After Spectating Gossip, the Entertainment Industry Thinks I’m a Big Shot – CH95

Chapter 95

Sun Hongfei was riding high on his recent successes.

Since his promotion to Vice President, every project he’d handled had gone smoothly. In particular, his role in Director Feng Tingyun’s new film, Dark River, a joint venture between Wen Corporation and LeShi Entertainment, had been a major win. Sun, being the most familiar with LeShi’s operations, had edged out other candidates to join the project. Despite a few hiccups, he’d managed it seamlessly.

Now, Dark River had been selected for the prestigious Fenice Film Festival, and its lead actor, Qin Wen, was nominated for Best Actor, sparking a huge reaction back home. Rumors from the festival premiere claimed the film had received outstanding reviews, with critics lauding Qin Wen’s acting. With this year’s competition being relatively light, Qin Wen stood a strong chance of winning.

Previously, Qin Wen had won Best Supporting Actor at the Heber Film Festival, so a win at Fenice could propel him to the top tier of stardom. For Sun, as an investor in the film, this would significantly elevate his own status.

Sun’s heart raced with excitement. He’d known that joining forces with President Gu would pay off!

Rumor had it that if all went well, he might even be transferred to Wen Corporation’s main office—a dream for someone like him, working in a subsidiary. Beyond the generous benefits, there would be far more opportunities for advancement.

So when he learned he’d be accompanying Gu Xingshi to Fenice, Sun took it upon himself to handle all the arrangements, determined to ensure that the “God of Wealth” would be as comfortable as possible.

Early that morning, he parked his car outside Gu’s apartment building and waited.

Gu Xingshi finally came downstairs, dragging his suitcase and yawning sleepily.

“President Gu!” Sun greeted him with an energetic smile, looking bright-eyed and full of enthusiasm, the complete opposite of Gu.

Gu blinked in surprise. “Why are you here so early? I thought we were meeting at the airport?”

Sun grinned. “No worries, I drive like a pro. Remember back when you applied for [Boy Group Training Camp]? I only managed to make it back in time to meet you because of my driving skills—if not, we’d never have gotten to know each other or done all this…”

Gu: “…”

Oh, right—he almost forgot that Sun was the one who started the initial rumor about him and Wen Yue!

Chatting away, Sun moved forward to grab Gu’s suitcase.

Gu quickly protested, “No need, I can handle it myself.”

Though Dark River’s nomination was thrilling, Sun Hongfei seemed especially animated—perhaps a bit too animated.

Unable to resist his curiosity, Gu Xingshi asked, “Sun, did something particularly good happen to you recently?”

Sun grinned sheepishly. “Heh, President Gu, so you already heard the rumor that I might be transferred to the headquarters?”

Gu Xingshi: “…”

Sun sighed with admiration. “And it’s all thanks to you, President Gu!”

Gu replied flatly, “No, it’s all due to your own efforts.”

Sun shook his head vigorously. “President Gu, you’re far too modest!”

Gu Xingshi: “…”

He decided to abandon the argument. After putting his luggage in the car, he slumped into the back seat and let out a yawn. Ever since they’d visited his uncle’s grave, Yan Zhiheng had seemed to let go of some of his past burdens, actively selecting scripts and seeking Gu’s advice. As a result, Gu had stayed up late last night reading through them, finally going to bed around 2 or 3 a.m.

Seeing Gu’s dark circles in the rearview mirror, Sun recalled that Wen Yue himself had dropped Gu off the previous night. “Why don’t you get some rest, President Gu? I’ll wake you when we arrive.”

Gu, half-asleep, suddenly recalled Sun’s penchant for over-the-top assumptions and snapped his eyes open to clarify, “Just so you know, Sun, I was up late reading scripts last night—nothing else!”

The firmer Gu’s tone, the more certain Sun became. “Don’t worry, President Gu! I’m a smooth driver. You won’t feel a thing!”

Gu Xingshi: “…”

He gave up.

Deciding that any further explanation would only dig a deeper hole, he forced a blank expression, pulled up his jacket, and dozed off.

To avoid any more misunderstandings, he continued napping on the plane, determined not to give Sun another opportunity for speculation.

As he watched Gu sleeping, Sun sighed to himself. President Wen, you’re going to tire him out if you’re not careful!

Once they landed in Fenice, Gu was fully rested and ready for the busy schedule that lay ahead.

Dark River had made a splash at the festival, and both Feng Tingyun and Qin Wen had become hot topics, constantly attending interviews and gala invitations. As an investor and the one who discovered Qin Wen, many were also curious about Gu Xingshi. Since Gu had been interested in gradually expanding into international markets, he seized this opportunity to network.

And of course, he and the system took the chance to enjoy some juicy gossip.

In fact, compared to the scene back home, the international film industry’s drama was more open—and much more explosive.

Each day, Gu and the system devoured gossip with relish.

There were even a few individuals who looked down on Gu as a foreigner and deliberately tried to provoke him. But after a few exchanges, Gu left them stunned, their faces pale, and none dared to approach him again.

His cool demeanor and knowledge of international business nuances didn’t go unnoticed by other production companies and festival officials. Initially, they had dismissed him as just a young, inexperienced businessman, but they quickly realized he was anything but.

Some curious individuals took to social media in China to investigate and returned with surprising findings.

[President Gu! Not just anyone!]

[You know #10086, right? The mysterious insider, super close to President Gu! Need I say more about his connections?]

[Ah, well, those who know, know. I can’t spell it out too clearly, or I’ll risk getting banned…]

This chatter reached Fenice, and the crowd suddenly understood. Gu was not merely a CEO of an entertainment company—he had powerful backing, explaining his unflappable confidence. For someone of his status, he didn’t need to abide by the usual “rules” of the social scene.

Those who’d previously ignored him were now eager to speak with him, and even Sun Hongfei, by his side, found himself treated with courtesy.

Sun, experiencing a festival of this caliber for the first time, had already heard from his colleagues how snobbish some of the foreigners could be, prepared to be met with indifference.

To his surprise, they were unexpectedly warm.

This was all thanks to President Gu!

At last, the awards ceremony arrived, giving Gu a rare chance to catch his breath.

Feng Tingyun joked, “Xingshi, you seem to be as popular abroad as you are at home. Hey, you’re not secretly bewitching people, are you?”

Gu Xingshi rolled his eyes at Feng Tingyun’s joke, ignoring him as he turned to Qin Wen. “Nervous?”

Qin smiled slightly. “I was a bit nervous, but now that you’re here, I’m fine.”

Despite his words, when the nomination list played on-screen, Qin clenched his fists instinctively as the camera panned across the nominees. When the presenter announced him as the Best Actor winner, he froze in disbelief, a brief blank moment before he rose from his seat.

But instead of immediately heading to the stage, he turned around and gave Gu Xingshi a tight hug, whispering, “Thank you, President Gu.”

Then he stood tall, moving step by step toward the stage.

As he looked out at the audience from the podium, trophy in hand, he felt a surreal sense of awe. Was this award, coveted by actors worldwide, really his?

Just a few years ago, he had been in prison, his future in ruins.

It was President Gu who had saved him, pulling him out of despair.

Yet in the beginning, he had been full of self-doubt—afraid of failing Gu’s expectations, of being abandoned if he couldn’t measure up. Through the years, he’d honed his craft relentlessly, experiencing moments of pain, confusion, and even despair.

But each time, Gu Xingshi had appeared when he needed him most, guiding him back to the right path.

Looking out into the crowd, Qin’s gaze met Gu’s, who wore a smile of pride and encouragement. The sight filled him with a quiet resolve.

He took a deep breath and began, “Winning this award, the person I am most grateful for is my mentor, my guiding star, my manager…”

Qin’s voice faltered, thick with emotion, as he lifted his trophy in Gu’s direction. “President Gu, without you, I wouldn’t be here today.”

“This award belongs to you, now and always.”

Gu Xingshi, seeing the glistening tears in Qin’s eyes, felt his own heart stir, a mix of pride and satisfaction swelling within him.

This, he thought, was the true purpose of being a manager.

*

News of Qin Wen’s award win spread like wildfire across Chinese social media.

#QinWenWinsBestActoratFeniceFilmFestival#

#QinWenAcceptanceSpeech#

#QinWentoGuXingshi: ‘ThisTrophyBelongstoYou’#

Comments flooded in:

[Brother Qin is amazing! To think he started as a small actor and rose to become a superstar—it’s so inspiring!]

[His acceptance speech was so moving! I had no idea he went through so much before meeting President Gu!]

[Even after all these years, the first person he hands the trophy to is President Gu… I’m in tears!]

*

Meanwhile, back in China, Sun Hongfei sat comfortably in his office chair, leisurely sipping the tea prepared by his assistant, Xiao Li.

Xiao Li said with admiration, “Vice-President Sun, looks like your transfer to headquarters is as good as confirmed!”

Sun waved a hand. “Keep it low-key, keep it low-key. The final word’s not in yet!”

But despite his modesty, it was almost certain at this point.

Reflecting on the journey, Sun was filled with gratitude. Just a few years ago, he’d been a mid-level manager at Orange Video, and now he was on the verge of joining Wen Corporation’s headquarters.

Life was indeed full of surprises.

Xiao Li sighed enviously, “You’re a role model for all of us now, Vice President Sun!”

Sun raised his brows in surprise. “Really?”

Over the years, he’d heard his fair share of backhanded comments about his success, with some attributing it to sheer luck and finding the right patron. But Sun brushed it off. Luck? Sure, he’d had some, but it was his hard work and judgment that had truly brought him this far.

Even President Gu had once said his achievements were his own doing.

Back then, when Gu Xingshi had signed up for [Boy Group Training Camp] in plain clothes, posing as an unassuming college student, Sun had been one of the few who saw through it. Noticing his connection to Wen Yue had been key; if he hadn’t been sharp enough to see it, he’d have missed his chance at success.

Through one situation after another, his attentiveness, decisiveness, and firm judgment had led him to the right side every time.

So yes, Sun believed he fully deserved his success.

And now that President Wen and President Gu were publicly a couple, he could finally retire his role as their “relationship guardian” with satisfaction.

Taking a sip of tea, he let out a contented sigh.

“Xiao Li, remember, having a good eye for things is crucial in the workplace…”