MOGHA Chapter 70

The November night in City B was very cold, with visible puffs of white breath when speaking, giving a special effect like exhaling smoke.

Ye Shanshan was sitting in a stretch limousine waiting for his turn, seriously messaging Gong Yue in three long segments due to the length of his message.

Just as he hit send, he heard Director Zhang speaking to him.

“Shanshan, this is your first time walking the red carpet, right? Nervous?”

Ye Shanshan shook his head, “Not nervous. Zheng Dong said I just need to walk smoothly from start to finish.”

Before bringing Ye Shanshan to the event, Zheng Dong had almost worn out his lips advising him, “Shanshan, don’t stop when you see something new, don’t stop when you see something fun, and don’t stop when you see something unfamiliar! Just walk from start to finish, pausing occasionally to let the media take photos. Whether you smile or pose doesn’t matter, understand?”

The expectations were set incredibly low.

Ye Shanshan felt wronged. Was he the type of person who couldn’t move when he saw something new and interesting?

Lin Xiatian added fuel to the fire, “The first time I accompanied Young Master Ye to a TV station recording, he kept straying from the group and we couldn’t pull him back.”

“…,” Ye Shanshan felt besieged.

Director Zhang touched his now neatly groomed eyebrows and said heavily, “Shanshan, treat me to barbecue when we get back.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m walking the red carpet with you with a great spirit of sacrifice!”

When Director Zhang stood with Ye Shanshan after they were both ready and looked in the mirror, he instantly understood why Xu Luoyang never wanted to be in the same frame as Ye Shanshan on variety shows.

There was a kind of ugliness that really stood out by comparison. Director Zhang had always confidently believed that while he wasn’t handsome, he was still a decent-looking mature man.

But standing next to Ye Shanshan, it wasn’t about being decent-looking—it was about not being visible at all. With Ye Shanshan’s red carpet radiance, everyone else automatically became background blur.

“…,” Ye Shanshan wrinkled his nose, feeling a ton of damage!

When the stretch limo stopped, the screams of fans and the enthusiastic introductions of the hosts could be heard even through the car doors.

Director Zhang adjusted his collar one last time, “Let’s go, Shanshan.”

※※※

At the same time, an exclusive live stream of the charity gala was being broadcast on an online platform. As the invited guests entered one after another, the number of viewers soared.

The organizers had invested heavily in publicity to expand their influence, far exceeding the “Protect Endangered Animals” theme. From the screen, one could see the grand scale of the event, with domestic and international media crowded on both sides of the red carpet, armed with long and short cameras.

Because the number of comments was limited, the comment section was refreshing quickly, with fans of various celebrities spamming for their idols, occasionally interspersed with information about the invited guests.

At this moment, the camera shifted to the entrance of the red carpet, and the host, filled with enthusiasm, introduced the incoming guests.

“Now, let’s welcome the internationally renowned director Zhang Bocheng and famous actor Ye Shanshan!”

A stretch limousine slowly came to a stop. The car door was opened from the outside, and Director Zhang got out first, followed by Ye Shanshan stepping onto the red carpet.

Whether it was the fans who had been waiting at the scene for a long time, the media on both sides of the red carpet, or the viewers in the live stream comment section, it was as if someone had pressed the pause button. Everyone was almost stunned, staring at the person who suddenly appeared under the dazzling lights.

Several seconds passed before the piercing screams and the sound of camera shutters filled the air, almost overwhelming the senses. Meanwhile, the comment section on the website became a blur of activity.

“——Ahhhh omg ahhhh it’s Shanshan Shanshan Shanshan!!!”

“——Ahhh Shanshan!! My idol! Shanshan’s beauty is making me cry, I’m going crazy! I need to run a hundred laps to calm down! I can’t stop screaming alone at home!!”

“——Who is that! I’ve been obsessed with handsome men for twenty years and never noticed such a perfect specimen! My life has no meaning unless I become his fan!!!”

“——No need to say anything! Shanshan is glowing! Even if it blinds me, I have to watch him on this red carpet! Giving all my support!! I’m so excited I’m crying!”

On the screen, Ye Shanshan had already stepped onto the red carpet with Director Zhang. Under the intense lights, he was a beacon of attention.

Ye Shanshan wore a perfectly tailored English-style suit, exuding understated elegance. His hair was neatly slicked back, and his face was so striking that one couldn’t look away. His height of nearly 1.8 meters and his excellent body proportions made him the perfect match for the sophisticated suit.

At this moment, he had a clear smile on his face. His dimples were like a creator’s delicate touch, and his slightly curved eyes were beautifully shaped. He smiled and waved at the fans screaming on both sides of the red carpet.

Despite it being his first time walking the red carpet, he showed no signs of nervousness. In fact, his presence was surprisingly commanding.

It was truly like a star; once it appeared, it quickly captured everyone’s gaze.

“——I’m drowning in this smile, the eyes, the body, the waist, the long legs, the fingers, and that face? I look at it three hundred times a day! What’s that saying, ‘like a jade tree in the courtyard’? My Shanshan is a diamond tree, dazzling the eyes!”

“——Ahhh, even though he’s looking at the camera, I feel like he’s looking at me! My heart is going to explode!”

“——My hands are shaking as I type, how can every side of him be so perfect? Even his hair looks great! And his skin is so fair! Everything about him is amazing!”

At the scene, media reporters kept pressing their shutters. The person in front of them, named Ye Shanshan, truly seemed to be favored by the heavens, capturing all the attention. Fans continued to chant Ye Shanshan’s name, with some fans from other camps unknowingly joining the chorus of screams.

Ye Shanshan maintained his smile, internally grateful that he had followed Gong Yue’s advice to wear a miniature noise-canceling device in his ears.

Otherwise, with the current decibel level, his eardrums would certainly be in for some damage.

“Finished with the photos? Let’s keep moving,” Director Zhang greeted the familiar media faces and estimated the time. He softly reminded Ye Shanshan, glancing at the fans who looked about to faint from excitement. “Ah, this world that judges by appearances!”

Amidst the continuous screams and flashing lights, the two walked and paused their way to the end of the red carpet. The male and female hosts stepped aside slightly to welcome Director Zhang and Ye Shanshan.

“Good evening to both of you! We’ve all seen Director Zhang’s remarkable work on this series of advertisements. Each of the five ads has its unique charm, especially ‘Deer,’ which moved many viewers to tears. This series has caused a huge stir in the country. Director Zhang, do you have anything you’d like to say?”

Director Zhang took the microphone, “If I have to say something, I’d like to thank the association for giving me the opportunity to collaborate. I’m very satisfied with all five ads. The fact that they resonated with the audience means they were successful, and I achieved my initial goal.”

“Thank you, Director Zhang!” The male host then turned to Ye Shanshan. “We also know, Shanshan, that this is your second collaboration with Director Zhang. The yet-to-be-released ‘Observer’ is already in post-production. How did you come to collaborate for the second time?”

Ye Shanshan heard the question and seemed to think of something, smiling brightly. The female host, seeing this up close, couldn’t help but gasp audibly.

At that moment, the big screen cut to a close-up of Ye Shanshan, causing the fans to go wild again.

Ye Shanshan took the microphone, his voice full of laughter, “Director Zhang approached me, saying the role in the ad suited me well, and promised a deluxe chicken leg meal for lunch, so I agreed.”

The male host was quite surprised, “That’s all it took?”

“Yes,” Ye Shanshan nodded, his expression becoming slightly serious, “but the most important thing is that I’m standing here now, and I still haven’t seen that deluxe chicken leg meal!”

After answering a couple more questions, Director Zhang and Ye Shanshan finally reached the autograph board.

Imitating Director Zhang, Ye Shanshan took a pen and seriously signed his name, then turned to face the media cameras.

“Shanshan, look here!” “Shanshan, smile!” “Director Zhang, could you put an arm around him?” “Shanshan, pose for a few solo shots!”

Ye Shanshan cooperated fully, finding the process of changing poses every two seconds amusing, though his smile grew tired.

After finally wrapping up, Ye Shanshan followed Director Zhang to his designated seat, rubbing his cheeks.

“Ahh, my face is going to freeze from all the smiling! But it was fun. I was worried that the fans and reporters might push over the barriers on both sides of the red carpet.”

What a peculiar concern. Director Zhang looked at Ye Shanshan, noticing that he was lost in his own thoughts again, completely different from his impressive and handsome appearance on the red carpet.

Remembering Zheng Dong’s instructions, Director Zhang handed him a plate of fruit, “Shanshan, maintain your image. Also, once the gala starts, reporters allowed inside will continue taking photos, so keep up your idol persona, alright?”

With a piece of tangerine in his mouth, Ye Shanshan nodded, speaking indistinctly, “My idol persona is online 24/7!”

※※※

The gala proceeded without much novelty: the organizers thanked everyone, gave speeches, and played documentaries. They also interspersed edited versions of Director Zhang’s advertisements throughout.

Ye Shanshan stared intently at the big screen, but he was secretly dozing off. With his skill at sleeping with his eyes open, no one noticed even when the camera panned over him a few times.

Suddenly, a drowsy Ye Shanshan heard someone calling him. He looked around blankly before realizing it was Xiang Junyang, the star of the first ad in the series, sitting opposite him.

“Are there any items in the auction that interest you?” His tone was like that of a senior talking to a junior. Director Zhang overheard this and glanced at Xiang Junyang.

Though Xiang Junyang was all smiles, Ye Shanshan instinctively disliked him, but he politely replied, “I haven’t looked at the auction items yet.”

He casually popped a cherry tomato into his mouth, chewing with satisfaction.

Director Zhang couldn’t bear to watch, handing Ye Shanshan the auction catalog, “Here.”

Flipping through it, Ye Shanshan found several interesting items, making him look a bit longer.

“Because it’s for charity, the starting prices are quite high,” Xiang Junyang said with a smile.

But everyone at the table, being savvy, could tell Xiang Junyang was implying that the items were expensive and Ye Shanshan couldn’t afford them.

Director Zhang frowned slightly. Xiang Junyang’s agent had previously approached him, questioning why Ye Shanshan had outshone Xiang Junyang, the supposed main star of the ad series.

And mentioned that if he had known it would turn out like this, he wouldn’t have allowed his own artist to come and shoot this advertisement in the first place.

Director Zhang found it amusing in his heart. Popularity is such an unpredictable thing. He couldn’t compete with Ye Shanshan, so what use was it to approach him? At the time, he replied coldly.

He originally thought this matter had passed, but he didn’t expect Xiang Junyang to still be waiting here for Ye Shanshan.

However, Ye Shanshan was the only person at the table who didn’t perceive any underlying meaning from the other party’s words and earnestly replied,

“Yeah, I also think the pricing is a bit high, but the items are indeed good. Even if they are a bit expensive, I can still buy them.”

Xiang Junyang smiled and didn’t say anything more.

After the process was completed, it was time for the auction. Except for those who had a hobby of collecting, most of the remaining artists present showed little interest. After all, their primary reason for coming was largely to highlight their celebrity status and earn news coverage.

Noticing that Ye Shanshan was still earnestly looking through the catalog, Xiang Junyang lifted his glass of red wine and tasted it. “Ye Shanshan, are you planning to bid?”

Nodding, Ye Shanshan didn’t say much. “Yeah, I’m thinking about it.”

He had his eye on a pair of cufflinks and intended to buy them to give to Gong Yue. Ye Shanshan had recently noticed that the emerald cufflinks he had previously bought for Gong Yue had been worn too frequently, so he needed to buy another pair to replace them.

“In that case, I’ll wait and see.” Xiang Junyang was currently at the top of his game and planned to buy something to use for sending press releases back to his team. After all, getting involved in charity work was beneficial for enhancing his image.

But seeing Ye Shanshan pretending to be a big spender despite his expression, Xiang Junyang found it amusing.

Noticing Xiang Junyang’s expression, Director Zhang felt amused in his heart, glancing at the pages Ye Shanshan was flipping through and quietly asking him, “Planning to buy?”

“Yeah, planning to buy it to give to Mr. Gong.”

※※※

The pair of cufflinks Ye Shanshan had set his eyes on was the fifth item up for auction. Since it hadn’t reached that point yet, he passed the time by either spectating or nibbling on fruits, occasionally daydreaming.

The so-called “idol baggage” that was supposed to be upheld for twenty-four hours straight had basically never been carried at all.

Director Zhang was currently pondering over the casting choices for “Mountains and Rivers Remain”. He hadn’t prepared to bid, not even bothering to get a number plate. Xiang Junyang, on the other hand, raised his paddle a few times, but the bidding eventually went too high, causing him to drop out.

Initially, he felt a bit embarrassed about losing face, but upon seeing Ye Shanshan, who had talked big but remained silent all this time, his smile deepened.

At that moment, the host’s voice came over, “Now, up for auction is the fifth item, a pair of cufflinks from the Renaissance period, featuring hand-polished sapphires and naturally curved agate, set in platinum, with a noble lineage and a long history. Crafted by a renowned artisan from Florence, these cufflinks were once held in royal collections and only surfaced a century ago… Starting bid is at £120,000.”

After hearing this, Ye Shanshan quietly commented to Zhang, “A similar pair at Christie’s auction earlier had a much higher starting bid,” he added with a hint of excitement, “I feel like I can save a lot of money!”

Items of such high value in jewelry and collectibles always attracted considerable interest. In a matter of moments, the bid had already climbed to £140,000.

Ye Shanshan, chatting away, raised his paddle. The auctioneer’s voice echoed, “£142,000!” Shortly after, another participant raised theirs, “£144,000!”

People at the same table as Ye Shanshan were somewhat surprised to see him raising his paddle, given that this was in pounds, not Chinese currency. Xiang Junyang glanced at Ye Shanshan, his smile faltering briefly, before composedly raising his paddle in turn.

Noticing Xiang Junyang across from him also bidding, Ye Shanshan thought to himself that people with good taste were many, but he genuinely liked these cufflinks, feeling they would complement the Emperor’s temperament. Therefore, he raised his paddle again, determined to secure the purchase.

As the price soared to £170,000, Xiang Junyang gritted his teeth, torn over whether to continue bidding—after all, spending £1.5 million on a pair of cufflinks the size of fingernails seemed a bit excessive.

After a moment’s consideration, Xiang Junyang decided not to bid further, his face flushed red.

Ye Shanshan paid no attention to the reactions of those around him. He had set his limit for these cufflinks at £250,000, roughly equivalent to 2.2 million Chinese yuan, but they were still far from reaching that point. So, he calmly continued to raise his paddle.

When the bidding reached £220,000, the other competitors who had been vying with Ye Shanshan gave up. The auctioneer banged the gavel, “£220,000, going once, £220,000, going twice! Sold! Congratulations to the gentleman.”

Afterward, Ye Shanshan also bought a collectible-grade wristwatch. Only then did he set down his paddle, satisfied, and indulged in a bunch of grapes, feeling completely content.

Imagining how Gong Yue would look wearing the cufflinks and the watch—it had to be stunning! Ye Shanshan even thought ahead, holding the gifts in hand and asking Gong Yue,

“Mr. Gong, do you prefer cufflinks, a wristwatch, or the fan I won?”

Just thinking about it made him super happy!

Director Zhang looked at Ye Shanshan’s expression, which was as indifferent as if he had just gone out to buy a bottle of soy sauce, and suddenly understood how the nickname “the landlord’s foolish son” came about.

Therefore, he said, “Shanshan, after going back, treat me to a few more barbecues.” Now was the perfect time to not hold back!

Swallowing the apple in his mouth, Ye Shanshan’s eyes widened instantly, looking pained.

“No, no, two meals is the limit! I can’t afford more! Barbecues are getting more and more expensive lately.”

“…”

Director Zhang chuckled at his exaggerated expression of pain and asked him, “Then why don’t you feel pained when spending two million on a pair of cufflinks and over nine million on a watch?”

“Of course I don’t feel pained!” Ye Shanshan justified himself confidently, then lowered his voice to describe his feelings to Director Zhang, a mix of sweetness and worry.

“I find myself wanting to spoil him, wanting to buy everything for him. You know, if we were in ancient times, do you know what they would call this?”

Director Zhang shook his head, unable to keep up with his train of thought.

“They would call it ‘playing the warlords with a beacon fire’,” Ye Shanshan sighed deeply, delivering his lines with dramatic flair, showing off his profound acting skills.

“Sigh, what does it matter if I spend lavishly for the one I love?”

“…”