CH 69

Shen Xingsui didn’t hear it very clearly.

No, or he heard clearly, but looked sideways at Fu Jinxiao in disbelief. But Fu Jinxiao didn’t see this gesture, and still with a smile on his face, continued chatting happily with other celebrities. 

A staff member came over and said, “Mr. Fu, you are coming soon, please prepare.”

Fu Jinxiao nodded in response.

He looked down at Shen Xingsui and said, “Don’t be nervous when you’re on stage. You have stage experience, treat this as an ordinary performance. Even if you make a mistake, you can’t stop, understand?”

He nodded seriously. 

Only then did Fu Jinxiao come on stage with satisfaction.

When he came on stage, Shen Xingsui was behind, and he could clearly hear some deafening cheers coming from the stage. The applause from the audience was so loud that everyone behind the stage could hear it clearly. This was the popularity of the nationally-known Film King.

The sound of music came from the stage, and the dancers began to sway their bodies to the rhythm. 

Actor Fu’s deep and elegant singing voice came. He sang a duet with a very famous actress. The two people’s voices were well-matched and melodious, like a spring breeze. Fu Jinxiao has been a singer for many years and has a solid foundation. Since he was also an actor, he was exceptionally good at infusing emotions to his performance. His movement was restrained yet proper, making him the center of attention despite the huge stage. 

Teacher Cai came from behind and said, “Do you think he is very eye-catching and popular?”

Shen Xingsui regained his senses and saw Teacher Cai standing next to him. Although he was a little shy, he still nodded.

Teacher Cai said with a smile, “But to tell you the truth, you are the first person he brought out to introduce to us in years. At other times, even if you are a newcomer in his company, he still wouldn’t bring you. He might be very popular, but he is always alone. I think it’s by his own choice.” 

Shen Xingsui was a little lost listening to Teacher Cai’s words.

He felt ashamed in his heart. Perhaps Teacher Cai felt that he was special to Fu Jinxiao, but only he knew that he was not. It was only because of the Shen family’s relationship, and only because of his mother’s instructions, that Teacher Fu would take more care of him. If these things were removed, maybe he was just a passerby to Fu Jinxiao.

Teacher Cai didn’t know what he was thinking. She only continued to say in a soft tone,  “Suisui, I’m very glad to meet you today, and I’m happy for him too.”

Shen Xingsui was taken aback for a moment.

“Don’t think of him as this all-powerful man.” Teacher Cai patted him on the shoulder and said, “That man has looked glamorous for so many years, but it’s actually not easy to reach there.”

Shen Xingsui could detect an undertone of sadness from Teacher Cai’s words. 

Just after they finished chatting, a staff member called him to make preparations, so he calmed down and prepared to go on stage. In fact, he really didn’t have any scenes or shots in this scene. It was basically a background board.

The moment he took the stage, he saw rows of auditoriums below. All seats were filled, and countless cameras were facing the stage. This was the biggest stage he had ever been on, and he was shocked by the sense of oppression.

There was thunderous applause.

The spotlights were shining, the background screen started playing. The gorgeous screen and the beautiful choreography of the whole track were all dizzying.

Only then did Shen Xingsui feel more like a frog in a well. Teacher Cai said that he could stay by Fu Jinxiao’s side, but he was just an unknown person. He had never seen the scenery Fu Jinxiao had seen before. In terms of status or rank, he wasn’t worthy to stand beside Fu Jinxiao. 

The sound of the piano flew out from his fingertips, echoing with the music on the stage.

The audience were also intoxicated by the beautiful singing and dancing. Because it was a live broadcast, some netizens gradually discovered something:

[Xiao gege who plays piano at the back looks familiar, no?]

[It sounds good.]

[Yeah, it gives me a familiar feeling.]

Maybe the director noticed the trend of the barrage, so he gave a shot of the pianist. It was a short, not-so-clear shot of Shen Xingsui’s side profile. Under the bright lights, a young man with a straight posture played the piano elegantly. His fair and delicate face, covered with shadows, still gave people a glimpse of a very handsome young man. 

[Mom, he looks so good.]

[Who is this?]

Netizens didn’t realize his identity even until the end of the stage. By then, Shen Xingsui had already walked over to the backstage for the curtain call. Finally, someone found who he was. 

[It’s actually Suisui!]

[I like him for his talent at first, and treat him like my own son. But now… I suddenly have other ideas~]

[Hahaha, this wave is a deterioration of family affection.]

[Our baby actually appeared at the Spring Festival Gala, so low-key.]

Although the live audience didn’t know who he was, his talent was recognized, so he was applauded with a lot of praise. And as for the Internet netizens, their discussion has only evolved into talking about how he was on the rise despite not debuting through the “Starlight” survival show. In fact, his personal resources were actually better than the idol group itself. This development was indeed promising! 

Shen Xingsui stepped off the stage. It was already very late at this time, close to 11 o’clock in the evening.

At backstage, many artists that had finished their performances were starting to pack up their things and prepare to go home. Before going back, many people were discussing one thing: 

“Did you get his lapel flower?” 

“No…”

“Wait, did Mr. Fu’s already given out his?”

”Nope, he still has them. I really hope I can get it.”

Shen Xingsui was dumbfounded when he heard that. But his line of questioning regarding the context of the conversation was derailed by Shen Xingchen, who came over the moment his performance ended. As his older brother, the moment he saw Shen Xingsui with a dumb gaping mouth, it was his solemn duty to photograph it. After that, he finally asked, “Why are you so stunned?”

Shen Xingsui whispered, “Why is everyone talking about receiving flowers, what is it?”

Shen Xingchen knew a lot better than him, so he explained, “Oh, you don’t know? So, it started as a joke that turned into a myth of sorts. It is said that a couple joked at night and gave each other their lapel flower, and it turned out they really got married in the end. So, some other people tested it out and found success with their love story as well. In the end, it becomes an unwritten backstage custom or sorts. If you exchange a lapel flower during the Spring Festival Gala from someone, you will get married to them one day.” 

Shen Xingsui was shocked!

There were still people talking about this rumor in the background, and Shen Xingsui was a little confused when he heard it.

Shen Xingchen joked, “Why, do you have someone you want to give away?”

Shen Xingsui retorted with a blushing face, “Oh, no, don’t talk nonsense!”

Shen Xingchen looked smug. It’s as if he knew that Shen Xingsui was lying. “Hey, hey, hey. No need to lie to your gege~ I know what’s in your mind!” 

Shen Xingsui glared at him with puffed-up cheeks.

But after that, he felt heavy in his heart. He knew it wasn’t his business to know who would receive Fu Jinxiao’s lapel flower. But he couldn’t help but feel bitter when thinking of that. 

Out of nowhere, a woman popped up to his side. She was a new celebrity who just performed on the same stage as him. She seemed to be a singer too, but Shen Xingsui couldn’t remember her name. He asked, “Hello, is something the matter?” 

The female celebrity hesitated and said, “Hi Suisui.”

Shen Xingsui shook hands with her.

“That…” The female star gave him a shy look, and finally said, “Can I exchange lapel flowers with you?”

“?” Shen Xingsui didn’t know what to do. 

He was still thinking about Fu Jinxiao’s flower just now. He never expected that someone would actually want his flower! 

Shen Xingchen saw this, and decided not to interfere. He directly ignored his younger brother’s call for help, and dipped off somewhere else. 

The female star still looked at Shen Xingsui, and said softly, “Is that okay?”

“That, that…” Shen Xingsui really couldn’t deal with girls, so he stammered a little, “What are you doing with the flowers? Didn’t we just meet?” 

The female star didn’t expect the young master of the Shen family to be such a simple child. She snickered inside her heart, but outside, she still looked very sincere, “Isn’t it okay to fall in love at first sight and think you are the person I like?”

“!!” 

Shen Xingsui never thought that someone could be so straightforward!

Seeing the female star looking at him with a sweet smile, Shen Xingsui almost wanted to run away, he said, “I’m sorry, it’s not that I don’t want to give it to you, it’s because I have someone else I like.”

The female star was taken aback. Then, she noticed that Shen Xingsui was about to leave, so she quickly grabbed him, “Hey, Suisui, you don’t have to make up such an excuse to refuse me, you know?”

Shen Xingsui became more nervous when his hands were held back. The lapel flower accidentally fell off his chest. Just as Shen Xingsui was about to pick it up, a low and elegant voice came from behind. Although it seemed to be perfectly polite, it had a chilling undertone, “Hello, Teacher Shen.” 

Shen Xingsui was shocked, then turned around.

Fu Jinxiao stood not far away and looked at him, with a hypocritical and kind smile on his face, “Ah, and to think I was wondering where did Teacher Shen go… I couldn’t guess that he was chasing girls instead.” 

“….”

‘What are you talking about, Teacher Fu!’

Shen Xingsui felt indignant, so he quickly refuted, “Stop joking, I am not!”

Fu Jinxiao raised his eyebrows noncommittally, he walked over, picked up the lapel flower on the ground, and looked at both of them. He scanned Shen Xingsui’s body around and smiled, “Did I bother the two of you?”

Shen Xingsui saw his lapel flower in Fu Jinxiao’s hands, he didn’t know whether he was happy or sad. But, he honestly answered, “No. “

The female celebrity hasn’t given up yet, “Mr. Fu, I was chatting with Suisui.” 

Fu Jinxiao’s gaze swept across her hand – which was holding Shen Xingsui’s arm, and his eyes dimmed.

In fact, he knew that Shen Xingsui wasn’t the type to do such a thing here. But he couldn’t help to feel the sourness when he saw someone flirting with him. He was very unhappy. 

He wanted to vent it out, but he knew that he couldn’t do that straightforwardly, lest he scared Suisui off. But still, the person who made him unhappy must feel his sourness too. 

And so, that’s why the nationally-renowned Best Actor Fu Jinxiao glanced at the small-time female star with a heart full of vinegar. 

The female star instantly felt like she was on the edge. It was rumored in the industry that Actor Fu was approachable, never played big names, and was very kind to juniors, but why did she feel so much pressure?

Fu Jinxiao smiled at her. The well-dressed actor exuded a mature charm, and he said, “Wang Chuyan, isn’t it? It’s a good name.” 

The female star suddenly blushed and her heart beat when she saw that charming smile.

“Are you here to get his flowers?” Fu Jinxiao said slowly, “If he doesn’t give them, how about taking mine?” 

Both Wang Chuyan and Shen Xingsui were stunned speechless. 

One was in sheer ecstasy, while the other one was very sad.  The reactions of the two were diametrically opposed.

Wang Chuyan hardly hesitated at all. She glanced at Fu Jinxiao shyly and timidly, and suddenly said to Shen Xingsui, “Suisui, although I do feel something for you… I’m sorry! I chose Teacher Fu!”

Shen Xingsui, in his heart: ‘… You don’t have to apologize. I understand, sadly.’ 

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