Chen Xiliang was a liar!

The intel he gathered was all nonsense.

Xia Xiaolan had thought Ji Ya’s fashion show runway would be shabby, but arriving at the scene, she discovered even bicycles weren’t allowed on the street today.

People could enter freely though – without an audience, what would be the point of a fashion show?

It wasn’t that Ji Ya had enough influence to close off Wangfujing Street, but rather there were too many people. If they didn’t block vehicles, the street would be completely gridlocked!

The crowd was enormous.

The runway setup was quite upscale. No lighting was needed in broad daylight, and the cross-shaped runway was bigger and higher than Chen Xiliang had described, definitely 50 centimeters off the ground.

The runway did connect to Ji Ya’s studio as reported. Curtains hung over the studio entrance, obscuring the interior, with only a glass door on one side connecting to the runway. Ji Ya was using the storefront as the models’ changing area.

The runway was elaborately decorated. Where it connected to the store, white wrought iron frames stood on both sides, forming flower walls. The word “Elegance” made of lilies of the valley and hydrangeas topped the runway, creating a beautiful, dreamlike effect.

The fragrance floating in the air told Xia Xiaolan these were all real flowers.

“Looking at this style, it seems Ji Ya’s wedding planners prepared it.”

Though the show hadn’t started, people couldn’t resist taking photos.

No one minded wasting film now – that’s how beautiful the scene was. Though it was a streetside fashion show, Xia Xiaolan had to admit Ji Ya had put in both thought and significant money.

Her tone carried envy.

This was throwing money around – with so much spent, how could the promotional effect not be good?

Zhou Cheng caught the envy in her voice, “You like this kind of thing?”

This might be his wife’s hint about wanting a grand wedding. Xia Xiaolan understood straight men’s thinking too well – you couldn’t let them guess women’s thoughts, or they’d prepare “surprises” that would make you laugh and cry. She quickly denied it: “No, I don’t like it. I prefer more intimate weddings, witnessed only by close family and friends.”

Xia Xiaolan hadn’t married in her previous life, but she had plans about marriage.

Just getting the certificate simply, having a meal with close friends, maybe even a “travel wedding,” using marriage as an excuse to use up all the annual leave her company owed her… It wasn’t that the company wouldn’t give her leave, but Xia Xiaolan had worked too hard to reach her position, always saying she was busy, and not daring to relax.

What she thought then was, that if she found someone who could share her pressure and face the future together, she would definitely take a proper vacation!

Of course, a man worthy of her trust never appeared until her eyes closed, which Xia Xiaolan herself found quite helpless.

She had always lacked a bit of luck.

Fortunately, heaven made it up to her in this life. As Zhou Cheng held her hand, Xia Xiaolan emphasized again: “Spending lots of money and having a grand ceremony with many guests is pointless – what matters most is marrying the right person.”

Zhou Cheng brought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently:

“I’ll work hard to become the right person.”

Shao Guangrong felt his eyes were about to be blinded.

He quietly moved away from the couple. Chen Xiliang and Zhang Xiao had already tactfully stepped aside. Only the slow-witted Shao Guangrong was still standing beside Zhou Cheng talking, not expecting such a sudden display of affection.

As Shao Guangrong squeezed to the side, he spotted a familiar face in the crowd.

It was Yu!

This girl was like a haunting spirit!

Shao Guangrong glared at her fiercely, and Yu didn’t dare squeeze any closer.

Just then, someone came over, “Excuse me, which one is Miss Xia Xiaolan?”

Xia Xiaolan produced her invitation, “That’s me.”

“Miss Xia, we’ve arranged front-row seats for you. Would you like to bring companions?”

Xia Xiaolan was still holding Zhou Cheng’s hand. Though the person asked out of politeness, Xia Xiaolan nodded and pointed at several people: “Her, him, and him… they’re all with me.”

Using one invitation to seat so many people?

The person’s smile was becoming strained.

But they had been instructed that Xia Xiaolan must sit in the front row, so they had to grit their teeth and coordinate seating arrangements.

There were still quite a few seats reserved on both sides of the runway – some for the studio’s VIP guests, some for reporters and editors, and the rest for Ji Ya’s friends. Xia Xiaolan was categorized as a “friend,” and one that Ji Ya had repeatedly insisted must be seated. With these instructions, Xia Xiaolan could bring several people to squeeze in.

The seating might have been arranged earlier, making it difficult for the staff to coordinate now.

But how was this Xia Xiaolan’s problem? It was something for show organizer Ji Ya to worry about. A public event would encounter various unexpected situations – hopefully, Ji Ya’s people had the ability to handle them.

Xia Xiaolan only said, “we all need to sit together.” Since Little Ge and her assistant hadn’t come, it wouldn’t be appropriate to ask any of the remaining people to sit in the back rows!

How did they eventually coordinate it?

Zhen Wenxiu gave up her seat, actively taking two other friends to sit in the second row.

Truly worthy of being Ji Ya’s good friend, always considering things from Ji Ya’s perspective.

As Xia Xiaolan and Zhou Cheng took their seats, Zhen Wenxiu spoke loud enough for those around to hear: “So young yet already knows how to be competitive, without any manners. I don’t think much of the Zhou family’s judgment either.”

As Xia Xiaolan was about to retort, Zhou Cheng patted her hand:

“Whether my judgment is good or not doesn’t need outsiders’ concern. How does our family feel about you, how would an outsider know? Have you heard the old saying – minding others’ business while eating plain radish? Some people just don’t know their place. I don’t recall the Zhou family having such relatives.”

Minding others’ business while eating plain radish – how could someone who didn’t even associate with the Zhou family comment on their judgment?

Wasn’t this a joke?

Zhou Cheng’s words made Zhen Wenxiu’s face turn ashen. Someone couldn’t help laughing first, and the whole scene became a bit hard to control.

Was this Zhou person so arrogant? Were the Zhous the only family that could be proud in all of Beijing?

Shao Guangrong laughed loudly, “Brother Cheng, don’t speak the truth, look how unhappy this auntie is. By the way, auntie, which family are you from?”

If you don’t want to give up your seat, then don’t. Sister-in-law Xiaolan was invited by Ji Ya, so seating arrangements should be Ji Ya’s concern.

Giving up the seat but then complaining about disrespect – why so much drama?

The Shao family and Ning family didn’t associate much, so Shao Guangrong truly didn’t recognize Zhen Wenxiu.

Though the fashion show hadn’t started, all the seated guests were looking this way. Editor-in-Chief Cui, sitting on the other side of the runway, hadn’t expected Xia Xiaolan to be so high-profile.

Cui soon realized this wasn’t high-profile at all – the real dramatic moment came unexpectedly. Initially, Cui hadn’t recognized the woman sitting with Xia Xiaolan, as Zhang Xiao was wearing a large hat.

Suddenly Zhang Xiao turned her head, and her hat fell off.

Every strand of her hair was styled to shine brilliantly, and even the way she swept her hair carried an indescribable lazy beauty.

Indeed, Zhang Xiao’s outfit today could be called stunning.

Despite the cold weather, Zhang Xiao wore an off-shoulder long-sleeve blouse paired with white high-waisted wide-leg pants and pointed red lace-up heels. With this styling, her face looked both familiar and somehow different.

“Zhang Xiao?”

“Isn’t that Zhang Xiao? Why is she here too?”

“Zhang Xiao, can we take a few photos?”

The “Popular Film” magazine people were the first to defect – they weren’t particularly interested in the fashion show, but Zhang Xiao was different. She was a rising film actress in her prime!