The Award-Winning Actress’s Exclusive Favor - Chapter 3

As the largest hotel in Haicheng, the Imperial Court Hotel attracted a steady stream of guests thanks to its location near the sea.

However, this was the first time since its establishment that it had been chosen to host events connected to the film festival, so the hotel had spared no effort in preparing.

This year’s festival was being held by the seaside. Winter had only just ended, and the early spring air still carried a faint chill. Combined with recent policy changes, the number of attendees was especially high.

After the awards ceremony, a banquet would be held inside the hotel. By then, prominent figures from all over the country would gather there, including people from both political and business circles.

Well-known stars who appeared regularly on television, as well as the hottest celebrities who had dominated the entertainment industry over the past two years, would never miss an event like this.

To prevent chaos inside the hotel, no new guests were being accepted that day apart from familiar regulars, and all reporters were kept outside.

As a result, the hotel entrance had effectively become a second red carpet.

When the stars returned from the seaside venue and crossed the carpet, many would pause briefly to give reporters and fans a chance to take pictures.

Some lesser-known celebrities even gathered in groups of two or three near the entrance, chatting in hopes of stealing a little more exposure.

Those with even a modest amount of fame would stop for only a moment before immediately heading inside. Lingering too long would make them seem beneath their status.

Among them, however, Xiao Qi stood out conspicuously.

She was currently one of the biggest stars in China. For several years in a row, she had topped the list of women people most wanted to hug, and she had several acclaimed works to her name.

There had even been multiple occasions when promotional events had to be canceled because too many fans showed up.

She was the dream woman of countless people across the country and an idol admired by many more.

At only twenty-six years old, she had won Best Actress two years in a row. At today’s film festival, she had claimed her third major Best Actress award, making her one of the rare grand-slam actresses in the industry.

Despite her young age, she had already achieved heights that countless people in the entertainment world could only look up to.

Naturally, she had no reason to linger on the red carpet.

Yet after returning from the awards ceremony by the sea, she had stopped in the hotel lobby and remained standing there, as though waiting for someone.

Although everyone was confused, none of the cameras or video lenses were willing to move away from her.

Xiao Qi was widely recognized as one of the entertainment industry’s most breathtaking beauties. Whether she moved or remained still, every moment looked like a painting.

The livestream comments continued flashing across the screen.

[My wife is absolutely gorgeous! (^▽^)]

[Even standing still is an art form. o(╥﹏╥)o]

[Please, look this way!~]

Amid all the excitement, a tall woman suddenly walked up to Xiao Qi and abruptly called out,

“Wife.”

The newcomer was dressed simply.

She wore a faded denim jacket over a plain white T-shirt, khaki cargo trousers, and white sneakers. Her outfit looked relaxed and completely unrestricted. With her straight shoulders and clean, refreshing appearance, she seemed entirely out of place at the formal evening banquet.

It was Wei Xia.

The previously noisy scene abruptly fell silent.

Even the livestream comments seemed to freeze.

Wei Xia failed to notice.

She blinked at Xiao Qi and asked, “Miss, could you do me a favor?”

In truth, Wei Xia had prepared a backup plan before coming.

Jiang Yiran wasn’t a completely terrible manager. She had told Wei Xia that, if she truly couldn’t escape, she could pretend to already have a partner.

Lin Jiahui had one firm boundary—she didn’t touch people who were already in relationships.

Wei Xia hadn’t originally planned to do this.

But when she saw Xiao Qi, coupled with Lin Jiahui approaching behind her, everything had somehow pushed her into taking this step.

Something seemed to surge within Xiao Qi’s eyes, only to be hidden deeply away.

She merely looked at Wei Xia in silence.

Under that unwavering gaze, Wei Xia awkwardly touched her earlobe and asked quietly, “You don’t want to? Sorry to bother you, then.”

Xiao Qi let out a soft laugh.

She lowered her eyes, concealing every emotion within them, before slowly shifting her gaze toward the hotel entrance.

Wei Xia instinctively followed her line of sight.

Then she froze.

Outside the Imperial Court Hotel was a sloping driveway that raised the hotel entrance and portico slightly above the courtyard.

From the corridor outside the private dining room, it had been impossible to see what was happening in the courtyard.

And because of that inexplicable feeling earlier, Wei Xia’s entire attention had been fixed on Xiao Qi. She had completely forgotten to pay attention to her surroundings.

When she had arrived for the drinking engagement, there hadn’t been this many reporters.

She had seen the hotel staff arranging things, but since it hadn’t concerned her, she hadn’t paid much attention.

Yet after drinking several glasses of baijiu and walking out of the private room, the place had somehow transformed into a concert venue.

From where she stood, she could see a vast, dark crowd filling the plaza in front of the hotel.

There were reporters equipped with every kind of camera, tightly packed groups of fans, and even several handsome men and beautiful women still lingering on the red carpet.

Every single person was staring at her in shock.

At that moment, the thin veil that had seemed to obscure everything with a sense of destiny suddenly shattered.

The surrounding noise rushed back all at once.

The distant environment was violently pulled into focus, and the unexpected reality left Wei Xia completely rigid.

Click.

No one knew who pressed the shutter first.

Then one click followed another.

Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click…

The sounds rose and fell endlessly.

Wei Xia: “…”

Jiang Yiran, who had watched the entire scene after following them out of the private room, had only one thought.

I’m finished!!!

How could one person cause this enormous a disaster?!

Even amnesia shouldn’t work like this!

That was Xiao Qi, the most popular female celebrity in the entire country!

And Wei Xia claimed she didn’t recognize her?

Amnesia or not, she wasn’t allowed to forget someone like that!

At this moment, Jiang Yiran truly wanted to die.

Wei Xia licked her lips and lowered her gaze toward Xiao Qi.

Xiao Qi had already turned her attention back to her. A teasing smile lingered on her face, as though asking, How exactly would you like me to help?

Wei Xia said stiffly, “I’m sorry. I’ll clarify everything right now.”

Although she had amnesia, she wasn’t stupid.

She had only wanted to find a woman she liked the look of and ask for help. By now, she understood that she had accidentally chosen someone from the entertainment industry—and judging by the reaction around them, someone extremely famous.

“Wait.”

Xiao Qi reached out and caught Wei Xia by the sleeve.

In a soft voice, she said, “It’s already too late to clarify.”

As if to reinforce her words, the ceaseless camera shutters continued, followed by a sudden eruption of arguments and shouting.

Everything around them made it obvious that the situation was spiraling out of control.

Wei Xia paused, then realized something was wrong.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “What do you need me to do? I’ll cooperate with anything.”

Xiao Qi remained calm.

“Come to the dressing room. I’ll explain there.”

Wei Xia nodded, naturally not daring to object.

However, when she lowered her eyes, she noticed that the hand clutching her sleeve seemed to be trembling slightly.

She asked in surprise, “Are you all right?”

Xiao Qi shook her head.

“I’m a little nervous. This is the first time I’ve encountered a situation like this too.”

Wei Xia instantly wilted.

A tidal wave of guilt crashed over her, and her voice became so faint it was almost inaudible.

“I’m sorry…”

Meanwhile, everyone watching through their screens…

[???]

[????????]

[????]

[Wait, what is this?]

[Holy crap, that old villain Wei still hasn’t given up! She actually dares to harass my goddess now?!]

[AAAAAAAAAH! I’m furious! Get your filthy hands away from my goddess!]

The livestream comments were completely flooded, while the reporters at the scene were already itching to move.

Xiao Qi’s manager, Shi Ye, finally processed what had happened.

Although she was shocked, she reacted with impressive speed.

“Xiao Qi, what is your relationship with her?”

“Xiao Qi, is she really your partner?”

“How long have you been together?”

“Why did you choose today to make your relationship public?”

“Miss Xiao, do you actually know this woman?”

Shi Ye pushed her way through the crowd and shouted, “Sorry, everyone, please step back. Don’t crowd together.”

She glanced back at Xiao Qi.

Seeing that Xiao Qi had no intention of explaining, Shi Ye couldn’t determine what she wanted and therefore didn’t dare clarify anything herself.

She had no idea what Xiao Qi was thinking.

Now was clearly the best time to explain.

Wei Xia was surrounded by scandals from head to toe, yet she still had the nerve to attach herself to Xiao Qi.

“Today is the film festival,” Xiao Qi said, glancing at Shi Ye. “It wouldn’t be appropriate to take up public attention with my personal relationship.”

Then she added, “I’ll take her inside first.”

Shi Ye: “???”

She stared at Xiao Qi with wide eyes.

Wait, what about me?

What am I supposed to tell them?

Am I confirming it or denying it?

And why did this woman suddenly appear in the first place?

Shi Ye’s head was filled with question marks, but she still professionally began calming the reporters and urging them to focus their interviews on the film festival.

But how could the film festival compare to a Best Actress relationship scandal?

Xiao Qi’s words were practically an indirect confirmation!

The fastest reporters had already sent the situation back to their headquarters in the clearest and most concise wording possible.

Their headquarters reacted immediately and posted an even shorter version on their official accounts.

Every major social media platform was blindsided by the news.

Fans, casual observers, industry insiders, and outsiders all rushed into the discussion.

In less than half an hour, the platforms crashed under the sudden explosion of traffic.

The fans at the scene also grew increasingly agitated.

Only after the hotel deployed more security guards to hold them back did the situation finally come under control.

Xiao Qi had already taken Wei Xia farther into the hotel.

Along the way, other celebrities couldn’t help looking at them curiously.

Among the crowd, Wei Xia spotted Lin Jiahui.

Her expression was ugly, but she didn’t step forward to stop them.

Jiang Yiran finally squeezed through the crowd and asked Wei Xia, “What exactly is going on?”

Wei Xia closed her eyes.

Her voice was dry and strained.

“I lost my head for a moment. Deal with President Lin and the company first.”

Jiang Yiran’s face went numb.

With the grim resolve of someone marching toward certain death, she answered,

“All right.”

Was this really something that could be explained as simply losing her head?