Chapter 555: Chapter 555: Television Festival

On both sides of the hundred-meter-long red carpet outside the TV festival, media personnel had already packed in, and a quick glance revealed nothing but a sea of heads and an array of cameras.

Unlike the regular brand shows and platform galas, this official event had strict rules. Media weren’t allowed to occupy areas outside the designated red carpet entrance, and those allowed to take photos on the red carpet had passed through multiple layers of selection. Hundreds of people crammed into that small space, leaving only the middle path for artists, barely adhering to the rules.

Many actors were attending the TV festival, along with some performance guests, making it seem like half the entertainment industry was present.

In previous years, this red carpet had seen its fair share of news, from gatecrashers to fainting incidents, wardrobe malfunctions, and bizarre outfits designed to grab attention.

Even without such spectacles, just the high-end fashion worn by each celebrity was enough to spark discussions. People would analyze the stars’ favor with luxury brands based on their attire and compare each person’s standing. Every year before and after the TV festival, a wave of fashion commentators would emerge.

The center of attention this year was quite clear, falling on Yu Xia.

So all the media were eagerly anticipating, waiting for Yu Xia’s arrival.

When halfway down the red carpet, the outer crowd started to stir as someone shouted Yu Xia’s name. All the media immediately swung their cameras to the red carpet entrance, the barrage of shutter clicks startling a flock of seabirds outside the square.

Yu Xia entered alongside her production crew, maintaining a perfectly measured smile, and leisurely stepped onto the red carpet, giving the media plenty of time to take photos.

However, someone ahead was still lingering, constantly changing poses for comprehensive shots on the latter half of the red carpet.

Some photographers were in the middle and couldn’t help but capture both the person ahead and Yu Xia’s crew in their shots, so they loudly shouted:

"Could the person in front kindly move forward a bit!"

"Move a bit faster, please!" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Even the official staff stepped up to guide.

It’s rather embarrassing, likely to be mocked by netizens if it spreads.

Ever since the "twenty-meter red carpet taking half an hour" incident, people’s opinions of stars lingering on the red carpet had soured, causing most other celebrities to hurry along rather than linger.

Yu Xia glanced to see who was in front.

She immediately recognized a somewhat familiar face, full of suppressed anger and embarrassment.

Her eyebrow slightly raised—oh, isn’t that Rong Tan?

The second female lead who once partnered with Xie Qingci’s production, she used to be an assistant at Xi Heng’s company, later boosted by a coal business owner. Back then, she even tried to flirt with Xie Qingci in front of her, and hired online trolls to spread rumors about her manipulating Xie Qingci.

What a coincidence.

Listening to the media eagerly requesting her to pose, Yu Xia smiled and moved aside a couple of steps before stopping, posing adequately for the cameras.

Because of this, Rong Tan, who still hadn’t left, continued to steal the spotlight, making the photographers even more impatient with their requests.

"Could you kindly move another couple of steps forward? How long have you lingered on the red carpet; haven’t you had enough time in the spotlight?"

"You’ve become a backdrop now."

"Don’t block the front. Even people who arrived later have finished walking!"

"Who is she? Blocking the front to steal Yu Xia’s spotlight?"

"Which newcomer is this so lacking in manners?"

One or two remarks were fine, but when a group said the same thing, the voices grew loud. The staff came to guide again, with everyone on the red carpet staring at her with contemptuous looks.

Rong Tan could only bear her shame and frustration, her face stiffening as she quickly followed the guidance forward.

Yu Xia glanced over with the corner of her eye to see her stepping off the red carpet, her smile growing even wider as she greeted the media in the middle and paused specifically to give them a photo op.

However, she didn’t linger long either. After accommodating the majority of the media, she walked off the red carpet without stopping.

Inside, it was much less lively.

Compared to the galas she had attended before, the TV festival lacked luxurious booths and instead had orderly auditorium-style seating, people sitting tightly next to each other.

Without their agents accompanying them, she followed the guidance to her seat marked with her name, coincidentally right next to Wan Ze, who gentlemanly pressed down the chair to let her sit.

After she was seated, he pointed behind her and said, "Your boyfriend is over there."

Yu Xia thanked him and turned to look, catching Xie Qingci’s direct gaze from behind. She blinked.

In here, it wasn’t convenient to gather and chat. People only exchanged a few words with the person next to them after sitting. Separated by such distance, they couldn’t say much, so she waved her phone at Xie Qingci.

Then she bowed her head to send him a message.

[I see you]

[The person on your right gained fame from a mother-in-law variety show, talented, liked by many directors. You should talk to them more, don’t stay silent]

Xie Qingci: [Are you treating me like a son, girlfriend?]

Xie Qingci: [There’s a mother-in-law variety show?]

Yu Xia: [Seems surprising to you, there’s even a funeral home variety show]

Xie Qingci: [The person next to you seems to want to talk to you]

Xie Qingci: [I heard he’s a strong contender for Best Actor? Is it a custom for the male and female lead to sit together at the TV festival?]

Wan Ze wants to talk to her? Yu Xia didn’t address it at first, focusing on calming the overly jealous person behind her.

Yu Xia: [He’s the national male lead, not my male lead]

Yu Xia: [Affectionate pat on the head.jpg]

Using that fatherly love expression background as she sent such messages had become second nature to her.

After sending the message, she looked up at Wan Ze, catching his curious gaze.

"Wan, do you have something to say?"

Wan Ze raised his chin slightly, motioning to someone behind and said with a smile, "Your relationship seems good? You sat down and started sending messages immediately."

"It’s the honeymoon phase," she said naturally, "and he’s rather clingy."

"Is that the trait of dating someone younger?"

She thought of it, glanced at her phone, vibrating again, and smiled demurely, "Could be, but I honestly prefer it."

Wan Ze shook his head, heard her phone buzz twice more, and joked, "He does seem a bit clingy. You should go back to chatting."

Yu Xia nodded, guessing he originally intended to ask about her thoughts on the final awards, but somehow only asked these trivial personal questions instead.

She unlocked her phone to see the messages.

Xie Qingci: [What kindness, your latest expressions are quite odd]

Xie Qingci: [Did you eat anything before leaving? Are you hungry?]

Xie Qingci: [What were you talking about?]

Xie Qingci: [I had the staff bring you a shawl; your dress is too beautiful, everyone keeps staring]

Aware of the exposure level of her high-end dress and his concerns about the people behind staring at her back, Yu Xia understood fully.

Yu Xia: [Why are you always watching me like you’re guarding a melon field?]

Xie Qingci: [That’s an apt metaphor, my melon is too beautiful, so it needs guarding]

Xie Qingci: [Being a melon farmer is not easy—day and night, and I still end up smashing it in my hands.jpg]

Yu Xia: [...Why do you have all these ridiculous emoticons]

Xie Qingci: [Complimentary from Wei Yaoyao / Obedient smile.jpg]