into the entertainment industry."
It's no wonder Jiang Qingying was so straightforward; most newcomers in the entertainment industry are around eighteen or nineteen years old, while Shen Shuyun is the same age as her, twenty-seven.
Nan Chun was utterly speechless. "The art world and the entertainment industry are inherently connected. Plus, with the Lu family as her backer, is it really that difficult for her to come and play around in the entertainment industry?"
"Threatened you?" Jiang Qingying swayed her hips and gently bumped her shoulder. "It's okay, I'm your asset."
Nan Chun looked at Shen Shuyun on the stage accepting the award, her expression relaxed and her tone nonchalant, "It's not that serious. I've been in the entertainment industry for so many years, how could I be so easily outdone?"
"Although she's quite pretty, I'm definitely on your side."
"......"
Jiang Qingying saved the awards for last, presenting the Best Artist of the Year award to Nan Chun.
The cameras and stage lights made them the focus of the vast venue. The large screens on both sides of the stage showed close-ups, one showing Nan Chun's shot and the other showing Jiang Qingying's shot.
There's always a certain awkwardness between acquaintances. When Jiang Qingying handed the trophy to Nan Chun, the two couldn't help but laugh when they looked at each other. Their beautiful faces, smiling and laughing, were magnified on the screen, causing an uproar in the audience, with continuous exclamations of amazement.
The photo of the two of them together also became a trending topic after the party ended.
Jiang Qingying took Nan Chun's arm and they walked out the door together. "Want to go back together?"
Nan Chun shook her head, her voice sounding slightly tired, "I need to catch a flight back to the film set tonight."
Jiang Qingying glanced at her watch; it was almost midnight. "You're busier than me."
“That’s different.” Nan Chun stretched out her index finger and waved it in the air. “I can have long vacations, but you can’t.”
Jiang Qingying: "......"
She was about to say something when she was interrupted by a "humph" from someone passing by. She looked in the direction of the sound and only saw Shen Shuyun's back.
Jiang Qingying found it absurd and frowned as she asked Nan Chun, "Is she 'humphing' at me?"
Nan Chun thought for two seconds, "If I heard correctly, it should be."
Jiang Qingying was so angry she laughed. She always took revenge on the spot. She quickened her pace to catch up, but before she could catch up a few steps, she saw a very familiar car parked ostentatiously in front of everyone.
The person who got out of the car was Lu Jinyuan, just as Jiang Qingying had guessed.
Dressed in a black bespoke suit, he exuded composure and charm in the night. His mature masculine aura gradually spread outside the noisy venue, drawing everyone's attention to him. No one could look away from him for a long time.
Lu Jinyuan, a famous figure in Nanzhou City, who doesn't know him? Everyone is just curious as to why he's here.
Soon, everyone came up with the first answer.
Shen Shuyun was the first to greet them, her voice sweet and joyful, "Are you here to pick me up?"
Lu Jinyuan's gaze remained fixed on Jiang Qingying behind her. He only turned his eyes slowly when he heard her speak, his expression calm and indifferent. "No, if you need, you can ask Qi Xin to call a car for you."
Shen Shuyun was stunned and stood there awkwardly. She tried to adjust her expression and forced a stiff smile, saying, "Oh, is that so? It's okay, I already had a spare car."
Lu Jinyuan simply hummed in response, then took steady steps to stand in front of Jiang Qingying, gracefully extending his hand with his palm facing upwards, his voice unusually gentle: "I've come to take you home."
Lu Jinyuan's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone present to hear, and the second answer was found.
Jiang Qingying remained unmoved for a moment. She glanced at Lu Jinyuan, then at Shen Shuyun's slightly disheveled back, raised her crimson lips, and placed her fair, soft hand on his. Palm to palm, they understood each other without a word.
Jiang Qingying's smile when she met his was incredibly ambiguous, and she made no attempt to hide it in front of everyone. Led by Lu Jinyuan, she bypassed Shen Shuyun and entered the car, where she slightly lowered her gaze in the dim light.
Hmm... she does have some acting skills.
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