After My Contract Marriage with the CEO - Chapter 4

Chapter 4: The Center Position

I’ve already imagined a massive “Shura Field” (scene of conflict/jealousy).

Did no one notice the other topic? These four are definitely a Shura Field; you don’t even need to imagine it.

Yeah, yeah, what’s the deal with that lead-role snatcher? Leaker, give us the details!

At this moment, the awards ceremony was drawing to a close.

“The final segment is the Grand Group Photo. We invite all nominated candidates to come onto the stage for a group photo,” the host said with a smile. “Thank you to all the nominated actors for contributing such wonderful performances and exquisite acting to Chinese film and television in recent years. Your works will forever be remembered by the Chinese film industry.”

This was the final segment of any awards ceremony, designed to ensure no one was left out and to give everyone a chance to show their faces.

In the memories Ning Citian received, there was a version of this group photo: Zhou Jun was firmly in the “C-position” (center), radiant and dazzling, while everyone else was merely a green leaf serving as her foil. Ning Citian was not in that photo, nor was Yan Xiaoxi.

In the vanity fair of the entertainment industry, every position in a group photo is calculated. Generally speaking, the C-position belongs to the Best Actress. Ning Citian was very curious about what the order and positioning would be in this photo.

“Will all nominated actors please come onto the stage.” People dawdled, and after a few minutes, everyone had still not gathered. The host repeated the request.

Ning Citian adjusted her skirt and walked toward the stage.

Many people were already standing there, some having even consciously taken their spots for the photo.

Different from her received memories, the C-position this time was occupied by Yan Xiaoxi. Likely arranged by the staff beforehand, Yan Xiaoxi stood right in the center, and no one dared to contest that spot.

Just as Ning Citian was considering where she should stand, the host gave her a “please” gesture, indicating she should stand next to Yan Xiaoxi.

Ning Citian took a look; everyone else except Zhou Jun had already taken their places, identical to the positions in her memories.

The difference was that the center was occupied by Yan Xiaoxi, and now the only remaining spot was the one next to her, which the host had implied was for Ning Citian.

As for Zhou Jun, the only spot left for her was naturally the very edge of the corner, as there were no gaps left among the people who had already positioned themselves.

Ning Citian thought Zhou Jun would obediently stand at the far corner.

Little did she expect that a person like Zhou Jun—who was far from a “submissive lamp” and wasn’t particularly bright—would act out.

Just as Ning Citian was about to stand next to Yan Xiaoxi, Zhou Jun lunged forward, cutting in front of Ning Citian to claim the spot beside Yan Xiaoxi.

This scene was captured clearly by the audience members closest to the stage.

Ning Citian stood there at a loss, wondering if she should just leave and stand at the very edge for the photo.

“This is Ning Citian’s position. If you don’t leave, bear the consequences yourself,” Yan Xiaoxi warned Zhou Jun in a low voice.

Zhou Jun was utterly shocked. She had heard from her boyfriend, Yan Hai, that his sister Yan Xiaoxi ignored worldly disputes, focused only on filming and creating good works, and never participated in entertainment industry social circles.

This… seemed quite different from the sister Yan Hai had described.

Unable to make sense of the situation, Zhou Jun could only slink away from the spot and return to the corner where she belonged.

“Tiantian, come over here next to me,” Yan Xiaoxi called to Ning Citian affectionately.

“Tiantian?” Ning Citian was bewildered. In her received memories, only three people had ever called her that: her parents and Yan Hai.

I shouldn’t be close to Yan Xiaoxi, right? Why is she helping me? Isn’t she Yan Hai’s sister? No matter what, shouldn’t she be helping Zhou Jun? And why did she return to the Best Actress competition? I remember seeing an interview where she said these kinds of evaluations were boring.

Regardless, for whatever reason, it was a good thing that Yan Xiaoxi was helping her.

Ning Citian took her place next to Yan Xiaoxi.

This moment was recorded by the camera of the audience member closest to the stage.

Click.

As everyone settled into their spots, the group photo was finally taken.

The staff would not miss any opportunity to capitalize on the hype. While the buzz was high, they quickly edited the photo and posted it on public platforms.

As the tag #GoldenMonkeyFestivalGroupPhoto appeared, two other tags followed.

To be precise, one new tag appeared, and the popularity of an old tag was revived.

the new one was #ZhouJunSnatchesNingCitianPhotoSpot, and the revived old one was #ZhouJunSnatchesNingCitianLeadRole.

The internet was in a state of chaos.

Because Zhou Jun played the lead in The Flower, she had attracted a large fan base. Meanwhile, Ning Citian, being a supporting actress who had played minor roles everywhere, had almost zero fans online. Some of Zhou Jun’s fans were shouting about “leaving the fandom,” while others vowed to protect Zhou Jun to the end. In the midst of this melee, Ning Citian gained a massive following.

Under the #GoldenMonkeyFestivalGroupPhoto tag:

The two in the very center are definitely the most stunning.

The two in the middle are way too beautiful.

I only recognize Yan Xiaoxi in the C-position. Who is the one next to her?

Yan Xiaoxi is a grand, majestic beauty; the one next to her is a pure, delicate beauty. They are both stunning.

Does anyone else think Yan Xiaoxi and Ning Citian look good together?

Now that you mention it, the two in the middle really match. Ship it, ship it!

As for the others in the photo, no one cared, and no one mentioned them.

Under the tag #ZhouJunSnatchesNingCitianPhotoSpot was a video uploaded by a netizen. Clearly, it was filmed by someone very close to the stage.

Wow, Zhou Jun really has no self-awareness.

Trying to stand next to the center when you didn’t even win a single award?

Don’t you know where you belong? Make way for our Ning Citian!

This is Ning Citian’s spot, not yours. Go away, go away!

Did anyone notice the second half of the video?

Did you all only watch the first half and miss the rest?

Anyone see the second half?

The second half is so ship-worthy! I command everyone to go watch it immediately.

I also command everyone to go see the second half.

Is no one shipping this? I’ll go first.

Yan Xiaoxi chased Zhou Jun away to make room for Ning Citian.

Yan Xiaoxi looks so cold, I can’t believe she’d do something like this for Ning Citian.

Go to the fifty-second mark and listen carefully—what does Yan Xiaoxi call Ning Citian?

I heard it! ‘Tiantian.’ Oh my god, ‘Tiantian.’

She called her ‘Tiantian.’

She loves her so much.

I’m shipping it; it’s just too sweet.

Tiantian, so sweet!

I’m bringing everyone into this ship.

Ship it, ship it!

#ZhouJunSnatchesNingCitianLeadRole was a tag from several days ago.

Ever since someone created it, its popularity remained high. However, most of the discussion had been about the Golden Rooster Awards (Note: context implies Golden Monkey) and hadn’t accurately addressed the tag’s claim.

But now, under this tag, someone had found the director of The Flower for a video interview. Discussing his original vision for the female lead, the director said that Ning Citian was exactly the image of the lead he had envisioned. However, when he approached her, she declined, saying Zhou Jun was more suitable for the lead and that she was only fit for the second lead.

See? The director’s original choice for the lead was Ning Citian.

But didn’t Ning Citian choose not to act in it herself? How can you say Zhou Jun snatched it?

Exactly, how can you say Zhou Jun snatched it?

Is this tag mistaken?

Who started this tag? Don’t talk nonsense without evidence.

Yeah, show us some evidence.

This counts as evidence? That’s a bit ridiculous.

Right, speak with evidence.

This baseless slander is getting a bit laughable.

What do the director’s words prove? Couldn’t it be that Ning Citian didn’t play the lead because she felt she wasn’t good enough?

Exactly. Looking at her acting and her look, playing the second lead is just right.

Look, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress while Zhou Jun was nominated for Best Actress. This is the best proof Zhou Jun is suited for the lead, and Ning Citian is only suited for the second lead.

Has Ning Citian ever played a lead role? You want to be the lead without ever having done it?

Thankfully the director didn’t let her be the lead. Wise director.

Because this tag had existed for several days, Ning Citian had been following it. Unfortunately, when she was with Yan Hai, he never let her go public with their relationship. Yan Hai’s relationship with Zhou Jun wasn’t public either, so Ning Citian had no way to “hammer” the fact that Yan Hai was her boyfriend and had made her give up the lead role.

Since the relationship wasn’t public, Yan Hai must have anticipated this day. If she were to suddenly speak up under this tag, Yan Hai would likely turn it against her, claiming she had no proof.

But it doesn’t matter. We’ll settle this account slowly. Sooner or later, I’ll clear it. I’ll clear it for the original Ning Citian.

The live broadcast of the awards ceremony had ended, and the group photo had been posted on public platforms by the official account.

Ning Citian still hadn’t quite recovered from Yan Xiaoxi’s “Tiantian.” By the time she did, the group photo session had disbanded, and Yan Xiaoxi was no longer beside her.

Yan Xiaoxi was now sitting in the audience.

“Thank you for helping me just now; otherwise, I really wouldn’t have known what to do.” Ning Citian had prepared countless mental drafts, but when she finally got to Yan Xiaoxi’s side, she only managed to say that one sentence.

“Don’t mention it. It was just a small effort,” Yan Xiaoxi said indifferently.

It was said that this “Grand Slam” Movie Queen was always like this indifferent to everyone, distanced from all disputes, remaining cold and solitary. She was like a cold chrysanthemum blooming apart from the crowd.

“But I still want to ask… why did you help me?” Ning Citian summoned all her courage to finally ask the question in her heart. “Even though it hasn’t been made public, as Yan Hai’s sister, you should know that I am Yan Hai’s ex-girlfriend and Zhou Jun is his new girlfriend. Why did you choose to help me instead of her?”

“There is no ‘why.’ I just felt that the person who originally belonged in that spot should stand there.” Yan Xiaoxi’s answer was as good as no answer.

“Then why did you come to compete for Best Actress? Haven’t you abstained from these evaluations for years?” As soon as she asked, Ning Citian regretted it, feeling she had overstepped.

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