The countdown to midnight ended, and the annual New Year’s Eve party came to an end.
The guests who had finished their performances on stage returned to the backstage to change their clothes and walked around in the front for business entertainment.
Many people came to Qin Tong to greet him, and Jiang Chuyi sat obediently in his seat waiting, checking WeChat and replying to New Year greetings.
Not long after, Qin Tong coughed and said, "Chu Yi, come over and meet me."
Hearing the voice, Jiang Chuyi immediately put down her phone, stood up, straightened her clothes, and walked over.
The person who came was Han Maohua, an ace screenwriter in the industry, who mainly focused on serious dramas. He was quite old and had known Qin Tong for many years.
Jiang Chuyi took the initiative to shake hands, bowed slightly, and greeted politely: "Hello, Happy New Year."
Han Maohua smiled and said, "Happy New Year, Xiao Jiang. Long time no see."
He turned around and asked, "Why, Lao Qin, are you planning to leave the mountain for your beloved disciple?"
Qin Tong sighed: "It's hard to say, it depends on your physical condition, but I do have some ideas recently."
Qin Tong hasn't been seen for a long time. This time he was invited to attend Xingcheng's New Year's Eve party, accompanied by Jiang Chuyi, which inevitably made people have many speculations.
As they were talking, a voice interrupted them. The person who came was Lin Gongqiong, the casting director of the movie "Catching the Stars".
Qin Tong: "Thanks for taking care of Chu Yi."
"It's not really about taking care of her." Lin Gongqiong patted Jiang Chuyi on the shoulder and said cheerfully, "The child is doing well, and the director is also satisfied."
Several big directors and screenwriters in the industry started chatting. Jiang Chuyi didn't want to interrupt, so she stepped back a little, stood at the edge of the crowd, and listened attentively to the chat of these elders.
As she was thinking about something, she suddenly felt someone bumping her arm. She turned her head and met a pair of dark eyes.
Jiang Chuyi was stunned.
There was a lot of noise coming and going, and Zongye smiled at her. He hadn't had time to change his clothes yet, and he was still wearing the dark black shirt he had just worn during the performance, but he had unbuttoned two buttons at the collarbone. His eyes were very dark, and he looked very handsome and reserved.
Jiang Chuyi looked behind him and found Fu Cheng and the others standing in the back row.
The two looked at each other, and she asked casually, "Why are you here?"
Zong Ye was about to speak when Ji Kai answered first: "Let's go find the director."
"oh oh."
Jiang Chuyi nodded in understanding, and considerately stepped aside to make room for them.
The arrival of Xibao and his men undoubtedly attracted a lot of attention in the venue. Some investors who wanted to cooperate also took the opportunity to come over here.
Soon, Jiang Chuyi was pushed away again. She looked towards Qin Tong, who seemed not to need her for the time being, so she found a seat nearby and sat down.
The New Year's Eve party has ended and the staff has begun to evacuate the fans.
When I turned on my phone again, Chen Yi sent me two messages: "I told you to come to Sanya to spend New Year's Eve with me, but you didn't come. Damn, there are so many handsome guys, you must be envious!"
Jiang Chuyi didn't even think about it and replied: "I'm not envious, there are a lot of handsome guys here too."
Chen Yi: "Those in the circle can only be watched but not played. What's the point of being handsome?"
Jiang Chuyi: "Do you think everyone is as obscene as you, you slut!"
Chen Yi: "Madam Jiang, this is called lust? If you have the guts, don't play with handsome guys in your life. Right now, immediately, delete the guy named Zong from your WeChat."
Jiang Chuyi: "I won't delete it."
Chen Yi: "Tsk, hypocrisy! I am the only one who understands your evil ambitions. You don't want to play with ordinary handsome guys. If you want to play, you want to play with the most handsome ones, right?"
Jiang Chuyi was amused by her irrelevant words and was about to type a reply when suddenly it got dark around her. When she looked up, the man had already sat down next to her.
Jiang Chuyi immediately turned off the screen.
Souya's eyes lingered on her phone for a few seconds, and he asked casually, "Who are you chatting with? You're laughing so happily."
Jiang Chuyi blinked, "A friend."
Chen Yi's words "playing with handsome guys" were still lingering in her mind, but the handsome guy himself suddenly fell from the sky. Jiang Chuyi couldn't help but feel guilty, "Why are you here?"
He looked a little tired, and with a little tenderness, he explained to her, "I've said hello to the director. Sit here and take a rest."
They had just sung three songs in a row and had been busy until now, so they were really tired. She said "oh" to show her understanding.
After the show, there were no cameras following the VIP seats, and the lighting was not bright. Everyone was busy socializing, and no one paid special attention to this corner. But Zong Ye was naturally eye-catching, and the scandal between the two of them had been a big deal before. There were so many people around that Jiang Chuyi couldn't talk to him much. After greeting him politely, she stopped talking.
Jiang Chuyi looked around, tilted his body, and unconsciously moved a little further away from Zong, as if he was about to get up and leave at any time.
It was a large public place with people coming and going. Not far away, several celebrities and noble ladies gathered together, looking over here intentionally or unintentionally.
Look at the people around her.
Jiang Chuyi tried hard to pretend that she was not very familiar with Zong Ye.
She was thinking of her farewell words in her mind when Zongye suddenly spoke up and called her in a low voice, "Chu Yi."
"Hmm?" Jiang Chuyi sat up straight, his eyes still looking around.
He was silent for a while, staring at her calmly, "Happy New Year."
Jiang Chuyi calmed himself down and tilted his head.
After a pause, Zongye said softly, "I wish you all the best this year."
Hearing this, Jiang Chuyi remained calm and nodded politely, "Thank you, and Happy New Year to you too."
Zongye looked at her, pursed his lips, as if he wanted to say something, but didn't. After a few seconds of silence, he tilted his head slightly, lowered his eyes, raised his hand, took off one earphone, and asked her, "Is it gone?"
Jiang Chuyi was a little confused. What was gone? What else could there be
Her expression relaxed, and she asked curiously, "Why are you taking off your earphones?"
"In order to hear you clearly." Zongye said calmly without changing his expression, "I thought you would also give me New Year's greetings."
Jiang Chuyi was speechless for a moment.
When he said this, his tone was calm, as if he was just chatting and stating something. But he succeeded in making Jiang Chuyi feel guilty.
So that’s it!
Jiang Chuyi's brain quickly turned and she smiled shyly, "New Year's greetings? Wait for me to think about it."
After thinking for a while, she spoke solemnly: "Then I wish you good health, success in everything you do, and further success in your career."
"Wish my wish come true?"
"Yes." Jiang Chuyi said affirmatively.
There's nothing wrong with this sentence.
"Then," Zongye suddenly smiled, his charming eyes curved, "I'll lend you my good wishes."
Jiang Chuyi was caught off guard and was startled by Zong Ye's provocative look.
I vaguely felt that there was something else behind his words.
Before she could figure out what was going on, she heard someone calling her.
"Chu Yi—"
Jiang Chuyi looked in the direction of the voice and saw Zhao Guangyu standing not far away, waving at her with a slightly anxious expression on his face.
She stood up and said goodbye to Zongye: "My friend is calling me, I have to go first."
Zongye slowly stopped smiling and his expression returned to calm. He leaned back in his chair and watched her walk away.
Jiang Chuyi walked over quickly, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." Zhao Guangyu scratched his head and looked back, "I just saw you chatting with Zong Ye."
Jiang Chuyi wondered, "What's wrong with me chatting with him?"
"Tsk." Zhao Guangyu pulled her, looked around, and then whispered, "Do you remember what I told you before?"
Jiang Chuyi pulled her hand away and kept her distance from him. "What's the matter?"
"What a bad memory you have! I will buy you ten boxes of Melatonin and send them to your home someday." Zhao Guangyu said with resentment.
"Just say it directly."
A rare trace of shyness appeared on Zhao Guangyu's dark face, and he said hesitantly: "It's Ji Kai's autograph, can you help me get one?"
Jiang Chuyi: “…”
She was speechless and pointed over there: "Go get it yourself, he is over there."
"Fuck, I told you I'm socially anxious. Besides, I'm a rapper. It's not very nice of me to ask for autographs!" Zhao Guangyu said righteously, "You're so familiar with Zong Ye, what's wrong with asking him for a favor? How can you be so disloyal? Have you forgotten the favor I showed you when I opened a small account to help you fight against those haters?"
As he said this, Zhao Guangyu couldn't help but glance at the person sitting in the dark.
He was staring at himself intently.
But relying on a man's intuition, Zhao Guangyu felt that Zong Ye's gaze was not friendly at all.
Zhao Guangyu couldn't help but think, when did I offend him
"How am I familiar with him?" Jiang Chuyi immediately retorted.
"Good sister, please do me a favor." Zhao Guangyu came back to his senses, aggrieved, "It would be best if you could write "to Zhao Guangyu"."
Jiang Chuyi: “…”
She saw a figure walking by not far away from the corner of her eye, and said quickly: "Okay, let's talk about this later."
Jiang Chuyi pushed Zhao Guangyu aside and shouted anxiously, "Little Lotus!"
Xin He gritted her teeth, stopped, turned around and glared at Jiang Chuyi, and shouted in a low voice: "I told you not to call me this in public, what a crappy name."
Jiang Chuyi automatically ignored her anger and said with a smile: "I was looking for you."
"Why are you looking for me?" Xin He was puzzled.
Jiang Chuyi stood on tiptoe and looked in Qin Tong's direction. There was no one there. She grabbed Xin He's hand and said, "Hurry up."
Before Xin He could react, she was dragged all the way in front of Qin Tong.
Jiang Chuyi restrained her excited tone, stood at attention, and obediently called out, "Teacher."
Xin He was stunned for a moment, and her heart moved slightly.
Finally I realized what was going on.
She glanced at Jiang Chuyi and cursed her inwardly, "What a fool."
Xin He quickly bowed, took the initiative to extend her hand, and said respectfully: "Director Qin, hello, I have heard of your name for a long time."
"Hello."
Under Jiang Chuyi's slightly nervous gaze, Qin Tong finally held Xin He's hand and said, "Your name is Xin He, right? Chuyi mentioned it to me."
"Yes." Xin He quickly replied, "I have always liked your work, so I talked to Chu Yi a little more, and I thought I would have a chance to get to know you."
Qin Tongming didn't expose her, but nodded. He chatted with her in a friendly manner, just like an elder would treat a younger person.
Xin He suppressed his usual arrogance and responded with lowered head and submissive look.
Before saying goodbye, Qin Tong casually said to Jiang Chuyi: "Give her Jinqing's contact information when the time comes."
As soon as these words came out, Jiang Chuyi and Xin He looked at each other.
Only after Qin Tong walked away did Xin He pat his chest and let out a long sigh of relief.
Jiang Chuyi looked at her with a smile.
She complained quietly, "Your teacher is scarier than my dad."
"Is it scary?" Jiang Chuyi had long been accustomed to Qin Tong's strictness, so she didn't feel it. He comforted her, "The teacher has always been like this."
Xin He wanted to say something but stopped.
She was really not good at being gentle. After hesitating, she raised her hand, pinched Jiang Chuyi's face, and said fiercely, "Are you stupid? I told you, I don't need you to help me find any connections."
"Oh, I know." Jiang Chuyi pulled her hand down and said seriously, "I have my own selfish motives."
"What selfish motive?"
"I heard from Jinqing a few days ago that the teacher wants to make a movie set in the Tang Dynasty. The real scene has to be built by ourselves in Dunhuang and the northwest, which is very expensive." Jiang Chuyi glanced at Xin He's expression and continued, "In the teacher's current situation, it may be a bit troublesome to negotiate cooperation with large sponsors, but it will be different with you."
Xin He was touched, but she was still unforgiving, "You are really considerate of others, but why don't you think about yourself?"
"I thought about it." Jiang Chuyi smiled, "Sister Ning told me that the September crew has contacted her and is going through the contract process. I can join the crew with you soon!"
Xin He sighed and said angrily, "Damn it, it's a pity that I'm not a homosexual."
Jiang Chuyi: “…”
"You little fool, you don't know who will benefit from it when the time comes."
Xin He pretended to think, "Oh, right, I have a younger brother. Although he's not as handsome as Zong Ye, it's easier to fall in love with him than with Zong Ye."
"No, no, no, I'm not in a relationship right now." Jiang Chuyi was embarrassed and annoyed, and a little anxious, "Why are you making fun of me and Zong Ye?"
"Alright, alright, I won't tease you anymore." Xin He looked at her from head to toe with a slight disdain and lifted up her dress. "Which makeup team made this for you? It's so tacky."
"I don't have a makeup team." Jiang Chuyi was a little embarrassed. "I don't walk red carpets often. This is the one Sister Ning borrowed temporarily. But I don't have to perform on stage, so it's okay."
"Kaijun is really..."
Jiang Chuyi seemed to see the four big words "waste company" in Xin He's eyes.
On the first day of the new year, on such a joyous day, Xin He still controlled her sharp tongue and said, "You might as well come to Huarui and follow me."
Jiang Chuyi smiled and pretended not to hear.
"What are you going to do later?"
Jiang Chuyi: "I'm fine."
Xin He tilted her head and said, "Come to my house to celebrate the New Year together? We can go to Beijing to shoot the final scene the day after tomorrow."
"Sure." Jiang Chuyi agreed, "Just the two of us?"
"Who else do you want?" Xin He let out a long "oh", "Fu Cheng and I live in the same neighborhood, you can call him if you want."
Jiang Chuyi exclaimed, "On a day like this, when you two are celebrating New Year's Eve, isn't it inappropriate for me to go?"
"Indeed, how about I call Shang Zongye again?"
Jiang Chuyi was blocked by her words, and she said resentfully: "Stop teasing me."
"Who are you kidding? I was going to call Souya and the others anyway. Fu Cheng and I are not in a relationship. Who wants to spend New Year's Eve with him as a single man and woman?"
"If I go to your house later, do I want to stay overnight?"
Xin He nodded and asked, "How much alcohol can you drink?"
Jiang Chuyi gave a conservative answer, "Not bad."
Xin He was very satisfied and puffed up her cheeks: "OK, stay up all night tonight."
Jiang Chuyi looked around and said, "I have to say hello to the teacher first, and then go home to get some clothes."
"What clothes do you need? Just tell Director Qin now and get in my car. I have a lot of clothes at home for you to wear."
*
Jiang Chuyi followed Xin He back to the backstage.
Unlike the previous scene, the backstage of the New Year's Eve party was a little messy, and many people were still busy packing up props and costumes. Some assistants ordered takeout and squatted at the door of the lounge to eat, and then they were interviewed.
They happened to run into a senior executive of Star City TV in the dressing room corridor.
Wang Qinzheng took a photo with Xibao, Chi Mengyue and other popular stars.
Jiang Chuyi and Zong Ye in the crowd met eyes.
She quickly lowered her head.
Seeing Xin He, Wang Qin immediately waved: "Xiao He, come along."
Xin He glanced at the smiling Chi Mengyue, and after trying to hold back, she still gave him face and raised the corner of her lips: "Boss Wang."
She pulled Jiang Chuyi over with her.
"Who is this?" Wang Qin looked at Jiang Chuyi and felt that she looked unfamiliar.
Xin He introduced: "My friend, Jiang Chuyi."
"Oh." Wang Qin remembered and thought, "Director Qin's apprentice, right?"
Wang Qin chatted with them for a while and was called away by his assistant.
The group of stars who were left behind exchanged a few polite words with each other, some left and some stayed.
Backstage, everyone relaxed and stopped being so serious. Someone asked to take a photo with Souya, Fushigi and the others.
Chi Mengyue had worked with Li Qunwu before, and had met Jiang Chuyi a few times. She took the initiative to bypass the crowd and approached, "Chuyi, long time no see."
Jiang Chuyi nodded.
Chi Mengyue narrowed her eyes and smiled sweetly: "So you know Xin He."
Before Jiang Chuyi could answer, Xin He said coldly, "Not only do I know her, she will soon be my sister-in-law."
Jiang Chuyi: “…”
Chi Mengyue said with an "oh" and said softly, "Congratulations then."
Noticing that Zongye's eyes were lingering and looking over here, she no longer had the mood to argue with a shrew like Xin He, so she quickly said goodbye.
Turning back, Chi Mengyue looked back at Zongye tentatively. When they passed by, she realized that the person he had been looking at was not her.
At this moment, most people had left. Fu Cheng sneered and exposed her: "Doesn't your cheap brother already have a girlfriend?"
Xin He said impatiently: "What's wrong with having a girlfriend? You can't break up. I just want to introduce my brother to Chu Yi, what do you think?"
Wang Tan said with a groan, and teased, "Teacher Jiang wants to fall in love?"
Jiang Chuyi was overwhelmed and quickly explained: "No, no, Xin He was joking."
"That's fine." Wang Tan had a devilish face and smiled particularly evilly, "Teacher Jiang, you're not in a hurry now, right?"
"I'm not in a hurry."
"Okay, then remember to tell me when you want to fall in love." After saying that, Wang Tan immediately added, "It's best to wait another two years."
Jiang Chuyi: “…”
Perhaps because her expression was too obviously terrified, Wang Tan couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean by that? Do you think I like you?"
"I dare not."
How could she be so shameless
Xin He couldn't help rolling her eyes and retorted on behalf of Jiang Chuyi: "Why should I tell you? Who do you think you are?"
"Please introduce her to someone. There are too many outstanding single men around me." Wang Tan smiled at Jiang Chuyi. "I have a friend who is a fan of Mr. Jiang. Are you interested in meeting him?"
"Ah?" Jiang Chuyi was confused. "Who?"
Zong Ye turned his head slightly and looked at Jiang Chuyi.
Then, Wang Tan put his hand on Zong Ye and introduced him to her: "Our teacher Zong, the last chaste and virtuous man in the entertainment industry. Take a look. Are you satisfied?"
(End of this chapter)