Chapter 78
The red carpet walk has officially begun.
Male celebrities mostly wear the same suits, but female celebrities' outfits are the real show, with everyone vying for attention and pulling each other's hair.
Fans on both sides of the red carpet screamed incessantly, their voices deafening. Every time a group of artists walked up, they would shout, regardless of whether it was an artist they supported or not. Their faces were flushed, and it felt like they would run out of oxygen if a few more waves came.
Lin Ting had previously complained about why such a prestigious awards ceremony was named "Night of Ghostly Howls," but after experiencing it firsthand, she realized that it was all based on real life and was a very apt description.
Studios took turns releasing images, trying every possible way to get on the trending topics list, with trending topics such as "runaway princess", "outshining all others" and "black knight" appearing one after another.
Chen Zhiyi walked the runway with the cast of XX film, which was this year's dark horse. It started slowly but gained momentum. The low-budget film became the second highest-grossing film of the year, making it a clear winner. He was also nominated for the most popular film actor this year, and it is a fact that everyone agrees that he won the nomination.
His appearance immediately propelled the hashtag "Chen Zhiyi's stunning red carpet looks" to the top of the trending searches, making him incredibly popular.
Qin Fei appeared alongside the CEO of Kiwi Fruit. Only a woman with her powerful aura could hold her own against such a formidable CEO. A powerful couple, a perfect match, their mere presence exuded an aura of wealth, a veritable walking money vault. If it were someone else, they might have projected a submissive, dependent image, like a domineering CEO and his pampered wife.
Han Ming's appearance also caused a sensation. Some actors are famous for their roles but not for themselves; their faces are familiar to the audience, but they can't recall their names. Han Ming is one such actor. He walked the red carpet with the crew, and his well-tailored black suit accentuated his tall and imposing figure. The gold-rimmed glasses on his nose and the faint smile on his lips gave him a touch of refined villainy, which was completely different from the honest and upright second son in the drama, surprising his fans.
[Is the guy on the left the second son from the show? The actor looks so different from his character; he's really handsome in real life!]
What's this actor's name? He looks familiar, but I can't quite place him. I've seen him in so many productions; his acting is superb.
His name is Han Ming. My hidden gem of an actor is finally going to be recognized. Yes, his acting skills are excellent, and he's also very humble.
[He seems to be in the same company as Chen Zhiyi. This company is a real hotbed of handsome men; every single one of them is exactly my type.]
I was completely captivated by his gold-rimmed glasses; this kind of refined scoundrel style is absolutely irresistible.
Me too! And the little handkerchief design in his breast pocket... every detail of his outfit tonight is so appealing. I have to vote for him for best-dressed tonight.
Same as above
[Same as above +1, a good actor should let more people know their real name.]
Han Ming's appearance was so stunning that his entire outfit was quickly dissected by netizens, with details such as the brand, details, year, and series of his clothes being exposed online.
So much so that fans recognized Zhou Yu as soon as he appeared. Everyone had a preconceived notion that Zhou Yu was deliberately trying to gain popularity by wearing the same outfit.
The trending topics now include phrases like "Han Ming and Zhou Yu wore the same outfit," "Han Ming wins hands down," and "Zhou Yu is riding the coattails of the trend," generating buzz for both positive and negative reasons.
It's said that emotional debts are the hardest to deal with and the hardest to repay, so the female celebrity can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
After the red carpet event, the cameras switched entirely to the indoor area.
The seating arrangement inside was in the form of round tables. People of the same level or from the same production team sat around a round table. Chen Zhiyi's production team had the most nominations, so he was arranged at the central main table. He sat on the left side of the round table, and Qin Fei, as his agent, sat next to him.
As a staff member, Lin Ting could stand in the corner next to the seating area, which was very close to the seats. After all, the ceremony lasted a long time, and artists with professional ethics would not leave early and would sit until the end of the ceremony. During such a long time, artists would inevitably need to touch up their makeup or ask for something, so it would be convenient for them to contact their staff. They could just wave and they would see them.
Before the ceremony officially started, the artists were walking around greeting others. Chen Zhiyi was very popular, so even more people took the initiative to greet him. He couldn't even sit down properly. He was bowing, nodding, shaking hands, repeating the same actions like a robot.
There were many popular and beautiful female celebrities who greeted Chen Zhiyi, and Lin Ting knew several of them. Whether they had a good impression of Chen Zhiyi or wanted to curry favor with him, Lin Ting did not feel uncomfortable.
Being able to take the initiative to approach and talk to someone you like is a very generous and courageous thing to do.
Han Ming sat down with the crew at the round table to Chen Zhiyi's right. He didn't stand up or move around, but occasionally someone would come over to greet him, and he responded out of politeness.
But in reality, he was still immersed in the unwarranted controversy before the red carpet. In the past, he would have remained silent throughout the entire process, and he wouldn't have cared if he was criticized afterward. Just like the characters he played, he was always a supporting role, living in the shadow of the protagonist. His thoughts and feelings were never noticed by anyone, and after a while, he became indifferent. Not responding was the best way to protect himself, because no one would stand behind him, think about him, or offer him advice.
But Lin Ting once again made him feel moved.
He touched the corner of the handkerchief on his chest, and then touched the bridge of his nose where Lin Ting had just touched him, as if he could still feel the softness left by her fingertips.
He was despicable. In fact, he knew very well how Lin had adjusted her eyelids. After acting in so many dramas, how could he not know how to wear glasses in a way that was both refined and abstinent? He was just greedy for her warmth, wanted to be closer to her, and wanted some physical contact with her.
When she completely disappeared into her own eyes, I realized that she was also a tiny person. The fragrance of gardenias emanating from her was refreshing, and her eyebrows and eyes were clean and gentle. Everything about her was so beautiful.
Her appearance was like a sudden stone, unexpectedly striking his calm heart and stirring up countless ripples. Those ripples spread outwards in circles, carrying his emotions and agitation, and his heart could no longer remain tranquil.
He realized he had truly fallen in love with Lin Ting, and it became his deepest secret.
About fifteen minutes later, the "Ghostly Night" gala officially began, with the host taking the stage to start the event.
The host used humorous references to name all the celebrities in the audience, which was both funny and engaging, and also subtly praised them all, making everyone laugh continuously.
A large crane is raised to the center of the artists' seating area, capturing their real-time movements and broadcasting them live on the large screen on the stage. Inadvertently, an embarrassing moment could be exposed.
Even the host was reminding them, "My celebrity friends, please pay attention to your manners. Beautiful photos don't make you famous, but ugly photos will be remembered for generations."
Chen Zhiyi kept glancing in Lin Ting's direction, making her scalp tingle and leaving her nowhere to hide.
I quickly texted him, "Don't keep looking at me, or you'll get caught on the big screen." I also added a "slashing knife" emoji.
Upon seeing the message, Chen Zhiyi immediately replied, "Then don't hide. If I can't see you, I'll be looking for you."
"Can't you concentrate for a second?!"
She was really getting impatient with the three exclamation marks in a row, and Chen Zhiyi smiled.
Qin Fei couldn't stand it anymore, her voice low but cold, "Are you really not afraid of others finding out about you two?"
Chen Zhiyi curled his lips into a smile, seemingly unconcerned, and turned to look at Lin Ting again, "Sorry, Sister Fei, I can't hide my feelings."
As luck would have it, this turn of the head was captured on camera and projected onto the big screen.
The host joked, "Zhiyi, who are you looking for? Are you looking for your girl with black-rimmed glasses? Where are our girls with black-rimmed glasses? Let Zhiyi hear your screams."
Fans raised their light sticks and screamed.
The show hasn't even aired yet, but everyone already knows the jokes.
Chen Zhiyi leaned back in his chair, looked at the big screen, and had a faint smile on his face.
It was already hot inside, and Lin Ting was wearing a down jacket. The heat made her back and forehead sweat profusely. Luckily, she had the foresight to wear dark blue glasses tonight.
The black-rimmed glasses became a lifelong shadow for her.
...
The next shot inadvertently cut to Han Ming, who was also looking in the same direction as Chen Zhiyi. Even the host couldn't help but comment, looking over there with them, "Why is everyone looking over there? Who's over there?"
As expected, no one can outwit a host when it comes to jokes; the host skillfully defused the artists' awkward situation.
In fact, Han Ming was also looking at Lin Ting; he was the only one in the entire room who knew about this.
Host: "However, speaking of Han Ming, the male celebrities here should feel a bit threatened. He's currently a strong contender for Best Male Attendant. They say women love bad boys, and Han Ming has shed his 'silly son' image from the drama, completely captivating audiences with his refined yet roguish charm. If any directors here have similar roles, please hand Han Ming a script, so we can all fall in love with him completely in one drama and truly remember his name."
After he finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted from the audience, and Han Ming stood up and bowed to everyone on and off the stage.
A truly admirable awards ceremony is not only about how many celebrities it gathers, but also about its fairness, inclusiveness, and tradition. It showcases a vibrant competition, a diverse range of talents, and a spirit of mutual respect and passing on the torch.
These scenes drew enthusiastic comments from netizens watching from outside the venue. [Did you see that? Chen Zhiyi is sitting at the head table. His title as a young Best Actor isn't just for show! I have a feeling he could sit in the Lifetime Achievement seat at the next awards ceremony. A top star is a top star.]
[He's definitely going to win the Most Popular Film Actor award tonight, no doubt about it. But whether he wins it or not doesn't really matter anymore. He's already won all three major film awards, why would he care about this one?]
[I've seen several big-name directors proactively reach out to him for conversations. The previous "role controversy" had absolutely no impact on him. He's handsome, a great actor, and dedicated. Why would such a good actor worry about not having resources? We've been too narrow-minded.]
[You said he kept looking to the left, was he looking at Shen Shiyue? After all, Shen Shiyue was the female lead in the work that made him famous, and also the only actress he's ever acted romantically with. With that double advantage, and since they both met when they were newcomers, they helped each other succeed. It's almost like a budding first love.]
[I also ship them, but Chen Zhiyi previously responded that they are just friends. His love life is truly a mystery. He never talked about his ideal type before, and now he's brought up a girl with "black-rimmed glasses." I think he's doing it on purpose, creating variety show effects, trying to cross over into comedy. Let's not take it too seriously.]
[And Han Ming really impressed me tonight. I just looked through some of his personal photos, and his casual clothes are very stylish. Plus, he's tall and has a great presence. It's a pity he's been in the industry for so long and has only played supporting roles; nobody really notices him.]
[Actually, Han Ming and Chen Zhiyi are from the same company and are also classmates from the same school. Don't you think they're a great couple? Just now, when they turned and looked at each other, that one glance held so much meaning! Can we please put them together in a BL (Boys' Love) novel?]
[Ahem, don't ship them randomly, you'll only hurt yourself. They're both obviously straight men, I can't imagine them being troublemakers.]
[Hahaha, what kind of vulgar language is this? I can't bear to hear it, I can't bear to see it.]
Stop pretending to be innocent, upstairs.
[What I envy most is Qin Fei. She eats so well. Chen Zhiyi and Han Ming are both artists under her management. No wonder she's almost forty and still so charming. With so many handsome men surrounding her every day, how could she not be in a good mood? How could she not have a radiant complexion?]
[That huge diamond necklace around her neck is blinding! Handsome guys are all over her, and they're even making money for her. I'll never experience the happiness of a rich woman in my lifetime.]
[Can you please stop sitting so close to my Chen Zhiyi? I want to take her seat away; jealousy is making me unrecognizable.]
...
Next came the awards ceremony, acceptance speeches, and a series of performances. Finally, the remaining celebrities came on stage for a group photo. With a bang, fireworks rained down from the sky, covering everyone, adding a touch of joy to the winners and a bit of comfort to those who didn't win. In the end, the entire ceremony came to a perfect close.
Although the list of winners had been decided long ago and there was no suspense, everyone was still happy to see it. After all, what we fear most is that someone who has already stepped into the competition is kicked out at the last minute. Such behind-the-scenes manipulation, substitution, and people who do not deserve the award are not uncommon.
That's disgusting.
Chen Zhiyi won the Most Popular Film Actor Award, the film also won Best Film, the director won the Most Popular Film Director Award, and the actor who played the second male lead won the Best Supporting Actor Award. The entire crew won the most awards tonight.
Han Ming deservedly won the Best Dressed Male Award tonight, while the Best Dressed Female Award went to Shen Shiyue.
When the two stood on stage together to receive their awards, the handsome man and beautiful woman, both possessing a calm and reserved temperament, created a surprisingly harmonious aura when they stood together. One could easily imagine a beautiful and tender love story, and we look forward to their performance on the cover of the next issue of Vega magazine.
As the party ended, everyone shook hands, exchanged pleasantries, and said goodbye. Chen Zhiyi's table was the big winner of the night, and almost everyone came to congratulate them.
Lin Ting didn't go up to urge them; he stood quietly in the staff area and waited the whole time.
After the artists' seats were cleared up, Chen Zhiyi left his seat. He had only taken a few steps when a woman ran over to talk to him.
Lin Ting hadn't seen her before; she must have just arrived at the scene. She was dressed in a professional outfit, similar to Qin Fei's usual style, but more low-key and approachable. When talking to Chen Zhiyi, she smiled gently and politely, completely lacking Qin Fei's domineering and cold demeanor. She seemed like a very easy person to get along with.
During their conversation, it was mostly the girl who did the talking, while Chen Zhiyi stood to the side with a slight smile on his face, nodding occasionally in agreement, but he didn't say much.
Finally, the two shook hands lightly, as if they had reached some kind of agreement, or perhaps not.
After everything was over, Chen Zhiyi and Lin Ting drove home.
...
Han Ming in the car.
Qin Fei sat in the passenger seat, her hand resting on the window, her eyes vacant as the night view slowly passed by outside.
Neon lights flickered on both sides of the street, making the city look like a dream, but those colorful lights seemed unable to fill the emptiness in her heart.
After the hustle and bustle, the emptiness and loneliness become even more apparent.
Turning my head, I saw Han Ming driving. He had a straight nose and a firm jawline. His profile was well-defined, like a meticulously crafted work of art. The gold-rimmed glasses on his nose shimmered under the light, complementing his deep profile and adding to his mature and gentlemanly charm.
He gently pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, a gesture that made his profile even more captivating, as if he were a male protagonist straight out of a movie, brimming with a sense of history.
This stirred Qin Fei's heart.
Sometimes, women are just like men, especially self-important women. If they fail to win over one man, they will try to regain their confidence and control from another man.
She knew that the man in front of her wouldn't refuse.
So, she turned to the side, placed her hand on his thigh, and gently caressed it. "Should we go to your place or mine?"
Han Ming paused. They were both adults, and he understood Qin Fei's meaning. In the past, he would have been willing to use his body as a resource exchange, which might have been a shortcut.
But today he didn't want to. He took her wrist and placed her hand back on her knee.
"Sorry, I have to go to work early tomorrow."
Qin Fei could tell it was an excuse. She couldn't figure it out. Had her charm lost its effectiveness, or had all these men changed their ways?
His tone was slightly sarcastic, "So you also have a girl you like and want to remain chaste for her, or are you also thinking of starting your own business? Looking down on the resources I have?"
Yes, he has a girl he likes, a girl as pure and bright as moonlight. He wants to get closer to her, but he doesn't want to get close to her while covered in mud.
But Han Ming can't say that.
“Sister Fei, I listened to everything you said last time. I want to close the gap with Chen Zhiyi, I don’t want to be his copy, I want everyone to truly remember my real name, and I want to achieve all of this through my own efforts, even if it takes a long time, it will be worthwhile. Going solo is too early, our contract still has two years left, I don’t have that kind of thought for now.”
Every word felt like a slap in Qin Fei's face. She felt ashamed and embarrassed, and her delicate eyebrows and eyes instantly filled with anger as her voice rose.
"parking!"
Han Ming turned on his flash and pulled over to the side of the road.
Qin Fei unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the car door, and before getting out, glanced at Han Ming again, her gaze as cold as the Arctic wind, sending chills down one's spine. "I hope you won't regret this." Then she got out of the car and slammed the door shut with great force, as if venting her frustration. With a thud, the car shook.
Watching Qin Fei's departing figure, Han Ming felt no regret whatsoever; instead, he breathed a sigh of relief and felt much more at ease.
It turns out that honestly facing your true self and relying on your own feelings is so wonderful.
Fortunately, he corrected it in time.
...
Chen Zhiyi and Lin Ting finally arrived home. Lin Ting breathed a sigh of relief; the exciting and fun "three-piece experience activity" was finally over, and she lay down on the sofa to rest for a while.
Chen Zhiyi changed into his pajamas, brought over a basin of hot water, squatted down in front of Lin Ting, lifted her feet and took off her shoes and socks, "Your feet must be sore from standing for so long, soaking them will make you feel better."
Lin Ting felt a little shy and wanted to pull her foot back.
Even though the two had already been intimate, she still refused to let him wash her feet. Subconsciously, she felt it was an act of flattery, just like when her mother often brought water to wash her father's feet when she was a child. In a relationship, only those who put themselves in a subordinate position are willing to do these things for the other person.
But who is Chen Zhiyi? Only after accompanying him closely for three days at work did I realize his immense fame and status as a top celebrity in the entertainment industry, enjoying the adoration of millions, yet he repeatedly humbled himself in front of me.
I am clearly nothing at all.
Chen Zhiyi held her fair ankles and placed them in the hot water, then gently massaged her calves to loosen her sore muscles. "Aren't you silly? You really stood there for three hours straight. I sent you a message to go backstage and sit for a while, but you pretended not to see it. Don't you know I'd feel sorry for you?"
"It's alright. We used to spend even more time at order meetings and walking around all day when we went out for market research. We're used to it."
"From now on, if I come home early after filming, I'll come back and soak your feet. A woman's feet are meant to be cherished." Then he lifted Lin Ting's feet and kissed them, looking up with eyes full of tenderness. "Such beautiful, slender feet, I can't bear to let them become deformed."
This kiss made Lin Ting feel as if he had kissed her entire body, making her feel weak all over, and her voice trembled but was still delicate.
"Don't kiss me, it's been stuffy in my shoes all day, it's not hygienic."
Chen Zhiyi smiled slightly, lowered his head and put Lin Ting's feet back into the basin, continuing to massage her gently.
Hot water gently envelops your feet, the warm steam seeping into every inch of your skin, bringing an indescribable sense of comfort.
Chen Zhiyi's massage technique is precise and delicate, with just the right amount of pressure from his fingertips. Every press, kneading, and rubbing motion is as if it were meticulously designed. Stiff leg muscles from standing for a long time become soft and elastic under his massage.
Lin Ting felt her nerves, which had been tense for three days, gradually relax.
"Who was the girl who talked to you at the end?" She didn't want to ask this question; lovers should maintain some boundaries and not need to know everything. But she was indeed curious.
Chen Zhiyi knew who Lin Tingwen was referring to, but didn't even look up. "She's Wu Qianyun, the top agent at Yihua Company."
"Agent?" Lin Ting thought, no wonder her style of dress is similar to Qin Fei's. Did they attend the same etiquette and dress training class? "Why is she looking for you? Judging from her rushing over, she must be here for you."
“Hmm.” Chen Zhiyi said noncommittally, “She knows that my contract with Qin Fei is about to expire and wants to work with me to sign under her. She contacted me before, but I refused to meet her. Tonight, she knew that I would be attending the Ghost Howl Night, so she came to catch me at the end.”
"But you're still under contract, it wouldn't be very ethical to try and poach you now."
"What morality can exist when interests are at stake?"
Lin Ting thought it made sense. "So what do you think? Signing with a good agency would definitely help your career a lot, and having a professional team to support you would make things easier."
Chen Zhiyi pinched Lin Ting's foot hard. "What else can I think? We'll definitely do it according to our plan. I'll start my own studio, and when your contract expires, you'll start your own clothing brand. I won't allow any changes, understand?"
Lin Ting nodded, realizing that Chen Zhiyi had been seriously planning their future together, and she was very satisfied.
Suddenly remembering something, she stammered, "Why are all the managers women?"
"There are men too, but the proportion of women is higher. This job requires a lot of patience and attention to detail. Every aspect of every matter must be considered. You also need to be good at communication and negotiation, and you need to react quickly when handling things. So, all things considered, women are more suitable for this job. Of course, it's not something that just any girl can do well. You need to have a strong heart, be quick-witted, decisive, and courageous in order to keep the business partner in check and manage the artists under your command."
Hearing this description, Lin Ting realized it was referring to Qin Fei. Her previous satisfaction instantly vanished.
Lin Ting didn't want to argue, but how could love be without arguing and being sentimental? "Hearing you say that, it's definitely not something an ordinary person can do. I guess only Qin Fei can meet the conditions you mentioned."
Why does that sound so sour? Chen Zhiyi looked up, squinting at Lin Ting as if he could see right through her. "What's wrong? Are you jealous? Why don't you quit your job and become my manager? If we work together, we can achieve anything."
"Nonsense! What do you mean by 'husband and wife working together'? Be careful, or I might sell you off. I don't have any of those conditions you're talking about."
"You said you weren't jealous, but I could smell the sourness in your voice."
"No!" Lin Ting exclaimed anxiously, pulling her foot out of the basin and splashing water on Chen Zhiyi's face.
Chen Zhiyi grabbed her ankle, pulled her onto the sofa, and pinned her down. "Lying will be punished?"
"What punishment?" Lin Ting asked, head held high, challenging him.
Without saying a word, Chen Zhiyi carried Lin Ting on his shoulder and ran towards the master bedroom, showing her what punishment meant with his actions.
That night, Lin Ting felt like she was about to be smashed to pieces.
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