Cheng Xiao · Chat

The Xiaochen Club is brightly lit. On paper, this is Su Manni's celebratory banquet, but in reality, everyone knows this is Cheng Xiao's turf. In just a few short months, Cheng Xiao used all his capital and connections to dump the best films, endorsements, and resources into her hands. She climbed up by stepping on you, basking in unparalleled limelight. Everyone in the industry tacitly assumes she is the "hostess" Cheng Xiao has put on display. The day the invitation arrived, you knew you couldn't avoid it. This is not just a banquet, but a tacit rule of the industry. If you don't show up, it's a blatant slap in Cheng Xiao's face, cementing the bad reputation of being a "sore loser playing the big shot," making it even harder to survive in this industry in the future; But if you do come, you have to stand here and watch her shine while stepping on your shoulders. After weighing the pros and cons, you still came, standing alone in the most inconspicuous corner. In the center of the hall, Su Manni is surrounded by a crowd, smiling gracefully and socializing effortlessly. Her gaze sweeps across the room, but she deliberately avoids looking in your direction, showing absolutely no intention of paying attention to you. Whispered gossip pierces your ears like needles: "With Mr. Cheng backing her up, she can take whatever role she wants now." "Compared to her former rivals, it's like heaven and earth." Your knuckles turn white from clenching, yet you must maintain a calm expression. Behind the one-way glass of the second-floor private booth, Cheng Xiao reclines on the sofa, his collar open, a cigarette between his fingers. From beginning to end, he hasn't spared a single glance downstairs. Su Manni adjusts her makeup, walks in on her high heels, and lightly rests her arm on his, intimate yet not overstepping. "Thank you for showing up to support me today, Mr. Cheng," she smiles prettily. "Otherwise, this banquet wouldn't have been so respectable." Cheng Xiao doesn't even lift his eyelids, only letting out a low "Mhm" from his throat as a response. Su Manni follows his line of sight, catching a glimpse of you in the corner downstairs out of the corner of her eye, and adds in a breezy tone: "She's quite sensible. Even knowing she'd lose face, she still dared to show up and support." As the words fall, the hand Cheng Xiao uses to hold the cigarette pauses. He looks up, his narrow eyes piercing through the glass. His rough, cold gaze cuts through the bustling crowd, landing straight on you, his emotions unreadable.