Chapter 3
As expected, Zhao Yu walked away empty-handed from this awards ceremony, playing the role of a “friendly audience member” throughout the event and helping to amplify its grand and lively atmosphere.
Lin Zhi felt no regret over this; after all, given Zhao Yu’s current seniority and skill level, being a perennial runner-up was only to be expected. Nevertheless, it was undeniable that Zhao Yu possessed immense potential—his distinctive voice, striking appearance, and innate musical talent meant that fame was merely a matter of time.
It was precisely for this reason that Lin Zhi had brought Zhao Yu along with her today. Otherwise, given his status, he would likely have been relegated to the farthest corner of the venue, probably not appearing in a single camera shot the entire night, making his attendance utterly pointless.
At this awards gala, Gu Yi was undoubtedly the biggest winner.
With the theme song “Dreaming of You,” Gu Yi swept the awards that night, taking home ‘Best Song,’ ‘Best Male Singer,’ ‘Best Singer-Songwriter,’ and ‘Most Popular Male Singer’… it was nothing short of a grand slam.
Lin Zhi didn’t need to guess; she knew Gu Yi’s name was already dominating the trending searches by now.
Gu Yi was exceptional—a fact Lin Zhi had known clearly since childhood.
Even in elementary school, he was the most popular figure in his class, let alone during middle and high school. At those ages, when boys and girls are navigating the bewildering throes of adolescence, they instinctively gravitate toward those who are more beautiful and more outstanding. It was for this reason that Gu Yi bore the title of “school hunk” year after year.
Lin Zhi has always been someone who knew exactly what she wanted since childhood.
She wanted Gu Yi, unilaterally claiming him as her own possession. But reality proved that perhaps they were never meant to belong to each other.
……
After the awards ceremony came a banquet for networking among the industry’s elite.
Such banquets are off-limits to the media; only capitalists and celebrities ranked third-tier or above are granted access.
Given Zhao Yu’s status, he should have obediently returned home by car immediately after the awards ceremony concluded. In reality, however, Lin Zhi had brought him along specifically for the post-ceremony party. Leveraging his role as Lin Zhi’s male companion, Zhao Yu successfully stepped into a higher echelon of society. Watching the so-called ‘big shots’ coming and going, his heart hammered like a small drum, pounding relentlessly.
At this point, if Zhao Yu still failed to grasp what his CEO Lin intended, he would truly be a fool.
Though it seemed incredible, this CEO Lin beside him indeed appeared intent on promoting his career. Thus, Zhao Yu instinctively straightened his spine, a flicker of determination flashing in his eyes as he silently vowed: He must seize this opportunity and not disappoint CEO Lin’s expectations of him.
Zhao Yu possessed striking looks, and Lin Zhi had specifically instructed Chen Rui to hire a designer for his styling. Dressed head-to-toe in the latest luxury brands, his arrival at the venue immediately drew the attention of numerous investors and industry peers.
Yet, in truth, the majority of eyes remained fixed on Lin Zhi.
In the business world, nothing is more taboo than lagging information. Even before Lin Zhi’s return to China, domestic counterparts had already caught wind of the news.
Lin Zhi: once the young mistress of the Lin family, now the CEO of Shengjia, and—more significantly—a major shareholder of the Z·L Group.
The Lin family was once a dominant force, and Sheng Jia was the entertainment empire they had built from the ground up.
But seven years ago, a car accident claimed the lives of both Lin elders. Just as outsiders were still sighing over the tragedy, news broke that Sheng Jia had been acquired by the Z·L Group, sending shockwaves through the city. Overnight, the landscape shifted dramatically: the eldest Miss Lin departed for studies abroad, and the Lin family consequently vanished from the domestic scene.
Those who witnessed those events firsthand could not help but lament, “How impermanent life truly is.”
Yet no one could have anticipated that during those seven years, the eldest Miss Lin had been biding her time overseas. By the time everyone else realized what was happening, her net worth had already surpassed that of nearly everyone present.
After all the twists and turns, Shengjia has ultimately returned to its owner’s hands. Although Shengjia no longer holds its former glory, given Lin Zhi’s tactics and talent, it may well scale the peaks once again in the near future. When that day comes, the history of this industry might just be rewritten.
Everyone in this circle makes their living here; they regard Lin Zhi’s return with both apprehension and expectation.
There will be collaborations and competitions ahead, but establishing connections early can only benefit them.
In no time, Lin Zhi became the talk of the venue, with several executives and producers approaching her for conversation from time to time. Meanwhile, Zhao Yu, standing beside Lin Zhi, was also recognized by many.
In the corner of the venue, Gu Yi stood in the shadows, leaning against the wall, his expression reverting to the cold detachment he reserved for solitude. His brows were slightly furrowed, as if weighed down by a quiet irritation.
He had always detested such occasions filled with pretense and hollow pleasantries. While others vied desperately to become the center of attention, Gu Yi would invariably retreat to a secluded spot first, lingering for half an hour before making his exit.
Shen Caowen searched nearly half the venue before finally catching sight of the hem of Gu Yi’s coat. Rushing to his side, he felt as though he had stepped across an invisible barrier… Outside lay the bustling clamor of the banquet, while inside existed only Gu Yi’s personal realm of ‘tranquil serenity’.
Although he knew his artist disliked such gatherings, hiding in a corner the moment they arrived was truly unmatched.
At this awards ceremony, Gu Yi was undoubtedly the center of attention. Many people in the venue were eagerly seeking news about him; along his path alone, he had been stopped three or four times. If anyone discovered Gu Yi hiding in the corner, who knows what gossip might spread.
“Come on, can’t you just treat it as work and fulfill your duties seriously?” Shen Caowen complained.
Gu Yi slightly raised an eyebrow, glanced at his agent’s distressed expression, then calmly looked away.
“Not interested.”
As soon as the words left his lips, the man glanced down at the watch on his wrist again, his tone laced with impatience as he spoke once more: “When can we leave?”
“Boss, you’ve only been here for less than fifteen minutes!” After Shen Caowen finished speaking, he noticed the faint hint of hostility brewing between Gu Yi’s brows. After a long pause, he helplessly compromised: “How about another fifteen minutes? We’ll just stay in the venue for a full half-hour.”
Hearing this, the furrow between Gu Yi’s eyebrows softened slightly, as if he had agreed to the request.
Shen Caowen breathed a subtle sigh of relief and continued, “Then come out with me now for a quick round; we’ll exchange greetings with everyone, and once that’s done, we’ll leave immediately.”
Gu Yi’s expression grew even colder. He despised such meaningless socializing, yet in this circle, he was merely a star named ‘Gu Yi.’ Without the status of the Gu family’s eldest young master, if he, as an ordinary artist, were to truly cast aside all social niceties, it would border on ingratitude.
He was indeed willful, but certainly not foolish.
After a moment, the man straightened his posture; the chill in his eyes softened slightly, as if he were gradually slipping back into that perfect mask.
Seeing this, Shen Caowen nodded with satisfaction, then immediately slung an arm around Gu Yi’s shoulders, as if afraid he might bolt, and guided him toward the center of the venue.
Although Gu Yi stood at 1.23 meters—half a head shorter than him—he could still manage the brotherly gesture of slinging an arm around his shoulder.
However, they had barely taken a few steps when the man beside him suddenly halted, immovable no matter how hard Shen Caowen pushed…
“No way! Gu Yi, don’t you dare play dirty with me!” Shen Caowen snapped, turning around in anger, only to freeze momentarily upon meeting Gu Yi’s gaze.
This was the first time Shen Caowen had ever witnessed Gu Yi lose control of his emotions in front of anyone else.
The man’s almond-shaped eyes were fixed rigidly on the distance, their depths burning crimson. His expression was taut, veins bulging across his forehead as if he had witnessed something utterly inconceivable; even his breathing grew heavy and ragged.
Shen Caowen knew that Gu Yi was naturally cold by disposition, yet he always wore a mask of ‘gentlemanliness’ before fans and others. Consequently, no one in the industry who had worked with him ever found him difficult to get along with.
But now, that mask had fallen away. The chaotic aura radiating from his entire being made Shen Caowen, standing right beside him, tremble with dread.
“Gu Yi…?” he called out weakly, but the other man gave Shen Caowen not the slightest reaction.
Shen Caowen followed Gu Yi’s gaze. Though the hall was crowded and spotting a specific person should have been difficult, the moment his eyes scanned the crowd, they were instinctively drawn to the woman standing at its center…
She wore a black backless mermaid gown that revealed her flawless, snow-white shoulder blades and slender waist. Her skin, as pale as congealed snow, complemented the evening dress perfectly, glowing radiantly under the lights.
Her face bore exquisite makeup; every slight frown or smile exuded endless charm, along with an elegance and haughtiness that seemed to emanate from her very bones.
The instant Shen Caowen laid eyes on her, a flicker of awe inevitably passed through his own gaze.
The woman was a stranger, but based on the recent intelligence Shen Caowen had gathered, it took only moments to deduce her identity.
“Who is she?” Gu Yi suddenly spoke, his voice rough with strain, like a dying resistance before a storm, laced with a sense of ruin.
His hands, resting at his sides, had unknowingly clenched into fists; the sharp pain in his palms was nothing compared to the turmoil raging within him.
Only heaven knew how much effort it had taken for him to maintain this semblance of composure.
Shen Caowen felt a flicker of doubt but still replied, “It must be the newly appointed CEO of Sheng Yu. I’d heard before that she was a young woman, but I never expected that upon meeting her today, she would actually look…”
So beautiful.
Before Shen Caowen could finish his sentence, Gu Yi, standing beside him, suddenly moved. He strode directly toward the woman with long, purposeful steps.
The man’s retreating figure cut through the biting wind, radiating such a ferocious, deadly aura that it seemed as though he were going to claim a life. Terrified, Shen Caowen hurriedly followed after him…
Good heavens, what in the world is happening?!
The crowd surrounding Lin Zhi was suddenly parted, and as the man appeared abruptly before her eyes, a flicker passed through Lin Zhi’s gaze. The corners of her lipstick-stained lips tightened slightly, yet the next moment, she smiled even more brightly at his gloomy face—
“Long time no see.”