After filming in the afternoon, Zhou Yun changed her clothes at the hotel, donning a simple T-shirt and shorts before heading out.
Before leaving, she reminded Li Yuning, asking them not to follow since tonight was a dinner gathering for the cast.
At the restaurant, she noticed that none of the other actresses from the crew were dressed as casually as her, making her seem like an assistant standing next to them.
"Xiao Yun, are you just wearing this?" Yu Yhan covered her mouth in surprise.
Zhou Yun took off her baseball cap and asked, "What’s wrong with this?"
"Tonight, President Huang has also invited leaders from the TV station and bosses from the advertising agencies," Yu Yhan explained.
Zhou Yun frowned, "Ah?"
"You didn’t know?" Yu Yhan asked in astonishment.
Zhou Yun shook her head, "I didn’t know."
In a large private room, only two male actors, Gu Huaichun and Yin Zhou, had arrived, whereas four or five actresses had come.
Judging from the setup, Zhou Yun had a hunch, felt disgusted, but could only sit there.
She could, but that would offend people.
After a while, Huang Zhong and Lu Yuan accompanied two people inside.
One was a pot-bellied fat man, greasy and dirty, as if he had rolled through a vat of oil, scanning the actresses as he entered.
The other was a lean woman, probably just over forty, very capable, but her words radiated an air of worldly wisdom.
The actors at the table stood up one by one, and Zhou Yun stood as well.
"Let me introduce you, this is Director Liu," Huang Zhong introduced the pot-bellied man.
"Director Liu, hello," Yu Yhan was the first to speak sweetly.
The others followed and greeted him.
But Director Liu’s eyes went straight to Zhou Yun’s face.
"This is Miss Zhou?!"
Zhou Yun had hoped to blend in unnoticed, but ended up being called out.
"Hello, Director Liu, I’m Zhou Yun," she said, introducing herself with composure.
"Truly a talented beauty, speaking with such a cultured air," Director Liu’s eyes narrowed into slits as he praised.
Huang Zhong laughed heartily and said, "Indeed, a brilliant graduate from B University, can you find a second one in the entertainment circle?"
In just two sentences, Zhou Yun felt like meat on a chopping block, subject to everyone’s scrutiny.
Her smile stiffened slightly, cursing silently in her mind.
"This is Director Cheng, from Songlin TV Station’s purchase center," Huang Zhong introduced the capable woman.
His gaze shifted to Gu Huaichun and Yin Zhou, saying, "Xiao Gu, Xiao Yin, make sure Director Cheng has a great time tonight. If you can make Director Cheng happy, our show can hit the limelight."
Gu Huaichun smiled faintly.
Yin Zhou nodded gently and said, "Hello, Director Cheng."
This dinner, even before starting, felt like a meat feast or a decadent party.
Huang Zhong arranged for Gu Huaichun and Yin Zhou to sit on either side of Director Cheng, and he initially wanted Zhou Yun to sit with Director Liu.
Zhou Yun smiled and said, "President Huang, I can’t drink alcohol. Better not let me sit next to Director Liu, to avoid dampening the mood."
Director Liu glared, "Can’t drink? How can Miss Zhou not drink?"
Zhou Yun just smiled, not saying a word.
Seeing Zhou Yun’s response, Huang Zhong grabbed Director Liu’s hand, holding it in his own, and chuckled, "Director Liu, Xiao Yun never drinks. Her company’s boss warned me clearly - Xiao Yhan can drink well, let her keep you company instead."
Yu Yhan then took the seat.
This dinner made Zhou Yun feel like she wasn’t at a crew’s dinner table but rather in some bar or club.
They weren’t actors, but companions for drinking.
When the dinner and countless rounds of drinks were nearly over, Huang Zhong suggested going to sing karaoke.
Zhou Yun planned to take this chance to leave.
At that moment, the girl sitting next to her, Li Yu, who was still a sophomore in college and quite timid, whispered, "Sister Xiao Yun, can we not go?"
Li Yu had also been forced to drink a few toasts earlier and, probably not used to drinking, her face was unnaturally red.
"How about you leave with me?" Zhou Yun asked.
Huang Zhong said, "We’re ready to go. Our ride is here."
Director Liu, holding Yu Yhan’s hand, walked ahead, Yu Yhan’s clear laughter audible from time to time.
Huang Zhong turned to look at Director Cheng, seeing her chatting with Yin Zhou, and decided to leave her be for now.