Shen Tong instructed firmly. "Don't say anything reckless. If the media catches even a hint of something off, all three of us will be finished!"
After a moment's thought, Shen Tong added, "If any media asks about Chen Xiaoyong's previous rumors, explain that those were just casual outings with friends. Don't say anything more if they press further."
"Do you understand?" Shen Tong asked.
Chen Xiaoyong listened nonchalantly, unfazed by such situations she had encountered many times before.
Su Xiao maintained his perpetually aloof expression, unlikely to reveal any useful information to the media.
Rubbing her temples, Shen Tong looked exhausted. Today's press conference was like walking on a tightrope - one misstep could spell disaster.
The venue was packed with reporters and various media outlets. They whispered among themselves about what questions to ask.
"Hey, what are you planning to ask about?" Reporter A inquired.
"Me? I'm going to ask about the incident by the river. It's a big deal right now!" Reporter B replied.
"What about you?" Reporter A nudged Reporter C in front of him.
"I'm going to ask if Chen Xiaoyong's recent rumors are true or if they were deliberately created!" Reporter C said confidently.
Reporter A was perplexed. With these two having their own angles, what direction should he take? Ah, he could ask about the company... A mischievous smile spread across his face as he thought of this unique approach.
Chen Xiaoyong and Su Xiao finally arrived at the venue, escorted by Shen Tong. In the car, Shen Tong had gravely reminded them, "Be careful with every answer. Don't leave any traces, or you know the consequences."
As they entered, a barrage of camera flashes greeted them. Chen Xiaoyong gracefully played with her hair, smiling as she sat next to the haughty-looking Su Xiao.
"Hello everyone, I'm Chen Xiaoyong," she began after a pause. "Regarding the recent incident, we're grateful for your support. As the public's interest has grown, we felt compelled to hold this press conference to address the rumors, which can be very detrimental to celebrities."
Su Xiao remained silent, surveying the crowd.
"Is the rumor about you and Su Xiao true?" a reporter quickly stood up to ask.
"We're actually victims in this situation," Chen Xiaoyong replied innocently. "Su Xiao was feeling down, so our manager asked me to take him out to cheer him up. You know, celebrities are people too. We need to blow off steam when we're upset. We agreed to meet by the river, but someone must have found out and spread the news, leading to the current situation."
"Why were you specifically chosen to cheer him up?" another reporter asked pointedly.
"Because we're friends," Chen Xiaoyong said, tilting her head and smiling at Su Xiao.
Shen Tong was on edge, fearing Su Xiao might storm off. To her surprise, he gave a slight nod. Relieved, Shen Tong relaxed.
Chen Xiaoyong, emboldened, continued with a bright smile, "Someone as aloof as him rarely makes friends, so we agreed to meet by the river."
"How do you explain your recent rumors, Chen Xiaoyong?" Unable to find anything suspicious about this incident, a reporter changed tack.
"Those were just casual meals and gatherings with friends. Celebrities have friends too and need to socialize like anyone else," Chen Xiaoyong answered naturally.
The reporters asked a few more questions about their rumored relationship and personal gossip, which Chen Xiaoyong handled smoothly. Shen Tong checked her watch - over half an hour had passed. It was about time to wrap up.
"Were these two incidents coincidental or deliberate?" a reporter asked sharply. "From my observation, there must be a connection between them."
Chen Xiaoyong froze, unprepared for such a question. Her face stiffened as she stared blankly at the reporter, unable to respond.
Shen Tong knew she had to step in. She smoothly took a seat next to Su Xiao and introduced herself, "Hello everyone, I'm the manager for both artists."
With a sweet smile, Shen Tong continued, "They can explain their personal rumors, but when it comes to the company's image, I must address it as their manager. I'm more informed about these matters. I want to say that no artist would willingly damage their image by cultivating a reputation as a 'queen of rumors.' It's detrimental to their career. So whether this was intentional or not, I believe you reporters can draw your own conclusions."
"Why have there been so many rumors about Chen Xiaoyong recently?" another reporter pressed. "Is there a connection to the company?"
"I must say, you have quite an imagination to complicate such a simple matter," Shen Tong responded. "Regarding the recent increase in rumors about Ms. Chen, I too wonder why. I even suspect someone might be targeting her deliberately. As for any connection to the company, I don't think we're in such dire straits that we need to rely on artist rumors to stay afloat!"
"But the fact is, both of your artists have gained popularity because of these two incidents," a reporter pointedly remarked.
Shen Tong's heart raced, but she maintained her composure. "That may be true, but if we wanted lasting popularity, we wouldn't be standing here now. We'd let you speculate wildly about their relationship."
As the reporter tried to ask another question, Shen Tong cut him off. "I'm sorry, but our press conference ends here. We have other engagements to attend. Thank you all for coming. We appreciate your hard work."
With that, she ushered Su Xiao and Chen Xiaoyong out of the venue, repeatedly apologizing to the media, "I'm sorry, but our interview is over."
The reporters were left with a multitude of unanswered questions and speculations. The chemistry between Chen Xiaoyong and Su Xiao seemed undeniable. Chen Xiaoyong had been attentive, offering Su Xiao water and coming to his defense. She often explained on Su Xiao's behalf and exchanged meaningful glances with him. Their rapport and atmosphere left much to the imagination. Questions about why they shared the same manager, their hand-holding by the river, and Chen Xiaoyong's defense of Su Xiao remained unasked. It seemed the day's newspapers and programs would be rife with conjecture.
Once in the car, Chen Xiaoyong turned to Su Xiao with a delighted expression. "Su Xiao, what would you like to drink?"
"Nothing," Su Xiao replied coldly.
"Don't you usually have milk tea? Shall I go buy you some?" Chen Xiaoyong persisted.
Su Xiao frowned slightly and repeated, "No need."
Chen Xiaoyong was furious. How could this man be so oblivious? She had been so obvious, yet he still rejected her. It felt like a slap in the face.
Before Chen Xiaoyong could voice her frustration, Shen Tong's phone rang. "Hello? Director Su? Hello, hello."
"What?" Shen Tong exclaimed. "You have a movie role you want Su Xiao to audition for? Alright, let me ask him."
Covering the phone, Shen Tong turned to Su Xiao, but before she could speak, he coldly stated, "Not interested."
The joy on Shen Tong's face instantly vanished. "Why?" she asked.
"I want to sing, not act," Su Xiao stubbornly replied. "I won't accept any acting roles from now on. Don't make me repeat myself!"
Chen Xiaoyong was stunned, unable to understand why Su Xiao would pass up such a great opportunity, clinging instead to his seemingly foolish dream of making an album. Yet, she couldn't help but still care for him.
Shen Tong's face fell. After a moment, she quickly called Director Su back. "Hello, Director Su. I'm afraid Su Xiao isn't in the right state for an audition right now. I'm so sorry! My apologies!"
"By the way, are there any suitable roles for Chen Xiaoyong?" Shen Tong asked, not wanting to miss an opportunity.
Chen Xiaoyong sat up straight, her eyes brimming with anticipation as she watched Shen Tong on the phone.
The smile on Shen Tong's face slowly faded. "I see. No worries. I should be the one apologizing. Yes, please do call me if any suitable roles come up. Alright then, goodbye!"
After hanging up, Shen Tong furrowed her brow. This was troublesome. Director Su's tone hadn't seemed pleased. In this industry, offending someone could be disastrous. She looked worriedly at Su Xiao, but before her concern could linger, another call came in.
"Hello, hello."
"What? You want Su Xiao and Chen Xiaoyong for an advertisement? What kind?... I see. Yes, that's no problem at all. I'm sure we'll have a pleasant collaboration. We can discuss the details in person."
"Great, we'll see you at the company then!" Shen Tong hung up, excitement in her voice. "There's an ad for casual wear that wants both of you. We're heading back to the company now to discuss the details."
"Hello? Yes, hello..."
On the way back to the company, Shen Tong received at least twenty calls, all inquiring about the two artists. There were offers for movies and TV dramas, which she declined as per Su Xiao's instructions. For Chen Xiaoyong, she carefully selected the best opportunities. Most of the offers were for advertisements and TV shows, with both of them being invited to record programs together. This was fortunate; if only Su Xiao had been invited, things might have gone awry.
It's a good start! Shen Tong thought, feeling energized and motivated.