He remained calm and composed, without a trace of emotion, yet he uttered a sentence that betrayed his true thoughts.
"I didn't expect Mr. Gu to have time to pay attention to things in the entertainment industry." Yun Daixi maintained a polite smile.
Despite his coldness, Gu Li'an had been paying attention to her all along.
The fact that they intercepted her halfway through the journey and placed her in the exclusive lounge arranged by the organizers, where their eyes met, already speaks volumes.
Of course she's not stupid.
Just like that day, she stroked his chin with both hands, like holding a crescent moon in the water, and placed his face in her palms. She slowly moved her face closer, but just as her lips were about to touch, his hand, which had passed over her waist, stopped her entire body.
Her fingers almost dug into her waist skin; the force was too strong, and she felt a little pain, but she still leaned in again.
Like moths drawn to a flame.
Gu Li'an's other hand moved upwards, clamping her chin and pulling her face away.
"Miss Yun, you're wearing makeup now. I won't fall for the lipstick trap a second time; it's not worth it." He still remembered the humiliation of the makeup remover that day.
She couldn't speak, she could only look at him.
"How many men has Miss Yun actually kissed?"
He continued to ask questions, pinching his face harder, causing blood to seep from the mucous membrane inside his mouth.
Looking at her face, the photo of her being held in Chi Muyi's arms appeared even more clearly in his mind.
pain.
The man's body pressed against hers was completely cold.
At this moment, she was as if she had been bound by ropes by demons from hell, her mouth stuffed with bloody weeds, and thrown into the winter sea.
"Perhaps, there are so many that you can't even remember them all."
He only shook her off after she whispered those words in his ear, stubbornly like someone smashing a porcelain vase, wanting to see her broken.
Even a small crack, or imperfection, can satisfy one's inner desires.
Isn't she always putting on this pitiful act? He actually wanted to see what she looked like when she really cried.
Yun Daixi laughed; this so-called humiliation meant nothing to her.
Back then, when I went to visit those bigwigs, I couldn't even get inside. I sat at the door waiting for three days and still didn't see them. There were so many things going on at the top that I couldn't count them all.
At least, this Mr. Gu, whom everyone admires, is still standing here, interested in shattering his so-called self-esteem.
Isn't that something to be thankful for?
Yun Daixi walked over and helped him straighten his collar and sleeves.
There are no ostentatious gold cufflinks, but the black patterned buttons on the cuffs are of exceptional quality.
"Mr. Gu, I wouldn't dig the same trap twice; it's too much trouble. I should be even more devoted to you, Mr. Gu."
She stepped back, crossed her arms, and looked at him as if admiring her prey.
He has a tall and handsome figure; if he agreed, countless women would be willing to become obsessed with his body.
Gu Li'an didn't avoid his gaze: "Miss Yun, in the business world, those who are greedy will not have a good ending."
"If Mr. Gu really wants to talk to me about business, we can schedule another time next time. I'm still looking forward to cheering for Lin Suihuan's award today."
Yun Daixi turned around and tried to open the door to leave.
She had realized that his recent appearances were somewhat related to the news about Chi Muye and her.
Such a cold-blooded person is unlikely to like anyone.
Having seen countless people in the entertainment industry, she knows that the higher a person's position, the stronger their possessiveness, wanting to firmly grasp everything that interests them.
Isn't this also a form of greed?
Gu Li'an's hand landed on the doorknob faster than hers: "I've checked your company's cash flow; the capital turnover rate is good. You can sell it to me; I'm willing to pay a good price."
Yun Daixi turned to look at him: "For what?"
She asked the question knowing the answer already, but she couldn't help feeling surprised.
"You're risking everything for such a small amount of money. It's not worth it. If I wanted to, that Chi Muye would disappear from this circle very quickly."
"Mr. Gu, I still don't understand what you mean." She pressed on, trying to get more information out of him.
"I've said it before, I can give you anything you want." He still wouldn't say it outright.
"Mr. Gu wants me to become your caged bird?" Since he was unwilling, Yun Daixi simply stated her intentions directly.
His silence was taken as tacit agreement.
She laughed: "Mr. Gu, you think too highly of me. I don't have such beautiful feathers, and my singing voice is too sharp. I can't be kept at home."
She pulled his hand off the handle and pushed the door open to go out.
Inside the gate, she had baited her hook and caught a fish, but if she pulled it ashore now, it wouldn't be fat enough and might die as soon as it reached the shore.
Since Mr. Gu is so good at lying low, let's continue playing this game with him.
As I've said before, she's good at turning promises into a reusable fishing line, baiting different fish with different baits to reap greater profits.
-
Yun Daixi took her seat in the guest area of the awards ceremony, and Gu Li'an soon followed.
However, they were seated in the front row area reserved for the main sponsor.
Qiao Zhinuo, from the rival agency that competed with Jiang Xianxian for the cover, is also on the shortlist for Best Supporting Actress.
Jiang Xianxian is too beautiful, which limits her versatility; she can only play minor supporting roles as an unparalleled beauty who flashes briefly in blockbusters.
However, Yun Daixi didn't care about these things. Getting into that film was a victory in itself. She didn't make movies for the paycheck or for awards.
Her trump card is her face, which allows her to secure endorsements in various high-society venues.
On stage, the final awards ceremony for Best Supporting Actor and Actress, Best Actor and Actress, and Best Film was finally approaching.
The camera focused directly on the candidates.
Every time Yun Daixi saw such a scene, she would sigh and think that the person who put everyone's expressions on the table was a genius.
These few seconds of waiting for the results to be announced are destined to bring joy to some and sorrow to others; this is the moment that truly tests one's acting skills.
For some people, those few seconds of brilliance can surpass the entire film.
Qiao Zhinuo's cute, girl-next-door performance style doesn't match her true personality, so it's understandable that she didn't win an award.
After all, if the film awards are slightly unfair, they will be torn to shreds by critics. The organizers always try their best to be fair.
Qiao Zhinuo still wore a perfect smile in front of the camera.
Too much perfection, like an elaborately crafted doll, makes it seem too empty.
The host for this event is Cai Ping, a veteran artist in the industry and the first Best Actor winner at the film festival.
He and Li Lifei graduated from the same film academy and often played chess and went fishing together in private.
During the Best Actress selection, the head of the four women was magnified infinitely on the big screen, and the makeup on every inch of their skin was clearly visible.
Lin Suihuan's red lips stood out exceptionally well today; it was the color Yun Daixi had chosen for her.
She had privately inquired with Uncle Li about the Best Actress award.
Uncle Li said, "Put her in her most beautiful clothes."
Yun Daixi already understood.
After telling a few outdated jokes, Cai Ping finally opened the envelope and announced the name of the Best Actress winner: "Congratulations to Lin Suihuan for the Best Actress in 'Dark Night'!"
Lin Suihuan's face on the big screen was undeniably happy. She stood up and hugged the people around her, and everyone responded with enthusiastic applause.
She went on stage amidst applause and accepted the trophy.
Cai Ping beckoned her over to give her acceptance speech.
Watching her run over in the dress she had chosen, before she could even say a word, Yun Daixi's eyes were already filled with tears, which flowed uncontrollably like a leaking valve, soaking through one sheet of paper after another.
It's ridiculous; she thought she wouldn't be moved by anything anymore.
But seeing Lin Suihuan, the passionate person who always silently memorized lines on set and pondered acting countless times at home, standing on the highest film awards stage in China, all rationality seemed to be buried.
She knew, of course, that this was a glamorous arena of fame and fortune.
But the more he learned, the more he felt compelled to send all his people to the mountaintop.
She could barely hear Lin Suihuan's thank-you speech.
"Thank you to the director, thank you to the producer, thank you to the actors I worked with, thank you to my parents..." She continued with her usual thank-you speech until the very end, "Thank you to my agent, Yun Daixi, who found me in the crowd and brought me into the world of film."
On the big screen, she waved the trophy and looked in Yun Daixi's direction.
Mr. Gu, who was in the front row, also turned his head and looked this way.
Yun Daixi covered her tear-stained makeup with a piece of paper and smiled as she waved to the camera.
Her face occupied most of the screen, and Gu Li'an felt as if a needle was pricking her heart.
He had been looking forward to seeing Yun Daixi cry in the room, but now that it was actually happening in front of him, he felt no pleasure whatsoever.
After the awards ceremony ended, Jiang Xianxian left first, leaving Lin Suihuan to be the star of the night.
She was surrounded by reporters, her face, which seemed to have a story to tell, illuminated by flashes of light and microphones.
After answering some of the anticipated questions, Yun Daixi helped Lin Suihuan into the car.
A familiar reporter, as if greeting a good friend, suddenly exclaimed, "Sister Daixi, may your love with Chi Muye last forever!"
Yun Daixi turned to look at her and waved in response, "No problem!"
His gaze, however, fell on the man in the black suit behind the reporter, surrounded by a crowd, who had just walked out of the lobby.
Since Chi Muye is a thorn in your side, then dare to use this thorn to probe how deep the water beneath the ice really is.
Yun Daixi escorted Lin Suihuan home.
She carefully changed out of her dress: "Sister Daixi, this dress is so beautiful today."
Yun Daixi looked at her, her smile completely genuine: "If you like it, we'll buy it to commemorate the first Best Actress I've mentored."
Only after saying it did I realize what kind of domineering CEO-like boast I was spouting.
Lin Suihuan came out after changing into her pajamas, looking genuinely reluctant: "Sister Daixi, then really buy it. The money will be deducted from the contract at the back, and I'll buy it myself."
"Yes." Yun Daixi nodded. "The best thing is to get what you like yourself."
She entered the entertainment industry in her teens, starting from playing minor roles to where she is today. She has sacrificed so much. Yun Daixi is preparing to say goodbye and give herself a night to herself.
Lin Suihuan hugged her tightly, with all her might: "Sister Daixi, without you, no one in the company would have reached their current position."
She knew this, which is why she felt a stubborn streak when Gu Lian spoke so casually about buying it for a pittance that was nothing to him.
They even felt disdain, thinking that someone who had nothing was nothing more than a money-printing machine.
-
The news sparked a frenzy of discussion that very evening. Yun Daixi scrolled through various messages, and everything seemed somewhat unreal.
A New Year's issue of two top magazines.
Global concerts.
Best Actress.
There are also countless variety shows featuring celebrities that are perfect for watching while eating.
She nestled in the covers and asked herself, "Yun Daixi, is this enough?"
There was no response in my heart.
I don't know if it was because she was tired from crying today, but she fell into a deep sleep on the sofa not long after.
-
Once a parabola reaches its peak, it is destined to fall.
The next day, Yun Daixi woke up to the sound of a phone call; it was Uncle Li Yi'an.
His voice was urgent: "Daixi, do you have any tax problems?"
Her hands trembled slightly: "What?"
If such problems are indeed found, her company is destined to close down. I wonder which rival she has offended this time.
After hanging up the phone and opening the news, I saw that my company's tax evasion of 500 million yuan was trending on the hot search list, with a bright red "hot" character at the top.
The phone kept ringing.
She thought she would wake up at a higher mountaintop, but she didn't expect that at this altitude, she would be almost lacking oxygen due to the thin air.
After hanging up all the other calls, without even having time to look through her contacts, she dialed Gu Li'an's number directly.
The other end answered after only one ring: "Hello."
There was no time for beating around the bush, so Yun Daixi asked directly, "Did you do this? Just to ruin me?"