Chapter 11: Umbrella in the Rainy Night
Shen Jixing’s team, despite having a top-tier, aloof superstar, was inherently somewhat arrogant.
They rarely paid attention to other artists in the industry.
But Fang Siqian was strange.
How strange?
In Pei Ming’s words, disgustingly strange.
When Shen Jixing arrived at the venue, he happened to see Pei Ming being turned away by YC staff.
The male staff member, in a tight-fitting suit and heavy makeup, was arrogant: “Sorry, sir, our spokesperson said he doesn’t like to be disturbed before the event, so unauthorized personnel are not allowed entry.”
Pei Ming: “………………”
He was a straight, thirty-year-old man who almost caught a cold from the damp wind.
He frowned, “Can you speak properly?”
The staff member glared at him, “What? You say that again?”
Pei Ming was too lazy to listen to his plastic English.
He replied in pure, unadulterated Mandarin, “You’re a complete idiot.”
The staff member seemed to have heard something unbelievable.
He stamped his foot while fluttering his fingers, “You, you…”
The man had already turned and left without looking back.
His tall, strong back was quite manly; he pursed his lips and snorted heavily.
Shen Jixing honked his horn.
Pei Ming stopped, walking towards him; he was surprised to see Shen Jixing.
Covering half of the car window, he lowered his voice, “Damn, how did you get here?”
Shen Jixing glanced at the people outside the event, all gathered in front of the live broadcast; no one would notice this corner hidden by the shadows of the trees.
He retorted, “Could I not come?”
Wasn’t the other party’s elaborate arrangements just to attract his attention?
Pei Ming said in frustration, “It’s useless even if you’re here. He’s well-prepared and has already made arrangements. Our team can’t get in no matter what we try.”
Shen Jixing looked at him, “Knowing you couldn’t get in, why did you still go?”
He had clearly witnessed the whole thing, his cold eyes showing a hint of amusement.
Pei Ming really didn’t want to think about it, clicking his tongue, “Wasn’t I trying my luck?”
He opened the passenger door and got in.
He sighed, “Your rival really has some skill.”
Even after the vice president had warned him, it was useless; the other party’s preparations weren’t a day or two, even the cooperating brands were ones they had rejected.
“Rival?”
Shen Jixing calmly raised his eyes, “Do I even have a rival?”
Pei Ming suddenly felt this tone was familiar.
Xiong Xiong returned to the car with warm breakfast, handing it to the people in the front seats. Then, he glanced at Pei Ming, blinking his innocent, big eyes.
He said: “Brother Shen doesn’t know Fang Siqian.”
Pei Ming: “…?”
Xiong Xiong had the same expression at the time.
He hadn’t heard any response on the phone call that morning, and cautiously asked in a low voice, “Brother, what are you thinking about?”
Could it be that Fang Siqian really irritated him this time?
After a while, Shen Jixing’s voice came from the receiver.
“I’m thinking,” he said calmly and slowly, “Who is Fang Siqian?”
Xiong Xiong: “…?”
This Fang Siqian.
Even Xiong Xiong, a dull and simple assistant, found him annoying.
Fang Siqian debuted two years later than Brother Shen, but followed the same path.
To put it nicely, it’s the same path; Xiong Xiong won’t say the less nice version.
However, their team didn’t notice him at the time.
This path wasn’t smooth for Fang Siqian; he spent a lot of resources but didn’t become popular, instead living in the shadow of Brother Shen.
Until two years ago, he changed his strategy and cultivated a “warm man” persona.
He became famous overnight by holding an umbrella for a blind female fan on a rainy night.
He gained a large number of loyal female fans and successfully entered the first-tier ranks.
“Umbrella in the rainy night?” Shen Jixing suddenly chuckled softly.
Xiong Xiong nodded, leaning against the back of the seat, “Actually, that photo was quite touching. The light and shadow in the rainy night were captured perfectly; it has a sense of fateful redemption. Who wouldn’t like such an idol?”
It directly elevated a nobody into a top-tier celebrity.
Pei Ming knocked his head, “What side are you on?”
Xiong Xiong covered his head, “I’m wrong, I’m wrong.”
Shen Jixing seemed to flash back to a certain wet, broken rainy night. Calmly lowering his eyes, he took a bite of a sandwich, his eyelashes drooping in a sharp, beautiful curve, and spoke softly, “Continue.”
The continuation wasn’t so pleasant.
Logically, Fang Siqian’s successful rise to the top should be considered a success.
But he started doing some shady things.
He began buying a large number of negative articles to compare himself to Shen Jixing.
Shen Jixing was indifferent and distant; he was warm and gentle.
Shen Jixing was cold and taciturn; he was enthusiastic and amiable.
Pei Ming was so angry he slammed his fist on the desk in the office and cursed: “He’s not famous, but he loves to leech off others.”
But Fang Siqian’s image was too good, so many people defended him, and Shen Jixing’s status was too high for them to speak casually.
In the end, the unscrupulous marketing accounts who took the money were scolded.
“That’s it?” Shen Jixing asked.
Pei Ming repeated, “That’s it? Isn’t that enough?”
Shen Jixing put the half-eaten sandwich back in the bag and casually picked up the warm milk and took a sip.
His voice was sparse and flat, “I thought it was someone of higher caliber.”
“…”
Isn’t this high caliber enough?
Quietly collecting a lot of negative information they didn’t even know about, using brands hostile to them for publicity.
It’s sickening.
Shen Jixing calmly looked at the live broadcast venue outside the window, vaguely seeing reporters with cameras waiting in formation.
He calmly said, “Isn’t this just the simplest form of envy, jealousy, and hatred?”
These vulgar words came out of his mouth, but Pei Ming somehow heard a fairy-like quality in them.
“What do you mean?” He didn’t understand.
Shen Jixing leaned back leisurely, changing to a comfortable position to watch the live broadcast.
“Literal meaning.”
Fang Siqian might have genuinely envied and admired him, wanting to imitate his every move and walk the same path he walked.
But the entertainment industry is unpredictable, filled with glamour and numerous storms.
Few people can maintain their true selves in such a place.
They only forget the path they came from.
…
Pei Ming wanted to say something more, but Shen Jixing looked out the window, “It’s starting.”
Pei Ming could only keep silent.
Xiong Xiong gently poked Shen Jixing’s shoulder, “Brother, you only ate half a sandwich; eat some more.”
Shen Jixing glanced at his sincere and worried round eyes, then avoided them.
He refused: “It’s not delicious.”
“…”
“Welcome everyone to the YC Jewelry’s two-year anniversary launch event.”
On the outdoor stage, the host held the microphone and spoke eloquently, “Let me warmly introduce our YC brand’s sole spokesperson—Fang Siqian, Mr. Fang.”
The audience erupted in applause.
A man in a white suit walked out of the shadows, his black hair neatly styled. The sunlight cast a shadow behind him, giving people a strange feeling.
This styling…it’s like Shen Yingdi (Shen, the actor).
But the moment he stepped out of the light, everyone became clear.
Ah, no.
That face is so perfect that the entertainment industry can’t produce a second one.
Fang Siqian saw their expressions and his face turned cold and sullen, clearly annoyed: “…”