Caught in Affairs with Superstar

Chapter 324: Chapter 279: Rising Phase: 115

Zhou Lan was so meticulous in her arrangements and reminders mainly because Zhou Yun was currently in a critical rising phase of her career.

Already a frequent trending topic, and facing persistent rivals like Su Yan and Xu Siyao, Zhou Lan felt it was her duty to help control the scale of the enemy forces.

Despite how difficult this actually was to achieve.

In the afternoon’s street photography, Zhou Lan did not accompany Zhou Yun, but instead accompanied He Yong to meet some people he wished to see, while handling some domestic work in the meantime.

Like that photo of Zhou Yun and Wan Ke in close conversation that went viral.

The photo took off because Zhou Yun’s fans enthusiastically shared it, feeling that the festival chairman was favoring Zhou Yun, a significant recognition.

Certain overzealous fans went so far as to point out that they hadn’t seen Wan Ke chatting intimately like that with either Ning Yao or Wei Ru Xue.

Why not?

Because Zhou Yun had brought works to the festival.

Wan Ke only recognized Zhou Yun.

When the publicity team saw these remarks, they became concerned, reported up the chain, and contacted the fan managers in an attempt to suppress these comments.

Truth be told, such talk truly affected the public perception.

Nobody likes arrogant people, nor people who step on others to praise themselves.

This kind of negging was the most feared.

But such posts just kept coming, and the publicity team found that many impostor fans, posing as Zhou Yun’s fans, continued to stir the pot.

An investigation revealed the presence of both Su Yan’s and Xu Siyao’s fans.

The very thing Zhou Lan feared was happening, but she had anticipated this possibility.

After some thought, she messaged Luo Peiyao: ”Sister Peiyao, will Ning Yao be attending the Chinese Film Night event tomorrow?”

Luo Peiyao replied: ”Yes, what’s the matter?”

Zhou Lan said: ”There are some people online trying to create discord, saying that Xiao Yun and Ning Yao will vie for attention on the red carpet. I’m thinking, can we help Xiao Yun and Ning Yao take a photo together tomorrow night, and have Xiao Yun share it on Weibo to stop the rumors? If it were anyone else it wouldn’t matter, but Ning Yao is an actress that Xiao Yun greatly respects. She even told me she wants to collaborate with Ning Yao in the future. It would be upsetting for Xiao Yun if this incident caused a rift with Ning Yao.”

Her words took on a very humble tone.

But Zhou Lan felt it was necessary.

It was natural for Zhou Yun to lower her stance in front of Ning Yao, and Zhou Lan wasn’t lying; Ning Yao was indeed an actress that Zhou Yun highly respected and wanted to work with.

Luo Peiyao sent back a smiling face, saying: ”Alright, I’ll let Ning Yao know. As for what people say online, don’t worry too much about it. We usually don’t take it to heart.”

Zhou Lan sent back a heart emoji.

In the evening, Zhou Lan returned to the hotel to wait for Zhou Yun to come back from street photography.

She messaged Zheng Xiaojue, asking: ”How’s the progress?”

Zheng Xiaojue replied: ”There’s one last style to go, it will take about an hour.”

Zhou Lan rubbed her temples, went back to her room to charge her phone, set an alarm, and lay down on the bed for thirty minutes.

In recent times, it wasn’t just Zhou Yun who was tired, but her as well.

However, this kind of exhaustion was filled with hope, and Zhou Lan was willing to endure it.

The most frightening thing is to always be busy, always be tired, working from dawn to dusk but seeing no sign of a bright future.

The next day, Chinese Film Night.

Another event with significant exposure.

Zhou Lan and Zheng Xiaojue still had to accompany Zhou Yun to this event.

Many people attended this event, not just from the Chinese film industry, but also people from other countries.

Zhou Lan took this event very seriously, not just because of the exposure, but also because Shi Luoqi and Xue Qin would be attending, and they would announce the film project ”Falling Leaves” she was collaborating on with them.

The main photographers on the red carpet for this event were from China.

Zhou Yun didn’t walk the red carpet with Wen Bing and the others, she walked it alone.

Flashes twinkled.

Zhou Yun finished her walk on the red carpet and entered the inner area.

Zhou Lan and Zheng Xiaojue were already waiting for her at the entrance.

”Director Chen Zian is here already, let’s go say hello to Director Chen first,” Zhou Lan handed a glass of champagne to Zhou Yun.

”Okay,” Zhou Yun nodded.

After greeting, there came the inevitable photo-taking session.

Zhou Yun stood beside Director Chen Zian, smiling obediently.

After the picture was taken, just as Zhou Yun was about to tactfully leave, Chen Zian suddenly asked, ”Are you and Song Chi in a relationship?”

Zhou Yun was shocked and momentarily lost control of her facial expression. Mainly because she never expected such a gossipy question to be asked by the esteemed director Chen Zian.

”Director Chen?” Zhou Yun was a bit flustered at this moment.

Chen Zian smiled sheepishly and said, ”Xiao Song called me this morning, let it slip, said his girlfriend is also in Venice. I asked who, he refused to tell me, but I guessed it was you.”

Zhou Yun didn’t expect this to be the reason.

She looked around and said, ”You might want to ask him then.”

Chen Zian laughed.

”It’s nice for young people to be in love.”

Zhou Yun sighed with a mix of discomfort and frustration, ”I didn’t want to start a relationship so soon, it’s a distraction from my career.”

Chen Zian said, ”It won’t be a distraction, it definitely won’t.”

At a loss for words, Zhou Yun paused, then said: ”Director Chen, this is still a secret, not many know about it, please don’t tell others.”

Chen Zian nodded, ”I know, I’ll keep it a secret.”

After saying that, he even winked at Zhou Yun, as if on purpose, telling her, no problem.

This little gesture, caught by the eyes of others, naturally led to various speculations.

”When did Zhou Yun get so close to Director Chen Zian?” Wei Ru Xue frowned and asked her agent, ”Have they met before? I’ve known Director Chen for so long, but I’ve never seen him act like this.”

Sui Yu shook her head lightly and said, ”Don’t know, never heard of it. But... I heard that Zhou Yun has a film project to announce tonight.”

”What film project?” Wei Ru Xue’s expression suddenly changed, ”Don’t tell me she’s going to collaborate with Director Chen?”

”It shouldn’t be,” said Sui Yu, ”Director Chen’s next film is a purely English one, with no roles for Asians.”

Wei Ru Xue breathed a sigh of relief.

”Who could have thought, in just one year, she’s already reached where she is today,” Wei Ru Xue said with a tinge of envy, ”It took me so many years to get here.”

Sui Yu knew what Wei Ru Xue meant.

”Xiaoxue, you have your own path, no need to compare with others, besides, she is not yet qualified to compare with you,” said Sui Yu, ”Remember our goal is Ning Yao.”

”I can’t surpass Ning Yao in my lifetime if I don’t act in movies, don’t win awards,” Wei Ru Xue said through gritted teeth.

Sui Yu consoled her, ”You will, there will be movies, and there will be awards.”