Chapter 22 ...May I ask who you are? ...
It was the height of summer, and when choosing their gowns, they specifically opted for lightweight, breathable fabrics. Standing in the center of the red carpet, Sheng Yi felt a fine layer of sweat on her palms.
"Sheng Yi, look this way."
"Sheng Yi, look to the left."
"Come a little more over here."
"Great, one more."
...
The person holding the camera in front of her kept pressing the shutter and issuing commands. Sheng Yi moved her eyes and body in sync with their commands. For a moment, she even had the illusion that she was a big shot.
After finally making it to the end of the red carpet event, Sheng Yi looked around but still couldn't see Xiao You. She took out her phone from her bag and asked her where she was.
"If they don't come soon, they'll be closing up shop."
Xiaoyou said, "It's okay, it's okay, if we miss it, it's fine."
Sheng Yi was stunned by her wealth and arrogance. "Don't you know what you're saying?"
The phone vibrated. Xiao You had replied to something, but Sheng Yi was led outside by the staff and had no time to pay attention to anything else.
"Are you kidding me?! Where is Sheng Yi going?"
"Don't say later that this staff member is a new intern who accidentally led you astray."
"We interns shouldn't take the blame."
"What are you thinking? Those who can come here to work as etiquette staff are the best of the best, one in ten thousand. If you wanted to do an internship, you wouldn't know which way to bow down to."
"So you mean, Sheng Yi, really, didn't, go to the wrong place?"
Sheng Yi followed behind the staff. At first, she could still faintly hear the sounds coming from the red carpet. After a while, there was no noise at all, only a gentle breeze caressing her ears.
Looking around, the vegetation was lush and green. The sweat on Sheng Yi's palms had long since dried, and she couldn't help but ask the guide beside her, "Where are we going?" In such an environment, she even unconsciously lowered her voice.
The other person was wearing a fitted cheongsam, with her hair pulled back, and smiled gently at her upon hearing this.
The two eventually stopped in front of a large, closed door. The other person raised their arm slightly and gestured for them to enter.
At the same time, with a creak, the door swung open from the inside, and a man who looked like a butler walked in with a smile, "Welcome to the Spring Firefly Charity Gala."
Sheng Yi clutched her handbag, and followed along, bewildered, as she stepped over the knee-high threshold.
Unlike the lush greenery outside, the interior is decorated with exquisite carvings and opulent luxury.
An elaborate crystal chandelier hangs overhead, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a scene from a movie. Perhaps this is the very scene Cinderella, wearing her glass slippers and riding in her pumpkin carriage, was heading towards.
Holding wine glasses, some leaned against the wall, while others sat leisurely with their legs crossed, each creating their own private space in front of them.
Sheng Yi's eyes darted around twice, and she found that apart from the butler who had initially led the way, there was almost no trace of staff in the entire hall. The guests here were completely left to their own devices.
Some people were chatting in a circle, while others had their eyes closed and didn't look at anyone. She glanced around discreetly; all the faces were unfamiliar.
She didn't know how Xiaoyou's invitation card could have another part, but in this situation, her tense heart slowly relaxed. Here, no one had the extra energy to pay attention to you, and having another one of her freeloading wouldn't seem so out of place.
Has this year's charity gala taken a step further? Perhaps all those men and women around me are just spoiled rich kids throwing money around to experience life.
Sheng Yi quietly moved to the side, a move that attracted the attention of the young man next to her, who struck up a conversation with her.
Although the current scene was eerie, Sheng Yi hadn't forgotten her original purpose for coming here. She listened attentively with a smile, interjecting appropriately at suitable moments to keep the conversation going.
They enjoyed a casual chat.
After seeing the other party off, Sheng Yi quickly found a corner, took out her phone, and was about to chat with Xiao You about the current situation when she felt a gaze falling on her from not far away.
She looked up and, unexpectedly, gazed into a deep, dark pool.
Compared to the center of the hall, the lighting here was dim and yellowish, so much so that Sheng Yi didn't immediately realize that this place was someone else's territory.
Wen Shili stood by the wall, one hand holding his coat, the shirt collar dangling loosely over his collarbone. He was dressed formally, yet his movements carried a hint of unruliness and debauchery. Somewhat like... that arrogant, unrestrained king on stage.
Aside from extremely formal occasions, Wen Shili prefers a casual and comfortable style. This is something Sheng Yi observed from his fans while surfing, and it's said that this conclusion has been supported by extensive data.
Actually, whether it's formal wear or casual attire, it will never look bad on a clothes hanger. For example, right now, when he casually glanced over, Sheng Yi felt her heart skip a beat.
Only when you meet that languid gaze do you realize that you've been locked onto by his eyes for a long time.
What's Wen Shili doing here? Could he be the friend Xiaoyou was talking about? No way, this is too embarrassing.
Sheng Yi clutched the invitation card in her handbag, silently screaming inside.
Given their status and seniority, it would have been impossible for them to appear in the same place.
She could never even get a chance to attend the high-end events and banquets he attended. Even if she were unfortunately invited to the same banquet, if he wanted to, she would always be the one to be abandoned in the choice between the two.
Sheng Yi blinked her eyelashes lightly, slowly suppressing the unease surging in her heart.
In just a few moments, she could clearly see that besides them, there were two or three other young people scattered not far away. They were probably all here to find some peace and quiet.
At this moment, their gazes seemed to fall on them, albeit subtly.
In a flash, Sheng Yi suddenly remembered his identity.
She swallowed hard twice, then moved slightly closer to Wen Shili.
When a rumored girlfriend meets the real person, either they're going to put on a show of affection together, or they'll just have to wait to be exposed.
After trending on social media for so long, Sheng Yi couldn't help but feel uneasy at first, wondering when Wen Shili would make a move, and whether she could really handle it.
Knowing about his relationship with Amy, this unease gripped her once again.
Even though he had come up with a thousand reasons in his mind, what if they were false? After all, he hadn't said anything.
As Sheng Yi moved forward, she tried to convince herself not to be afraid. The more poised and confident she appeared, the less likely she would become a laughingstock.
As expected of a top star who has won film awards, the closer Sheng Yi got, the more he realized that he was already at a disadvantage in this confrontation.
The man's gaze was deep, and she couldn't see the undercurrents in his eyes. Or perhaps, he didn't want her to see them.
He remained in that lazy posture, watching her walk towards him step by step.
What will he be thinking? And how will he view her?
Is she a woman who is ignorant of her own limitations and will do anything for popularity?
Or perhaps, these are scenes he's already tired of, and he doesn't even bother wasting his time on her.
Holding the ticket she had gotten for free, Sheng Yi stopped a few steps away from him, ignoring the stares of those around her.
The so-called "rumored partner" is someone whose true or false information is mixed up, and for whom there is no concrete evidence to prove whether it is true or false.
Sheng Yi forced a smile and said awkwardly, "Teacher Wen." She hesitated for a moment before choosing a compromise, "I didn't expect to see you here."
With those words out, she finally felt a little relieved. Whether she plummeted from mid-air or landed safely, she had no choice. So, she simply left it all to fate.
Thinking of this, the smile in her eyes became even clearer. At such a close distance, she could easily catch a fleeting frown on Wen Shili's brow.
Her heart skipped a beat, and a ripple of a smile spread across her face.
Sure enough, the voice that delivered the verdict was clear and calm. She heard his voice as always, beautiful as the wind singing in her ear. However, the wind also carried the force of thunder, crashing down on her without any obstruction.
"...May I ask who you are?" His voice was hesitant. That half-second of thought only amplified the reality of his confusion.
In that instant, Sheng Yi suddenly understood the significance of Xiao You's proud boast when they first met: "I won two film awards within six months."
She even stated unequivocally to Huang Zhicheng that some people's talent is so great that God seems to be giving them a natural gift.
Just like right here and now, no one would doubt that he was putting on an act.
Unfortunately, during her time as the "rumored girlfriend," Sheng Yi inadvertently came across a piece of gossip.
Some fans said that Wen Shili performed exceptionally well in everything except his memory, which returned to normal levels.
An anonymous source countered that they had met Wen Shili when he debuted, but they didn't exchange a single word. Surprisingly, years later, when they met again, Wen seemed to recognize them. This demonstrates that Wen Shili's memory is exceptional.
In fact, Sheng Yi could have used his poor memory to convince herself, but for some reason, she just stubbornly stuck to her own opinion.
Given his talent, it's impossible for him to feel so unfamiliar with someone he's only met a few times recently. Yet now, his brows are slightly furrowed, as if the person standing before him is someone he's never met before.
"Whoosh—"
Sheng Yi didn't know whether the scene was genuinely filled with noise or if the glacier in her heart had suddenly collapsed, leaving only a clamor.
But you must not fall down.
It felt as if countless eyes were on her. She forced a smile and wanted to say, "Excuse me, I need to take this call," but for the sake of this banquet, her phone had already been turned off and was quietly kept in her bag.
So at this moment, she could only face him and try to introduce herself: "Hello, I am Sheng Yi. Sheng means blooming, and Yi means..."
It was so formal, like a proper self-introduction at school. It turns out that under immense pressure, people really do lose their way of speaking.
As she spoke, she hoped that after these past few months, her acting skills had improved a little. Really, just a little bit. As long as it was enough to conceal the desolate scene beneath her pretentious exterior.
Once she stepped out that door, she no longer cared where things would lead. She gritted her teeth and endured this ordeal; what followed could only wait.
As she spoke, the man opposite her stared at her intently. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see his relaxed posture slowly straighten, and the wrinkles on his brows deepened.
What happened? Where did she go wrong this time?
With no way to avoid it, Sheng Yi even spared a little time to guess how he planned to continue the next act.
Footsteps approached from afar. Just as Sheng Yi was about to make a quick escape from this strange standoff, someone gently nudged her arm.
"I'm sorry I'm late."
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