“How hard could it be?” Xiao Bai didn’t believe it, but when he entered the complex, he was surprised to see over a dozen winding paths like a maze, instantly proving himself wrong.
It seemed indeed not easy to find.
Xiao Bai suddenly recalled seeing a residential complex in A City that had gone viral, where a delivery guy got lost and texted the buyer. In the end, the buyer had to go down and pick up the delivery.
This was a place where Xiao Bai, after three years of work, couldn’t even afford a down payment.
“You live here?” Xiao Bai asked weakly.
Xie Chi nodded.
“The rent must be very high?” Xiao Bai refused to believe the person before him was a wealthy big shot.
Xie Chi shook his head: “Bought it.”
Xiao Bai was in awe; he was truly a big shot.
They returned to Xie Chi’s house on the thirty-first floor, a perfect river-view apartment with an excellent view. Since he lived alone, one room was filled with various models, another was a bedroom, and another a game room.
Xiao Bai noticed an untouched bowl of instant noodles at the corner of the computer desk.
What a strange person.
Xie Chi was quickly organizing the situation Xiao Bai described and transmitting the message, his expression as focused as ever, completely unaware of Xiao Bai’s subtle thoughts.
When Xie Chi finished his preparations, Xiao Bai’s takeout arrived.
“Eat first, then we can work.” Xiao Bai waved the food at Xie Chi, “This is a long battle.”
“Wait a moment.” Lin Xiaoman opened her laptop, “Let me understand the situation.”
She opened Weibo, and marketing accounts were all reposting her and Ji Yuan’s dance video, particularly the moment they made eye contact, looking affectionate and full of emotion.
“That was advertisement content.” Lin Xiaoman scrolled through the comments, her fans were clarifying, seemingly managed, and she breathed a sigh of relief, “The netizens are taking things out of context.”
“Then quickly clarify! Once these bloodsuckers latch on, they’re hard to shake off!”
“I know. I have a way to handle this, don’t worry.”
Lin Xiaoman pacified Wei Qinghuan with a few words, finally calming her down. After hanging up, she called Xiaobai.
Xiaobai immediately answered: “Xiaoman, don’t worry, we’re handling it.”
“Not worried.” Lin Xiaoman browsed through various comments, her fans were controlling the narrative and countering the black PR, “Remember to clarify it’s advertisement content.”
“Understood.”
Just as Xiaobai was about to hang up, he heard Lin Xiaoman’s exceptionally soft voice: “You’ve worked hard.”
This was the first time Xiaobai had been treated so gently by Lin Xiaoman.
His nose felt sour, and he pledged confidently: “Don’t worry, Xiaoman. I guarantee with my three years of experience in the entertainment industry that I’ll make sure Ji Yuan regrets using you for publicity.”
To prevent Ji Yuan from causing more trouble, Xiaobai and Xie Chi took turns monitoring. Around 3 AM, Xiaobai was awakened by Xie Chi.
Xie Chi brought his phone close, showing the ninth trending topic: Ji Yuan’s slip-up. Ji Yuan had liked a Weibo post praising his and Lin Xiaoman’s loving relationship, but quickly unliked it. However, someone had already screenshot it.
Initially, only a few people shared it, but Ji Yuan then posted a Weibo clarifying he had accidentally liked it. Those who knew about the like also found out, and the couple’s fans went wild.
“Are these CP fans blind?” Xiaobai was instantly awake, “Where’s the love? Secretly stalking fan comments and liking posts in the middle of the night is just creepy!”
To prevent the incident from escalating, Xiaobai and Xie Chi remained vigilant. Xie Chi even used Lin Xiaoman’s official Weibo to state that she and Ji Yuan were just colleagues, hoping people wouldn’t believe the rumors.
Although Ji Yuan’s “slip-up” reignited some buzz, Xiaobai’s continuous control prevented it from becoming unmanageable.
In the morning, Lin Xiaoman saw Ji Yuan’s nighttime Weibo post and cooperated with the official Weibo statement that they were just colleagues. Afterward, she went to the company to shoot a photo series.
At the company, she didn’t see Xiaobai. Lin Xiaoman thought he might be late due to handling things last night and didn’t call him.
After finishing the photoshoot, Xiaobai still hadn’t arrived. Lin Xiaoman found it strange and was about to call him.
Just as she reached the company entrance, Chu Daizi blocked her path, smiling with ill intent: “Congratulations on gaining a rumored boyfriend. The company has really gone to great lengths for you.”
She scrolled through the comments, somewhat uncontrollably. The most liked comments were mostly from CP fans:
—Oh my god, what divine CP have I discovered, I could ship them for ages just based on looks.
—Please, just date already, it’s so sweet.
—Such strong CP vibes, even though Xiaoman is crying, it makes me smile like an aunt.
—Stay right there, I’ll go fetch the civil affairs bureau for you.
Looks like Xiaobai couldn’t hold out anymore.
Lin Xiaoman browsed the CP fans’ Weibo and found that most of these accounts were zombie accounts. Ji Yuan had clearly spent time and money on this. Facing the two well-prepared companies, with only three of them, what could they do? Should she come out and make a statement? She had already issued a statement about Ji Yuan once, and repeating it would be meaningless. Wait for things to cool down? But since the two companies had already collaborated, they certainly wouldn’t be satisfied with just this wave of buzz and would have more intense operations later. So what should she do? Since crossing over to this world, she had finally transformed from a person full of black marks to a small celebrity with millions of fans. Would she really be destroyed because of that dog Ji Yuan?
She suddenly thought of Ji Zhixian. Although that guy was incredibly self-centered, now was not the time to argue with him. She opened her contacts, about to click on Ji Zhixian’s number, when suddenly she heard a car approaching outside. Looking out the window, she saw a car in the yard. Ji Zhixian had returned. He had never returned at this time before.
Lin Xiaoman unexpectedly put down her phone and came downstairs.
Ji Zhixian had just entered. He was dressed formally, apparently coming directly from the company. His lips were tightly pressed, his head slightly raised, his deep gaze cold and gloomy.
Lin Xiaoman knew clearly that Ji Zhixian was angry, and angry at her.
The only reason she could think of was the rumors between her and Ji Yuan.
“I can explain,” Lin Xiaoman said calmly.
“Go ahead,” Ji Zhixian walked to the living room, loosened his tie, unbuttoned two buttons revealing his attractive collarbone, his voice low, “Explain why you violated the contract.”
“Violated the contract?”
“Article four of the contract,” Ji Zhixian gave her a deep look, “Have you forgotten?”
No intimate relationships with other men, no creating rumors, no dating.
“I haven’t,” Lin Xiaoman slightly furrowed her brow.
But he didn’t, because he didn’t trust her.
From the moment they signed the contract until now, there wasn’t a single thing he had trusted her about.
Lin Xiaoman looked at him quietly, no longer speaking.
The calmer she appeared, the more agitated Ji Zhixian became: “Is this your explanation?”
“You don’t believe me, so my explanation is useless.”
“Looks like you have nothing to say,” the voice that once made Lin Xiaoman cry now sounded extremely cold, “You not only lack the responsibility of a contract partner but also the awareness of an artist!”
