A few days later, the 31st Shanghai Television Festival officially kicked off.
The main venue for the television festival was selected at the Riverside Art Center. Across the river's cool breeze and sparkling ripples on the water surface, the urban prosperity of Lujiazui was right before their eyes.
The red carpet stretched from the square in front of the venue's main entrance all the way to the river embankment, measuring over fifty meters long. The vibrant carpet surface was lightly lifted by the gentle breeze coming from the river, only to be promptly pressed down again by the staff.
On the red carpet, spotlights from both sides illuminated the surroundings brightly. Countless media reporters crowded behind the barriers, holding their cameras and frantically photographing the artists on the red carpet.
The constantly flashing lights shone on the artists' faces, but their smiles never wavered. Dressed in magnificent and solemn attire, they still smiled and waved, doing their utmost to showcase their best postures to the cameras below.
Another black car slowly pulled up to the starting point of the red carpet.
All cameras instantly focused on it.
The car door opened, and a young man wearing a sharply tailored suit stepped out first.
His hair was styled in a slicked-back look, revealing his smooth forehead. The entire person appeared both handsome and filled with mature male charm.
The cameras faithfully recorded everything, yet the young man didn't even blink. His gaze calmly swept over those densely packed cameras without showing any discomfort.
He stepped out of the car, then bent down, gracefully offering his arm to help another woman step out of the vehicle.
As a female star, the woman's attire was more fashionable and upscale. A fiery red dress and dazzling branded gemstones glittering on her chest made her beauty appear aggressive and arrogant, like a thorny rose unabashedly displaying her radiance and haughtiness under the spotlight.
They were the two main actors from the "Hidden Star Shine" production team, Xiao He and Yi Man'er.
Yi Man'er, holding onto Xiao He's arm, walked to the front of the red carpet, smiling and waving to the cameras.
On their other side, the male lead of "Hidden Star Shine," Zhang Mo, stepped down.
As a middle-aged actor, his attire was particularly understated. Like Xiao He, he wore a three-piece suit, but with glasses added to his face, giving him a more scholarly demeanor.
Walking ahead of them were the drama's director Wen Hongyuan and screenwriter Tan Yuan.
As the "Hidden Star Shine" production team made their official appearance, the surrounding spotlights flashed even more frantically.
The group walked along the red carpet and arrived before a massive signature backdrop.
After briefly exchanging words with the host, they each took markers and left their signatures on the backdrop.
To be honest, this segment had a somewhat awkward feeling reminiscent of tourist groups leaving their mark. Xiao He politely returned the pen to the staff member nearby, then stood together with the production team members, smiling for group photos with the large screen cameras in front.
When this segment was finally completed, they could officially enter the main venue.
As a female star, the woman's attire was more fashionable and upscale. A fiery red dress and dazzling branded gemstones glittering on her chest made her beauty appear aggressive and arrogant, like a thorny rose unabashedly displaying her radiance and haughtiness under the spotlight.
Xiao He even noticed a small open window nearby where a chef was frying fresh steaks, then skillfully placing the aromatic steaks on plates beside him and pushing them to the window.
Soon, a male artist came over and took away a plate.
Looking at another area, there were even freshly baked pastries and steamed buns, with steamers placed on the table still emitting hot steam. Xiao He sniffed the air and moved closer, even spotting volcanic stone grilled sausages.
These small sausages seemed quite popular, with only one left. Now a chef in white was adding new sausages, with several artists standing nearby holding plates waiting.
This scene somehow gave Xiao He a feeling of transitioning from a high-end club to a buffet restaurant.
The imagined scene of golden splendor, clinking glasses, and fragrant elegance was completely shattered by these food offerings before him. That feeling of unease from entering the world of fame and fortune completely disappeared.
So this place actually wasn't much different from a buffet restaurant. Everyone was ordinary people who also loved eating grilled sausages, rather than pretentiously holding champagne flutes and toasting cheerfully with various distinguished guests passing by.
As a middle-aged actor, his attire was particularly understated. Like Xiao He, he wore a three-piece suit, but with glasses added to his face, giving him a more scholarly demeanor.
Yi Man'er nudged Xiao He with her elbow, her gaze firmly fixed on the desserts over there: "See that? The pink pastry in the second row over there."
Xiao He's eyes instinctively followed: "Oh, I see it. What about it?"
Yi Man'er cleared her throat lightly: "The pastry shop collaborating with the organizers is really delicious."
Xiao He immediately understood: "I'll go get some for you."
Yi Man'er's expression showed some internal conflict, finally saying "reluctantly": "Since you want to invite me to eat, then take just a little. I'm dieting—remember, you're the one making me eat."
Xiao He suppressed a laugh: "Okay, I'll take the blame for you."
No wonder many agents gave their artists so many reminders before entering—they were probably worried their artists would go all out eating here.
Looking at those several artists continuously stuffing food into their mouths, Xiao He somehow sensed a "starving ghosts pouncing on food" vibe.
The artist profession indeed earned good money, but the requirements for figure management were really extremely strict. The saying about looking ten times heavier on camera wasn't just empty words, especially for female artists, where figure management reached demanding levels.
Xiao He only dared to take two pastries for Yi Man'er.
"Thank you."
Yi Man'er picked up one piece and placed it in her mouth, her demeanor elegant and composed, yet her speed wasn't slow at all. In the blink of an eye, she had finished both pastries on the plate.
Looking at her face again, no food residue remained, not even her lipstick had diminished, still maintaining flawless makeup.
Xiao He was amazed.
Was this the professional competence of female artists?
"You should eat something too?"
Yi Man'er reminded Xiao He.
"There's still over an hour until the awards ceremony. After everyone finishes walking the red carpet, we'll move to the main hall. The awards ceremony itself will take nearly two hours. If you don't eat something in advance, you'll definitely get hungry tonight."
Xiao He scanned the venue, then nodded: "Alright."
However, Xiao He didn't dare eat too much either, just taking a steak to simply fill his stomach.
There weren't many familiar faces at this event, since basically only nominated award-winning production teams attended. Most actors Xiao He knew well weren't present this time, so after eating, Xiao He didn't wander around aimlessly but followed Yi Man'er to sit and wait in the nearby rest area.
Although Xiao He had no intention of socializing extensively, others didn't share this perspective.
After sitting for just a while, people gradually came to chat with Xiao He.
There were actors he'd met a few times before, and others he'd never spoken with. Following Liu Rulan's advice, Xiao He engaged in very friendly interactions with each of them.
After about half an hour, Xiao He felt somewhat tired from sitting. He notified Yi Man'er, stood up, and went to the balcony outside the main hall to get some fresh air.
But just after stepping out, Xiao He immediately regretted it.
Such strong cigarette smoke.
No wonder hardly anyone was outside.
Xiao He prepared to return the way he came, but heard someone call out: "Xiao He!"
Xiao He stopped walking, looking suspiciously toward the corner of the balcony where a man stood alone smoking.
The man wore a high-end custom suit. While smoking, he inadvertently revealed a wristwatch worth millions on his wrist, with one finger also wearing a gemstone ring the size of a pigeon egg. His phoenix eyes were filled with arrogance and disdain, and when looking at people, he naturally carried a scrutinizing air of someone in a superior position, making others inexplicably feel inferior—something that made Xiao He very uncomfortable.
Xiao He had already recognized who this person was.
—Qin Yuezhang!
Truly "enemies always cross paths."
Xiao He's eyes flickered, and he proactively walked over, wearing a reserved smile: "Hello, Mr. Qin."
Qin Yuezhang held a cigarette in one hand, leaning with the other on the nearby carved railing. His gaze swept over Xiao He up and down as he leisurely exhaled cigarette smoke, saying sarcastically: "So you do know who I am."
Xiao He mentally rolled his eyes.
Damn, I hate these pretentious types the most.