47 Red Carpet
After the three people left, the old house returned to silence.
"Zhenzhen is such a thoughtful child; it's truly exquisite." Gu Henian held a sandalwood mother-of-pearl inlaid jewelry box in his palm and examined it closely. "I remember you also have a mother-of-pearl inlaid jewelry box?"
“Yes, that was passed down from my maternal grandmother’s ancestors and was part of my dowry,” Kong Shuyun said, touching the surface of the box, which felt warm to the touch.
The box also features a pine and crane design, surrounded by auspicious cloud patterns.
Upon opening, two Ruyi brooches lay inside, with cloud-patterned filigree as the base. A round pink tourmaline was set on the head of the Ruyi, and an emerald on the handle. The pin on the back was not straight; upon closer inspection, one could see that the freehand and flowing lines resembled a crane about to take flight.
"This child really put her heart into it." Kong Shuyun carefully put the two brooches back into the box. "We've been away for so long, and both of them have been so busy. They're always at the company and don't have time to take care of themselves. The dress they're wearing today was one I had custom-made for them earlier this year."
“You should stop worrying so much. Zhenzhen is busy with company affairs, which is a good thing,” Gu Henian said, seeing his wife frowning with concern. “Didn’t you order some clothes for them in Paris? Have Tingshen take her shopping later.”
“They’re all busy, they don’t have time. I’ll have them send the new models to Mantingfang later.”
"You're such a worrywart."
---
"Have you prepared a dress for the Starlight Charity Gala in a few days?" Gu Tingshen hung the suit he had taken off on the hanger and turned to ask Ye Zhenzhen, who had just finished showering and was busy in the dressing room.
"Uh, no, I was so busy I forgot." Ye Zhenzhen cleared her throat slightly guiltily, then casually patted the huge gift box in front of her. "Luckily, my mom ordered a dress for me, so I can wear it this time."
There are many twists and turns in the world of fame and fortune. Although there are no explicit rules, even the most expensive dresses are generally considered disposable items.
Furthermore, in order to maintain a respectable image befitting one's status, only the latest seasonal styles from well-known brands can earn you respect under the spotlight.
Although she scoffed at these unspoken rules, believing them to be nothing more than superficial competition among the upper class.
But if she dares to appear at the banquet in an out-of-season dress, the moment the media takes a picture, the Ye and Gu families will be suspected of having cash flow problems, and their stock prices may even plummet the next day.
"Sigh!" she sighed and untied the bow on the gift box.
A men's suit came into view.
The silver-gray suit and vest, with their crisp fabric and exquisite tailoring, are both dignified and sophisticated, paired with a gray-blue dress shirt; the tie and handkerchief are both made of dark blue silk; and there are even black patent leather brogue Oxford shoes under the box.
The man appeared behind her without her noticing, the scent of cedar enveloping her. Ye Zhenzhen turned around and first saw a bare chest. She turned back in a panic, but the image she saw was etched into her mind.
A shirt half-undone, heaving chest muscles, a prominent Adam's apple...
The man noticed her bright red ears, a smile playing on his lips. He reached out and opened the gift box beside him. "Take a look at your dress?"
The man stretched out his arm and opened the box, as if trapping her between his arms.
Ye Zhenzhen felt inexplicably hot, and she shifted awkwardly. "Move back a bit, it's hot."
The man chuckled softly and gracefully stepped aside, watching her lift the dress from the box and hang it on the hanger. The deep blue silk fabric shimmered warmly under the light, like a deep night sky or a flowing galaxy.
"It's beautiful, would you like to try it on?"
"No, I've already showered. I'll be trying them on tomorrow anyway." Ye Zhenzhen tried her best not to recall the scene she had just witnessed. She finished speaking with a straight face, grabbed a small square box next to her, and handed it to the man. "I received a batch of gemstones before and made you a pair of cufflinks!"
"I also have a gift for you." Gu Tingshen took it, his smile deepening. He picked up a black velvet jewelry box and handed it to her. "Shall we open it together?"
Ye Zhenzhen took the box, opened it, and inside lay a set of sapphire jewelry.
A sapphire necklace, with a nearly 60-carat cabochon sapphire as the centerpiece, resembling a blue sea.
The platinum setting around the diamonds is shaped like rolling beads, resembling surging waves in the sea or delicate lace ribbons.
The earrings and bracelets also feature a similar design; the faceted gemstones lack the dazzling brilliance of faceted gemstones, but possess an elegant and gentle radiance that better suits Ye Zhenzhen's personal temperament.
Gu Tingshen also noticed the sapphire cufflinks and tie clip in the small box. He leaned close to Ye Zhenzhen's ear and chuckled, "Would you call this telepathy?"
Ye Zhenzhen's ears turned red as she looked up and glared at him with shame and indignation. "This is my premonition!"
After saying that, she stuffed the jewelry box into his arms and hurriedly ran away.
Gu Tingshen watched her departing figure and chuckled softly.
So cute! When a kitten gets teased too much, it bares its teeth and puffs up its fur.
---
After Bai Xue's innocent image collapsed in "The Actor", her reputation plummeted. She barely managed to maintain her popularity through marketing, but she was still a mixed bag of praise and criticism.
To make her stand out, Liu Wei chose a very daring dress for her this time: a pure black dress with a low neckline, a large open back, and a high slit, paired with black hair and red lips, aiming to create a sexy bombshell look.
Bai Xue looked at herself in the mirror, curled her lips, and tried to make a charming expression.
"Will this really work?" she asked her agent skeptically.
"Of course! What we need right now is contrast. The bigger the contrast, the more attention you'll get, and the more traffic you'll generate!" Liu Wei said wearily, scratching his head.
He went to great lengths just to get this dress. This industry is full of people who fawn over the powerful and trample on the weak. Seeing that Bai Xue's popularity was waning, he couldn't even borrow dresses from many brands.
Although he had long had the idea of cultivating new talent, he couldn't let go of the years of effort he had put into Bai Xue.
What if? Black and red are still red!
"What's the worst thing in the entertainment industry? It's not getting any attention. If you still have the same old look, you won't be memorable at all. Only by boldly breaking through can you create buzz!"
Bai Xue agreed with him on the one hand, but she was conflicted when she thought of Wang Qi's mother's subtle disdain for her.
After a long internal struggle, he finally succumbed to his resentment and desires and reluctantly agreed.
———
Inside the Fengming Building, a professional styling team is designing looks for Zhan Yan and Zhou Jin for their evening banquet.
"Wow, Sister Yan, this dress is so beautiful..." Zhan Yan's assistant, Xiao Tang, stood next to Liu He, looking at Zhan Yan, who was wearing a formal dress, as she walked out of the fitting room with starry eyes.
P&R's Spring/Summer Haute Couture burgundy halter dress features a high slit on the side, with gold thread outlining the shape of vines. The skirt sways gracefully as she walks, and her long, wavy black hair makes her look like a vibrant rose, radiating brilliance.
Zhou Jin, standing next to her, was wearing a black three-piece suit with a matching rose-red handkerchief in her breast pocket.
His hair was combed back, revealing a full forehead. Beneath his handsome, arched eyebrows, his eyes shone like stars. His high nose bridge and sharply defined jawline added to his mature charm.
However, he doesn't appear sharp; instead, he has a gentle and refined demeanor, like a humble gentleman.
The two, one flamboyant and the other reserved, were surprisingly well-matched.
"Is President Ye attending today too? I really want to see what her dress looks like..." Zhou Jin's assistant, Xiao Zhao, was full of anticipation. After all, her boss always makes headlines whenever she appears, thanks to her perfect looks and charisma.
"I just heard from Sister Liu that the boss isn't walking the red carpet tonight, but we'll definitely see him during the live broadcast inside," Xiao Tang said with a laugh in his ear.
"Huh? Why?" Xiao Zhao asked, somewhat disappointed. "Does the boss really not plan to act anymore?"
It seems the boss is determined to go behind the scenes. Xiao Tang thought to himself, although he used to get criticized a lot, he'd actually feel a little regretful if he really stopped acting.
---
"Wow, his looks are amazing! I can just imagine how crazy the fans will go tonight!!!"
"It's true that fame brings good fortune! Look at Sister Yan and Brother Zhou, they exude such charisma, they're like true superstars!!"
The young actors finished their lessons and came over to watch the excitement, their eyes filled with longing as they looked at the two senior colleagues from the company.
When will I be able to be like that, so sophisticated and star-like!
When Zhan Yan was dragged outside by the photographer to take outdoor photos, she heard what her junior classmates were saying and her lips twitched.
There's no such thing as a free superstar's aura or the health benefits of fame; it's all the result of her special training!
Do you think those relaxed and beautiful poses are achieved through sheer hard work and dedication?! They're the result of countless hours of pain and bloodshed...
Thanks to Liu He, a seasoned agent, two months ago, before they even received the invitation to the charity gala, she applied to the company to have professional models come and give them extra lessons, including correcting their posture, walking the runway, and how to pose for the camera, and so on.
The supermodel teacher they hired said that time was tight and the task was heavy. In order to produce results quickly, she had to wear high heels all the time except when she was sleeping. Zhou Jin was in a better position, but she was also required to build muscle and train her core strength.
In short, they should find a state that is upright yet relaxed, steady yet light, and relaxed yet elegant, whether they are standing, sitting or walking!
During her special training, she felt like a pitiful little mermaid, walking on the edge of a knife with every step.
However, it seems that the grueling training has had a significant effect. Director Feng Wei recently praised them for looking much more elegant, with excellent posture, composure, confidence, and a relaxed demeanor.
The Starlight Charity Gala is one of the most influential charity events in China. Its program combines fashion, entertainment, and philanthropy, earning it the title of "the Oscars of the fashion world." The lineup of celebrities covers multiple fields, including film, music, and business.
It tops the trending charts every year, and celebrities from all walks of life consider it an honor to be invited. The red carpet is filled with dazzling and eye-catching artists, making it an annual entertainment extravaganza.
This year's Starlight Charity Gala featured a live stream, with fans eagerly waiting in front of their phones and TVs for their favorite artists to appear.
The venue was packed with media and fans, and the flashes from both sides of the red carpet were almost nonstop from 8 p.m.
This was the first time that Zhan Yan and Zhou Jin's fans had witnessed their idols appear at such a grand occasion, and their excitement was beyond words.
With the advancement of the "Shuhui Project," Ye Zhenzhen's status in the industry has clearly changed from before. Her fans have recently felt proud and, although they were somewhat disappointed to learn that Ye Zhenzhen would not be walking the red carpet, they still sent representatives to wait outside the venue to show their support.
Fans of the Peach Blossom series spontaneously gathered together, looking towards the end of the red carpet with anticipation.
"Taoyao posted their outdoor photos before, they're so beautiful and handsome, as fiery as roses!!"
"Yes, I was stunned when I saw it. It's so beautiful and captivating!"
"I heard that Yan Yan's dress was found for her by the boss. It's a new spring/summer design from R&A, and many A-list celebrities have worn it!"
"Brother Jin looks so imposing in that outfit! He usually seems so gentle, but this time with his slicked-back hair, wow, he looks incredibly handsome!!"
"Here she comes, here she comes! Jin-ge, get out of the car first! Ahhh, Yan Yan is so beautiful and gorgeous!!!"
"Wow, their seats are so close to the front!! My brother and sister are really rich now!!"
The live stream chat suddenly became incredibly busy.
[Wow, a goddess!! Such a powerful aura!!! Who is she? Zhan Yan??]
[She's changed so much! Is this what they mean by being famous? I thought she was some top-tier A-list celebrity, but she's so resilient!]
[How can they be so relaxed? It's their first time walking the red carpet, how can they be so at ease? Ahhh, I'm a fan of their walk from now on!!!]
Wow, this red rose is absolutely stunning! A beautiful woman with curly hair, like a rose in full bloom. It's been a long time since any artist in the Chinese entertainment industry has had such vitality!!
[So confident! Zhan Yan looks so beautiful even standing still. I'm going crazy for her fiery red lips!!]
[Zhou Jin! Zhou Jin! Did sweeping his bangs up break some kind of seal?! !!! That's amazing, my brother! The way he looked at the camera was so captivating!!!]
Fans in the group chat were taking screenshots like crazy, some even crying tears of joy.
[My little one has really made something of herself!! I knew she could do it!!!]
[Our Jin-ge has had such a tough journey!!]
Fans along the red carpet chanted their names enthusiastically, and spotlights flashed incessantly. Zhan Yan and Zhou Jin were incredibly grateful for their previous special training, which allowed them to remain unblinking and confidently smile even under the blindingly bright lights.
The media reporters, with their keen eyes, spotted the couple in front of them. They were incredibly popular, had stunning looks, and displayed remarkable composure on the red carpet. They called out their names and kept snapping photos.
Seeing the number of viewers in the live stream surge, the host, at the request of the coordinator, smiled and chatted with the two of them for a while, praising their recent achievements.
Bai Xue, who was still in line, had a face as black as the bottom of a pot, and her clenched palms were stinging from the pricks of her newly done manicure.
How could she not hate it when insignificant people like Zhan Yan and Zhou Jin were ranked ahead of her?!
[Author's Note]
The Peach Blossom series is on the rise! Thank you so much for the nutrient solutions and comments, my lovely readers! I'll try my best to update! [Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers][Sprinkling flowers]
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