Chapter 133: The Languid Woman

Early the next morning, Su Chen was awakened by the bustling noise drifting up from downstairs.

He opened the window and looked out. The ground below had already been laid with red carpets, and celebrities were arriving at the venue one after another. Those who had arrived early were gathered in small groups, socializing.

After washing up, he took out the formal wear Jiang Yan had prepared for him and tied his bowtie. He checked himself in the mirror several times, satisfied only when he was certain everything was perfect, and smoothed his hair before heading out. He had originally intended to wear his own suit, but Jiang Yan had insisted that because the company was collaborating with a specific brand, the attire provided was mandatory for the team. He was happy to follow the rules.

As his fingers brushed over the fabric, he could tell the quality of this suit was leagues ahead of his own. In his previous life, he had moved through various social circles and his closet had been stuffed with high-end clothing, so he knew the caliber of a garment the moment he touched it. He had simply grown weary of such superficial things later on. Yet, wearing it again after so long, he felt as though he had rediscovered a sense of his former self.

The entertainment industry is a vanity fair. Among the crowd downstairs were faces familiar from every screen. However, a closer look revealed that the legendary singers or those with high industry status were surrounded by throngs of people. Meanwhile, the ordinary singers stood in scattered, disjointed circles, chatting away. Some newcomers stood awkwardly on their own, scanning the area for a group to join. Occasionally, someone would acknowledge them, and they would be visibly thrilled.

Su Chen was an even more extreme case—no one recognized him at all. But he felt no embarrassment, nor did he have any intention of trying to network. He wove through the clusters of people, heading toward the spot he had agreed upon with Jiang Yan. Now and then, he caught surprised glances from the crowd, which left him feeling puzzled. Was it because he was a fresh face? A stranger? He didn't dwell on it.

He messaged Jiang Yan to say he would arrive in about twenty minutes, then found a nearby pavilion to sit down. Shielded by trees, the environment was much quieter here. The raucous noise drifting in from the gaps made this spot feel somewhat disconnected from the outside world. He stretched, and as his gaze swept across the depths of the path, he paused. He saw the woman with short hair he had met in the elevator the night before walking toward him.

Their eyes met in the void, and Su Chen gave her a slight nod. The woman nodded back before taking a seat on the other side of the pavilion. Compared to the other female stars outside, she was dressed somewhat casually today—a cotton sweater, though she had swapped the pants for a black skirt. They sat in their respective spots, each lost in their own thoughts, neither speaking again.

[Jiang Yan: Su Chen, where are you?]

About twenty minutes later, Jiang Yan sent a message.

[Su Chen: I'm in the pavilion next to the main entrance.]

Su Chen stood up and saw Jiang Yan standing on the main path by the entrance, looking around. He waved vigorously. "Jiang Yan!"

He was quite tall, and Jiang Yan easily caught sight of him. "What are you doing there? Come over here quickly!"

The woman nearby, who had been sitting with her chin in her hand watching the scenery, paused slightly at the sound of Su Chen calling Jiang Yan’s name. She glanced at him with a look of surprise before turning her gaze away. Su Chen, however, didn't notice.

"Brother Qing just called me; he’ll be here in about ten minutes. Let's wait here for a bit! We'll go in together!" Jiang Yan said quietly after greeting the friends who had gathered around her. She then took a few steps back, looking Su Chen up and down with a discerning eye. "Tsk tsk, Su Chen, I didn't realize it, but you actually look quite the part in this outfit!"

*Just "quite the part"? What a dishonest woman,* Su Chen thought to himself. He had easily caught the flicker of genuine admiration in her eyes a moment ago. Not to brag, but in his past life, he had met many celebrities, including those considered "top-tier" in this world, and he had impressions of them all. Compared to the skin he was in now, they were all still slightly lacking. However, with so many people around, Su Chen felt it inappropriate to flirt with her in public.

"Well, compared to you, I'm still a little bit behind!" Su Chen replied with a touch of irony.

Jiang Yan was wearing a black cutout dress today, low-cut but not revealing. Her luxurious necklace and earrings sparkled brilliantly. Standing under the morning sun, she looked elegant, noble, and exceptionally dazzling.

"Hmph! Glad you have some self-awareness!" Jiang Yan said, feigning pride.

"You must be freezing, right?"

Before she could finish her vanity, Su Chen brought her right back to reality. In January in the capital, even Su Chen was shivering slightly in his suit. In Jiang Yan's outfit, it would be a miracle if she weren't cold. As he spoke, Jiang Yan was already trembling like a leaf.

"Forget it, I need to go put on a down jacket and take it off right before the photos."

***

As soon as Lu Yuanqing arrived at the park, a group of singers swarmed around to shake his hand and offer greetings. Once the formalities were over, Lu Yuanqing broke away and came over to Su Chen and Jiang Yan. "Alright! Let's head in!" Having seen Su Chen often lately, he had become somewhat immune to his appearance.

During the short walk, they were stopped countless times. Every time someone came over to greet them, Lu Yuanqing would introduce Su Chen. It was his way of helping Su Chen meet more people and build connections, however fragile those might be.

The venue was located next to the building where Su Chen was staying, designed as an annex. Although it was only one story, the total height was over ten meters. As celebrities, Lu Yuanqing and Jiang Yan had to walk the red carpet, pose for photos, and sign the massive backdrop. When they reached the entrance, Su Chen went inside ahead of them to find his seat.

Inside, the preparations were complete. Each seat had the name of the attendee attached, and one only needed to find their name. Su Chen searched around but couldn't find his own, so he had to find a staff member for guidance. Generally, such arrangements were grouped by organization or team. Top-tier singers were usually placed in the front rows. Because Su Chen had entered alone and hadn't received advance notice of his specific section, he was a bit lost.

"Sir, your seat is right here!"

Su Chen was stunned when the staff member led him to his place. The first row! To his left was the nameplate for Lu Yuanqing, and to his right was Jiang Yan. Sitting with the kings and queens of the industry?