Chapter 77

The moment he arrived at the venue, Feng Yi knew from the scent that Lu Yue had not lied to him!

Qianli Group was indeed generous!

The dishes and ingredients were carefully selected. Although they were not luxurious and might not appeal to people with a high standard of living, they were still presentable.

Smelling these aromas, Feng Yi felt even hungrier. He hadn't eaten much in the morning, only having breakfast at the hotel's restaurant before coming directly here.

He couldn't eat much at the hotel restaurant either, and after leaving the hotel, he didn't find a place to grab a bite. He thought he would first check out the venue.

If there was plenty of food here, he would eat to his heart's content. If not, he would leave the venue to find a place to eat. He absolutely couldn't let his brain lack blood!

After precisely locating the dining area, Feng Yi quickly planned a route in his mind, trying to avoid cameras and security personnel as much as possible.

Eat two plates and change places.

After finishing one round, start another.

The amount of food he ate at each place was not exaggerated and wouldn't attract too much attention. At the same time, the time it took to walk from one dining area to another was enough for Feng Yi to digest some of the food.

His stomach had been working hard and efficiently recently.

So even if he ate a lot, it wasn't noticeable.

"Feng Yi?"

Someone called him, the voice somewhat familiar.

Feng Yi looked over.

Oh, he remembered. It was an actor he had worked with on a web series.

The other person was two years younger than Feng Yi and had a similar starting point before the web series, with no fame at all.

What was his name? Ning something?

Feng Yi couldn't recall.

After leaving the entertainment industry, Feng Yi didn't pay much attention to it anymore. With too much information occupying his brain, he didn't spend time remembering other things.

Ning Zhixiao looked at Feng Yi, his eyes full of surprise.

He didn't expect to see Feng Yi here.

Last year, he and Feng Yi were both unknowns trying to make a name in the entertainment industry.

However, after the web series became popular, he got more opportunities. Plus, since Feng Yi had given up on the entertainment industry, the resources that might have been taken by Feng Yi were divided among them.

So, strictly speaking, Ning Zhixiao was also a beneficiary of Feng Yi's departure from the industry.

Ning Zhixiao pulled down his mask and sat opposite Feng Yi.

Seeing Feng Yi here still made him nervous.

Among the beneficiaries of the web series, excluding the lead actors, Feng Yi was the most popular.

Among the supporting cast, Feng Yi's screen time was less than his, but he was the most popular.

However, the entertainment industry is like this; people without a solid foundation can become popular quickly but also fade quickly. At that time, they were only considered temporary internet celebrities.

Now, Feng Yi had been sitting here eating for a while, and no one recognized him.

He had become a nobody, Ning Zhixiao thought.

But looking at Feng Yi's face, although it was a bit darker than before, why did it seem more threatening?

It didn't look like he had had plastic surgery.

"I didn't expect to see you here," Ning Zhixiao said.

"A friend gave me an invitation, so I came to eat," Feng Yi replied.

"I haven't heard from you in a long time. Are you still in the industry?"

"No, I'm not."

Feng Yi took a sip of water, slowly digesting the food in his stomach, feeling quite relaxed and speaking in a light tone.

After observing Feng Yi for a moment, Ning Zhixiao's smile became more genuine. If Feng Yi wasn't in the industry, there would be no conflict of interest.

"So, what are you doing now? I heard your studio had some issues, but they were resolved?"

"Yes, they were resolved," Feng Yi said without elaborating.

Ning Zhixiao then talked about his own experiences.

After the web series became popular, he signed with an agency and participated in two variety shows. These two shows made him somewhat familiar to the public.

This month, he had another variety show to participate in, along with various training courses and events. Today, he was brought here by his agent to gain some experience and possibly meet some people for more opportunities.

Compared to many newbies just entering the industry, Ning Zhixiao wasn't very popular, but he had more opportunities than others who were still struggling.

"What about you?" Ning Zhixiao asked, looking at Feng Yi.

"Pretty good. No worries about food or drink," Feng Yi smiled.

Ning Zhixiao was silent. He didn't believe Feng Yi. Even if he wasn't worried about food and drink, his quality of life couldn't be high.

The food at the Qianli Group's annual celebration, which he now considered average, seemed to be very satisfying to Feng Yi, who even looked grateful, not letting a single grain of rice go to waste.

How long had it been since he had a good meal?

However, if viewed from an ordinary person's perspective, the food here was indeed decent.

Ning Zhixiao, being well-trained, didn't show his thoughts. He smiled and chatted with Feng Yi for a few more minutes before standing up and saying, "My agent is looking for me. I'll leave first. Talk to you later."

"Talk to you later."

Feng Yi was also heading to the next dining area.

He tidied up his utensils, put on his mask, and left.

Ning Zhixiao's agent had brought three artists, all newbies, and Ning Zhixiao was one of them.

"Who were you talking to just now?" Ning Zhixiao's agent asked.

"Feng Yi."

"Who?"

Ning Zhixiao briefly explained Feng Yi's situation.

His agent remembered, "No wonder he looked familiar. The company had planned to sign him back then. I heard he was forced out of the industry after his partner betrayed him and he had to pay off debts?"

Many people knew about Feng Yi's situation, but they couldn't match the name to the person. Sometimes, when the company signed new artists, they would mention Feng Yi's story, not by name, but as a potential star who was betrayed and forced out of the industry.

Ning Zhixiao said, "Yes. But he mentioned that his studio closed, the debts were paid off, and he doesn't plan to return to the industry."

His agent casually said, "He doesn't look like someone who is struggling. With such good looks, it's a waste not to be in the entertainment industry."

"Alright, let's get to the point! I've already told you the purpose of bringing you here. Listen and observe. If you encounter fans or reporters, handle it yourself. The training you've received will be tested. Even if you don't gain much, getting familiar with the faces will be beneficial. In the future, you might have more opportunities to compete for endorsements from Qianli Group's brands..."

As they talked, they saw Feng Yi walking quickly toward the exit. Soon, a man in a business suit approached him, said something politely, and led Feng Yi to one side.

Ning Zhixiao's agent watched for a moment and said, "You stay here. I'll be back."

Ning Zhixiao's agent followed Feng Yi and the man.

He recognized the man as Lu Yue's assistant.

He had done his homework and remembered the key figures and their assistants at Qianli Group.

On the other side.

Feng Yi had planned to go to the next dining area but received a call from Lu Yue, asking if he had arrived at the venue. Knowing that Feng Yi was already there, Lu Yue invited him to come and appraise the goods.

Lu Yue's schedule was tight today. If the goods could be appraised in advance, the backend work could be arranged immediately.

Feng Yi had already eaten, though not to fullness, but at least he wasn't hungry. He could go and appraise the goods now, as he was quick at it.

Outside the venue, on a quiet path, Lu Yue was waiting.

"Have you eaten? Want to grab something to eat first?" Lu Yue asked.

"No need. I ate a bit at the dining area. It was quite good," Feng Yi replied.

Lu Yue laughed, "Hey, after two months of fieldwork, everything tastes good! By the way, I forgot to ask, how many points do you get from participating in such fieldwork?"

Lu Yue had remembered this after his father asked about it. He looked it up online and found that the rewards for fieldwork were substantial, varying by team, year, and position, but overall, they were significant!

"A little over a thousand," Feng Yi replied.

"Wow! That's a lot!"

Lu Yue patted Feng Yi on the shoulder, genuinely impressed. If he had the skills to catch snakes, he would have signed up too! Two months of hard work for over a thousand points!

"Let's talk while we walk."

Lu Yue felt that someone who could earn points like Feng Yi was worth getting to know better, in case he needed help with points in the future.

Ning Zhixiao's agent watched them walk away.

He knew Lu Yue, one of the young influential figures at Qianli Group.

The way Lu Yue talked to Feng Yi was more like a close friend than a business relationship.

After returning, Ning Zhixiao's agent told him, "You should try to stay in touch with Feng Yi."

The other two artists were curious.

"Is there... some kind of deal?"

The agent glared at them, "What are you thinking!"

He then asked Ning Zhixiao, "Does Feng Yi really have no background?"

Ning Zhixiao was puzzled, "I don't think so. It was tough for him to get into the production. If he had a background, why would he go through all that trouble?"

The agent sighed, "That means he's hiding something deep! Also, don't mention his forced departure from the industry. The rumors might be wrong."

Feng Yi followed Lu Yue to the backstage of the indoor venue.

The new clothing to be showcased was there.

"To prevent reporters from sneaking in to take photos, we have people guarding," Lu Yue said.

Feng Yi saw several guards in black suits along the way.

He didn't ask if they were guarding against reporters or others. He trusted Lu Yue and didn't need to be overly curious.

"It's in here."

Lu Yue pushed the door open, "There's someone inside guarding the new items."

Inside, Lu Yue introduced Feng Yi.

These were the new items from various brands under Qianli Group, not yet on the market. Some would be released at the end of the year, and some next year.

A few were overly extravagant, not suitable for everyday wear and not affordable for most people.

Others were uniquely designed and eye-catching. Each had its own special features.

"These few sets were designed by top global masters, with impeccable materials and tailoring. Apart from a few internal personnel, no one else has seen them," Lu Yue pointed to the center sets and explained to Feng Yi.

The new items were hyped during the annual celebration, but no photos were released, building anticipation for today's event. Qianli Group had a comprehensive promotional plan, so everything was kept confidential until the show. If photos leaked, the effect of the show would be greatly diminished.

Originally, there was a confidentiality agreement for Feng Yi to sign, but Lu Yue changed his mind.

"We've worked together before. I know your character, so I didn't prepare the confidentiality agreement."

Lu Yue grabbed Feng Yi's arm, looking at him with a trusting gaze, "I trust you!"

Feng Yi, moved by this trust, didn't speak, just smiled.

Inside,

"Bullshit! Your assistant's bag still has a stack of documents! He took out half of them earlier, and after you spoke, he put them back!"

The changes in the smell of ink and paper were precisely captured by Feng Yi's olfactory system.

Even though he didn't see it with his eyes, his olfactory system "saw" it!