Chapter 268 Returning Home
"Brother Xingzhi! Don't try to change the subject."
The two finally reached the backstage corridor. There were fewer people around. Ren Limeng asked softly, "Did Chengzi talk to you these past two days?"
Chen Xingzhi was slightly stunned, but immediately understood the implication of Ren Limeng's words. He slowly shook his head and said firmly, "No, Mengmeng, this award is yours. I didn't give it to you. It's just that the program team was fair and just this time. Don't think too much about it."
Ren Limeng almost believed what Shen Xingzhi said in a calm and confident tone, but she had been in society for a long time, so how could she believe that there would be a champion who "dropped the pie" for no reason? In fact, from the announcement of the award to now, such a long time was enough for her to figure something out.
"Is it because I signed an agency contract with the station? Or... did the station know about your collaboration with Director Yao?"
Ren Limeng grabbed Shen Xingzhi's arms with both hands and pressed her body close to him, as if it was just an intimate interaction between lovers. She spoke softly in Shen Xingzhi's ear, her tone also firm.
After she finished speaking, Ren Limeng turned her head and looked at Chen Xingzhi seriously, with some stubbornness that she would never give up. Chen Xingzhi stared at Ren Limeng's sudden serious expression, and finally put away some of his carelessness. He stretched out his fingertips and gently pulled the corner of her mouth, helping her to smile again.
"Both. You're one of us, so giving this championship to you is a good thing. But more importantly, you can handle this championship."
Chen Xingzhi analyzed rationally that this support not only refers to the popularity of traffic, but also the positive public opinion influence of Ren Limeng's live broadcast of saving people during the third public performance. All of these made Ren Limeng's championship win more topics in the program, which was also reasonable. Ren Limeng's act of saving people could even win the official bravery award. A variety show champion, the program team gave not only topics, but also enough positive energy.
Otherwise, Zhong Yanjun and her faction would not have awarded it to Ren Limeng so easily. They would at least have negotiated with him and tested his attitude.
Besides, there was another reason for not giving him the award: Hanxing Entertainment. Hanxing Entertainment, whose stock price plummeted this week, is one of the top four agencies in the industry. Without sufficient profit, the Orange Platform would naturally not offend Hanxing for him at this time. By withholding the championship award from him, they could even do Hanxing a significant favor.
When Shen Xingzhi heard the championship result, he guessed all the thoughts of the Orange Platform, especially Zhong Yanjun's faction. They were now annoyed about his cooperation with Yao Xin, so it was naturally impossible for them to give him the championship award to add icing on the cake and provide timely assistance.
Moreover, the championship was given to Ren Limeng, his girlfriend. Even if he was unwilling, he would not bear a grudge against the Orange Platform. The Orange Platform knew very well that as long as Ren Limeng was on the Orange Platform, there would definitely be opportunities for him and the Orange Platform to cooperate.
As the saying goes, it's all about control, but as long as it is beneficial to Ren Limeng's development, Chen Xingzhi doesn't care about the Orange Platform's little tricks. He doesn't even mind if the Orange Platform does it more obviously so that it can be better for Ren Limeng.
"Anyway, you always have a point. But you still hid it from me, Brother Xingzhi. Even though your girlfriend won the championship, she's still a little unhappy."
Ren Limeng didn't know what was in Shen Xingzhi's heart, but she confirmed her thoughts and saw Shen Xingzhi's nonchalant attitude. She murmured softly, with a long tone in her voice, complaining about her dissatisfaction that was concealed.
Even if it's for her own good, he can't act on his own. If this happens once or twice, she must seriously reiterate this to Shen Xingzhi, "When encountering problems, we have to discuss it together. Brother Xingzhi, I want to face everything with you. You can't always act on your own like this. Last time you made the matter with Hanxing public, you did it, and this time you didn't tell me. Even if you are a little smarter than me, you can't use it on this..."
Chen Xingzhi's smiling eyes fell on Ren Limeng's serious and pretty face. He listened to her quietly, nodding patiently from time to time. When Ren Limeng was about to finish her nagging, Chen Xingzhi finally took over the conversation, "You're right, there won't be a next time."
His straightforward attitude made Ren Limeng look suspicious. After all, the last time he didn't tell her that he was going to officially announce that his contract with Hanxing would not be renewed, it was the same thing. He agreed very readily, but he didn't change it.
"Let's just call it even this time. Your promise is fulfilled. There won't be a next time, okay?"
Shen Xingzhi deliberately lowered his voice, his low, magnetic voice carrying some coaxing meaning, making Ren Limeng subconsciously want to nod, but after all, this was a serious matter. She resisted the temptation of the handsome face in front of her and tried to stay rational, "My promise?"
"Alas, someone broke their promise and refused to team up with me. Did you forget so quickly? As expected, some words are just words. It's so sad."
Chen Xingzhi blinked in mock sadness, as if Ren Limeng's words made him sadder than not winning the championship. He shook his head, his lazy look dispelling his indifference, and with a more attractive and lively expression. As he spoke in a low voice, Ren Limeng turned her head away with a guilty conscience, "Ahem, Brother Xingzhi, just offset it, isn't it enough to just listen to you?"
In the end, Ren Limeng's attention was diverted, and Shen Xingzhi got away with it. Staring at Ren Limeng's somewhat wandering eyes, Shen Xingzhi slowly raised a deep and indistinguishable satisfied smile.
The "Mountains and Seas" project came to an end with great fanfare, but the journey of "Mountains and Seas" did not end.
Backstage, Ren Limeng was just about to remove her makeup when someone suddenly knocked on the half-open door of the dressing room. Ren Limeng and Shen Xingzhi turned around and saw Zhong Yanjun, An Ling and other middle and senior leaders of the Orange Platform who had come specially for the event.
Everyone seemed not surprised to see Shen Xingzhi here. Zhong Yanjun even took the initiative to greet Shen Xingzhi with a smile, warmly and politely inviting Shen Xingzhi to cooperate with the Orange Platform again, and asked about Shen Xingzhi's recent situation with concern, completely ignoring Shen Xingzhi's very cold attitude.
Zhong Yanjun turned her gaze to Ren Limeng again. "Limeng, congratulations! The ratings for tonight's show have reached a new high. You and Xingzhi are both heroes of the show. On behalf of the platform, I sincerely thank you."
As expected, Ren Limeng's victory sparked heated discussions across the Internet, and the clip of her public confession in her acceptance speech went viral on the short video platform. In a short period of time, the popularity of related comments and videos continued to rise, which also made the "Shan Hai" program reap a lot of benefits.
"The platform is planning to launch a group variety show for 'Shan Hai.' Li Meng, we're planning to have you be the initiator and lead the other guests this season to travel to other places, experience the local culture, and interview the locals. Xingzhi, do you have time? Why not join us and Li Meng?"
"What a great opportunity! I can get a promotional fee and travel with my girlfriend..."
The crowd behind Zhong Yanjun started talking. The group variety show was a new news that Zhong Yanjun announced at the moment, but Ren Limeng looked at the smiling faces of Zhong Yanjun and others and did not think that this was a sudden idea of the Orange platform.
"Thank you, Minister Zhong, for your kindness. You actually opened two programs for me at once. I was so overwhelmed!"
When Ren Limeng signed the agency contract with the Orange platform, she decided with An Ling, the platform representative, to launch a separate program for her. However, the Orange platform did not say it was a group variety show at the time, and Ren Limeng would not allow her separate program to become a group variety show. She stood up, her tone sincere and touching, but An Ling's smile suddenly froze. The platform's senior management understood Ren Limeng's preemptive move, and the two programs with Ren Limeng as the main star were thus finalized.
Now, Ren Limeng is in the limelight, and with Shen Xingzhi by her side, even the platform will give her some respect.
Zhong Yanjun understood Ren Limeng's subtext, but her expression did not change at all. She smiled meaningfully and continued to warmly invite Shen Xingzhi, who did not respond, as if she wanted to use Ren Limeng's presence to get Shen Xingzhi to participate in the "Mountains and Seas" group variety show.
"You deserve this, Xingzhi. You can't bear to let your girlfriend go off alone, right?"
There are so many staff members and guests on a show, how can you set out alone?
Listening to Zhong Yanjun's mock-affair teasing, Ren Limeng complained silently in her heart, but her face still showed the friendly smile of a worker treating her boss. She blinked and spoke before Shen Xingzhi expressed his opinion, "Sister Ling, do you have time to accompany me? We were on the same team for these two public performances, and I learned a lot. I wonder if I can ask you more questions during the group variety show?"
Ren Limeng calmly shifted the topic to Zhong Yanjun's niece An Ling, while Shen Xingzhi still had a half-smile on his face, which made everyone on the Orange Platform feel a little sorry, but still secretly expectant.
After dealing with everyone on the Orange Platform, when only Ren Limeng and Shen Xingzhi were left in the dressing room, Shen Xingzhi remembered how Ren Limeng had flexibly and skillfully spoken artistic language in front of Zhong Yanjun. In the end, he couldn't help but smile softly and sighed, "Mengmeng, you're quite versatile."
"...Thank you for the compliment."
Ren Limeng smiled with regret, "After all, he is my direct supervisor now, so I have to give him some face."
Zhong Yanjun came forward on her own initiative, so she naturally couldn't refuse outright and embarrass her boss, but people working in the workplace have their own wisdom, and everyone is smart, so many things can be dealt with.
Ren Limeng was also surprised to find that when she learned that the group variety show "Shan Hai" would be hosted by her, she was really calm. It was as if she had received a temporary hosting task on the agricultural channel, which would become the key to her next work, but not that important.
She has experienced too much along the way, both inside and outside the circle. No matter how turbulent the entertainment industry is, she has finally made it in. The road is still very long. Ren Limeng knows that all she has to do is hold the microphone and move forward firmly.
She will not be alone on the road ahead. She will be with Shen Xingzhi. Even though the road ahead is long and there will still be many problems and challenges, Ren Limeng is eager to try.
"Mengmeng, I remember you said before that you wanted to win the Golden Melody Award? Now...your dream hasn't changed, right?"
Chen Xingzhi's gentle gaze was fixed on the graceful Ren Limeng, and then he casually fell on the championship trophy of the Orange Platform's S+-rated hit variety show "Mountains and Seas" that she had placed aside. For a moment, he seemed to see the way he had come.
He suddenly couldn't help but confirm something with Ren Limeng, but it was clearly an emotional question, and Shen Xingzhi's voice still carried a steady certainty.
Ren Limeng's answer was equally affirmative and persistent, just as Shen Xingzhi expected.
"certainly."
Ren Limeng met Chen Xingzhi's deep black eyes. She had always wanted to win the Golden Voice Award, the highest award in the hosting industry. This would require many years of experience and many stage performances, but she was confident that even if she switched to the entertainment channel, she would be able to achieve her original dream and fulfill Chen Xingzhi's wish.
Just like when she first saw Chen Xingzhi at the welcome party many years ago, she became a shining host and would definitely persevere to the end and fulfill their once common dream.
The recording studio for the finals of "Mountains and Seas" was also the one where they first met, and it was also the studio where she helped with odd jobs when she was an intern. From the backstage to the stage, from the corner to the center, she grew up step by step. Perhaps many messy things in her work have polished her edges countless times, but her original intention has never changed.
"The show is finally over, Mengmeng, wait... let's have a midnight snack together to celebrate."
The familiar voice interrupted Ren Limeng's trance and emotion. She looked back at Chen Xingzhi who was waiting for her to remove her makeup, with a smile on her lips.
"Okay, let's order takeout and go home for a midnight snack."
"go home?"
Some unfamiliar words made Shen Xingzhi look slightly stunned. He hadn't heard this word for many years, and he hadn't had a home for many years.
"Come home with me. Our station is right here in Xiangcheng. Although we rent a house, we've lived here for several years. Brother Xingzhi, don't think it's too small. Come home with me tonight!"
Ren Limeng had specially asked a friend to help her find a housekeeper to clean up her "doghouse" (cozy little home) during the past two days. At this moment, she invited Chen Xingzhi home not on a whim, but more of a long-planned plan.
There are many ways for adults to express their feelings, true or false, on and off, but everyone has only one home. Finally able to get rid of the 24-hour recording camera of the program, after so many times on "Mountains and Seas", Ren Limeng now just wants to go home.
What she wanted to do more was to take Shen Xingzhi home and firmly pull him into her life.
At this moment, Ren Limeng smiled and tilted her head as she spoke. Her tone was casual and natural, but it carried the deep temptation that Shen Xingzhi had always sought but could not get, making him unable to refuse, and he did not want to refuse at all.
Chen Xingzhi stared at Ren Limeng's bright smiling face, and his once cold eyes were quietly filled with layers of gentle ripples. He seemed like a traveler who had finally found his way home, slowly shed all his fatigue, and a long-lost sense of security spread in his heart.
The corners of Chen Xingzhi's mouth rose slightly, and he looked at Ren Limeng with a faint smile. In the end, he only repeated one sentence softly in his hoarse voice.
"Okay, let's go home."
…
—End of Text—
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