After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety Shows
Chapter 583 - 573: Caught at the Birthday Banquet

Chapter 583: Chapter 573: Caught at the Birthday Banquet

[It was supposed to be a charity dinner, right? It’s impossible there was a mistake with the invitations or a mix-up in the guest list, isn’t it?]

[But Jiang Lingxi isn’t really top-tier yet. If the drama "Empress Yuan Zhao" airing over the New Year blows up, only then can she secure her status there, right?]

[Is the Yuan family already buying stocks in advance? They expect "Empress Yuan Zhao" to be a big hit? Or are they just struggling this year to invite well-known celebrities with high popularity?]

[It must be a stroke of luck; they probably just had one spot left. Looking at the entertainment industry in the Mainland, she’s popular enough at the moment, so she filled the spot.]

[If that’s really the case, it’ll surely make some people envious.]

Indeed, many were envious of the guest list.

A week ago, when the Yuan family officially announced the specific time for this year’s charity dinner, many began trying various means to get an invitation.

The number of celebrities invited was predetermined, so even first-tier ones were afraid they might be excluded from the list if they didn’t have works or if their works didn’t receive good enough feedback this year.

Being first-tier and not being invited by the Yuan family would be a massive blow.

Some second and third-tier ones wished to try their luck; they weren’t eligible to be directly on the guest list, so they resorted to some underhanded tactics.

Those invited were members of various prestigious families, singles, or divorced individuals, becoming their targets.

They entered under the guise of being their companions or partners.

Until this list was released.

"I counted three times; clearly, the number of invited celebrities was set at thirty. How did Jiang Lingxi become the thirty-first? I worked so hard for just one spot, and they added someone so casually. The Yuan family is just too bullying!"

These words came from a first-tier artist pushed off the list, whose spot was taken by a rival.

The agent, treated like a trash can to vent frustrations, wore a helpless expression, persuading his artist to remain calm, "Well, they’re the hosts. They can choose whoever they want, add whoever they wish. We’re just at their mercy."

"Let’s just leave it for this year and strive harder next year."

"Next year, Jiang Lingxi will be a near top-tier! You’ve seen the behind-the-scenes clips and snippets released by their team, right? As long as nothing unexpected happens, ’Empress Yuan Zhao’ is destined to be a hit. It will be even tougher to fight for that spot next year!"

The agent thought of saying that success relies on having strong works too, but seeing how upset his artist already was, he swallowed back his words.

Those second and third-tiers hoping to enter the dinner as companions felt even worse about it.

They never expected to fight for a spot on the guest list because they were aware they couldn’t compete with those first-tier veterans.

But now they witnessed a living exception.

"Why can Jiang Lingxi get invited and not me?"

Jiang Yuting rubbed her temples to ease her headache.

Since she arrived, Jiang Xiyu had been going on and on with this in her ear until her ears were nearly calloused!

Unable to bear it any longer, she interjected to remind, "Didn’t Mr. Han say you’d enter as his companion?"

Jiang Xiyu’s expression twisted immediately.

Before the list came out, she had been quite pleased with herself for it.

She wasn’t the only one vying for Mr. Han’s companion spot, but she was the one who eventually got his nod.

And even though Mr. Han was divorced, he was still not yet forty, handsome, and with his family background, he was indeed a prize in everyone’s eyes.

"But a companion is just an accessory in the end! The list features those who received individual invitations—how is that the same!"

Jiang Yuting frowned as she watched Jiang Xiyu throwing an impotent tantrum and said coolly, "So what do you want? Are you afraid of feeling humiliated if you run into Jiang Lingxi there? Why not just not go? Are you not worried about offending Mr. Han?"

"Bang!"

That was the sound of Jiang Xiyu unable to hold back kicking the coffee table.

Jiang Yuting no longer indulged her.

In the past, when her mother was in the country, she was better to Jiang Xiyu, her niece, than to her own daughter.

Also, at that time, Jiang Xiyu was stepping over Jiang Lingxi while still maintaining some popularity, earning more money, and thus sharing more revenue with Yuting, who was happy to support her.

But now, her mother was abroad with no sign of return, and Jiang Xiyu’s fortunes had reversed with Jiang Lingxi’s rise. The earnings she received had significantly shrunk, so she no longer cared for Jiang Xiyu’s tantrums.

"Alright, the dress Mr. Han ordered for you will be delivered soon. Are you sure you want to receive Mr. Han’s people looking like a madwoman?"

Only then did Jiang Xiyu lift her head, "Xiaotao, help me wash my hair!"

Putting down the blanket she was folding, Xiaotao quickly followed her into the bathroom.

After they both entered the bathroom, one after another, Jiang Yuting sneered sarcastically, unlocking her phone and opening a chat with someone, "Did you find out why Jiang Lingxi is on the list?"

*

Jiang Lingxi, the topic of everyone’s heated discussion, neither made preparations for tomorrow’s dinner attendance nor read online discussions about her.

She was currently attending Zhang Nachuan’s elder’s birthday banquet.

She hadn’t planned on going, but who could refuse when the elder personally had the invitation delivered to her?

Being invited by an elder meant she couldn’t decline.

This year was Zhang Nachuan’s seventieth birthday.

The elder recently reunited with his granddaughter, discovered what his son had done behind his back, and found out that his granddaughter caused a huge mistake due to jealousy. This year was indeed filled with both immense joy and anger; just when he felt joyful, he was also extremely infuriated.

He felt his health declining.

He was uncertain if he could live to eighty, so this might perhaps be his last major birthday celebration.

Therefore, the celebration was particularly grand.

Jiang Lingxi arrived at the banquet hall neither too early nor too late.

After presenting her birthday gift, she found the seat marked with her name and settled down.

She thought she was being discreet enough, but as soon as she sat down, someone took the seat beside her.

"Mr. Yuan, this isn’t your seat, is it?"

This table was essentially the main table—the seat of the birthday star Zhang Nachuan himself was there—and next to him were seats for An’an and her grandmother, plus several names with the family name Nalan, presumably people from the elder’s wife’s family.

Even the elder’s eldest son’s family wasn’t arranged here but was seated at the secondary table.

So she had reason to suspect that Mr. Yuan’s target was her!

"I just wanted to ask whether Mr. Shen’s collection room can be opened? This old man has been waiting for days now."

Jiang Lingxi: "..."

Could she say she forgot!

Shen Yunqing had been busy dealing with the Bai Family these past days and likely forgot too.

No wonder the elderly man was waiting impatiently.

"Tomorrow, there will be time tomorrow morning."

Shen Yunqing might not have the time, but she did.

She was more familiar with the so-called collection room than Shen Yunqing, who was merely its nominal owner.

Yuan Hui silently exchanged glances with Jiang Lingxi for a moment. Although he said nothing, his whole aura emitted a sense of having been forgotten.

Feeling unexpectedly apologetic, Jiang Lingxi rarely lowered her voice to explain, "There were some issues a few days ago, and Yunqing and I were busy handling them. We forgot about the promise to you, Mr. Yuan. I’m really sorry."

Yuan Hui: "Hmph!"

How could the elder feel wronged? At least, he got this young lady to relent!