Chapter 357: Chapter 357 - 351: Why Is It Him?

Shi Su suddenly thought of the CP fans’ post called "Su Hello Su Hello".

Every time she and Wei Sinan appeared at the same event, even if they weren’t at the same venue or weren’t standing together, fans who produce content immediately edited photos to show them together in the same frame. For example, even if Shi Su was clearly smiling at someone else, CP fans would edit her next to Wei Sinan, making it look like the two were sweetly gazing and smiling at each other.

If they did appear at the same event and were actually together in a photo, CP fans would embrace the image, cry tears of joy, and shout, "It’s like New Year’s!"

She looked at him immediately: "Do you often secretly look at those CP fans’ pictures and texts?"

Wei Sinan smiled: "To be honest, I even got a kick out of it myself."

Shi Su: "..."

She didn’t cater to his desire to indulge in his own CP fantasy, instead focusing intently on arranging flowers on the table.

Both of them, being the leads, found it quite difficult to sit quietly for a while, as they barely exchanged a few words before friends from the industry or investors came to greet them. Wei Sinan, however, remained seated next to Shi Su, only occasionally standing up to chat with people, and after a few exchanges, he would return to his seat.

Shi Su also had friends coming over to chat briefly. She smiled and engaged them in conversation until Mr. Cai suddenly came over and saw her sitting there. He patted her and Wei Sinan on the shoulders, saying, "I’ve seen the list of investors, right? Jiang Jing Ru Hua, Chenxing, and Jiuxia are all major investors in our film, especially Jiang Jing Ru Hua, which invested 500 million. If there is still a funding gap in the film’s production later, they will provide additional investment. However, the president of Jiang Jing Ru Hua, Mr. Jing, is currently abroad and couldn’t attend the launch party. I managed to persuade a prominent friend in the industry to invite the head of Yu Jing Group, and Mr. Jing has graciously decided to attend today. Would you two like to join me in greeting him?"

Shi Su initially didn’t show much reaction, but Wei Sinan suddenly glanced at Shi Su.

Realizing that neither of them planned to get up immediately, contrasting with the others who were excitedly getting up upon hearing that Mr. Jing himself was present, Mr. Cai thought he hadn’t made it clear, so he added, "You two should come with me to greet Mr. Jing. Whether our film can smoothly shoot, pass censorship, and get scheduled in theaters depends on Jiang Jing Ru Hua helping to establish connections and pave the way. This is a major investor that cannot be neglected!"

"Okay." Wei Sinan got up, simultaneously signaling with his eyes for Shi Su to join him.

Shi Su seemed to leisurely be putting her phone back into her handbag, but in reality, Wei Sinan couldn’t discern her thoughts, though he knew she probably didn’t want to encounter Mr. Jing.

However, in this setting, avoiding such a meeting was impossible.

Until Shi Su finally stood up, Mr. Cai turned around to lead the way, moving toward the crowd on the left side of the banquet hall. There were quite a few industry insiders gathered together chatting. They nodded and exchanged pleasantries as they made their way to the first row on the left near the front ceremonial platform, where they saw Jing Jihan sitting at the table, conversing with an elder in the industry. The elder leaned in smilingly and spoke to him for a few moments, likely an older entrepreneur with long-standing ties to the Jing family, speaking to Jing Jihan with fondness and admiration like he would to a well-behaved child from a relative’s family seen during holidays, occasionally patting Jing Jihan’s arm, as if sharing something important.

Mr. Cai had already gone over to greet him. Jing Jihan listened but waited patiently for the elder to finish speaking, then smiled casually and turned his gaze towards Cai Hong.

Unsure of what Mr. Cai said to Jing Jihan, Shi Su and Wei Sinan had been waiting beside them for a few minutes before Jing Jihan finally looked at them.

Mr. Cai smiled and reached to pull them closer: "Mr. Jing, Wei Sinan and Shi Su are the leads in our film, portraying the male and female leads. Their professionalism in acting and their popularity are quite impressive, especially as this is their second collaboration. The adjustment period during filming won’t be too long. We are certain this film can be shot successfully."

Jing Jihan sat there without much expression, meeting Shi Su’s gaze in mid-air, but without any sadness or joy, as if looking at a stranger.

Wei Sinan spoke first: "Hello, Mr. Jing. The last time I saw you was almost two years ago in Z City. I never thought there’d be a day I’d actually collaborate with Jiang Jing Ru Hua."

Despite saying that, Wei Sinan saw Jing Jihan’s cold and unapproachable demeanor, so he didn’t embarrass himself by reaching out for a handshake, simply smiling and nodding at him.

Shi Su also dutifully presented a professional smile, similarly nodding at Jing Jihan: "Hello, Mr. Jing."

She never thought she would have another chance to meet Jing Jihan again in her lifetime. The first two encounters were merely coincidental brushes in passing, and she didn’t exchange a word with him in the hotel in the imperial capital.

But now, here they were meeting formally again.

At this moment, the man in a crisp shirt and suit sat there, not standing up just because she came over to greet him.

Indeed, they were small actors, mere financial instruments and tools in the entertainment and film industry dominated by capital, while he stood at the pinnacle of capital.

In Shi Su’s memory, Jing Jihan indeed wasn’t a person given to much laughter, but in her recollection, he was generally approachable, at least as far as her unilateral perception, never instilling fear or intimidation.

But now, while he seemed unchanged, there were parts of him that seemed different. The clearly dashing and handsome man had barely changed in a year and a half, yet the unfamiliarity and unspoken chill in his cold, stern eyes felt like a towering ice wall, making one feel cold even from afar, as if treading on an icy surface.

Jun once said, "When you’re young, never fall in love with someone who stuns the passage of time too much."

She once met him.

Why did it have to be him?

Shi Su’s face showed no fluctuation, maintaining the courteous smile an artist should have in front of investors. Inside, however, she felt submerged in a dead sea, her fingers cold and clammy, merely wanting Jing Jihan’s words to end this round of pleasantries.

Seeing Jing Jihan hadn’t spoken, Cai Hong smiled kindly: "A greeting is enough; there’s no need to be too formal. Mr. Jing is here for Mr. Jing’s sake, right? Last year, I was involved in the investment of another drama by Jiang Jing Ru Hua, though I wasn’t the main producer, merely helping a circle friend..."