Chapter 56: Event

In the following week, the marketing teams of the first and second groups at Sningte were jointly preparing for a large product live-streaming event. The live-streaming event had spokesperson Xu Yan as the main guest, alongside some newly debuted boy group members and a few artists from Xu Yan’s agency as performance guests.

The venue was an event center outside, which not only invited many media friends but also a large crowd of fans.

The purpose of the event was to leverage the popularity and buzz surrounding Xu Yan and the artists to draw attention and increase exposure for Sningte’s products, targeting not just the fans of the artists, but also the general public interested in purchasing smart home products.

Two hours before the event began, Xu Yan appeared in the backstage makeup room.

Jiang Nai was there as well, coordinating the schedule with her manager. Xu Yan, sitting in front of the makeup mirror, glanced at her a few times. When Jiang Nai finished and stood up, Xu Yan called out to her.

“Miss Jiang.”

Xu Yan was still in makeup and it wasn’t convenient for her to get up, so Jiang Nai walked over. “What’s the matter? Is there a problem?”

Xu Yan smiled lightly. “No problem, I just wanted to greet you.”

Jiang Nai paused for a moment. “Alright. Miss Xu, if there’s anything you need later, feel free to let me know.”

“Mm.”

Xu Yan looked at her through the mirror. Perhaps because of the convenience of work, Jiang Nai’s outfit was quite simple—a white T-shirt, denim jeans, and flat white shoes. She wore light makeup, and her long hair was pinned back with a hairpin, leaving a few strands loose.

Even though Xu Yan had made it to the top of the entertainment industry, she couldn’t help but admit that Jiang Nai was very beautiful—soft, elegant, and with a simple outfit that looked particularly graceful.

“You’ve been running around. Do you want to sit down and take a break?” Xu Yan gestured to the seat next to her.

Jiang Nai replied, “Thank you, but no need.”

“Come on, sit for a bit. We haven’t seen each other in a while. Let’s chat.”

Jiang Nai felt there wasn’t much to talk about with Xu Yan since they weren’t very familiar outside of work. However, seeing the way Xu Yan seemed to have something on her mind, she sat down.

“What would you like to talk about, Miss Xu?”

“It’s just something I’m curious about,” Xu Yan lowered her voice a bit. “Are you and Mr. Li… getting a divorce?”

Jiang Nai froze for a moment. “What?”

Xu Yan explained, “Oh, I’ve known about your relationship with Mr. Li for a while. Remember the time you took me to his office?”

Back then, no one in the company knew about her and Li Qingji’s relationship, but surprisingly, Li Qingji had already told Xu Yan about it.

But why had he mentioned it back then…?

Jiang Nai paused for a few seconds, recalling how Xu Yan had insisted on finding Li Qingji. It dawned on her.

“Don’t worry, he told me back then that he was married, so I stopped having any thoughts about him.” Xu Yan was very frank, and since her staff was around, she didn’t shy away from the conversation.

“I’m just curious now. Are you really getting a divorce from Li Qingji?”

Jiang Nai remained calm. “Who told you that?”

Xu Yan noticed her expression and immediately understood. “I heard it from Jiang Yao. She said you had a fallout with your family and that you were going to divorce Li Qingji.”

Jiang Nai didn’t expect her gossip to have spread into the entertainment industry. “You know Jiang Yao?”

“Sometimes we run into each other at events. She said you were going to cut ties with your family and divorce Li Qingji… I figured she likes to exaggerate, so it might not be true. That’s why I wanted to ask you.”

Xu Yan wasn’t fully convinced by Jiang Yao’s words. However, after Jiang Yao said it that day, many people around them had taken it seriously.

At the party, there were so many people interested in Li Qingji.

“If Miss Xu really wants to know, why not just ask Li Qingji directly?” Jiang Nai smiled faintly. “I’m quite busy tonight, so I can’t continue sitting here talking about these things. You go ahead and finish your makeup, I’ll step out.”

Xu Yan was just about to apply fake eyelashes, fluttering her eyes when Jiang Nai stood up and was about to leave. Unexpectedly, the door to the makeup room was pushed open.

“Miss Jiang, this is the place.”

“I know,” Jiang Nai responded.

The staff walked in with a short-haired woman wearing a fitted little black dress, her makeup and hair done meticulously. When they saw each other, both of them paused for a moment.

Then, Jiang Nai calmly bypassed her without sparing a glance and started walking out. Jiang Yao furrowed her brows, glanced at her, and said, “Jiang Nai.”

Jiang Nai slightly paused her steps.

Jiang Yao crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re pretending you don’t see me?”

Jiang Nai turned her head, giving Jiang Yao a brief, indifferent look for a few seconds. “Are we close?”

“You—”

Before Jiang Yao could finish, Jiang Nai didn’t even wait for her to say another word and left without turning back. Jiang Yao’s words rolled in her throat but she had no chance to speak them, and she angrily walked into the room and sat down next to Xu Yan.

Xu Yan had watched the whole scene unfold and secretly laughed to herself, though on the surface, she feigned support for Jiang Yao. “Your sister really doesn’t give you face.”

Jiang Yao replied, “Stop. She’s not my sister anymore.”

Xu Yan smiled. “Not your sister? But when I told you that today’s event was at Siningte, you still hurried over to see her?”

Jiang Yao replied, “Exactly because she’s not my sister anymore that’s why I came to see. Hey, what was she doing here just now?”

Xu Yan realized that Jiang Yao was indeed just here to observe the situation between Jiang Nai and Li Qingji.

Xu Yan said, “She was working, her department is in charge of this event.”

Jiang Yao raised an eyebrow. “She needs to run around like that? Ha, I told you before, didn’t I? There’s definitely something going on between her and Li Qingji.”

Xu Yan slightly raised her eyebrows but didn’t comment on Jiang Nai’s previous work, which was just part of her role at Siningte. It seemed that Jiang Nai was here for more than just Li Qingji being the boss or for simple fun.

Jiang Yao’s expression showed a mix of satisfaction and an air of control. “Li Qingji is just like that, cold-hearted as can be, but if you all like him, well, now’s your chance.”

She hesitated for a moment before adding, “But I’m not sure if his family can accept someone from the entertainment industry. Hm… seems they can’t, they’re quite picky about family backgrounds.”

Xu Yan’s expression darkened, but not because she doubted whether Li Qingji’s family would accept the entertainment industry. It was because Jiang Yao had unknowingly conveyed disdain for her during that statement.

“By the way, has my seat been arranged?” Jiang Yao asked.

Xu Yan and Jiang Yao had a superficial relationship. She didn’t like her but was smart enough not to offend her.

“It’s been arranged, first row. I’ll have my assistant take you there later.”

“Alright.”

—

After leaving the makeup room, Jiang Nai went to find Yao Qi and the others.

“Has the product been checked?”

“Mm, everything’s ready.” Yao Qi glanced at Jiang Nai. “Jiang Nai, you don’t look too well. Are you tired?”

Jiang Nai hadn’t slept well for days and indeed felt exhausted, but she was used to this kind of state by now.

“I’m fine. The event is about to start, so let’s go over and check the venue first,” she replied.

Yao Qi sighed. “Alright, but once today’s over, you need to rest properly tonight.”

“Mm.”

Fans were starting to file into the venue, each holding their favorite star’s light stick and eagerly waiting. Naturally, Xu Yan had the most fans—her supporters were already chanting slogans, even though she hadn’t taken the stage yet. As the start time drew closer, media representatives, entertainment companies, and senior executives from Siningte also arrived.

“Yao Qi, the boss is here,” an intern hurriedly rushed in and informed Yao Qi.

Yao Qi immediately said, “Let’s go greet him.”

“Got it!” The intern replied.

Yao Qi turned to Jiang Nai, “You…”

“I’ll stay here and keep an eye on things. You go ahead.”

Yao Qi noticed Jiang Nai didn’t want to go and nodded. “Alright then.”

Soon, Yao Qi walked in with Li Qingji from the side entrance. The direction they were walking in meant they would pass by Jiang Nai’s spot. Thus, there was no way for Jiang Nai to avoid it. She turned her head and their gazes met.

It had been a week since Li Qingji had appeared at Siningte, so they hadn’t seen each other for a while. Their eyes met briefly in the busy corridor, then parted. Jiang Nai watched as he reached his seat. The senior executives who were already seated nearby stood up to greet him. She also noticed the faint, polite smile on his face, distant and detached.

She turned her gaze away, feeling a slight pang in her chest.

After all these days without contact, maybe he… had already made up his mind.

“Jiang Nai, General Manager Lin from the live-streaming platform suddenly arrived, and we didn’t reserve a seat for him…” Xu Xiao hurriedly approached and spoke to her. Before she could finish her sentence, she saw Jiang Nai stumble slightly. Xu Xiao immediately reached out and supported her arm. “Are you okay?”

Jiang Nai had been running on little sleep recently, and today had been particularly hectic, so her body felt off. She waved her hand dismissively. “I’m fine. You were saying General Manager Lin came? Set up another seat in the front row. Don’t let him sit in the back.”

“Alright, I’ll arrange it,” Xu Xiao replied. “But are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine, just a little tired.”

Not far away, Li Qingji’s gaze fell on the two of them. When his eyes touched the man’s hand that was supporting her arm, his expression subtly darkened. A moment later, as the two separated, he shifted his gaze elsewhere.

Jiang Yao had already sat down before Li Qingji entered, and her seat was very close to his. She had been paying attention to him ever since he walked in.  When she saw him and Jiang Nai encounter each other yet act as if they didn’t know each other, she quietly chuckled to herself. Indeed, Jiang Nai had lost both the lady and the soldier. 

She took out her phone and messaged Xu Yan: “When does it start? I want to see all the drama before I leave later.” 

Xu Yan, backstage: “What drama? Li Qingji and Jiang Nai?” 

“Yeah, these two have fallen apart faster than I expected.” 

… 

More than ten minutes later, the event officially began. 

Jiang Nai sat by the stage so she could see what was happening on stage. If any problems arose, she would be able to resolve them in time. But as she watched, she suddenly felt more uncomfortable. What started as a headache began to spread. 

As she noticed the figures of Xu Yan and the host on stage becoming blurry, Jiang Nai realized something was wrong. She stood up and walked toward the stairs at the side of the stage. Xu Xiao and Yao Qi were standing just below the stairs. Jiang Nai opened her mouth to tell them she was stepping out for a bit, and they should keep an eye on things. But before she could speak, everything went black. 

She had only taken one step down when she missed her footing and fell. 

Xu Xiao had noticed her leaving, so he was quick to react. Seeing her fall, he was alarmed, and quickly rushed forward, bending his knees and catching her before she hit the ground. 

The audience’s attention was mostly focused on Xu Yan on stage, so only a few staff members noticed what happened in the side area. 

“Jiang Nai? Jiang Nai!” 

Xu Xiao and Yao Qi were frantic, and several nearby staff members hurried to help. “What’s wrong? What happened?” 

“Call an ambulance!” 

“Okay, okay.” Xu Xiao snapped out of it and grabbed his phone, but just as he was about to dial, someone pushed past the surrounding staff and took Jiang Nai from his arms. 

It was Li Qingji. 

He picked her up swiftly and began walking toward the backstage exit. Xu Xiao and Yao Qi froze for a moment before quickly following behind. The audience wouldn’t notice the sudden departure of the boss, but the senior executives in the front row certainly did, as they kept an eye on every action of Li Qingji. 

So when he suddenly stood up, looking anxious, and rushed toward the side of the stage, everyone’s gaze followed him. 

Jiang Yao was no exception. 

Jiang Yao had been puzzled at first about his sudden departure but then saw him reach the side of the stage, bend down, and pick someone up. Her face stiffened, because she saw that the person he was carrying was Jiang Nai… 

What was Li Qingji doing?! 

Weren’t they at odds right now? 

Xu Yan, who was on stage, inadvertently glanced down at the scene and also noticed Li Qingji’s figure. 

Her gaze subtly followed his movements, and when she saw him carrying Jiang Nai out, she froze for two seconds. It wasn’t until the host called her name again that she snapped back to reality, put on a standard smile, and turned her attention back to the audience. 

“Well, the model we’re using at home is of course this one. It’s really…” 

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