Upon hearing about the food, Gu Yuan's interest was piqued: "Is it the chef Nie Yu invited?"
Nie Nanqing noticed a glimmer in Gu Yuan's eyes and couldn't help but smile, thinking that she was indeed a young girl: "No, it's not (Chef from the Ji Qisen Party)."
Gu Yuan felt a bit disappointed but still smiled and said: "Well, I'll go taste it."
Nie Nanqing said: "It's the mentor of the chef Nie Yu invited."
Gu Yuan asked: "Oh?"
Nie Nanqing laughed: "Miss Gu if you want to watch the fashion show later, you can have the assistant take you to the special VIP room in the front. However, the auction won't start for a while, so you should rest for now. Tonight will be a late one."
Gu Yuan nodded, "Alright."
Meanwhile, Nie Nanqing watched as the assistant escorted Gu Yuan back and then turned his gaze slowly toward Lu Zhiqian.
His previously somewhat tender gaze when looking at Lu Zhiqian had turned cold.
Although Lu Zhiqian was a popular movie star, he was also an artist under the Hézòngtiānxià organization, and he was subject to Nie Nanqing's authority.
In other words, with just one word from Nie Nanqing, he could be consigned to an irredeemable abyss.
No matter how famous or skilled he was, without the opportunity to appear, he would gradually be forgotten.
Furthermore, he was getting older, already 45 years old. Maintaining his current level of fame was already quite challenging, and if he didn't progress, the younger rising stars could easily surpass him.
Lu Zhiqian forced a smile and said, "Nie President, it's nothing. I was just joking with Miss Gu. I didn't know that Miss Gu..."
How should he continue now?
Who would have thought that Gu Yuan would be involved with Nie Nanqing, who was in his forties? She had a broad range of interests. Does she have no shame?
However, this superficial response couldn't escape Nie Nanqing's notice.
Nie Nanqing examined Lu Zhiqian with a sharp gaze and spoke calmly: "Mr. Lu, you've achieved remarkable success under Hézòngtiānxià over the years, and I've always held you in high regard. If you focus on your acting, the company will do its best to provide you with suitable resources. However, as an artist, you should stick to your role and not get involved in any improper activities. We've known each other for so many years, and you should be aware that I, Nie, detest any misuse of power for personal gain."
He spoke with a sense of justice and conviction.
Lu Zhiqian stared stiffly at Nie Nanqing, with one thought running through his mind: Aren't you the one protecting your little lover by abusing your authority?
But he couldn't say that. Nie Nanqing could reprimand him, but he couldn't reprimand Nie Nanqing. This was the difference in power, money, and status.
Lu Zhiqian felt a dull pain in his chest. What did it matter that he was a movie star with millions of fans or that he had won numerous awards and accolades? In the end, he still had to bow his head in front of Nie Nanqing and say with a forced smile, "Yes, President Nie is right."
Nie Nanqing continued to speak for a while, but eventually, he let Lu Zhiqian go as it was time for his fashion show preparation.
Lu Zhiqian left feeling sad and increasingly frustrated. He couldn't help but think about Gu Yuan and the words she had said in the past. She had talked about how even if they didn't have connections, they could make a name for themselves through hard work. But now, she seemed to be involved with Luo Juntian and Nie Nanqing. It felt like she was trying to have it all, both the old and the young!
Just as he was lost in his thoughts, several female celebrities walked by, including Hu Yuejing.
Hu Yuejing saw Lu Zhiqian and found a reason to pull him aside for a chat.
"Your Miss Gu is quite something," Hu Yuejing said with a smile. "I didn't expect her to have such abilities."
"Yes, I didn't expect it either," Lu Zhiqian gritted his teeth. "Nie Nanqing has always been distant from women, but it turns out she's captured his heart as well!"
"Nie Nanqing?" Hu Yuejing furrowed her brow. "Gu Yuan and Mr. Nie Nanqing are involved?"
"What? You didn't know?" Lu Zhiqian felt bitter and uneasy when talking about it.
Even though he had long broken up with Gu Yuan, in his heart, she was still the fragile girl lying in a hospital bed who needed him. Over these long 25 years, he always had this illusion that as long as he turned around, Gu Yuan would be there, waiting for him.
But now, Gu Yuan was getting involved with different men left and right!
"I only saw Gu Yuan and Nie Yu walking arm in arm, so intimate that it seemed like they were about to kiss!" Hu Yuejing recalled the scene with irritation.
"She and Nie Yu? How is that possible? How could she be with Nie Yu?" Lu Zhiqian couldn't understand. Wasn't Nie Nanqing the one who wasn't interested in such affairs?
Seeing how Nie Nanqing had just defended her and the way he had spoken to her earlier, he found it hard to believe that there was nothing between them.
"You don't believe it?" Hu Yuejing mocked, "Why don't you think about how Gu Yuan got the role in 'Xuanji Chronicles'? Nie's eldest son personally approved it. Back then, Gu Yuan wore a high-end outfit to the audition, and that high-end outfit was personally arranged by Nie's eldest son. What do you think that means?"
"Is that true?" Lu Zhiqian still couldn't comprehend it. Gu Yuan was involved with both the father and son.
"Hehe, do you think it could be fake? If you don't believe me, ask Chen Mingzhi and ask Ning Sanyue. They were there at the time when Nie's eldest son said it himself. And if you still don't believe it, ask the 'Xuanji Chronicles' production team about how Director Wang was kicked out of Star Shadow. It was because he offended your pure, innocent little flower Gu Yuan, and Nie's eldest son went berserk."
The situation was becoming clearer to Lu Zhiqian. Gu Yuan had managed to create a strong connection with the Nie family, both the father and the son.
......
On the night of the Barara Gala, cheers from the crowd outside the venue echoed through the air, and the light show illuminated a significant portion of the night sky in Yuncity. Inside the venue, a specially customized, breathtaking rose garden was set up. This grand charity event, which had an impact on over a billion people worldwide, officially began, with live streaming happening online simultaneously.
Various media outlets were in attendance, along with celebrities and supermodels, who gracefully strolled down the red carpet. Female celebrities showcased high-end couture gowns from various brands, while the male stars' suits were a sight to behold.
Gu Yuan sat in the best viewing spot, watching the artists below. When she saw her old acquaintance, Caille, walk by in a form-fitting dress that perfectly accentuated her figure and long, eye-catching legs, she couldn't help but praise her.
As Gu Yuan scrolled through the updates, she unreservedly liked a torch-related post on Luo Jun Tian's Weibo account and bluntly unliked a similar post on Lu Zhiqian's Weibo.
Why should an old man with a facelifted face compare himself to her son? Was he even on the same level?
After dealing with a few more posts on Weibo, one particular post caught her attention.
"OMG, have you all seen this? Lu Zhiqian and our dear Jun Tian are both wearing the same brand of suit!!!"
This post quickly gained traction, with discussions and analysis flowing in. Ultimately, it was determined that they were indeed wearing the same brand, but with one crucial difference: Luo Jun Tian had the latest model, while Lu Zhiqian had last year's version.
The distinction was significant, and both Lu Zhiqian and Luo Jun Tian were considered A-list movie stars, with one in the prime of his career and the other at the age of 45, occasionally being criticized for being outdated. Once the news about the suits being from the same brand was out, the internet erupted with excitement.
Upon swift analysis, someone pointed out, "Lu Zhiqian was the spokesperson for 'C' last year, and his contract expired at the end of last year. This year, 'C' renewed its contract with Jun Tian. Therefore, both of them are currently endorsing the same brand, resulting in this awkward situation."
Commenters expressed their opinion, suggesting that Lu Zhiqian was on the decline and being overshadowed by the younger generation of actors.
Gu Yuan happily scrolled through these comments, in a great mood.
They were indeed from the same brand, but one was sporting the latest model, and the other was wearing last year's version.
Lu Zhiqian didn't have time to check the online news, but he knew that when the flashbulbs captured him and Luo Jun Tian, their photo would circulate online, sparking various rumors.
Getting older and seeing his career decline was something he dreaded, and it was almost inevitable, especially in such social gatherings.
As he contemplated this, it was time to light the torch. Four artists simultaneously extended their hands to prepare for the ignition.
Lu Zhiqian suddenly looked up and saw that Luo Jun Tian was half a head taller than him.
Due to the angle, this half-head difference was exaggerated, making Luo Jun Tian's figure appear long and lean while Lu Zhiqian had to look up.
He quickly stepped up on a platform and slightly tiptoed to get out of this predicament.
Just when he breathed a sigh of relief, he happened to see Luo Jun Tian smiling at him from the side.
His eyebrows slightly raised, a calm and composed smile, as if he saw through everything.
Caught off guard, Lu Zhiqian felt like all his hidden thoughts had been exposed, and his face turned beet red.
...
After the photo session was finally over, and everyone returned to their seats, Lu Zhiqian's seat happened to be next to Luo Jun Tian's.
A somewhat calmer Lu Zhiqian glanced at Luo Jun Tian and suddenly said with a smile, "Teacher Luo, there's something I'm not sure if I should tell you."
Luo Jun Tian responded calmly, "Oh, Mr. Lu, please go ahead if you have something to say."
His voice was tranquil and composed.
Lu Zhiqian chuckled, and his tone was thought-provoking, "Teacher Luo, I wonder how it feels to wear a green hat. It must be quite unpleasant, right?"