Chapter 42: Marriage First, Love Later, and a Side of Scumbag Crushing 20 part 1
Kenny wanted to say more, but Gu Youchen had already strode away.
He chased after him for a couple of steps, but Gu Youchen simply opened the door of the car waiting at the entrance and got in.
A security guard stepped in front of Kenny, blocking his path. “I’m sorry, sir, but this is President Gu’s private vehicle.”
The Gu Corporation building was located in a bustling area with many people coming and going, and quite a few of them looked over at the commotion.
Kenny felt as if he had been slapped hard across the face; his cheeks burned with humiliation.
He was Si Luoqing’s manager. When she first returned from abroad, how glorious had things been?
The company had groomed her, sent her abroad to train as an idol trainee, and then debuted her. Although her domestic popularity wasn’t at the very top, she at least had several hit songs occupying major charts.
But in just half a month, everything had taken a sharp turn for the worse!
The Si family was failing, Si Luoqing was failing, and now he, her manager, was losing face right at the doorstep of the Gu Corporation!
Kenny hurriedly shielded his face, terrified that a passerby might recognize him, take a photo, and post it on Weibo.
He found a secluded corner before finally raising his phone to his ear. “Luoqing—”
Si Luoqing had been waiting anxiously. She didn’t even ask if Kenny had managed to catch Gu Youchen. Instead, she demanded, “Kenny, tell me the truth. Have I been shelved by the company?”
Kenny’s heart skipped a beat, but he still tried to hedge. “Luoqing, what are you talking about?”
“The women in our circle are all laughing at me,” Si Luoqing said. “They say I’ve been shelved. They look at me with pity and charity, but in reality, they’re practically clapping their hands in celebration!”
Kenny took a deep breath. “How did they find out?”
The higher-ups had promised not to tell Si Luoqing…
No, they only said they wouldn’t tell her, they never said they wouldn’t leak the news to others!
Knowing the tide had turned, Kenny admitted it. “Yes, President Zhao said so. That’s why we have to seize the opportunity at the art exhibition this afternoon!”
Si Luoqing’s breath trembled. “My contract still has four and a half years left. If I’m shelved now, I really won’t have any future!”
She was already twenty-six. If she came back at thirty, having always marketed herself with a sweet, lady-like image, combined with the rapid turnover in the entertainment industry and the lack of backing from the Si family, her future would be… bleak.
“That’s exactly why, Luoqing, today is probably our last chance,” Kenny said. “We have to fight with our backs against the wall!”
Si Luoqing gritted her teeth. “Okay.”
She stood in front of the mirror again and noticed her eyes were a little red. She tried hard to calm herself down, but her hands and feet were still trembling slightly.
She thought of what Ning Qingqing had said earlier, and a strong sense of absurdity rose in her heart—
Could it be that Ning Qingqing knew something, or had even helped push things to this point?
In the afternoon, after Ning Qingqing finished her due diligence and returned to the company, she got off work early to accompany Tan Xizhou to the art exhibition.
At the same time, Li Lan and Director Guo were chatting.
Li Lan guided Director Guo through the gallery, explaining the background and ideas behind each of her creations, and they chatted happily.
Stopping in front of one painting, Director Guo said, “Teacher Li, the protagonist of my next film is also an oil painter. Would it be possible to borrow a few of your works for the shoot?”
Li Lan nodded. “Of course, no problem. I also hope more people can understand oil painting. Since domestic interest started late in this area, there is indeed a gap compared to development abroad.”
Director Guo was delighted. “That’s wonderful! I promise we will protect them carefully!”
Li Lan smiled. “I’ve heard for a long time that you are ‘art-obsessed,’ so I’m at ease leaving the paintings with you.”
“Indeed, movies and oil painting are my two passions!” Director Guo asked, “Teacher Li, what work are you creating now? Can you reveal anything?”
Hearing this, a proud smile appeared in Li Lan’s eyes. “I’m painting a portrait of my son and daughter-in-law.”
Director Guo was surprised. “Young Master Gu got married?”
Li Lan nodded. “Mm, they just got their marriage license. The wedding will be in a few months.”
Director Guo quickly said, “Once the date is set, you must send me an invitation!”
Li Lan agreed. “Definitely.”
Just as they were speaking, a voice suddenly interjected, feigning the surprise of a chance encounter. “Director Guo, Teacher Li, what a coincidence!”
Kenny walked over with Si Luoqing and introduced himself to the two. “Director Guo, I don’t know if you remember me. I’m Kenny. We met once when you were abroad?”
Then he turned to Li Lan. “Hello, Teacher Li. I’m Si Kenny. We met at a charity dinner you sponsored a while back.”
Naturally, neither Li Lan nor Director Guo recognized such a person, but out of politeness and grace, they nodded slightly.
Kenny persisted, “This is Si Luoqing from the Si family. She was singing abroad before. perhaps you two have heard her songs—”
As he spoke, Si Luoqing hurriedly greeted them politely, her tone respectful.
“Hello, Director Guo! Hello, Teacher Li! I dragged my cousin, who acts as my manager, to see the art exhibition today. I didn’t expect to run into you two! Teacher Li, your paintings have given me so much inspiration…”
Li Lan and Director Guo continued to smile and nod.
Kenny began making awkward conversation. “I heard before that Director Guo loves oil painting. It’s such a coincidence, Luoqing also studied oil painting when she was abroad—”
He had found out that Director Guo was planning to film a movie where the male lead was obsessed with painting and the female lead was his student, so both leads needed to know how to paint.
He was trying hard to steer the topic toward Si Luoqing.
What kind of person was Director Guo? He understood immediately upon hearing this.
He didn’t know much about Si Luoqing’s situation, but seeing that her appearance and temperament were decent, if she really could paint, he might consider giving her a chance to audition.
However, he didn’t express any stance. He continued to nod faintly, his gaze returning to the paintings, simply not driving the two away.
Kenny thought there was hope and winked at Si Luoqing. Si Luoqing hurriedly maintained her smile, ostensibly talking to Li Lan but constantly observing Director Guo’s expression.
The two bowed slightly, keeping up the awkward chat.
Si Luoqing had never had to curry favor with anyone like this before. To get this role, she couldn’t wear a mask or sunglasses and had to expose herself to the public like this.
Consequently, she noticed people secretly taking out their phones to take photos or record videos.
She wanted to rush over and make them delete the footage, but she knew this was her only chance.
Compared to being shelved, perhaps being mocked on the trending topics was acceptable right now.
Just then, she saw Ning Qingqing walk in with a tall teenage boy.
The boy looked half a head taller than Ning Qingqing and was dressed coolly, yet he acted exceptionally obedient beside her, even a little clingy.
He tugged at Ning Qingqing’s arm, pointing ahead.
And so, the two of them walked in their direction.
Si Luoqing instantly stiffened.
She had always pretended to be magnanimous in front of Ning Qingqing. When had she ever let the other woman see her looking so servile?
It felt like her opponent was witnessing her most unbearable moment—an embarrassment so intense she wanted to curl her toes into the ground!
Coincidentally, Li Lan seemed to notice her sudden pause and turned to look.
She saw Ning Qingqing and Tan Xizhou, though the two didn’t seem to have noticed them yet.
They stopped five or six meters away. Tan Xizhou pointed at a painting, excitedly saying something to Ning Qingqing.
A small smile unconsciously appeared on Li Lan’s lips.
Si Luoqing saw it. She followed Li Lan’s gaze and then pretended to speak casually. “Does Teacher Li know that young lady? She is the girlfriend of Young Master Shen from the Shen Corporation, but she also seems to know Young Master Gu. She has a pretty good relationship with Young Master Gu.”
Hearing this, Li Lan finally turned her head to look at Si Luoqing seriously.
Si Luoqing smiled. “We went to the same school before, so I know her. I even saw her at the last class reunion. I’m just a little curious; I wonder how Young Master Gu knows her…”
Her words, implicitly and explicitly, painted Ning Qingqing as Shen Zhiqian’s girlfriend who was also hooking up with Gu Youchen.
How could Li Lan tolerate her son associating with such a person!
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Li Lan’s expression turned cold.
Si Luoqing cheered inwardly.
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