Publicity and Celebration Banquet

Liang Xiaoyuan called and asked, "Would you like to have dinner tonight?" His smile was sweet.

Shen Tong said with a worried face, "I'm afraid not. I need to prepare tomorrow's outfits. Otherwise, I'd definitely treat you to a good meal!" Her expression turned disgruntled towards the end, "I'm so hungry right now."

"Oh? Looks like you're tied up with work," Liang Xiaoyuan said gently, "How about I order some takeout for you?"

"That would be great!" Shen Tong said mischievously, "I'll order some for you too! Where are you?"

"Alright, it's rare for this penny-pincher to be generous," Liang Xiaoyuan said, very surprised, "I'm at XX company. I'll be waiting for your takeout."

"Okay, hanging up now, bye-bye." Shen Tong smiled slyly.

A little while later.

"Mr. Liang Xiaoyuan, your takeout is here," a delivery person called out.

"Okay, thank you." Liang Xiaoyuan took the food and was about to leave.

The delivery person blocked his way, "I'm sorry, sir, but you haven't paid yet."

"Oh?" Liang Xiaoyuan immediately understood. This little trickster really didn't want to spend a penny. No wonder she smiled so smugly. Thinking of this, Liang Xiaoyuan smiled indulgently and took out his wallet to pay.

Meanwhile, Shen Tong was holding the takeout she had ordered using Liang Xiaoyuan's name, which she didn't have to pay for. Imagining Liang Xiaoyuan's reaction, she smiled triumphantly.

Soon, it was the day of the press conference. Shen Tong gave the prepared clothes to the two of them and quickly briefed them on some minor details in the car, especially Chen Xiaoyong, such as not to conflict with Sister Linda.

Chen Xiaoyong, still not giving up, asked Su Xiao, "Are you really not willing to pretend to be intimate with me and start some rumors?" She felt anxious inside.

Su Xiao's handsome eyebrows furrowed slightly, "No." He didn't want to become famous through such means. This wasn't what he wanted; it would only devalue himself.

Shen Tong couldn't help but advise, "Actually, this press conference is an opportunity for you to become famous. You just need to be a bit ambiguous with the two actresses." She had unconsciously accepted Chen Xiaoyong's distorted way of climbing to the top.

Su Xiao ignored them and just turned his cold gaze towards the window, leaving his proud profile for the two to see. The car fell silent.

They arrived at the venue at 7:45, finding many reporters waiting at the entrance for news. As soon as the car arrived, they rushed forward. Chen Xiaoyong was the first to get out of the car and was immediately bombarded with questions from reporters.

"Miss Chen, is the rumor about you and so-and-so true?"

"Miss Chen, are you really two-timing?"

"Miss Chen, do you know that Director Lu is a married man?"

A barrage of questions hit her. Shen Tong quickly got out of the car and stood in front of Chen Xiaoyong, saying, "I'm sorry, we're just here to promote the new film. We won't be answering these questions."

As soon as Su Xiao got out of the car, he was also bombarded with questions from reporters.

"Mr. Su, is the content you posted on Weibo true?"

"Mr. Su, what's your relationship with the two actresses?"

A series of questions. Shen Tong quickly responded, "The reporters' questions involve the content of the new film. Forgive us, but we can't disclose that information!"

The reporters still wanted to ask more questions.

Suddenly, a voice came from somewhere, "Sister Linda is here!" Most of the reporters swarmed in that direction, leaving only a few persistent ones behind. Chen Xiaoyong's face turned almost green seeing this, feeling incredibly jealous.

Su Xiao strode forward with large steps. Shen Tong reacted and helped clear the way for them to reach the press conference venue smoothly.

The press conference went smoothly, except Chen Xiaoyong was very dissatisfied. The reporters mostly only interviewed Sister Linda, and because Su Xiao wasn't famous enough, the reporters showed little interest in him. Shen Tong was almost dying of anxiety below, wondering why so few people were interviewing Su Xiao.

Finally, a reporter asked, "Sister Linda, how did you feel working with Su Xiao?"

Sister Linda, being an old hand, joked, "It felt like I was young again."

The director said, "You're not old at all!"

"Compared to little Su, I'm old!" Sister Linda teased.

Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere on site became harmonious.

That reporter then asked, "So, Su Xiao, how did you feel working with Linda?"

"Very good." Two words summed up everything, still maintaining his aloof face.

Shen Tong was almost sweating profusely below. Why couldn't he learn from Sister Linda? He had made the atmosphere so stiff that people didn't even want to interview him anymore. This way, he wouldn't get any exposure at all.

The atmosphere on site quickly cooled down. Fortunately, Sister Linda was quick-witted, befitting someone who had been in the entertainment industry for a long time. "It seems our little Su is so immersed in his role that he can't snap out of it! Good thing I got out early."

"Sister Linda seems to care a lot about Su Xiao?" A reporter asked, as if sensing something.

"Of course, he's my boyfriend in the show!" Sister Linda said with a smile.

Chen Xiaoyong's face had already darkened. She quickly interjected, "He's also the one I like."

When all the reporters turned their gaze towards her, she added playfully, "In the show."

"Why do you often appear at the same venues and parties?" a reporter asked.

"That's a secret!" Chen Xiaoyong winked mysteriously.

Although the reporters were curious, they had many other things to do and didn't pursue this news lead further.

Finally managing to get through it, Shen Tong wiped away cold sweat. Next, Sister Linda and Chen Xiaoyong openly and subtly competed for speaking rights and confronted each other. This was good; at least Shen Tong didn't have to worry about Chen Xiaoyong anymore. But Su Xiao was really going to be the death of her.

Throughout the entire press conference, it became apparent that hardly anyone interviewed Su Xiao. The focus was mostly on the two actresses, with little to explore about Su Xiao. Moreover, his cold attitude made reporters reluctant to interview him.

The celebration banquet was actually a promotional planning dinner for the new film. It mostly revolved around how to improve ratings, including what the artists should do, such as being ambiguous on Weibo, the main cast often going out to eat and pretending to be caught on camera. Through these channels, they aimed to catch people's attention and subsequently increase the new drama's popularity through people searching for them.

The director said to Shen Tong with a helpless expression, "The competitive pressure in the entertainment circle is so great now. Whether the drama is good or not is set aside for now. It all depends on whether you're famous or not. If you're famous, your show has a chance. If you're not famous, no one will watch your show no matter how good it is."

Shen Tong learned a lot from this.

The celebration banquet ended very late. Su Xiao was forced to drink several glasses of wine and was a bit disoriented. Chen Xiaoyong disappeared as soon as the banquet ended.

"I don't want to be ambiguous with any actress," Su Xiao said before passing out.

Shen Tong shook Su Xiao desperately, "Su Xiao, wake up, wake up, where do you live?"

But all that answered her was Su Xiao's light, shallow breathing.

Just then, Liang Xiaoyuan called, "Hello, Liang Xiaoyuan."

"Mm, it's me. Is the celebration banquet over?" Liang Xiaoyuan asked gently.

"Mm, now we have a problem," Shen Tong said helplessly, looking at the heavy burden before her that she couldn't handle.

"What's wrong?" Liang Xiaoyuan asked anxiously.

"Su Xiao got drunk and then fell asleep," Shen Tong described the situation.

Liang Xiaoyuan finally put his worried heart at ease, "Where are you now? I'll come pick you up."

"At Hans Western Restaurant," Shen Tong answered.

Liang Xiaoyuan grabbed his clothes and car keys and got up, "Wait for me, I'm coming now."

Shen Tong softly said "Mm" and then hung up the phone. Liang Xiaoyuan always rushed over when she needed him, as if he had some magical power, allowing her to feel at ease. It seemed she would never be able to repay all of this. Perhaps she had already been unable to repay it for a long time without realizing it.

Soon, Liang Xiaoyuan arrived. He supported the sleeping Su Xiao and said, "Let's go." Liang Xiaoyuan's body seemed to still carry the evening chill, but Shen Tong felt this chill was warm, just like Liang Xiaoyuan.

"If you hadn't come, I really wouldn't have known what to do with him," Shen Tong said, following behind him.

"That's what I'm here for," Liang Xiaoyuan said softly, finally disappearing into the darkness along with the gentle night breeze.

"Mm, thank you. You're always helping me," Shen Tong said shyly.

"You're helping me too, bringing me happiness," Liang Xiaoyuan said in his magnetic voice, with eyes as gentle as black jade, making Shen Tong's heart race.

"No," Su Xiao on Liang Xiaoyuan's back suddenly spoke, still in a cold tone, breaking the two's eye contact.

"Get in the car, it's cold outside," Liang Xiaoyuan said caringly.

Shen Tong obediently got into the car. It really was cold tonight.

"Should we take him to a hotel?" Liang Xiaoyuan asked.

"Mm, there's nowhere else to go," Shen Tong agreed with his idea.

It took the two of them a herculean effort to get Su Xiao settled. Fortunately, Su Xiao behaved well when drunk. If he had been rowdy, it would have been even more difficult. However, Shen Tong learned one thing: never let Su Xiao drink alone! Otherwise, he might be in danger!

Thinking of this, Shen Tong couldn't help but laugh.

"What's so funny?" Liang Xiaoyuan asked, looking at Shen Tong.

"Nothing, nothing," Shen Tong, finding it increasingly amusing, couldn't help but burst into laughter. After a while, she said, "We can't let Su Xiao drink in the future."

Liang Xiaoyuan said, "Why do I smell a hint of schadenfreude in there?"

"No, no!" Shen Tong held her stomach and laughed foolishly for a while.

The corners of Liang Xiaoyuan's mouth were also raised.

As Shen Tong was about to get out of the car, Liang Xiaoyuan said, "Wait a moment."

He then took off his own coat and draped it over Shen Tong. His warm breath fell on Shen Tong's head, face, and ears, warming up Shen Tong's face.

After draping it properly, Liang Xiaoyuan smiled slightly, his eyes shining brightly as he stared at Shen Tong, and said softly, "It's cold at night. Remember to wear more clothes in the future."

Shen Tong said shyly, "Mm." Her eyes didn't dare to look directly at Liang Xiaoyuan as she covered her face and got out of the car.

Liang Xiaoyuan also had a satisfied look on his face.