This celebrity became even more popular after being exposed of having multiple girlfriends
Chapter 536 - 378_2

Chapter 536: Chapter 378_2

Only Su Meng was left standing there, frowning as she looked over.

Wu Mu drove over with a slight smile, rolled down the window, and teasingly said, "Hey, Little Su, it’s been a while."

Su Meng turned her head to look at him, seeming to be in a daze.

This was only their second meeting in real life.

Though Su Meng seemed to pay quite a bit of attention to him, Wu Mu often received feedback on his new songs from her on WeChat.

They didn’t chat much, just simple comments like the songs were nice to listen to.

Well, whether it’s haters or fans, at least they contribute to the viewership.

Wu Mu chuckled, "Your driver ran off? Want me to give you a lift?"

Su Meng hesitated a bit, "Let me tell my family."

"Aunt Qing, you guys don’t need to come over. Yes, my friend is giving me a ride home. Okay, I know."

After she finished the call, Su Meng opened the front passenger seat door of Wu Mu’s car and sat down.

Once he confirmed her destination, Wu Mu asked curiously, "Aren’t you from Shen City? Why did you come here?"

Su Meng shook her head, "I’m from Shen City, but my family also has a house in Beijing."

She paused, showing a rare smile, "We were also at the venue earlier, and my friends wanted to cover their ears at your first song."

Wu Mu laughed heartily, "That has nothing to do with me, right? There was nothing wrong with the way I sang."

Wu Mu and Su Meng chatted casually, and soon Wu Mu dropped her off at her home, a large courtyard house not far from the Forbidden City, in the Upper City District.

Hmm, confirmed, another one of the Heavenly Dragon People.

Wu Mu was rather surprised. Although from Su Meng’s everyday words and behavior, it was clear her family must be quite wealthy.

But he didn’t expect them to be this rich.

Just this courtyard house alone must be worth at least...

The host was not yet present, and Yang Rongfa asked, "Many renowned directors and company bosses from within the circle are here today. Would you like me to introduce you to them?"

This is an opportunity for regular people within the circle.

Getting to know more people is always a good thing.

But... remembering a past banquet, Yang Rongfa wisely chose to ask first.

Wu Mu shook his head, "No..."

But halfway through shaking his head, he saw a figure in a small reception room, partitioned off from the main hall, catching a glimpse.

"Director Lin is here too?" Wu Mu asked Yang Rongfa.

The Director Lin he mentioned was, of course, not Lin Qingyue, but Lin Qingyue’s father, Lin Xueming.

Although Lin Qingyue was returning tonight, she needed to deal with matters related to the crew and wouldn’t be here.

Furthermore, he had mentioned to Lin Qingyue in the morning chat that he was attending this banquet. If Lin Qingyue were coming, she would have informed him.

"Yes, Tang Wei and Xie Chunfang are also here." Yang Rongfa nodded.

Wu Mu thought for a moment. These two were directors on the same level as Lin Xueming, top figures within the circle.

But he didn’t plan to try to befriend these directors for resources; he wasn’t particularly concerned about these two.

Still, since Lin Xueming was here, it wouldn’t be appropriate not to greet him.

"I’ll head over to greet Director Lin." He took steps towards the small reception room.

"Director Lin and the others are here too. Do you want to go greet them?" Yang Rongfa whispered as he followed.

As he spoke, he pointed towards the small reception room by the main reception hall.

The small reception area seemed to be a place for private gatherings, partitioned in the center with decorations to obscure the view. It was not clear what it fully looked like, only that it was smaller than this side.

Nearby sofas were placed closer, and quite a few people sat there chatting.

Director Lin?

Wu Mu thought for a moment and instantly realized it was Lin Qingyue’s father, Lin Xueming.

While Lin Qingyue was returning tonight, she had matters with the crew and wouldn’t be present.

Moreover, he had chatted with Lin Qingyue in the morning about attending this banquet. If she were coming, she would have certainly told him.

"I’ll go say hello." He nodded.

With Lin Xueming here, he definitely needed to greet him.

"The bosses of Light Shadow Media and Yahua Film and Television, along with Director Tang and Director Xie are also here." Yang Rongfa again whispered.

Light Shadow Media, Yahua Film and Television?

Even if Wu Mu doesn’t interact much with the circle, he knows these companies. If Yang Rongfa’s company is considered mid-level in the industry, these two are truly upper-echelon in the circle.

Not only are they publicly listed companies, but they also consistently produce major films annually and have artist management businesses with many celebrity stars under them.

No need for an introduction to these companies.

As for Director Tang and Director Xie?

If Yang Rongfa specifically mentioned them, they must be significant figures.

Wu Mu thought about it for a moment and instantly knew who they were.

Tang Wei and Xie Chunfang.

Directors of the same level as Lin Xueming.

All are well-established in the circle, with status and fame.

So, all the big names are over there.

He and Yang Rongfa walked towards the small reception room.

As they got closer, they could see the situation in the small reception room.

Lin Xueming was indeed there, sitting centrally on a sofa, holding a wine glass and talking about something.

Many people sat around him, including two men exuding an air of authority and a few middle-aged men who appeared to be managing artists.

One was Director Tang Wei, wearing a cotton beret evidently trying to hide something, but unable to conceal his bald head. And Director Xie Chunfang, whose name might sound feminine, but was tall and towering over everyone present.

And then...

Wu Mu paused.

A woman around forty, dressed in a slim-fitting black outfit, with a pearl necklace, elegantly chatting with those beside her.

Lin Qingyue’s mother also came?

This was the first time Wu Mu had seen Lin Qingyue’s mother in real life; he hadn’t encountered her during visits to Lin Qingyue’s home.

But Lin Qingyue’s mother, Du Lan, was an old generation film queen, so he recognized her from pictures.

Wu Mu paused briefly before continuing forward.

He hadn’t walked far when he encountered another familiar face.

In the small reception room, closer to the edge, was a man around thirty, who seemed to be listening intently to Lin Xueming while holding a plate.

It’s Geng Wei.

The original boss of Xiao Yi Company, who wanted to sign him, but was rejected and then tried to blacklist him in anger.

But Wu Mu didn’t care much about him, continuing forward without pause.

As he approached, he could hear Lin Xueming’s voice, "This year’s film market situation is alarming. The National Film Bureau hasn’t released official data yet, but I’ve asked Director Cao Guang about the detailed figures. This year, the total box office is 42.5 billion, a decrease of 21% compared to the same period last year."

Lin Xueming paused his serious tone when he noticed Wu Mu approaching.

Not only him but everyone else in the small reception room noticed as well.

The faces in the reception room varied, some celebrities and their managers present seemed a bit surprised, as if wondering why this unusual guest was here.

The two big company bosses and the directors Tang Wei and Xie Chunfang glanced briefly, unbothered.

Lin Qingyue’s mother, Du Lan, initially seemed unaware, then spent half a second staring at Wu Mu’s face before realizing.

And... Geng Wei.

When he saw Wu Mu, his face visibly darkened, and he forced a smile when their gazes met.

Wu Mu paid him no mind, scanning the room before moving on.

This indifference undoubtedly made Geng Wei’s expression even darker.

"This year’s total audience numbers decreased significantly as well. This year reached 1.01 billion, down from 1.299 billion last year, a reduction of nearly 300 million. Compared to 2019, it’s worse; in 2019, the total box office was 64.2 billion, a drop of 33.9%. Five years have passed, and instead of increasing, our total box office has been declining annually."

After a slight pause, Lin Xueming resumed his speech, glancing at Wu Mu.