Chapter 2: Exclusive Spring Scenery

To reminisce about old affections, or to continue bed pleasures…

The condescending scrutiny was sinister and icy, like a blade pressed against the neck—too piercing.

Yet Xie Qingman seemed oblivious.

She took a delicate sip of her drink, continuing to chat and laugh with the male artist beside her under the camera’s gaze.

It wasn’t until the glass elevator reached the top floor and Ye Yansheng vanished from her peripheral vision that her demeanor cooled.

Her expression remained utterly unreadable, but the glass in her hand betrayed her—

The rich, sweet Sherry swirled in layers within the glass, mirroring her unsettled emotions.

–

The warm-up cocktail party was brief. Following the staff’s guidance, the celebrities entered the banquet via the red carpet one after another.

The order of the red carpet walk and the seating arrangements had long been finalized and distributed to everyone.

An internationally acclaimed actress, who held significant influence, was absent due to injury. Following the unwritten rule that film circles rank above television and music circles, and considering each individual’s status, the final spot was assigned to the film emperor Huo Yi, while the penultimate spot—the coveted closing act—fell to Xie Qingman, the Grand Slam television queen.

Unfortunately, some people refused to play by the rules.

When it was time for the last few attendees, a staff member approached with an apologetic expression to inform them:

Zhou Yuan, scheduled to walk right before Xie Qingman, was nowhere to be found.

Naturally, Xie Qingman’s team wasn’t about to be pushed around. They instructed the staff to keep looking.

How shameless can she be!

As soon as the staff member left, the assistant shut the door and cursed outright. What a lowlife! Just because she can’t secure her own status or make a name for herself in the industry, she has to pick on you.

I’ve seen plenty of underhanded tactics, Xie Qingman, ever composed, wasn’t angered. She simply shook her head with a faint smile. But with so many reporters here today, I never expected her to dare pull such a stunt.

The entertainment industry’s scheming rivaled palace intrigues, with open and hidden attacks beyond imagination.

Yet, when tactics were displayed so blatantly, they easily became fodder for gossip, which was why outright confrontations were usually avoided.

It seemed her retorts earlier had struck a nerve with Zhou Yuan.

The staff outside couldn’t locate Zhou Yuan, leaving the assistant fuming with indignation.

She dares to cause trouble at such a critical moment, clearly relying on her patron…

Enough, save your breath, Xie Qingman massaged her temples and leaned back on the cocktail party sofa. Call the company and have my agent contact her team.

She glanced at the time. Keep track for me. Remind me again in twenty minutes.

Qingjie? The assistant was confused.

Xie Qingman closed her eyes, feigning rest, her tone still light and almost gentle:

Does Zhou Yuan think snatching the finale from me only undermines my face?

–

News spread like wildfire.

In contrast to Xie Qingman’s calm outside the venue, whispers filled the banquet hall.

What’s going on with Zhou Yuan’s team?No idea, but disappearing at a time like this is basically announcing to the world that she’s trying to steal the spotlight from Xie Qingman.

Unfortunately, the red carpet battle isn’t just about pride—it’s about future resources, someone analyzed with a smile. The finale isn’t something you can graciously give away out of generosity. How will Xie Qingman save face?

Tsk, we’re in for a show tonight.

A few remarks drifted over to the VIC seating area.

Jiang Yan approached in her high heels. It seems your little girl has run into trouble tonight.

Ye Yansheng didn’t respond.

His gaze lowered slightly, his wrist resting idly to the side, his bent knuckles lightly tapping the table.

Tap. Then another tap.

The rhythmic knocking matched the steady beat of his heart, neither hurried nor slow, yet grating on the nerves.

Jiang Yan leaned in slightly with a playful smile. Want me to create an opportunity for you to play the hero saving the beauty?

Below the stage, shifting lights and shadows cast the man’s features into hazy darkness. His sharp jawline stood out more distinctly, his profile more sculpted—stern and brooding. This ominous aura felt piercingly out of place amidst the surrounding laughter and murmurs.

Ye Yansheng lifted his eyelids briefly before leaning back. Feel free to play matchmaker elsewhere, he said indifferently.

Don’t set me up for trouble, Jiang Yan raised an eyebrow. Owing you a favor is one thing, but slapping someone in the face? That’s just asking for enemies.

Her smile carried hidden meaning. After all, that Young Master Zeng who’s been ‘cultivating’ the actress is known for holding grudges. I’d rather not have him coming after me later.

The word rather sounded disingenuous, but today’s incident had clearly crossed Ye Yansheng.

Then invite him over, he said with deceptive casualness, a knife-edged smile playing on his lips. I’d like to see which Young Master Zeng we’re talking about.

–

Someone was destined to lose face tonight.

Both inside and outside the venue, bets were placed on the red carpet incident ending in mutual destruction with neither side saving face:

After all, the one stealing the final spot was shameless, while the one being stolen from would be humiliated.

Yet within fifteen minutes, Xie Qingman unexpectedly appeared on the red carpet.

Had she conceded?

Speculation ran rampant, but answers came quickly.

TOAO’s director Jiang Yan and Milan’s fashion mogul Archie personally came to receive her. Camera flashes erupted instantly, and soon Xie Qingman entered the venue just two steps behind the Film Emperor, almost simultaneously.

Even a fool could sense what was happening now.

The struggle for the final spot happened every year, making it neither major nor minor:

Handled well, you’d only offend one person while stealing the spotlight;

Handled poorly, both the organizers and subsequent teams would be displeased.

Clearly, today the Film Emperor had no intention of letting a troublemaker close the show for him; while TOAO would only see the instigator as slapping them in the face.

By the time Zhou Yuan’s team realized what was happening and tried to salvage the situation—

The red carpet had already been removed.

This resounding slap in the face not only stunned Zhou Yuan, but left everyone else speechless.

Under the camera’s gaze, celebrities must maintain composure and appear detached regardless of inner turmoil. But idle staff and paparazzi inside the venue enjoyed front-row seats to the drama, with explosive news spreading through limited circles.

Removed?!

My god, am I hearing correctly? Is TOAO really being this disrespectful, removing the red carpet entirely?

Don’t forget, TOAO changed leadership long ago. The director appointed last year is a genuine blue blood—you think she’s someone to trifle with?

That’s different. Behind Zhou Yuan… the gossiper lowered their voice, is that Zeng family scion. How many in the Beijing Circle dare not show him respect? And remember when Xie Qingman got suddenly replaced in her first film? Looks like she offended someone.

Whether she offended someone or not, how do you know Xie Qingman doesn’t have backing herself?

Someone nearby sneered, Back then she was just a freshman with no connections, yet landed the female lead in a famous director’s film. Who’d believe there was nothing shady about that?

A collective intake of breath surrounded them, followed by an eerie silence.

Besides, our beloved Best Actress—she’d even do explosion scenes herself. To perfect a three-minute shot, she’d stand in pouring rain for half an hour. Isn’t she considered the industry standard for professionalism?

But since her debut, she always uses camera angles for kissing scenes and body doubles for intimate scenes. Guess why?

Enough already. Using angles for kissing scenes and doubles for intimate scenes are trivial matters, hardly worth mentioning, someone who had been listening nearby scoffed dismissively, cutting straight to the point with a light tone. If you ask me—

The real skill lies in making the entire industry keep silent about it.

Why didn’t you tell me you had an ace up your sleeve? Had I known the fashion circle would back you, I wouldn’t have proposed resource exchanges when contacting Huo Yi’s team.

Her agent sent frantic messages.

No.

Just lucky.

Although Xie Qingman had already anticipated the red carpet situation—knowing her agent was capable of persuading the film emperor, making it easy to handle—she hadn’t expected TOAO and Archie to proactively extend an olive branch, and to slap back so fiercely at that.

It almost felt like they were avenging her.

But she didn’t need to guess to understand the key point—in the Imperial City, those who dared undermine the authority behind Zhou Yuan could be counted on one hand.

This was somewhat amusing.

His protective attitude made it seem as if he cherished her deeply, if not for the fact that she knew… Xie Qingman’s gaze darkened slightly.

After completing the red carpet procedures—signing, photos, and press Q&A—her companions Jiang Yan and Archie had already left, replaced by staff guiding her:

Miss Xie, please come with me.

Xie Qingman paid little attention, glancing down at her phone where a new message had just appeared.

Just two concise words:

Come here.

That commanding tone, like issuing an ultimatum, was all too familiar to her.

Xie Qingman suddenly grew alert.

Only then did she notice the staff was leading her in a different direction from her originally assigned seating area—

toward the front row of Section S.

Today’s venue seated celebrities and most industry professionals starting from Section A. Section S had only two rows, arranged like a tea reception, reserved for various capital representatives.

Sis Qing, what’s wrong? Her assistant naturally noticed the seating change too, but moving to the front row wasn’t a bad thing, so she didn’t think much of it.

She just found Xie Qingman particularly unusual today.

Xie Qingman remained silent.

At the far end of her vision lay impenetrable shadows, while the stage lights gradually spilled over the audience.

Ye Yansheng sat there.

Perhaps it was the habit of those in power—requiring neither words nor actions to exert an intangible pressure.

Jiang Yan beside him tilted her head with a light laugh, seemingly teasing about something.

Xie Qingman let out a soft hmph of breath.

She tossed her phone to the assistant, brushed past the staff, and walked toward her originally assigned seat.

Miss Xie? The staff member, unprepared for her sudden turnaround, froze. You can’t…

Under the cameras and watchful eyes, stopping her was inappropriate, but letting her leave would make reporting difficult. The staff member’s expression shifted repeatedly, caught between a rock and a hard place.

Surrounding glances only multiplied.

Everyone in this circle was seasoned, understanding the red carpet affairs implicitly. Yet curious, disdainful, indifferent, and amused gazes—intentional or not—swept over Xie Qingman.

What did Xie Qingman care about these?

Walking gracefully in her 12cm stilettos, she elegantly took her seat in the originally assigned spot.

Like a pristine, ethereal white camellia.

–

After the opening came a fashion show and performance, followed by routine speeches—nothing particularly exciting.

Feeling stifled, Xie Qingman seized the opportunity to step out and answer a phone call, taking a moment to breathe before planning to return just in time.

On her way back, there was an additional presence.

The corridor was dimly lit.

A man held a cigarette between his lips, his tall frame blending into the impenetrable shadows.

Pale grey smoke drifted upward, partially obscuring his sharply defined features—his strong nose bridge and slightly narrowed eyes exuding an air of cold detachment.

Xie Qingman didn’t even glance in his direction.

Seeing her determined to act as if he didn’t exist, Ye Yansheng narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression chillingly grim.

As they brushed past each other, the man spoke:

Xie Qingman.

He called her name, his voice cold and detached, betraying no emotion yet carrying an undeniable pressure.

Even without another word, she knew he expected her to obediently turn back.

There was a hint of coercion in it.

Xie Qingman didn’t move.

The standoff lasted barely two seconds before Ye Yansheng narrowed his eyes and extinguished his cigarette.

He abruptly stepped forward, seized her wrist, and forcibly pulled her into a secluded corner.

Are you pretending not to know me?

The fire escape was deserted and silent, but the emptiness amplified every sound.

No, Xie Qingman replied calmly.

After a few seconds of locking eyes with him, scenes from the evening and past encounters flashed through her mind.

A faint smile touched her lips, her tone equally light, I just didn’t want to spoil your mood. After all, you didn’t seem to have time for me tonight.

That was just like Xie Qingman.

Her attitude remained gentle, her tone perfectly composed, appearing more docile and tender than anyone. Yet in the current atmosphere, it was clear how sarcastic her words were.

Each one a soft yet cutting remark.

Ye Yansheng was irritated by her repeated use of you as a formal address. He let out a faint, derisive sound, his patience worn thin.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and neck, swiftly pressing her against the wall as he leaned in. His lowered gaze was icy, his eyes like shards of a winter night—sharp and merciless.

When Xie Qingman struggled slightly, he easily suppressed her movement.

Thud—

Her back met the wall of the fire escape, and Xie Qingman gasped inwardly, wanting to curse, It hurts.

Clearly, someone like Ye Yansheng had no tolerance for affectation. He ignored her complaint and saw no need for reasoning.

He resorted to direct action.

What are you doing? The close proximity made Xie Qingman’s slender back tense, a flicker of discomfort crossing her.

Sensing her momentary stiffness and barely perceptible nervousness, Ye Yansheng felt a surge of satisfaction.

His cold fingers brushed her cheek, patting it lightly twice, Catching up with you.

The gesture was far too flirtatious.

Xie Qingman’s ears tingled with discomfort. Struggling now would be futile, so she remained still.

She looked at him, amused, Catching up?

Just below the left side of his Adam’s apple, there was a faint scar, its presence overshadowed by a Buddha pendant on a Snake Bone Chain, hidden beneath his collar.

—Only at an intimately close distance, like that of entangled embraces, could that mark be clearly seen.

Xie Qingman raised her hand and, guided by memory, bypassed the pendant, her fingertip lightly tracing over the scar before stopping:

So tonight, are you looking to reminisce about old times with me, or to resume our bed pleasures?

P.S. The prologue ends here, and the main story begins in the next chapter. Characters from the same series, such as He Jiu, Gu Rao, Ye Man, and Li Guangbai, will appear later. The early stages focus on developing the story of the Male and Female Lead and setting the background. The characters will naturally appear at the appropriate time.

[Purple Heart] Please bookmark my next book, Endless Beijing Summer—

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