dognovel Chapter 615 The Mishap After the Kiss
Chapter 615 The Mishap After the Kiss
……
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For the next seventy minutes of the movie, Gu Qing was multitasking.
While their eyes were seemingly fixed on the explosions and car chases on the screen, their minds were actually racing to plan the upcoming promotional schedule for "Duckweed".
The box office was a huge success on the opening day.
The following day, the popularity soared, and the trending search terms evolved from "good-looking" to "still laughing my head off after watching it a second time".
This means that the subsequent promotional pace must keep up, and participation in variety shows for promotion will be inevitable.
Liu, on the other hand, did not have this talent for multitasking.
All her energy was focused on competing with Gu Qing's left hand.
At first she just held it.
After holding hands for a while, Xiao Liu felt that the position was not very comfortable and her wrist was a little twisted, so she changed to holding hands.
Her four slender fingers slipped through Gu Qing's palm, her thumb hooking onto the back of his hand, gently holding it.
But after holding hands for a while...
She felt that the way they held hands was too awkward, like two people who had just met shaking hands.
Where does it resemble...?
Liu Tianxian stopped thinking about it and didn't continue.
simply,
She nestled her snow-white, slender fingers between Gu Qing's long, thin fingers, their palms touching.
"That's much better."
Liu Tianxian's black hair swayed gently over her shoulders as she slightly shook her head.
Liu Tianxian was completely satisfied. She tilted her head back and rested her soft back on the chair back before finally turning her gaze to the screen.
When she got tired of looking, she turned her palm over and placed her fair palm on Gu Qing's palm.
Liu Tianxian stretched out her jade-like fingers and weighed them, as if she were weighing Gu Qing's palm.
He was having a great time playing by himself.
"You call it pig's trotters?"
Gu Qing finally shifted his gaze from the screen for a moment, turning his head to look at her hand that was repeatedly weighing his palm.
"Leave me alone."
Liu Tianxian didn't even raise her head, her fingers continuing to dab and trace in his palm.
"..."
Gu Qing had no reply and let her go.
He turned his head back towards the screen, letting her do whatever she wanted with his left hand.
at last,
The 110-minute-long, utterly terrible film has come to an end.
As the credits rolled, accompanied by a calm and understated end credits song,
Almost 99% of the moviegoers at the scene breathed a long sigh of relief, fearing they would suffocate if they watched any longer.
As the lights came on, the creative team behind "Bleeding Steel" entered one after another through the side door of the theater.
Director Zhang Lijia walked at the front.
He was a lean, middle-aged man wearing a black short-sleeved shirt, with a dark blue tattoo faintly visible on his left arm.
Just looking at him in the dead of winter makes one feel cold for him.
He had a neatly trimmed mustache, and his chin was slightly upturned. He had a unique 'artist' look. Even though he was smiling, he always gave people the impression of being superior.
Following behind were Brother Chen Long, Show Lo, Ouyang Nana, and a host to manage the event.
Gu Qing glanced to her side, her lips twitching slightly.
Liu Tianxian was holding his wrist and shaking it up and down under the armrest of the seat.
His entire hand was held in hers, swaying freely like a soft, boneless chicken claw with her movements.
"Have you had enough fun?"
Gu Qing took advantage of the moment when he was off guard and withdrew his hand, then joined the surrounding reporters in gently clapping to welcome Uncle Long and the others into the room.
"Huh? The movie's over?"
Liu Tianxian's beautiful eyes unconsciously followed Gu Qing's hand until the applause rang out, at which point she suddenly came to her senses.
Her eyelashes fluttered twice, and she tilted her alabaster-like face to glance at the stage.
Upon seeing his elder brother, he quickly sat up straight and clapped his hands.
"Good evening, fellow movie fans and journalists! After enjoying our wonderful film 'Bleeding Steel,' you must have many questions you'd like to ask, right?"
After the host finished the brief introduction, he enthusiastically began preparing to ask questions.
"What's so great about it? Let me ask you."
"Are you asking me why you could film such a terrible movie?"
"I've been eating arrows for almost two hours, I'm really unlucky."
The reporters and movie fans in the audience were silently criticizing in their hearts, but on the surface, they were all putting on a good show.
Some clapped, some smiled, and some even gave a thumbs-up and waved it at the stage.
The more eloquently and beautifully these people praised them, the more embarrassed the actors on stage felt.
Everyone has basic appreciation skills.
Whether a movie is good or not is more honestly reflected in the expressions on the faces, body language, and the intensity and duration of applause of the audience as they leave the theater than any film review.
Besides, Brother Chen Long remained as optimistic as ever.
He wore black-rimmed glasses, had a hearty and open smile, and sat on that rocking high stool, his bottom never still for a moment.
He swayed left and right, tapping his feet on the crossbar of the stool to keep time.
Every now and then he would reach out and pat the little pig next to him on the shoulder, acting like a total ADHD patient.
Like a little pig, it can still maintain a smile on its surface.
But the curve of his smile was thinner than his standard variety show smile, and the muscles at the corners of his mouth were slightly stiff.
He could also sense his own comedic style in the film, but he couldn't integrate into it, which made him look very awkward.
Ouyang Nana forced a smile.
As a newcomer taking on the lead role in a major production for the first time, and also as a big-screen film dedicated to her coming of age, she undoubtedly bore enormous pressure.
She sat next to Uncle Long, her hands neatly placed on her knees.
Her lips were clearly trying hard to curve upwards, but her eyes were filled with anxiety that seemed ready to spill over at any moment.
Her youthful and sweet face made you feel like she might cry at any moment.
"Director Zhang, I'd like to ask, how did you come up with the idea of combining action and science fiction?"
A reporter in the front row stood up and pointed the microphone at director Zhang Lijia.
Don't you think this is a very bold attempt?
Zhang Lijia picked up the microphone, paused for a moment, and then spoke in a tone that was both worried and fervent:
"I think this is definitely a very bold attempt!"
He raised his hand, pointed his finger in the air, and complained:
"There is no fertile ground for science fiction in domestic films, and audiences are not very receptive to this subject matter. I was very clear about this when the project was initiated."
But I feel...someone has to take that step, right?
He paused, then his voice suddenly rose half an octave: "Someone has to look up to Hollywood, to the international film industry!"
Look at Hollywood sci-fi movies; their industrial system, narrative techniques, and visual effects are all world-class.
We can't keep making just those petty romance stories forever, with handsome men and beautiful women falling in love. Audiences will get tired of that after a while.
Zhang Lijia became increasingly distressed as he spoke, saying, "Our film industry needs to develop towards diversification and align with international standards!"
Although I know that domestic audiences are still not very receptive to science fiction, the box office results may not be ideal.
But someone has to do it, and I'm willing to be the pioneer!
His last sentence was delivered with such righteous indignation that it earned him a round of applause from the entire audience.
Just as Zhang Lijia was passionately expressing his fervor for "artistic creation,"
Suddenly, Liu Tianxian heard a very faint "tsk" sound in her ear.
She turned her head in surprise.
Gu Qing, who hadn't shown much reaction after being tormented by her for almost two hours, was now changing.
His breathing became slightly heavier, and he didn't even look directly at the stage, his eyelids half-closed.
She cast a sidelong, disdainful glance at Zhang Lijia through the gap in her eyelashes.
This was the first time Liu Tianxian had ever seen such a mischievous look on Gu Qing's face.
It's a kind of weariness that comes from the very core, undisguised, and so deep that even superficial gestures are disregarded.
"Junior brother, ignore him."
Liu Tianxian covered her mouth, turned her head slightly to the side, and lowered her voice to the lowest possible level.
She thought it was Zhang Lijia's earlier remark, "Handsome men and beautiful women fall in love," that stung Gu Qing.
After all, her junior brother was filming idol dramas, and Zhang Lijia's words were tantamount to publicly belittling his representative work on stage.
She gently touched Gu Qing's arm with the back of her hand, her tone full of comforting sympathy.
"What's wrong with us making idol dramas? That old bald guy in the hat can't even make one!"
"He's ugly and always causing trouble! We're beautiful and handsome, so if you don't like him, just shut up!"
“I—Senior sister, you’re right.”
Gu Qing opened his mouth, wanting to explain something, but seeing Liu Tianxian's angry expression, he could only nod with a wry smile.
As someone who came after him, he naturally disliked these "Western-style directors".
They constantly cite Hollywood and the international film scene to label themselves, acting as if they are some great pioneer and innovator.
There's no fertile ground for science fiction in China—domestic audiences can't accept it—this subject matter is too novel…
Then why don't you make a watchable sci-fi movie and show it to the audience?
You want your audience to be patient, tolerant, and supportive of domestic science fiction? Well, at least you should deliver a passable answer first.
Seeing Zhang Lijia speaking eloquently in front of him, Gu Qing now has a deeper understanding of Director Guo's charm.
He understood as well.
Why would Brother Jing spend tens of millions of dollars in his past life to help that fledgling new director take a gamble?
If it were him, he would give it his all!
There are just too many people like this in the industry!
……
sometimes,
The differences between people are truly greater than the sky.
Fanzi has never hesitated to praise Hollywood's industrialization, its excellent teams, and its advanced filming equipment in front of the media.
Yet he never provokes any dislike from netizens.
The fundamental reason lies in the fact that Director Guo's praise has always been based on facts:
Acknowledge the gap and strive to learn.
He would never say "domestic audiences are no good".
He said, "We still have a long way to go."
Simultaneously,
Director Guo has repeatedly emphasized the same statement in public: "Technology is the surface, culture is the core."
It absorbed Western visual language and special effects technology, but its core spirit must be the spirit of China.
Most directors who shout "follow the Hollywood lead" have probably only learned the first part, but have completely forgotten the second part.
"Besides the many fans and reporters who support our brother, there are also some mystery guests who have come to our premiere today."
The host clearly noticed that the atmosphere in the audience was a bit awkward after Zhang Lijia's long speech, and quickly smiled to control the situation.
"A mystery guest? Which celebrity is coming?"
A murmur rippled through the theater, as many reporters looked around curiously.
Some people had already slightly raised their buttocks from their seats and were peering into the aisles on both sides.
"Senior sister, you go first, I'll go first?" Gu Qing turned her head and asked in a low voice.
"You go first, you go first."
Liu Tianxian felt a little uneasy, so she silently pulled her mask up a bit, then put on sunglasses, covering herself up completely.
She barely watched the movie; she spent the entire time wrestling with Gu Qing's hand.
She doesn't even know what the movie is about. What if she gets asked for her thoughts?
"it is good."
Gu Qing nodded and stood up from her seat.
"Huh?! This is—Gu Qing?!"
"What's Gu Qing doing here?!"
"My God, I was only three meters away from him! That's the closest I've ever been to him!!"
As Gu Qing stood up and took off her mask, the reporters and female fans at the scene erupted in gasps and screams.
Zhang Lijia, who had just been speaking eloquently on stage, suddenly froze in embarrassment.
Could he... add one more sentence?
"Gu Qing, please sit down. I was talking about someone else."
"Haha, you finally deigned to come see me!!"
As Gu Qing stood up, Brother Chen Long, who had been craning his neck and squinting his eyes to search for people in the audience, was the happiest.
He sprang up from the high stool like a little kid, and ran off the stage with his arms outstretched.
His running posture was still that signature slightly forward-leaning, short and dense dragon-style shuffling steps, which scared the security guards below the stage so much that their faces turned pale.
Several burly men in black rushed over from both sides in a flurry of activity to prevent any overly aggressive spectators from entering.
"Big brother..."
Liu Tianxian had just stood up to say hello when she had already taken off half of her mask.
"Okay, come on over, come up on stage and let's talk!"
Brother Chen Long gave her a quick smile and immediately mistook her for one of his entourage members.
She grabbed Gu Qing's hand and led him onto the stage, her steps hurried as if she were afraid he would run away.
Liu Tianxian's hand froze on the mask strap, her lips slightly parted.
Before he could even say "Big brother, I'm Liu Qianqian," he could only watch helplessly as Gu Qing was dragged and pulled onto the stage.
"Hey, Xiao Gu, what are you doing here?!"
The moment the little pig saw Gu Qing, the smile on its face became more genuine.
He opened his arms to greet Gu Qing, giving him a warm, sturdy hug, laughing incessantly.
"Come play on Extreme Challenge again when you have time. Lay and Teacher Huang were talking about you the other day."
"Little Pig Bro, I'll definitely come over when I have time."
Gu Qing smiled and nodded.
At this moment, staff members jogged up to the stage to help Gu Qing install the headset.
The female employee went around behind him, stood on tiptoe, and put her hand behind his collar.
But her fingers were trembling uncontrollably, the microphone clip slipped from her fingertips, and her face was as red as a boiling kettle.
The audience in the theater burst into laughter. "Hehe..."
Liu Tianxian chuckled twice from below the stage.
"I'll do it, I'll do it."
Brother Chen Long chuckled and shook his head, then took the headset directly from the female employee and quickly set it up for Gu Qing.
"Brother Gu...Gu Qing, it's been so long..."
Only then did Ouyang Nana suddenly realize what was happening and stand up from the high stool.
Today she was wearing a coffee-colored short-sleeved fleece sweater, black skinny jeans, and black high-top Martin boots, which clearly outlined the girl's straight and slender leg lines.
Her chubby oval face had delicate, petite features, exuding a youthful charm.
But at this moment, the expression on her small face showed a hint of unease and shyness.
"Hi, Nana, long time no see."
Gu Qing smiled and nodded slightly, surprised, "You've grown so tall in just one year?"
"I'm...I'm alright..."
Ouyang Nana clasped her hands in front of her, her fingertips unconsciously twisting the hem of her fleece sweater. Her voice carried the sweetness unique to Taiwanese girls, with the soft, sweet tone rising at the end.
Seeing this little girl, Nabi, acting all shy and timid in front of Gu Qing,
The little pig stood to the side, smiling silently, but a fleeting hint of amusement and mockery flashed in its eyes.
However, he didn't say anything.
They're all artists from Taiwan, how could he not know their background?
Being young doesn't mean being naive.
"I remember that two years ago, our Nabi seemed to have met Gu Qing on a TV show, right?"
The host took over the conversation with surprise, clearly having prepared beforehand.
"Yes, we were filming 'Up Idol' at the time, and Nana had just arrived here."
Gu Qing smiled and nodded, gesturing to her shoulder and then raising her hand to her chin, "We're here now."
Good-natured laughter erupted at the scene.
Ouyang Nana covered her flushed cheeks with both hands, only her bright eyes peeking out from between her fingers.
"Host brother—can I ask Gu Qing for a hug?"
Ouyang Nana stood on tiptoe, lowered her hands from her cheeks, interlaced her fingers under her chin, tilted her head to look at the host, and then secretly glanced at Gu Qing.
"Gu Qing, could you grant Nabi one of her little wishes?"
The host pleaded on their behalf, even deliberately raising the microphone towards the audience to signal everyone to join in.
The audience responded with good-natured cheers and applause.
"all right."
Gu Qing paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded naturally.
He slightly opened his arms and politely put his arm around Ouyang Nana's shoulder, keeping his wrists from touching the girl's back from beginning to end.
Ouyang Nana hugged her very tightly.
Her hands slipped under Gu Qing's waist, and the girl's flushed cheeks gently pressed against his collar, even smearing foundation onto the edge of his black coat collar.
After hugging,
Ouyang Nana quickly let go of her hands, covered her face with both hands, turned around and ran back to her high stool.
After sitting down, she buried her face in her hands for a while before turning around, revealing only the tips of her two bright red ears.
The audience thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful, youthful scene.
And at this moment,
Liu Tianxian, sitting in the audience, could no longer bear it.
"You little brat, I've never even held you, and you have?!"
Women have a keen sense of smell, let alone female celebrities in the entertainment industry.
Although Xiao Liu has been protected by her mother since she was a child, it doesn't mean she is stupid.
"This little girl is no ordinary person!"
Liu Tianxian made up her mind.
She stood up and took off her sunglasses and mask. The moment her beautiful face was revealed, the surrounding scenery seemed to brighten up.
"Big brother, how come you didn't recognize me?"
Liu Tianxian waved her fist at Uncle Long on the stage. Under the theater lights, her fair oval face made her skin appear almost transparent.
"Liu Qianqian? Why is she sitting next to Gu Qing?!"
"This isn't right, is it?!"
"Could it be that they've gone public with their relationship? That doesn't seem likely!"
The reporters on the scene were once again filled with shock and the clicking of camera shutters.
Liu Tianxian walked onto the stage on her own, escorted by security personnel.
Upon taking the stage
She naturally walked between Gu Qing and Ouyang Nana, slightly turning her body to the side and using her shoulder to separate Gu Qing from her on the other side.
"Junior brother, move to the side."
The surprise appearance of the two naturally brought the highest level of popularity and traffic to what was originally a somewhat dull premiere.
The host's voice visibly rose two pitches, and the reporters asking questions perked up again.
As soon as the premiere ended,
The lights in the theater came back on, and the audience and reporters gradually got up and left.
Brother Chen Long grabbed Gu Qing's hand, followed by a large group of his underlings and staff, blocking the corridor leading to the lounge.
"Xiao Gu, are you hungry? Is there any dish you like? I'll arrange for the chef to cook it for you as soon as possible."
Do you prefer Hong Kong style or Anhui style?
"No need, no need, I'm fine with anything."
"Xiao Gu, I didn't misjudge you."
Chen Long held Gu Qing's hand, talking as they walked, his eyes full of affection.
"I haven't had a chance to thank you in person for that charity donation last time. You're truly a great young man from Anhui Province!"
"I've already arranged for someone to send the donation records to your team. Remember to take a look when you have time. We've used every penny effectively."
"By the way, next time I have some free time, I'll take you to the United Nations, you..."
But just as they arrived at the door of the lounge,
They saw the team of reporters who had set up their equipment in advance and were eagerly waiting with microphones in hand.
"Uncle Long, you guys go ahead with your work."
Gu Qing glanced into the lounge, then stopped moving.
He didn't want to disrupt Uncle Long's regular work process, nor did he want to be dragged into another round of extra interviews.
"I'll wait for you in the car outside. I'll also get some fresh air. It's too stuffy in here with the heating on too high."
"Brother, my car is outside too."
Seeing that Gu Qing was about to slip away, Liu Tianxian naturally didn't want to be left behind as a laborer.
"My junior brother and I will go out first. Call us when you're done."
While Brother Chen Long was still exchanging pleasantries and shaking hands with the reporters, the two of them...
They took a few steps back from the door of the lounge in unison, then turned around at the same time, quickened their pace, and left quickly.
"Junior brother, can I ask you for a hug too?"
As she walked towards the elevator to the backstage area of the theater, Liu Tianxian kept glancing at Gu Qing beside her. After waiting for a long time, she finally spoke in frustration.
"Senior sister, what's wrong with you today?"
Gu Qing frowned slightly, her tone full of confusion, "Why are you so jealous of me?"
"Jealous? I'm never jealous!"
Liu Tianxian immediately straightened her face and said in a firm voice, "I just think it's inappropriate for you to hug that young girl, you understand what I mean?"
"Senior sister, I didn't even touch her. Didn't you see my posture? My wrist was suspended in the air the whole time."
Gu Qing silently raised his hands.
"Of course I know it's not good to hug a little girl, but Nana said it like that, in front of a whole audience and reporters, how could I refuse her on stage?"
"Hmm... okay, you have a point."
Liu Tianxian pursed her lips, puffed out her cheeks for a while, and then relaxed as if deflated.
The four people entered the elevator.
Zhao Ya and her assistant tacitly squeezed together on the side near the elevator buttons, standing side by side.
Each person looked down at their phone, pretending to be completely unaware of the conversation taking place in the elevator.
Liu Tianxian leaned against the back of the elevator, looking at Gu Qing who was standing half a step in front of her.
She gently poked his side with her fingertip, with very light force.
"What's wrong?" Gu Qing asked instinctively without turning around.
"It's nothing, I'll tell you after we get in the car."
Liu Tianxian withdrew her hand, her gaze passing over his shoulder to glance at the camera in the corner of the elevator ceiling.
The elevator doors opened.
The air in the underground parking garage on the lower level is slightly cool, filled with faint car exhaust fumes and the unique dampness of the underground space.
"Xiaoya, I need to talk to my junior brother alone for a bit. You and my assistant go to my car."
Liu Tianxian gestured with her chin toward Zhao Ya and her assistant.
"Okay, Teacher Liu."
Zhao Ya glanced at Gu Qing, saw him nod slightly, and then pulled her lifeless assistant toward the van.
Upon entering the back seat of the van,
"Senior sister, what are you trying to say?"
As soon as Gu Qing closed the car door, she turned her head and saw a beautiful face right in front of her.
"Junior brother, now that there's no one else around, you should be able to address me differently, right?"
Liu Tianxian gently, almost imperceptibly, tapped Gu Qing's nose with the tip of her pert nose, her voice very soft.
"Um... Liu... Liu Qianqian?"
Gu Qing felt that her brain was processing the information at an extremely slow pace.
What's going on here?
"Liu Qianqian is what my mom calls me when she's angry. Can't you use a gentler name?"
Liu Tianxian pouted her cherry-red lips, and her breath gradually mingled with his.
A small, warm breath formed between the two people in very close proximity.
The ambiguous atmosphere in the car seemed to have been silently permeated, as if someone had turned on a humidifier.
"Isn't 'Senior Sister' a nice name? Wouldn't it be too cheesy to call her something else?"
Gu Qing's head continued to tilt back, and with a soft "bang," the back of his head hit the car window.
"Be careful—am I that scary?"
Liu Tianxian smiled radiantly, then reached out and touched the back of Gu Qing's head, which had just been bumped.
After rubbing it, he leaned closer and blew on it a couple of times, the warm air brushing against the wisps of hair behind his ear. "Does it hurt?"
She rubbed the back of Gu Qing's head, then suddenly seemed to discover something, a hint of smugness and delight creeping into the curve of her lips.
"So you like this set. Since you like it, go ahead and name it."
"Senior sister, are you sick today? Tell me the truth."
If she didn't get things sorted out soon, Gu Qing felt she would go crazy. "Do I really have to confess my feelings to you? You've been doing this ever since the movie theater..."
"No need, no need. Senior sister knows you're shy and embarrassed to say it."
Liu Tianxian has bright, beautiful eyes and a smiling gaze.
The more she looked at Gu Qing, the cuter she found him.
especially,
Upon hearing her words, Gu Qing seemed to have her thoughts exposed.
She covered her head with her hands in a "shy" (or "broken") expression, looked up at the roof of the car in despair, and let out a long, mournful sigh.
No wonder Mimi always tells her that she should date younger men; now I understand why.
Liu Tianxian's girlish and maternal hearts were melting; her beautiful eyes gradually became hazy, and her pink lips moved closer.
The two were already very close; with just a slight probe, there was simply no time for them to react.
Soft touch, lips and teeth intertwined, a tender, lingering sensation.
Liu Tianxian could clearly feel that Gu Qing was not moving, seemingly at a loss and not responding at all. Her smile deepened and she kissed him more deeply.
Girls are shy when there are other people around, but they can be quite unrestrained when no one is around.
"What the hell is going on?!"
But in reality, Gu Qing was stunned.
"Junior brother, don't worry, I won't ask you to make your relationship public."
Liu Tianxian pulled away from his lips a few millimeters, looking at Gu Qing's blank expression, his crescent-shaped eyes full of smiles.
Physical attraction cannot be hidden.
She couldn't resist giving it another light peck.
"Relationship? What do you mean by going public with a relationship?"
Gu Qing stared at her blankly, almost crying in fright, "Senior sister, are you trying to force me to buy something?!"
"Junior brother, I told you I like you, didn't you...didn't you hear me?"
A sense of unease began to creep into Liu Tianxian's heart, especially when she looked at Gu Qing's expression, which didn't seem like an act. She stammered and asked.
When did you say that?
"It's right in the movie theater."
"In the movie theater, didn't you ask me if I liked you?"
Gu Qing broke down and said, "But I've answered you so many times, and you still don't believe me!"
"So...you didn't hear what I said at all?"
Liu Tianxian let her hands hang down, her clear eyes reflecting the image of Gu Qing nodding vigorously.
The crimson hue spread rapidly from her snow-white neck to her face at a speed visible to the naked eye.
She subconsciously pursed her lips, which still seemed to retain a warm and moist sensation.
Clang!
The left-side car door was suddenly flung open, and a tall, slender figure wearing a hoodie vanished in the blink of an eye.
With a roar,
A luxury car sped away and disappeared into the underground parking garage.
Xiao Liu ran away.
They couldn't even spare the time for today's dinner.
……
...(End of this chapter)