Chapter 59

At 2:30 p.m., the A District Conference Hall was packed with reporters.

At the same time, bullet comments flooded the live streams on major websites, turning the screens pitch black as countless dark-text barrages scrolled wildly.

“Live press conference!! I love it!”

“This is classic Jiang Sisi… She says what she has to say right to everyone’s face, to all the netizens.”

“But I really can’t figure out why Jiang Sisi is making such a big fuss? Is she planning to announce a nationwide audition for a new female lead to the whole internet?”

“Hahahahaha!! Big brain upstairs!!”

“Is this the live contract termination? Can’t wait!! I want to see Leng Xiang’s face!! Serves you right for throwing your weight around! For giving everyone attitude!”

“Hahahahaha, just thinking about it is exciting!!”

“Folks, that picture Jiang Sisi posted last night—if I didn’t see it wrong, it said [Rumors Without Basis], right…”

“Calm down, everyone. Chew on that phrase carefully. I feel like she’s trying to explain something.”

Just past 2:05, the massive conference hall was filled to capacity, with the back rows lined with cameras, and the constant click of flashing lights echoing now and then.

Jiang Sisi was getting her makeup done while chatting with Tan Ya. Most of the Luxury Goods crew had gathered backstage, hanging out in the lounge, cracking jokes.

The scriptwriter said, “I think I recorded mine super well, but yours was way too emotional!”

The props master shot back, “Get lost. Who was the one who started crying while recording?”

The lighting master chimed in, “I even did my makeup specially this morning just to record the video.”

The scriptwriter added, “Seriously, me, a scriptwriter, never imagined my face would ever be on camera.”

The props master reminded her, “I think today’s a full-network live stream.”

The scriptwriter’s eyes widened. “Full-network live stream?? You’re serious??”

The props master confirmed, “Yeah, Director Jiang mentioned it this morning.”

The scriptwriter covered her face in collapse. “Aaaah, I didn’t do my makeup this morning! Can I re-record?”

The makeup artist applied foundation to Jiang Sisi’s face and said, “Director Jiang, I just peeked outside—there are so many reporters out there.”

With her eyes closed, Jiang Sisi replied, “The more the merrier. If there aren’t enough people, it’s no fun.”

The makeup artist switched brushes, glanced around, and asked, “About the press conference, Director Jiang, did you tell Leng Xiang?”

Jiang Sisi said, “I didn’t tell her.”

The makeup artist sounded a bit regretful. “Why not? She’s such a good person, but those people online have been trashing her so badly—it pisses us all off. Now there’s this chance to clear things up. What a shame if she misses it.”

She added, “Plus, this is the whole crew’s heartfelt gesture.”

Jiang Sisi replied, “I think with her strong sense of pride, she probably wouldn’t want to see it.”

“You’re right.” The makeup artist sighed. “I hope she comes to watch anyway.”

Tan Ya reminded her, “Director Jiang, it’s already 2:35.”

Jiang Sisi said, “The video isn’t edited yet. Let them wait a bit longer—no rush.”

The editor came running in, panting heavily, and handed Jiang Sisi a USB drive before catching his breath. “Director Jiang, the video’s done. Take a look.”

Jiang Sisi didn’t seem hurried at all. She finished her makeup, grabbed the nearby computer, plugged in the USB, opened the video file, and started tweaking it herself.

Tan Ya urged again, “Director Jiang, it’s 2:40 now.”

Jiang Sisi said, “Send a few people out to chat with the reporters first. I’ll make a couple more adjustments.”

At 2:40, still no one emerged from backstage.

The conference hall buzzed with chatter as people whispered to each other, wondering what Jiang Sisi was up to.

Even the bullet comments slowed down noticeably; you could actually see the faces of the reporters on camera now.

At 2:50, there was finally some movement backstage.

Reporters and netizens alike perked up, cameras at the ready, waiting for Jiang Sisi to appear.

What came out first was a hand.

A clearly chubby hand, with fingers plump like radishes.

The reporters snapped away at it regardless. The hand’s owner slowly retracted it, then ambled out at a leisurely pace.

Everyone held their breath.

The round and plump vice director, Fatty, stepped out first from backstage and scanned the densely packed crowd below.

Seeing it wasn’t Jiang Sisi, the reporters disappointingly put away their cameras in unison.

Fatty chuckled. “Jiang Sisi asked me to come out and chat with you all first, so you don’t get too bored. But how come I don’t seem very welcome?”

The reporters quickly shook their heads—how could they not welcome him?

But where was Jiang Sisi?

A fresh wave of bullet comments exploded on screen.

“Hahahaha, did you see the reporters’ faces!! Too funny hahahaha!!”

“Poor Fatty, he’s the vice director after all—how can you all disregard him like that!!”

“I remember last year during the nationwide promo tour, Director Jiang was calling ‘Dead Fatty’ on stage with such glee, laughing the whole time!!”

“Fatty loves calling Director Jiang ‘Jiang Skinflint’ too hahahaha!! The whole crew is always roasting each other! This team is so fun!!”

Jiang Sisi’s team was a fixed group with little turnover, so netizens were very familiar with them. All her films were made by this crew.

With Jiang Sisi still not appearing, Fatty, bored out of his mind, just chatted idly with the reporters.

Fatty asked, “Did everyone go to the theaters on the fourth day of the New Year to see Youth Tour?”

Bullet comments synced with the backdrop wall in the hall, scrolling across it.

“Saw it!! So good!”

“That moment when Miss Wei Ning kills—I was crying and laughing at the same time wuwuwu!!”

“Luo Pi is a goddess!! How does your Director Jiang pick people like that, my god!!”

Fatty said, “I had a cameo. Did you spot me?”

“Yep!! Spotted you right away!!”

“Out of those three corpses, you took up the most space—the fat really stands out…”

“Wasted a ton of fake blood, huh…”

The reporters exchanged glances, used to verbal sparring, but not this casual chitchat at a press conference.

So where the heck was Jiang Sisi?

Just past 3:10, the previously quiet backstage stirred again.

Everyone held their breath.

“We’ve been chatting so long, the reporters must be dying…”

“Hahahaha, I think it’s pretty fun—the closest I’ve been to a crew!”

“Love this crew! Fatty’s so cute!”

“Sisi’s coming out aaaah!!”

“Is it Jiang Sisi?!”

Tan Ya emerged first, followed closely by Jiang Sisi.

Jiang Sisi was dressed casually as always: a white sweater, high-waisted blue jeans, her long legs striding confidently onto the stage.

She wore light makeup, her hair casually gathered up, with a few strands falling over her temples, framing her face. She looked gentle and beautiful.

“Wuwuwuwu Sisi aaaah!!! She’s so pretty!!! So pretty aaaah!!!”

“Sisi, let’s talk—can you delay the next movie? We’re not in a rush!!”

“Oh my god, she’s alive!! Wife, it’s been so long since I saw you in the flesh!!”

“Question: How long has it been since Jiang Sisi appeared before us in 3D?”

“3D hahahahaha!! Godly metaphor!”

The flashes from below were so intense they were blinding.

All lenses focused on Jiang Sisi; even she squinted and raised one hand palm down, her other hand’s index finger pressing atop it in a pause gesture.

Jiang Sisi smiled at the live camera.

The deafening “clicks” across the hall vanished instantly, plunging the conference hall into silence.

“Universe’s number one god Alpha!!! I’m done!!”

“That gesture just shot straight to my heart—I can’t take it…”

“It’s like the dominant Alpha CEO from a yuri novel beckoning me…”

“She looks so gentle, but her aura is pure CEO!! Unscientific aaaah!!”

“What is screen presence!! This is real screen presence!! Over a decade of live hosting wasn’t for nothing!! Hope all you celebs learn from it!!”

Bullet comments rolled wildly on the backdrop wall amid the hall’s silence.

“Something came up just now and delayed us a bit—sorry to keep everyone waiting.” Jiang Sisi took the microphone from Tan Ya. A string was tied to her pinky, with a tiny USB drive dangling from the other end.

She cleared her throat and smiled. “Long time no see, everyone.”

“Long time no see!”

“I miss you so much, Sisi!!! Wuwuwu!!”

In her early hosting days, Jiang Sisi had been bouncy and unrestrained, but in recent years, she’d grown more composed and steady, losing that youthful spark.

While fans regretted not seeing that side anymore, some joked that they’d watched her grow up.

Jiang Sisi said, “I believe that dead fatty already bored you all with his nonsense—”

Laughter erupted below, with hahahahas flooding the bullets.

She paused, then continued, “So now, I’ll get to the main points.”

…

Meanwhile, Leng Xiang had just left her hotel room.

She’d scrolled through Weibo until late last night and, notified of no filming today, slept in until past 2 p.m. Wang Linlin pounded on her door frantically, waking her up.

Leng Xiang nearly jumped out of her skin.

Wang Linlin yelled at her, “Sister Leng Xiang, what time is it! The press conference started ages ago! How are you still sleeping?!”

While yelling, she dug snacks from her bag and handed them over. “The restaurant’s closed at this hour. I thought you’d been up and was looking everywhere for you! Eat some chocolate to tide you over.”

Leng Xiang peeled the chocolate and ate. “The press conference started? Whatever, Jiang Sisi’s there, right?”

Wang Linlin paused, then chuckled. “Well, yeah, but… go check it out. The whole crew’s there.”

Leng Xiang ate a bit, freshened up, and left the room.

The floor occupied by the crew was eerily quiet; aside from them, everyone else seemed to have left the hotel.

The whole place was dead silent.

When Leng Xiang and Wang Linlin arrived at the A District Conference Hall, the main doors were already closed.

They slipped in through the side door. Wang Linlin headed backstage, but Leng Xiang stayed put, arms crossed, standing alone in the rearmost corner of the hall.

All the flashes and lenses pointed at Jiang Sisi onstage; no one noticed her.

Leng Xiang watched Jiang Sisi on stage, and the massive projection wall behind her scrolling with endless bullet comments.

Some wildly praised Jiang Sisi, others were mindless hahahahas, and some trashed her.

She narrowed her eyes for a closer look—some even said Jiang Sisi was announcing a female lead swap.

Leng Xiang ignored the bullets and focused on Jiang Sisi center stage.

Across the entire hall, Jiang Sisi stood there like she was back on a TV recording set.

Over the years, she’d gone from bubbly to steady and mature, her hosting style evolving, yet upon closer inspection, she hadn’t changed much.

Jiang Sisi seemed to notice her too. Their eyes met, and she gave a gentle smile.

On stage, she shone like a star.

Leng Xiang wondered how she’d spotted her from so far away.

She listened to Jiang Sisi’s low voice echoing through the speakers across the hall.

“Next, I’ll address a few serious matters.”

“First, the Luxury Goods crew will wrap up in twenty days. We won’t change the female lead, and it’s impossible that we would.”

“Second, some rumors have been circulating online lately. I found them amusing, so let me clarify them here.”

“My relationship with Leng Xiang, as the outside world says, is not good.”

The entire venue erupted in an uproar as countless reporters began to fidget restlessly. Hands shot up from the audience, eager to ask questions.

Jiang Sisi signaled for everyone to quiet down, and the commotion gradually subsided.

Holding the microphone, Jiang Sisi spoke with a smile, her eyes fixed on Leng Xiang the whole time.

Leng Xiang was standing in the back corner, yet for some reason, Jiang Sisi spotted her at a glance.

The bullet screen wall behind her exploded into a frenzy once more.

“She admitted it!!! Sisi admitted it!!”

“Now we can confirm Leng Xiang’s arrogance for sure!!”

“I can already imagine countless netizens flooding Leng Xiang’s Weibo to curse her out…”

“Can Leng Xiang even stay on the crew anymore?”

“If she can stick around after this, it wouldn’t be arrogance—it’d be skin thicker than a city wall.”

“Is this meant to tell Leng Xiang to get lost?!”

Jiang Sisi glanced at the bullet screen wall behind her, shook her head, and smiled again. “No, you’ve all misunderstood. The main reason Leng Xiang and I don’t get along is me, not her.”

“On the contrary, over these past two months, she put up with a lot of my bad habits.”