Chapter 123

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For every ten people in the entertainment industry, Chen Hailan knew at least nine of them, and among the nine, there were at least seven people who he befriended.

When Chen Hailan held his wedding ceremony at an island back then, due to work, other arrangements, or the inconvenient travel, many people were unable to make the trip to the venue. This time though, his child’s one-month birthday banquet was held in Beijing, and the scale of this event was not inferior to that of his wedding.

Xia Xingcheng’s invitation letter was addressed to him alone, so logically, there was no reason for him to go with Yang Youming. But since they were currently in the same crew, and with He Zheng as their cover on top of that, they were simply open and aboveboard industry colleagues.

When He Zheng met Chen Hailan at the welcome area of the hotel the one-month birthday banquet was held in, he said, “Our whole cast and crew showed up to congratulate you.”

Chen Hailan burst into raucous laughter at his words, then said to He Zheng, “Out of your entire crew, you’re the hardest one to invite.”

Afterwards, Chen Hailan moved on to greet Yang Youming and Xia Xingcheng. He hugged Yang Youming, and once he let go, he faced Xia Xingcheng. With a faintly meaningful tone, he asked, “Doing all right?”

Yang Youming laughed, and said, “Are you asking about me or us?”

Chen Hailan thus laughed. “Then I’ll just ask about the both of you.”

Yang Youming said, “We’re doing great.”

God knows what Chen Hailan had on his mind, he suddenly let out a long sigh and hugged Yang Youming again. After releasing his grip, he turned to hug Xia Xingcheng, lifting a hand to pat his shoulder. He said, “As long as you’re happy.”

Xia Xingcheng understood the implication in Chen Hailan’s words. He whispered, “Thank you, Lan ge.”

Chen Hailan asked his wife to bring their one month old child over for them to see.

Xia Xingcheng watched Yang Youming attentively and saw that he merely teased the child without seeming too interested. He internally heaved a sigh of relief.

Due to what might be Yang Youming and He Zheng’s appearance, the entire reception hall seemed to grow livelier, and at this time, the arriving guests who had originally intended to enter the banquet hall after presenting their gifts* were all in no hurry to go. They instead came over to greet Yang Youming and He Zheng one after another.

*monetary gifts

There were also many young actors and actresses who were waiting for Chen Hailan to help them make introductions.

It was at this moment that Xia Xingcheng abruptly felt that his status in the industry differed from before. Practically everyone knew who he was. Even the young stars he wasn’t acquainted with would come up to greet him on their own accord.

Seeing more and more people congregating, Chen Hailan set out to invite Yang Youming and the others in to sit down first, yet before he could get a word out, he spotted numerous heads suddenly turning to the direction of the reception hall’s entrance. To his surprising discovery, Yuan Qian had appeared.

Xia Xingcheng also spotted Yuan Qian.

At present, Yuan Qian wore a light yellow bodycon dress. Her long hair was coiled atop her head, and her face was adorned with delicate light makeup. She was as gorgeous and dazzling as always.

She first presented her gift to Chen Hailan’s family, then turned around and swept her gaze over Yang Youming and Xia Xingcheng.

Xia Xingcheng sensed a peculiar stillness around him. This stillness masked the stirring crowd who were standing on the sidelines waiting for a show. This was Yang Youming and Yuan Qian’s first public appearance at the same time and place since their divorce.

Yuan Qian’s appearance was quite calm as she walked over to where they stood.

The others subconsciously gave way to her. Xia Xingcheng saw that even He Zheng stepped aside to free up the space in front of Yang Youming. Only Xia Xingcheng remained standing at Yang Youming’s side.

Yuan Qian stopped in front of Yang Youming, slightly raising her jaw to look at him.

Worried that the atmosphere would become stagnant, Chen Hailan intended to come out to smooth things over, yet Yuan Qian’s gaze ultimately shifted to Xia Xingcheng, and she was smiling as she opened her arms towards him. “Xingcheng.”

In response, Xia Xingcheng immediately stepped forward to lightly embrace Yuan Qian, calling out, “Qian jie, it’s been a while.”

Yuan Qian hugged Xia Xingcheng and pressed a kiss to his face, then smiled as she let go. “It really has been a while. I was worried that you didn’t miss me.”

Xia Xingcheng smiled. “I’ve been busy with filming. Even if I wanted to, I really have no time to see you.”

Once their small talk ended, Yuan Qian turned to Yang Youming, smiling faintly as she asked, “How have you been?”

Yang Youming nodded. “Great. You?”

Yuan Qian answered, “Great, of course.”

At this time, Chen Hailan finally found an opportunity to intervene, saying, “Don’t stand around and talk here, come in and sit down first.”

The banquet hall had two floors, and by then, almost half the guest had been seated. Chen Hailan ushered Yang Youming’s group to sit at the frontmost table near the podium. Yuan Qian didn’t sit at their table—Chen Hailan was afraid that the atmosphere would be awkward.

Xia Xingcheng’s seat was next to Yang Youming’s. When they entered the hall just then, he heard someone gossipping in low voices behind him about his past scandal with Yuan Qian. So much time had passed since then; he didn’t expect that there were still people who remembered.

He Zheng didn’t come in. He was hiding outside for a smoke.

Shortly after Xia Xingcheng and the others sat down, Lu Nianxin arrived with a pretty young lady in tow. Xia Xingcheng had never seen the girl before. Later on, he heard people say that she wasn’t an actress, but just a small internet celebrity.

Once Lu Nianxin’s butt occupied the empty seat next to Xia Xingcheng, he no longer heeded the small internet celebrity beside him and devoted all his concentration on teasing Xia Xingcheng.

Xia Xingcheng believed that Lu Nianxin probably had a few misconceptions about him. It was as if he’d taken Xia Xingcheng as a child, saying that Yang Youming was bad, and won’t he consider him? At certain times, Xia Xingcheng felt that he was facing a neighbourhood uncle who was saying: “Look! Your daddy doesn’t love you one bit, won’t you go home with uncle? Uncle will buy you a cake.”

Yang Youming kept mum from where he sat beside him. Most of Lu Nianxin’s words had been said to Xia Xingcheng’s ear, so Yang Youming couldn’t hear. It was only when he saw Lu Nianxin’s start acting up that he directed an admonishing gaze his way, face frozen over.

Xia Xingcheng simply thought that Lu Nianxin was ridiculous. He took advantage of a lull in Lu Nianxin’s nattering and moved closer to Lu Nianxin’s ear, then said, “Not considering. I don’t think you’re capable.”

Lu Nianxin instantly slapped the table with a pa!, giving the small internet celebrity next to him—who’d been engrossed with her phone and had earphones in—a fright. She raised her head and looked at him.

“Who says I’m not capable?” Lu Nianxin asked Xia Xingcheng in a low, harsh tone.

Xia Xingcheng was only thoughtlessly running his mouth at first, but right then, a person suddenly crossed his mind. “Teng Song,” he said to Lu Nianxin.

He then watched Lu Nianxin’s complexion transform as he withdrew from his side wordlessly. After a while, Lu Nianxin lowered his voice and said, “What a load of fart![2]”

Just then, He Zheng came in after smoking outside. Hearing Lu Nianxin’s words, he asked, “Who farted?”

Lu Nianxin had no intention of answering this question at all.

He Zheng sat down next to Yang Youming.

“Who else do you think there is besides him?” Yang Youming said to him.

He Zhen looked at Lu Nianxin, and said, “He probably would do such a thing.”

Xia Xingcheng couldn’t help but laugh.

The seats in the banquet hall were gradually filled by guests. The guests who came later were seated on the second floor.

Xia Xingcheng swept his gaze over them and saw many familiar faces. Ren Jingyuan was sitting at a table to their side, and Ling Jiayue sat beside him. Her seat was also near Yuan Qian’s.

Ling Jiayue hadn’t come with their group. Xia Xingcheng only found out that she was also here today after seeing her show up with Ren Jingyuan.

A number of guests on the second floor leaned against the railing to take pictures with their phones, their cameras pointed in Yuan Qian and Ling Jiayue’s direction.

Xia Xingcheng couldn’t help himself from looking at them. He realized that, even though their looks were in no way similar, their temperaments were certainly alike. Yet in the end, Yuan Qian was older, while Ling Jiayue was a beauty in the prime of her youth. If he really had to compare the two, the current Yuan Qian was unfortunately no longer a match for Ling Jiayue.

This notion abruptly made Xia Xingcheng sentimental. In a few more years, he would be thirty. A belle like Yuan Qian would also get old and lose to younger beauties. He hoped that, when that moment comes, he’d still have something to offer besides his good looks.

He stared at Yuan Qian, lost in thought.

All of a sudden, Yang Youming shifted near his ear and softly said, “You’ve been staring at Yuan Qian for nearly five minutes.”

Startled, Xia Xingcheng whirled around.

Yang Youming was also looking at Yuan Qian right then. He looked a little unsure as he asked, “You were looking at Yuan Qian, weren’t you?”

Xia Xingcheng promptly said, “I wasn’t.”

Yang Youming said, “Oh, then you were looking at Ling Jiayue.”

Xia Xingcheng froze and gently elbowed him. “I’d rather look at Yuan Qian then.”

Yang Youming’s expression was calm and his tone was unruffled. He simply looked at Yuan Qian, then said to Xia Xingcheng, “What are you looking at her for? Are you happy that she kissed you?”

Xia Xingcheng couldn’t stifle a soft laugh. “In any case, I know you’re unhappy.”

Yang Youming retracted his gaze and turned to face him. “You’re aware that I’m unhappy yet you still dare to stare at her?”

Xia Xingcheng looked back at Yang Youming, his tone was somewhat aggrieved yet earnest. “But when I looked at her, all I could think about was you.”

Yang Youming didn’t speak.

Right then, Lu Nianxin kicked Xia Xingcheng’s leg under the table and whispered, “You’re in public, restrain yourself a bit.”

He Zheng had a cigarette in his hands. It was inconvenient to smoke in the hall, so he merely held it under his nose and sniffed at it to quell his craving. At this time, he clicked his tongue impatiently.

Lu Nianxin pointed to He Zheng, and said, “It was you who sought them out to film that thing, fucking mess.”

He Zheng cast a glance at him wordlessly. Yang Youming piped up and said to Lu Nianxin, “You’re in public, go wash your mouth out.”

Lu Nianxin wanted to say something else, yet his gaze shifted to somewhere behind them, and he paused for a moment before saying, “Your old friend is here.”

Having heard this, Xia Xingcheng turned to look and saw Chen Hailan accompanying Ding Wenxun inside. It looked like he was going to bring Ding Wenxun over to sit at their table.

Behind Ding Wenxun, Xia Xingcheng also spotted an acquaintance. It was someone he hadn’t seen since the filming of ‘Accidental Murder’ wrapped up—Zhu Tianjie. Xia Xingcheng then recalled that he was also one of Chen Hailan’s best men at his wedding back then. Their relationship ought to be pretty good, so he’d definitely attend this event.

At first, Zhu Tianjie was seemingly going in the same direction as Ding Wenxun. When he caught sight of the table that sat Yang Youming and Xia Xingcheng from a distance, he veered midway and faced the table with an unoccupied seat beside him.

When Ding Wenxun arrived at the round table, Xia Xingcheng stood up and greeted him. “Hello, Director Ding.”

“Long time no see, Xingcheng.” Ding Wenxun smiled faintly, then turned his head to look for Zhu Tianjie. When he found that Zhu Tianjie had gone to the next table, he waved him over and said, “Tianjie, come and sit over here.”

With a smile in his face, Zhu Tianjie cupped his hands and said, “I’ll just sit here, Director Ding.”

Ding Wenxun didn’t insist and sat down.

Xia Xingcheng saw Zhu Tianjie sitting beside Yuan Qian. He gave her a polite smile and started chatting with her.

Zhu Tianjie’s career growth in the entertainment industry this year was rocky. His previously fixed male lead role in a big IP was replaced at the last minute, and his new TV drama aired with dismal ratings. His entire body seemed like it was swollen, and he appeared as if he’d aged a little out of the blue.

Upon Ding Wenxun’s arrival, he shared a few words with Yang Youming and the others before saying to He Zheng, “Your new movie has the same cast, are you looking to establish an iron triangle[1]?”

While He Zheng and Ding Wenxun were both directors, the two men had entirely different temperaments. Xia Xingcheng had always thought that He Zheng had a somewhat dispirited countenance, while Ding Wenxun was an artistic and reserved person.

Hearing Ding Wenxun’s question, He Zheng said, “What iron triangle? At most, we’re a plastic triangle that you can snap with one hand.”

After he finished speaking, Xia Xingcheng heard Yang Youming let out a chuckle.

He Zheng wedged the cigarette between his lips, then realized that it hadn’t been lit, so he took it out again and said, “I just enjoy working with the good actors I’ve previously worked together with.”

Xia Xingcheng had been tormented wretchedly by He Zheng during this period of filming. Sometimes, he even suspected that He Zheng was being hard on him on purpose. At this time, he couldn’t help but inquire, “Director He, am I that good actor you speak of?”

He Zheng looked at him. “You’re not.”

Xia Xingcheng originally wanted to make a joke, but when he heard what He Zheng said, he couldn’t stop himself from feeling a slight sense of loss.

Yet He Zheng continued, “You’re someone I personally handpicked and polished, though you’re still short of matured. We’ll keep polishing you.” He paused for a moment, and shook the cigarette between his fingers back and forth. “I think you can be regarded as my student.”

☆ ☆ ☆

[1] a metaphor for a strong and steady lineup (consisting of 3 people)

[2] please do me a favour and pretend this makes sense hehe. the original word is ‘fart’, which can also be slang for ‘bullshit/load of shit (hence, load of fart)’

Thank you to Anon for the kofi!

⟵ Chapter 122 | TOC | Chapter 124 ⟶

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