Chapter 57 This is what you insisted on seeing...
There have always been many labels associated with Sheng Yi.
Some say she is a delicate parasitic plant, only able to grow by clinging to others; others speculate that beneath her innocent exterior lies a facade of ruthless greed.
Wen Shili believed he had seen many different sides of her, yet he still couldn't help but be moved by each of her vibrant facets.
For example, even now, as she says these words, her face remains as gentle and innocent as ever, her tone is soft, but her eyes are full of eager provocation.
As he looked at her, a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips. "Oh."
That night's conversation seemed to end pleasantly, and Shengyi didn't let the matter occupy too much of her thoughts anymore.
The festive atmosphere of the New Year passed by briefly, followed by an even busier schedule.
After several rounds of explosive growth, Sheng Yi's traffic has stabilized over the past year, but the recent hype surrounding the new drama has slightly disrupted this balance.
Faced with offers of opportunities, Lao Qian's principle was to accept them all within his capabilities. Therefore, Sheng Yi received numerous more invitations.
As long as it didn't involve core issues, she was happy to have a mutually beneficial arrangement. However, after flying around for five or six days straight, she almost couldn't take it anymore. As soon as she boarded the plane, she closed her eyes and lost all sense of time.
After a short half-day break to catch her breath, Sheng Yi threw herself into a new round of busy work. Occasionally, when she finished work late, she would pass by the entrance of the building and see a familiar spot with a black car parked there.
Sheng Yi even suspected that the conversation that day was just a figment of his imagination.
After working non-stop, she didn't have the energy to reiterate an answer that was clearly not being taken seriously.
As the end of the month approached, Sheng Yi suddenly received a call from Sister Hong, "Are you interested in the K brand spokesperson title?"
If she didn't know Sister Hong's style, she would have retorted with a question like, "Are you kidding me?"
Although K brand is considered accessible luxury, it currently allocates a substantial budget to marketing and promotion in China, and all the celebrities it collaborates with are heavily promoted and featured on social media. However, apart from Xu Jiayi, the others have only secured titles such as ambassador or close friend.
Even so, everyone is still scrambling for these resources, especially the rising stars. One of the criteria for judging whether they have escaped the ranks of obscure celebrities is whether they have collaborated with K brand.
Sheng Yi herself went through the same process.
After she came into contact with the brand last year, marketing accounts jumped on the bandwagon and reported that she had obtained the title. However, as the subject of the report, she clearly remembered that just a few days ago, Lao Qian was still making a promise to her, saying that he would strive to win the brand ambassadorship in the new year.
How did the ambassador suddenly become the spokesperson in just a few days, and it seems that the step of "winning over" was completely omitted?
Sheng Yi's first reaction was that Sister Hong's connections were too strong. Although she still didn't quite understand how she had managed to get close to her in the first place, Sister Hong's care for her had always been genuine.
She was naturally eager to have a deep collaboration with K brand, as she wanted to expand her business empire. The brand image and prestige of her previous collaborations were important factors to consider when choosing future partners.
But faced with this blatant temptation, she also knew that for an artist of her caliber, to be directly on par with Xu Jiayi after just one appearance on stage—she could imagine what people would say without any marketing hype.
Large-scale events are coming one after another at the end of the year, including fashion events, film and television ceremonies, and brand galas, all vying for attention.
Gossip headlines are being updated exponentially every day; before the topics of one event have even been discussed, the next piece of gossip is already being served up.
Marketing accounts and entertainment reporters are working hard to meet their KPIs, and they can easily spot celebrities rushing to their schedules at any airport.
In this atmosphere, the K-brand dinner arrived as scheduled.
As an invited guest, Sheng Yi arrived at the scene in the afternoon with Jingjing and relevant staff.
The event was divided into two parts: the red carpet event in the evening, which was broadcast live, and the banquet after the red carpet, which was not open to the public.
Despite this, online buzz surrounding the K brand event remained high from early morning. By 2 or 3 PM, several related topics were trending on social media.
The reason is simply that the officially announced lineup is too luxurious. Some even joked that it is no less star-studded and grand than a typical fashion gala.
When Sheng Yi and his team arrived, the backstage area was already bustling with activity. Each artist was followed by several staff members, and some of the acquaintances were chatting together.
The dressing room is for two people. Sheng Yi and her partner arrived first, and no one has come to the other side yet.
After she had finished tidying up, the dressing room door was pushed open again. The next second, the crisp sound of high heels clicking came from afar, and Xu Jiayi walked in surrounded by staff.
Their eyes met briefly in the mirror. Sheng Yi, whose face was being held up by the makeup artist and unable to move, was about to wave hello when Xu Jiayi looked away.
She walked slowly to the makeup mirror, where her assistant had already pulled out a chair and was waiting. The makeup artists swarmed around her.
Jingjing had been spending most of her time with Shengyi in the group these past few months. When she first saw this scene, she was stunned for a moment before she realized what was happening. Just as she was about to force a smile and go forward, she heard a group of people already chatting.
"Teacher Xu, your skin is so beautiful."
"Yes, yes, you can't see any pores at all in the footage."
“I rewatched your last drama yesterday, and your acting was absolutely amazing. I cried so much that I used up half a pack of tissues.”
"The acting skills of so many people these days are just...tsk tsk, watching them is a complete occupational hazard."
"What's the point of comparing these two? It's an insult to Teacher Xu, haha."
The other person seemed oblivious to everyone else, chatting about everything from skincare to makeup and acting, occasionally letting out an exaggerated laugh.
Whether she was overthinking it or not, Jingjing felt increasingly uneasy as she listened. Looking at Sheng Yi's nonchalant expression, she realized she might indeed be imagining things.
If she stayed any longer, she was afraid she would lose control, so she pursed her lips and stepped forward to ask, "Sister, everything is ready, shall we go out first?"
"Hmm." Sheng Yi didn't have any masochistic tendencies, but before leaving, she still greeted Xu Jiayi, "Teacher Xu, I'll go first."
Xu Jiayi lifted her eyelids to look at the graceful woman standing behind her. Her delicate and beautiful face, enhanced by makeup, revealed her charming allure.
And those eyes... were full of smiles.
He's no pushover.
She nodded slightly, and Sheng Yi left with two or three staff members.
The door closed, and Xu Jiayi's assistant behind her finally couldn't hold back, "Tsk, what are you showing off for?"
Someone glanced at Xu Jiayi's expression and chimed in, "They don't even greet their seniors properly. These newcomers these days... are nothing like we were back then."
Compared to the red carpet where one must be constantly on edge and avoid making mistakes, Sheng Yi prefers the more relaxed atmosphere of the indoor venue.
They're all adept at putting on a show; if they put their minds to it, the atmosphere will never be dull. And everyone's purpose in coming here is basically the same.
Some people were chatting arm in arm with friends they hadn't seen in a long time, while others were being taken around by their agents for social events. Of course, there were also people who were too lazy to act off-camera and stood aside, observing the commotion with a cold eye.
Sheng Yi actually noticed Xu Jiayi at first.
Since her debut, Xu Jiayi has had a smooth and successful career, which inevitably makes her a bit arrogant and spoiled, as well as unaccustomed to hardship. Even when facing her staff, she always acts as if it's all her due.
At that moment, she was holding a wine glass, obediently following beside a middle-aged woman in an elegant suit, her gaze fixed intently on the man standing in front of her.
The man didn't even look up; before the other person could finish their introduction, he saw him turn around.
The movement was swift and decisive. Xu Jiayi's smile vanished instantly. Ignoring the woman's attempts to stop her, she couldn't help but follow the man's back a few steps.
A black-clad bodyguard appeared out of nowhere and ruthlessly blocked her path.
Tsk tsk. Sheng Yi withdrew her gaze, intending to quietly leave the battlefield, but out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a familiar hem of a skirt.
It was her turn to lose control.
Jingjing, who had also witnessed what had just happened, immediately felt a pang of anxiety. "Sister, where are you going?"
"It looks like I saw someone I know." Or maybe she was mistaken.
Sheng Yi's gaze followed directly to them.
Their steps forward were blocked.
The tall, burly bodyguard in black was so imposing that just standing in front of him made one want to take a few steps back. Even through the winter clothing, his outstretched arms revealed well-defined muscles.
The other person had no expression, but their entire demeanor clearly indicated that there was no possibility of compromise.
"Miss Sheng, please return."
She should have turned around and left, but this title made her feet firmly rooted to the spot.
I actually know her! I can't believe I know her!
She suppressed the jumbled thoughts in her mind and only murmured one sentence repeatedly, "If it's convenient, please pass on a message for me, saying that I want to see her."
The delicate and charming beauty, her voice filled with a plaintive lament, failed to stir the slightest pity in the man before her. The bodyguard, his gaze fixed straight ahead, uttered words as if programmed, "Please leave."
On one side was the cold and selfless bodyguard in black, and on the other side was her own artist whose expression was obviously off. Jingjing restrained her movements and poked Shengyi's arm in what she thought was a very small way, and whispered, "A wise man doesn't fight a losing battle. Sister, why don't we go back first?"
Neither of them could convince the other.
Jingjing is really afraid that tomorrow's trending topics will include something like #Shengyi was forcibly expelled by security guards#.
Fortunately, although the man opposite her seemed cold and unapproachable, he didn't do anything further to embarrass her.
The brief stalemate ended without resolution, leaving everyone listless and lacking energy.
Unexpectedly, after removing her makeup, she came out to find another burly man in black waiting outside the door. Judging from his clothes, he was clearly the same kind of bodyguard as the previous one.
Sure enough, the other party respectfully raised his hand and said, "Please follow me."
The crystal chandelier hanging overhead cast a soft, ethereal glow over the woman sitting on the sofa, completely washing away her negative and self-loathing expression.
If you ignore the man sitting next to her.
The man who had ruthlessly left Xu Jiayi behind was now holding the woman's ankles and carefully helping her remove her high heels.
Are you tired?
His deep voice carried a hint of hazy intoxication.
He sat sideways, and even in this position, he showed no sign of embarrassment. His attire and the level of security he was wearing clearly indicated that he had long held a high position.
He Jinping tried to ignore the man's intense gaze and turned her face away. "I'll be right back after I say a few words."
The man's gaze also fell on Sheng Yi. After a brief glance, he looked away, then withdrew his hand with a hint of regret, stood up, and said, "Don't keep me waiting too long."
Sensing that the woman was distracted, he lowered his head, persistently seeking a definite answer, "Hmm?"
Only when the woman smiled and nodded slightly did the man turn around slowly and push open the door on the other side.
The moment the man disappeared, that impatient expression returned to He Jinping.
She looked directly at Sheng Yi, as if to say: This is what you insisted on seeing, so what?
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