144. Ex-boyfriend’s compartment
Yu Chuanbei sat only one row away from Ling Ling, and this woman was spreading rumors without a care in the world. He had no idea how much she had heard. "I think Ling Ling deserves the honor. No matter how many rumors she's spread out of jealousy, she finally got the honor she deserves. She deserves it," Yu Chuanbei said, his face cold as he stared straight ahead. The woman had originally hoped to use this kind of gossip to strengthen her personal relationship with Ever's youngest and most handsome director, but she hadn't expected to meet such a resistance. She turned away angrily, coughed twice to ease the awkwardness, and then went back to chatting with the people on the other side. Yu Chuanbei looked at Ling Ling again. She had put away her phone and was looking up at the stage, which had already opened, earnestly enjoying the opening performance. When it was Ling Ling's turn to receive the Newcomer of the Year award, she walked onto the stage with grace, and Yu Chuanbei felt that she possessed a strikingly heroic beauty. Ling Ling, holding the golden trophy, was led to the center-stage microphone to give her speech. She glanced at the large screen behind her, where Sheng Nan's photos for Acorn were playing on a loop. She then turned and spoke gracefully, "Thank you Jin Xi for choosing me, and thank you Tuo Wu for giving me the platform and trusting me with their most captivating clients and their captivating products. Today's opportunity is rare, perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I'd like to use it to disprove a rumor: I'm the boss's mistress, and he bribed the organizers to let me win the award. My winning work is called 'The Vitality of Acorn.'" Ling Ling's words were met with an uproar from the audience. She smiled calmly, her lips twisted, revealing the triumph of a successful prank. She continued, "I heard a woman behind me spread this rumor while I was sitting in the audience. I used it to say this. I think everyone should remember the brand I work for and the title of my winning work by now. I want to tell that woman—my ability to discern people's hearts is the real reason I won today's award." The audience erupted in laughter. Ling Ling paused for a moment, waiting for the laughter to subside before continuing, "In the series of advertisements I created for Oaknut Technology, I wanted to give kitchenware emotional value. Kitchenware is with us every day, and it actually carries a lot of our emotions. Now, I have given each piece of kitchenware a life of its own. This emotional narrative is the most valuable advertising ability I, as an advertiser, can bring to a brand." However, I feel unworthy of this award, because the photographs behind me are from my best friend, Hao Shengnan. She always wanted to be a real photographer, but...
Yu Chuanbei was only one row away from Ling Ling, and this woman spread rumors without any scruples. He didn't know how much she had heard.
"I think Ling Ling deserves the honor. No matter how many rumors she has caused due to jealousy, she finally got the honor that belongs to her. She deserves it." Yu Chuanbei looked straight ahead and said with a cold face.
The woman originally wanted to use this kind of gossip circulating in the streets to improve her personal relationship with Ever's youngest and most handsome director, but she didn't expect to encounter an iron wall. She turned away angrily, coughed twice to ease the embarrassment, and then went to chat with the person on the other side.
Yu Chuanbei looked at Ling Ling again. She had put away her phone and was looking up at the stage, which had already opened, earnestly enjoying the opening performance. When it was Ling Ling's turn to receive the Newcomer of the Year award, she walked onto the stage with grace. Yu Chuanbei felt that she had a heroic and compelling beauty.
Ling Ling, holding the golden trophy, was led to the microphone in the center of the stage to give a speech. She glanced at the large screen behind her, where Sheng Nan's photos for Acorn were playing on a loop. Then she turned around and said gracefully, "Thank you Jin Xi for choosing me, and thank you Tuo Wu for giving me the platform, always trusting me, and entrusting me with the most lovely clients and their fascinating products. Today's opportunity is rare, perhaps only once in a lifetime, so I want to use it to disprove a rumor: I am the boss's mistress, and the boss bribed the organizers to let me win the award. The winning work is called 'The Vitality of Acorn.'"
After Ling Ling finished speaking, there was an uproar in the audience.
Ling Ling smiled calmly, her lips twisted, revealing the pride of a successful prank. She continued, "This is a rumor I heard spread by a lady behind me while I was sitting in the audience. I took advantage of it to say this. I think everyone should remember the brand name I work for and the title of my award-winning work by now. I want to tell that lady now—my ability to see into people's hearts is the real reason I won the award today."
There was a burst of laughter from the audience.
Ling Ling was silent for a moment, and after the laughter died down, she continued, "In the series of advertisements I made for Oaknut Technology, I wanted to express that kitchenware should be given emotional value. Kitchenware is with us every day and actually carries a lot of our emotions. Now, I have given each kitchenware a vitality. This narrative in emotion is the most valuable advertising ability that I, as an advertiser, can bring to a brand.
But I feel unworthy of this award, because the photographs I'm leaving behind are from my best friend, Hao Shengnan, who always dreamed of becoming a true photographer but passed away without realizing it. The collection of her work I recently published has sold poorly, but tonight, her work can be showcased on the Jinxi stage, and I think she'll be thrilled. She said she loved playing with her phone, and one of her last wishes was for me to install Wi-Fi on her grave. Now, I think she's received the news that she accompanied me in winning the award. So, thank you again, Jinxi, you have great vision.
Another burst of laughter was followed by thunderous applause. Ling Ling bowed deeply, concluding her unconventional speech, and gracefully walked off the stage. She wondered if anyone had ever done something so dignified before, but wasn't advertising creativity meant to be unique and memorable? She was very satisfied with her performance tonight. No one could judge her for what she had done; as long as she had achieved her goal, that was enough.
The closed-door reception after the awards ceremony was invitation-only. Ling Ling mingled with the various influential figures, accepting their praise and seeking new business opportunities. Before she knew it, she'd gotten a little tipsy again. She quietly retreated to a corner and chug a large glass of soda, hoping to help metabolize the alcohol in her system.
A greasy old man came over, shaking his red wine glass, like a grandfather handing a horse stool to a favored princess.
"Today, Mr. Ling can be said to be the most popular in the whole audience." The man broke through the safe distance and rubbed against Ling Ling.
Ling Ling stepped back and said, "No, no, no, every award-winning guest is excellent. I just happened to have the material."
"So, is there really something going on between you and Mr. Fang?" He asked with malicious intent and the pleasure of prying into other people's affairs.
Ling Ling took a deep breath and tried hard to maintain her composure and not hit anyone.
The man wanted to continue his attack, but was interrupted by another cold voice: "People say that Mr. Zhu's business is rarely done through legitimate means. Now it seems that you are really hardworking and never give up any stolen opportunities."
The person who came was Yu Chuanbei, and his words had made the other party so angry that his face completely fell.
The man regained his fighting spirit and tried to humiliate him, saying, "I heard that Mr. Yu's popularity at Everton has faded. A relationship went wrong, and now he's been marginalized, not just losing his position, but almost losing his job."
Yu Chuanbei sneered disapprovingly and said, "That's why I was sent here by the company to meet people of low standards."
The man walked away in frustration.
Yu Chuanbei turned to look at Ling Ling with concern and said, "Are you okay?"
Ling Ling didn't meet his gaze, but simply replied with her eyes downcast: "Thank you. I should be leaving now."
She wanted to escape from his protection zone quickly, but her slightly tipsy body was out of control. Her right foot tripped over her left foot. Fortunately, he supported her in time, otherwise she would have hit the crystal sculpture in front of her, and would have been disfigured if not disabled.
She was slightly startled, frozen in place, trying to calm herself. He seemed to be still visibly shaken, still clutching her arm tightly. Ling Ling, realizing what was happening, gently shook off the physical contact with him, steadied her steps, and continued walking toward the hotel entrance.
He followed her and saw her standing at the door opening the taxi app. He couldn't help but say, "Let me take you home."
She didn't look up, her eyes still focused on the phone screen, and responded indifferently: "No need."
He continued to persuade her, "This is in the far suburbs, and there's a winding mountain road. It's drizzling now. It's too dangerous this late at night, and you've been drinking."
"It's nothing, I can do it myself." Ling Ling remained unmoved and finally entered the address. However, she couldn't enter the address correctly this time, even though she had memorized it every day.
"——Lingling." His call was a plea.
She was about to click the "Get a taxi now" button, but she didn't do it.
Yu Chuanbei handed the car keys to the guard in charge of parking, and then said to her gently: "Just wait a moment, I'll take you home."
Ling Ling didn't answer, but quietly put away her phone.
They stood side by side at the door of the hotel lobby, silent as the distant mountains at the end of the night, but out of reach in their eyes.
"That person just now said...your work is not going well right now, right?"
Ling Ling actually spoke to break the silence. He was totally surprised and it took him a few seconds to realize that he had to respond to her specific question.
"Oh, yes, a new boss." He tried to downplay the matter.
"Does it have anything to do with me?" She had just heard the man talking about love.
"No, how could that be." He didn't want to make her worry, but suddenly realized that it might cause another misunderstanding, so he added anxiously: "But I'm not in a relationship with anyone else."
Ling Ling still looked at the rolling hills in the darkness and said coldly, "If I have caused you any trouble, please tell me directly. I hope to help make amends. I don't want to owe you a favor."
When she said this, Yu Chuanbei felt a pang of pain in his heart, not knowing how to respond. Fortunately, the car arrived at this time, and he took off his coat and put it on her bare shoulders.
She wanted to refuse, but before she could open her mouth, he had already walked quickly into the car.
Of course, she would not walk through the passenger door opened by the security guard. She went straight to the back seat and got in.
She sat in his car, the windows rolled down, letting the cool summer breeze in. Naively, she thought, this would no longer be just the two of them alone. As the cool breeze played through her hair, she suddenly realized something: the foundation of a relationship is like the foundation of a house. Even if the most important beam collapses, the foundation remains firmly in place, weathered by wind and sun, and eroded by weather, it will endure for ages.
She hadn't seen him for a long time, but his closeness didn't make her feel strange or uncomfortable. However, she didn't want to have any contact with him anymore, so she didn't plan to communicate with him.
"I just saw the address where you took the taxi. Should I take you there now?" Yu Chuanbei said.
"Thank you." Ling Ling responded briefly.
"No wonder I met you in that supermarket last time. It turns out you live nearby." Yu Chuanbei asked carefully, but one could also sense some implicit inquiry in his question.
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