nashuaworldcup Chapter 167 The Grudges of the Elders (Part 1)
Chapter 167 The Grudges of the Elders (Part 1)
Haicheng is quite a distance from Beijing, and the Xie family is a newly wealthy family. Xie Junfei was afraid that the producers around Shen Huaishan wouldn't know, so she simply brought up Huo Shen:
"I just got engaged to Huo Shen a few days ago."
Shen Huaishan looked down at her, his eyes filled with emotions she couldn't understand.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Xie Junfei smiled with her eyes crinkling and withdrew her outstretched hand.
The producer didn't know Xie Junfei's name, but Huo Shen's name was very well-known.
The producer standing next to Shen Huaishan immediately tried to smooth things over:
"I didn't expect it to be Mrs. Huo. We were blind to her and are truly sorry."
"How about this, why don't you do us the honor of having dinner with us tonight?"
Xie Junfei smiled and readily agreed:
"Of course, Lu Wanzhou is my artist. I should have visited the set earlier, but I've been too busy lately, so it was postponed."
As he spoke, Xie Junfei casually turned the tables and took control of the situation:
"So please make sure I treat you to dinner tonight, as an apology."
The producers smiled and said they didn't deserve it, while respectfully inviting her into the car.
Because they had to film the next day, a group of people found a private room in a restaurant not far from the film set.
Because they represented Huo Shen's reputation, Xie Junfei's arrival changed the status of the group from Shen Huaishan and Huo Lan to Shen Huaishan and Xie Junfei, making them the highest-ranking members.
When they were seated, the director respectfully offered the main seat to Shen Huaishan and Xie Junfei.
Xie Junfei didn't feel embarrassed because of her young age and sat down as a matter of course.
Shen Huaishan, sitting next to her, glanced at her with a complicated expression.
Xie Junfei pretended not to see it and continued chatting and laughing with others.
She started representing the Qin family in the business world when she was fifteen. Although Haicheng was prosperous, its interpersonal relationships were far less complicated than those in the capital, which made Xie Junfei very adept at handling them.
The waiter brought over the red wine. Shen Huaishan glanced at Xie Junfei, who was dressed in very thin clothes, and was about to wave for them to take the wine back when Xie Junfei raised his hand and laughed heartily.
"What kind of occasion is this without alcohol! Come on, everyone pour some. Those who can't drink much, just have a little. As long as it doesn't affect work tomorrow, consider it just for fun!"
Since the important figures had spoken, the waiter had no choice but to bring out the wine again, and after letting it sober up, pour it for everyone present.
Watching Xie Junfei's skillful social interactions, Shen Huaishan maintained a gentlemanly and humble smile, but he seemed somewhat lost in thought.
The Huo family protected her information very well, and Beijing was not his main base.
Therefore, he couldn't get any core information during his investigation. He only knew that she originally lived in the Qin family and later went to the Xie family. She was only eighteen years old this year.
How can someone be so precocious at the age of eighteen?
Xie Junfei, unaware of his thoughts, took the lead in raising his glass and downing the wine in one gulp.
Having been in the business world for so long, coming into the entertainment industry was as easy as a high school student beating an elementary school student. After a few rounds of drinks, Xie Junfei quickly got the information she wanted from the director and producer.
Although Lu Ling'er won the Best Actress award for her role in "Zhuang Sheng's Dream," she received a very poor reception from the audience, which damaged her public image. She had no choice but to rely on a "naive and innocent" persona on variety shows to redeem herself.
In order not to tarnish the reputation of the variety show, they dared not use her for advertising. Apart from the verbal mention that Shen Huaishan got for her this time, Lu Wanzhou was the one who did it all the time.
Furthermore, in terms of editing, they were afraid of offending Lu Wanzhou, who had just received an official interview, so they could only edit in a positive light.
Xie Junfei was relieved and continued drinking with them with a smile.
Throughout the entire dinner, Shen Huaishan remained silent.
After a few rounds of drinks, Xie Junfei excused herself to wash her hands, took her bag, and went out to rest for a while.
Because it frequently hosts high-ranking figures in the entertainment industry, the restaurant is nicely decorated. Next to the restroom is an open-air balcony. Xie Junfei washed her hands and stood on the balcony to enjoy the breeze.
A cool evening breeze blew by, lifting the strands of hair that hung down at her temples.
Hearing footsteps behind her, Xie Junfei took out a cigarette case from her bag and skillfully pulled out a women's cigarette, holding it between her slender fingers.
The person behind him paused noticeably.
A suit jacket, still warm from her body, was draped over her bare shoulders.
Shen Huaishan's voice rang out:
"It's chilly at night, be careful not to catch a cold."
Xie Junfei smiled indifferently:
"Mr. Shen, are you out for some fresh air too? Can I borrow a light?"
Shen Huaishan frowned, bent down and took the unlit cigarette from between her fingers:
"How old are you? How did you learn to smoke?"
Xie Junfei looked up, and her almond-shaped eyes held none of the innocence of someone her age; instead, they were filled with a bone-chilling indifference.
"I was already being sent to social events in Beijing when I was fifteen. What's a little smoking to me?"
"Shen Huaishan, who are you to me? What right do you have to tell me what to do?"
Seeing that face, which bore a striking resemblance to Yu Wei, speaking to him like that, a suffocating feeling that had suffocated him for over a decade surged back into Shen Huaishan's heart.
He took two steps forward and took a deep breath:
"When my father sent you to the capital, he should have given the Qin family appropriate compensation. Why were you sent there at such a young age...?"
Xie Junfei sneered:
"The Qin family are all opportunistic and treacherous. Do you think they'll give me a good life?"
After speaking, she raised her head and looked at him with eyes that were so much like Yu Wei's:
"Shen Huaishan, they treated me very badly."
“I grew up cautiously in the Qin family. At fifteen, they sent me to a rich businessman’s bed. You can’t stand me drinking and smoking, but where were you when a group of old men were watching and molesting me?”
"All my suffering is caused by you. What's the point of you putting on this act now?"
These words clearly struck a nerve with Shen Huaishan. He reacted as if pricked by a needle, taking two steps back, his composed and gentlemanly demeanor completely gone.
"You, you should stop talking."
Xie Junfei took two steps forward, deliberately looking at him coldly with her face, which resembled Yu Wei's so much, while her long, serpentine hand climbed up to Shen Huaishan's chest:
Why are you afraid to listen?
"This is just a tiny part of my painful eighteen years, and it's already upset you?"
"If it weren't for you, would I be where I am today?"
As if touching upon his deepest memories, Shen Huaishan grabbed her hand as she reached up and took two deep breaths:
"Please stop talking, I'm begging you."
Seeing the gentlemanly mask on his face destroyed by his own actions, Xie Junfei closed his eyes and suppressed the overflowing hatred.
She gently broke free from Shen Huaishan's control, and as if controlling her emotions, she took two deep breaths to calm herself down:
"Mr. Shen, I apologize. I lost my composure."
After saying that, she returned her coat to Shen Huaishan and, ignoring his calls from behind, went back to the private room on her own.
The producers in the private room were drinking heartily, their laughter, reeking of alcohol, filling the room.
Five minutes later, Shen Huaishan also returned.
He still maintained his refined and scholarly demeanor, but his composure had vanished, and he appeared absent-minded.
Holland found it strange and quietly asked Xie Junfei:
"What's wrong with you?"
Xie Junfei winked at her:
"secret."