At the same time, after Shu Mingyue left, Ming Lin's girlfriend, Chen Yan, approached Shen Lian.
Shen Lian was naturally wary of her. Her connection to Ming Lin alone was reason enough to stay alert.
Chen Yan's acting was mediocre, and when her nerves failed her, it became even worse. She might have thought she was putting on a convincing front, but to Shen Lian, she was trying far too hard.
Chen Yan smiled and said, "Shen Lian, I have a cocktail party tonight. A director wants to meet you. Come along."
"Can't." Shen Lian shook his head. "I'm going home."
"What's so fun about going home?"
Shen Lian said, "My boyfriend's fun."
For an instant, Chen Yan's expression cracked.
Being with Ming Lin, she knew something about Shen Lian having hooked up with a powerful businessman, but Ming Lin had never told her exactly who it was, no matter how she asked. Later, Ming Lin had told her to... so Chen Yan had come. On the way, she had planned to bluff Shen Lian with his relationship with that businessman if he refused. Who knew Shen Lian would lay his cards on the table in just two sentences? Say whatever you like.
"Come on," Chen Yan persisted. "Your career is doing so well now. Another connection means another opportunity."
Shen Lian shook his head. He could easily have demanded to know which director and who else would be there, then gone along to see what game Ming Lin was playing. Unfortunately for them, he wasn't missing a few screws.
Let them stew.
No matter how eloquently Chen Yan argued, Shen Lian simply refused.
When the red carpet ceremony ended, the hostess warmly invited everyone into the awards venue. The doors were already open, and the celebrities began heading inside.