Ran Ting stared blankly at her.
Zhong Ruanxing smiled and asked, "Do you believe your artist will become popular?"
Ran Ting immediately said, "I definitely believe it! Ruanxing will definitely become hugely popular!"
Zhong Ruanxing said, "Then wait until that day comes, and let the other side beg you guys to wear their clothes. But..." She rolled up her sleeves and glanced at the time, "You need to find out who was behind the brand making this happen in the first place.
The brand has no grudge against her, they wouldn't suddenly sabotage her, there must be industry peers who have vested interests secretly trying to trip her up."
Ran Ting clenched her teeth and nodded, "I know, I will!" She paused, then very formally bowed to Zhong Ruanxing, "Ms. Song, thank you for your guidance. I know you're telling me all this for Ruanxing's sake, I understand your feelings for her!"
Zhong Ruanxing: "Huh?"
Wait, what the heck?
Behind her, Evans' astonished voice interrupted her thoughts: "Oh! Look at my beautiful princess, I swear this dress was made just for you!"
Zhong Ruanxing turned around and saw Song JinXing had changed into an evening gown and walked out.
He always had a very interesting expression whenever he had to wear a dress, like he was painfully enduring it and barely keeping it together. It seems no matter how well Mr. Song adapted to his environment, he still couldn't get over the hurdle of wearing dresses and high heels.
Zhong Ruanxing held back her laughter as she walked over. Song JinXing saw her barely suppressed smile and let out a resigned sigh.
Up close, he seemed to glow from head to toe. Zhong Ruanxing resented that she wasn't the one wearing the dress. Her voice was full of envy as she sincerely praised, "It's really beautiful."
The off-the-shoulder design showed off her elegant swan neck. Below the slender shoulders, the clavicles were exquisitely defined. The gradient blue gold evening gown flowed like rippling water all the way to the trailing skirt. The deep blue color was like the sea. With every step, the skirt swirled like ocean waves.
On someone else, the dress could only bring out its elegance. But Zhong Ruanxing's perfect figure added a touch of sexiness to the elegance. Coupled with Song JinXing's innate aloof aura, she exuded a uniquely charming allure.
Ran Ting and Fu Ling were both dumbstruck. Zhong Ruanxing was so captivated by her own beauty that she couldn't help but take out her phone to take photos.
Evans was on the phone, "Alright kids, come give my queen a makeover. I swear you're going to be so mesmerized by her."
The 'kids' he referred to were his makeup team. With Zhong Ruanxing's looks, hair and makeup was a breeze. After everything was done, there was still an hour before the red carpet. Plenty of time.
Zhong Ruanxing held out her hand to Evans, "You've helped me a lot today."
Evans shook her hand with a smile, "And I have to thank you for bringing me such a gorgeous model." He suddenly leaned in mysteriously, "Song, you're very different from before. Did this beautiful young lady change you? Oh heavens, I should celebrate for you, you're no longer a cold lifeless statue."
How was she supposed to respond to that?
Zhong Ruanxing could only give him an enigmatic smile.
Over there, Ran Ting had also contacted the crew, "Yes, we're on Xingshan Road. Okay, we'll wait here." After hanging up, she said to Song JinXing, "Ruanxing, the crew car is coming to pick us up. You'll walk the red carpet with the leads tonight."
Song JinXing nodded.
He looked at Zhong Ruanxing. He really wanted her to come along too. This was an honor that belonged to her. She must want to witness her first time on the red carpet.
But Zhong Ruanxing gently shook her head, "I'll head back to the hotel first and watch the livestream."
If it were anyone else, they'd probably jump at the chance to appear with the Song Group CEO and spark dating rumors. But she consistently avoided taking any advantage.
After saying bye to Evans, she got ready to leave. Song JinXing watched her retreating figure. That was his own body, yet it felt foreign to him. Because that kind of liveliness never belonged to him.
Ran Ting escorted her all the way to the car before turning back. Song JinXing saw she looked like she wanted to say something but was hesitating, so he coolly said, "Speak."
Ran Ting was about to burst and immediately spoke upon getting permission, "Ruanxing, what exactly is your relationship with Mr. Song? Is Mr. Song single? Does he have a fiancee? Will you guys date? You have to tell me the truth, so I can do PR in advance!"
What was their relationship?
Everything that had happened over the past month was like a fantastical dream. Sometimes when startled awake at night, he would suddenly grab his phone to check his face.
He was afraid this was just a dream, yet hoped he would wake from this dream soon.
They now shared the most intimate relationship in the world, but when this dream ended, what would their relationship be?
For someone usually so decisive and efficient, at this moment he didn't know how to answer this question.
After a while, Ran Ting heard him say, "Single, no fiancee."
It seemed he could only answer those two questions.
But Ran Ting didn't mind. She was very happy to get those two answers, "That's great, being single means romantic freedom. Now I can stop worrying if some rich heir like him might have a fiancee or a childhood sweetheart. Oh right, you should find out if Mr. Song has a sweetheart, don't get caught up in some toxic unrequited love situation as a replacement!"
What was going through this manager's mind every day?
Song JinXing coldly spat out two words, "No sweetheart."
Ran Ting: Wah, so fierce.
Soon after, the crew van pulled up outside. It already held three actors, the male and female leads and second male lead of the drama "Drunk with Peach Blossoms While Holding Wine". The second female lead was too unknown so the crew didn't invite her.
The female lead Qu Yanshan and male lead Liu Zhuo were moderately well-known second and third-tier artists. The drama didn't make big waves when it aired, but attracted some shippers for their CP, which was nicknamed Qu Shui Liu Zhu (Qu Flowers Liu Winecup).
Relying on their shippers, Qu Yanshan and Liu Zhuo maintained some online popularity. The two had an unspoken cooperative "showmance". They didn't openly acknowledge it but occasionally dropped shippy moments to bait their fans. Their offscreen relationship was quite ordinary in reality.
Walking the red carpet together this time, they had coordinated their outfits for a couple look, planning to grab some shipper attention online tonight.
Seeing the van parked on the narrow alley, Qu Yanshan peered out the window, frowned and asked the staff member, "Didn't you say Zhong Ruanxing was borrowing a dress from Brand C? I remember Brand C's studio isn't here right?"
The staff explained, "Earlier we gave the Brand C studio address, but it was changed to here this afternoon."
Qu Yanshan scoffed, "What kind of brand studio could be here? This is Ruanxing's first red carpet right? She better not show up in some cheap no-name dress, it'd be so embarrassing."
Back when they worked together on set, Qu Yanshan and Zhong Ruanxing had an ordinary colleague relationship. She had no reason to be hostile to Zhong Ruanxing.
But things were different now. The two endorsements had hurt other actresses in the circle these past few days. Zhong Ruanxing's rising popularity didn't impact top A-listers much, but for someone like her whose career was on the rise, they'd surely end up competing for the same resources.
Just thinking about having to walk the red carpet with her made Qu Yanshan even more annoyed.
Since they had a contractual CP, Liu Zhuo would still take her side in front of others (the second male lead), "Let's just focus on ourselves, don't mind her."
Qu Yanshan sighed.
The second male lead Yu Liang's popularity was even lower than them. His impression of Zhong Ruanxing was quite good. He couldn't join their conversation, so he just kept looking out the window. Suddenly, a figure appeared down the long stone alley.
She lifted her skirt as she descended the steps, walking towards the mouth of the alley. Behind her was the long, straight old stone alley.
A line from a poem Yu Liang had studied in school floated into his mind - Leaning on her oiled paper umbrella, wandering alone in the long, long and desolate rainy alley.
But she was no delicate beauty like a lilac.
She was a dazzling red rose, so beautiful that everything around her lost its color.
Yu Liang softly said, "So beautiful."
Liu Zhuo and Qu Yanshan also looked out. With just one glance, their faces showed different reactions.
One was stunned, the other jealous.