After Spectating Gossip, the Entertainment Industry Thinks I’m a Big Shot – CH32

Chapter 32

The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone stared, dumbfounded, at Wen Yue’s empty wine glass.

Who exactly is this young guy?! And what’s his relationship with President Wen?

Why did President Wen actually drink the toast he offered?

Many people exchanged subtle glances, sizing up the space between Gu Xingshi and Wen Yue.

Sun Hongfei felt like he was the only one who truly understood the situation.

He knew it.

President Wen might not drink for anyone else, but he’d never turn down a toast from President Gu!

Yet he couldn’t help but wonder. Why just a drink?

President Wen had come all this way specifically to see Gu Xingshi. Shouldn’t he have been a little more affectionate?

And what about President Gu? When his partner goes out of his way to see him, shouldn’t he be a bit more excited or at least a little flustered? And when he offered a toast, was that really all he meant?

Just then, Sun saw Wen Yue take a step forward.

He clenched his fists in anticipation.

Ahhhh!!! Is he going to hug President Gu?!

But the next second, Wen Yue simply walked past Gu Xingshi and continued out of the crowd.

The auntie-smile froze on Sun Hongfei’s face.

What just happened?!

He followed Wen Yue’s gaze in confusion and saw him walking toward a man in a T-shirt and jeans.

The man looked to be in his early thirties, with slightly long hair held back by a headband, which highlighted a face that was both handsome and a bit world-weary.

Something about the man’s face struck Sun as vaguely familiar.

Then someone in the crowd gasped, “Feng Tingyun!!!”

Sun Hongfei was stunned.

Feng Tingyun was a well-known maverick director in the country.

At eighteen, he had released his first movie, shocking the international market with its unconventional narrative structure and bizarrely innovative visual language, taking home multiple international awards.

In the fifteen years since, he’d directed nine films, each a massive success. His last movie, three years ago, even won the Palme d’Or at Cannes, cementing his reputation worldwide.

International critics hailed him as an “irreplicable genius director.”

His style was unmistakable: his movies bore the mark of unique storytelling, visionary imagination, and pioneering cinematic language that set him apart from others.

And his personality was as infamous as his films.

He was known for being arrogant, eccentric, and cold.

Rumor had it he despised social events, often refusing to attend even his own movie wrap parties.

Who would have thought he’d actually show up at a celebration banquet for a reality show?

Only Tang Ling seemed unsurprised, finally realizing the reason for Wen Yue’s unexpected attendance.

So that’s why President Wen is here—it’s all about Feng Tingyun.

Just as Tang suspected, Wen Yue approached Feng Tingyun without hesitation. “Director Feng, nice to meet you. I’m Wen Yue.”

Feng Tingyun’s brow furrowed slightly.

Wen Yue’s presence felt immediately off-putting.

Though Wen Yue had tried to restrain himself, an instinctive sense of dominance still radiated from him, making Feng feel subtly threatened.

They were like two lions encountering each other in the wild.

The instinctive clash between them, combined with the awareness of the other’s strength, stirred wariness and tension between them.

Yet while Feng Tingyun’s defensive instincts had already gone up, Wen Yue remained utterly calm.

Feng Tingyun not only ignored Wen Yue but took a half-step back, visibly unimpressed.

The onlookers collectively sucked in a breath.

Everyone knew Feng Tingyun was arrogant, but this was another level!

Wen Yue, however, was unperturbed.

He had been well aware of Feng Tingyun’s temperament. When it came to talented individuals, his patience was boundless.

Feng Tingyun was a key component of Wen Yue’s plan to expand his entertainment empire.

Wen Yue had meticulously crafted a strategy to win him over, so this minor setback was within his expectations.

However, something happened that Wen Yue hadn’t anticipated.

As Feng Tingyun glanced past him, his expression suddenly lit up with delight, and he darted around Wen Yue, calling out, “Xingshi!”

The shout startled Gu Xingshi, who had been happily absorbed in the unfolding drama.

Feng Tingyun hurried over, looking thrilled. “It’s been so long!”

Gu Xingshi was momentarily stunned.

It took him a few moments to recall that this slightly disheveled, world-weary man was actually the main character in the very first scandal he’d observed through the “Gossip System.”

Back then, he hadn’t even arrived in the capital.

Through the system, he learned that Feng Tingyun had been betrayed by a close friend. This friend, jealous of Feng’s talent, had borne a grudge ever since Feng reprimanded him for leaking a script. Harboring resentment, the friend concocted a despicable plan to frame Feng.

He brought his own son along to meet Feng and, taking advantage of Feng’s trust, drugged him. He then photographed Feng and his son together, intending to use the images to smear Feng with a horrific accusation.

No one would have guessed he’d use his own son as bait, making it nearly impossible for Feng to defend himself if the photos were leaked. Not only would his reputation and directing career be ruined, but he’d also likely face prison time.

Gu Xingshi couldn’t stand by and watch, so he found a way to tip Feng off.

At first, Feng had refused to believe him. On one side was a friend of many years; on the other, a stranger who wouldn’t even show his face.

To gain his trust, Gu reluctantly revealed his identity.

Though still skeptical, Feng had made preparations.

Just as Gu Xingshi had predicted, the friend attempted to frame him, going so far as to use his own son.

Thanks to Gu’s warning, Feng avoided the trap and turned the tables, using a hidden camera to record the whole setup and then reporting it to the police.

The friend ended up in prison, and the child’s mother, upon learning the truth, divorced him.

Having wrapped up the situation, Gu Xingshi deleted Feng’s contact info, left the city, and moved to the capital without a care.

Feng, after handling all the chaos, wanted to repay his “savior” but couldn’t find any trace of him.

It wasn’t until tonight, when he happened to spot Gu Xingshi’s face in a video, that he realized Gu was now in the capital.

Without a second thought, he’d crossed half the city to attend this banquet he normally wouldn’t even glance at.

Meeting Feng’s intense gaze, Gu put on his usual polite smile.

At this moment, Feng had none of the aloofness or eccentricity that marked his reputation as a maverick director; he was enthusiastically chatting away with Gu Xingshi.

The crowd around them gasped again.

Who on earth is this young man?!

Why did even Feng Tingyun come just for him?

Sun Hongfei’s expression twisted with mixed feelings.

He’d just managed to ward off Ning Wenzhuo, and now Feng Tingyun showed up!

Why is President Wen’s love life so full of obstacles?!

Wen Yue’s gaze lingered on Gu Xingshi.

He’d known for some time that Feng Tingyun had been looking for someone. Tonight, he had unexpectedly received word that Feng was asking around about the location of the [Boy Group Training Camp] banquet. Though curious, he’d shown up on the slim chance it might be related.

He had waited for a long time without seeing any sign of Feng Tingyun, and had almost assumed the tip was wrong.

But here Feng was—behaving in an utterly uncharacteristic way, pouring affection on this young man.

Wen Yue’s eyes darkened, deep in thought.

Tang Ling, standing nearby, quickly grasped the situation. He knew how important Feng Tingyun was to Wen Yue’s plans and immediately pulled up Gu Xingshi’s information, relaying it to Wen Yue in a quiet murmur.

Wen Yue nodded slightly, his long legs quickly carrying him over to join them.

“Director Feng, you know President Gu?” Wen Yue asked.

Feng, who had been happily engaged in conversation with Gu, looked mildly annoyed at the interruption but reluctantly nodded. “Yes.”

Though prideful, Feng wasn’t lacking in social awareness.

No matter how much Feng Tingyun disliked Wen Yue, he couldn’t repeatedly disrespect him; otherwise, he’d only be making a powerful enemy.

Wen Yue, calm and composed, effortlessly steered the conversation. Both of them—one the head of the Wen family empire, the other a globally renowned director—exuded a formidable presence.

As they spoke, it was as if an invisible barrier formed around them, with no one daring to come within a meter. Only Gu Xingshi stood nearby, looking a bit lost in thought, as if he was daydreaming.

This sight left the onlookers both envious and exasperated.

How could you just stand there daydreaming during such a high-level conversation?! What a wasted opportunity!

But Gu Xingshi wasn’t particularly concerned. His dazed look was simply because he was listening to the system’s latest scoop.

[Although Wen Yue holds control over the Wen family, his aunts and uncles are no easy opponents. They’ve been entrenched in the family business for years and hold significant sway. Back when Wen Yue initially gained power, it was partly due to his own strength and partly because his relatives underestimated him, too focused on their own infighting to notice their young nephew rising up.]

[Now that Wen Yue has firmly established himself, his relatives are banding together to oppose him. However, Wen Yue anticipated this and has already prepared a counter-strategy: the entertainment industry. He’s developing a comprehensive plan to create an independent entertainment empire. Sweet Orange Video and Xingyao Media are the core infrastructure, while projects like [Boy Group Training Camp] serve as the ‘software’ or content aspect.]

[Wen Yue has long set his sights on Feng Tingyun, not only to leverage Feng’s reputation in the international market but also because of his ambition to break into the film industry. Feng Tingyun, however, has no shortage of investors. Potential backers line up for him from here to France, and he has his pick of them. Although Wen Yue is wealthy, the Wen family’s internal complexity and lack of status in the film world leave Feng uninterested.]

*

As the system had pointed out, Feng Tingyun showed little interest in Wen Yue’s investment proposal.

Wen Yue sensed this and, seeing no need to continue pressing, shifted his attention to Gu Xingshi. “President Gu, do you have anything to add?”

“Huh?” Gu looked up, surprised to find both Wen Yue and Feng Tingyun looking directly at him.

What just happened?

Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin had just finished eating with their teammates. Coming over to find their agent, they saw Gu Xingshi in the middle of a tense circle formed by Wen Yue and Feng Tingyun.

Cheng Xin didn’t recognize the two men, but Meng Yuansheng did.

He also knew that his agent sometimes tended to zone out. Normally, it wasn’t a problem, but now, facing two industry titans, what if his absent-minded attitude offended them?

Nervous, Meng Yuansheng was just about to step in and help defuse the situation when Feng Tingyun protectively stepped in front of Gu Xingshi. “President Wen, this is a matter between us. It has nothing to do with Xingshi. There’s no need to involve him.”

Meng Yuansheng: “!!!”

He had missed Feng Tingyun’s earlier behavior and was absolutely stunned by what he saw now.

Isn’t this the famous bad-tempered international director? Could he have mistaken the person?!

The bystanders, however, were already accustomed to the dynamic.

Though they didn’t know the exact relationship between Feng Tingyun and Gu Xingshi, everyone had noticed Feng’s special treatment of him.

Several people were already making plans to approach Gu Xingshi once the celebration was over. Whatever else was going on, with his connections to President Wen and Director Feng, Gu clearly wasn’t just anyone.

Meanwhile, a smaller group lurked nearby, watching with barely contained excitement.

Among them were daughters of investors, young girl group trainees brought to the event for exposure, and an assortment of agents and assistants.

“Oh my gosh! This is straight out of a ‘two Alphas fighting over one Omega’ story!!”

“So thrilling!!! My favorite novel is coming to life!!!”

“Look at how protective Director Feng is! The proud lone wolf transforms into a loyal guard dog for his love! This is too good!!!”

“I’m more into President Wen’s vibe. Just imagine the height difference—he could wrap his arms around President Gu’s waist, lift him up effortlessly, pin him against the wall, and then do… you know…”

“What about…doesn’t anyone ship a Double Alpha power pairing?”

A sudden silence fell over the group.

Then, they all glared at the speaker in unison. “Take your toxic AA ship out of here! This is pure BL territory!!!”

“…”

Compared to their ecstatic fantasies, Sun Hongfei was having an existential crisis.

The conversation between President Wen and President Gu felt way too… formal. There was zero warmth, almost as if they were strangers.

An aloof CEO and his agent—could their acting really be this good? How are we, their artists, supposed to keep up with that kind of performance?!

But if it wasn’t acting… could it be…?

Had they broken up?!

Sun Hongfei’s heart skipped a beat.

The more he watched, the more convinced he became.

Looking at how they were standing, Gu Xingshi was positioned noticeably closer to Feng Tingyun than to Wen Yue.

Even Ning Wenzhuo—that foxy third wheel—had been standing closer to Gu Xingshi earlier.

As for the conversation, Gu Xingshi wasn’t even glancing in Ning Wenzhuo’s direction.

The more Sun thought about it, the more horrified he felt.

Dear heavens! Don’t play me like this!

Was his long-awaited path to promotion about to disappear just like that?

And if they really had broken up, how was he supposed to treat President Gu going forward?

If he was too friendly, would it annoy Wen Yue and tank his career?

But if he was cold, and they reconciled later, he’d be in an even worse position, stuck between the two of them!

Sun Hongfei was on the verge of falling apart.

While the atmosphere around him was thick with tension, Gu Xingshi, at the heart of the storm, remained completely unaffected.

In contrast to the two serious men standing nearby, he casually rubbed his stomach and said honestly, “I was just thinking about what to eat next.”

Lost in the latest gossip scoop, Gu Xingshi hadn’t eaten much earlier. After the champagne with Wen Yue and standing around for a while, he was starting to feel genuinely hungry.

Wen Yue’s gaze lingered on Gu Xingshi, as if trying to discern whether his refreshingly honest expression was a ploy to deflect the conversation or if he genuinely was this carefree.

Feng Tingyun seized the moment to end the conversation and led Gu Xingshi away.

Wen Yue showed no reaction. He hadn’t expected to close a deal with Feng in such a short time; in fact, tonight’s gains had already exceeded his expectations.

Casting one last glance at their retreating backs, he turned to Tang Ling. “Let’s go.”

Once Wen Yue left, the previously reserved onlookers felt free to talk openly, and the buzz of gossip grew louder.

“I almost died of nerves just now! Director Feng really has seen it all—if it were me standing in front of President Wen, I’d be shaking in my boots, let alone daring to give him attitude!”

“If you ask me, the real powerhouse here is President Gu. Staying calm and composed between two giants like that is truly admirable!”

“I heard that President Gu is the new head of LeShi Entertainment. His artists just took first and second place in [Boy Group Training Camp]. I thought it might be luck, but now that I’ve seen his poise and skill, there’s no question he’s got what it takes to succeed in anything!”

“Looks like we should definitely consider more collaborations with LeShi in the future…”

*

Gu Xingshi and Feng Tingyun found a quiet corner with some snacks, away from those who were eager to cozy up to them. Both of them let out a small sigh of relief.

Feng Tingyun couldn’t help asking, “Xingshi, what brought you to the capital?”

Having been on decent terms with Feng before, Gu Xingshi didn’t hide the truth. He explained that he’d received a request from a distant relative and taken over LeShi Entertainment.

Feng Tingyuan frowned.

He hadn’t heard of LeShi Entertainment and assumed it was a minor company, so he said, “If you need any help with anything, just let me know.”

Feng Tingyun was known for his black-and-white personality—he cared deeply for those he liked and wanted nothing to do with those he didn’t. If he respected someone, he would go out of his way to support them.

For him, this was a heavy promise.

Gu Xingshi had already asked Meng Yuansheng and Cheng Xin about their preferences, and both were more interested in performing than in acting, unlike many idols who moved into acting to make more money.

With Gu’s lack of materialistic ambition and his enjoyment of seeing them pursue their dreams, he’d never considered forcing them into acting.

So, for him, Feng’s coveted offer, which would have left industry insiders green with envy, wasn’t something he felt strongly about.

As they snacked, the conversation naturally drifted toward what had just happened.

Feng explained straightforwardly, “I’ve got a new project coming up, one I’m hoping will make a splash at international awards. Plenty of people want to get in on it. It’s not about the money; it’s just that if investors try to interfere too much, I’d rather not work with them.”

The system added to Gu: [Feng has long had a reputation as a “set dictator.” It’s said that when he’s on set, even the producers defer to him, and any investor who tries to impose demands is promptly kicked out of the project.]

[So far, Feng’s partners have all been companies he’s worked with for years, particularly Yinan Films. However, the new CEO of Yinan, Deng Haiyue, is the chairman’s son, who studied abroad for years. He despises Feng’s autocratic approach, especially since Feng has been uncompromising about maintaining his authority in contracts. Feng’s last film was a critical success but a box office flop, so Yinan didn’t benefit much financially. Deng’s resentment has only grown.]

[Supposedly, Deng has been rallying other investors to “teach Feng a lesson,” hoping to use funding as leverage to force him to back down. Coincidentally, Feng’s current project is another critically driven film, not likely to be a box-office hit, so other investors are also feeling lukewarm and are on the fence.]

Gu Xingshi’s brow furrowed.

Noticing his expression, Feng asked, “What is it? Did something seem off?”

After a moment’s thought, Gu Xingshi decided to ask, “How’s your relationship with the CEO of Yinan Films?”

“You mean Deng Haiyue?” Feng scoffed. “Not great. All those years abroad must’ve turned his brain to mush. He’s always yammering about this or that, but he doesn’t understand a thing about film!”

If not for the years of collaboration between him and Yinan, Feng would have dropped them as a partner long ago.

Gu Xingshi hinted, “So, from what you’re saying, he’s pretty petty. If the investors were to withhold funding mid-shoot, it could be quite a hassle, right?”

Feng Tingyun’s expression immediately turned serious.

If anyone else had mentioned something like this, he might have dismissed it. But coming from Gu Xingshi, it had to mean something. Feng hadn’t forgotten that Gu’s warning had once saved him from betrayal and disgrace.

Just imagining a funding freeze mid-production was enough to make him tense. It could mean not finishing the film on time, missing award deadlines, and even hurting the box office returns. This wouldn’t just affect one film but could derail his entire slate of future projects, with potentially immense losses.

His expression grew even more somber.

Seeing this, Gu Xingshi asked, “What’s wrong? Does it seem that tricky? Or…have you already signed the contracts?”

“No, not yet.” Feng hesitated before voicing his concerns. “But the shoot schedule is tight. Changing investors at this point makes it hard to find a good replacement.”

Gu Xingshi raised an eyebrow. “Do you want me to recommend someone?”

Feng felt a little embarrassed; he was usually so confident and decisive, rarely seeking others’ input.

But Gu Xingshi was different. His judgment was always strikingly accurate, and Feng trusted him implicitly.

Gu Xingshi scratched his cheek.

He knew little about companies in the industry, but if Feng was only looking for a financially capable investor who wouldn’t interfere, one name did come to mind.

“How about considering Wen Yue?” Gu suggested.

Feng froze, his brows knitting tightly.

Wen Yue’s intense, almost predatory presence was off-putting enough, let alone the thought of working with him.

But with Gu Xingshi suggesting it…

After a moment of silence, Feng asked, “Why do you think he’s suitable?”

Recalling the things the system had mentioned, Gu replied, “He’s ambitious, with a strong need for control, but he’s also good at focusing on the big picture and usually respects the experts when it comes to specifics. Plus, the Wen family is loaded but lacks influence in the film industry, which makes him a perfect complement for you…”

*

Meanwhile, Sun Hongfei drifted forlornly toward the balcony.

The thought of Wen Yue and Gu Xingshi breaking up made him feel as if his career hopes were slipping away, each comment at the banquet a fresh stab to his heart.

Unable to bear it any longer, he decided to find a quiet corner and sit out the rest of the night in solitude.

But as he reached the balcony, he heard a familiar voice.

“How about considering Wen Yue?”

It was President Gu!!!

He froze on the spot, listening as Feng asked his follow-up question.

It was obvious Feng didn’t have the best impression of President Wen—his reluctance came through loud and clear even in his tone.

Then he heard Gu Xingshi respond with a clear and logical analysis.

It was an analysis, yes, but every word was spoken in Wen Yue’s favor.

Gu Xingshi’s words held a casual familiarity with Wen Yue—who could believe they weren’t still a couple?!

Sun Hongfei’s broken heart began to mend itself piece by piece.

Thank heavens—they’re still in love!!!

Sun Hongfei was practically in tears.

His career was safe!