Chapter 210: Chapter 210

At the end of July, as soon as the tickets for Yan Qiusheng’s solo concert went on sale, they were snapped up in seconds.

Shen Jianian had set an alarm early, but when it was time to pay, the interface froze. By the time she finally refreshed it, all the tickets were gone, not a single one left.

Even though she had mentally prepared herself, she didn’t expect this to happen.

Wearing a nightgown and shuffling in slippers, Shen Jianian rushed into Pei Che’s room, holding her phone, and asked him, "Did you manage to get the tickets?"

Pei Che had just come out of the bathroom after a shower, dressed in loose shorts and a t-shirt, with a dry towel on his shoulder for drying his hair.

Seeing his relaxed state, Shen Jianian knew there was little hope, and with slumped shoulders, she said, "I’ll check online to see if someone is willing to sell them. I’ll pay a high price."

If it doesn’t work out, she would find a scalper...

Pei Che couldn’t hold back a grin looking at her disappointed expression, bent down to pick up the phone on the sheet, unlocked the screen, and handed it to her: "Here, see for yourself."

Shen Jianian’s gaze fixed on his phone screen, showing that he managed to get two tickets, and seeing that they were front-row seats, her eyes widened. This update is available on novel⁂fire.net

"You’re amazing!" Shen Jianian, holding a phone in one hand, spread her arms and tiptoed to hug him.

The smile at Pei Che’s lips widened, and he put an arm around her waist to prevent her from falling.

Just then, her phone buzzed. Shen Jianian stepped back from Pei Che’s embrace to check the message, and after returning his phone, she said, "You rest well, I won’t bother you anymore."

Happily, Shen Jianian waved at him and left the room.

Pei Che shook his head, smiling somewhat helplessly.

After Shen Jianian left, the room fell into quiet, and Pei Che flexed his fingers; he seemed to still feel the warmth of her body lingering on his skin.

In the neighboring room, Shen Jianian sat at the edge of her bed, holding her phone in both hands to reply to a message.

Zhao Shunyi had just sent her a message, asking whether she had made up her mind about attending the wrap party.

Shen Jianian: "When is it?"

Zhao Shunyi: "Didn’t you check the group messages? It’s the day after tomorrow at 7 PM, at the Lanfeng Hotel."

Shen Jianian first checked the group messages. The director had tagged everyone, including her.

The day after tomorrow is July 30th, a Saturday. She didn’t have any plans, so she agreed.

In no time, the day arrived. A little after five in the afternoon, Shen Jianian closed her book and set it aside, starting to get ready to go out.

She didn’t dress too elaborately, finding a wine-red spaghetti strap long dress from the closet that she hadn’t worn before, paired with a thin cardigan. Her makeup was a bit more refined compared to usual.

Tonight, Pei Che had a social engagement and wouldn’t be back for dinner. Before leaving, Shen Jianian informed Zhou Ruo.

Zhou Ruo laughed and said, "That’s perfect, I have a date tonight too. We both won’t be home for dinner, it’s more convenient."

By the time Shen Jianian got into the car, it was already past six. Arriving at the entrance of the Lanfeng Hotel, it was just ten minutes to seven, so she wasn’t late.

Following the hints in the group, Shen Jianian took the elevator to the sixth-floor banquet hall, where she immediately saw many familiar faces.

Even though she had only been with everyone for five days, the crew had a great atmosphere. Besides the male and female leads, other actors also added her as a friend through the group chat.

"Jianian, you’re here?" Zhao Shunyi, holding a glass of champagne, came over to find her.

As the protagonist, Zhao Shunyi dressed quite impressively today, wearing a silver strapless gown, and her pointed heels encrusted with diamonds were equally dazzling. She handed Shen Jianian a paper cup cupcake, winking: "I just sneaked a taste of one of these cakes, trying to avoid my manager. It’s incredibly delicious."

Shen Jianian smiled, accepted the cupcake, and with a small silver spoon stuck in it, scooped a bite into her mouth. The icy and creamy texture was like ice cream: "It really is delicious."

Gu Chongli also came over to greet her. Today, he wore an elegant Hermes suit, styled his hair with a mature look, and his handsome features carried a touch of aristocratic gentlemanliness, disguising his usual talkative nature.

"I thought you wouldn’t come." As a server passed by, Gu Chongli picked a glass of champagne from the tray and handed it to Shen Jianian.

"I drink juice," Shen Jianian said.

"You should have said earlier. What do I do with this champagne? I guess I’ll have to drink it myself." At his first words, Gu Chongli’s gentlemanly charm vanished; he was still the same playful jokester.

Gu Chongli downed the champagne in one go, placing the empty glass back on the tray and fetching a cup of orange juice for Shen Jianian instead.

Shen Jianian didn’t refuse this time.

There was a sudden commotion at the entrance of the banquet hall, as if some important figure had arrived. The director, assistant director, and producers all put down their champagne to go greet them.

Shen Jianian curiously looked around and saw a man in his early forties in a khaki suit, smiling widely as he shook hands with the producer.

Zhao Shunyi glanced over and, forgetting her agent’s reminder to manage her expressions in public, couldn’t help but roll her eyes. She turned her head and whispered to Shen Jianian, "That’s the biggest investor in this film, Boss Dong, commonly known as the ’sugar daddy.’ A lecherous old man, be careful not to run into him."

Just as she finished speaking, Boss Dong started walking over with the producer and director following behind.

Boss Dong’s squinty eyes lingered on Zhao Shunyi’s face for a few seconds before settling on Shen Jianian. He asked with a smile, "Is this a newcomer? Why didn’t I see her during my last visit to the set?"

Wu Heng explained from the side, "I invited her to act in a cameo, she’s a professional cellist."

"Director Wu knows how to pick people," Boss Dong said, pointing in the air at Wu Heng with his index finger before his interest turned to Shen Jianian. "I wonder if I have the honor to hear this young lady play the cello live."

Shen Jianian tightened her grip on the wine glass and maintained a slight smile. "Sorry, I didn’t bring my cello."

"Right, right, silly me, I forgot." Seeing a beauty willing to converse, Boss Dong’s smile deepened. He raised his wine glass, which was filled with a crimson liquid, "Then, let’s have a drink."

Gu Chongli saw this and stepped in, blocking in front of Shen Jianian and holding his wine glass. He clinked glasses with Boss Dong. "I’ll drink with you, Shen Jianian can’t handle alcohol."

To show his sincerity, Gu Chongli downed his drink in one go after clinking glasses.

Boss Dong chuckled, took a small sip to show his intention, and looked past Gu Chongli’s shoulder toward Shen Jianian in her red dress. His gaze was blatant, perhaps thinking that since he was throwing money around, everyone here had to flatter him.

Moreover, Shen Jianian was a little-known figure without any background, not even considered a celebrity. He felt she should be grateful for his attention.

Wu Heng keenly sensed the atmosphere was off and made a "please" gesture to Boss Dong. "Mr. Dong, let’s go sit over there. I’ll have a few drinks with you."

Boss Dong stood still.

Cold sweat appeared on Wu Heng’s forehead. Fortunately, after a few seconds, Boss Dong began to move, heading over to the long sofa in the lounge area, where he sat with one leg crossed over the other, scanning the room before his gaze stopped on Shen Jianian’s face.

Zhao Shunyi didn’t dare breathe until they walked far away. She then let out a breath and cursed under her breath, "If it wasn’t for the fear of offending people, I’d really want to throw champagne on that shoehorn face of his, like he’s never seen a woman before! Last time he visited the set, during the crew dinner, he grabbed my butt when no one was looking. Seeing him makes me sick."

Shen Jianian lost her appetite for desserts and didn’t want to run into him again. Remembering the way Boss Dong looked at her made her uncomfortable all over.

"I’m leaving now, you all have fun." Shen Jianian made up her mind, casually placing her half-drunk fruit juice on the long dining table beside her.

Zhao Shunyi said, "You’re leaving already? There are still many buffet items that haven’t been served yet. The food at this hotel is really good."

"Let’s get together another time when we’re free." Shen Jianian smiled faintly, "I still have to make it to the bookstore before it closes to pick up a few books."

Originally, Zhao Shunyi thought of asking Shen Jianian for some cello knowledge, as her next role had been selected by her agent, and the lead female character happened to be a cellist.

As a fellow woman, Zhao Shunyi understood why Shen Jianian wanted to leave, so she didn’t insist on keeping her.

Gu Chongli felt a little anxious. His usually eloquent words failed him at this moment, and after a long pause, he only managed to say, "Why don’t you stay a bit longer? When it ends, I’ll have my assistant drive you."

Shen Jianian politely declined, "Thank you, but there’s no need to trouble you. It’s quite convenient for me to take a cab back."

She picked up her bag and left the banquet hall alone, heading to the restroom first.

When she came out, a young man in a suit stopped her and handed her a golden room card, the kind that opened the presidential suite on the top floor.

"Our boss is waiting for you upstairs," the man, seemingly a personal assistant, said in a composed manner, clearly not the first time he had done such a thing for his boss.

Shen Jianian couldn’t be bothered to speak, walked past the man, and headed for the elevator.

To her surprise, the man stretched out a hand to block the elevator, expressionless. "Miss, think carefully. You won’t get another chance ."

Shen Jianian laughed in anger, "Have I misunderstood the world, or did the world develop too fast? Refusing to be taken advantage of has become ’missing an opportunity’ according to you. What kind of reasoning is that? Did you go to school? Do you know how to write ’shame’? If you don’t move, do you believe I’ll call the police?"

The young assistant turned red and white at her words and hesitated until another voice interjected from the side, "What kind of way is that? Didn’t I tell you to treat Miss Shen properly? Didn’t understand?"

The person who came was Boss Dong, with a smile he thought was friendly, who said to Shen Jianian, "It’s my assistant who can’t speak properly. Miss Shen, don’t hold it against him. I’m investing in a film next, and I wonder if Miss Shen is available to play the lead female role. Let’s go upstairs and discuss it."