54: Beautiful woman like jade, undercurrent confrontation

Su Wanqing's appearance was like a pearl dropped into a calm lake, instantly drawing the eyes of everyone in the banquet hall.

She was dressed in a light blue off-the-shoulder evening gown, its well-tailored skirt accentuating her graceful figure. Her fair skin, illuminated by the crystal chandeliers, resembled premium suet jade, radiating a lustrous glow. Her exquisite makeup perfectly highlighted her already flawless features, and every gesture, every smile, held a captivating charm.

As the undisputed top-tier actress in the domestic entertainment industry, Su Wanqing was always the center of attention wherever she went. At this moment, she moved with light steps, smiling sweetly as she walked towards Lin Da, Li Shengshi, and the others, naturally followed by her agent and assistant.

"Chairman Li, gentlemen, Su Wanqing greets you," Su Wanqing said as she approached them, bowing slightly. Her voice was clear and melodious, and her demeanor was graceful and poised, showing no excessive shyness or flattery despite the presence of industry giants.

"Haha, it's Su Wanqing, you rascal!" Li Shengshi laughed heartily, his eyes showing the appreciation of an elder for a junior. "You're getting more beautiful and more like a big star every day!"

The other executives from film and television companies also smiled and greeted Su Wanqing, their words filled with praise and politeness. After all, Su Wanqing was not only a popular artist, but her agency also had considerable influence. Everyone present had, more or less, collaborated with her or had potential opportunities for future collaboration.

Lin Da stood by, watching the scene with a smile, but secretly pondering.

Su Wanqing's sudden appearance, and her slightly intimate "Teacher Lin Da" just now, undoubtedly pushed him into the spotlight. While it certainly contained her appreciation for his acting, it probably also held a hint of... leveraging his presence.

After all, being able to converse and laugh with Li Shengshi and these industry giants was itself a symbol of status and position. By proactively showing goodwill to him, a "newcomer," she could both demonstrate her approachability and, subtly, increase her own popularity and network.

The rules of survival in the entertainment industry were indeed omnipresent.

"Teacher Lin Da, we meet again." After exchanging pleasantries with the bigwigs, Su Wanqing turned her gaze to Lin Da, her beautiful eyes sparkling with a radiant smile, as if their previous chance encounter on Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street was merely a delightful prelude.

"Miss Su, you are as radiant as ever. It's my honor to see you again," Lin Da responded politely. The Aura Control- Affinity skill was still quietly operating on him, making him appear gentle yet dignified.

"Teacher Lin is too modest," Su Wanqing chuckled, a hint of slyness in her eyes. "I've heard that Teacher Lin's performance in the chronicles of the great ming dynasty production was absolutely stunning, and even Director Zheng Guofeng and Chen Daoming praised you highly. I came to the Golden Tripod Award this time specifically to ask you for some acting secrets!"

Her words were half-true, half-false, both praising Lin Da and subtly showcasing her good relationships with top industry professionals.

Lin Da understood upon hearing this. It seemed that this big star, Miss Su, not only had good acting skills, but her art of speaking was also quite sophisticated.

"Miss Su is joking," Lin Da smiled slightly, his tone humble. "I'm just a newcomer, still in the learning phase. How dare I show off in front of an award-winning actress like you? It's you, Miss Su, who at such a young age already holds several Golden Tripod Awards. Your acting talent is truly a role model for us juniors to learn from."

He cleverly steered the conversation back to Su Wanqing, both deflecting her "request for guidance" and complimenting her appropriately, leaving no room for error.

The use of the [Words of Power (Elementary)] skill made his every word sound sincere and proper, making people feel as if they were basking in a spring breeze.

After hearing Lin Da's words, a hint of undetectable surprise flashed in Su Wanqing's beautiful eyes. She hadn't expected that this seemingly young Lin Da not only had seasoned acting skills, but his wisdom in handling situations far surpassed ordinary people.

She had originally intended to use this opportunity to probe Lin Da's depths and see if she could extract any "inside information" about the chronicles of the great ming dynasty or Director Zheng Guofeng from him. However, she hadn't expected Lin Da to be so impenetrable, leaving her no opening whatsoever.

"Teacher Lin is truly too good at speaking," Su Wanqing said with a playful pout, her tone carrying a hint of feigned blame, but also more genuine admiration. "It seems it's really not easy to learn anything real from you."

Li Shengshi watched the exchange between the two with a silent smile, his eyes full of amusement. He knew that neither of these young people was to be underestimated. Lin Da's composure and maturity, and Su Wanqing's intelligence and quick wit, both impressed him deeply.

Just then, a greater commotion suddenly arose from another part of the banquet hall.

An elderly man with white hair, full of vigor, dressed in a Tang suit, looking like an immortal, slowly entered the banquet hall, surrounded by several Golden Tripod Award organizing committee staff members.

The elder's appearance instantly drew everyone's attention.

The guests present, no matter how high their status or how prominent their position, all showed respectful, even worshipful, expressions upon seeing this elder, and proactively stepped forward to greet him.

Lin Da's pupils also sharply contracted.

He recognized this elder!

He was none other than the venerable patriarch of the Chinese film industry, the highly respected recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, and the chairman of this year's Golden Tripod Award jury—Qin Mufeng, Old Qin!

Old Qin's appearance undoubtedly pushed the atmosphere of tonight's welcome banquet to a new climax.

And Lin Da knew that whether he could complete the "First Taste of Fame in the Magic City" mission issued by the golden supporting role system, this Old Qin would likely be a crucial key figure!

His gaze, and that of Li Shengshi, who was smiling and nodding not far away, inadvertently met in the air.

Both of them read a hint of... unspoken understanding in each other's eyes.

It seemed that tonight's show was getting more and more interesting.