Chapter 558
Sister Zhao's Little Thoughts
……
……
Bazaar is coming to an end.
The lights gradually came on, spreading outwards from the center of the stage, like a flower slowly blooming.
The staff got busy, adjusting camera positions, tidying up props, and guiding the artists to their positions.
Next, the donation amount of each artist was announced, and they each came on stage to take a group photo, which concluded the event.
This is a regular part of the Bazaar Charity Night, and also the most controversial and talked-about part every year—who donates more, who donates less; who stands in the center position,
Who gets pushed to the side; who's laughing heartily, who's wearing a stern face... every frame can be interpreted in eight hundred different ways.
The host who announces the list of celebrities who donated money is naturally Su Mang, the director of Bazaar.
Just as Gu Qing turned and started descending the stairs—
"Come on, hey hey hey, little brother, don't go yet, you have to come up soon."
A loud, booming voice suddenly stopped him.
The voice was shrill and loud, like an old lady selling vegetables at a market, with a strong penetrating power that could be heard even in the backstage area.
Gu Qing paused, then turned around helplessly.
He recognized the voice as belonging to Su Mang.
Su Mang began his personal show.
"Everyone, everyone, viewers in front of the TV, netizens in the live broadcast room, please don't leave! Please don't leave!"
She lifted her skirt and strode up the steps, her voice excited as if she were shouting a slogan, "You're about to see the most amazing group photo of celebrities in history that you'll never have the chance to see again!!"
Before she could finish speaking, perhaps due to being drunk, she became unusually excited, her face as red as a boiled shrimp, and her eyes somewhat unfocused.
She walked unsteadily, holding her skirt in one hand and a microphone in the other.
She hadn't taken two steps—her high heels twisted, and she stumbled—"Ah—"
The sound was shrill and piercing, like a screeching scream scraping against glass, making it particularly jarring in the quiet venue.
Many celebrities and business leaders present frowned, unable to bear the sight, finding the scene utterly disgraceful.
Some shook their heads, some sighed, and some turned their faces away, unable to bear to look.
She turned a perfectly good charity gala into a circus performance all by herself.
Seeing Su Mang stagger and headbutt her, Gu Qing wanted to sidestep and let her fall.
Despite thinking this, I still managed to brace myself with my hand.
His arm blocked her in front of him, with just the right amount of force to keep her balanced and prevent her from falling flat on her face.
Before Su Mang could even savor the surprise, Gu Qingyi withdrew her arm, turned around without looking back, and went up on stage, making a point of going to Lao Guo's left.
His steps were quick; his back view, in Su Mang's eyes, was dashing; in Lao Guo's eyes, it was a desperate escape.
"Good young man, your wife is three years older than you, you're like a gold brick in the hand."
Old Guo, being as shrewd as a shrew, had already taken the microphone off. His lips moved slightly, but his voice came through very clearly.
That's obviously a skill.
He looked at Gu Qing with a mischievous grin.
"Teacher Guo is right. I'll bring Dalin over next time and introduce him to Director Su. The fashion industry isn't necessarily a bad thing."
Gu Qing seemed to agree, and whispered to Lao Guo like buddies.
Lao Guo: "..."
"Our Guo family only has two sons, and Dalin is the only one who can bear children. You're going to bring him into the fashion industry?"
Does Lao Guo not know what the fashion industry is all about?
In those years, so many fine young men "changed" after entering the fashion industry.
He was really afraid that if Da Lin turned around like this, the next time they went to the shopping mall, it wouldn't be a girl anymore.
That won't do. The Guo family is counting on Dalin to carry on the family line.
“Teacher Guo, we need to open up. Oh, Director Su is coming to see me, I…”
Before Gu Qing could finish speaking, he made a move to walk in that direction.
"Oh dear, Miss Su, are you alright after that fall?"
Understanding the situation, Lao Guo suppressed his frustration and helped Gu Qing stop Su Mang.
He held her arms with a concerned look, and his crude remarks flowed freely, like a comedian on stage, "Oh dear, is your foot hurt? Should I rub it for you? You've been wearing shoes for so long, they shouldn't smell too bad, right?"
"Hahaha--"
The scene erupted in laughter, and even the live stream chat was flooded with comments like "Teacher Guo is awesome!" and "Teacher Guo is awesome!"
"Teacher Guo, you... have a really strong smell!"
"That's great, that's exactly what I like."
"..."
Su Mang blushed and felt embarrassed. Facing the old rogue in the crosstalk world, she was still teased like a virgin.
She started flirting with Lao Guo, pushing and shoving him.
Gu Qing, who was standing to the side, breathed a sigh of relief.
I must say, Lao Guo is really useful.
"Alright, alright, Miss Su, hurry up and announce the list. I can see that everyone below the stage is getting restless."
Without batting an eye, Lao Guo saw Su Mang about to walk past him, and pulled her back to his side.
Hey, I have to say, it's a bit old, but it feels pretty good to the touch.
Old Guo smiled and savored the moment.
"Could this short, stout guy really be eyeing my mother?"
Su Mang was filled with doubt. Seeing that he couldn't break free, he could only look at Gu Qing with reluctance before reluctantly reciting the list.
"Come on, first of all, the artists who donated the most at our Bazaar Banquet are still our beloved Gu Qing and Teacher Guo. Just like last year, they each donated five car fleets!"
Su Mang's voice was excited, like a waiter in an old-fashioned innkeeper announcing the menu, shouting incredibly loudly. His voice was so loud that the performers in the front row all shrank back.
"Zhang Shaohan personally donated 70 yuan plus an ambulance."
“Jun Kai, who couldn’t attend, donated 140 million yuan; Yi Xing donated 105 million yuan; Ni Ni, Xiao Jing, Nai Liang, Xiao Lu, Ruo Yun, and Yi Xin each donated 140 million yuan.”
“Dawei and his wife, Deng Chao and his wife, Liying, and Yang Yang (who did not attend) each donated 70 yuan.”
Su Mang shouted at the top of his lungs, almost hoarse, as he read out the list of donors. His voice was shrill and loud, making it uncomfortable to listen to.
"Wow, is this a celebrity market or a vegetable market?"
"Why are you shouting so loudly when you're selling pork? You're selling pork!"
"Who is this woman? Can't she pay a little attention to her image? Is this a high-class banquet?"
The viewers watching the live stream were completely stunned by Su Mang's antics, and were almost suffering from severe embarrassment.
The artists whose names were called by Su Mang practically wanted to kill her.
They were afraid that her outburst would halve their status.
On stage, Gu Qing greeted each of the artists who came on stage with a polite smile.
"Teacher Shaohan, our school plays your 'Invisible Wings' and 'Aurora' every day."
When Zhang Shaohan walked onto the stage, Gu Qing took the initiative to strike up a conversation.
"Play it every day? Little brother, you must be really tired of it by now, right?"
Zhang Shaohan seemed a little flattered when Gu Qing took the initiative to strike up a conversation.
Her eyes widened slightly, as if she couldn't believe that this young, top-tier celebrity would take the initiative to speak to her.
Even from the moment she stepped onto the stage, she seemed out of place, with a sense of fear and unease.
She wore a simple white dress, her hair was tied in a low ponytail, and her makeup was light. Standing among the glamorous female celebrities, she was not particularly eye-catching.
Now, in the eyes of the audience, she is almost the same as a "niche diva".
Zhang Shaohan's life story is as tragic as that of a heroine in a tragic novel.
He suffered from congenital heart disease since childhood and was not loved by his parents.
She finally made a name for herself through singing, but her parents treated her like a money-making machine.
Not only did they fail to provide assistance, they also unilaterally opposed the company, broke the contract, and entrusted all the income to them for safekeeping.
When her daughter was hospitalized in 08 due to a recurrence of heart disease, her mother felt that her daughter's source of income had been cut off.
So, during Zhang Shaohan's hospitalization, he transferred all her savings and all her properties, leaving her with nothing, not even the money meant for her medical treatment.
Not a single penny was left.
When Zhang Shaohan demanded an explanation from her mother...
Her mother even turned the tables, playing the victim and claiming that she had "abandoned her parents," thus deceiving the public.
Even more terrifying is,
Her mother also falsely accused her of "drug use" and "alcohol abuse," and even posted photos of her looking haggard when she was sick as "evidence"!
In an instant, a torrent of insults poured down on Zhang Shaohan.
Fearing trouble, the company sidelined her; the "friends" who used to surround her disappeared one after another; and her best friend took the opportunity to steal her boyfriend.
Betrayed by everyone. Left with nothing.
In this situation, anyone would probably break down and despair.
But Angela Chang persevered, and after a long hiatus from the entertainment industry, she recently made a comeback.
She was like a seed blown by the wind into a crack in the rock, without fertile soil or rain, yet she stubbornly took root, sprouted, and blossomed.
She is a typical artist who is famous and well-known, but lacks a strong background and company support.
Therefore,
Most celebrities in the industry don't take her seriously. No one talks to her, no one makes small talk with her, and they rarely even glance at her.
"Teacher Shaohan, to be honest, I did find it quite annoying back then. The radio was playing it, and the music teacher was teaching it, but now that I'm older, I really miss those days."
Gu Qing's distressed voice pulled her back to reality. He spoke sincerely, without a trace of pretense, yet without being offensive.
"Little brother, don't talk about you. I'm so tired of singing commercial songs, it's not your fault."
Zhang Shaohan didn't expect Gu Qing to be so down-to-earth. She covered her mouth with her hand and smiled, "But time is indeed beautiful, so you must cherish it."
Looking at Zhang Shaohan's optimism, Gu Qing admired her from the bottom of her heart.
He noticed that when the other person covered their mouth, a red ribbon was tied around their slender wrist, peeking out from the white cuff like a small flame.
"Teacher Shaohan, where did you get this?"
"Little brother, didn't you receive it?"
Zhang Shaohan was surprised and puzzled, and gently shook the ribbon on her wrist. "The organizers gave each artist a certificate of participation in public welfare issued by the organizers."
As she spoke, she glanced around the audience—
Not a single celebrity was wearing it.
The artists sitting in the audience were either dressed in suits or elegant gowns.
Wearing a red ribbon on your wrist in a carefully prepared outfit would indeed clash with the aesthetics of the fashion world.
Some people dislike it and don't bring it, while others don't even know that such a thing exists.
After all, which celebrity doesn't have an assistant?
These small items are usually accepted by the assistant without the artist even mentioning them.
"I...I'm not quite sure."
Gu Qing was clearly the latter. He shook his head and said, "It must have been my assistant who got it without telling me."
after all,
This was just a small gift from the organizers, not worth mentioning.
“Little brother, do you want it? You donated 850 million tonight, I feel you are the most qualified to wear it.”
As Zhang Shaohan joked, she was about to untie the red ribbon on her wrist.
“Teacher Shaohan, doing charity is about the sentiment, it has nothing to do with who is qualified. You look good wearing it, so please wear it.”
Gu Qing didn't want to steal Zhang Shaohan's protective charm.
He smiled as he watched her re-tie the ribbon, then walked off to catch up with the other performers who came on stage.
Zhang Shaohan watched Gu Qing leave, then looked down at the ribbon tied around her wrist.
She stood quietly with her hands behind her back, a smile on her face.
Nobody paid attention, nobody spoke to them.
Like a stubbornly growing weed.
……
"Hey, Xiaoming, move down a bit!"
"Hey you, Ziyi, Jialing, just stand next to me and don't move!"
"Don't rush, don't rush, everyone find your places!"
Su Mang repeatedly shouted at the top of his lungs, dragging and pulling, using the microphone to direct the artists to stand in their positions.
Zhang Ziyi and Liu Jialing tilted their heads slightly, looked at each other, and each rolled their eyes.
That expression was as if to say, "Is this woman crazy?"
The scene was absolutely chaotic.
Female celebrities are scheming and competing for the best spot.
Some pushed and shoved, some pulled and tugged, some killed with their eyes, and some disguised themselves with smiles. On the surface, they were all polite and courteous, but underneath, swords were drawn.
When Da Bingbing saw Qin Hailu next to her, her jade-like face darkened. She turned to the side and casually pulled a female celebrity between the two.
The movement was as fast as if they were dodging a plague.
Qin Hailu glanced at it, her lips curling slightly, saying and doing nothing. But that disdain was more hurtful than any words.
Zhang Shaohan was completely bewildered and was pushed to the middle by the artists who were constantly adjusting their positions. She was pushed around by the crowd and had no control over her own destiny.
Huddled in the corner, Zhong Chuxin watched this scene in shock.
So this is how you fight for the center position?
She thought it was about talent, work, and status. Little did she know, it was about pushing, shoving, and shamelessness.
I've learned something... I've learned something!
"Hey Zhang Shaohan, squat down, squat down a little more!"
Su Mang turned around and saw Angela Zhang standing near the center position, which made him extremely anxious.
She addressed the other person by their full name rather rudely, telling her to get down from her seat.
The tone was like scolding an ignorant employee.
"I can't stand it anymore! How can this woman have absolutely no manners?!"
"Zhang Shaohan? This is Zhang Shaohan? My God, the ever-changing queen of pop!!"
"I'm so angry! How can they treat my Shaohan like this?!"
The viewers in the live stream were furious when they saw Su Mang's terrible attitude.
The comments section was filled with insults, and some people even started chanting "Boycott Bazaar".
Angela Chang's fame, especially her song "Invisible Wings," is so widespread that almost everyone born in the 90s has heard of it.
That song is a memory of youth for countless people, a light in the darkness for countless others.
now,
The singer was publicly reprimanded by a fashion industry director.
Why?
"Strange, where's my brother? Where did he go?!"
The Gu family members were extremely anxious.
Gu Qing was nowhere to be seen on the entire screen. Where had her younger brother gone?!
……
"Little brother, are we really okay hiding in the back?"
Sister Zhao's round face was slightly flushed, and her fair palms were slightly sweaty.
She looked up at Gu Qing, her eyes full of affection, and her tone unconsciously softened, carrying a hint of coquetry.
"It's okay. Why squeeze with them? I saw you get squeezed into a meat patty just now."
Gu Qing released her hand, turned her head, and whispered with a smile.
The two of them were standing in the very edge of the corner.
The lighting there was so dim that even the central camera couldn't capture it.
There were people blocking the way in front, a curtain behind, and empty space on both sides.
But strangely, it's as quiet as another world.
"meat pie?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Liying was on the verge of tears. She pressed her chubby cheeks with both hands, her lips pouting like a bulging pufferfish. "Little brother, am I fat now?"
"Hmm... I'm quite chubby now, like a tomato."
Gu Qing couldn't help but laugh, and the corners of her mouth couldn't be suppressed.
"what--"
Sister Zhao looked as if the sky had fallen, and opened her small mouth in despair.
"Okay, okay, I was just kidding. Sister Liying, you're not fat at all, you look just right, very cute."
Gu Qing gently nudged her shoulder.
Really?
How cute?
Sister Zhao's face lit up instantly, and she beamed with joy.
With her soft, jade-like arms, she tiptoed and gently bumped back at Gu Qing, the movement small, one to the left and one to the right, like a small roly-poly toy.
"It's hard to describe."
"Hmph, so you were just lying to me..."
"I mean, cute is hard to describe."
"Hmm...hehehe~"
Her eyes curved into crescent moons as she laughed, her lips curled up to the sky, and her whole being seemed to glow.
The noisy scene, yet a quiet corner, possesses a tranquil and sweet atmosphere.
It's like a small courtyard full of flowers suddenly appearing in a bustling city.
And the center position of the stage
Yang Ying, maintaining a smile, was outwitting the female celebrities on either side of her, desperately trying to squeeze out some space to pose.
She took a deep breath, tilted her head back, and glanced at him unintentionally from the corner of her eye—
I caught two figures I least wanted to see in the corner.
A soft halo lingered on Gu Qing's flawless face.
His profile shows a high, straight nose, with wispy bangs that fall near his eyelashes, and gentle, half-curved eyes looking at the girl beside him.
What kind of look was that?
Yang Ying felt a sense of déjà vu, yet it was also extremely unfamiliar.
Focused and gentle, his eyelashes cast a faint shadow under his eyes, and the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned, exuding a captivating beauty.
That girl had a round face, round eyes, and a round nose.
But they laughed happily, laughed brightly, laughed without a care in the world.
Her round, chubby face radiated happiness and joy from within, flushed red with a touch of shyness. She covered her face with her small hands, then let go, meeting his gaze.
The two whispered to each other.
You bump into me, I bump into you, like two little kids playing around.
That scene,
Like a slow-motion scene in a movie.
Youth is beautiful, pure, and untouched by worldly affairs.
In her daze, Yang Ying was pushed back a step, making room for him.
Her body was moving, but her eyes remained fixed on that corner.
Her drooping thumb pinched her index finger with considerable force, leaving a white mark.
My fingernail dug into my flesh, and it hurt terribly.
Why?
She was determined to stand here, disregarding her dignity and self-respect, and fiercely compete with other female artists for a single position.
Pushing, pulling, smiling, feigning... it's like a war.
That damn steamed bun, yet he can stand so carefree next to Qing... Gu Qing, smiling so sweetly...
Her chest felt like it was blocked by something, a dull ache, making it hard to breathe.
She really wanted to take off her contact lenses; why did she have to see such a disgusting sight!
……
Finally, Su Mang thought he had managed to keep the positions under control.
"Come on, everyone, smile! We're getting ready to film!"
She raised her hand, signaling the photographer to get ready. The lights were adjusted, the camera was positioned, and everyone was facing the lens.
Zhao Liying stood beside Gu Qing, her heart pounding.
She gently bit the tender flesh of her lower lip with her pearly teeth, stealing a glance at Gu Qing who was smiling at the camera.
She couldn't help but quietly move her fingers under the crowd.
Little by little, little by little, little by little.
Like a snail crawling across a leaf, like a stream flowing through a crack in a rock.
She was so slow it was almost imperceptible, so slow that she herself was getting impatient.
Fingertips slowly move forward, forward, forward—
Until it touched Gu Qing's drooping fingertips.
In that instant, her whole world went silent.
Where our fingertips touched, it felt like an electric current was passing through us, a tingling, numb sensation that spread from our fingers to our arms, and from our arms to our hearts.
Her heart was beating even faster, as if it were about to burst out of her chest.
Her face flushed, and her breathing became erratic, like the surface of a lake rippled by the wind.
But the corners of her lips couldn't help but turn up in a smile.
Her eyes curved into crescent moons, and her heart leaped with joy: "I've got it!"
She didn't dare look at Gu Qing, her eyes fixed on the camera.
But her gaze was always on him out of the corner of her eye.
Gu Qing remained facing the camera, her smile still gentle.
The fingertips that were gently hooked bent slightly.
The tips of the two thumbs are frozen in place, as if they are whispering something.
"321—Cheese!"
The shutter clicked, and the flash went off.
The Bazaar dinner has ended.
……
...(End of this chapter)