Who Needs a CEO? I Choose Stardom

On New Year’s Day, Granny Liao was in the group chat first thing in the morning, telling everyone to come to her house to get styled—for tonight’s competition, she had specially hired a styling team to come to her home.

Granny Liao was someone who put great stock in ceremony and was full of energy. Not only did she often take the lead in organizing community events, but she’d also throw parties for her pets’ birthdays and even invite friends and family over to celebrate when her granddaughter lost her first tooth.

So for a major event like the neighborhood dance troupe passing auditions to perform at the district’s New Year’s Gala, she naturally wouldn’t cut any corners.

Her old friends who hung out with her could all keep up with her pace. Each person took responsibility for one part, and the preparations were incredibly thorough.

Not only did they have custom outfits made, but they also hired a designer to create light-up signs and hand banners printed with cartoon avatars of the dance team members.

In the afternoon, a bus would take everyone out for a group dinner, after which they’d all head to the venue. After the gala, they would all return together.

That bus had been arranged by another auntie and was currently parked in the small plaza in the center of the residential complex.

This particular auntie was quite trendy and had picked up some tricks from fan culture. She had the bus decked out inside and out. The side of the bus featured not only a photo of the dance team but also a slogan—”Yayuan, Yayuan, for reunion and togetherness; Yayuan, Yayuan, for peace and safety.”

It was all quite proper, at least. Nothing cringe-worthy.

Ni Bingyan kept her promise and went to Granny Liao’s house right after breakfast.

The moment she walked in, she was surrounded by the familiar uncles and grannies.

”Bingbing must be our cheer captain today! With you here, our morale is guaranteed to be unbeatable!”

”Right, right! No other team can find a big star like you!”

”Come try on your outfit, see if it fits! Old Liao had it custom-made to your measurements. We were worried you’d have work on New Year’s and couldn’t make it, haha!”

This was exactly the kind of thing the wealthy and extravagant aunties would do.

Even though she might not have been able to come, they had pre-ordered a cheerleading uniform in her size.

’Usually, I just entertain myself when I’m home on break. It’s great to be able to have fun with a group of proper folks like this!’

Since the aunties had been so thoughtful, Ni Bingyan wasn’t about to put on airs. She took the outfit and went into the changing room.

As she took the outfit out of the garment bag, she could smell a faint, fresh scent of plants. A closer look revealed that it had clearly been washed and ironed after being custom-made.

Back when she was an extra, she had worn her fill of smelly costumes on set, so Ni Bingyan was particularly sensitive to these things. Holding the clean outfit in her hands filled her with delight and made her look forward to the evening’s event even more.

The outfit consisted of a red down jacket that was high-waisted and form-fitting, paired with black leggings. Over the leggings was a skirt that resembled a pomegranate flower.

The skirt’s design was unique. The down-filled part was shaped like a calyx, with petals made of a fluffy, smooth, and lightweight fabric underneath.

Although the outfit was light, it was very warm once she put it on.

She checked the collar. ’Alright, Aunt Liao is impressive. I didn’t know this brand took private custom orders.’

When Ni Bingyan came out in the new outfit, everyone clapped and cheered.

One person said she looked like a pomegranate-flower spirit, another said she was like a big red lantern that had turned human. But it was a certain uncle, retired from a propaganda department, who knew how to talk. ”A fiery red start to the New Year! This outfit is perfect!” he declared.

Everyone else had changed as well. The men wore red coats, black trousers, and red wool scarves, looking like they were heading to a company’s annual meeting. The women, however, wore long, bright red coats with white wide-leg pants.

Ni Bingyan had assumed everyone would be wearing the same thing. She looked at herself, then at the others.

”Yours is the captain’s uniform, of course it’s different!”

”None of us aunties and grannies want to be caught wearing the same outfit as you!”

”Haha, we didn’t even have to pay you to come. What’s the big deal about making a custom outfit for you?”

...

She had to admit, they were all very smooth talkers. They had persuaded her before she could even say a word.

Next was hair and makeup. Because the styling team was a bit short-staffed, Ni Bingyan even pitched in to help do everyone’s makeup. When they were done, everyone went home to put on their jewelry before gathering at the small plaza in the center of the complex.

Ni Bingyan went home, put on an exquisite ruby set, and left excitedly with a small bag.

After a lively dinner, they arrived at the venue. As the captain, Ni Bingyan sat in the middle of the group, holding a lightweight light-up sign.

The gala was about to begin when she saw Sang Yuan walk in.

Mrs. Sang wasn’t interested in this kind of event. Sang Yuan had bragged that he was coming too, but in reality, his family didn’t have any tickets. He had managed to get one with great difficulty, so naturally, his seat wasn’t with theirs.

”Hey! Little Sang is here too!”

The moment she said that, Uncle Wang stood up and quickly arranged to swap seats for him.

”Sorry, I’m late.”

He had decided to come at the last minute, so of course, the cheerleading squad hadn’t ordered an outfit for him. There was nothing to be done about it now. Since they were all neighbors, it was only natural they sit together.

”Come, come, Little Sang, sit here!”

Uncle Wang gave up the seat next to Ni Bingyan, and everyone smiled with a tacit understanding.

The person involved is often confused, but the onlooker sees clearly. That Shui Sulan had never been one for idle gossip. On a normal day, she was either busy with her career or stirring up trouble, and she almost never participated in activities with the other women in the community.

But ever since Ni Bingyan moved in, everyone would see her ”bumping into” Ni Bingyan from time to time. And in a rare turn of events, she would even take the initiative to pull Ni Bingyan into conversation.

The scene was so awkward that even passersby felt second-hand embarrassment. Yet Shui Sulan was dead set on it, persevering through the cringe and insisting on chatting on and on.

What was even rarer was that Little Sang, a boy who usually wanted to stay a mile away from girls, was always hovering around Xiao Ni.

See?

He hadn’t planned on coming tonight, but the moment he saw Xiao Ni was here, he immediately followed.

The signal was just too strong! They were all experienced people; who couldn’t read the signs?

And so, with a helpful ”assist” from the neighbors, Sang Yuan successfully sat down next to Ni Bingyan.

The gala was held at the National Grand Theater. Below the stage were rows of plush red seats, separated by armrests. Seeing her holding the light-up sign, Sang Yuan took it from her.

”I’m late, so let me handle the manual labor!”

Ni Bingyan loved a lively atmosphere. She looked around and asked, ”Your parents didn’t come? It’s so bustling today!”

Of course, Sang Yuan couldn’t say his parents weren’t interested in this kind of event.

”They have plans today.”

As the founders of Jiacheng Electronics, they were still very busy even after retiring, so Ni Bingyan didn’t ask any more questions.

Before long, the gala began, and she started watching the stage intently.

Little did she know, while she was watching the performers on stage, Sang Yuan was secretly watching her the entire time.

The neighbors around them noticed. The ones who loved to gossip even took out their phones, created a special group chat, and started chattering away.

One of the busybodies actually pulled Mrs. Sang into the group and posted the candid photos.

”Old Shui! Good things are on the horizon! I think this is it!”

Shui Sulan was at home at that moment, wearing a face mask, petting her cat, and binge-watching a drama. When she saw the message, she was overjoyed and immediately started sending out red envelopes in the group chat.

[Thank you all!]

[Thanks for the assist!]

[Send more photos!]

...

None of them were short on money, but who doesn’t love grabbing red envelopes?

So, more and more people started taking secret photos, and their movements became more and more obvious!

The entire theater could seat over a thousand people. Their group was already conspicuous, and with all the commotion, other audience members immediately noticed.

Although the lighting in the audience was dim, it was no match for the titanium-alloy eyes of the gossip-mongers!

Whoa~ Isn’t that the newly crowned Huabiao Film Queen, Ni Bingyan, dressed all in red like a bride?

Ooh~~ And who’s that handsome guy sitting next to her?

Hey?! Holy crap!

That look of tender affection in his eyes!

The goddess is in love!

This is the first big scoop of the year!

The stage was filled with either song-and-dance numbers or large-scale choirs, which were honestly not that interesting. Discovering there was gossip to be had right here, many people got incredibly excited!

To Weibo we go!

The end of the year and the beginning of the new one was prime time for busybodies to make their ”year-in-review” lists.

From time to time, someone would post some vague, mysterious rumor: a certain A-lister was secretly married and about to announce it; a certain top celebrity was in a relationship and about to go public; a certain post-’85-born actress had given birth and couldn’t hide it any longer...

But that kind of ”you guess, I guess, everyone guesses” game was nowhere near as exciting as this solid proof!

And so, while other major and minor actresses were releasing fake news, painstakingly posting pictures of their abs to debunk rumors, and stirring up hype, Ni Bingyan was sitting obediently in the grand theater watching a show... and watched herself right onto the trending topics.