I Became Famous in the Entertainment Industry with High Martial Arts Skills - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Falling at the Banquet Table

The first-floor hall.

Everyone was chatting and laughing, completely unaware of the conversation taking place on the second floor.

Chen Wanjun was dressed understatedly in a moon-white, slim-fitting long dress, radiating an elegant aura.

At this moment, she stood in a corner of the hall, smiling as she handed Xie Ci, who had accompanied her to the banquet, over to Ji Xiuheng.

A birthday banquet like this always carries a social nature. Having retired early and not being fond of socializing, she used to decline such invitations whenever possible.

However, the more she learned about Xie Ci’s past, the more she sympathized with this helpless young man. Now that Ji Xiuheng was willing to pave the way for him, Chen Wanjun was naturally happy to see it happen.

“Teacher Chen, I will take good care of Xiao Xie.” Ji Xiuheng, dressed in a black suit, had broad shoulders and a narrow waist noble and upright, looking extremely proper.

Chen Wanjun’s face was beaming with smiles. “With you here, I can rest easy. Xiao Xie is young, so please look after him.” Her tone was warm, showing her sincere concern for this “temporary disciple.”

The banquet was star-studded; there was no telling if the person brushing past you was some low-profile industry big shot. Therefore, having a heavyweight to help with introductions was essential.

Xie Ci also understood this and was filled with gratitude toward the two seniors who were networking for him.

Lately, he had encountered no small number of people full of malice and gossip. This only served to highlight the genuine care of the two people beside him.

After watching Chen Wanjun blend into a conversation, Xie Ci walked to Ji Xiuheng’s side. His eyes were clear, and his whole being was as smooth and polished as a grey pearl.

Ji Xiuheng’s posture was relaxed, and his height of nearly 1.9 meters made the slender Xie Ci beside him look even more delicate.

“Xiuheng” a hearty male voice rang out.

The newcomer was none other than Zheng Yuan, a producer from the company Ji Xiuheng belonged to.

His face was full of surprise. “I haven’t seen you in over six months; I didn’t think you’d come to Director He’s banquet this time.”

Since Ji Xiuheng established his own studio, he rarely visited the main company. Zheng Yuan knew he had transitioned to behind-the-scenes investment these years and was worried about missing a chance to collaborate.

To his surprise, he met him here.

He walked over quickly, intending to continue the pleasantries, but his gaze was completely captured by the youth beside Ji Xiuheng.

“And this is?”

“Xie Ci, a newcomer from Director Zhang’s studio.” Ji Xiuheng naturally placed an arm around Xie Ci’s shoulder. “This is Zheng Yuan from Quanchao Film Industries, a very famous producer.”

Zheng Yuan smiled warmly. “So it’s an artist from Director Zhang’s studio. The young man’s future is limitless!”

Xie Ci wasn’t stage-frightened either; a smile spread across his face. “Hello, Teacher Zheng. I am Xie Ci; it is an honor to meet you.”

He kept it brief and professional.

Zheng Yuan subtly sized up Xie Ci.

Mm, based on looks alone, he is top-tier in the industry.

To be brought to a banquet by Ji Xiuheng suggested he was quite valued by Zhang Yunjiang.

However, he was still a newcomer; his future development was uncertain. Having been in the industry for decades, Zheng Yuan had seen many beautiful newcomers.

Most of them fluctuated and eventually faded away; one couldn’t go far in this circle on looks alone.

Therefore, Zheng Yuan didn’t pay much attention to Xie Ci and focused the conversation back on Ji Xiuheng.

Ji Xiuheng was clearly used to this kind of banquet exchange and knew that if Xie Ci continued to stay by his side, the youth would feel uneasy.

Moreover, he didn’t intend to introduce Xie Ci to Zheng Yuan just yet.

“Xiao Xie, go rest over there. I’ll come find you in a bit.” Ji Xiuheng’s gaze landed on the buffet area, signaling Xie Ci to wait for him there.

Xie Ci nodded. “Okay.”

The buffet area wasn’t crowded. Several waiters were busily weaving through, occasionally replacing empty plates and glasses.

Most attendees were busy chatting; the liquid in their glasses remained untouched, serving almost as ornaments.

The evening breeze slipped in through the open floor-to-ceiling windows, and the walnut railings on the second floor gave off a faint chill.

Shen Fang withdrew her gaze from the hall. Just as she was about to turn around, she was drawn by a sharp female cry.

Riiip! Along with the panicked female voice came the subtle sound of fabric tearing.

Qiao Mingyue gripped her silver sequined long dress tightly, feeling a sharp pain in her ankle. The thin heel of her shoe suddenly buckled, and her body tilted uncontrollably to one side.

Worse, she heard the crisp clatter of clashing plates and glasses.

It’s over; this dress is completely ruined.

Seeing herself getting closer and closer to the polished marble floor, Qiao Mingyue could only be thankful there were no media at today’s banquet.

In an instant.

In a flash, Xie Ci appeared like a godsend. His seemingly slender arm firmly circled Qiao Mingyue’s waist, supporting her steadily. In that moment of imbalance, she could only see the youth’s crow-feather eyelashes and snow-white, smooth jawline.

Xie Ci’s other hand didn’t hesitate for a second to catch the edge of the dining tray, his wrist exerting force.

Ding-ding!

The crisp sounds rang out one after another. Under the effect of inertia, the bases of the highball glasses stuck firmly to the tray. After the rims collided a few times, they actually stood steadily on the tray Xie Ci was holding.

The people around were clearly stunned into silence by this scene.

As for the waiter who had stepped on Qiao Mingyue’s dress and let go of the tray, he had turned pale, falling to the ground and not daring to speak.

Qiao Mingyue was still in shock, one hand clutching the dress with the broken strap, the other instinctively gripping Xie Ci tightly.

Out of his residual ancient values, Xie Ci slightly widened the distance between them.

Although he felt a bit sorry for his crumpled suit, he still draped his jacket over Qiao Mingyue’s shoulders.

Ji Xiuheng, having heard the commotion, rushed over with hurried steps. Looking at Xie Ci, whose upper body was now only covered by a shirt, he walked to the youth’s side.

The actress who had come with Qiao Mingyue to get drinks snapped back to reality and began to comfort her trembling friend. Then, she turned angrily toward the waiter on the floor. “How do you do your job?!”

The waiter shrank back, his lips trembling as he tried to speak. He knew he had been lazy; thinking there were few people at the buffet, he had walked hurriedly, which was how he stepped on Qiao Mingyue’s dress.

Seeing more and more people gathering, he steeled his heart and actually knelt down, wailing loudly. “I’m sorry, Miss Qiao! I was careless. I’m just a poor worker; please forgive me…”

His implication was that he could give nothing but an apology.

Furthermore, the apology wasn’t necessarily sincere.

A grown man crying and sniveling like a turtle was truly a pathetic sight.

Qiao Mingyue’s peach-blossom face turned iron-blue.

Fine, he’s morally kidnapping me.

One was a waiter, the other a celebrity with a “kind and lively” persona. Even though she suffered this disaster because of his negligence, it was difficult for her to vent her anger now.

“Teacher Qiao almost fell face-first just now. Are you threatening her with this apology?”

Xie Ci spoke coldly.

He hadn’t intended to meddle, but seeing the waiter roasting the victim, Qiao Mingyue, on the fire, he finally couldn’t help but speak up.

If he hadn’t been there just now, the situation couldn’t possibly have been resolved with a mere apology.

Seeing his small scheme exposed, the waiter became even more reckless, bowing his head and crying as if he were the victim being bullied by Xie Ci and Qiao Mingyue.

Qiao Mingyue gritted her teeth, her smile very stiff. She said word for word, “I’m fine physically. As for the loss of this dress, my assistant will contact you later.”

Is he kidding? My persona is ‘kind,’ not ‘stupid’!

How could she possibly forgive him so easily just because of a few tears?

Besides, both her friend and Xie Ci had spoken up for her; she couldn’t backstab them just for the sake of her own reputation.

A supervisor arrived quickly and took the sniveling waiter away, followed by a string of apologies.

This was He Pinzheng’s birthday banquet, after all. Seeing the situation calm down, the guests dispersed back to various parts of the hall, resuming their conversations over wine.

Qiao Mingyue was supported by her friend’s arm. Now that the shock had passed, the pain in her ankle became sharp and vivid.

“Xie Ci, thank you so much for just now. You not only saved me but also spoke up for me.” Her voice was still trembling slightly, filled with gratitude.

Xie Ci had very little screen time in Diving Abyss; his few scenes mostly revolved around the male lead, and he had almost no scenes filmed with her.

Qiao Mingyue was a top-tier senior who had been in the circle for years. Although she didn’t understand why Ji Xiuheng looked after Xie Ci so specially, since she could use Xie Ci to get close to Ji Xiuheng, she had warmly initiated a few conversations with him before, even if she didn’t really care about the youth himself.

But tonight, she suddenly understood why Ji Xiuheng, an established industry heavyweight, would look so differently at a newcomer like Xie Ci.

The pearl-grey suit reflected a soft, moist light, just like its owner.

Qiao Mingyue’s assistant arrived and carried the woman, whose ankle had already started to swell, away from the banquet hall.

Looking at Xie Ci, who was only wearing a shirt on top, Ji Xiuheng sent a message to Zhou Mo, who was waiting in the car outside.

Soon, Zhou Mo brought in a black suit jacket that was kept in the car.

The style of this suit was similar to the one Ji Xiuheng was wearing, with identical dark patterns on the cuffs.

Xie Ci slid his arms into the sleeves. The size difference between the two made the beautiful youth look like an exquisite doll wrapped in ill-fitting clothes.

But anyone who had witnessed the scene just now knew what kind of staggering explosive power was contained within this seemingly slender body.

Ji Xiuheng’s eyes were dark as he gazed at Xie Ci wearing his suit. He nodded with a light smile. “It’s a bit big. I’ll take you to order a spare suit for yourself when we have time.”

“Then I’ll have to pick carefully.” Xie Ci waved his overlong sleeves and winked at Ji Xiuheng.

His gaze was brilliant, his pupils exceptionally bright.

Shen Fang pulled Ming Yang down from the second floor to the first-floor hall at some point and was looking intently at Xie Ci.

Behind her, the still-clueless Ming Yang was full of doubt. When she reached Xie Ci, she instinctively scanned the beautiful youth from top to bottom.

“Your name is Xie Ci, right?”

Shen Fang’s eyes were full of smiles, her face showing complete satisfaction.

His aura was already outstanding from afar; she hadn’t expected his looks to be just as impressive up close.

He just looked quite young, with a hint of greenness between his brows; she wondered if he could pull off Yu Ya’s state after blackening.

Ji Xiuheng turned his face slightly and said in a low voice: “Xiao Xie, these two are Shen Fang and Ming Yang.”

A few strands of hair fell across his smooth forehead as Xie Ci smiled and spoke: “Teacher Shen, Teacher Ming, hello. I am Xie Ci, an actor from Galaxy Studio.”

Shen Fang didn’t beat around the bush and said directly: “Xiao Xie, your rescue move just now was very gentlemanly and very impressive.”

A hint of a test flashed in her eyes. “It reminded me of a TV drama I’m currently preparing to film. Would you be interested in coming for an audition?”

Ming Yang, beside her, flashed a look of confusion. She had been sitting on the second-floor sofa chatting and hadn’t seen what happened at the buffet on the first floor.

Hearing this, she began to carefully size up the young man her friend had invited. The more she looked, the brighter her eyes became. The lingering troubles in her heart were brushed aside slightly, and a thought similar to her friend’s began to sprout.

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