The sky outside had completely darkened, and Gu Qingtong was too busy to eat because they were rehearsing the program on stage. In a little while, the live broadcast will begin, and she will have to return to the team and stand for over an hour.
She hasn’t forgotten about her role as a “Station sister1Dedicated fans who voluntarily act as organizers or representatives of a fan club at various events or activities related to the celebrity..”
So she deliberately found a position that directly faced the red carpet with a good view.
After surveying the surroundings, she noticed that the media and the audience had not entered yet. Mostly, various celebrities were being photographed up close.
After all, this event is not much different from walking the red carpet. It was normal to compete and criticize each other’s appearances.
In order to release pictures faster than reporters and paparazzi, each studio had already found good spots to take close-ups and quickly produce images.
Gu Qingtong did the same. She had just gone to find the camera guy to take some photos and also brought the camera with her.
In fact, it was Gu Qingtong who provided this set of equipment to the company.
After all, Gu Qingtong’s father, Gu Shuyu, is a collector of various stationery items. Although his filmmaking skills are not great, he has a hobby of collecting cameras. From the latest models of major manufacturers to antique cameras, except for a few truly discontinued old cameras, he has almost all of them in his collection.
Gu Qingtong’s knowledge of operating cameras is thanks to her enthusiastic father.
Her company is poor, with no assistants or drivers, and there is even only one camera guy in the photography team. Not to mention having any good equipment, the images produced are not appealing.
So Gu Qingtong forcibly obtained the latest set from Gu Shuyu.
The camera guy was extremely grateful and from then on, no matter what event he was participating in, he would put aside his other tasks and accompany Gu Qingtong on her schedule.
He was physically fit and clever, almost always finding suitable locations for shooting in the vicinity. It can be said that almost all of Gu Qingtong’s beautiful photos on Weibo were taken by him.
Gu Qingtong braved the cold wind, her nose and cheeks turning red from the cold, as if she had added a touch of blush, enhancing her already heavily made-up appearance.
She could only hold the camera with one hand, pulling the shawl closer around herself that Yan Chi had draped over her before.
Raising the camera, Gu Qingtong focused intently on the image in the viewfinder, adjusting the focal length until the glamorous and radiant stars on the red carpet gradually appeared clear in the lens.
Undoubtedly, Yan Chi was the most eye-catching among them. She looked even more delicate and noble than Gu Qingtong had seen before, wearing a white haute couture evening gown. Her cascading hair fell casually over her shoulders, revealing the graceful lines of her neck and exquisite collarbones through the strands of hair.
The light poured down from the dome as if it were exclusively focused on Yan Chi, backlighting her figure. Coldness and loneliness grew wildly on her modest and dignified exterior.
Gu Qingtong held her breath and gently pressed the shutter, capturing the light and shadows along with Aphrodite in the frame.
Before long, the atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by a voice:
“Um… can I ask, miss, will this place be cleared when the live broadcast starts?”
Startled, Gu Qingtong almost lost her grip on the camera. She instinctively held it close to her chest and turned to look at the two people who had appeared in front of her at some point.
They were two girls who looked like college students, struggling to carry large camera bags, and their intentions were quite clear.
“Are you station sisters? This is the inner area, and without media passes, you can’t come in.”
The two of them immediately looked dejected. “We sneaked in because our seats were too far away. Even with a zoom lens, the pictures are not clear… We just saw you taking photos on the red carpet, are you…?”
Gu Qingtong didn’t deny it. Thinking that she might be able to help, she asked, “Who are you here to photograph? Maybe I can help you take a few shots, but only if I happen to capture your idol.”
“It’s Yan Chi, Teacher Yan!”
They looked at Gu Qingtong eagerly. After all, both of them could tell that the price and performance of this latest camera were far superior compared to the ones they had rented.
The moment Gu Qingtong heard that name, she coughed several times. Could it be? Did she accidentally capture Yan Chi in the photos she just took?!
She felt that her little secret identity was now in jeopardy.
“What… what’s wrong?” Seeing Gu Qingtong’s sudden serious expression, the two station sisters for Yan Chi also became nervous.
“You’re not those fans who are our opposing team, right…” such as those marketing influencers who deliberately associate themselves with Yan Chi.
“Sorry.” They apologized.
Both sides awkwardly apologized, and the two station sisters for Yan Chi couldn’t stay there any longer. They pushed and shoved their way back to the audience area.
Gu Qingtong watched their retreating figures and quickly took out her phone, opening the group chat titled “What does Teacher Yan eat.”
Sure enough, the group chat was buzzing:
Ah Lu: “Help! Just now, Lizi and I saw a beautiful girl taking photos on the red carpet, and it happened to be during Yan Chi’s rehearsal. We thought it was that beautiful station sister you were talking about before, so we went over to strike up a conversation. But to our surprise, after exchanging a secret signal, it turned out she was from the opposing team! We were so embarrassed!”
Bingtang Xueli: “But she was really beautiful, to the extent that she could easily pass as a celebrity. I couldn’t help but be amazed!”
Being praised for her appearance by netizens, even Gu Qingtong, who was full of herself, blushed a bit.
Ah Lu: “I’m so sad. We couldn’t get into the event venue, and the photos taken from the outside won’t have good quality. Damn the studio’s poor aesthetics and technical skills. When will TT Sister come back? I’m crying!”
“Hey, didn’t everyone say before that the beautiful station sister was sister TT? Is it true or not?”
Gu Qingtong was also puzzled. What’s going on? How come she has never heard of this?
So she typed “TT” in the search bar. Goodness, even though she wasn’t in the entertainment industry, her legend seemed to be everywhere. Everyone was incredibly curious about her appearance and background.
Seeing so many people eyeing her pseudonym, Gu Qingtong became even more cautious and tightly guarded herself.
Apart from this little incident, the rest of the filming went smoothly.
Gu Qingtong flipped through the photos in her camera one by one, marveling at Yan Chi’s beauty that appeared flawless even in unedited images.
As usual, she made sure to transfer the photos to her phone via Bluetooth and delete the original files before returning the camera to the guy.
❖❖❖❖❖
Throughout the entire opening red carpet event, without the protection of the shawl, Gu Qingtong was frozen to the point where her thoughts almost solidified. The only impression she had of the ceremony was the attention-grabbing appearance of Yan Chi, stepping forward from the end of the red carpet.
Originally, this was just a moderately well-known official event, but the popularity of the live broadcast suddenly reached its peak because of Yan Chi’s appearance. After all, this was Yan Chi’s first appearance in over a month since the Cannes Film Festival, and almost all the barrage comments were from Yan Chi’s fans flooding the screen.
The Weibo hot search was also completely dominated, only when Yan Chi was active would there be such an absolute suppression over various popular stars’ traffic.
And those young actors who were planned to be cultivated, when facing Yan Chi, all showed visible nervousness and excitement.
Even after the live broadcast ended, the film students from the China Film Academy around Gu Qingtong were still discussing Yan Chi’s various awards and gossip.
Fifteen years had passed, and Yan Chi was still unquestionably the top actor in the Chinese film industry.
Gu Qingtong watched from afar as the light and shadows enveloped Yan Chi, feeling a bit dreamlike.
When would she be able to stand side by side with her?
“Xiao Gu! Over here!”
A voice from behind interrupted Gu Qingtong’s thoughts. She turned around and saw that it was Professor Wu from the Performance Department of the China Film Academy calling her.
Professor Wu’s real name is Wu Yuzhen. She was once a highly acclaimed leading actress in her youth but officially retired from the spotlight and became a professor in the Performance Department of the China Film Academy at the age of 45.
She was famously strict, and many students would deliberately avoid taking her courses out of fear of failing.
Gu Qingtong, however, embraced the challenge in order to hone her acting skills.
Indeed, she endured a hellish and devilish training, but it also propelled her acting abilities to new heights.
Perhaps it was due to her lack of talent, or perhaps it was her unwavering spirit that impressed the professor.
Until now, Professor Wu would always help Gu Qingtong with any suitable resources and recommendations. Even the opportunity to participate in this alumni event was given by the professor.
“Professor Wu,” Gu Qingtong jumped a few steps to stand in front of Wu Yuzhen and said obediently.
Beside the elderly lady was an unfamiliar man, seemingly one of Professor Wu’s students, quietly listening to their conversation.
“Thank goodness I caught you! Otherwise, you would have slipped away again. Have you forgotten about the reception?” Wu Yuzhen exclaimed.
Gu Qingtong was taken aback. “I wasn’t planning to…”
But before she could finish her sentence, Sun Xiao covered her mouth and said, “Professor, long time no see. And Director Li, hello. I’m Sun Xiao, Gu Qingtong’s manager.”
Sun Xiao had appeared by Gu Qingtong’s side at some point and was already fully in professional mode.
After exchanging greetings for a while, they exchanged their business cards.
“Since we’re all here together, let’s go together. Today is a rare opportunity, and Xiao Gu shouldn’t miss it,” Wu Yuzhen said, leading the way with Director Li.
Sun Xiao pulled Gu Qingtong along quickly to catch up.
“Why are you doing this? I’m not famous, why should I attend this kind of event that doesn’t match my status?” Gu Qingtong whispered to Sun Xiao.
“Don’t you see Director Li? He’s a newly popular and talented director. Everyone wants to get to know him. And at this kind of high-profile red carpet reception, do you know how many connections and opportunities you can make, just like with Director Li?!”
“Just do me this favor, please. Without your relationship with Professor Wu, I would never have the chance to talk to them…” Sun Xiao pleaded, rare to let go of her strong-woman demeanor. Reluctantly, Gu Qingtong agreed.
What Gu Qingtong didn’t see was that behind her, Yan Chi, who had been walking towards her, suddenly paused.
“Teacher Yan, what’s wrong?” Xiaojun asked, confused.
“You all go back first, I have something to take care of.”
❖❖❖❖❖
As soon as they entered the reception, Sun Xiao was like a fish in water, freely mingling among the industry elites, exchanging business cards. She could almost accurately call out the surnames of every famous director and producer, leaving Gu Qingtong in awe.
Even though things were going smoothly, Sun Xiao didn’t allow Gu Qingtong to leave her side. After all, Gu Qingtong’s stunning face was her living advertisement, attracting attention from many people and even prompting them to approach her.
Gu Qingtong could only helplessly follow behind Sun Xiao, holding a glass of wine and feeling utterly bored.
She didn’t mind the taste of alcohol. Although she couldn’t hold her liquor well, she could still handle it a bit. However, those who knew her well knew that Gu Qingtong’s alcohol tolerance was abysmal.
First of all, her reflexes when getting drunk were incredibly slow. She appeared perfectly normal on the surface, without blushing or staggering while walking. But once the alcohol kicked in, she instantly turned into a pendant that could only hang onto others.
On ordinary days, Gu Qingtong’s problematic personality could be overlooked, but when she got drunk, she became even more troublesome. She would cling to people, annoyingly seeking their attention. The more she liked someone, the closer she would stick to them, causing trouble. And if she became dissatisfied, she would start whining and crying.
Gu Qingtong’s parents and younger sister were well aware of her behavior, so they prohibited her from consuming even a drop of alcohol.
But now, Sun Xiao was offering drinks and socializing on behalf of others, showcasing her excellent alcohol tolerance. Glass after glass went down effortlessly, as if she was drinking water. It was awkward for Gu Qingtong to just stand there without doing anything, so she had to pretend as well, taking a small sip each time.
However, it turned out that it was self-deception to think that drinking small sips would make a difference in front of strong alcoholic beverages.
Before long, she started getting drunk, but she was oblivious to it, and others couldn’t tell either.
When Sun Xiao finally noticed, Gu Qingtong was like a boneless puppet, only able to sit properly in her seat.
Sun Xiao had no choice but to escort Gu Qingtong out. After all, there were many people at the reception, and it was difficult to ensure even basic safety.
“I’m not drunk…”
Gu Qingtong tried to break free from Sun Xiao’s shoulder. She believed her consciousness was still relatively clear, and her unsteady walking was simply due to weak legs.
“Miss, can you behave yourself?” Sun Xiao had a headache. She was not tall, and carrying Gu Qingtong was quite challenging.
Gu Qingtong was scared into silence by the scolding.
However, her eyes anxiously scanned the surroundings, seeking something familiar. Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of a reassuring presence, and her eyes instantly lit up as she shouted, “Yan Chi!”
Sun Xiao was taken aback, and she followed Gu Qingtong’s gaze, only to find Yan Chi standing in the distant empty parking lot. Wasn’t she the one from earlier? She had changed out of the evening gown she wore at the event, and her aloof and unapproachable aura had diminished somewhat.
“You know Yan Chi?” Sun Xiao sensed Gu Qingtong’s unusual reaction and asked.
“Of course! Yan Chi is my wife,” Gu Qingtong proudly exclaimed. Her smug expression was evident, and the statement came out naturally. Even Yan Chi, who was walking towards them, heard it, and her fingers trembled slightly at her side.
Sun Xiao was speechless, clearly thinking that Gu Qingtong was acting crazy under the influence of alcohol. “Speak in coherent sentences!”
“Don’t you believe me? We are legally… legally married!” Gu Qingtong reached out to touch her pocket, but several times she came up empty-handed.
“Where is my proof?” She instantly felt wronged, and tears welled up, streaming down her cheeks.
At this moment, Yan Chi had approached Gu Qingtong. Her voice was unusually gentle and patient. “Didn’t we agree to handle it the day after tomorrow?”
With teary eyes, Gu Qingtong, using her muddled mind, pondered for a moment, then nodded hesitantly. “It seems… that’s true.”
Sun Xiao’s pupils dilated, and a preposterous speculation arose in her mind. Was it possible that everything Gu Qingtong said was true?
“Miss Sun, I am Yan Chi, Gu Qingtong’s fiancée. It might not be convenient for you to take her home after drinking. I’ll take care of it.”
Without waiting for a response, Yan Chi spoke first, her calm voice carrying a strong sense of refusal.
Releasing Gu Qingtong, Sun Xiao was filled with shock and confusion, not knowing how to express herself. She could only watch as Gu Qingtong, in a perfectly balanced manner, fell into Yan Chi’s arms.
Sun Xiao didn’t doubt that Yan Chi was lying to her, considering Gu Qingtong’s reaction.
However, she needed time to digest this explosive news that would undoubtedly make headlines for three days and nights.
“No, it’s not possible for us to…” Gu Qingtong suddenly remembered the incident where Yan Chi was caught up in a same-sex scandal with paparazzi. The alcohol had sobered her up a bit, and she struggled to get up. “The paparazzi will catch us like this!”
Yan Chi, feeling helpless, lifted Gu Qingtong up and embraced her tightly, soothingly saying, “Be good, it’ll be fine.”
