The terrace was spacious under a sky with a bright moon and few stars. From behind, the elegant notes of piano and orchestral music wafted through the air, bringing an unconscious sense of peace and tranquility to the heart.

The Shawan Club was a large, renovated villa, so it didn't look overly big. It was only four stories tall but still large enough to accommodate over a hundred people. Holding a glass of wine, Chen Fei stepped out of the grand hall where the banquet was being held. He squinted, admiring the golden glow of the distant night, the dancing tree shadows, and the beautiful, multicolored lights.

However, before he could enjoy the moment for long, a sweet, coquettish voice sounded from behind him.

"Young Master Chen, why are you hiding out here all alone? Could it be that none of the socialites and noblewomen inside meet your standards?" The speaker was Xiaao Ming's companion, Gu Feishuang, a rising film star from the Inland.

"Ah, well… it was a bit stuffy inside. I thought some fresh air would be nice." Chen Fei felt a bit awkward, a strange look crossing his face as he suddenly realized he had forgotten her name.

"Young Master Chen, you haven't forgotten my name already, have you?" Gu Feishuang chided from his side.

Honestly! I'm a fairly well-known celebrity in the country, aren't I? Is it because I'm not beautiful? Then why do all those other men get that sick look in their eyes the moment they see me, like they want to glue their eyeballs to me? Seriously.

"No, of course not, how could I… Erm, alright, I admit my memory is a bit poor. Look at this pig brain of mine. My apologies," Chen Fei initially wanted to bluff his way through it, but when he saw her reproachful expression, which all but dared him to say her name, he immediately folded, his voice growing quieter with embarrassment.

"It seems your heart is completely set on Shi Yin now, Young Master Chen, so you've forgotten all about us in the supporting cast. Hehe, I'm just teasing you. Let me reintroduce myself. I'm Gu Feishuang. Don't forget me again next time, Young Master Chen," Gu Feishuang said playfully. Seeing his embarrassment grow, she graciously let the topic drop, her big, watery eyes twinkling.

"I won't forget. I definitely won't forget this time." Chen Fei gave a wry smile and rubbed his nose. "Where are Slickhead and the others? Why aren't you with them? Also, Miss Gu, please stop calling me Young Master Chen. I'm not used to it. Just call me Chen Fei."

"Slickhead? You mean Young Master Hua and his group? They went upstairs to discuss business. I found it boring, so I didn't tag along," Gu Feishuang explained, just as a man and a woman approached from behind.

Chen Fei had no impression of the man. He looked plain, with listless eyes and a short, stout figure that gave him the appearance of a squat winter melon. Despite this, his face wore an expression of distinct arrogance, as if he looked down on everyone. The woman, however, seemed familiar, even to Chen Fei, who rarely paid attention to big-screen movies or television shows. After a moment, he recalled that she must be some kind of celebrity, as he was certain he had seen her face in several decent TV dramas.

"Sister Wan, hello," Gu Feishuang clearly recognized the woman. Though her brow furrowed imperceptibly, she quickly put on a warm expression and greeted her. The two of them were from the same entertainment company. The other woman, Sister Wan, clearly had more seniority, a firmer foundation in the industry, and more acting roles. Therefore, Gu Feishuang didn't dare show any lack in her attitude, lest she give someone a reason to criticize her, so she appeared exceedingly polite.

"So it's you, Fei Shuang." The woman known as Sister Wan was clearly not expecting to run into an acquaintance here. She paused in surprise, then, as if remembering something, a flash of displeasure and coldness crossed her narrow eyes. "It seems you're quite prepared," she said coolly. "You've already gathered all the intel? Planning to compete with me?"

Her questioning tone left both Chen Fei and the arrogant man looking baffled. Gu Feishuang's expression, however, changed slightly. She forced a smile and said, "No, Sister Wan, I…"

"Alright, that's enough. Young Master Zheng, let's go somewhere else," Sister Wan cut her off unceremoniously. Turning to the short, stout man, her demeanor changed in an instant as she began to coo at him.

"Zhang Wan, isn't she from your company—" Young Master Zheng broke off mid-sentence. His eyes, however, were fixed on Gu Feishuang with a lecherous gaze, clearly showing his interest. "Hello, let me introduce myself. My name is Zheng Zeyu. And you two are?"

"Young Master Zheng, you're so naughty. Have you forgotten an old thing like me now that you've seen a great beauty like Fei Shuang?" Zhang Wan complained, her narrow eyes shooting a look at Gu Feishuang that was both a warning and a threat. The message couldn't have been clearer: Young Master Zheng was her man, and Gu Feishuang had better not get any ideas.

"Young Master Zheng, hello…" Gu Feishuang obviously recognized him and seemed somewhat on edge. Before coming, she had done her homework on the upper-class circles of Tongzhou City. She knew he was the son of the head of the city's cultural bureau. She also understood now why Zhang Wan was shooting her warning glances; she was telling Gu Feishuang to know her place.

"Not at all. I just saw that she's your junior and one of us, so I wanted to get to know her, right?" Zheng Zeyu said, laughing nonchalantly as he sensed the dissatisfaction and jealousy from the woman in his arms. He then added proudly, "But yes, my father is the director of the city's cultural bureau. And this friend here looks a bit unfamiliar. You're not from Tongzhou, are you?"

"No, I'm not from Tongzhou," Chen Fei replied placidly. He truly had no interest in these people and couldn't be bothered with small talk.

"No wonder. Feishuang, if your friend were from Tongzhou, Young Master Zheng would definitely know him. Right, Young Master Zheng?" Zhang Wan, feeling jealous and resentful of Gu Feishuang, shot a barbed and disdainful remark at Chen Fei.

"Of course. I can't speak for everyone, but when it comes to the circles in Jiangnan Province, I, Zheng Zeyu, know most of them." Seeing Chen Fei answer him so blandly without any hint of respect or flattery, Zheng Zeyu was instantly annoyed. The implication was clear: Chen Fei was of too low a status to be considered part of their circle.

A circle represented status. In this world, connections and "face" were often everything. If you had them, knew many people, and were widely respected, your own status would naturally rise, and people wouldn't dare to look down on you.

"Young Master Zheng, my friend came with Young Master Xiao," Gu Feishuang blurted out, hearing the disdain for Chen Fei. She suddenly recalled a reminder Xiaao Ming had given her and quickly spoke up. At the same time, she nervously peeked at Chen Fei, afraid he would get angry for being mocked on her account.

"Young Master Xiao? Xiaao Ming? He barely counts as someone in the circle…" Zheng Zeyu was slightly taken aback, then arrogantly tilted his head back and continued. Although the Xiaao Family had some name recognition and influence in Jiangnan Province, Zheng Zeyu was confident he was a cut above them, hence his superior attitude and judgmental tone.

"Heh." Chen Fei just chuckled, not wanting to waste any more words on such a self-satisfied fool. He gave a nod, then took Gu Feishuang's hand and turned to leave.

"You…" Seeing Chen Fei walk away so dismissively without another word, not even a polite farewell, and taking Gu Feishuang with him, Zheng Zeyu became extremely irritated, his face turning ugly.

"Tch. What an act. Worthless," he muttered. But as a man of status, it wouldn't be appropriate to cause a scene with some nobody in such a public place. After cursing under his breath, he said nothing more.

On the other side, Chen Fei led Gu Feishuang back into the hall and found a relatively quiet corner.

"Young Master Chen, that Zheng Zeyu's father is the head of the city's cultural bureau. I heard he also has connections within the national broadcasting authority. He has a vast network and is very powerful in this city," Gu Feishuang said, clearly still worried about the earlier incident.

"Don't worry, it's fine. Oh, right, what was that woman talking about earlier? Something about competing? Is there a conflict between you two?" Chen Fei asked, suddenly curious.

Gu Feishuang was startled by the question, then replied with some frustration, "Well, recently, several enterprises in Tongzhou City decided to partner with Huashu Media to invest in and produce a big-budget film. The male and female leads have already been chosen. They're Huashu Media's top male and female stars, famous both at home and abroad."

"As for the remaining role of the second female lead, Sister Wan really wants it, and I was hoping I might have a chance to compete for it, so…"

"So you and she are both from Huashu Media," Chen Fei remarked, a little surprised.

Huashu Media was a famous film and media company in the country. It boasted several superstars active on the big screen and in the music world and even had dealings with many renowned international enterprises. Its influence was vast. Even Chen Fei, who rarely paid attention to the entertainment industry, knew a little about it, so his surprise was understandable.

"Yes." Gu Feishuang nodded with a smile and then began chatting cheerfully with Chen Fei about other things.

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