Huayu: This director is so eager to improve.

Chapter 65 Lotus in My Heart

The brilliance and clamor of the Shanghai TV Festival awards ceremony have gradually subsided, but the night for the victors is far from over.

The organizers held a high-profile celebration banquet for the winners and important guests in the banquet hall of a top hotel on the Bund.

Crystal chandeliers cast dazzling light, illuminating the champagne tower and the dazzling array of dishes.

Holding the trophy, Qi Yue was surrounded by a crowd of people who came to congratulate him.

Tonight, he is undoubtedly the brightest star here.

Familiar or unfamiliar faces came and went, offering congratulations, compliments, or simply social pleasantries.

After dealing with everyone, Qi Yue finally had a chance to go to the terrace for some fresh air when a voice filled with hearty laughter came from behind him:

"Congratulations, Director Qi! To win the Magnolia Award at such a young age, you are truly a force to be reckoned with!"

Qi Yue turned around and saw a middle-aged man with a meticulously trimmed beard, an elegant demeanor, and a touch of unrestrained freedom walking towards him.

"Mr. Wu, you flatter me. I was just lucky. I am mainly grateful to the judges for their appreciation and to the audience for their support."

Qi Yue shook hands with him politely, his tone humble. Wu Xiubo's smile widened, and he patted Qi Yue's arm:

"Director Qi is too modest! He's a true master from the start. I watched 'Day and Night' from beginning to end, and even as a veteran TV actor, I'm completely convinced."

He then changed the subject, adopting a self-deprecating humor.

"Unlike me, I lay low for ten years, and only last year did I finally gain some popularity with 'Xin Shu' (The Art of Medicine)."

Qi Yue knew this was just polite talk, so he readily complied.

"Mr. Wu is too modest. Your acting skills and audience appeal are obvious to all. Many of the young ladies in our studio are your loyal fans and talk about you every day. I still have a lot to learn from you."

These words clearly struck a nerve with Wu Xiubo. His smile widened, and he leaned closer.

"Haha, Director Qi looks young, but I didn't expect him to be so pleasing to the ear! But seriously, bro," he switched to a more intimate form of address,

"In our circle, one way to succeed is through genuine talent and skill, which you have! The other way," he winked meaningfully.

"It all comes down to mutual support. Only by helping each other and carrying each other along can we go higher and further."

Qi Yue's heart stirred slightly, but his face remained expressionless as he followed up with the question:

"Angkor is right. I wonder... if there's anything I can do to advise you?"

Seeing that he was getting the hang of it, Wu Xiubo's smile deepened. She looked around and lowered her voice.

"I've heard a rumor from inside, but it hasn't been announced yet. The Magnolia Awards organizing committee is planning a project—to establish a Hall of Fame for Chinese film and television professionals."

"Hall of Fame?"

"Yes! It's similar to the NBA Hall of Fame!" Wu Xiubo gestured.

"I discussed it with a few friends in the industry, and we felt that this first edition is of extraordinary significance. We plan to jointly nominate Director Zhang Li as one of the first, or even the first, selected candidates!"

Qi Yue immediately understood Wu Xiubo's intention. This wasn't simply praising Zhang Li; it was using someone else's talent to curry favor.

He understood perfectly well, but his face remained impassive.

"Director Zhang Li is highly respected and has achieved remarkable success. Given her status, perhaps she doesn't care about these empty titles?"

Wu Xiubo, as expected, wore a "you wouldn't understand" expression, shaking her head with a smile, her breath, tinged with alcohol, drawing closer:

"Brother, you're too young! The more established directors and artists are at the top, the more they sometimes care about posthumous fame! It's an affirmation of their historical standing! Who would complain about having too many honors? Who can refuse to be remembered in history?"

He spoke eloquently, from the symbolic meaning of the Hall of Fame to the interpersonal relationships within the industry, and then to how to operate and promote it, showing that he was well-versed in the subject and handled it with ease.

Qi Yue listened quietly, his face expressionless, occasionally nodding.

Wu Xiubo was speaking with great enthusiasm,

"Buzzing..."

My phone vibrated at an inopportune moment.

Wu Xiubo frowned, clearly displeased at being interrupted.

"Feed?... Xiao Lin?"

An excited woman's voice came from the other end of the phone, and the words "America" ​​and "explain clearly" could be vaguely heard.

"What's wrong, Xiao Lin? Didn't we explain everything clearly?... Listen to me, don't get agitated..."

He seemed to be trying to calm the other person down, but the voice on the other end of the phone clearly did not quiet down.

Wu Xiubo made an apologetic gesture to Qi Yue, then walked to the side with her phone in her hand.

"Xiao Lin, don't doubt it. Do you remember the Buddhist scripture I told you about last time? 'Unravel all your troubles and let the lotus flower bloom in your heart.'"

"..."

Qi Yue stood there, swirling the wine glass in his hand, thinking this guy was kind of interesting.

Wu Xiubo's phone call didn't seem to go smoothly. He whispered reassurances into the phone for a long time, his brows furrowing more and more. In the end, he only gave a few vague replies before hurriedly hanging up.

When he turned around again, the usual composure on his face had vanished, leaving only visible irritation.

He even forgot to exchange a few more polite words with Qi Yue before hurrying through the crowd and disappearing through the side door of the banquet hall, his back view looking somewhat disheveled.

The terrace fell silent again, with only the faint sounds of music and laughter drifting from the banquet hall in the distance.

"Director Qi, congratulations! Tonight is a highlight for you and 'White Night'!"

A familiar voice, tinged with laughter, rang out.

Qi Yue turned around and saw Cai Yinong walking over with an elegant demeanor, holding a wine glass, accompanied by Nazha, whose makeup was exquisite but whose expression was somewhat subtle.

"President Cai, thank you. It's all thanks to Tangren and your support in the early stages." Qi Yue clinked glasses with her, his tone polite.

"Not at all, gold always shines. We just did what we were supposed to do," Cai Yinong said with a smile.

"After this battle, I am even more confident in our future in-depth cooperation."

"Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Cai. It's all thanks to everyone's hard work."

Cai Yinong smiled and nodded, her gaze seemingly unintentionally sweeping over Nazha, who stood quietly beside her, her tone becoming more casual and friendly:

"By the way, Director Qi, your team isn't flying back to Beijing immediately tomorrow, right? Do you have any other plans in Shanghai?"

Qi Yue looked at her: "Ms. Cai, is there something you need?"

"It's not really business." Cai Yinong's smile deepened.

"It's Nazha. It's rare for her to come to Shanghai, and the awards ceremony is over, so the young lady wants to stroll around this bustling metropolis and relax. But strolling alone is a bit lonely and not very safe."

She paused, looked at Qi Yue, and her eyes held a perfectly timed smile.

"I wonder if Director Qi is free tomorrow? It would be good for you young people to have company."

Upon hearing this, Naza lowered her head slightly, her cheeks flushed slightly, and her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her skirt.

Qi Yue's gaze lingered for a moment on Cai Yinong's meaningful smile and Nazha's lowered profile, and then a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"I see." Qi Yue nodded, his tone relaxed.

"Perfect timing! My little assistant, Bai Mengyan, was just saying today that she wanted to buy some local specialties and do some shopping here. We can invite her along tomorrow. Two girls, with common topics, will feel more comfortable shopping and eating out."

Cai Yinong's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered. She glanced at Nazha, whose shoulders slumped instantly beside her.

"Well... that's fine then. I'll have my assistant give you their contact information."

"Okay, thank you for your trouble, Mr. Cai." Qi Yue nodded politely. "Then I'll excuse myself for a moment. There are a few seniors over there I need to greet."

"Director Qi, please go ahead." Cai Yinong smiled and watched him leave.

Only after Qi Yue's figure disappeared into the crowd did Nazha raise her head, her beautiful face almost entirely filled with grievance and disappointment. She bit her lower lip.

"Sister Cai... Senior Brother Qi... does his behavior mean... he's rejecting me?"

She wasn't stupid. Qi Yue's words, though seemingly considerate, were actually distant, clearly indicating that he didn't want to be alone with her.

Looking at Nazha's pitiful appearance, Cai Yinong was not discouraged at all; on the contrary, it seemed to have aroused some kind of competitive spirit.

She put her arm around Nazha's shoulder, patted it gently, and her eyes sparkled even brighter.

"Silly girl, are you getting discouraged by this little setback? Qi Yue is a deep thinker; he's not easy to approach. But I still believe there are cats in this world that don't steal fish!"

She looked in the direction where Qi Yue had disappeared, a confident smile playing on her lips:

"Don't worry, with me here, would I let you suffer this injustice? If the direct approach doesn't work, we'll try the indirect one; if the frontal approach fails, we'll take a roundabout way. No one can easily refuse someone Tangren wants to promote, let alone a beauty like our Nazha!"