Tens of millions of viewers watched the live stream.
The event was captured on camera by nearly a hundred photographers and paparazzi.
They also captured the scene of the infamous femme fatale Yang Xueni's sudden fall on the red carpet!
A nearby staff member managed to rush over in time to support her, preventing her from falling directly onto the red carpet.
However, the crystal shoe on her foot flew off and hit the side of her right calf.
[!!!]
[?]
[......?!!]
The live stream chat froze in shock—no one could even type a word.
"Ah, I told you about that spot… Should we call a doctor?" Bao Ruanruan's soft, sweet voice trembled with shock in the livestream.
Fang Lei: "......"
Everyone was stunned.
Hearing Bao Ruanruan's comment, Yang Xueni's face turned redder than her dress.
All the exposed skin on her body felt like it was on fire.
She didn't need a doctor!
She just wanted to disappear right away!
[You really should listen to what my girl says~]
[Yeah, sincere words do sound unpleasant to the ear1, but they are still useful.]
[Hey, don't be stubborn, seriously! I'm not even a Bao Ruanruan fan—I'm a Lu fan.]
[That was close. Seriously, being careful isn't a bad thing.]
[Wait, was Bao Ruanruan actually right?]
The casual viewers of the live stream were so shocked that Bao Ruanruan's fans and other celebrity fan groups flooded the chat with comments.
Then came the legendary veteran Lan Zhi, who also walked on the red carpet.
She, in high heels, gracefully approached Yang Xueni, who was still being held by staff, and asked worriedly:
"Are you all right? What Xiao Bao said made sense."
"We should listen."
Yang Xueni: "……"
Lan Zhi gently supported Yang Xueni. "Come, walk with me."
Yang Xueni blushed furiously.
But Lan Zhi was a respected senior whom she couldn't refuse.
They walked side by side for the remaining fifty metres.
Lan Zhi, who was wearing a cheongsam-inspired lake-blue gown today,
slowed her pace carefully.
She tapped the ground tentatively with her high heels.
"There's a bump here. The red carpet wasn't laid flat."
The camera zoomed in.
Sure enough, there was a small uneven spot, only visible if you looked at it closely.
It turned out that what Bao Ruanruan had said was true.
"Xueni, be careful this time. Here, step over it with your right foot."
Lan Zhi, the bossy big sis type, was spirited and warm.
"Now, bring your left foot~"
Yang Xueni suddenly felt like a baby learning to walk.
Her face was so red that not even the most long-lasting, pale foundation could cover it.
Step by step, her walk became stiff, almost robotic.
"Don't bother with the signature wall—just go sit in the venue. Let a doctor take a look at you," Lan Zhi kindly signalled to two staff members.
They flanked Yang Xueni and escorted her into the venue.
Yang Xueni took a deep breath.
Then, what was the point of her coming here today if she couldn't show off her fashion?!
–[Xue! M Brand's trial period... fell through. How did you end up falling?]
Yang Xueni had just sat down in the venue and finally stopped blushing when she received this message.
In that instant, everything went black before her eyes.
Three months ago, she entered the evaluation period to become M Brand's spokesperson.
If successful, she would be the first domestic ambassador for the luxury footwear label!
This deal was crucial for her.
The brand was very satisfied with her and even sponsored the new shoes she wore on the red carpet today.
If her performance went well today... M Brand would release the official announcement next week!
But now that she fell while wearing M's high heels, with the shoe even flying off on the red carpet… the deal was surely over.
–[Sigh, I tried. But M was firm. Even though you didn't hit the ground, thanks to the staff, the shoe still flew off... they couldn't accept that. They feel the brand's image has been damaged. Honestly, the fact that they're not suing us is already a mercy.]
"......"
Yang Xueni took a deep breath.
A flood of remorse washed over her.
But then, a faint, delicate voice reached her ears from the row behind her—soft, timid.
But it sounded very familiar.
"Ah, Brother Feng, I got another shoe endorsement? M Brand? But I've never even worn them before."
Yang Xueni: "!"
"Ohhh, is that so—they think with how I walk carefully, it fits their exquisitely crafted leather design?"
Yang Xueni: "!!"
She nearly coughed up blood.
She'd been in the industry long enough to recognise what was happening.
With one listen, she knew—this was M Brand's PR strategy!
Because of her fall, they feared the public would question the safety and design of their shoes.
So now, they were doing damage control!
How were they going to do it?
By simply endorsing the person on the red carpet who walked steadily and was least likely to fall to handle the PR!
Smothering this scandalous farce by drowning it in a whole new kind of hilarious spectacle!
She had painstakingly undergone three months of evaluation, only for it to be Bao Ruanruan's wedding dress2?!
Yang Xueni immediately clutched her chest.
Her face was no longer burning.
But now it was her chest that felt tight.
Tonight's Fashion Night gathered artists from the music, film, and variety show industries.
Everyone had now entered the main venue. Since the live stream for the main event hadn't started yet, those familiar with each other gathered in small groups to chat while others exchanged contact info and made small talk.
Tucked away in a quieter corner of the venue...
Veteran actor Wu Zhijin, rarely seen in such a sharply tailored suit, turned curiously to Qu Feifei.
"Feifei, did you call us all here to discuss something?"
Qu Feifei, uncharacteristically shy, nodded slightly. "Yes..."
She didn't want to discuss it over WeChat because it would be too easy for someone in the group chat to take screenshots and leak it.
Saying it face-to-face felt much safer.
"Teacher Wu, do you remember when we got stuck in the thunderstorm on Lerong Mountain?"
"Of course," Wu Zhijin's expression immediately turned serious. "Why? Is there something you need help with?"
Next to him was Han Mo.
At that moment, Han Mo raised his eyebrows and looked at Qu Feifei.
Qu Feifei blushed but still spoke softly. "When I went home and rewatched the episode, I realised that it was an artist named Bao Ruanruan who helped us get through the storm by watching our livestream."
In truth, the production team had already made some preparations for the worst-case scenario.
But when Qu Feifei watched Bao Ruanruan's variety show live stream later, she realised how worried Bao Ruanruan was for her!
She made so many mistakes during the thunderstorm that Bao Ruanruan even sang the song 'Wind and Rain' out of concern for her.
Qu Feifei had listened to the rap part three or four times before coming today.
From that part alone, she could hear Bao Ruanruan's anxious cries to her.
—You better remember this next time!
This was sung just for her!
Bao Ruanruan might have wronged Sister Yuxin.
Yet deep down, Bao Ruanruan's loyal heart still beats for Qu Feifei, her idol!
Ah.
Qu Feifei couldn't help but feel touched.
It was the first time a fan had ever sung a song just for her.
Perhaps Bao Ruanruan was wrong in the past.
But... putting everything else aside, just for that day in the thunderstorm, she owed Bao Ruanruan a thank you for her sincerity.
After struggling with her thoughts, Qu Feifei finally spoke.
"Bao Ruanruan is also here today. I was thinking... maybe we should go thank her together?"
She didn't want to go alone; it would be too awkward.
Since leaving Restaurant, she hadn't reached out to Bao Ruanruan, not even once.
It was as if they had cut all ties.
With Teacher Yuxin's matter involved, they couldn't go back to the way things were.
Qu Feifei looked at Wu Zhijin expectantly.
But to her surprise, Han Mo, standing next to him, also had a flicker of emotion in his eyes.
"Yes, we should thank her."
He answered even faster than Wu Zhijin.
His expression mirrored Qu Feifei's inner conflict.
In an instant, a thousand thoughts went through Han Mo's mind.
He remembered working with her in a drama and hearing the girl say she was his 'lifelong fan'.
And the moment when he'd found out that Lu Wenhao's fan in the cat mascot was Bao Ruanruan... he'd felt betrayed.
It turned out that she had been someone else's 'lifelong fan' all along.
He had even stopped recommending her for new roles after that.
Yet unbeknownst to him... Bao Ruanruan was still looking out for him in her own way.
After watching her variety show and listening to Wind and Rain, Han Mo could imagine her panic—her fear that something might happen to him.
—You better remember! Stay home during storms next time…!
His expression softened.
It was impossible for him not to be moved.
As an actor, he was naturally empathetic.
He'd been deeply touched when he'd first heard the song.
It was the first time a fan had gone this far for him.
Treat sincerity with sincerity.
Regardless of her other flaws, when it came to the thunderstorm incident... he owed her a thank-you.
So what if she was a multistan?
Liking Lu Wenhao didn't conflict with liking him.
The former was a member of a boy group while he was an actor.
It was normal for her to like both at the same time.
Han Mo's gaze briefly warmed with an unreadable tenderness.
"She should be in the back row seats. Actually, she's my—"
He lifted his gaze, ready to search for her.
But before he could finish his sentence—a low, amused chuckle from Wu Zhijin cut in.
"Oh, so that's what you wanted to talk about, Xiao Qu."
"Thanking Xiao Bao? No need—I've already done it on your behalf."
Qu Feifei froze.
Han Mo's gentle expression faltered.
On their behalf?
Why?
They'd only spent four days together on the variety show—hardly close enough for him to do that.
But Wu Zhijin laughed, the easygoing laugh of an elder. "Since I already know Xiao Bao, I even introduced her to work on a production team."
Han Mo, who had also done the same, raised an eyebrow.
Qu Feifei, whose older brother had looked after Bao Ruanruan in the Model variety show, blinked.
"She's a good kid. Don't overthink it." Wu Zhijin patted Han Mo's shoulder. "She only watched our show because I was in it. Who would have thought my first variety appearance would end with her taking care of me?"
"?"
"She always liked my dramas. Gosh, it's a bit embarrassing to say—this kid is basically a fan of my drama, a fan of mine. She once cried so hard while watching one that she nearly passed out! Such genuine, intense emotions!"
Han Mo, who had just come to terms with the fact that Bao Ruanruan also liked a member of a boy band, but still wrote songs for him: "??"
Qu Feifei, who had just come to terms with the fact that Bao Ruanruan still liked her—enough to rap for her: "??"
Wu Zhijin, blissfully unaware of the chaos he had just caused:
"Xiao Han, what were you trying to say earlier? She's your... what?"
She's my… fan.
Scratch that.
Just how many people did she like?!
Two male actors at once?!
Han Mo's eye twitched. It took him a full three seconds to recover.
"Ahem. She's my... friend's fan."
"Oh?" Wu Zhijin's interest was piqued. "Which actor is your friend?"
Someone of his older generation had no concept of a 'multistan' or a devoted, exclusive fan.
To him, it was perfectly normal for a young girl to have multiple idols in her life.
Han Mo took a deep breath and pressed a hand to his forehead. "My friend, Lu Wenhao. He's the lead dancer of a boy group."
Wu Zhijin didn't get it.
But Qu Feifei thought of everything that had happened at the Restaurant...
"!!!"
Her fan?
Scratch that.
If Bao Ruanruan didn't love her, why was she leading her on?!
Had Qu Feifei been delusional all along?!
"Ah, I see Xiao Bao over there!" Wu Zhijin, sharp-eyed, immediately waved. "If you want to thank her, let's go say a few words!"
Han Mo & Qu Feifei: "......"
Absolutely unnecessary!
Meanwhile, inside the ceremony venue—
"Hiss."
Bao Ruanruan suddenly felt a chill run down her neck.
She looked up at the ceiling and spotted an AC vent.
Without hesitation, she asked a staff member for a crimson wool shawl kept at the venue and draped it over her shoulders.
But soon, her eyelid began to twitch.
Bao Ruanruan: "??"
This feels ominous.
It is as if danger is approaching.
She had to replenish her energy first.
With this thought, she lifted her delicate, pale chin and listened intently to the magazine editor's speech onstage.
But her hands moved furtively.
Slowly, she unclasped her black sequined clutch.
Her slender fingers pinched open a small plastic bag inside and carefully twisted it open.
She pulled out a homemade oat biscuit.
While pretending to listen—nodding thoughtfully—she quickly popped the bite-sized biscuit into her mouth.
She chewed secretly.
Then she took another one.
She chewed secretly again.
Energy replenished... 20%... 30%...
The slight tension between Bao Ruanruan's eyebrows gradually melted away, replaced by the languid contentment of a cat basking in the afternoon sun.
She adjusted her shawl, looking utterly satisfied.
Nearby, the paparazzi hurriedly snapped photos.
Some even recorded videos with their mobile phones.
#BaoRuanruan, The Ultimate Winner#
#The Girl Who Made A Local Brand Look Like Luxury #
#BaoRuanruan, Mistakenly Attending A Fashion Gala As An Afternoon Tea Party#
That night, a series of candid snapshots of Bao Ruanruan at the main venue, glamour shots on the red carpet, and even a silly clip of her chewing on biscuits had stormed the front pages of every major forum.
[A sleeping beauty under the moonlight, a black lotus queen on the red carpet.]
[In the brightly lit venue, she stood out in her crimson shawl and pure black gown, looking graceful and striking. Like the swirling of the glass, her beauty had left me breathless.
But who would have thought she would pull out a little bear-shaped biscuit in the next second! (dog face emoji3)]
[I was wondering how she suddenly got a strong sense of fashion!
It turns out she's an actress who can switch between high fashion and grassroots4 charm at will!
I was stunned by her noble red carpet aura, but then she ate little biscuits without moving her red lips. Her cheeks puffed out like a little squirrel, and it was so cute it gave me a nosebleed! She's such a down-to-earth beauty.]
[The epitome of sweet, savoury, and spicy.]
[Is this black gown really not from a luxury brand? Is it just an unheard-of domestic label? It's stunning!]
[Are local brands finally rising? Local designers, we're rooting for you!]
[It doesn't lose out to foreign luxury brands at all!]
The black gown Bao Ruanruan wore was indeed created by a domestic designer.
It was from a local designer brand, #Teng#5.
The brand, #Teng#, had previously struggled for attention.
Nowadays, at any high-profile event, celebrities were obsessed with flaunting international luxury brands—wearing a designer's latest collection was the ultimate status symbol.
But thanks to Bao Ruanruan's unconventional antics on the red carpet and inside the venue, she had forcefully drawn people's attention to this little-known domestic brand.
Whether it was her brief, breathtaking, mysterious appearance around 4 pm in a black trench coat; or her stunning, otherworldly beauty as she took off the coat and stood on the red carpet in just the black gown, like a black lotus in full bloom; or the moment inside the venue when she draped a crimson woollen shawl over her shoulders, exuding a soft, alluring femininity; or her adorable, satisfied look while chewing a little biscuit...
All of this made passers-by watching the live stream, fashion industry insiders, and wealthy socialites notice the uniqueness of this gown.
—No matter from which angle, no matter how it was styled, the gown showed its different facets of beauty.
—Whether in the nighttime outdoors or in brightly lit or fresh and elegant indoor settings, it was eye-catching.
By wearing it, you'll be the brightest star!
[That deep black is perfection. The off-shoulder design? A k*ller. Fair-skinned girls, this is a must-have!]
[Paired with the red shawl? Deadly. Even the trench coat combo was iconic.]
[Next week, I'm going to a girlfriend's afternoon tea party, and I will bake some biscuits myself — I'm going to order one of these dresses right now~~~]
The #Teng# 'Black Lotus' gown, originally a custom piece, now had a waiting list stretching into next year.
"So, Divine Beast Xiao Baozi, what's your take?"
The next day, when Chen Feng picked up Bao Ruanruan for a variety show, he couldn't help but tease her.
A money magnet.
She really is a money magnet.
Initially, they chose this domestic brand because Bao Ruanruan was invited to the red carpet at the last minute, and they didn't have time to get a custom-made luxury gown for her—so they had her wear it instead.
Also, Xue Jing, her agent, had standards.
He refused to let her wear designs that other actresses had worn before.
He also boycotted high-end brands that had once snubbed her.
With time running out, he'd asked a designer friend to whip up a custom piece for her.
Unexpectedly... in just one day, the gown became highly sought after.
"What divine beast?" Bao Ruanruan blinked as she got into the van.
Well, of course, a money-attracting divine beast under the God of Wealth!
If not that, then a little bringer of fortune!
Chen Feng was completely stunned by her.
If they hadn't had to keep their identities a secret, they would have revealed them now—though it might scare Xiao Baozi.
He really wanted to show her what was happening on his WeChat Moments.
[Oh, mighty Moments circle, does anyone have the Teng designer's contact info?]
[Oh yeah, just booked a custom Teng piece~ End of year party, wait for me~]
[That little black gown is so pretty; I was seriously tempted. Before I could even speak, my husband had already placed an order. I heard the designer only made ten pieces of the gown~]
[Who can relate? My dad gave me a special gift to celebrate me for getting my driver's license—a custom Teng gown~]
[I heard the designer was fully booked until next year. Good thing I acted fast and snagged a slot at the end of next month~]
His WeChat feed was filled with posts from all kinds of wealthy ladies and socialites, all flexing this domestic brand in true Versailles fashion6.
Just a day ago, who would even want to flaunt this brand?
These women used to fly abroad every year for their luxury gown fittings.
Chen Feng sighed.
Women, ah, whenever they encounter Bao Ruanruan, they are sure to lose their cool.
"Xiao Baozi, next time you decide what brand to wear, give me a heads-up."
Even he couldn't stay calm anymore.
If the brand went public, he would buy its stock in advance!
*
Yang Xueni's studio.
"Xueni, we originally planned to buy a hot search like 'Enchanting Beauty Stuns on Red Carpet'... but the company just scrapped it."
"Otherwise, the moment people see it, they'll just be reminded of your fall."
Yang Xueni: "..."
"Also, that planned 'Indoor Goddess: Heiress Vibes' trending topic... has to be scrapped as well."
"Bao Ruanruan's chewing on little biscuits inside the venue was trending on social media last night, dominating all these hot search terms."
Yang Xueni: "?!"
On a business trip, Xue Jing suffered from jet lag and exhaustion.
He was mindlessly scrolling through trending topics.
Suddenly, a photo appeared:
A delicate girl in a black gown, as beautiful as a night-blooming flower.
Xue Jing's finger paused.
My little girl has finally grown up.
For the first time, he had this absurd thought.
She had a slender swan neck.
Snow-white collarbones.
Snow-white...
His dark eyes froze.
His long, slender finger hovered.
Then it lightly touched the screen.
– Long press.
– Save.
Satisfied, he put his phone away.
"Brother Xue, thanks again—if not for your little actress, my orders wouldn't be full until next year."
Xue Jing's peach blossom eyes sparkled. After a long pause, he finally gave a low "Mm."
"From now on, the first order of each month will go to her."
"Also, everything she wears... is not to be resold."
*
Traffic flowed smoothly today.
Soon, the nanny van arrived at the filming location for this episode of Chasing Dreams.
The place felt strangely familiar to Bao Ruanruan.
—It was the five-star hotel where the five cast members had gathered during the typhoon.
So, when Bao Ruanruan lifted her fair little face and saw the gleaming hotel logo, she immediately remembered the painful cost of that night: 36,000 yuan.
Her immediate instinct: Leave. Now.
She didn't want to stay any longer.
But Director Zheng Mingchang moved quickly and grabbed her wrist.
"Xiao Bao, where are you going?"
"I want to go back to Hengshan."
"............"
[Hahahaha!]
[I'm dying of laughter!]
[The livestream just started, and it's already this chaotic.]
[Kiddo Ruan: If I leave now, I won't have to pay the hotel bill!]
Many viewers had already caught up on the post-typhoon 'Recording Plus' episode.
They knew Bao Ruanruan's heart had ached over the hotel cost.
Bao Ruanruan truly felt the heartache.
Because just this morning she found out that the Black Lotus gown wasn't loaned—it had been bought by Xue Jing.
The six-figure price tag almost killed her right then and there.
She felt even further away from her wish to own a security-heavy, fully furnished apartment in the capital.
She instantly felt like she had lost half a bathroom's worth of real estate.
She had also only recently found out that she and Xue Jing would share profits and losses.
There would be a dividend split at the end of the year.
At this point, she could no longer afford the emotional burden of a five-star hotel suite.
But Director Zheng Mingchang looked at her with cruel, heartless eyes.
"Xiao Bao, we followed your advice."
"After renovating the five dream rooms, they need to be ventilated before anyone can live in them. So... in the meantime, for everyone's health, we'll be filming entirely in Jiangcheng."
Bao Ruanruan: "!"
[Kiddo Ruan: I actually lost to myself?]
[Hahaha, only Bao Ruanruan can defeat Bao Ruanruan!]
Author's Note:
Ruanruan: You wish you could defeat me—hmpf~
Footnotes Full List
- The phrase 忠言逆耳 (zhōng yán nì ěr) implies that well-intentioned criticism or truthful advice is often hard to accept, even if it's beneficial.
- From the phrase 做嫁衣 (zuò jià yī), which literally means to sew a wedding dress. The phrase is a metaphor for "working for someone else's benefit" - like painstakingly sewing a wedding dress for someone else to wear. It implies wasted effort or unappreciated effort.
- When used figuratively, 草根 (cǎogēn) refers to the common people, the masses, ordinary folks, or those from a humble background. It often carries connotations of being down-to-earth, unpretentious, and connected to the basic level of society.
- 藤 téng = vine, rattan, cane
- ostensibly modest, but in fact boastful
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