Chapter 77
The next day, the two took an early flight back to Haishi. The Ghost Howl Night Festival was held in the evening, and since it was still early, they went home to rest for a while.
Seeing the dark circles under Lin Ting's eyes, Chen Zhiyi felt a little sorry for her. He said he brought her out to relax and have some fun, but the schedule was all according to his own. Over the years, he had gotten used to this bizarre schedule of "getting up earlier than the chickens and going to bed later than the bats," but it was a challenge for Lin Ting, who had a stable schedule.
Moreover, two consecutive nights of intense and passionate lovemaking greatly depleted Lin Ting's energy, and she eventually fell into a deep sleep.
But the process was indeed extremely wonderful, and the memory of it makes one eager to try it again.
Chen Zhiyi touched Lin Ting's eyes with the pad of his thumb, "Why don't you stay home and rest today?"
Lin Ting shook her head. "I want to be with you and learn more about your daily work. I only realized how hard this industry is after following you for the past two days. They say, 'One minute on stage requires ten years of practice off stage.' Just for that brief moment of glamour in front of the public, how much hard work do you have to put in? Just the upside-down work schedule is something that not everyone can endure. I feel a little sorry for you."
Chen Zhiyi pressed his forehead against hers, looking down at her with eyes full of doting affection. "You forgot, this is the job I love. How can I be tired when I'm facing people or things I love? I wish we could be together all the time."
Although she'd gotten used to his occasional declarations of love, her heart still felt warm, and her face would flush slightly.
Lin Ting attended the ceremony tonight as a staff member, and Chen Zhiyi prepared a staff pass for her.
Adhering to the principle of being low-key and unassuming, Lin Ting wore the same outfit as the previous two days, except that she wore a low-cut sweater underneath, revealing a small patch of jade-like skin connecting her neck to her chest, which was dazzlingly white.
It's quite unpleasant to watch.
Chen Zhiyi lifted her collar. "Why don't you change into something? You look pretty cold."
"It's okay, I'm still wearing a down jacket. This is the only black sweater I have left; the rest are all white, so I don't have a choice."
"You don't necessarily have to wear black from head to toe. Your outer layer is already black enough. If you wear something different color underneath, no one will notice."
Lin Ting straightened her collar, which he had been pinching. "No, the temperature inside isn't low. I can't keep wearing a down jacket. It would be too conspicuous for me to walk around in a white sweater. Besides, I feel safer wearing the same fabric."
Chen Zhiyi stared at the patch of white on her chest in the mirror. Was it no longer dazzling? He looked again, lowered his gaze, and the protruding roundness was truly captivating.
This damned possessiveness won't allow anyone else to look at Lin Ting even once.
While Lin Ting was still thinking about how to get her to change her clothes, she suddenly remembered something, ran to the room and took out a square handkerchief, apricot-colored with wine-red lines drawn on it, simple yet elegant.
"I'll bring the small scarf with me; I'll tie it on if I get cold." After Lin Ting tied it on, it covered up a lot of the snow-white skin, making Chen Zhiyi look much more comfortable, and he reluctantly accepted it.
After finishing their makeup, the two arrived backstage at the "Ghostly Night" gala, where a constellation of stars had already gathered.
Celebrities are busy all year round, but they take advantage of the year-end galas and events to get together. When old friends meet, they take close-up photos and post them on Weibo to generate buzz, or they chat about how many movies they filmed this year, how much money they made, and what connections they made.
They are human beings too, ordinary people.
Lin Ting felt like her eyes had been opened. Although she wasn't a fan of celebrities, being able to see so many big stars, handsome men and beautiful women in one night was quite an amazing experience.
"Sister Fei is over there, let's go over there." Following Chen Zhiyi's pointing direction, they saw the two of them standing in a corner, talking.
The two were dressed to the nines today. Han Ming wore a black haute couture suit, looking composed and handsome, while Qin Fei wore a navy blue strapless velvet fishtail dress, showing off her perfect figure with a curvaceous silhouette and not an ounce of excess fat. The luxurious and high-profile diamond necklace around her neck was dazzling, making her incredibly radiant.
Lin Ting remembered that Qin Fei had been nominated for the Best Agent Award at the "Ghostly Night". This event was all about giving equal recognition, with awards for anyone even remotely related to the industry, including Best Makeup Artist, Best Costume Designer, Best Stylist, and so on.
Even netizens complained that the awards ceremony was turned into a wholesale event, but who can blame them when their backer is the largest video portal website in China, whose self-produced TV series, movies and variety shows alone can support most of the entertainment industry every year.
Those who pay are all big shots; you have to save face for them.
Another highlight of this event is the award for best-dressed of the night. The male and female winners of this award will be featured on the cover of Vega magazine's next issue.
Vega magazine is one of the earliest fashion magazines in China. Its content covers various aspects such as fashion, makeup, beauty, health, entertainment and art. It is a trendsetter and benchmark in the fashion industry in China. Being on the cover of an issue means that one's fashion resources will rise to a higher level. Therefore, the cover photos of each issue are highly sought after by celebrities in the entertainment industry, but not everyone can get them.
Those who aren't currently popular, lack capital and strength, or don't have significant publicity basically can't get on the show.
Therefore, the annual "Ghostly Night" gala is also an opportunity for them to appear on the cover, and grassroots artists put in their best effort.
Lin Ting looked at Qin Fei's luxurious outfit, which was in no way inferior to the female celebrities on the scene, and thought that she was also going to try and get a piece of the pie.
She's such a bright, generous, and decisive businesswoman; she can do anything she sets her mind to and do it well.
Han Ming was the first to see Lin Ting. Despite her wearing a large black down jacket, he recognized her at a glance and a smile appeared on his face.
Qin Fei followed the direction Han Ming was looking and realized that Chen Zhiyi had come over. When he got closer, she recognized the girl next to him as Lin Ting.
No wonder she didn't need to accompany him this time; someone was with her.
Han Ming took a step forward, looked at Lin Ting, and said with a polite smile, "We meet again."
Lin responded with the same faint smile.
Chen Zhiyi was puzzled and looked at the two of them with a strange gaze. How come they seemed to be getting more and more familiar with each other?
Han Ming explained awkwardly, "Last time, Ms. Lin helped me in the emergency room and even cooked me rock sugar pear soup. I haven't had a chance to thank her in person, and I feel a little guilty."
"Mr. Han, you're too kind," Lin said.
Chen Zhiyi patted Han Ming on the shoulder, "It's nothing, our family doesn't mind these things."
The tone was like that of an old married couple who had been together for a long time, which made Han Ming feel a pang of sadness, but he had no right to say anything more, so he could only purse his lips and nod.
Qin Fei looked at Lin Ting. Although she was wearing a black hat and her dark blue glasses almost covered most of her face, you could still see her delicate little face, her eyes were as clear as autumn water, and her skin was fair and rosy. She was the kind of beautiful woman who didn't need any embellishment, and she was pretty and elegant.
If they didn't know each other and just happened to meet on the street, Qin Fei would use her silver tongue to persuade her to join the entertainment industry. Just by looking at her appearance, she was a promising talent, a rare beauty with a pure and innocent look, and she fit the image of the white moonlight in most men's hearts.
But so what? Qin Fei didn't agree with Chen Zhiyi's idea of "redemption." An excellent woman, an excellent woman who can stand behind a successful man, shouldn't just be someone who is good-looking or someone who maintains a relationship based on youthful feelings. Instead, she should be someone who can help a man in terms of ability, connections, and resources, someone who can support him to the pinnacle of his life.
Lin Ting had none of these things. All she had was the love and companionship Chen Zhiyi talked about. What good was that? Could it feed her? Could it become a sharp sword in the face of a battle for interests?
In Qin Fei's eyes, they were all just a bunch of vague and illusory things.
But Chen Zhiyi treated her like a treasure and even brought her to the "Ghostly Night," with so many media colleagues present. Wasn't he afraid of finding out something? Wasn't he worried about the pressure from public opinion? Wasn't he worried about damaging his career?
Do you want to be with her all the time?
Enraged, Qin Fei didn't want to look at them any longer and turned to leave.
Lin Ting felt inferior in front of Qin Fei. As a woman herself, how could she not see through Qin Fei's thoughts? Apart from winning Chen Zhiyi's heart, she couldn't win over Qin Fei in any other way.
...
At this moment, a male celebrity walked up to Chen Zhiyi with a smile on his face. Anyone with eyes could see that it was a forced smile, revealing his hypocrisy. "Zhiyi, it's been a long time."
Lin Ting recognized him; his name was Zhou Yu, the second male lead who had made Song Xiaolei cry for a month and whose love was unrequited.
These characters often resonate more deeply with audiences than the male lead, becoming the source of viewers' lingering regrets.
Of course, the reason why it's hard to accept is not because of the acting skills, but because the audience empathizes with the aesthetics of tragic love; they prefer subtle and restrained love.
Chen Zhiyi: "Long time no see, Zhou Yu."
The two had a brief collaboration in a drama, where Zhou Yu was the lead actor and Chen Zhiyi was just a minor supporting actor who was unknown to anyone.
As the saying goes, fortunes change. In just a few years, Zhou Yu didn't even have the qualifications to play a supporting role for Chen Zhiyi. He could only work in web dramas, which did make him quite a bit of a splash.
Other celebrities around also came over to greet Chen Zhiyi. The entertainment industry is a disaster zone for fame and fortune, and it is common for people to praise the powerful and criticize the weak.
For example, right now, it's as if no one can see that Han Ming is standing next to them.
Lin Ting took a small step toward Han Ming, smiled at him, and encouraged him.
That smile sent a shiver down Han Ming's spine, a tingling sensation that instantly transformed all the coldness and disdain he had received into warmth.
"Zhou Yu, you and Han Ming are wearing the same outfit," an unknown female celebrity said, her face full of anticipation.
Wearing the same outfit on the red carpet is a major taboo and a serious incident.
Zhou Yu then carefully examined Han Ming from head to toe. Sure enough, they were the same style. Since they were both black suits with similar cuts, it would be difficult to tell unless one had a keen eye.
Zhou Yu glared at the female celebrity, whose face was full of anticipation for a good show.
Wearing the same outfit as an artist on the red carpet is a major taboo, yet it happens frequently. The solution is either to change it before walking the red carpet, or to accept the loss and see who can outshine the other on the red carpet.
Zhou Yu is currently focused on web dramas and is not very famous, so his fashion resources are relatively limited. Few high-end brands are willing to lend him formal wear. The LV Fall/Winter 2018 suit he is wearing tonight was obtained by his team through various connections, with no alternatives available.
Actually, if the female celebrities hadn't made a point of it, and Zhou Yu and Han Ming had walked the red carpet separately, perhaps no one would have noticed the "matching outfits." Even if the audience noticed it at the start of the event, the two could have taken a "brotherly" photo together and openly admitted it, creating a sense of mutual respect and understanding, which would have been a wonderful story.
The incident at the Maritime Film Festival in the first half of the year, where two actresses wore the same dress on the red carpet, was handled in this way. The two took photos together generously, without any talk of one trying to gain the other's fame. The atmosphere was relaxed and open, and coincidentally, they even became good friends in private.
But the female celebrity's decision to tear off her mask at this moment was undoubtedly intended to embarrass Zhou Yu.
It seems there's quite a story between the two, but Zhou Yu can't direct his anger at the female artist right now. No matter how angry he is, he still has to uphold male virtues in front of everyone.
Then his expression changed, and he walked up to Han Ming with a provocative tone. "So what if we're wearing the same thing? It's not the first time Han Ming and I have had a mismatch. The last time this happened was at the audition for 'The Moon Rising Over the Sea,' where we were both vying for the second male lead role. After the audition, my performance was recognized by the director and producer, and I thought signing the contract was a matter of course. But then, at the last minute, you got the role instead. I was disappointed, but I was still happy for you, since you were more popular with the female investor. But unexpectedly, the box office flopped. What does that show? What's yours is yours, and what's not yours, you lose if you try to take it by force. You lose completely. I think it'll be the same on the red carpet tonight."
Han Ming stood silently to the side from beginning to end, yet he was still dragged into this undeserved disaster, turning the confrontation between the two into a three-way battleground.
Chen Zhiyi couldn't stand it anymore. "Zhou Yu, instead of wasting your breath here, why don't you go to the side and practice your waving and posture? Don't let other celebrities look beautiful in photos on the red carpet, but you always end up with terrible angles. There's no time for retouching during a live broadcast."
The people around them smirked.
Zhou Yu: "That's still better than having no work to show for it and just showing up on the red carpet, right?"
Han Ming did have few works released this year, only two. In one movie, he played the third male lead, with limited screen time and few appearances. Due to the niche subject matter, it received very little attention after its release. The other was a CCTV drama series, mainly about the love of the older generation, in which he played the second son. Although his role was small, every scene was captivating, and he was a core character driving the plot forward. Audiences were deeply impressed by his performance. He attended the "Ghost Cry Awards" with the cast and crew. He was not nominated for any awards, but the drama was nominated for Best Drama Series, and the lead actors, the father and mother, were nominated for Most Popular Actor and Actress in a Drama Series, respectively.
Han Ming did not defend himself, but agreed with Zhou Yu's words. He would not have attended if the crew had not repeatedly invited him. He was glad to come tonight to see Lin Ting, but now he felt that he was dispensable. It was like he had been struggling in the entertainment industry for so long, but he had still accomplished nothing.
The male celebrity next to him spoke up for him, saying, "Someone who can act in a CCTV drama, do they really need to crash the red carpet? Mainstream actors generally don't care much for the online drama market; after all, even a supporting role can be vivid and nuanced, something only a truly skilled actor could pull off."
Speaking is truly an art. With just one sentence, he subtly criticized Zhou Yu's poor acting skills, saying he could only get by in low-budget web dramas, while also acknowledging Han Ming's outstanding acting skills, otherwise how could he have been noticed by CCTV?
At the audition for "The Moon Rising Over the Sea," Zhou Yu's performance indeed left a deep impression on the director. After all, it's rare for someone who is usually quiet and reserved to be portrayed as a paranoid and manic character, and even the director was overwhelmed. Meanwhile, after Han Ming finished his performance, the set remained silent, still immersed in the scene. Therefore, it was quite clear who performed better and who performed worse.
The low box office performance wasn't due to Han Ming, but rather because the female investor wanted to promote the male lead and added a lot of scenes, which drastically changed the film's style. In addition, the limited shooting time resulted in many changes being rather abrupt and illogical. Furthermore, the male lead's acting was immature and inexperienced, making it difficult for the audience to connect with the character, thus causing the box office to collapse.
Actually, the box office failure had little to do with Han Ming. He was just the second male lead, and no matter how exciting his scenes were, they couldn't overshadow the dragging down of the male lead's scenes. Moreover, he followed the normal procedures from beginning to end and didn't use any personal connections.
These objective reasons are clear to everyone. Zhou Yu's use of them now is just sophistry and will only backfire.
Zhou Yu was furious and could only slink away with his tail between his legs. The female artist looked at his disheveled figure with a smug smile.
The minor incident has passed, everyone has dispersed, and it's time to walk the red carpet.
Chen Zhiyi comforted Han Ming, "Don't take Zhou Yugang's words to heart. People like him probably won't stay in the industry for long. He's always looking down on people. Even though you're wearing the same clothes as him, he's far inferior to you in terms of looks, temperament, and figure."
Han Ming smiled slightly and said nothing; perhaps he was used to it.
Lin Ting unzipped the down jacket around her neck, took off the silk scarf tied around her neck, folded it a few times into a triangular piece, and then stuffed it into Han Ming's chest pocket, with only a little bit of the apricot-colored corner showing.
Lin Ting explained, "Putting a handkerchief in the breast pocket is the place where you have the most freedom and can best show your personality when wearing a suit. Adding it not only shows your elegance and gentlemanliness, but it also represents that this is a unique suit that belongs to you."
Turning her head, she reached out to Chen Zhiyi, "Give me your gold-rimmed glasses."
"?"
"hurry up."
Chen Zhiyi reluctantly took it out. Ever since he found out that Lin Ting liked him wearing gold-rimmed glasses, he always carried the glasses with him and would wear them from time to time to show off.
Lin Ting looked at Han Ming and said, "Put these on. They're just decorative glasses, they don't have any prescription, so they won't feel uncomfortable."
Han Ming picked up his glasses and put them on properly, making sure the lenses were close to the frames.
Lin Ting gestured as she spoke, "You don't need to wear it so tightly, you can wear it a little lower."
Han Ming lowered his head, drawing Lin Ting into his eyes to form a tiny figure. "Could you adjust it for me?"
Lin Ting wasn't shy at all. He simply hooked his index finger around the frame in the middle of his eye socket and gently moved it down a little bit. Instantly, he exuded a slightly wicked charm, quite different from his usual serious demeanor.
Even Chen Zhiyi couldn't help but exclaim, "No wonder you said gold-rimmed glasses are the best cosmetic procedure for men. Wearing them really makes a difference; your charm has increased dramatically!"
Lin Ting poked Chen Zhiyi hard in the back and whispered, "Speak properly."
Then, looking at Han Ming, she said, "Actually, a good outfit isn't just about the clothes themselves. Hairstyle, makeup, and accessories are all very important. The same piece of clothing can present different styles depending on changes in makeup and accessories. Whether clothes look good or not depends on the person wearing them. Different people will bring out different flavors in them. So when you wear it, it showcases the charm of the wearer, not the inherent charm of the clothes. Don't be afraid of wearing the same clothes as someone else, after all, there are big differences between people."
Chen Zhiyi chuckled: "You can insult people without using any swear words."
"Zhiyi, is this girl your new costume assistant? She looks unfamiliar, but her styling skills are pretty good. With just a couple of touches from her, Han Ming looks completely different. Can you introduce her? I'd like to hire a costume assistant like that too." A male celebrity who witnessed the whole process was very curious about Lin Ting.
Upon hearing this question, Lin Ting became alert, lowered her head, and put her mask back on.
Is this an attempt to poach someone's partner?
Chen Zhiyi immediately shielded Lin Ting behind him, "Yes, she's a new recruit, and I think she's quite good, so I apologize."
The male celebrity gave an awkward smile and said, "It's okay, it depends on fate."
Chen Zhiyi muttered to himself, "Fate my ass."
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