Chapter 18: Was the camera just turned off?
"It's either you or me? Have you had enough of the trouble?"
Shen Xingzhi raised his eyelids lightly, his eyes showing no emotion at all. He repeated Yan Baiwei's words playfully, his tone light, but enough to make everyone breathe in silence.
Yan Baiwei did not refute as loudly as she did to Ren Limeng just now. She breathed heavily, staring at Shen Xingzhi for a long time, then suppressed her temper and said in a deep voice, "Brother Xingzhi, this is between me and Ren Limeng, don't worry about it."
"Oh? Didn't you just say that this is a matter between us, Dong Zhu? I don't mind helping Yan Baiwei."
Shen Xingzhi's tone was very normal. He lowered his eyes with a smile, and his slender right hand fingers lazily played with the thin data cable in his hand, which was in stark contrast to the nervous expressions of the others.
Yan Baiwei suddenly felt her heart tighten, as if being held by an invisible icy hand, which made her shudder.
She had just been throwing tantrums with the production crew, then complaining to her assistant, but she was just taking it out on them. But taking it out on Chen Xingzhi...
Yan Baiwei did not lose her mind. She dared to be arrogant in front of Ren Limeng, but when facing Shen Xingzhi, Yan Baiwei was not sure at all.
Chen Xingzhi is the absolute number one of Hanxing, one of the four major brokerage companies. More than half of Hanxing's income is related to Shen Xingzhi. What's more, Chen Xingzhi has also been involved in the investment industry in the past two or three years. Both Hanxing and Shen Xingzhi invested in the drama she and Li Qingzi starred in. In that drama, Li Qingzi's character is more outstanding than hers.
She was paid an eight-figure salary to lead the newcomer Li Qingzi. Although Yan Baiwei had a bad temper, she knew her priorities clearly. If the choice was between her and Shen Xingzhi, any hesitation on the part of the production team would be disrespectful to Shen Xingzhi.
She never thought about quitting "Shan Hai", the variety show with the most lucrative investment from the Orange platform this year. Even she couldn't bear to give up this good pie.
The air around them was stagnant for a while, and silent silence enveloped the surroundings. The staff exchanged glances secretly, but no one spoke.
The conflict between Yan Baiwei and Shen Xingzhi, two first-tier guests, even the on-site director Dong Zhu had to think carefully before speaking.
"Brother Xingzhi, it's not that serious, calm down. Bai Wei is outspoken..."
As they looked at each other, Li Qingzi finally spoke slowly. She smiled and tried to ease the atmosphere with a relaxed tone. Yan Baiwei pursed her lips and looked at her, but Shen Xingzhi didn't even look up. He was still slowly wrapping the data cable in his hand.
"Director Dong, it's already one o'clock. It's so hot, and I'm so hungry! How about the production team treat us to a lunch at noon? Let's eat first!"
Li Qingzi's voice became weaker and weaker, and the scene fell into deathly silence again. Ren Limeng suddenly looked at Dong Zhu and spoke slowly.
"Okay, that's right! Let's eat first. We're at the hotel next door. Thank you all for your hard work recording!"
After listening to Ren Limeng's proposal, Dong Zhu's eyes flashed with a light. Eating is undoubtedly an effective way to break the stalemate on the scene. At this moment, no one cares about the so-called money rules. Dong Zhu just wants to quickly calm down the dispute between Shen Xingzhi and Yan Baiwei.
Before coming, she knew Yan Baiwei's style of doing things, but she didn't expect that Shen Xingzhi was more nonchalant than she imagined. She absolutely believed that Shen Xingzhi's light words of "withdrawing from the competition" were not a joke, and were more than just a threat.
Under the scorching sun, Dong Zhu was already covered in cold sweats because of the two people's fright. She looked at Ren Limeng with emotion, who was smiling generously at the side. She didn't know if she was really hungry at the moment, but Ren Limeng's words did cleverly interrupt the confrontation on the scene and gave everyone a buffer time.
Under the threat of Shen Xingzhi, Yan Baiwei finally understood what was going on, but Shen Xingzhi...
Dong Zhu rubbed his brows, tried to put on a smile, and quickly caught up with Shen Xingzhi, who was standing tall in front of him.
"Li Meng, you were so brave just now! Brother Xingzhi and Bai Wei were arguing so fiercely, and you dared to butt in!"
Xu Chichi walked up to Ren Limeng, held her right arm affectionately, and spoke with full concern.
"I didn't think much of it. I was just really hungry. I blame it on my body clock in the morning. I ate breakfast too early!"
Ren Limeng smiled, feigning ignorance, not ignoring the subtle inquiry in Xu Chichi's eyes. "Actually, I was very nervous just now. This is the first time I've seen such a big scene. It's so scary!"
"Right, right? Luckily, the cameras were turned off. I was standing next to Bai Wei and didn't dare to say a word. She was so imposing, she's worthy of being a big star. Only Brother Xingzhi had the confidence!"
Xu Chichi seemed to have ignored Yan Baiwei's threatening words to Ren Limeng. She couldn't help but pat her chest, sighed and shook her head.
Recalling the silence in the audience just now, she seemed to finally have a sense of reality about her entry into the entertainment industry. Although the blogger track is also divided into so-called different levels, the entertainment industry is different after all. It has enough unspoken rules and hides enough temptations.
Hearing Xu Chichi's sigh, Ren Limeng lowered her eyes and looked at the road under her feet. She did not respond. She just smiled lightly, and then turned her head to look at the camera that was faithfully recording.
Did the camera just turn off?
not necessarily.
After all, she noticed the flash of red dot...
As for whether it will be broadcast or not, that depends on the choices of Yan Baiwei and Shen Xingzhi, and more on the game between the companies behind them. It is not something they need to worry about.
What she needs to remind herself is that the program team is not that simple.
This hasty lunch was quite sumptuous, with all kinds of special dishes such as cold-water fish, fried eggs with shrimp and mushrooms, highland potatoes, roast chicken, etc. Ren Limeng thought that she only had a three-digit wallet and felt that she had ripped off the production team. Even though she was at the same table with Yan Baiwei, she ate very happily.
Compared to Ren Limeng who ate and drank heartlessly, it was not easy for the program crew members responsible for their group's filming to have this meal.
The four female guests were eating at one table, while Chen Xingzhi, Dong Zhu and other program staff were at another table in the corner. Ren Limeng couldn't hear Chen Xingzhi and the others' conversation, but the expressions and demeanor of Dong Zhu and the others' persuasion were very obvious, and Chen Xingzhi's cold smile was enough to keep people at a distance.
Shen Xingzhi's assistant suddenly hurriedly approached him and handed the phone in his hand forward. Shen Xingzhi glanced at the screen, stood up, and walked towards the stairwell behind the corner outside the door.
After a while, Ren Limeng stood up casually and walked in the same direction, as if preparing to go to the toilet outside the door.
The person who called was Chen Xingzhi's agent Xu Jiao. Xu Jiao was the ace agent of Hanxing Entertainment. In addition to Chen Xingzhi, she had also signed many handsome male stars in the past two or three years.
But even though the newcomers were praised as "the emperor to be exploded", and resources and marketing were invested a lot, the next hit still did not appear. There was no expectation of the so-called powerful king. Among so many stars with unlimited potential, there was not even a shadow of the second top star who could become as popular as Shen Xingzhi. Thinking about the development of the company, Xu Jiao was overwhelmed and sighed that her mid-life crisis had arrived.
The news that Chen Xingzhi wanted to withdraw from the competition reached Xu Jiao's ears at this time. Hearing the inquiries from Yao Xin, the chief director of "Shan Hai" on the other end of the phone, Xu Jiao could only half-seriously and half-lie, and then immediately called Chen Xingzhi to inquire about the situation.
"Nothing."
Xu Jiao asked patiently many times, but Chen Xingzhi's tone was still indifferent. His calm demeanor made Xu Jiao love and hate him. Finally, she was sure that Chen Xingzhi had no plans to withdraw from the competition for the time being. Xu Jiao reluctantly breathed a sigh of relief and repeatedly comforted and persuaded Chen Xingzhi to enjoy the variety show.
Chen Xingzhi has never liked variety show recording. After his successful transformation in the past two or three years, he has only taken on a few slow music variety shows. "Shan Hai", a reality show + live broadcast + competition, is completely stepping on Shen Xingzhi's minefield. If it weren't for the huge temptation of replacement offered by the Orange platform, and considering the actual development needs of other potential stars in the company, Hanxing would never agree to let Chen Xingzhi come to "Shan Hai" to support the Orange platform.
The rumors were true: Shen Xingzhi's ten-year contract was about to expire, and he had so far avoided discussing renewal. Xu Jiao had originally thought she had every confidence in convincing him to renew, but as the deadline drew closer, she felt a growing sense of uncertainty. She had no idea what Shen Xingzhi's answer would be...
On the other end of the phone, as Xu Jiao's enthusiastic concern continued, Chen Xingzhi's "hmm" sound became softer and softer. Xu Jiao wanted to cleverly lead the topic to contract renewal to test Chen Xingzhi's attitude, but Chen Xingzhi said coldly, "I haven't eaten yet. If there's nothing else, I'll hang up first."
Shen Xingzhi stared at the screen where he had ended the call, walked out of the stairwell in silence, and was about to walk back towards the program group's private hall when he was suddenly stopped by a slender and powerful arm.
Feeling the pulling sensation on his left forearm, Shen Xingzhi was stunned for a moment and subconsciously looked towards the source of the force. Then his expression paused, his muscles relaxed slightly, and he followed the owner of the arm's wishes and followed her back to the stairwell.
“Chen Xingzhi, you did this on purpose at noon, didn’t you?”
Ren Limeng carefully found the blind spot of the surveillance camera in the corner of the stairwell, waited patiently for Shen Xingzhi to finish his call, and suddenly pulled him over, just wanting to continue communicating with him.
In front of others, she was really afraid of him, and his every word and action was enough to scare people; but behind others, she might be the least afraid of him among everyone present, not only because he was her "senior", but also because of that seemingly absurd "flash marriage and divorce".
They all knew that it was impossible for him to treat her the same way he treated Yan Baiwei.
Because he had been cruel enough to her back then, and they both knew that he secretly owed her.
Ren Limeng admitted that she was a bit despicable. If it weren't for the entanglement in the past, how could she dare to question such a big shot like Shen Xingzhi so presumptuously? But she really couldn't figure out what Shen Xingzhi was thinking. Every step he took made her feel uneasy.
She didn't believe that Shen Xingzhi had never met a star with Yan Baiwei's personality before. Since he had never had any hard-hitting gossip rumors, why was he so tough this time?
He wanted to use Yan Baiwei to embarrass her in a bad way, but he also wanted to stop Yan Baiwei from embarrassing her at the critical moment.
Ren Limeng had to ask clearly. In front of the camera, she was almost unable to continue acting because of his inexplicable actions!
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