Against the Light - Chapter 100
Chapter 100: Thanks to Sister Ran
For the past few days, Gu Xinran and Bai Yilan, along with the Heart Entertainment crew, had been engrossed in making all sorts of gowns. They had indeed made six sets. But what puzzled Bai Yilan was that, besides the ones for Lin Guo and Never Parting's screenwriter Ye Xiaobei who were attending the ceremony, Xinran had surprisingly made two more gowns in different sizes, claiming they were "spares." It was highly suspicious.
The night before the ceremony.
At home.
While Yilan was in the shower, Gu Xinran quickly took out her phone to chat with someone on WeChat.
She kept an eye on her messages while also listening for the sound of the water in the bathroom.
Just as the conversation was getting lively, she caught a figure in her peripheral vision. It startled her so much she nearly jumped off the bed and almost sent her phone flying.
Bai Yilan stood there with her arms crossed, raising an eyebrow at her. She held out a hand, glancing at her phone.
"You…" Gu Xinran looked at Bai Yilan, her face flushing. "Could you please put some clothes on before coming out?" Gu Xinran didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She listened carefully; the sound of running water was still coming from the bathroom. Clearly, this woman had slipped out without turning off the water just to deceive her.
Bai Yilan tightened the bath towel around herself and shot her a look. "Hand over the phone. You dare to have little secrets now, do you?"
Gu Xinran rubbed her forehead. "Uh, um…"
Seeing her hesitate, Bai Yilan looked ready to have a serious talk with her, but just then, the bath towel suddenly slipped off, instantly exposing her porcelain-white skin to the air!
Startled, Bai Yilan snatched up the towel and scurried back into the bathroom, looking quite flustered.
Watching Yilan's panicked retreat to the bathroom, Gu Xinran nearly burst out laughing.
However, the consequence of laughing at her wife was that Gu Xinran was banished to the sofa for the night.
The 26th West Source Film Festival opened with great fanfare.
Because Heart Entertainment, Le Tao, and others had hyped it up on Weibo beforehand, the scale of this year's film festival was much larger than in previous years.
At Heart Entertainment, the group preparing to attend the ceremony had already begun to get ready. They had specially invited professional hair and makeup artists from the film crew. Everyone was beautifully dressed, preparing to dazzle the audience at the ceremony.
Seeing that everyone was nearly ready, Qu Qi walked up behind Gu Xinran and spritzed some perfume on her.
The moment the scent hit the air, Gu Xinran rolled her eyes. "Are you really going to spray me with Liushen Florida Water??"
"Mhm, the word is already out. We can't go back on it, can we? What if someone really tries to sit next to you?" After speaking, Qu Qi called everyone over to hold her down and sprayed a bit more on her dress. The strong scent of Florida Water was detectable from three meters away. Only then did she stop.
"…" Gu Xinran was utterly disgusted.
Fang Jinghai had been monitoring the situation at the ceremony venue online. Due to the grand scale of the event, it was being broadcast live, allowing fans to feast their eyes on the spectacle.
At that moment, people were already starting to enter the venue.
"Huh?" Fang Yi, who was fiddling with her computer, suddenly let out a small cry and then looked at Fang Jinghai's phone screen.
"Well, this is interesting."
"Spit it out. What happened?"
"Sister Ran, I just got word that Bai Yiyue will also be attending the ceremony."
"Bai Yiyue? In what capacity?"
"As a sponsor."
"Sister Ran, she must be planning a direct confrontation with us, showing her face at an event like this."
"I guess so. After all, Sister Ran has given her plenty of grief."
Gu Xinran tried to shake off the scent of Florida Water. "I was afraid she wouldn't show up."
"Alright, with you saying that, I'm relieved," Fang Jinghai said calmly.
Fang Yi paid it no more mind. The grand heiress of Wei Yi was making her first public appearance at such an event, yet it failed to cause any stir at Heart Entertainment. She wasn't getting the attention she deserved. If word of this got out, Bai Yiyue would probably have an aneurysm.
The group finished getting ready, and since it was about time, they boarded the company van and headed for the venue.
This year's venue was the most luxurious hotel in Xiyuan, the Milton Hotel.
As soon as Heart Entertainment's van approached the venue, it was swarmed by reporters who had been waiting. Security guards pushed through to clear a path and escort them.
Gu Xinran openly took Yilan's hand, and the two of them walked the red carpet together.
"Wow, so beautiful!" a photographer on the side couldn't help but shout.
Gu Xinran looked over, gave her a faint smile, and nodded.
Meanwhile, Fang Yi and the others were watching the grand awards ceremony from the van via the live stream.
And with the appearance of Gu and Bai, a considerable commotion erupted in the live comments.
【Their gowns are so gorgeous! They blow that Chan Ye brand out of the water!】
【They're seriously beautiful, I want one so bad, sob sob sob. If Sister Ran enters the fashion world, the industry is probably in for another major shake-up!】
【What kind of all-powerful idol am I stanning? [doge]】
【Sob, she and Teacher Bai are such a perfect match. Walking the red carpet hand-in-hand is so sweet. When will we get to see them walk down the aisle together, ahhh!】
【Another day of being turned into a lemon by Gu and Bai's love. cries】
The two of them smiled gently for the cameras, letting the photographers take their pictures.
"Sister Ran."
Just as they were about to move forward, Gu Xinran thought she heard Qin Qiong's voice. She turned around and saw Qin Qiong hiking up her dress, hurrying to catch up.
What is this? We're on the red carpet! Anyone who didn't know better would think you were rushing to a village market!
"Hey? Your gowns are so beautiful!" Qin Qiong said, looking at their dresses. The word "envy" was practically written on her face.
"Hehe, amazing, right? These were hand-sewn by our Heart Entertainment's boss and boss's wife~ You can't buy them even if you have money~" The moment Lin Guo saw Qin Qiong, she puffed out her chest proudly, looking smug.
"Tsk, the perks at Heart Entertainment are too good. I'm going to marry in!"
"I don't want you!" Lin Guo retorted.
Everyone laughed.
In her peripheral vision, Gu Xinran saw a group walking onto the red carpet behind them. It was the cast of Picturesque Rivers and Mountains, along with Director Liu Ping, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
Liu Ping saw Gu Xinran and gave an awkward smile, seeming a bit embarrassed and avoiding her gaze.
Gu Xinran didn't pay it much mind. She glanced over them one by one, which counted as a greeting.
Just as she was about to turn away, she saw Qin Qiong lean in and sniff at her.
"Sister Ran, you really did spray on Florida Water?"
Gu Xinran was speechless and didn't feel like talking.
"Then I'd better stick close to you. My blood type is a real mosquito magnet," Qin Qiong said with a grin.
"…"
They entered the venue, which was bustling with activity. The seats were almost full. They followed the staff's directions to their designated spots.
The Never Parting crew was seated together in the center of the front rows. After they sat down, Gu Xinran was looking around when she noticed Yilan's expression change slightly. She glanced at her, then followed her gaze. Sitting in the very first row, directly in front of Yilan, was none other than the new head of Wei Yi, Bai Yiyue!
At that moment, Bai Yiyue seemed to notice their gazes. She turned around, her lips curling into a meaningful smile at Gu Xinran.
Gu Xinran met her gaze without fear and returned a faint smile. Then she turned to Yilan, brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead, and gently patted her hand.
Bai Yilan looked at her, and they shared a smile.
As the actors entered and took their seats in an orderly fashion, most of the invited guests had also arrived. The host gracefully walked onto the stage and announced that the ceremony was about to begin.
But before it officially started, Bai Yiyue was invited on stage to give a speech as a sponsor.
Seeing her go on stage, many of the actors were rather bewildered, but they didn't say anything.
Before long, the speech was over, and Bai Yiyue returned to her seat.
The host took the stage and announced the start of the ceremony.
The first awards to be announced were for Most Popular Film, Best Newcomer, Best Supporting Actor, and so on, all voted for by the audience. Gu Xinran listened attentively.
"There's a dark horse among the nominees for Best Newcomer this time. She didn't come from a professional academy, but she's a natural talent. She's also been in a stage play; you should know her," Qin Qiong whispered to Gu Xinran.
"Yes, Ling Xue'er."
"Right. The kid has a 'first love' face, a gentle and calm personality, not competitive or aggressive. She's very talented. I hear she hasn't signed with an agency yet. Are you interested? I've had contact with her, I can connect you."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, I heard Le Tao is also eyeing her and has made a very generous offer. Oh, and even Wei Yi, the backer of Le Tao, has extended an olive branch to her. If she wants it, she can become famous."
Gu Xinran raised an eyebrow and smiled without saying a word.
Qin Qiong looked at her, and seeing that she wasn't responding, didn't press the matter.
While the two were chatting, the young actors nominated for the Best Newcomer Award were invited onto the stage.
Bai Yilan had been watching quietly, but when she saw one of them, she was suddenly taken aback and sat up straight.
The girl in the aqua-blue gown looked exceptionally well-behaved. Her long hair was pinned up, revealing a smooth, full forehead. Her skin was delicate, and her eyes were bright, as if they were glowing. Among her peers, she was the most eye-catching.
Bai Yilan was no stranger to this girl. This was Ling Xue'er, the talented rookie actress who had recently become very popular. Not long ago, she and Xinran had gone to see her in a stage play. She was indeed a rare natural talent.
But what really caught Bai Yilan's attention was that the gown Ling Xue'er was wearing was the smaller-sized one Xinran had asked her to make! And the dress fit Ling Xue'er perfectly!
Bai Yilan frowned deeply, completely baffled. She secretly glanced at Xinran, whose gaze towards Ling Xue'er was full of admiration. She was even smiling.
Bai Yilan raised an eyebrow and pinched the back of her hand. "What's with that lecherous look in your eyes?"
"???" Gu Xinran froze. Since when was I being lecherous!
Gu Xinran felt terribly wronged. She glanced at Yilan, who had a cold expression and was clearly displeased. Gu Xinran found it highly amusing. "Are you jealous?"
Bai Yilan turned her head away and ignored her.
"…" Gu Xinran didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This woman sure can hold a grudge.
As soon as the host finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted in the venue. On stage, Ling Xue'er took a step forward, held a hand to her collar, and bowed slightly to the audience.
The host promptly handed her the microphone, offering encouragement to the young actress who had won the Best Newcomer Award.
"Thank you to all the seniors for your kindness, and thank you to the audience for your support. I… I didn't expect to win this award. I'm a little emotional, I'm sorry."
The audience chuckled, and the host smiled and patted her shoulder. "It's okay, don't be nervous. Is there anything you'd like to say, or anyone you'd like to thank?"
Ling Xue'er composed herself slightly, took a deep breath, and happened to see Gu Xinran in the audience. She gave her a sweet smile.
Bai Yilan had originally planned to just tease Xinran a little, but when she accidentally saw the two of them smiling at each other, she became genuinely jealous.
"Actually, there is someone I really want to thank."
"Oh?"
"I want to thank Sister Ran for making my dream come true," Ling Xue'er said, looking at Gu Xinran.
"Sister Ran? Which Sister Ran?"
"She's right there. Sister Xinran, my boss." Ling Xue'er politely raised a hand to point her out. "And the boss's wife."
Bai Yilan was stunned. Boss? She quickly turned to look at Gu Xinran, who was perfectly composed, looking as if she had everything under control. She simply gave Ling Xue'er a slight nod.
"Boss?" Not only Bai Yilan, but even the host on stage was surprised. "I heard you haven't signed with an agency yet?"
Ling Xue'er smiled. "Actually, before today, I didn't dare admit that I was a Heart Entertainment artist, because I was afraid of embarrassing Sister Ran and Heart Entertainment. I didn't come from a professional academy; I was originally just a small extra running around at the film studio. It was Sister Ran who noticed me. She brought me into Heart Entertainment and let me study acting and how to be a better person with Teacher Lu Qing. Not only did she not charge me tuition, but she also helped me out of her own pocket when my family was going through a hard time. She gave me many opportunities to act, which is why I'm able to stand on this stage today, with enough confidence to tell everyone that I am a signed artist of Heart Entertainment Studio."
"Thank you, Sister Xinran."
Everyone looked at each other in surprise. A moment later, applause broke out again in the audience, and many people were searching for Gu Xinran.
Gu Xinran nodded, her face filled with gratification. As she withdrew her gaze, she happened to glance at Bai Yiyue in the first row. That woman's expression was clearly not looking too good~
"Sister Ran, you're amazing. And here I was, trying so hard to recommend this newcomer to you, but it turns out you'd already brought her under your wing." Qin Qiong gave Gu Xinran a thumbs-up. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of extras at the film studio. For her to have discovered this one, her eye for talent was simply incredible.
Gu Xinran smiled, pursing her lips, and gave her a meaningful look. Then, she quickly turned back to Yilan. "Not jealous anymore?"
Bai Yilan pouted, her expression a little unnatural. "Do you think I'm some kind of vinegar jar?"
"…" You're just too stubborn to admit it!
Bai Yilan ignored her and lowered her head. Thinking about how she'd gotten jealous for no reason, she almost laughed at herself. Then she recalled the past few days and the feeling that Xinran was hiding a little secret from her. This was probably it, right?
The awards ceremony continued.
"Hey, look at that one on stage, Li Jinjin on the far right. She's another hot favorite to win. Her popularity has been soaring lately. She's also a young but very seasoned actress. She suddenly got famous about half a year ago, and no one knows which company she's with. Although there are no scandals, fame attracts trouble. There are rumors she's being kept by some big shot, which is why she gets so many good resources," Qin Qiong muttered, sharing the gossip she'd heard from her own company.
Gu Xinran nodded but didn't reply.
The host on stage glanced at the cue card, then at the people on stage. "The Most Popular Actress, as voted by the audience, is—Li Jinjin!"
"Tsk, what did I tell you." Just as Qin Qiong was feeling smug about her divine prediction, she saw a slightly emotional Li Jinjin take the microphone and bow to the audience.
"I… I'm a little emotional. I'll just say one thing first: thanks to Sister Ran!"
"???" Qin Qiong was completely dumbfounded.
The host paused. "Excuse me, you said thanks to…?"
"Sister Xinran, my boss."
"???"
"Like Xue'er, I'm also a signed artist at Heart Entertainment. Sister Ran was kind enough to take us in and let us study acting with Teacher Lu Qing. And when she has free time, she comes to teach us personally." Li Jinjin finished, looking emotional. She bowed again and said her thanks.
The host gave an awkward laugh. How… how had this turned into Gu Xinran's personal showcase??
Next up was the Best Screenwriter Award. The winner was Never Parting's screenwriter, Ye Xiaobei.
As soon as Ye Xiaobei got on stage, she bowed to the audience as expected, took the microphone, and her first words were, "I want to thank Sister Ran. Without her, I wouldn't be here today."
"…"
"I once went through a very dark period. At that time, my work was plagiarized, and I felt like life was meaningless. I wanted to die. I still remember it vividly. It was New Year's Eve, and I was attempting suicide by charcoal burning at home. It was Sister Ran and her assistant who found my house and saved my life. Sister Ran told me she hadn't known about the plagiarism and was willing to pay the same price to buy the official rights from me, scrap all the filming that had been done, and start over. I can't describe how I felt at that moment. I had never imagined that someone like her existed—someone who valued copyrights and respected the fruits of another's labor."
"After that, I told myself that for the rest of my life, Heart Entertainment would be my home. I am willing to dedicate all my youth and passion to Heart Entertainment, to grow together with Heart Entertainment and Sister Ran."
Many people in the audience didn't know the story of Gu Xinran personally rushing to save someone. Hearing Ye Xiaobei's account, a sense of respect for Gu Xinran welled up inside them, and they applauded her vigorously.
Gu Xinran felt a little embarrassed by all the attention and could only respond with a smile.
In the following awards, several more winning actors revealed themselves to be signed artists of Heart Entertainment, publicly thanking Gu Xinran and urging her to get married.
A perfectly fine awards ceremony had been turned into a personal showcase for Gu Xinran and Heart Entertainment, nearly causing Bai Yiyue to explode with anger.
Originally, several people on the list of winners were individuals she had her eye on, planning to recruit them as soon as the ceremony was over. She never expected them to voluntarily reveal their identities as signed artists of Heart Entertainment. Moreover, almost every one of them was deeply indebted to Gu Xinran. Even if she wanted to poach them, it was clearly impossible.
Qin Qiong no longer knew what to say to express her shock. By the end, she just watched the actors on stage, not daring to speak, afraid that in the next second, someone else would reveal they were a signed artist of Heart Entertainment.
She really didn't want to show off her meager skills before an expert again. QAQ
Bai Yilan was shocked again and again, until she felt nothing but numbness inside. She looked at Xinran's unusually calm expression, suppressing the mountain of questions in her heart.
【??? Did Heart Entertainment take over half the entertainment industry? Why is everyone thanking Xinran? I've never heard that Heart Entertainment had so many artists under its banner.】
【How come all the people getting famous are from Heart Entertainment? Are they using some kind of trick?】
【Sis, you've got the logic backward. Listen to their stories. It should be that the artists Heart Entertainment signs all become famous. This shows that Heart Entertainment's model for developing artists is excellent, and Xinran has a uniquely sharp eye for talent. She can see the spark in people. She deserves to make money!】
【Huh? Is that Bai Yiyue? Her expression is priceless, hahaha. It's the color of pig's liver. She must be about to die from anger, right?】
【LMAO hahaha, every single person the big boss had her eye on is a Heart Entertainment artist. What kind of wonderful fate is this? Sister Ran is so ruthless. Did she keep it a secret all this time just for this moment, to slap the big boss in the face?】
【Slapping the big boss in the face is too much. Doesn't she have any pride? Didn't you see she dressed up so nicely for the gala tonight!】
【Doesn't anyone think the big boss has it rough? She was ignored by Sister Ran for a month, and now she's having her artists make these crazy reveals to piss her off. So ruthless, so ruthless.】
【^ I agree with the post above. I'll reluctantly feel a little sorry for Bai Yiyue.】
【TBH, Bai Yiyue really can't compete with Xinran. She should just go back to the fashion world and be a big shot there. She really shouldn't meddle in the entertainment industry. If you don't know the rules, you won't get anywhere.】
【Guys, I've always wanted to ask, is there some relationship between Bai Yiyue and Bai Yilan? Their names sound like they could be sisters.】
【Same question, they really do sound similar. I'm curious.】
Meanwhile, at a manor in the suburbs, Ye Nan was also watching the gala's live stream on her phone.
"This Gu Xinran is really something. To have secretly cultivated so many artists and even helped them all achieve a certain level of fame… All this time, I thought Heart Entertainment only had three or four presentable artists, including Gu Xinran herself. This has really made me see her in a new light." Ye Nan expressed her admiration. And in comparison, Bai Yiyue, who controlled the massive Wei Yi Group, could only glare or put on a cold face when faced with these unexpected events. It was truly an ugly sight.
Shi Qing lay in a rocking chair, her eyes closed, gently swaying. She listened to the live stream on the phone, her expression unchanging from beginning to end, as if Heart Entertainment's rapid development was all within her expectations.
Back at the venue, the awards ceremony continued.
With the minor awards handed out, it was time for the main event of the evening, the moment everyone had been waiting for: the head-to-head showdown between Le Tao and Heart Entertainment!
These two rivals had been at each other's throats since filming began, constantly picking fights and being provoked. Now, they could finally compete fairly on the same stage, and the spectating netizens were all saying how much they were looking forward to it.
The members of both film crews were invited onto the stage.
Gu Xinran walked behind Yilan, and as they went up the stairs, she naturally bent down to help lift the hem of her dress, drawing a round of applause.
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