Ye Lingchen took out his mobile phone and called home. “Mom, I suddenly received an invitation to the Spring Festival Gala. I’m afraid I can’t go back today.”
The sound of firecrackers could be heard from the other end of the line. The noise was raucous and the New Year enthusiasm was evident. Xu Zhen was obviously also busy.
Xu Zhen was still chatting and laughing with others, but was taken aback when she heard that and asked, “Spring Festival Gala? This is good news. You’ve received an invitation to the Spring Festival Gala?”
“Yeah,” Ye Lingchen answered softly. Although Xu Zhen pretended to be happy, Ye Lingchen could sense the disappointment in her voice.
“Okay, okay. My son is so amazing that he even received an invite to the Spring Festival Gala. If I tell everyone, God knows how many would be envious,” Xu Zhen smiled and said.
“I’ll try my best to go back tomorrow night,” Ye Lingchen promised, since the next day was already New Year’s Day.
“It’s fine. Your dad and I are fine. We might even see you on TV,” Xu Zhen said.
Ye Lingchen did not speak. He was the audience, and the possibility of being caught by the camera was too low.
“Okay, Son. The Spring Festival Gala is a big scene. You have to dress well and pay attention to your image. Do you understand?” Xu Zhen warned.
“Our boy called us?” Ye Jin’s voice was heard over the phone.
“Mm, our boy was invited to watch the Spring Festival Gala, so he can’t make it back tonight.”
“Oh, this little kid is incredible now, isn’t he?” Ye Jin responded faintly before pausing and saying, “It’s okay if he can’t come back. Just make sure that he takes good care of himself. ”
“Don’t worry, Dad.”
…
After hanging up, Ye Lingchen went straight to the Spring Festival Gala venue.
It was only a quarter past 10 in the morning, but the scene at the Spring Festival Gala was already crowded with people. Most of them surrounded the place, waiting to crowd over the oncoming stars, and screaming from time to time.
“Ah, it’s Liru! Our Goddess!”
“Wow, Brother Kang is here too!”
“Look over there, it’s the band Rise! Ah!! Look at me, look at me!”
“Well, I’ll be damned. Was Ah Qi invited too? Quite a huge lineup for this edition of the Spring Festival Gala.”
Fortunately, the fans were cordoned outside of the entrance to the red carpet, otherwise, they would have exploded and squeezed into it.
At that point, a group of girls in strange costumes ran down from a bus with wreaths and hula hoops in their hands. They swarmed toward the entrance and were clearly cheerleaders or dancers.
People came and went at the scene and the noise was endless.
Ye Lingchen held his invitation and sauntered to the entrance.
“Hey, it’s God Ye!”
“God Ye is coming to perform too?”
“Are you stupid? Is God Ye going to perform his basketball skills? He’s probably here as a guest.”
“WHOA, God Ye is so handsome!”
Amidst the sound of firecrackers and the noise of fans, Ye Lingchen set foot into the Spring Festival Gala.
However, he had barely taken two steps when a nanny van stopped at the door. The noise outside then began to increase suddenly and exponentially.
Ye Lingchen stopped.
“Wow, it’s Hyun-Min Kim! I’m looking at Hyun-Min Kim!”
“Take some pictures! Take some pictures! Ah!! I’m so happy!”
“He’s so handsome in person that I’m going to faint.”
“How is he handsome? I think God Ye is much more handsome than him.”
“What kind of taste do you have? God Ye is more handsome than him? This the funniest joke of the century.”
“Yeah. Blinded at such a young age. Let’s ignore him.”
…
Step, step, step!
A rush of footsteps was soon heard. Ye Lingchen saw a group of people walking in quickly from outside the door. All of them were in suits and the first two bodyguards cleared the way. The person coming from the middle wore sunglasses and the word ‘pretentiousness’ was practically written over his face. He had a look of disdain and walked languidly, almost like he was floating.
However, it was precisely that look which made fans even more obsessed. Screams came from all directions as they shouted ‘I love you’ madly.
As Hyun-Min Kim entered the scene, his nostrils were nearly turned up toward the sky. He did not even glance at the nearby Ye Lingchen and simply turned around to enter the backstage from a different route.
Ye Lingchen looked at the backstage pathway and frowned slightly.
There were two types of entrances: one was for the guests’ seats while the other was the pathway for backstage actors. Anyone who wanted to go backstage would definitely not be allowed to enter without a pass. After all, it was a serious matter and the guests had no authority.
What was he to do?
He did not go there to watch the show but to reclaim his dignity.
His eyes flashed and he thought of someone, but immediately took out his phone and called.
Toot-toot—
After two toots, the call was connected.
“CEO Ye, I’m surprised you’d actually call me,” Zhao Liangying was a little surprised. Her voice was not too high-pitched and she held her phone while walking to a more private location.
“Liangying, I remember you were one of the actors invited to the Spring Festival Gala, right?” Ye Lingchen asked.
He somehow remembered that Zhao Liangying posted on Weibo celebrating herself as one of the actors who would show their faces at the Spring Festival Gala. She did not have a special program, but was simply part of the chorus for ‘Unforgettable Night’. Still, that was already good enough.
“Mm, that’s right.” Zhao Liangying smiled.
Ye Lingchen said immediately, ” I have something to ask of you.”
“I knew it. Otherwise, why would you call me so suddenly? I thought you’d miss me,” Zhao Liangying snorted, then said, “What is it?”
Ye Lingchen said, “I want to enter backstage. You’re one of the actors, so can you help me get it in?”
“The live broadcast of the Spring Festival Gala is tonight. The backstage is a strict priority zone.” Zhao Liangying was slightly taken aback. “You really want to go in?”
“Mm. I insist.”
“Where are you?”
“Near the entrance.”
“Wait for me.”
In just a few minutes, a charming figure appeared at the entrance of the pathway and trotted toward him.
She went straight to Ye Lingchen, then pulled Ye Lingchen to a corner.
“Take this and go in with me.” Zhao Liangying looked around furtively and quietly handed Ye Lingchen some credentials.
“Where did this come from?” Ye Lingchen asked curiously.
“I borrowed it from a close girlfriend.” Zhao Liangying smiled slightly. “Just follow me in a bit. Don’t be nervous, and don’t let the cat out of the bag.”
While talking, Zhao Liangying also pulled a bit of Ye Lingchen’s hair and tried to block his face. “You’re a celebrity. If security recognizes you, they won’t let you in.”
Ye Lingchen nodded. Having credentials made things easy and smoothened the entrance process.
After that, they put on a solemn expression, raised their legs, and walked toward the entrance together. They managed to sneak in without being caught.
“Thanks,” Ye Lingchen said. Zhao Liangying had violated the rules by doing what she did and took a great risk.
“You’re heartless,” Zhao Liangying snorted and said angrily, “You only remember me when you need me. You promised to massage me last time, but you forgot about it with the turn of the head.”
Ye Lingchen touched his nose. He made that promise casually during his participation in Life’s Struggles and did not expect Zhao Liangying to remember it so clearly.
“I’ll make it up to you when I have the chance,” Ye Lingchen answered directly.
“Hehe, that’s more like it.”
