Who Needs a CEO? I Choose Stardom

In an age where even medical consultations are moving online, there must be a good reason why some in-person events continue to thrive.

The moment you step into a football stadium, the answer becomes immediately clear.

The match hadn’t started yet. Ni Bingyan, dressed in a double-breasted blue coat she’d chosen for its classic British style, made an elegant entrance into the venue. She wore rounded pearl drop earrings, a small, cream-colored silk scarf tied around her neck, and a pair of white low heels.

Her first time watching a live match called for a bit of ceremony.

She’d been a Chelsea fan in her past life, and she continued to be one in this life. It had become a habit.

She arrived twenty minutes early, and the stadium was already over eighty percent full. The atmosphere was electric.

As she made her way through the crowd to her seat, she could hear people gathered in small groups, discussing the day’s starting lineup. They were excitedly anticipating their favorite stars’ appearance on the field, praying for them to have a good game.

Their fervent energy reminded Ni Bingyan of lottery players she’d seen in the past.

There was a lottery shop near the orphanage. Once, someone won five million there, and for the better part of the next month, the place was constantly packed with people.

The people who had streamed into that lottery shop were probably just like the fans here.

Their faces were flushed, they walked with a spring in their step, and an irrepressible hope churned in their eyes.

This was an atmosphere you could never experience just by watching on TV.

Even watching a live broadcast with a few friends, a spread of delicious food, and some drinks couldn’t compare. You could share your thoughts on the match and get real-time updates, but it was nothing like the feeling of being here in person.

Ni Bingyan settled into her seat, her heart brimming with anticipation.

The joy of getting to do something she loved while on the job was truly beyond description.

”Hi! I’m Jenny.”

Ni Bingyan had barely warmed her seat when she heard someone greet her.

She turned her head and saw the woman to her left smiling at her.

She was an elderly woman with silver-white hair, yet she wore exquisite makeup and a blue woolen coat.

Coincidentally, she was also wearing pearl earrings.

London has a temperate maritime climate, so the winters aren’t too cold. Today, for instance, was a beautiful, sunny, and rather warm day.

Both women’s pearl earrings cast a soft, gentle glow in the sunlight.

’Some people just click the moment they meet. No wonder she struck up a conversation.’

Ni Bingyan found the woman quite pleasant as well, so when she heard the greeting, she responded warmly.

”Hi, hello! It’s nice to meet you. My name is Ni Bingyan.”

”Ni...? Oh, I’m sorry, that’s a bit difficult for me. But where are you from? Are you Chinese?”

There was still some time before the match, and everyone was finding ways to pass the time. Ni Bingyan didn’t want to just sit there like a statue, either.

Having someone strike up a conversation with her was perfect, both for the show and for her own sake.

Seeing that the woman had guessed her nationality at a glance, she couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity:

”You have a sharp eye! I am indeed Chinese. How did you know, though? I’ve been mistaken for Japanese or Korean before.”

’Many Westerners can’t tell people from the East apart. It was quite rare for an old lady like her to be able to.’

A proud, mischievous smile spread across Jenny’s face, as if to say, ’See? I guessed right!’

”When I was young, I worked for a pharmaceutical company and traveled to China for business. I know how much you all love this kind of silk.”

The old woman extended a stubby finger and pointed to the gossamer-thin silk scarf around Ni Bingyan’s neck.

’Every country has its own unique aesthetic sensibilities.’

’China has such a long history, with so many distinctive and cherished items. Someone who knows what to look for can spot them right away.’

Looking at the expression on her face, Ni Bingyan couldn’t help but marvel. ’It’s so rare to see someone her age who has retained such a trace of innocent charm.’

’The old woman must have lived a happy life, free from major hardships.’

”Yes, many Chinese people love silk. Speaking of which, are you a fan of the Blue Army, too?”

”Of course!”

The old woman lit up at the mention of the team.

”I started coming to watch Chelsea play with my grandparents when I was just a little girl. Stanford Bridge Stadium didn’t look like this back then, the players and coach were different, even the owner wasn’t the same. Time really changes things, doesn’t it? I’m eighty-three, by the way.”

’Women don’t like being asked their age, because at certain stages of life, getting older isn’t considered a good thing.’

’But if you live long enough, that changes.’

’You become proud to tell people your real age and even take the opportunity to share stories from your youth.’

”That’s a very long time indeed.”

’Eighty-three is a ripe old age anywhere in the world.’

’To a team, a die-hard fan who has witnessed over half a century of its history is an absolute treasure.’

’A big reason football is so revered in Europe is that many people become fans of a particular team as children. Sometimes, entire families are dedicated to the same team.’

’Just as her own family gatherings were always filled with delicious food, many Western families probably gathered to watch their team play.’

”Yes. It’s a shame I can’t bring my own grandchildren to the matches, like my grandmother did with me.”

’That was a difficult comment to respond to.’

’It went beyond casual small talk and veered into private territory.’

’Whether she had outlived her children, or was unable to have any, it was not a topic to pry into.’

”Oh, heavens! You’re definitely overthinking it! The reason I don’t have grandchildren is certainly not what you’re imagining!”

Just as Ni Bingyan was feeling a little awkward, she heard the woman say cheerfully, ”My son fell in love with another man, so...”

The old woman shrugged optimistically. ”Love transcends borders and gender, doesn’t it?”

’Well, that’s not what I was expecting.’

’Leave it to the UK.’

’Even an eighty-three-year-old woman was so matter-of-fact about it.’

Seeing the old woman getting more and more animated, Ni Bingyan worried she might say something too controversial for the show’s footage, so she quickly interjected:

”I’m sorry, Jenny, but I have to tell you something. I’m a Chinese actress, and while I’m here to see the match, I’m also filming a show. So there’s a camera on me right now, and my audio is being recorded.”

Ni Bingyan pointed to the discreet microphone clipped to her collar, a silent plea for her to stop sharing such private details.

’Polite small talk was fine and wouldn’t make the final cut. But if the conversation got too personal, there was no telling what Pei Jin’s scruples—or lack thereof—would lead him to do.’

’If she tried to stop him then, they would inevitably clash.’

”Oh? A show? What kind of show?”

Jenny’s excitement was palpable.

’Young women these days are so reserved,’ Jenny thought. ’If it’s something you can tell a person you’ve just met, it’s hardly a private matter!’

’But since the girl had her reservations, they could change the subject!’

’The old woman considered herself a very reasonable person.’

”A travel show,” Ni Bingyan explained. ”It was custom-made for me by my fans.”

She then proceeded to tell her the entire story behind the show.

”Wow! Wow! That is so romantic! You know, I’m French—I love stories like this! Can you tell me more?”

Ni Bingyan cleared her throat. ”Of course! Why wouldn’t I? I’d be happy to tell everyone I meet!”

’She might feel a bit shy bragging about it back home, but she had no qualms about boasting to a foreigner abroad!’