Chen Feng took a sip of tea, and his eyes immediately lit up.
He lowered his head to look at the tea in his cup; its color was like amber, and its taste was mellow and rich.
"What kind of tea is this?"
Chen Feng asked casually.
"It's Phoenix Dancong Songzhong No. 1 from Phoenix Mountain, Chaozhou, with an auction price of 1 million yuan per kilogram. How's the taste? Not bad, right?"
Jiang Pingting's fingers were long and slender as she meticulously prepared the tea.
Her long legs occasionally shifted positions, and the hem of her cheongsam, neither too long nor too short, couldn't completely cover her smooth skin. When she changed positions, a glimpse of spring would occasionally flash.
Chen Feng knew what she was doing.
Since he already understood her background as an Orchid Gate inheritor, he naturally also knew the inherent habits of people like her.
Chen Feng also acted as if he didn't see it.
After taking two more sips of tea, he nodded: "It's really good. There's a reason why it's so expensive. After drinking the tea, the cup itself is still fragrant."
"Hmm, you understand."
Jiang Pingting praised him without reservation: "Drinking it leaves a lingering fragrance in the cup. You truly live up to your reputation as the power behind the gambling industry in Hong Kong and Macau."
Chen Feng blinked.
He didn't say anything.
It seemed she really knew his background.
Did she specifically investigate him?
Seeing Chen Feng push the teacup away, Jiang Pingting quickly chuckled: "Don't misunderstand, I didn't intentionally investigate you. It's just that when I saw you display a technique from the Little Thief Gate, I became curious."
"Alright."
Chen Feng let out a long breath and said indifferently: "You must know everything you need to know. If you have anything to say, you can speak directly."
"No hurry, let's just drink tea and chat."
Jiang Pingting slowly pushed the teacup back and refilled it once more: "I'm older than you, can I call you Chen Laodi?"
"As you wish."
Chen Feng didn't touch the tea; he just looked around and asked casually: "Your status in the circle seems quite high. Why did you choose to film with Liu Boguang? Seeing Director Jiang and Lao Mouzi's attitude towards you, you should be able to film with them whenever you want, right?"
"Yes."
Jiang Pingting didn't hide it and nodded frankly: "If I want to, I can speak to any director in the entire entertainment industry."
"That powerful?"
Chen Feng turned to look at her.
Jiang Pingting smiled charmingly: "Chen Laodi, you know my background, right?"
"I know, an Orchid Gate inheritor."
"Hehe."
Jiang Pingting clapped her hands excitedly: "So when I showed you my bellyband that day, you actually recognized it, right?"
"Yes." Chen Feng nodded frankly.
"So, you are truly a Little Thief Gate inheritor, aren't you?"
"No."
Chen Feng shook his head and said nonchalantly: "I am not an inheritor of the Little Thief Gate. If you don't believe me, I swear to heaven, if I am truly an inheritor of the Little Thief Gate, may I be struck by lightning."
Jiang Pingting was stunned again.
Huh?
Making such a venomous oath?
Isn't he afraid it will come true?
It should be known that the ancient Outer Eight Sects, who made their living in the jianghu, were very serious and cautious about curses and oaths.
They would not easily swear.
So, Chen Feng is really not an inheritor of the Little Thief Gate?
Jiang Pingting was confused again.
At this moment, Chen Feng continued to ask: "Even if you are an Orchid Gate inheritor, what essential connection does that have with your status in the circle?"
"Alright, I'll reveal a little to you."
Jiang Pingting put down the teapot in her hand and stared at Chen Feng, saying softly: "You know there are many 'peripherals' in this circle, right?"
"I know." Chen Feng nodded.
"Then that's it."
Jiang Pingting chuckled: "In the entire entertainment industry, almost all the 'peripherals' are controlled by our Phoenix Building. Do you understand now?"
"All of them?" Chen Feng was astonished.
"Yes, almost all of them."
Jiang Pingting continued to make tea, pouring it leisurely as she said: "In our country, there are four Phoenix Buildings across the nation, all of which have been passed down from a hundred years ago."
"Each Phoenix Building has a true inheritor of the Orchid Gate."
"And beneath the Phoenix Building, they control almost all the 'peripheral' women in the industry."
"Chen Feng, even you don't fully understand how complex this circle is."
"Why do those top bigwigs give me face? It's because almost every man in this circle has touched our people."
"Do you know? Every single one."
"None are clean."
"Some people's significant others even came from the Phoenix Building."
"As long as a woman leaves the Phoenix Building, she must strictly adhere to the Phoenix Building's rules."
"Once the rules are broken, that woman must return to the Phoenix Building and completely break off from her former life."
"Now you should know, right? Why do those people give me face?"
"Heh heh, the secrets I hold are enough to ruin most people's reputations."
Chen Feng: "..."
This is too outrageous.
Has the entertainment industry been controlled by the Orchid Gate?
At this moment, Jiang Pingting looked at Chen Feng and chuckled softly: "Chen Laodi, if you didn't have the identity of a Little Thief Gate disciple, I truly wouldn't believe you could subdue all the gambling industries in Hong Kong and Macau."
"Believe it or not, it's up to you."
Chen Feng pointed to the ten paintings of court ladies on the wall: "Are these ten all from the Orchid Gate?"
"Yes."
Jiang Pingting nodded: "The ten famous courtesans of ancient times are the ten most outstanding inheritors of the Orchid Gate's thousands of years of legacy; they are our idols."
Chen Feng nodded: "I've learned a lot."
After speaking, he turned to Jiang Pingting and said directly: "Director Jiang, you're so eager for me to admit I'm a Little Thief Gate inheritor. Is there something you want me to do? Just say it. This is your only chance; if you don't say it, I'm leaving."
"Don't."
Jiang Pingting quickly stopped him: "Alright then, I'll be direct. I believe there's a saying, Chen Laodi must have heard it."
"It's 'a harlot is heartless, an actor is faithless.'"
"Actually, these two types of people refer to us, the courtesans of the Orchid Gate, and the actors of the lower nine streams."
"In modern society, the entire entertainment industry is basically controlled by harlots and actors."
"To be honest, the struggle between the Orchid Gate and actors has always existed."
"And it's an irreconcilable conflict."
Upon hearing this, Chen Feng couldn't help but wave his hand: "Wait a minute, wait a minute, good heavens, why am I so confused? What harlots and actors? Aren't you an actor too?"
"No."
Jiang Pingting shook her head with a serious expression: "Strictly speaking, I am a harlot."
Chen Feng: "..."
He was speechless.
Are you serious?
Who has ever seen someone seriously claim to be a harlot in front of you?
Seeing Chen Feng's difficulty in accepting, Jiang Pingting couldn't help but chuckle: "The wise do not fall in love; they build a beautiful motherland. Chen Laodi, I am a harlot, truly. We never give our true feelings. The purpose of our Orchid Gate is to maintain the stability and prosperity of our motherland."
Chen Feng: "..."
That's so profound.
Jiang Pingting continued to smile: "You might not be able to accept it right away. But 'harlot' is not a derogatory term for us; on the contrary, it's a commendatory term. We strictly adhere to the Orchid Gate rules in our actions. We control the 'peripherals' in the entertainment industry simply because we don't want actors to mislead the country."
At this point, Jiang Pingting looked at Chen Feng with a serious expression and said softly: "Chen Laodi, do you know how many people in this rotten circle are running dogs for anti-Xia forces abroad?"
Chen Feng: "..."
It seems she's finally getting to the point.