STB: Chapter 13 - Dumbfounded Circle
At the scene of Star Entertainment Media Press Conference, the lights from the cameras’ flashes are glaring. Li Fei removed his sunglasses and smiled at everyone.
Li Fei instantly became the focus of the lens. He maintained a gentle and warm expression and also reached out to say hello to several relatively famous reporters.
With the live broadcast, fans sitting in front of the internet can watch Li Fei’s every move at the same time.
“He’s obviously not hurt. Who spread the rumors?”
Seeing Li Fei safe and sound, the fans are relieved followed by anger.
If Li Fei is just a small actor and his foundation is not stable, just a rumor of a severe injury would lead to discussions of several potential shooting advertisements, movies, interviews and so on to come to nothing. The movie roles that have been finalized will also be affected.
On the one hand, they are glad that Li Fei is the winner of two awards, gaining his title as the Emperor of Movies. On the other hand, they feel distressed for their family’s Mr. Perfect.
Only until Li Fei sat down did the flashes in the venue became slightly normal. The reporters rushed to raise their hands to ask questions. But Li Fei’s broker didn’t hesitate to talk about Li Fei’s next film.
With great difficulty, they simmered until the end of the speech and exploded on the question and answer portion.
“Excuse me, may I ask if you’ve seen the online video? Are you at the scene when the explosion occurred?”
“Yesterday, Xiao YaQin microblogged only two words, writing “really worried”…… may I ask, what is her relationship with Li Fei? Is it boyfriend and girlfriend? Or already married? Or thinking of marriage?”
Li Fei pressed down on the microphone, looking like wanting to say something. The scene went quiet all at once.
“About the video, I do not know. As for the explosion in Huai City’s Pearl Hotel, I was at the scene……”
The audience immediately buzzed. The eyes of the reporters are full of excitement. They want to ask how, Li Fei and Xiao YaQin, these two stars, appeared in the same hotel.
This matter also exploded online. A lot of Li Fe’s fans detest Xiao YaQin. It was their first time hearing this and it was as if bad news was given to them.
Li Fei looked the same. Assistant Lin who stood offscreen near the walls turned off the venue lights except for one. A photo appeared in front of the computer screen, it was an invitation letter to a charity dinner party.
The words are distinct with the date and time precisely enlarged.
“The dinner party is at eight o’clock. My assistant booked my room on the 48th floor. As for Ms. Xiao, after our companies communicated, only then did we know that her room is on the 42nd floor.”
Pearl Hotel’s room management is rigorous; the floor number is on the room card. When riding the elevator, you can only ride up to that specific floor. The floors leading towards the dining hall, business lounge and entertainment facilities use another lift.
If they want to visit other guests, they have to tell the elevator staff the floor number.
As public figures, even if they wanted to be private, it is impossible to have too much floor difference between their rooms.
Li Fei did not explain in detail. As for the existence of the Charity Dinner Party, someone will naturally check. And regarding the thing between him and Xiao YaQin, it is still unclear——
“My debut had been ten years ago. I know my fans, and all my media friends are concerned about my private life.”
The reporters wanted to continue questioning, but from Li Fei’s expression, they realized that there might be a huge surprise and they suddenly became nervous. Some even hold their breath.
Li Fei slightly narrowed his eyes. Also, he unintentionally smoothed his hands down on the table. This uneasy motion created an atmosphere. He doesn’t have to talk, through his “actions”, people can feel that he will say a secret from the heart.
The broker next to him stared at Li Fei’s gaffe.
——This doesn’t follow what they agreed on. This wasn’t even in the script! Love life, is it a good idea to talk about that now?
However such a stare, in that situation, seems as if telling Li Fei that he’s not allowed to tell the truth.
Assistant Lin’s expression is also marvelous, but his mood is “really, the boss doesn’t play his cards normally.” He has to say, with Li Fei’s class, he can make something fake to be true. Anyway, it’s false to a degree.
Li Fei’s “nervousness” is very slight. He knows that going too far is as bad as not showing enough. He merely cheated others to believe in his way of thinking, even those keen experts. How can those experts in body language not read the information he gave?
In front of the camera, Li Fei only lost control for just a second and soon calmed down, restoring the warmth of his past smile.
“In truth, I have a crush on someone. I just failed to say it.”
“……”
“So my love life is not too blank.” Li Fei lightly laughed as if he didn’t just drop a heavy bomb, “although the other is single, I know the man that person likes……is not me.”
“……!!”
The fans who are watching the live broadcast was hit and became stupid in the unexpected situation. The reporters at the scene quickly responded with excited questions.
“Excuse me, may I ask if your favored person is within the circle?”
“Is that person a singer, movie star, or a model?”
The scene became chaotic. The broker is about to pass out because of anger over Li Fei. Having said that, how will they make a follow-up? Where will they find this favored person? What kind of person is suitable for Li Fei’s secret love? What to do with the fans’ resentment?
——why is every movie actor in China so damn headstrong?
Among the chaos, the broker heard a reporter asked one question: “Excuse me, may I ask if your crush is a woman?”
Star Entertainment’s PR Department Head who was present on the scene had his face suddenly become black like the bottom of the pot.
Only Li Fei remained unmoved, smilingly answering the question with a partial response. Then there are no more comments, and he wished those injured in the bombing incident a fast recovery. With this, it finally announced the end of the Press Conference.
After exiting, Li Fei went to the top floor of Star Entertainment Media towards the CEO’s office while being surrounded by a crowd.
With the door closed, the smile on his face disappeared without a trace.
“Very wonderful speech.” The man sitting on the swivel chair closed the computer screen. The screen was showing the scene in the Press Conference.
Star Entertainment‘s CEO, who appears to be successful in his late thirties, is in fact, more than fifty.
The most deceptive is his black hair which is not troubled by a thinning hairline.
With deep-set eyes and a high nose bridge, chiseled features, no beer belly or fat, and wearing a custom tailor-made suit, the CEO basically looked like he’d been pulled out of a photo shoot and with PS, might even pass as a model from a foreign magazine.
His fingers overlapped into a tower, and his sharp eyes made several junior assistants feel their scalp tingling, making them hung their heads.
Surprisingly, the CEO opened his mouth to gossip, “ I want to know, do you really have this person?”
Li Fei did not answer and just picked a place to sit down. The secretary in the president’s office moved deftly and sent a cup of coffee. Assistant Lin does not have this kind of treatment, and while carrying a folder, he gave a wry smile to the big boss and shook his head.
“You’re so anxious to get rid of Xiao Yaqin even though you don’t have to. Then you throw this bombshell, how many ridiculous rumors do you think will come out tonight?” The CEO has shining eyes when saying this.
Geng Tian is surprised. Why is this tone not like a question and even sounded like he’s excited?
Assistant Lin silently watched the bodyguard, looking weakly: Of course, Star Entertainment‘s CEO Liang Jun likes to gossip and even loves to spread gossip. Speaking this out loud is not a good thing and will only make you lose face so who can explain it ah?
“If your broker does not pick up the job, you’re responsible for it!” Lighting a cigarette, the CEO leisurely smoked. He did not forget to give Li Fei, the company’s biggest billboard, and biggest thorn, a warning, “There is also the PR Department responsible for the public opinion, and they’re working overtime because of you tonight.”
Liang Jun waited for a minute for Li Fei to speak. He looked strangely at his company’s number one cash cow. Is it that Li Fei’s news is real? In his mind, he worked through the network of relationships around Li Fei doubtfully, no suspicious targets ah!
“It’s not peaceful recently……” Li Fei did not speak too clearly, “You may have an accident, so pay more attention.”
“Hn?” Liang Jun heard and puzzled if it’s gossip or information. He was trying to find out the meaning behind Li Fei’s words. Does it refer to the financial markets? Entertainment industry? Or National Politics?
Liang Jun pondered when suddenly, the phone on the table rang. The young secretary has a strained voice, “Pre-President, there are people from the Public Security Bureau here to see Li Fei. They said that they needed him to cooperate with an investigation.”
“What?”
“They are in a hurry, and also——”
Outside the president’s office, the secretary wearing a white suit has her face crumpled into a ball. Standing in front of her eyes is a dignified man in military uniform with a solemn expression.
Zhang YaoJin did not wait for the secretary to finish and opened the office door. The pitch-dark muzzle of a gun pointed towards Li Fei.
Is this a movie?
Assistant Lin and the other staff members stood foolishly.
“All unnecessary personnel leave.” Zhang YaoJin coldly said.
“Wait.” Liang Jun looked at the police officers and military with firearms drawn that filed into the room. He raised his hands in shock, then turned to look at his secretary who panicked and ran in, “……you’re saying that your brother is with this people to catch Li Fei?”
What?
Everybody present on the scene was dumbfounded.
“Zhang XiaoJie?” Assistant Lin was horrified when looking at the secretary. He has a crush on this sweet looking sister whose older brother appears to be a valiant soldier. It did not seem that his rank is low.
Wait, is it possible that Liang Jun, this gossiping CEO, even checked his secretary’s entire family? Is that even humane?
“I have something to say. I know Li Fei. Murder and arson are too costly; this losing trade is something he would never do.” Liang Jun coughed to smooth things over.
Since the beginning of being at the endpoint of a gun, Li Fei has cold eyes. He thought of the danger of being exposed but did not expect that it’ll come so fast. Li Fei did not expect that the other party wouldn’t even give him any chance. It was clear that if he didn’t cooperate, he would be forcibly taken away.
“When the explosion at Pearl Hotel occurred, where were you?” Zhang YaoJin stared down at Li Fei.
“My room.”
“And?”
“Together with my bodyguard, we fled downstairs from the stairwell.”
“Your room is on the 48th floor. There is glass debris near the window, and there are also two clear footprints. Someone was standing there overlooking downwards. This footprint is yours.”
“I want to see what happened.” Li Fei calmly answered.
Zhang YaoJin sneered, his eyes are red after two days and nights of not sleeping, with his nerves stretched tight.
He could feel that Li Fei is dangerous. Not because of the clues left in the room, but because when he stood in front of Li Fei, his subconscious issued a warning. This feeling is comparable to when he rescued hostages, like facing a group of ruthless gangsters.
Seeing the situation is not good, Liang Jun cannot help but say, “What exactly is going on?”
“Father, you don’t have to say anything, just come out!” Secretary Zhang XiaoJie who was standing in the doorway cried out anxiously.
Everyone’s attention focused on the wrong thing: Wait, what does father mean?