Chapter 52: Absent.
There was a time when, when talking about herself, apart from her barely passable face, few people would focus on her acting skills.
After all, the influence of "The Overbearing King's Nightly Pampering" has not diminished even after so many years.
Although some people genuinely searched for her past roles after she gained popularity, how much room for development can a newcomer without resources get in the roles she can get?
"Standard and conventional" is already the most conservative way to put it.
The previous drama, rather than receiving widespread acclaim, generated more controversy off-screen, attracting the curiosity of many viewers at the time. It was the makeup, styling, and character design that helped a character with only ten minutes of screen time to repeatedly appear on lists of "classic white moonlight moments."
However, the main storyline of this drama is the growth path of the matriarch. As a maidservant next to the female lead, she can only follow the plot and act accordingly. It would be extremely difficult for her to benefit from the role because of the character's filter.
If netizens knew how speechless the director must have been during the filming of those amazing dance photos, they might not be praising her so-called "agile" acting skills to the skies now.
She knows exactly how well she can handle romantic scenes.
While the release date announcement and trailer were circulating widely, Lao Qian acted swiftly. It was said that Hunan TV was planning a new dating reality show and intended to invite her to participate, making it their flagship program of the year with a significant budget.
Upon hearing the name "Love Show," Sheng Yi barely listened to what followed.
Perhaps it's because of the numerous scandals she's had in the past six months, creating an impression of high demand, and Lao Qian is trying to capitalize on this momentum. But it's obvious without much thought that her appearing on a dating reality show now is simply asking for trouble.
Old Qian and she had different ideas.
Originally, after their incident with Wen Shili, no matter what they said, the accusation of hype wouldn't be easily shaken off. Later, with their interaction with Zeng Shaoguang, they took the initiative, and with the cover of drama promotion, plus they hadn't gone too far, so apart from the occasional accusation of hype, there were also quite a few people who were actually shipping them.
Creating a romantic pairing is a double-edged sword; as long as you stop in time, there won't be too many backlashes.
Even if we take a step back and say that those who are prejudiced against Sheng Yi have already labeled her as a publicity stunt, what they need to do now is to win over the support of the group of people who have a good impression of her.
“I won’t force you to continue with Zeng Shaoguang if you don’t want to, but look at all the artists in the industry who have made a name for themselves. Aren’t they all scrambling to get ahead?”
Should I try to squeeze in? A somewhat world-weary face suddenly appeared in Sheng Yi's mind, cold and indifferent, as if he had no expectations for his future.
After our last meeting, all the messages she sent disappeared without a trace. I wonder if she got the happiness and freedom she wanted.
No matter how much he tried to persuade her, Sheng Yi remained silent. Lao Qian knew that his scheming methods were low-class, but as an ambitious agent, he couldn't think of a better way to promote a romantic pairing when there were no projects being released.
Those who have had hit dramas can still reminisce about the past...
Forget it, it's better not to remember.
"I will definitely vet the script for you first." They even subtly hinted that they could discuss the character settings they wanted first.
Old Qian patiently and earnestly advised, "Just think of it as filming a movie. Everyone knows it's all scripted anyway. Besides, aren't you worried about handling the emotional scenes? Just treat this as a test, and you'll save on training fees."
Which of those similar shows that were once considered top-tier didn't have viewers obsessed with them, while the performers themselves had long since gone their separate ways? Did they really affect the fact that people could perform anytime, anywhere?
Sheng Yi's eyes flickered, but she didn't respond. The more Lao Qian talked, the more she felt that this made sense. She clapped her hands together and said, "Yes, that's exactly it. There are always ready-made excuses for not being able to make a business work. When asked, it's just that there's no chemistry! It's always less costly to make a mistake on a variety show than to make a mistake on a drama."
At this point, he changed his tone and advised, "Get to know more boys, you might actually meet the right person." His voice was low and had the earnest tone of an old father.
Sheng Yi never expected that a discussion about work would veer this way. As fellow guests, everyone was there for the viewership; who would actually want to find a partner on the show? However, he was right about one thing: once the show ended, they would part ways and there would be no awkwardness between them.
Seeing that there was a chance, Lao Qian didn't press the issue any further. "Think it over again. You'll be twenty-six after the New Year. It's time to think about your personal life. If you find someone you like, try working together. If not, just consider it a chance to get some fresh air. They won't shortchange you on your salary."
On this point, Lao Qian has never agreed with the notion that female celebrities should focus solely on their careers. Of course, Sheng Yi guesses that his open-mindedness stems from the belief that her partner can offer her some support, and that the two have a long-standing relationship.
If Sister Hong were to hear his remarks, the two would likely have a heated argument.
However, Sheng Yi also had her own considerations. "Okay, I'll think about it some more."
Wang Ying's wedding was held in Ancheng. Sheng Yi went straight to the airport after finishing his work, and his arrival time was already past midnight.
The wedding was attended by the couple's close friends and relatives, and many of their former classmates had also stayed in Ancheng. Sheng Yi's table was almost entirely filled with his childhood friends. After not seeing each other for many years, they quickly revealed their true colors after a brief moment of restraint.
Career development, romantic experiences, gossip about teachers and students—they talked animatedly, as if they had returned to the days of late-night dormitory chats.
Looking at Wang Ying, who had stubbornly declared before the ceremony that anyone who cried was a pig, her eyes were filled with tears, and she smiled warmly, while a new round of discussion broke out around her.
"By the way, do you guys remember Feng Shu? I heard he's getting married soon too."
"Oh, do you have to pretend like that? He's the class heartthrob, it's hard not to remember him, right?"
"Who told you that? Is your source reliable?"
As expected of the most popular person in school, the table was in a noisy mess until someone asked, "Feng Shu is in S City, right? Does Yiyi still keep in touch with him?"
Sheng Yi was tilting his head as he listened to their chatter when the group, who had been talking all at once, suddenly fell silent as if they were being remotely controlled. But in an instant, they all started talking about something else.
That blank moment was too brief; Sheng Yi smiled, pretending not to notice the awkwardness.
Someone couldn't sit still any longer. They nudged her elbow and whispered, "I'm so sorry, Yiyi, we didn't mean it."
Of course. Sheng Yi had no intention of bringing up the past.
After seeing the guests off, Wang Ying rubbed her sore legs and muttered, "I never want to get married again." The groom stood to the side, his expression changing several times. Sheng Yi couldn't help but burst into laughter with Wang Ying.
Looking into her smiling eyes, Wang Ying was also filled with emotion. The promises made between close friends during their student days had long been forgotten at countless crossroads, but there were always some who wanted to preserve that youthful friendship and cherish it with their hearts.
As her fame grew, Sheng Yi's life became increasingly unpredictable. While she hoped her friend could soar freely, she couldn't help but recall the cicadas chirping outside the classroom and the time she spent dozing off at her desk—that was the beginning of their story.
She took Sheng Yi's hand and shook it firmly, "We must have a proper get-together next time."
"elder brother."
The clock was about to strike seven. Cao Jun looked at the silent man in front of him with his eyes downcast and shrank his neck, then called out.
As expected, there was no response.
He desperately wanted to shut up and ignore it, but his damned sense of responsibility forced him to muster the courage to approach again. His mouth opened and closed, but he didn't know what to say.
The costume designer carefully smoothed out the last wrinkle on the garment and respectfully stepped aside to await further instructions.
The person who had just been uninvolved finally responded calmly, "Mm."
Cao Jun immediately stepped forward, took the phone from his tightly gripped hand, and carefully stored it away.
Looking up, the young man before her had a completely different expression.
If it weren't for the comforting warmth of the aircraft, it would be hard to imagine that the moment of desolation just now was a real mark on him.
The screams of fans outside the venue tore through the night sky as the alluring, bewitching figure made his way to the beat of the drums.
This night is destined to quietly creep into the dreams of many, and decades later, with a nostalgic expression, they will recount their passions and pursuits of yesteryear.
When Sheng Yi disembarked, the city was already brightly lit. The howling north wind whipped against her face, bringing a bone-chilling cold.
She didn't sleep well at all last night. She dozed off on the plane, but when she woke up she felt even more tired. As soon as she got in the car, she tilted her head and closed her eyes again.
When I woke up again, I was already in the city. The lights illuminated the way for those returning home.
Sheng Yi stared blankly at the flickering night outside the window, lost in thought. Seeing that she had finally perked up, the driver next to her couldn't help but ask, "Little sister, are you here for tourism?"
Sheng Yi nodded. "Mm."
The older brother perked up immediately and enthusiastically introduced all the entertainment venues he could think of, then added with a hint of regret, "If you had come a day earlier, you could have added a concert to your itinerary. Nine out of ten customers I've brought in these past few days are here specifically for this."
After saying that, she seemed to remember something, "But the tickets are sold out long ago. If we go now, we can only hear the noise from outside the venue."
Sheng Yi was pondering which concert was so popular lately when the answer was clearly and simply written on the large screen by the roadside.
She leaned slightly forward, looking at the person on the screen who seemed to be surrounded by a halo. The other person had their eyes downcast and naturally did not feel her gaze.
My phone vibrated; it was the sound of an incoming message. At the same time, a familiar melody began to play in the car.
Sheng Yi belatedly realized that there was something she had completely forgotten.
Upon opening the message, sure enough, someone whose contact name was "Teacher Wen" had sent her a WeChat message an hour earlier.
Unfortunately, it was only delivered to her at this point.
"If you're coming, I'll have Cao Jun pick you up."
Sheng Yi glanced at the time on the big screen outside and guessed when the message was sent—just before the concert officially started.
She quickly replied, "Sorry, I just got off the plane. I wish you all the best for the concert."
At the fork in the road ahead, the driver stopped swaying to the music, turned to Sheng Yi, and asked, "Left or right?"
Going right maintains the original destination; going left proves he has successfully promoted it.
Sheng Yi was holding her phone, about to say "turn right," when a new message popped up on her phone.
"Yeah, you've had a long day, get some rest."
"good evening."
Soft music gently lingers in the air, and even the words on the screen seem to carry a touch of tenderness.
If one didn't know he was at a concert, this peaceful greeting would seem more like something from an ordinary evening, a casual chat followed by a goodnight exchange. It's hard to associate Sheng Yi with the busy stage.
The driver was still exaggerating Wen Shili's popularity in her ears, and she couldn't help but follow his train of thought, wondering if he had hurriedly typed this sentence during a break.
However, it was soon rejected.
While she was still searching for snippets of news about Wen Shili in Wen Shili Square to get to know him better, she saw his fans say that unlike other singers who rely on various partners to support them for a short period of time, Wen Shili's concerts are always truly his own, and he holds on until the very end.
Therefore, it is more likely that during a tense time of changing clothes, he offered her comfort but remained silent about her absence.
She knew she had never promised anything.
However, as you walk through the lights, the biting wind still carries a trace of warmth.
Sheng Yi licked her dry lips and heard herself reply, "To the left."
The moment the answer came, the driver was stunned for a moment. Then, his bright eyes locked onto her. "Are you sure?"
Sheng Yi, meeting his expectant gaze, smiled and said, "Mm."
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