People's words are nothing to fear.
What is your relationship with Ms. He?
"Mr. Xu, why did you choose Ms. He as your final dance partner? Is there any special significance to it?"
Are Ms. He and Mr. Xu in a romantic relationship?
"What is the relationship between this gentleman and Miss He?"
"What are your thoughts on Mr. Xu helping Ms. He avoid drinking earlier?"
Just as a large group of reporters who were watching the spectacle were about to be led astray, the agent immediately and generously invited her boss, Xu Xi, out of the elevator. The two of them attracted all the attention with their cameras and microphones. Only then did the agent explain that Mr. Xu was closest to Ms. He at the time, and as a gentleman, how could he let the lady next to him suffer like that?
Anyone else in his shoes would have stood up for him without hesitation. His manager, probably someone who's seen it all, successfully portrayed Xu Xi as a moral exemplar while simultaneously dispelling any rumors.
As for the dancing issue, Xu Xi personally explained that it was now the 19th year of the Republic of China, and it was common for ladies to go out and participate in social activities. There was nothing to be surprised about. Out of public etiquette, he invited Miss He to dance because he appreciated her superb dancing skills.
If any of the ladies present felt they were better dancers than Miss He, he could invite that lady to be the final dancer. Xu Xi had a clear conscience, and spoke with a clear, resonant voice.
The combination of handsome men and beautiful women is always pleasing, so it's no wonder that the reporters would speculate about their relationship. As Qingcheng gradually regained her senses, she told herself that she was also a media professional, and she could write thirty headlines a minute without repeating herself.
Anyway, everyone only got one picture; the rest was all made up. The agent and Xu Xi's explanation wouldn't improve tomorrow's newspaper sales; those reporters wouldn't let them off the hook. Sure enough, the reporters started pressing them about their previous collaboration on "Thorn Rose," seemingly determined to dig up some shameful secret.
Such scandalous news is considered romantic tales by men, but it is seen as promiscuity and disrespect by women. It will have an extremely negative impact on women afterward. Aren't the people who cause trouble just trying to smear her with the reputation of being fickle and promiscuous? She will not let them have their way.
"Ah Xiao, you go first. I have a way to deal with them," Qingcheng said confidently in a low voice.
"Do I look like someone who would desert?" Gao Junxiao asked indifferently, glancing at her.
"I'm afraid you'll regret it when you see my true face," Kiyosumi teased herself with a grin.
"That's perfect for me to see, so I don't accidentally offend you in the future," Gao Junxiao said with a light smile.
The agent had already shifted the media's focus to the actress Xu Xi had recently worked with, and someone else chimed in, stirring things up: "Ms. He, why aren't you saying anything?"
Isn't that the voice of the person who has repeatedly stirred up trouble? Qingcheng followed the sound and found a tall man wearing black-rimmed glasses.
"Colleagues, stop guessing. Mr. Xu and I do have a secret relationship." Qingcheng's words were like a boulder thrown into water, and the reporters immediately went wild. Even Xu Xi and his agent were so shocked that they stared at Qingcheng in disbelief.
Only the man beside her was laughing at her. Qingcheng gave him a warning look without any politeness, and Gao Junxiao immediately put on an indifferent expression.
"Not only Mr. Xu, but I also have a special relationship with Mr. Gao next to me." Qingcheng, against her conscience, exposed Gao Junxiao and even interrupted her media colleagues. The surrounding reporters fell silent and all looked at Gao Junxiao.
"Miss He is indeed a charming woman, attracting heroes from all walks of life to fall at her feet," the tall, bespectacled reporter quickly realized and replied sarcastically.
These words seemed to remind the media present that there would be a sex scandal to write about tomorrow. In an instant, flashes of white light appeared, and the sound of cameras exploding could be heard everywhere. People's words are a fearsome thing. If it really makes it into the newspaper, even if there is nothing, they can write it as if it were true.
The bespectacled reporter looked around, seemingly quite satisfied with the situation: "I don't know what methods Miss He used, but Mr. Xu went so far as to argue with his brother in order to get a role in Miss He's 'Thorn Rose.' I wouldn't believe Miss He is that kind of person if I hadn't heard it with my own ears."
"Private matters? Sir, your tastes are quite unique. How could someone talk about private matters in such a setting? Please respect the dignity of every guest present. With Miss He's reputation, any script she could give you would have a bunch of actors vying to perform it. How did you come to say that Miss He is begging people to act in her dramas?" Gao Junxiao said calmly as he pushed through the crowd.
“That’s right. My brother has been unhappy about me being an actor for a long time, but I can’t be bothered with him. Besides, what’s wrong with me trying to get roles I like? The name Jin Xiaoyin is a golden brand, and this role will be one of the representative works of my acting career,” Xu Xi chimed in from the side.
"Ha, you suitors are all too naive. Miss He loves the limelight so much, how could she possibly be hung up on one person?" The bespectacled reporter said dismissively, attempting to sow discord.
Gao Junxiao said in a voice that everyone could hear, "I feel like you're just being a sour grapes, Qingcheng. Show me a dance queen later. I love seeing you in the limelight."
"It's true what they say, what kind of pot you put in what kind of lid you put in. Do you even know what she does every day?" the bespectacled reporter mocked.
"I don't need to know. I only have this one pot, and I cherish it." Gao Junxiao asked casually, "Have you been following Mr. Xu? This is a serious matter. We need to send this stalker to the police station, otherwise he might harm other people."
"Don't rush to label me. Sir, honest advice is hard to swallow, but as a man, you know best what men are thinking. Don't regret it when your own hat turns black." The bespectacled reporter cursed viciously.
Having stirred up enough trouble, Qingcheng suddenly covered her mouth and giggled, making it hard to tell what she meant: "I didn't realize you were a man with a story. If you've suffered some kind of emotional trauma, go see a psychologist. Don't complain about everything and assume everyone else has had the same experience as you. If you don't have any money, I can lend you some."
"Miss He is quick-witted, but she didn't ruin your carefully crafted image as a refined lady." The bespectacled reporter focused all his criticism on Qingcheng.
The other reporters gradually realized what was happening and whispered among themselves. Qingcheng walked straight up to the reporter with glasses and asked, "Sir, may I ask which newspaper you are from?"
"Stars Magazine," the bespectacled reporter replied dismissively, his eyes filled with disdain.
“Never heard of it, and I’m not interested in knowing.” Qingcheng changed the subject and asked, “Since you like following Mr. Xu so much, do you know if the ending of ‘Thorn Rose’ is a tragedy or a comedy? What’s the name of the character Mr. Xu plays? Have you seen a live performance?”
The bespectacled reporter was forced to retreat step by step, cleared his throat and said, "Ahem, that play is too popular. I couldn't get a front-row ticket, and the scalped tickets are too expensive for me."
"It's very expensive! I'm so sorry. How much is the ticket price you asked about?" Kiyosumi asked, feigning curiosity.
All eyes were on the bespectacled reporter, but he stammered and couldn't give a definite answer.
"You don't even know this, Miss Reporter? Do you know?" Kiyosumi asked the young lady next to the tall reporter.
"A ticket costs 28 cents at the theater box office. Scalpers charge three to five times that price," the reporter replied fluently.
"Moreover, the first three rows are only sold to VIPs of the theater; outsiders can't buy them even if they have money," another male reporter added on his behalf.
"As an entertainment reporter, you don't even know the general situation in theaters. You have no professional ethics whatsoever. You know, the more savvy an entertainment reporter is at digging up scoops, the more details they know. I seriously doubt whether you're even a reporter or someone hired by Mr. Xu's rival to cause trouble. Please let me see your work ID." Qingcheng held out her hand to ask for her identification.
"I have an interview permit, but I forgot to take my work ID with my colleague. I'll go in and get it to show Ms. He after I finish the interview," the bespectacled reporter said, pointing to the interview permit badge hanging around his neck, still trying to deny it.
"Where are everyone's credentials?" As soon as Kiyosumi finished speaking, almost all the reporters sprang into action, either pulling out paper work badges from their pockets or displaying the metal press badges that were already pinned to their chests.
A smug smile appeared on Qingcheng's lips. She pressed a mechanism on the pearl bracelet on her wrist and pulled out a metal badge specifically for reporters. She deliberately waved it in front of the tall reporter. She originally intended to use it for a temporary interview with Xu Xi or Mr. Tang, but who would have thought it would also have the function of distinguishing truth from falsehood.
Out of professional habit, truly professional journalists always carry their credentials with them. The larger the banquet, the more news there is. They are there to work, and no one wants to be mistaken for a penniless swindler by security guards and kicked out, missing the opportunity to dig up scoops.
The bespectacled reporter, seeing the situation turn so one-sided, broke out in a cold sweat and seemed to want to slip away. Before he could turn around, he was grabbed by two black-faced men with red turbans. Behind the red-turbaned man stood Gao Junxiao, who winked at her. Qingcheng thought to herself that this man was quite clever and knew what she was thinking.
"Security, how could you let a scoundrel without a press pass in? Throw him out!" The agent mimicked Mr. Tang's tone, displaying a rather arrogant and domineering air.
Before the security guards took the person away, Xu Xi stopped them and said sternly to the bespectacled reporter, "Sir, I don't know who sent you. If you continue to make malicious slander, my team reserves the right to take legal action against you. You'd better watch yourself."
These words were not only directed at the tall reporter, but also carried a veiled criticism.
It seems that Xu Xi is not as simple as he appears. Qingcheng regained her composure, clapped her hands to attract everyone's attention: "I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting. I think the remaining gentlemen and ladies are all professionals and won't be criticizing for the sake of criticizing."
"Ms. He, could you tell us about your relationship now?" a reporter asked. After realizing that Qingcheng was also in the same industry, their attitude became much more polite.
"Thorn Rose" was my first collaboration with Mr. Xu. That collaboration allowed me to witness Mr. Xu's explosive power as a professional actor, so I am currently tailoring a brand new role for Mr. Xu, and the female lead of this drama is a femme fatale," Qingcheng said in a clear voice.
It's too daring to cast a femme fatale as the female lead. Most of the female leads we see now are innocent, kind, and submissive, always carrying the traditional Chinese values of gentleness and virtue. For a time, the discussion about female leads would drown out Qingcheng's voice.
Xu Xi quickly smoothed things over for her: "We originally wanted to announce this secret after we selected the female lead, but everyone was too enthusiastic. After our last collaboration, I also felt that Ms. He's script was both interesting and profound. I personally look forward to the final presentation of this new script."
Someone asked curiously, "Miss He, what's the story this time?"
"You've all heard of Lord Chunshen from the Warring States period, right? The abbreviation for Shanghai, 'Shen,' comes from Lord Chunshen, Huang Xie, who was enfeoffed here." Qingcheng paused for a moment before continuing to explain, "When Lord Chunshen was enfeoffed in Wu, he was deeply loved by the people, but he did something that ruined his reputation in his later years, which directly affected the struggle for the throne of Chu."
"Our story's heroine is a beautiful woman from Chu named Li Huan. Her brother is a retainer and bodyguard of Lord Chunshen. Li Huan first asked her brother to offer her to Lord Chunshen as a concubine, and she became incredibly popular. But Li Huan's ambition did not stop there. After becoming pregnant, she asked Lord Chunshen to send her to the palace as a concubine."
"The King of Chu at the time had no son, and if she could give birth to a son, he would surely become the crown prince. In that case, the young King of Chu would be Lord Chunshen's own flesh and blood. In a moment of impulsiveness, Lord Chunshen, eager to become the retired king, agreed. After Li Huan entered the palace, she indeed gave birth to a son and was exceptionally made queen. Her elder brother was also made a general. From then on, Li Huan moved between three men until the old King of Chu died..."
Everyone listened with great interest, when someone spoke up: "Then Lord Chunshen's plan succeeded, didn't it?"
"No, Queen Li's first imperial edict upon ascending the throne was to exterminate Lord Chunshen's entire clan under the pretext of 'purging the court of corrupt officials.' The reason was not merely fear of the Little Prince of Chu's secret birth being exposed; otherwise, killing Lord Chunshen alone would have sufficed, and there would have been no need to exterminate his entire clan." Qingcheng left everyone with a huge cliffhanger, whetting their appetites.
"Could you please explain why?" someone else asked.
"We'll have to keep this mystery until the movie is released," Kiyosumi said, deliberately keeping everyone in suspense.
"Everyone can guess which actress will be lucky enough to play the role of Li Huan, this femme fatale?" The agent started the discussion by following Qingcheng's words.
As Qingcheng listened to everyone's discussion, she felt her hand being tightly gripped. Turning her head, she saw Gao Junxiao's smiling face. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Miss He, you've dug another hole for yourself. Can you fill it all?"
"It's alright, they'll forget about it in a few days," Qingcheng said confidently. How could she possibly fill in the gaps in the story she made up on the spot? She wasn't just making things up for no reason.
“Xu Xi took the press conference seriously.” Following Gao Junxiao’s gaze, Qingcheng saw Xu Xi’s flushed face as he discussed with everyone and felt a sense of unease. Gao Junxiao said with a sly smile, “I bet you’ll have another reader urging you to update. Oh, no, he’s already urging you, Kongkong Daoren.”
"Ugh, why bring this up for no reason?" Qingcheng said irritably, shaking off Gao Junxiao's hand. She clenched her fist and whispered a warning to the man that if he dared to expose her, he was dead. Gao Junxiao nodded obediently, but his trembling shoulders betrayed that he was trying not to laugh.
Perhaps noticing Qingcheng and Gao Junxiao whispering to each other, the reporter's gossip instincts were ignited: "Ms. He, is Mr. Gao next to you the one who is going to play the general's brother? His handsome appearance is very suitable."
Qingcheng immediately took Gao Junxiao's arm and said, "Haha, no, his appearance is his least noteworthy strength. Mr. Gao is a real general who protects the country, not a fake general in a play."
"No, no, I'm not a general yet." Gao Junxiao spoke with a lack of confidence, looking helplessly at the beauty beside him.
Qingcheng said to Gao Junxiao with a firm yet gentle tone, "In my heart, you are the Great General."
Upon hearing this, everyone cheered. There was no need to press them about their special relationship; everything was understood without being said. Some reporters suddenly remembered that the man in front of them was the Director-General Gao of the Shanghai-Nanjing Command, the only difference being that he had been wearing a military uniform last time, while this time he was dressed in Western clothes and had a more approachable demeanor.
The couple, both handsome and beautiful, were single, and their relationship was perfectly legitimate and legal. The reporters, having obtained two juicy tidbits, happily offered their blessings. Amidst the well wishes, a burly male waiter turned and left, but his smile revealed eight front teeth, which was quite comical.
As the burly waiter brushed past Kiyosumi, she glanced at him habitually, a feeling of indescribable warmth welling up inside her. But soon, she was asked for a photo by enthusiastic reporters, and without time to think, she could only cooperate and strike a suitable pose.
After the banquet, although Kiyosumi did not win the title of Queen of the Ball, her beautiful photos dominated the headlines of entertainment news almost every day. For a time, any topic that wanted to become popular had to include the words "femme fatale".
Moreover, because the security was inadequate, Mr. Tang felt indebted and promised to do a favor for Qingcheng. Qingcheng, being such an honest girl, naturally accepted the offer after some initial hesitation.
In the headquarters, Gao Junxiao was bent over with a compass, drawing an operation route map on the table, when suddenly the ringing of the telephone interrupted his thoughts. He ran to the desk without even putting down his pen.
Gao Junxiao answered the phone impatiently. The voice of Commander Tan came through the receiver. Now it was Committee Member Tan. He immediately put on a smiling face: "How has Elder Tan been lately?"
"Good my foot! Just thinking about it makes me angry." Committee Member Tan asked bluntly, "When are you going to call your little tail back?"
"What's wrong with Lu Xian? I heard you were sick, so I specially sent him to take care of you. Is he not taking good enough care of you?" Gao Junxiao asked with concern in a soft voice.
"Oh dear, he's going too far! He even follows me to the toilet. He's treating me like I'm a paralyzed person. I just have a cold. Tell him to go home." Commander Tan's tone became increasingly helpless.
“A cold can be a big deal or a small deal. You’re getting on in years, you need to take good care of yourself! Anyway, he’s a young and strong man, so just give him some rough work to get some experience. Don’t be shy with me,” Gao Junxiao said seriously.
"Two battalions, send him back." Committee Member Tan seemed unwilling to argue and directly stated his terms.
"That's not what I meant," Gao Junxiao said, trying to smooth things over while suppressing a laugh.
"Two reinforced equipment battalions plus a special operations company, all veterans you personally trained," Committee Member Tan added, giving them more weight to the argument.
"You've misunderstood, that's really not what I meant." Gao Junxiao continued to evade the question, twirling a pencil in his hand, thinking to himself that this amount was hardly enough; he should at least be given a brigade.
"Ha! Your appetite has grown since you arrived in Shanghai. Fine, I'll give you this much; trade the rest for your marriage application," Committee Member Tan said with a sneer.
"No, how did we get onto the topic of marriage again?" Gao Junxiao scratched his head impatiently; he was busy recruiting members for the anti-bandit team.
"I don't care, I'm the rule here," Committee Member Tan said arrogantly. "Besides, don't you have a girlfriend? This year you're having her wedding banquet, and next year she'll be celebrating her baby's one-month birthday. While you're dawdling, she'll be a grandfather."
"Old Tan, you...you're trying to scam me! Dating and marriage are two different things! I just started dating, and marriage is still a long way off." Gao Junxiao stammered for a long time before finally managing to say these words.
"Oh my, how strange, there are people you, Gao Junxiao, can't handle? Hey, Lieutenant Lu, book me a train ticket to Shanghai right now, I want to go and see what's going on." Commander Tan's voice was sometimes loud and sometimes soft.
Gao Junxiao was so confused that he hurriedly refused, "No need, no need to come. Don't tire yourself out with all the travel. I... I can handle it."
"Listen to your pathetic state, hesitating and lacking any confidence. Finding a wife is like blowing up a bunker; once you've identified your target, you have to go all out and take it down. When I was your age, my kids were already old enough to run errands." Committee Member Tan has an impatient temper and probably hopes to get married and have children right now.
"How can I compare to you? I don't have your good fortune." Gao Junxiao laughed it off. His girlfriend had big ideas, so he wouldn't dare to go and blow it up.
"Young man, you don't have any hidden illness, do you? Would you like me to introduce you to an old Chinese medicine doctor?" Committee Member Tan asked earnestly.
Gao Junxiao couldn't help but burst out laughing. He solemnly declared to his old leader that he was in good health and that anyone who didn't believe him could check his annual medical examination reports. After laughing, he still had to explain to his old leader that two battalions plus a company were really not enough, as intelligence indicated that the enemy had at least the combat strength of a mechanic division.
There's no way around it; in the military, military power equals the power of speech, and being a commander without troops is the hardest thing! Gao Junxiao then briefly introduced the enemy's situation. In fact, he only needed command authority and wouldn't use too many resources for the time being; he was just stockpiling them for unforeseen circumstances.
Gao Junxiao looked at his battle deployment map. Generals aren't made with words, they're made in battle. He still relied heavily on Commander Xiong for resources, but Commander Xiong was also gambling with him. He needed a decisive battle to establish his authority and gain Commander Xiong's complete trust in order to acquire the resources necessary for suppressing the bandits.
Commander Tan sighed and finally relented. It wasn't that he didn't want to give them, but that even the landlord's family had no surplus grain. The elite troops had all been taken to the Central Plains by Chiang Kai-shek, and the rest were stationed in the suburbs of Beijing. They couldn't be transferred back in a short time. Since he didn't need them urgently, he could still cobble together a brigade.
Hearing that the elite troops had been transferred to the Central Plains, Gao Junxiao's unease grew stronger. He could only see scenes of bloodshed and strife when he closed his eyes. With a sudden effort, he snapped the pencil in his hand in two.
When can they stop fighting this pointless internal war? When will there be no more foreign concessions on their territory? When will there be no more warships from other countries in their territorial waters?
He thought that the Nanjing government after the Northern Expedition would give the country the real strength to fight against foreign enemies, but the people in Nanjing were still warlords in the end. Gao Junxiao gasped and tried his best to calm himself down, telling Lu Xianxian to bring back the signed order.
"Did you hear that? We're going back tomorrow. Hey! Still don't believe me? Listen for yourself." After a rustling sound, the voice on the other end of the microphone changed to a young male voice.
"Big brother, can I come back?" Lu Xian's voice was filled with helplessness.
"Don't rush back. It's been a long time since I gave you a break. Nanjing isn't far from your hometown of Wuxi. Go back for the New Year." Gao Junxiao felt that his adjutant Lu had been working hard recently, and he would be happy to give him a break.
"Thank you, brother. I'll bring you some hairy crabs." Sure enough, Lu Xian's voice rose when he heard he could go home.
"It's alright, you eat by yourself. Say hello to Old Tan for me, okay, bye." Gao Junxiao couldn't calm down for a long time after hanging up the phone. He wanted to call his sister's family in Beiping, but he pulled his hand back halfway. He should avoid being seen as his brother-in-law.
Gao Junxiao walked back to the battle plan, determined to make this assertive statement flawless. Now there was someone in this world he wanted to protect, and he was determined to secure a peaceful place for her to write, so she could spend the rest of her life writing in peace!
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