Chapter 70

As they were talking, reporters began to trickle in one by one.

Although Huang Qiusheng had a bad temper, he knew when to be serious. Having been in the industry for so long, he naturally understood when to cause trouble and when to endure.

Causing trouble in front of the reporters would be a sign of disrespect to the director.

Liu Weiqiang did not expect that the first person to show him no respect would not be Ye Ming, who had driven Xiao Shan away, nor Huang Qiusheng, who was still angry, but Yang Gongru.

A reporter stood up and asked, "Miss Yang Gongru, I am Baixiaosheng from the Times. I have a question for you. Being able to star in 'The Storm of the World' and work with such an excellent director and cast, what do you have to say about it?"

This was a bought news story. Although such things were not uncommon in the industry and everyone was used to it, the first question at the opening ceremony was usually reserved for the director. The second question would be for the lead actors, in this case, Liu Weiqiang, Guo Fucheng, and Zheng Yijian, before it would be Yang Gongru's turn.

However, this Baixiaosheng, who was clearly using a pseudonym, asked Yang Gongru first, breaking the unwritten rules. If Baixiaosheng hadn't been paid, Liu Weiqiang wouldn't believe it even if he were beaten to death.

Yang Gongru's actions were outrageous. Buying news and seeking attention was one thing, but as a lead actress, overshadowing the director and the two male leads was a violation of the unwritten rules. Breaking these rules usually ended in a very tragic way.

Director Liu Weiqiang's face was very displeased, but he still managed to put on a smiling face. Guo Fucheng and Zheng Yijian also remained silent, but their eyes clearly showed their dissatisfaction with Yang Gongru's behavior.

Yang Gongru seemed to not care about the situation at all, nor did she pay attention to the expressions of Director Liu Weiqiang, Guo Fucheng, and Zheng Yijian. She wanted to stand out, to be on the front page tomorrow, to become a top star.

Currently, she was at best a second-tier actress, and in this situation, without support, she was even at the bottom of the second tier. Therefore, Yang Gongru was very discontent.

At that moment, Yang Gongru said with a radiant smile, "Being able to work with such an excellent director, I am naturally very happy. I believe under Director Liu's leadership, we will definitely shoot a very good movie, and the box office will be a great success. And Guo Fucheng and Zheng Yijian are also male actors I admire very much. It is my honor to work with them."

If she had stopped there, it wouldn't have been a big deal. Although Yang Gongru had taken the first question, her answers were at least within bounds.

Director Liu Weiqiang's expression gradually eased, as stability and unity were what a production needed.

However, he didn't expect that Yang Gongru didn't stop there. The real sting was yet to come.

Since everyone thought Yang Gongru had finished speaking, no one was prepared for what she said next.

At that moment, Yang Gongru glanced at Huang Qiusheng and Shu Qi, making some quick calculations in her mind. Huang Qiusheng was a senior with deep roots and extensive experience, not easy to deal with, and he was also a Best Actor, not easily shaken.

But Shu Qi was different. She had started her career with adult films, a stain that couldn't be erased.

Since Huang Qiusheng had also starred in adult films, she decided to target Shu Qi.

After calculating, Yang Gongru sighed and said, "Actually, some of the actresses in our group really shouldn't be here. Someone who started with adult films is sitting in such a grand production, which is quite puzzling. I wonder if the box office will be affected by certain people."

At that moment, although Ye Ming was a bit far from Shu Qi, he could still feel her anger. Her whole body was trembling, her teeth were tightly biting her lips, and her fingernails were almost digging into her flesh. She was on the verge of a mental breakdown.

It was as if she was trapped in a web, struggling to no avail, a torment that came from within.

Ye Ming couldn't bear to see Yang Gongru's behavior. Why involve Shu Qi in her conflict with Huang Qiusheng? Everyone was so cunning. Huang Qiusheng was hard to deal with, and although he had starred in adult films, he was a Best Actor. Yang Gongru couldn't directly target him, so she used Shu Qi to indirectly attack Huang Qiusheng.

At that moment, Ye Ming had a sudden idea and wrote a note. He then nudged Xu Jinglei and gave her a look.

Xu Jinglei was a very smart and versatile person. Although her reputation in the industry wasn't very bright, she was someone who could read between the lines.

She looked down at the note and her eyes lit up, showing a look of admiration.

Since she was sitting next to Shu Qi, Xu Jinglei secretly poked Shu Qi and passed the note to her, pointing at Ye Ming to indicate that it was from him.

Shu Qi was in a state of mental turmoil, like someone trapped in a bottomless pit, struggling to escape.

No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn't climb out. The air felt suffocating.

Suddenly, Xu Jinglei poked her and handed her the note.

Shu Qi looked at Xu Jinglei and Ye Ming, then, suppressing her emotions, secretly opened the note.

The note contained a message, and Ye Ming, to take care of Shu Qi, had written it in traditional Chinese characters. Ye Ming, having watched thousands of movies, was very proficient in traditional Chinese.

Upon seeing the message, Shu Qi felt like a drowning person who had suddenly grabbed a lifeline.

Amid the reporters' prying gazes, she saw a glimmer of hope in the dark abyss.

At that moment, the reporters were buzzing, and Baixiaosheng, clearly a bought reporter, was clearly targeting Yang Gongru.

Baixiaosheng then asked, "Miss Yang Gongru, do you mean that some of the actresses in Director Liu Weiqiang's movie should be replaced?"

The question was clearly aimed at Shu Qi.

At that moment, Huang Qiusheng couldn't stand it anymore and took over the question, saying, "I'll answer this. How much did you get paid to be so bold? Do you have any conscience as a journalist?"

At that moment, Shu Qi, tears streaming down her face, finally broke down in tears after seeing the message.

The entire scene fell silent, and even the hot-tempered Huang Qiusheng didn't know what to say.

Yang Gongru, however, looked like a proud victor, like a peacock looking down on everything.

Shu Qi, crying, said, "Thank you, Director, for your trust. One day, I will put back every piece of clothing I have taken off."

Each word was filled with pain, a short sentence that conveyed the hardships and tears of an actress in the industry.

Then, Shu Qi, unable to control her emotions, stood up, bowed, and left the opening ceremony.

Liu Weiqiang led the applause, and the entire venue erupted in thunderous applause.

At that moment, Huang Qiusheng didn't let it go, pointing at Baixiaosheng and saying, "You don't deserve to be a journalist. You're more like a prostitute, selling your professional conscience for money. I'll remember you, and I won't give you any interviews in the future."

Huang Qiusheng had the right to say this because he had been in the industry for a long time, had seniority, and was a Best Actor, whose acting had been widely recognized. He wouldn't lose roles because of a few dissatisfied reporters.

Of course, Huang Qiusheng's words were just a small incident at the press conference.

Although reporters often stick together, if Huang Qiusheng had said such arrogant words in another setting, the media might have united to boycott him.

However, this time, Baixiaosheng had broken the rules by not asking the director the first question, which was a sign of respect for the director of a movie.

Skipping the director and the male leads to directly ask the female lead was clearly a paid act, and it looked very unprofessional.

Therefore, although Huang Qiusheng's words were very pointed, targeting the reporters, no one thought he was wrong.

In fact, at that moment, the reporters felt ashamed to be in the same profession as Baixiaosheng.

Journalists, the "kings without crowns," are a sacred title.

To be looked down upon by an actor because of a scoundrel like Baixiaosheng, we are ashamed, even if you are not.

It is almost certain that Baixiaosheng would find it very difficult to continue in the media industry in the future.

At that moment, Yang Gongru was also very angry, with a deep sense of frustration. She had finally caught a chance to make the headlines, but it slipped away.