The first day of the Lunar New Year, night hung low.
Tiamu Cinema in the capital.
The red carpet stretched from the cinema entrance all the way to the street, both sides packed with fans holding light boards and dia crews with long guns and short cannons.
A black entourage van sat quietly at the end of the arrival convoy.
Inside, it was a world away from the fervor outside, filled with a low-pressure stillness.
Assistant Sun Zhou sat in the front passenger seat, turning his head for the eleventh ti.
He looked at Jiang Ci in the back seat, his palms sweaty, rubbing them against his pants over and over.
"Ci… Ci-ge…"
Sun Zhou's voice trembled.
"Your collar… it looks like it's crooked again."
He unbuckled his seatbelt, half-kneeling on the seat, and reached out to adjust the already immaculate bow tie at Jiang Ci's throat.
Jiang Ci did not move.
He let Sun Zhou fumble around his neck.
He was sunk into the soft leather seat, wearing the bespoke suit Lin Wan had sent him.
The sharply tailored black fabric accentuated the chill that always hovered around him, making him seem even less approachable.
He tilted his head, eyes fixed on the crazily flickering lights outside the window.
There was no expression on his face.
"Ci-ge, don't look out there like that…"
Sun Zhou finished the bow tie and mumbled in a low voice.
"It's creepy, like we're about to… about to do sothing."
He didn't dare say the two words "attend a funeral."
Jiang Ci finally drew his gaze back.
He glanced at Sun Zhou.
"I'm nervous."
He said the most insincere words in the calst tone.
Sun Zhou almost burst into tears.
"Brother, that's not nervous, that's you ascending to heaven!"
Jiang Ci offered no explanation.
He was indeed "nervous."
But the focus of his nervousness was nothing like what Sun Zhou imagined.
His mind was frantically replaying the few scenes he had in Palace Conspiracy.
He was calculating how many more days of life tonight's premiere could buy him.
The convoy moved forward slowly.
A sudden scream erupted ahead.
"Qin Feng! Qin Feng!"
The Film Emperor had appeared.
Qin Feng, wearing an elegant Zhongshan suit, smiled and waved to both sides, walking the red carpet with composure.
He was followed by Zhao Xueling.
Another wave of noise that almost lifted the roof.
One big na after another passed by, caras clicking as if their shutters were smoking.
Finally, it was Jiang Ci's car's turn.
The vehicle ca to a gentle stop at the end of the red carpet.
The mont the door opened, the clamoring outside experienced a brief vacuum.
Along the carpet, many reporters lowered their caras, ready to catch a breather while this unknown newcor made his entrance.
"Who is that? Looks unfamiliar."
A young reporter whispered to a senior beside him.
The senior flipped through the thick guest list in his hand without much interest, scanning casually.
"From Spark dia, nad Jiang Ci, probably just here to ride the red carpet… wait!"
The senior's voice rose eight tones all at once.
He fixed his gaze on the parentheses after that na on the list.
[Special Introduction]
Among the page full of star nas, it looked out of place yet jarringly conspicuous.
"Special Introduction? Lin Wan herself added that?"
The senior lifted his head abruptly, his tired face suddenly animated with excitent.
"Quick! Shoot him!"
He snatched up the cara from his chest, with no ti to adjust settings, and began an insane burst of shots at Jiang Ci as soon as the young man put a leg out.
"This kid definitely has sothing going on!"
"Lin Wan never does useless things. If she 'specially introduces' a newcor, it's either a huge scoop or tomorrow's superstar!"
Word spread, multiplying.
The reporter group that had been ready to rest sprang back to life instantly.
All lenses turned in unison toward the black entourage van.
Jiang Ci stepped out of the car.
He was greeted by a flurry of flashbulbs.
He did not flinch.
He didn't even blink.
He stood at the start of the red carpet, with a giant Palace Conspiracy poster behind him.
Unlike other newcors, he did not awkwardly wave in delight.
He just stood there.
His hands hung naturally at his sides.
His gaze swept calmly across the nearly hysterical crowd.
"Click! Click! Click!"
The shutter sounds ford a chorus.
Reporters furiously pressed their shutters while cursing internally.
This kid is one hell of an act!
But they had to admit, he acted with a tasteful finesse.
Beneath that bespoke black, his alienation from the surroundings beca an extrely distinctive aura.
Among the stars bending over backward to please the caras, he was blindingly conspicuous.
Jiang Ci began to walk.
He strode down the red carpet at a asured pace.
Eyes straight ahead.
He paid no heed to the shouts from both sides urging him "look here" and "smile."
His goal was clear.
Finish this walk, get into the theater, watch the film, collect heartbreak value.
The host, who had already received a cue in his earpiece from the director, knew the background of this "Special Introduction."
Watching Jiang Ci approach, the host plastered on a professionally exaggerated smile and raised his microphone.
"Next up, who's coming our way is sothing extraordinary!"
He deliberately elongated his tone to build suspense.
"He is the only actor on today's guest list marked specially—Jiang Ci!"
He stepped to the side to block Jiang Ci's path.
The microphone nearly pressed into Jiang Ci's face.
"Hello, Jiang Ci! As a newcor, receiving such favor from Chief Editor Lin and Director Li, how do you feel? Aren't you particularly excited?"
It was a trap-like question.
Countless eyes stared at Jiang Ci.
They were waiting for this newcor to make a fool of himself or blurt sothing shocking.
Jiang Ci stopped walking.
He looked at the overexcited host and then at the microphone almost poking his chin.
He furrowed his brow slightly.
As he pondered what line to use to quickly end this aningless exchange, a cool, clear voice suddenly cut in from the side.
"He doesn't need to be excited."
The voice was not loud, but its penetration was powerful.
The noise on site dimd imdiately.
Everyone turned to look.
Su Qingying had, at so point, stopped walking.
Today she was in a simple white dress, unadorned yet breathtaking.
She stood by the signature board, pen still in hand.
She did not look at the caras or the host.
Her gaze, across several ters, landed faintly on Jiang Ci.
"He is an actor."
Su Qingying's voice was steady and resolute.
"An actor's job is to act well, not to perform excitent here."
With that, she turned, signed her na neatly on the board, and walked into the theater without looking back.
She left the host dumbfounded.
The venue fell silent for two full seconds.
Then, with a boom,
it exploded.
Reporters went wild.
This was undoubtedly the biggest highlight of the night!
They all realized the newcor Jiang Ci must be hiding enormous news value.
The host stood awkwardly, unable to move or remain where he was.
Jiang Ci watched Su Qingying disappear into the corridor.
He said nothing.
He only nodded slightly in that direction.
Then he bypassed the stiff host and, as if nothing had happened, completed the rest of the red carpet.
He vanished into the shadowed entrance of the theater.
Inside the auditorium,
the giant screen had not yet lit up, only faint aisle lights outlined the steps.
Many people were already seated, whispering softly, the low murmur echoing in the enclosed space.
Jiang Ci did not go to the front-row VIP seats with nas attached.
He walked straight to the farthest corner of the back row.
He sat down.
Su Qingying's words were still ringing in his ears.
"He is an actor."
Those words carried weight.
In such a restless arena of fa and fortune, for a widely recognized acting talent like Su Qingying to say that was tantamount to stamping a quality assurance on him.
Yet it also put him under pressure.
If his performance in Palace Conspiracy flopped, Su Qingying's defense tonight would turn into tomorrow's whole-network ridicule.
She would be criticized for having poor judgnt.
At that mont,
the theater lights suddenly went out.
The forrly noisy space fell silent at once.
In the dark, the massive screen brightened.
The studio logo flashed by.
Majestic yet mournful music instantly filled the auditorium.
The film began.
Jiang Ci lifted his head.
He watched the title slowly appear on the screen—Palace Conspiracy.
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