Chapter 485 269: The Highly Sought-After Chairman Qi

Jiang Shuying, dressed in a long white dress, also turned quite a few heads among the film crew.

Of course, in the entertainment industry, they were all used to seeing female celebrities.

But when they saw a female celebrity dressed to the nines...

...the male staff on the crew still couldn't help but envy the men behind them.

But one thing was for sure.

These men were, at the very least, billionaires.

"Sister Shuying, you look so beautiful today!"

"Tsk, tsk. As expected of a big star, you're absolutely stunning!"

"I'm obsessed! Sister Shuying, can you give me an autograph later?"

The fawning compliments were endless on her walk from the banquet hall's entrance to the main table.

Jiang Shuying was used to it, her gaze sweeping toward the main table.

Noticing three empty seats still remained, she couldn't help but feel a little annoyed.

'By rights, I'm the biggest female star in the cast.'

'As a newcomer, Gu Pan's entrance should, under no circumstances, be after mine.'

'But then again, I absolutely can't afford to offend the person by Gu Pan's side.'

Though she had wanted to delay her entrance, she had obediently followed her agent's instructions.

She made her appearance right after Mao Xiaotong arrived.

'Offending Gu Pan is no big deal.'

'But offending Qi Sheng? That's a one-way ticket to oblivion.'

'Universal Entertainment's growth is explosive, and it's showing all the signs of becoming a top-tier company in the Chinese entertainment industry.'

'Unless they're a complete fool, no one would be willing to offend such a wealthy and powerful corporation for my sake.'

'In the end, celebrities are just tools for these capitalists to make money.'

'Thinking too highly of oneself can be fatal.'

...

Jiang Shuying sat next to Mao Xiaotong, chatting and laughing with her in perfect harmony.

In the entire cast, only Gu Pan posed any threat to her status.

As for Mao Xiaotong, a third-tier, freelance starlet, she was no one to worry about.

With no conflict of interest between them, Jiang Shuying didn't mind extending a bit of goodwill to Mao Xiaotong.

"Chairman Qi is here!"

Seeing the commotion at the entrance, a dazzling smile lit up Zhang Xiaobo's face.

At the entrance, Qi Sheng and Gu Pan walked into the banquet hall together.

"A handsome man and a beautiful woman" was the perfect description for the pair.

Qi Sheng, of course, was in a league of his own.

Nearly six-foot-three, he wore a bespoke suit.

Every gesture he made exuded an air of nobility.

Wealth has a way of refining a person.

Especially at Qi Sheng's level.

He casually raked in tens of billions in cash every year.

As long as something had a price tag, there was virtually nothing he couldn't afford.

Gu Pan wore a black, square-collared dress.

It set off the skin of her décolletage, making it look fair and supple.

Her complexion was fair with a rosy glow, so flawless that it would look incredible even in an extreme close-up.

Her long black hair was styled in French curls, and she radiated a captivating aura.

The hem of her dress skimmed the floor.

Its form-fitting, hip-hugging design further accentuated Gu Pan's stunning figure.

A full set of emerald jewelry made even fellow actresses Jiang Shuying and Mao Xiaotong burn with envy.

'This isn't some formal gala, after all.'

'The jewelry is clearly her own.'

'A set of emeralds like that has to be worth at least fifty million.'

Adorned with such expensive jewels, Gu Pan looked like a proud white swan.

She exuded an air of cool, retro glamour, with an added touch of a mature woman's charm.

Seeing Gu Pan make such a stunning grand finale of an entrance...

...both Mao Xiaotong and Jiang Shuying were completely overshadowed.

The crew members couldn't help but start gossiping.

After all, they would all be going their separate ways tomorrow, so there was no fear of retaliation.

"No wonder she's getting so much backing from Chairman Qi. With looks and a body like that, she completely blows the other two out of the water!"

"I envy Chairman Qi every single day. If I had a girlfriend like Gu Pan, hell, I wouldn't leave the house for a year."

"Our show is pretty interesting, isn't it? It's really hard to say who the actual female lead is."

"In terms of status, Jiang Shuying is the female lead, for sure. But Gu Pan's acting is genuinely amazing. I feel like she could transition to the big screen without any issue."

"Top-tier looks, a top-tier figure, outstanding acting skills, and a powerful sponsor... if Gu Pan doesn't get famous, it'd be a crime against heaven itself!"

...

Over at the main table, once Qi Sheng and Gu Pan were seated...

...Zhang Xiaobo finally took the microphone, went on stage, and said a few words.

It was the usual fare—thanking everyone for their hard work and telling them to eat, drink, and be merry.

Before the meal officially began, they naturally had to take a few wrap photos.

The three female leads were all dressed so beautifully, after all.

The photos would be useful for promotions later on.

Qi Sheng, Lin Meishan, Zhang Xiaobo, the three female leads, and a few of the male supporting actors posed for several pictures.

As the show's investor, Qi Sheng naturally took the center position.

Flanking him were Zhang Xiaobo and a producer from Lemon Film and Television.

Gu Pan and Jiang Shuying, meanwhile, stood on either side.

"One, two, three... perfect!"

The crew's photographer easily snapped several excellent shots and showed them to Zhang Xiaobo for his approval.

It was a lineup of handsome men and beautiful women, but the most eye-catching were, without a doubt, Qi Sheng and Gu Pan.

Even though there were people standing between them...

...when they were in the same frame, it felt as if everyone else was simply erased from the picture.

Anyone who saw the photos would subconsciously ignore everyone else, treating them like background extras.

A top-tier god and goddess simply possessed that kind of terrifying charisma.

Even a great beauty like Jiang Shuying seemed unremarkable in the photo.

To say nothing of Mao Xiaotong.

Aside from her eye-catching dress, there was little else to notice about her.

After photos like this were taken, it was customary for everyone to review them.

The goal was to make sure everyone was satisfied before posting them on the official Weibo account.

The male actors didn't have any complaints.

The actresses, however, had to struggle to pick out a few shots where they weren't too badly overshadowed.