Shang Yechu forced down the meat, her neck stiff, and choked, her chest aching: "This meat is also pre-cooked; it's all dried out on the outside, tough and dry."
After tasting the banquet food at the Xinghan Awards, Shang Yechu's last layer of filter for this prestigious award shattered. For the sake of photogenic presentation, all the dishes at the banquet were elaborately presented and prepared in advance. The dishes were like embroidered pillows filled with straw; the meat was overcooked, tough, and hard; the glistening candied fruits were bland and tasteless; the palm-sized bread was dry and crumbly; only the abalone soup was incredibly moist and crystal clear.
In her previous life, when Shang Yechu stood outside this hall of honor, she was filled with longing, gazing at the celestial beings coming and going inside, even feeling a sense of inferiority. In this life, sitting inside, all her sorrows and grief shattered, leaving only the anger and mockery of being deceived.
Li Kui quietly spat what was in her mouth into the cup and whispered, "Have you tried everything on this table? Only the vegetable soup is drinkable."
“Yeah,” Shang Yechu tore off a piece of bread and popped it into her mouth, “Such a big award, and the guests can only drink water to fill their stomachs. Our entertainment industry is really booming.”
“You entertainment industry, you entertainment industry,” Li Kui retorted while ladling soup. “I don’t want to act anymore. Being tricked by Director Zheng once is enough.”
Zheng Bohan couldn't take it anymore: "I'm right here, you two young ladies, can't you see me?"
Li Kui sat to Shang Yechu's right, and Zheng Bohan sat to her left, sandwiched between them. Zheng Bohan had been waiting for Yechu to greet him and show some concern for his teacher, but after she sat down, she started tasting the pre-made dishes from the Xinghan Award and even exchanged culinary experiences with Li Kui!
"Ah, Teacher Zheng," Shang Yechu said hurriedly with concern, "Eat, eat, please eat."
Zheng Bohan said incredulously, "Is eating the only thing you two talk about when you get together? I remember last time at our crew's wrap party, you two insisted on taking all the leftovers home. But Fu Yu and Liu Hong got drunk and stopped you, insisting that the hotel cook a new meal for you two to take home..."
Shang Yechu smiled and said, "You actually still remember."
Li Kui, who was dining with Director Zheng, raised his hand and said, "Of course Director Zheng remembers, because he paid for it in the end!"
"..." Shang Yechu was slightly taken aback. Fortunately, Zheng Bohan didn't dwell on the topic, but instead said with exasperation, "Don't you know how to socialize? Look at Lao Xu and Lao Xue—"
Zheng Bohan glanced at Xu Hanwen and Xue Haodong not far away. The two were moving around among a group of directors and producers as if they were in their element, their business smiles radiant.
"I don't know anyone here," Shang Yechu thought for a moment and then flattered him, "Besides, when it comes to good screenwriting, who can compare to you? And when it comes to good directing, is there anyone here more capable than Director Xu?"
Zheng Bohan was unsure whether to be angry or amused. He knew that Shang Yechu was trying to shut him up with those words, but he couldn't bring himself to deny this heartless student.
Li Kui said disdainfully, "I just saw that 'Director Jia' over there touching someone's butt. What's so great about these people that they're trying to flatter?"
The conversation was getting increasingly absurd. Zheng Bohan sighed and gave up on the topic in despair.
He knew Ye Chu's personality and abilities. If Ye Chu wanted to be liked, probably no one in the world could resist her charm. Now that she would rather sit here eating pre-made food with Li Kui than socialize on the field, it meant she truly had no interest in this group of people.
Zheng Bohan paused, pulled Shang Yechu aside, and whispered, "Is it stable?"
He was a veteran in the industry, and Shang Yechu was no newcomer either; they both knew what the other meant.
Shang Yechu did not answer directly, but also said in a low voice, "Are you sure about it too?"
"Yes." Zheng Bohan nodded frankly. "I already knew last night."
To prevent award winners from becoming overly excited and experiencing sudden illness or mental instability on stage, the Star Han Awards will notify nominated artists one day in advance, explicitly or implicitly indicating their award status. This ensures everyone maintains a dignified demeanor at the ceremony.
Zheng Bohan has won so many Best Screenplay awards that they could be used as table legs, so he's very experienced in this kind of thing. But he was worried that Shang Yechu might embarrass herself because of her lack of experience, so he came to give her a heads-up.
Shang Yechu felt a sense of relief. She was happy not only for Zheng Bohan but also for Jian Xiaojun. Thank goodness, thank you Zheng Bohan for successfully beheading the script thief! Indeed, stealing a thousand or ten thousand is not as good as having genuine knowledge.
Shang Yechu's joy was too obvious for Zheng Bohan to be presumptuous enough to think she was happy for him. He raised an eyebrow: "Looks like it's a sure thing."
“Phew…” Shang Yechu sat up straight and exhaled. “Yeah, I found out last night too.”
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