Yuan Xiaoai saw Lin Qinghe get into the car and look in high spirits through the rearview mirror. She couldn't help but ask, "Sister Qinghe, did something happy happen just now? You've been smiling since you got in the car..."
Lin Qinghe raised an eyebrow meaningfully and said, "Mhm, something happy indeed happened."
"Really? What was it?"
"Well..." Lin Qinghe said, "I can't tell you yet."
"What! Sister Qinghe, you weren't like this before, deliberately teasing me... you really can't say? Sister Qinghe..."
Seeing Yuan Xiaoai's cute and pleading expression, Lin Qinghe smiled without answering, shaking her head firmly. Yuan Xiaoai, seeing that she wouldn't tell, had no choice but to give up, but she secretly breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.
It was best that Sister Qinghe could be happy. She had been worried that she would be unhappy because of the public opinion caused by the broadcast of the "Simple Life" program.
Lin Qinghe lowered her eyes, her thoughts stirring.
The next step was to find a good opportunity to express her feelings to You Rong.
The next day.
After Lin Qinghe finished filming her part, You Rong was filming other scenes with the supporting actors. An idea struck her, and she sent a message to Zhang Shanghua. Zhang Shanghua quickly replied, agreeing to Lin Qinghe's request for help.
Not long after Lin Qinghe put down her phone, she heard Director Wang's phone ring. She secretly glanced over and saw that the caller ID was Zhang Shanghua.
Lin Qinghe acted as if nothing was wrong, but she pricked up her ears and listened intently to Director Wang's conversation.
"Director Zhang, it's me... The filming is going very smoothly, thank you for your concern... Yes, everyone is here today. Is that so... Director Zhang is too kind, but since it's your intention, we respectfully accept. I thank you on behalf of everyone in advance... Haha, alright, I understand. I'll hang up now. Goodbye."
Director Wang hung up the phone, and just as this scene finished filming, he called "Cut!" and clapped his hands, raising his voice, "Everyone, come here for a moment! I have something to tell you!"
You Rong, Qin Tiantian, and other actors gathered around, and Lin Qinghe also got up and walked over.
A young actor asked curiously, "Director Wang, what is it that you called everyone over to tell us?"
"It's like this, the producer of 'Ask the Heavens,' Director Zhang, just called me. He said that everyone has worked hard filming and wants to reward you. He's too busy to come himself, so he's booked a private room at the nearby Minghao Hotel and is inviting us to dinner. After dinner, he's also invited everyone to sing karaoke! He wants everyone to have a good time!"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone cheered.
"Wow! Director Zhang is too nice! Thank you, Director Zhang!"
"Yeah! Thank you, Director Zhang! We must have a blast today!"
"Right, right... Let's hurry and remove our makeup, then we'll head out for dinner and then go singing..."
Everyone chattered happily. You Rong, however, frowned. He had always had a bad impression of Zhang Shanghua, and especially when Director Wang asked Lin Qinghe if she would go, and Lin Qinghe agreed without hesitation, he became even more reluctant to attend this gathering.
Seeing that You Rong seemed to have something to say, Director Wang directly asked, "You Rong, what's wrong? Are you unable to make time for the dinner tonight?"
Hearing this, Lin Qinghe's heart skipped a beat. She silently prayed that You Rong wouldn't refuse, otherwise her request to Zhang Shanghua would be meaningless.
You Rong nodded, "Yes, I wanted to go back to the hotel..."
Before You Rong could finish, his assistant, Hu Xiaobei, suddenly interjected, "Director Wang, it's like this, Brother wants to go back to the hotel first before coming over. Do you think that's okay... We promise we won't be late!"
Director Wang looked enlightened. "Oh, I see... It's fine. It's still early, there's enough time. I'll send you the address later."
You Rong wanted to say something, but Hu Xiaobei secretly tugged his sleeve and said with a sheepish smile, "Okay, we understand. Thank you, Director Wang."
Seeing that You Rong had agreed, Lin Qinghe secretly breathed a sigh of relief. With no more reservations, she greeted the others and went back to the makeup room to remove her makeup.
After removing his makeup, You Rong got into the car and looked at Hu Xiaobei with a frown. Before he could speak, Hu Xiaobei read his mind and said with an embarrassed dry laugh, scratching the back of his head, "Brother, I took the liberty of accepting the dinner invitation for you just now. I'm sorry, but... I was thinking of your best interests. Besides being a producer of 'Ask the Heavens,' Director Zhang is also the big boss of Shanghua Entertainment, and he's your boss now. If you were to be absent from a dinner hosted by Director Zhang, it wouldn't look good for you if word got back to him."
You Rong was stunned. "You're saying the big boss of Shanghua Pictures is Director Zhang?!"
Hu Xiaobei looked confused. "Yes, Brother, you didn't know?"
You Rong had only focused on acting before and didn't know much about domestic entertainment companies. He vaguely remembered that Shanghua Pictures was initially founded by Zhang Shanghua and a friend, and that Zhang Shanghua had later withdrawn, leaving the company entirely to his friend surnamed Yang.
Hu Xiaobei saw what You Rong was thinking and explained, "Brother, you probably don't know, but three years ago, the friend who co-founded Shanghua Pictures with Director Zhang fell ill, reportedly with cancer. On his deathbed, he entrusted Shanghua Pictures back to Director Zhang. So now, Director Zhang is the big boss, holding ninety-five percent of the shares."
You Rong frowned, remaining silent, lost in thought.
Hu Xiaobei asked tentatively, "Brother? What's wrong? Do you... know Director Zhang?"
You Rong collected his thoughts and said calmly, "It's nothing... Alright, I understand. I'll attend the dinner tonight."
Hu Xiaobei was immediately relieved. "Okay, let's go back to the hotel to change clothes and then head over. Director Wang has already sent us the address for the dinner."
You Rong grunted and closed his eyes in the car, resting. However, other thoughts were swirling in his mind.
From the conversation he overheard last time, he learned that Lin Qinghe and Zhang Shanghua had a very close relationship... Gu Wensheng of Shanghua Pictures suddenly approached him, first signing him from Aurora Entertainment and then signing him himself. Then there were the repeated "coincidental" encounters with Lin Qinghe during his various engagements. Were these really coincidences? Was someone orchestrating things behind the scenes? Sudian Novel Network
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Minghao Hotel.
By the time Lin Qinghe arrived, everyone else was already there, including You Rong. Qin Tiantian greeted her with a smile as soon as she saw her, "Qinghe, you're here! Come, come, come... Sit next to me!"
Lin Qinghe smiled and nodded, walked over, and sat down. She chatted casually with the others, her peripheral vision discreetly glancing at You Rong. At the same time, she didn't forget her act, pretending to be frequently distracted and absent-minded.
Of course, dinner wasn't the main event yet; the real performance would begin during the karaoke session later.
After dinner, Zhang Shanghua had booked a large KTV room, and the group headed over to sing. You Rong tried to leave midway, but Hu Xiaobei discreetly, and not so discreetly, held him back, saying that as the lead actor of the crew, he couldn't be antisocial.
Upon arriving at the KTV, in the brightly lit private room, Lin Qinghe's lips curved into a slight smile, and she began her performance.
Lin Qinghe picked up a full glass of red wine, and without a word, tilted her head back and downed it. After finishing it, she poured another full glass and drank it down completely.
This action caught the attention of Qin Tiantian, who was sitting next to her. She gently advised, "Sister Qinghe, drink slower. If you drink this fast, you'll get drunk soon..."