After Spectating Gossip, the Entertainment Industry Thinks I’m a Big Shot – CH82

Chapter 82

After winter set in, the weather in Beijing gradually turned colder.

Inside LeShi, however, the atmosphere was heating up, thanks to the company’s very first annual gala.

For the past two years, LeShi had been in a phase of rapid growth, and everyone was so busy that they hardly had time to think about anything else.

This year, though, as the company’s growth began to stabilize, Gu Xingshi decided it was time to host the event.

While annual gatherings at other companies might focus on team-building and performance showcases, LeShi’s annual gala was purely for fun.

Reportedly, even the performances were assigned randomly by drawing lots.

Of course, participation was voluntary, so those who really didn’t want to perform could apply to be exempted.

But since this was the first annual gala, most people decided to participate, including Yu Youxia, who brought along the “Quail Writers Club” to contribute a show.

As a new member of the LeShi family, Zhou Chengyan naturally joined in as well.

And he happened to draw the grand prize—the chance to perform a girl group dance.

Zhou Chengyan was utterly floored.

Joining him in this performance were a male manager, the finance director, and a colleague from the business department. Not a single woman among them.

Actually, there had been a woman at first; apparently, Lin Xiayu was originally chosen, but she promptly used her “resource exchange” skill to swap places with another male manager.

After she made the swap, though, Human Resources promptly closed this loophole.

Zhou Chengyan could only grit his teeth and face it, joining his three unfortunate “brothers” in practicing the dance.

The days flew by, and soon it was the day of the gala.

As Wen Yue got out of the car, he was greeted by none other than Gu Xingshi.

Gu Xingshi was dressed far more elegantly than usual today. He wore a Baroque-style blue velvet suit, tailored to show off his broad shoulders and slender waist, with a luxurious sapphire adorning the complex folds of his shirt.

This grand outfit didn’t overshadow him, though. Instead, it lent him a touch of nobility, like a young lord from an aristocratic family.

It was Wen Yue’s first time seeing Gu Xingshi dressed like this, and he stood stunned for a moment before walking over.

Gu Xingshi greeted him with a smile, then handed him a wristband, which had the number 16 on it.

Wen Yue asked, “What’s this?”

“It’s your number for tonight’s raffle.”

Wen Yue initially wanted to say he didn’t need it, but seeing Gu Xingshi holding out the wristband for him, he couldn’t quite bring himself to refuse.

Gu Xingshi lowered his head to clasp the band around Wen Yue’s wrist, standing so close that Wen Yue could feel the warmth of his fingers on his skin.

Swallowing, Wen Yue replied with a low “Mm,” and slipped his wrist under his sleeve, unintentionally revealing cufflinks that matched Gu Xingshi’s sapphire adornment.

They walked into the hall side by side.

Behind them, Sun Hongfei followed closely with Tang Ling, maintaining a respectful three-step distance. Sun was glancing around vigilantly—after all, today he wasn’t just attending as a partner of LeShi, but also as the personal “relationship bodyguard” for Wen and Gu.

Surprisingly, he noticed there was no sign of Qin Wen’s usual troublemaking crew, which puzzled him.

When he asked a LeShi staff member, they answered, “Brother Qin and his team are practicing for the show!”

Sun Hongfei found this strange. From what he knew, Gu’s artists were all highly skilled and talented. Why would they need such intense practice for a simple performance?

Still pondering, he entered the hall.

The hall was already beautifully decorated, and LeShi employees dressed in various outfits were bustling around. Their faces glowed with excitement, clearly anticipating the evening’s festivities.

Sun Hongfei and his group had seats at one of the tables closest to the stage.

By then, Gu Xingshi had already invited Wen Yue to sit.

Wen Yue had attended his own group’s annual gala before, but the atmosphere here was completely different from LeShi’s.

“Our gala’s theme is simply to have fun,” Gu Xingshi explained with a smile. “Honestly, even I don’t know what’s on the program tonight!”

Intrigued, Wen Yue asked, “Are you performing too?”

Gu Xingshi replied, “Well…yes, but I may need some help from you, President Wen.”

“What is it?” Wen Yue asked, visibly interested.

Gu Xingshi just gave him a mysterious smile. “You’ll see when the time comes.”

With that, Wen Yue found himself looking forward to the evening’s performance with growing anticipation.

Soon, the gala was ready to begin.

The tables were covered in delicious food, but no one was focused on eating. All eyes were fixed on the stage.

As the lights dimmed, two people slowly made their way onstage. From their silhouettes, it looked like a man and a woman, but the woman in the back seemed a bit nervous, stumbling slightly as she walked.

When the two reached center stage, spotlights lit up over their heads, revealing Cheng Xin in a suit, grinning, alongside Pei Zhuozhi (Director of The Ghostly Gate), who wore an evening gown and looked completely mortified.

Recognizing who they were, Gu Xingshi nearly spit out his drink.

The entire room erupted in laughter.

Sun Hongfei was in utter disbelief. What an absurd pairing!

And Cheng Xin as the host? Were they serious?!

Cheng Xin, standing onstage, didn’t seem to realize just how explosive his hosting role was. Completely at ease, he gestured for everyone to quiet down. “I know you’re all shocked, but hold on to your seats. I became the host mostly thanks to my luck at drawing lots. Let’s not name a few poor brothers who unfortunately drew the girl group dance…”

Backstage, Zhou Chengyan and the others clenched their fists in silent protest.

Cheng Xin continued, “And over here, we have Director Pei, who lost at rock-paper-scissors and was forced to wear women’s clothing.”

Pei Zhuozhi turned his head silently, his glare emitting pure death.

The crowd was speechless.

Even Gu Xingshi was at a loss for words.

It was the first time he’d seen a host so talented at making enemies.

Completely unaware of the offense he was causing, Cheng Xin nudged Pei Zhuozhi with his elbow. “Your lines.”

Pei Zhuozhi dropped his gaze, reluctantly speaking up, “Esteemed President Gu, honored guests…”

Cheng Xin quickly added, “Some of them.”

The “some of them” crowd, including Wen Yue, was left speechless.

Pei Zhuozhi went on, “…Dear colleagues, on this joyful, festive evening, we officially kick off the first annual LeShi Gala.”

Cheng Xin: “Ladies and gentlemen, keep your eyes open and brace yourselves. Up next, please enjoy the girl group dance by our esteemed male colleagues from the Artist Management Department—Manager Zhou Chengyan, Lu Mo— from the Finance Department, Yu Liang and Liu Si— from the Business Department.”

A wave of applause and whistles erupted in the hall.

Gu Xingshi leaned closer to Wen Yue and explained, “This is probably the most anticipated performance of the night. I heard they’ve kept it a tight secret, so nobody actually knows how they’ll perform…”

With the noise around them, Gu Xingshi had to speak close to Wen Yue’s ear, his warm breath brushing lightly against Wen Yue’s ear, sending a slight shiver down to his heart.

Just as Wen Yue turned to reply, the stage lights dimmed.

Gu Xingshi quickly sat back, focusing on the stage.

Zhou Chengyan and his group had positioned themselves at the center of the stage, striking a dramatic pose.

As the lights came up, the four men, all dressed in short skirts and black stockings, began moving with dead-serious expressions.

The four of them twisted and spun, as if they were figuring out how to move their own limbs for the first time, each putting their own unique spin on the choreography.

Their face-touching move looked like they’d slapped themselves, their body waves resembled fish flopping on a cutting board, and their attempt at walking had the awkwardness of physical therapy.

Despite the sweet, upbeat music, they managed to imbue the performance with a sense of profound suffering.

“Pfft—”

Laughter erupted throughout the hall.

Even Gu Xingshi, laughing while rubbing his chin, was thoughtful in his evaluation. “Not bad for Lao Zhou. His figure is quite suitable…”

Wen Yue gave him a sidelong glance, then removed his suit jacket and draped it over the back of his chair.

Gu Xingshi didn’t notice and continued, “Honestly, this style has its own charm. If they’re interested, it’s not like they couldn’t take it up as a side gig…”

Zhou Chengyan and his group suddenly felt a chill run down their spines.

Sun Hongfei, watching from the audience, was deeply moved. Only Gu would be thinking about business at a time like this.

No wonder LeShi was so successful! He could cry from admiration.

Finally, when Zhou Chengyan and the others finished their dance, the audience was nearly laughing themselves to exhaustion. Yan Jingxi and the other mischief-makers shouted “Encore!” with no regard for their coworkers’ dignity.

Zhou Chengyan shot a fierce glare at his own artists.

After they left the stage, Cheng Xin, still wiping away tears from laughing, took the mic again. “Ahem, let’s give our heartfelt thanks to our four colleagues for such a magnificent performance. Now that they’ve set the bar, the rest of our performers can relax. Up next is something entirely new—a stand-up comedy performance by my former teammate Meng Yuansheng and his partner, Qin Wen.”

Gu Xingshi: “…”

Well, this would certainly be new.

Meng Yuansheng and Qin Wen came onstage dressed in traditional long robes.

Both were tall, well-built, and incredibly handsome in their unique ways. Instead of comedians, they looked more like refined gentlemen who had time-traveled from the Republic era.

But as soon as they began to speak, the vibe shifted.

Qin Wen started, “When I first debuted, I was really nervous about interviews, so I sought advice from my senior, Meng Yuansheng. He’s a great guy, taught me quite a few tips for dealing with the media.”

Meng Yuansheng nodded. “Yep, I taught him.”

Qin Wen went on, “He’s so impressive, always giving flawless, courteous answers. I was afraid I’d never live up to his example. But my senior reassured me, saying, ‘Look at my teammate Cheng Xin. I taught him the same way, and it didn’t help him one bit. Trust me, you won’t be worse than him…’”

Backstage, Cheng Xin’s furious yell rang out, “Nonsense!”

The audience burst into laughter.

Unfazed, Qin Wen continued, “I thought that sounded reasonable, so I went ahead and used my senior’s advice: answer confidently if I know, smile if I don’t, and if I know but don’t want to answer, smile while I answer.”

Meng Yuansheng blinked, “Huh? I taught you that?”

Qin Wen replied, “Well, that’s not the point. Anyway, following his lead, I created a new interview style here at LeShi—the ‘Journalist’s Bane.’ And I have to say, it’s been very effective!”

Meng Yuansheng chuckled, “Yeah, I hear reporters now have to write their wills before they interview you.”

Qin Wen shrugged modestly. “It’s a small accomplishment, nothing worth mentioning. Later on, we got a new junior, Xiao Qing. Although not exactly a rookie, he was also quite nervous about dealing with the media. So he went to seek advice from Senior Meng, who generously shared more tips for handling difficult questions.”

Meng Yuansheng, frowning, asked, “What did I tell him this time?”

Qin Wen: “You advised him to remember the name of anyone who gave him trouble and report it. Xiao Qing is an honest guy, and one time during an interview, someone really challenged him. He asked them, ‘Which of my seniors will you be interviewing next?’ They asked why he wanted to know, and he said, ‘So I know exactly who to report about afterward.’ Since then, no one has dared to bother him again.”

“People call it LeShi’s fourth interview style—‘Kill with a Borrowed Knife.’”

Meng Yuansheng nodded, “I see. And what about our junior sister, Xiyin? What did I teach her?”

Qin Wen sighed, “Ah, as for Xiyin, you decided not to teach her anything at all.”

Meng Yuansheng looked puzzled, “And why’s that?”

Qin Wen continued, “It’s because the media’s already scared of her! They treat Xiyin with utmost respect now—all thanks to the groundwork laid by her senior brothers!”

Meng Yuansheng scoffed, “Oh, get out of here!”

The audience burst into laughter.

Gu Xingshi stifled his own laughter, feeling fortunate that they hadn’t invited any media tonight—otherwise, they’d be throwing punches at every reporter’s dignity.

Everyone was practically in stitches. Though they already knew of the group’s reputation in interviews, hearing the stories firsthand brought a sort of dark humor that was impossible to resist.

Qin Wen and Meng Yuansheng wrapped up their performance and exited the stage with ease.

However, the host didn’t appear right away for the next introduction. Eventually, a bewildered Pei Zhuozhi, cigarette dangling from his mouth, was unceremoniously shoved on stage by Cheng Xin. He cleared his throat awkwardly. “The next act is from our company’s scriptwriting team, with special guest Sheng Yueqing. Surprisingly, it’s…a parody show. Enjoy.”

Finishing his jumbled announcement, Pei Zhuozhi turned to leave but realized that his high heel was caught in a stage lift. After failing to dislodge it, he gracefully removed the shoe and walked off barefoot, all five-foot-six (or maybe five-seven) of him.

Sun Hongfei and the others were practically rolling in laughter by this point.

This was LeShi!

What a beautiful, chaotic spirit!

Wen Yue reached down to help a half-collapsed Gu Xingshi off the floor, only for Gu to clutch his stomach and lean heavily on Wen’s shoulder, still convulsing with laughter.

Soft strands of hair brushed against Wen Yue’s neck, and he instinctively tightened his grip.

As Gu wiped tears from his eyes, still giggling, he clutched Wen Yue’s arm to steady himself and avoid sliding further.

Wen Yue sighed, suppressing a flicker of affection as he casually rested his arm around Gu’s waist to support him.

Oblivious, Gu Xingshi remained captivated by the performance on stage.

No one could have anticipated that the so-called “parody show” would be a take on a popular Japanese program called “Kasou Taishou”. Their parody? The “beauty camera” filter.

Sheng Yueqing played the “beautified” photo subject, while the scriptwriters, clad in all-black bodysuits with faces painted to be unrecognizable, used various props to “enhance” his beauty.

“Face slimming”—Sheng Yueqing sucked in his cheeks.

“Whitening”—a scriptwriter dusted his face with an enormous powder puff, filling the air with clouds of powder.

“Leg lengthening”—one of the writers lifted Sheng Yueqing onto his shoulders and extended Sheng’s pant legs down to his own feet, wearing identical shoes for a surreal effect.

Sheng Yueqing’s renowned good looks were soon distorted into a mess, yet the comedic effect was remarkable. Laughter and applause echoed through the hall without pause.

The energy was so high, it felt as though the roof might blow off.

The evening continued with a song-and-dance by Ruan Xiyin, Bu Qianwei, and Lin Xiayu.

Ruan Xiyin and Lin Xiayu sang, though no one had expected that Lin, with her cool, elegant demeanor, would be hilariously tone-deaf. Her singing veered in and out of tune with each line.

Bu Qianwei’s dance performance was even more bizarre. It seemed that seeing Pei Zhuozhi standing behind the stage curtain had rekindled memories of filming The Ghostly Gate, and her moves took on an eerie, ghostly quality.

Then came the wildly unpredictable comedy skits and some absurd individual talents…

By the end, everyone’s cheeks hurt from laughing.

As the atmosphere reached a fever pitch, Cheng Xin took the stage once more. “And now, the final act of the night—the grand finale—President Gu’s magic show!”

The room erupted in shock and excitement. No one had expected that even Gu would have prepared a performance.

The intensity of the crowd’s anticipation instantly shot up a notch.

Gu Xingshi rose gracefully, walked to the stage, and bowed elegantly before saying, “This magic trick is something I just learned. I may be a bit rusty, so please bear with me.”

The LeShi staff, accustomed to seeing Gu as an all-capable figure, were thrilled to hear him admit there was anything he wasn’t skilled at.

“President Gu, don’t worry! Even if you slip up, we’ll just pretend we didn’t see anything!”

“President Gu, tonight we’re all your loyal fans!”

Gu Xingshi chuckled, “Then I’ll have to pick someone who’d never play along as my assistant.”

His gaze swept over the crowd and settled on Wen Yue. “President Wen, mind giving me a hand?”

Sun Hongfei immediately led a chorus of cheers, “He doesn’t mind at all!!”

Wen Yue: “…”

But he nodded nonetheless.

Gu Xingshi invited Wen Yue onto the stage and had him sit in a chair.

The most excited people in the audience were, unexpectedly, from Wen’s own company. After all, at their own annual gala, no one would ever dare ask President Wen to come up on stage!

Leave it to President Gu to make it happen!

Gu Xingshi pulled out a deck of cards, inviting Wen Yue to select one and sign his name on it before shuffling it back into the deck, albeit with a rather clumsy shuffling technique.

The crowd began to chuckle good-naturedly.

Gu Xingshi commented with feigned innocence, “I did say I’d just learned this; I’m a bit rusty.”

After he finally managed to shuffle the deck, he spread the cards out before Wen Yue, indicating for him to draw one.

But as soon as Wen Yue’s hand touched the cards, the whole deck tumbled to the floor.

“Oh dear,” Gu Xingshi exclaimed.

Flustered, he gathered the cards back up and returned them to Wen Yue. Then he suddenly paused. “Almost forgot—there’s another step.”

With a snap of his fingers, the cards in his hand transformed into a rose.

The audience gasped.

Wen Yue looked at the delicate rose, then back at Gu Xingshi’s smiling face behind it.

Almost as if under a spell, Wen Yue instinctively reached out to touch it.

But with another snap, Gu Xingshi transformed the rose into a dove, its flapping wings pulling Wen Yue back to reality.

From then on, Gu Xingshi’s performance flowed seamlessly, each snap of his fingers conjuring something new.

The audience’s exclamations of surprise grew louder and louder.

Finally, with a last flourish, everything transformed back into the deck of cards.

However, Gu Xingshi frowned at the cards in his hand. “Hmm, the card President Wen signed isn’t here.”

He turned to Wen Yue and, with a mischievous wink, reached forward.

In front of everyone, he gently slipped two fingers into Wen Yue’s breast pocket and slowly pulled out the card with Wen Yue’s name on it.

Wen Yue was stunned, having no idea when Gu Xingshi had placed it there.

But before he could question it, Gu Xingshi pulled him up, and the two took a bow together as they exited the stage.

The crowd erupted in applause.

“President Gu’s magic is amazing!”

“Only President Gu could pull that off! He played it so convincingly!”

“Encore, President Gu! We want more!”

Sun Hongfei watched the two of them on stage, teary-eyed with joy. My CP is back together!

After the performances wrapped up, it was finally time for the event everyone had been eagerly awaiting—the prize draw.

The range and quantity of prizes this year were so generous that even seasoned corporate attendees like Sun Hongfei felt a twinge of envy.

As prize after prize was announced, the room was filled with excitement and cheers.

Then Cheng Xin leaned in mysteriously, saying, “Tonight, we have a very special grand prize—”

After thoroughly building up the suspense, he continued, “The grand prize is…a private dinner with President Gu~!”

Gu Xingshi: “???”

When had that been decided?!

Besides, having dinner with the boss—was that really a prize? More like a punishment!

To his surprise, however, not a single person protested. In fact, many people looked determined to win it.

After all, a private dinner with President Gu could mean a golden opportunity. With a little luck, their future could be set for life!

Gu Xingshi: “???”

At Cheng Xin’s cue, the numbers on the screen began to roll.

Cheng Xin said cheerfully, “President Gu, why don’t you call stop? Let’s see who you’re really rooting for!”

The remark made Meng Yuansheng and others around him look even more serious.

Gu Xingshi sighed and resignedly called, “Stop.”

The numbers stopped at 16.

Cheng Xin glanced at the number on his own wristband, confirming it wasn’t his, before announcing loudly, “Who’s the lucky one who won tonight’s grand prize?”

The room buzzed as everyone checked their wristbands, but no one stood up.

Just as Cheng Xin was about to ask Gu to choose another number, Wen Yue calmly held up his wristband to reveal his number. “It seems President Gu does have a bit of a preference for me.”

Gu Xingshi: “…”

Cheng Xin: “!!!”

Sun Hongfei: “!!!”