Chapter 108: Press Conference Gets Egged
Xia Yangyang's phone rang just as Gu Qichen posed a question she wasn't sure how to answer. The call, a timely reprieve, was from Director Yang.
"Going public?" she mused. The decision was irrevocable, yet she hesitated. She still hadn't resolved the situation with Shen Manbing, nor understood Gu Qichen's feelings.
Returning to the dinner table, she informed Gu Qichen of Director Yang's plan: a press conference the following afternoon to announce her as the female lead and clarify her relationship with Chen Yu. Gu Qichen reacted minimally, quickly cleaning up and leaving. Xia Yangyang sensed his displeasure, wondering if it stemmed from her unclear response.
Her allergic rash had improved considerably, with only a few faint red spots remaining on her face, though more persisted on her body. Complete healing, she knew from experience, would take about half a month.
The next afternoon, many arrived on set, but Chen Yu remained absent until the press conference. He seemed distant, avoiding her entirely before the event began. Shen Shichuan provided her with the press conference script, but it was essentially Chen Yu's show; Xia Yangyang's role was merely to sit beside him.
The conference room was packed: journalists from major media outlets, and a throng of Chen Yu's fans outside, effectively barricading the hotel.
The press conference proceeded smoothly. Director Yang Jin announced Xia Yangyang as the "Cinderella" audition winner, and Chen Yu clarified their strictly professional relationship. The Q&A session, largely pre-arranged, yielded no surprises.
As the conference concluded, a young woman burst in, hurling an egg at Xia Yangyang and screaming, "Scram out of the entertainment industry, you rule-breaking, innocent poseur!"
Before anyone could react, Chen Yu instinctively pulled Xia Yangyang into his arms, shielding her from the second egg, which struck him on the head. The stunned silence was broken by Chen Yu's manager shouting for security, who swiftly apprehended the egg-thrower, who continued to accuse Xia Yangyang of rule-breaking.
The ensuing flash photography was intense. Chen Yu's manager and assistant frantically tried to shield him, pleading, "Stop shooting, stop shooting!"