Chapter 56: Running Off to Hong Kong to Talk Trash

In the evening, Huo Tian, the eldest young master of Poly Tianxi, hosted a gathering.

Tang Xi also received an invitation call.

Knowing that Tang Xi loved quiet and disliked socializing, Tang Qiushuang gave her repeated instructions before she left. She reminded her that this time she was employed by Poly, which was a well-known film and television company in Hong Kong. Therefore, unless necessary, she must not offend anyone, she needed to handle social situations properly, and even if she truly could not cope, she must not give the employer a cold face.

Tang Qiushuang treated her like a teenager who had never stepped out into the world, leaving Tang Xi crying and laughing inside.

Although she had not been in touch with the corporate world for the past three years, she still understood the nuances of human relationships.

She could not guarantee she would do her best, but she felt she could handle basic socializing.

The dinner venue was an upscale club by Victoria Harbour.

Tang Xi told the manager the name of the eldest young master of the Huo family, and the manager politely escorted her to the top floor.

The top floor of the club featured an all-glass structure, offering a distant view of the sparkling water surface opposite. Cruise ships adorned with colorful light strips sailed past from time to time, looking dazzling and charming amidst the forest of high-rise buildings.

A light show performance was scheduled for eight o'clock in the evening.

Tang Xi had seen it a few times, but still found it breathtaking.

"Miss Tang, hello, it is an honor to finally meet you." Huo Tian wore a casual suit, followed by his personal secretary.

When Tang Xi went to Poly to complete her paperwork yesterday, she had not seen Huo Tian, yet he recognized her at a glance.

The two young masters of Poly, Huo Tian and Huo Xi, were both business geniuses and quite famous in the industry.

Equally famous were their personal lives. As the eldest, Huo Tian remained unmarried to this day, changing girlfriends one after another, whereas Huo Xi was already married with children and widely recognized in the industry as a devoted family man.

"Hello." Tang Xi shook hands with him. "Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Huo."

"I don't deserve such praise. After all, you are the treasure I poached all the way from the mainland. I will be counting on Miss Tang's expertise from now on." Huo Tian personally pulled out a chair for Tang Xi. "Please have a seat, Miss Tang. I need to go welcome other guests."

Tang Xi smiled and nodded.

As soon as she sat down, she felt an unfriendly gaze directed at her from across the table.

Gong Weiwei, whom she had seen at Poly yesterday.

She was also from the mainland, but her position was that of an assistant.

Meanwhile, her mentor, Shi Yehua, was a renowned makeup artist in the industry and also the vice president of the Beijing Film and Television Association.

She was a capable woman in her forties who looked down upon everyone.

Tang Xi had friction with her before, but that was already several years ago.

She nodded slightly toward Shi Yehua as a gesture of greeting.

"Heh, the younger generation nowadays really lacks manners." Shi Yehua glanced at her sideways. "If our industry falls into the hands of such people, the future is truly worrisome."

"Master, you might not know this, do you? She was personally and painstakingly invited by Young Master Huo himself. I heard she is some kind of hidden expert among the folk, though I still have no idea what respectable achievements she actually has, aside from winning a random award." Gong Weiwei looked at Tang Xi with disdain.

She was wearing a jacquard short-sleeved qipao today, paired with black high heels and a pair of pearl earrings swaying by her neck, exuding the charm of a classical beauty.

She had also inquired about Young Master Huo's preferences in advance, knowing that he favored elegant, dignified, and intellectual women.

Originally, at tonight's banquet, she was certain to be the most dazzling one, but Tang Xi's arrival shattered her pleasant illusions.

Tang Xi was simply too stunning. She wore a lotus-pink tweed matching set that was not overly eye-catching, yet far from plain.

Coupled with her porcelain-clean face, delicate and curved eyebrows, and eyes as bright as a clear moon reflecting the bustling lights of Victoria outside the window, she seemed to quiet the entire room in an instant.

Her gentle beauty was unassuming, yet possessed a breathtaking allure.

Tang Xi acted as though she had heard nothing of the sarcastic remarks from the master and apprentice across the table.

She had no intention of joining any film and television association, and she had already shown the proper surface-level politeness. Since the other party refused to appreciate it, there was nothing she could do.

She had never cared about inconsequential people.

Huo Tian brought more people in, all members of the team he had hired for this project.

Before official filming began, a mountain of preparatory work needed to be done, and a top-tier team could bring the maximum return for a film.

This was why Huo Tian was so meticulous and demanding when selecting personnel.

"The adjacent room is hosting a gathering organized by Elder Tang. I heard Mr. Zhou will be coming as well." Huo Tian's secretary reported to him in a low voice. "Would you like to drop by and take a look later?"

Huo Tian checked his watch and dismissed the thought indifferently. "That person from Pingdingshan has been kicking up quite a fuss lately. Mr. Zhou rushed back from Beijing a while ago, coaxed her for more than half a month, and turned down all social engagements. Elder Tang probably won't be able to invite him."

Unfamiliar with the private affairs of the heavyweights, the secretary said, "Then I'll have someone keep an eye out. If Mr. Zhou actually shows up, I'll arrange it for you."

"Go ahead."

Just as Huo Tian turned around, he noticed Tang Xi's gaze returning to the dining table.

She seemed to have overheard parts of the conversation between him and his secretary just now.

Huo Tian walked back to his seat, raised his wine glass, and said, "On behalf of Poly, I welcome you all here. I ask for your full cooperation to ensure the smooth filming of this movie. A toast to everyone."

Tang Xi did not drink alcohol; she sipped fruit juice throughout the evening.

Gong Weiwei, on the other hand, raised her glass frequently, toasting one person after another.

Eventually, she swapped seats with someone sitting next to Huo Tian and began drinking with him exclusively.

Huo Tian was a romantic playboy who never turned down company, and Gong Weiwei's attire and styling indeed aligned with his aesthetic preferences for women.

As the banquet reached its height with three rounds of drinks, the secretary walked in and whispered something into Huo Tian's ear.

Huo Tian immediately put down his wine glass, offered his apologies, and left with the secretary.

Feeling stifled and disliking this kind of mingling and socializing, Tang Xi headed to the public balcony.

Here, she could feel the sea breeze and gaze out at the magnificent night view of the Pearl of the Orient.

Thinking of Xiaoqi, Tang Xi called Sister Yu.

"Xiaoqi needs to lose weight recently. Don't feed it too many snacks."

"If you have time, take it out for a run at noon to burn some fat."

It loved to leap onto people upon meeting them, and Tang Xi had almost been knocked down by it a few times.

A fifty or sixty-pound behemoth had zero composure and still thought it was a tiny puppy.

Only after hanging up the phone did Tang Xi feel relieved.

It was clearly Zhou Jingchuan's dog, yet it felt as though she were the one raising it.

And its irresponsible owner had only cared about it once after dumping it on her.

Tang Xi could not help but grumble inwardly, "You heartless dog owner."

A light chuckle came from the adjacent balcony, carrying a magnetic tone through the night air, lingering right beside her ear.

Tang Xi found the voice strangely familiar.

She leaned forward slightly to look over and locked eyes with a gaze that carried a half-smile.

There were two large private rooms on the top floor, and their balconies were connected side by side, though separated by a partition that could not be crossed.

Zhou Jingchuan was standing on the balcony next door, resting his hands on the railing. With his high nose bridge, thin lips, and eyelids shaped like fan folds at the corners, he possessed a soft expression that exuded approachability.

The sea breeze ruffled the white shirt he wore, and the corner of his tie fluttered upward, adding a touch of unrestrained freedom and casual elegance.

Tang Xi froze.

Could her luck possibly be this atrocious?

Flying all the way from Beijing to Hong Kong just to talk "trash" about someone, only to have that exact person overhear it.

Right now, she could only pray that his hearing wasn't sharp enough to connect the target of her complaints with himself.