Panda TV Festival was one of the country's most prestigious awards ceremonies. It was difficult to get nominated for an award.
A few hundred million people watched it every year. It was naturally different.
Yu Minmin was also very happy. She quickly brought Lin Che to the company and started selecting her formal attire.
Yu Minmin especially went to search for some reliable sponsors. The products were all of good quality.
Out of all the actresses who Yu Minmin managed, Lin Che was now her most capable actress, so she was pouring all her energy into making Lin Che shine.
In the company, Yu Minmin had fought for a private room for Lin Che. In the private room, Yu Minmin handed the Festival's invitation to Lin Che.
"This was just sent over today. Those in the upper levels are also very happy for you. However, some of the other nominees this year also have potential. There's one that obviously slept their way up, so don't mind that person."
The list included all the nominees. Lin Che saw Lin Li's name up for the fashionista award. It looked like she would have to see her there.
Lin Che spoke excitedly, "I honestly never thought that I would get in. I only acted one role and it was a supporting role."
"Gu Jingyu's television series is popular every year, so you were part of a popular show. That's one reason to be nominated. Secondly, your role was very likeable. Third, your acting was very good."
Lin Che looked at Yu Minmin speechlessly, "Sister Yu, can't you praise me in a better way? You just had to put that right at the end."
As they met everyday, Lin Che's relationship with Yu Minmin improved a lot and their conversations were not so restrained anymore.
Yu Minmin said, "I'm telling the truth. What you have today is also partly contributed by luck, so you better not get too arrogant, you hear me?"
"Got it…"
"But your efforts did accumulate and pay off. You deserve to be nominated. I believe the other worthy nominees didn't act as well as you. I think you might have a good chance at winning."
Lin Che smiled shyly and covered her cheeks as she said embarrassingly, "That's impossible!"
Yu Minmin replied, "I mean it. Do you think you're still a small actress? You are now a new star. The company is preparing to focus on grooming you."
"Ah… I still can't get used to it. This is the first time I got so successful."
"Me too, actually. You're the first actress under me to be this successful," Yu Minmin said.
Lin Che looked at Yu Minmin in disbelief, "Sister Yu had so many famous artists last time."
Yu Minmin said, "That is because I worked here for a long time. I started working here as an assistant at the moment I graduated. From an assistant, I moved to be a personal assistant, then to a public manager, and then to a personal manager. I've been here for eight years. It's a pity that it takes luck to meet an artist with great potential. I played a safe game and never thought of poaching artists from other managers. As a result, all my artists were either pure newcomers or angry old artists." She patted Lin Che on the shoulder, "So, it's a first for both of us. Let's work hard together."
"Yes! Let's work hard together!" Lin Che suddenly realized that she previously thought that managers were all high and mighty as they always called the shots and decided the fates of small artists. However, now she realized that these managers actually did not have such an easy job.
When the two of them stepped out, the small artists outside saw Lin Che and bowed their heads and greeted her, "Hello, Sister Lin Che." They waited for Lin Che to walk past before lifting their heads back up.
Lin Che knew that in the circle, hierarchy and results were most important. In the past, she would also hide at the side whenever a popular star walked past before continuing her way.
Now, she was the one getting this special treatment. It honestly felt a little strange.
Lin Che remarked, "Honestly, I only acted in one role. They don't have to treat me like this."
Yu Minmin smiled and replied, "But you've already gone up the ranks. Also, you've been on a few headlines and you're a highly raved actress this year. Everybody in the company knows you."
Lin Che never thought that she would become so well-known so quickly.
Just then, as they got to the door…
An old man suddenly rushed over in front of them. Lin Che almost jumped in fear.
However, the old man did not really bother Lin Che. Rather, he faced Yu Minmin and kneeled down.
Lin Che covered her mouth in shock. She looked at Yu Minmin who was calm, but also suddenly a little dazed. The old man hugged Yu Minmin's legs and exclaimed, "Minmin, you have to help me. I'm really going to die this time. If you don't help me, I'm really going to leave our house and become homeless."
This ragged, dirty-looking old man turned out to be Yu Minmin's father?
Lin Che was also stunned.
Yu Minmin bit her lips as she looked at her father. She pushed him away and said curtly, "I told you that this was the last time I was going to help you. What did you do now? Did you lose money again? Dad, I have no money anymore. Not a single cent. This is my workplace; please stay away or I might lose my job. Who will you go to for money then?"
While he was still on the ground, the old man looked up, "Minmin, I didn't lose money this time. It was because of those bastards; they said that I didn't give them enough money. They said that I was 30,000 yuan short and that if I don't give it to them, they were going to take your mother away to be a cook. I got scared, so… so…"
Yu Minmin frowned, "So what?"
"So I kidnapped the young master's woman from the Lu family and threatened them. Who knew that I would accidentally hit her head and she would have to go to the hospital? Now, they want to sue me. I'm really done for this time…"
"What?!" Yu Minmin changed her frown to a smile. She looked at her own father in amusement, "You're really something. Now, besides gambling, you also beat other people up?"
"I…"
"Let go of me. I don't care about this. You might as well go to prison or you'll continue dragging my mother and us down," Yu Minmin pushed her father away from her legs.
The old man fell on the ground. People were looking at them with curiosity. The old man saw and suddenly flailed angrily on the ground. He pointed his finger at Yu Minmin and scolded her, "What kind of person are you? I'm your father; how can you treat me like this? I raised you and fed you. Now that you're so capable, you don't want us anymore, is that it? I'm a burden to you? Fine, don't care about me. Since you don't care about me, I'm staying put right at your company's entrance!"
Yu Minmin was speechless. Staring at him coldly, she waved to the security guards, "There's a man loitering here and hindering our work. Please take him out!"
The security guards quickly went over to take him out. The old man shouted tragically. Each time, his voice went higher and higher.
Lin Che could not look on and hurriedly took Yu Minmin away from there.
The onlookers talked amongst themselves, their eyes seemed to be judging Yu Minmin.
Father Yu was chased out but he was still wandering outside. Lin Che watched him and said to Yu Minmin, "Go back with me first. If you go back to your home now, your dad will definitely find you."
Yu Minmin looked at Lin Che gratefully, "Okay. Thank you."
Lin Che gestured for the chauffeur to drive back to the Gu residence.
In the car, Lin Che looked at Yu Minmin stare out the window. She pondered a while before saying, "Your father can't go on like this."
Yu Minmin laughed bitterly, "Nothing can be done about it. Gambling has already become his life. I've heard him say that he would quit for almost my entire life, yet he's still causing trouble every day. It's okay; I'm already used to it."
Lin Che had always been Yu Minmin's artist, but she was only a small one back then. It was different now. It was as if Yu Minmin was now her personal manager, so they were together every day. As a result, she came to know of Yu Minmin's family background.
Lin Che patted Yu Minmin's shoulder, "There must be a way."
Yu Minmin looked at Lin Che and shook her head, "Unless I take my mother and brother away from here, I don't think there's any other way to shake off this parasite."
Lin Che comforted her, "Okay, we'll think of something when we get home. Don't worry; we'll find a way."
Soon, they arrived at the Gu residence.
Yu Minmin had never seen the Gu residence. From the outside, she saw some strict-looking guards and thought that it was a bad idea. She turned to Lin Che and asked, "Can I go in? The Gu family probably doesn't let outsiders in, right?"
Lin Che replied, "I don't think so… It should be fine, but I never brought in anyone before."
At the entrance, the security guard looked at Yu Minmin and then politely greeted Lin Che, "Madam." After that, he let them in.
Yu Minmin sat still. She noticed their respectful greeting.
However, she turned to Lin Che but did not ask anything.
She was the manager but she usually didn't probe where there was no need to probe about personal matters of the artist. She only did that when it affected their job. That was a manager's work ethic.
When they entered, Yu Minmin then saw the enormous house and the subtly elegant decor.
Standing in the living room, she could not help but say to Lin Che, "Your house is like a palace."
Lin Che replied, "Yes. When I first got here, I always got lost because there were too many turns. It looks complicated but after walking a bit, you'll get used to it."
Yu Minmin remarked, "I can't believe this is Gu Jingze's place."
"Why?" Lin Che looked at her.
Yu Minmin smiled and said, "A commoner wouldn't be able to come in but I get to bask in your light."
Lin Che smiled, "Is that so? To think there'd be a day when someone gets to bask in my light."
"Of course."
Just then, Yu Minmin's phone rang. She bent her head to answer the call. It was from her mother.
Her mother was crying on the other end, "Please just help your father, Minmin. Only you can help in this family, nobody else is capable enough. See if you know anybody who can talk to them. You only have one father. If anything happens to him, won't you regret it?"
Yu Minmin's fingernails dug into her palm as if the pain would make her feel better.
"Fine, I'll think of something…" Yu Minmin could only plainly say to her sobbing mother.
When she hung up, she closed her eyes and tilted her head up. She looked at the Gu residence's sprawling ceiling and sighed.
Lin Che said, "Sister Yu, who are they? Let's think of something. There must be a way."
Yu Minmin replied, "It's the Lu family who runs a moneylending business and underground gambling dens in the B market. My father has been dealing with them for many years. To put it bluntly, they are not good people. I'll go talk to them and then we'll see what we can do."
"What are you going to do tonight?"
"I'll get a hotel room so my father can't find me for the time being. Don't worry. I've lived like this for many years, so I know what to do. Protecting myself is my strong suit."
"Alright."
Yu Minmin booked a hotel room through her phone. Lin Che arranged for a car to send her there.
Later, her phone rang. She saw Gu Jingze's name appear. She smiled and picked it up.
"When are you going to fulfill your promise and cook me a meal?"
Lin Che thought he was joking when he said that but now that he brought it up, she reluctantly answered, "Fine… I'm waiting for you to come back so we can go buy ingredients."
"Okay, wait for me then. I'm reaching soon."
When Gu Jingze heard that she was going to buy ingredients to cook for him, he could not wait and hurried home.
He arrived quickly and pulled Lin Che out, "Let's go to the market."
"You're coming along?"
"Of course."
"But…" Lin Che remembered Mo Huiling's warning the other day, "Isn't it dangerous for you to go out?"
Gu Jingze looked at Lin Che strangely, "Why do you say that?"
Lin Che said, "It's just that the other day, Mo Huiling told me that it's dangerous for you to go out on your own."
Mo Huiling?
A look of unhappiness flashed across his face. He said to Lin Che, "There's danger wherever I go. Does that mean I have to be locked up in a cage, just to avoid the danger? Let's go."
As he said, his hand held onto Lin Che's and he took her out.
Lin Che wanted to say something else but looking at him, she decided it was best not to. She looked down at his hand on hers and wanted to pull away, but she did not. His grip seemed to tighten. She saw that the maids were still looking, so she did not want to struggle too much.
There were not many people at the market. Lin Che thought, It was strange as it was usually crowded. It was like a street with limits as the crowd was small and orderly.
Lin Che pushed the shopping cart and looked at Gu Jingze write down a recipe. She remarked depressingly, "So demanding. That recipe looks complicated."
Gu Jingze asked, "This is complicated? It's just chopping up and stir-frying a few ingredients."
He specially chose a less costly recipe.
Lin Che pushed the cart and walked around to look at the vegetables. A huge supermarket really made one feel blissful. Lin Che was full of smiles and seemed very relaxed.
"I want one of this."
"And one of this."
"Ah, the radish looks fresh."
The more she added things into the cart, the messier it got.
She had completely ignored the recipe's ingredients list.
Gu Jingze only shook his head helplessly.
Just then, a passerby knocked the back of her heel with the shopping cart's wheel.
Lin Che yelped.
She looked up to see a man look at her before turning away silently.
Lin Che thought unhappily, What an immoral guy.
However, Gu Jingze grabbed hold the arm of the man who just turned away.
Holding the man's arm, Gu Jingze pressed him against a shelf. The man was shocked and wanted to swear at him, but looking at Gu Jingze's deep eyes, he felt guilty and shut his mouth.
"Apologize to my wife," he said.
The man looked at Lin Che. Although he was unwilling, he feared Gu Jingze and said humbly, "Sorry. I didn't notice."
Lin Che rubbed her heel, "It's okay. Just be careful next time."
Gu Jingze grunted and then let the man go.
The man slipped away quickly. Lin Che was about to get up from the ground but Gu Jingze squatted down beside her and scooped her up in his arms.
The passersby looked at them in envy. This strong and tall man would make anyone become infatuated with him.
Gu Jingze carried her and put her in the shopping cart, "Let me see if your leg is okay."
Lin Che shook her head. She smiled as she looked at Gu Jingze, "I'm okay. The impact from a cart is not that great. It's just that the man's attitude was infuriating."
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