Chinese entertainment industry has been booming since 2008.

Having extricated himself from the incident in the lounge, Zhang Yang changed into a dark blue patterned shirt, which added to his composure and restraint. He stepped back into the dazzling banquet hall, as if the little disturbance had never happened. However, his gaze had become more cautious, and he no longer readily accepted unintentional approach.

When Fan Bingbing saw him return, she immediately greeted him warmly and introduced him to several friends she had just met. It was during this social gathering that his gaze passed through the crowd of people clinking glasses and settled on the solitary figure in front of the French windows.

Unlike the others who eagerly gathered around, she simply held a glass of champagne, leaned against the floor-to-ceiling window, and quietly watched the city night view outside.

She wore a dark green velvet halter dress with an extremely simple cut, yet it perfectly accentuated her elegant shoulder and neck lines and slender waist. The fabric shimmered with a calm and sophisticated luster under the lights.

She wore minimal jewelry, with only two small pearls adorning her earlobes, which complemented her pale skin. She was tilting her head slightly, gazing at the city lights outside the window. Her profile was sharp and clean, her eyes calm, conveying a sense of detachment and scrutiny.

This glance stirred something within Zhang Yang, who was used to seeing all kinds of beauties. It wasn't the kind of aggressive radiance, nor the affected sweetness, but rather an intellectual, restrained, yet captivating beauty, like a book with an elegant binding that invites exploration, making one want to turn the pages.

Fan Bingbing, who was keeping a close eye on Zhang Yang, immediately noticed his unusual behavior. Following Zhang Yang's gaze, she smiled and whispered, "That's Wang Like. He's a great actor, but he's a bit reserved and doesn't like to join in the fun."

Wang Like?

A knowing glint flashed in Zhang Yang's eyes; he knew this actress.

She has a very high level of beauty, the kind of face that netizens jokingly call "national peace and prosperity". Her appearance is very similar to Ning Jing, and also resembles Ah Jiao and Sun Li. Her most famous role is Qin Ling in "Blood Romance".

The saying "Small fame depends on promotion, great fame depends on fate" is very fitting for Wang Like. She can be said to be the go-to leading lady for CCTV's serious dramas. Her looks and acting skills are top-notch, but she just isn't famous.

Jing Tian has already been cast as the female lead in "The Heirs," so for the second female lead, we need to find a talented actress. Introducing Wang Like, a "catfish" in the mix, will make Jing Tian's career take off.

Zhang Yang swore that he really didn't want to invite Wang Like to play the second female lead because of her looks.

Zhang Yang gave Fan Bingbing a look and then headed in the direction of Wang Like.

Zhang Yang stopped at a suitable distance and said with a smile, "Ms. Wang Like?"

Hearing someone call his name, Wang Like turned around and saw Zhang Yang. A perfectly timed hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, which quickly turned into a gentle and polite smile: "Producer Zhang, do you know me?"

Her voice was not loud, but clear and pleasant, with a touch of calm magnetism.

"I'm familiar with the Qinling Mountains, of course."

As they spoke, Zhang Yang's gaze fell frankly on her face, with an undisguised admiration: "Excuse me for bothering you, but I just feel that Miss Wang has a very special temperament, and seems quite different from the people in this place."

Upon hearing this, Wang Like's lips curled up slightly, his smile deepening and becoming more genuine: "Producer Zhang is joking. I'm just not very good at creating a lively atmosphere."

Her response was neither overly enthusiastic nor impolite; she struck the perfect balance.

Zhang Yang didn't beat around the bush; he steered the conversation towards a professional topic: "In 'My Love from the Star,' in the scene where Li Qingyan gazes at the portrait in the museum, if Ms. Wang were to play that role, how would you handle that silent, profound emotion?"

The question was somewhat abrupt, even carrying a sense of testing. Wang Like was slightly taken aback, but did not panic.

She paused for a moment, her gaze fixed on the void, as if constructing a scene: "I will focus more on the layers of the eyes and the micro-language of the body, from the initial recollection, to the struggle in the middle, and then to the final relief... Perhaps, I can use the changes in the rhythm of my breathing to convey this silent surge."

Wang Like's insights are quite unique, going beyond generalities. She can accurately point out several details in the performance, demonstrating her solid professional skills and observational ability.

As expected, actresses who are favored by CCTV are all quite talented.

"A very unique perspective." Zhang Yang nodded, his eyes filled with even more admiration: "I'm currently preparing for a new project, and there's a character in it with a rather complex backstory. The actor needs to have the ability to explore the inner conflicts. I think this kind of role is very challenging, but it's also the best way to hone one's skills."

Wang Li was incredibly clever; he immediately grasped Zhang Yang's unspoken meaning. His heart skipped a beat, but he maintained his composure. Joining Zhang Yang's new drama was something many people would kill for.

However, she didn't immediately show enthusiasm. Instead, she pondered for a moment and nodded: "Complex roles are indeed more attractive. Producer Zhang's projects must be meticulously crafted."

"If Ms. Wang is interested, I will arrange for my staff to send you a portion of the script later."

Wang Like raised his glass and lightly clinked it with Zhang Yang's. Just like that, a potential collaboration that could affect the trajectory of their respective careers was sown in this calm conversation.

Zhang Yang left the window with a satisfied feeling, while Wang Like remained standing in the same spot, her heart already stirred by this unexpected opportunity. She knew that tonight's celebration banquet held a different meaning for her.

Zhang Yang's brief exchange with Wang Like did not escape the eyes of many observant people present. Although they could not hear the specific content of the conversation, seeing Zhang Yang and Wang Like chatting happily was a strong signal in itself.

Some female celebrities who were initially observing now looked at Wang Like with a more complex mix of emotions, including envy, jealousy, and frustration.

Just as Zhang Yang parted ways with Wang Like, Fan Bingbing opportunely approached him, raised her glass to Zhang Yang, and teased, "What's up? Got a new prey?"

Zhang Yang directly retorted to Fan Bingbing's words: "Sister Bingbing, is that the kind of person you see me as?"

Fan Bingbing looked at Zhang Yang with sincere eyes: "Yes."

Zhang Yang: .....

"I felt that Wang Like was a good fit for a role in my new drama, and I wanted to invite her to play the part."

"Oh, I see."

Fan Bingbing's eyes clearly showed disbelief. And rightly so, she herself had been tricked by Zhang Yang in the same way, and she didn't believe that Wang Li could escape the clutches of that scumbag Zhang Yang.

As night deepened, the celebration banquet slowly drew to a close amidst its extreme liveliness. Guests began to leave in twos and threes, but each person's face carried an unspoken excitement and calculation.

Zhang Yang didn't leave with Fan Bingbing; he left alone. Fan Bingbing had squeezed in time to attend the celebration banquet because she had been so busy lately that she didn't even have time to bring Zhang Yang seafood.