After Spectating Gossip, the Entertainment Industry Thinks I’m a Big Shot – CH70

Chapter 70

Wen Yue listened absentmindedly to the flattery and compliments from the crowd around him, occasionally glancing at his watch.

Banquets like these were routine for him, yet today he felt an unusual sense of anticipation, even thinking time seemed to be moving too slowly.

Finally, a server approached him and murmured, “Mr. Wen, Mr. Gu’s car has arrived.”

Wen Yue’s brow twitched slightly, and he raised his hand to the group. “Everyone, excuse me for a moment.”

With that, he stood up and walked toward the entrance. Though he appeared as composed as ever, a careful observer might notice that his strides seemed a bit longer than usual.

When he reached the front hall, he saw Gu Xingshi arriving with Qin Wen and Sheng Yueqing.

Today, Gu Xingshi’s attire made Wen Yue’s eyes light up.

A vintage British-style suit with a gold pin on the shirt collar emphasized his slender neck. The tailored fit hugged his narrow, firm waist, and as he moved, the green gem on his wristwatch caught the light.

Wen Yue’s gaze flickered with recognition.

He realized this was the watch he had asked Tang Ling to send to Gu Xingshi.

So Gu was actually wearing it… did that mean—

Before he could fully enjoy the thought, he noticed two figures flanking Gu Xingshi like a pair of protective sentinels.

“President Wen, a pleasure to meet you!” They greeted in unison.

Wen Yue: “…”

Though Qin Wen and Sheng Yueqing wore polite smiles, Wen Yue couldn’t shake the feeling that they were eyeing him like hawks.

Behind him, Sun Hongfei leaned over to Tang Ling and whispered, “No offense, but right now, President Wen looks like an unlucky stepdad being closely guarded by his suspicious stepchildren…”

Tang Ling: “…”

Is that really something you should say in President Wen’s presence? You seem a bit too relaxed!

Thankfully, Gu Xingshi stepped in to smooth things over.

Only then did Qin Wen and Sheng Yueqing reluctantly step back behind him.

Sun Hongfei clicked his tongue and whispered, “See? President Gu still has President Wen’s back. I’d say their reconciliation is just around the corner.”

Tang Ling: “…”

Using his height advantage, Wen Yue cast the two men a cool glance, then positioned himself by Gu Xingshi’s side. “Let’s head inside.”

Qin Wen and Sheng Yueqing: “!!!”

Sun Hongfei sighed. “This brief exchange felt like watching a family drama…”

Tang Ling: “…”

Could you please keep quiet? I don’t think I can look at President Wen with a straight face anymore.

As Wen Yue led Gu Xingshi inside, he introduced him to the other guests.

As they entered the banquet hall, countless gazes immediately turned their way.

Being watched by so many keen-eyed individuals would have unsettled even Qin Wen and Sheng Yueqing, who were used to the spotlight. Yet Gu Xingshi remained calm, even carrying on a lighthearted conversation with Wen Yue.

Many in the room had heard rumors about Wen Yue and Gu Xingshi’s “relationship,” but, like Ruan Yi, some dismissed it as just idle gossip.

However, seeing Wen Yue’s unprecedented attentiveness, everyone was taken aback.

And with Gu Xingshi’s natural composure, it was clear he was no mere “kept canary,” but rather Wen Yue’s unattainable “white moonlight.”

No matter the expressions on their faces, everyone mentally recalculated their approach.

Wen Yue led Gu Xingshi to the main table and took the initiative to introduce him. “This is Ms. Lan Yongyu, Director of Jing Ying.”

Ms. Lan was a well-preserved, glamorous woman in her early thirties. She radiated elegance, and even before Wen Yue could introduce Gu Xingshi, she smiled warmly and said, “You must be Mr. Gu. I’ve heard so much about you from Wenjun. We’re all like family here, so no need for formalities—just call me Sister Lan.”

Gu Xingshi was a bit taken aback by her friendliness, especially since they hadn’t had any prior interaction.

System: [Oh, that’s normal. She’s recently become a big fan of your CP with Wen Yue!]

Gu Xingshi: [???]

System: [Lan Yongyu’s nickname in the industry is the ‘Orchid Mantis,’ because she’s like a mantis that devours its mate.]

[She’s been married four times, each time inheriting her husband’s wealth, and each husband was wealthier than the last. Eventually, she took control of Jing Ying Group, becoming a formidable figure both feared and admired in the industry.]

[But to be fair, it’s not entirely her fault… She genuinely believed in love each time. Her first husband cheated on her, so she made him leave empty-handed; her second husband was abusive, so she sent him to prison; her third was a gambling addict, and her fourth tried to take over her assets. These men just couldn’t match her cunning, so they ended up as stepping stones for her career.]

[At first, she was heartbroken. Now, she’s at peace with it. Since she can’t have her own love story, she’s content to enjoy the romantic tales of others. In fact, the reason your story with Wen Yue has spread so widely is largely thanks to her.]

Gu Xingshi: […]

System: [But while she enjoys shipping couples, she detests dependent relationships. If she senses it’s the clingy type, she’s instantly turned off…]

Gu Xingshi: [Oh, so she prefers power couples.]

System: [Ahem… precisely.]

At that moment, Lan Yongyu said with a playful tone, “Mr. Wen has never been one to enjoy these banquets, so when he decided to host one, we thought the sun was rising in the west. Now it all makes sense—it’s all for Mr. Gu.”

While her words seemed harmless on the surface, a deeper analysis might suggest that the other guests were simply “extras,” which might rub some people the wrong way, especially the more calculating types.

Wen Yue’s brow furrowed slightly, and he was about to respond.

But Gu Xingshi, smiling brightly, chimed in, “Oh, Sister Lan, you’re too kind. I just got lucky, catching the rare sight of a western sunrise on my first try. Looks like I should go buy a lottery ticket today.”

A lighthearted joke from Gu Xingshi dispelled the awkward atmosphere.

Lan Yongyu quickly realized her remark might have been inappropriate, but she hadn’t expected Gu Xingshi to respond so adeptly, handling the situation with ease while allowing everyone to save face.

She had initially found it amusing to “ship” Wen Yue and Gu Xingshi, but now she regarded Gu Xingshi with newfound respect—and it didn’t hurt that his face was so pleasing to look at.

Without hesitation, she said, “I’ll have to ride on your luck, Xiao Gu! Don’t forget your sister when there’s a chance to collaborate in the future!”

Everyone in the room was stunned.

Lan Yongyu might seem approachable, but in the business world, she was an undisputed queen. People were usually the ones begging her for partnerships. How was it that Gu Xingshi, after just a few words, had her eagerly asking for a collaboration?

Even the man standing quietly beside Lan Yongyu, who’d barely made his presence known, couldn’t help but glance over at Gu Xingshi.

System: [That’s Lan Yongyu’s younger brother, Lan Yue. Don’t be fooled by his unassuming looks—he’s quite the ruthless character. But, well… he’s also the ultimate sister’s boy.]

Understanding this, Gu Xingshi smoothly shook hands with Lan Yue, then remarked sincerely, “Mr. Lan, you have beautiful eyes.”

Lan Yue’s face instantly tightened into a frown.

Some of the guests who had been envious of Gu’s quick success with Lan Yongyu now looked on with schadenfreude.

Everyone knew that, in contrast to his stunning sister, Lan Yue was plain-looking, to the point that people had once speculated he wasn’t even a blood relation. His appearance had always been a sore spot for him—especially his heavily nearsighted eyes, which were nearly squinted shut.

Had Gu Xingshi’s attempt at flattery just backfired?

But instead of faltering, Gu Xingshi doubled down. “Yes, Mr. Lan’s eyes look a lot like Sister Lan’s! One glance, and you can tell you’re siblings.”

Lan Yue’s previously indifferent expression softened at once. “Really?”

Gu Xingshi nodded enthusiastically. “Of course! You can even ask Mr. Wen.”

Wen Yue: “…”

Faced with two expectant gazes, he had no choice but to nod. “…Yes, there is some resemblance.”

Lan Yongyu raised her brows in surprise. “Xiao Gu, you have a good eye! Xiao Yue’s eyes used to look almost exactly like mine when we were kids—he only started needing glasses as he grew older. But if you look closely, you can still see the same contours.”

Lan Yue practically glowed at his sister’s words, and his attitude toward Gu Xingshi grew notably warmer.

The crowd: “???”

Seriously? That worked?

Just then, a cheerful voice boomed from the entrance. “My apologies for being late, everyone!”

Gu Xingshi looked over to see an older man with a full head of silver hair and a stocky build walking briskly toward the group.

As soon as he entered, everyone stood up to greet him. “Mr. Zhan.”

This was Zhan Demin, the founder of Taosheng Capital.

System: [Host, host! That’s today’s big boss!!]

[Don’t let his simple attire and friendly demeanor fool you—he’s a master manipulator. Countless people have fallen for his amiable front, and he’s highly vigilant; few people ever manage to win his trust. But he does have a weakness…]

[He’s obsessed with fishing. Knows all the theory, but always returns empty-handed. Not that it matters—he mostly just loves bragging about it…]

Gu Xingshi: [Oh, so he’s a ‘mouth fisherman,’ huh?”]

System: […Host, you sure have a way with words.]

Thus, when Zhan Demin inevitably started talking about his latest fishing adventures, Gu Xingshi turned into an earnest and admiring audience, offering heartfelt praise.

And it wasn’t just empty flattery; each compliment was precisely aimed to stroke Zhan Demin’s ego.

Zhan, who had never found such an attentive listener, was positively glowing by the end of his tale. His gaze toward Gu Xingshi became openly affectionate, calling him “Xiao Gu” with a warmth he rarely showed, even to his own grandchildren.

The crowd: “???”

Had Gu Xingshi even managed to charm Mr. Zhan?

Was he casting some sort of spell?

Ruan Yi stood in shock, watching as Gu Xingshi mingled effortlessly with the top figures in the room.

What happened to the notion that certain circles couldn’t be forced? Why was it that when it came to Gu Xingshi, the rules seemed to bend?

In Beijing’s elite society, social hierarchies were strict, and the rules were endless.

Take the Ruan family, for example. Even with the Lan siblings introducing them, they were barely acknowledged when they tried mingling near the main table. They could only dream of receiving the kind of treatment Gu Xingshi was getting, basking in the attention like a star among lesser lights.

At this point, Ruan Yi’s wife, Xiang Li, voiced her concern, “Do you think Mr. Wen might actually have real feelings for him? If that’s the case, then our…”

Ruan Yi frowned and scolded her, “Don’t be ridiculous. A top-tier family like the Wen family would never allow their head to pair up with a man—that would be a laughingstock! Besides, he’s the family head. Not marrying and having children? What are they supposed to do, let the line die out?”

“But…” Xiang Li hesitated.

“Don’t go boosting someone else’s morale while tearing down our own!” Ruan Yi snapped. “We need to at least give it a try!”

He simply couldn’t believe it.

Wen Yue couldn’t possibly defy high-society norms to be with a man.

Just then, the banquet festivities began, and people took the opportunity to make their way to the main table to pay their compliments.

Ruan Yi pulled Ruan Wenrou along, wine glass in hand, as they made their way to the head table.

Finally, when their turn came, Ruan Yi put on his most flattering smile, subtly pushing his daughter forward.

Ruan Wenrou, looking shy and lovely in a form-fitting dress that accentuated her figure, lowered her gaze and called softly, “Mr. Wen.”

Wen Yue’s brow immediately creased.

With just one look, he could tell exactly what this father-daughter duo had in mind, and it filled him with revulsion.

He had encountered such situations before; typically, he’d ignore them.

But now, with him actively pursuing Gu Xingshi, he couldn’t afford any misunderstandings at a moment like this.

Just as he was about to wave them away, he noticed that Gu Xingshi was watching.

A hint of panic crossed Wen Yue’s mind. “What’s wrong?”

Gu Xingshi, a bit distracted, replied, “It’s nothing…”

In truth, the moment the Ruans had approached, his system had started blaring in his head.

System: [Host! We’ve got a colossal scoop here!!]

Gu Xingshi’s interest was piqued. [Oh?]

System: [You’ve probably heard of the ‘switched-at-birth’ story, right? Well, you’re looking at the legendary fake heiress herself!]

Gu Xingshi raised an eyebrow slightly.

System: [But that’s not the juiciest part! The real twist is that the fake heiress is actually the biological daughter of the real heiress’s grandmother—making her the real heiress’s mother’s own younger sister!]

Gu Xingshi: [Read as “fake daughter,” written as “real little sister”—that’s impressive!]