Chapter 25.1
Editor: Jodi
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[I looked at it under a microscope—this hairstyle, this outline—there’s no way it’s not Xu Shang. If I’m wrong, I’ll eat my phone.]
[Is the woman next to him really Qiu Yun? I don’t believe it. How is this possible! How could Xu Shang date someone so old and ugly?]
[Didn’t they say that Qiu Yun always goes after young fresh meat? Xu Shang’s probably not even her first.]
[Hahaha, this is really hilarious! Their cast does have an actor with a sugar daddy, but it’s not who everyone thought.]
Xu Shang’s face twisted with anger. “Impossible, this is impossible. You can’t recognize someone from just a reflection—it’s fake!”
“Scroll down.” Su Ling raised an eyebrow. “They used tech to restore the image. Gotta admit, the result’s pretty clear.”
“It’s all fake! Fake!” Xu Shang roared. “This is Mu Nan’s doing! He knew we got caught on camera in the video. No—wait—maybe he’s even behind the photo identification. He’s out to sabotage me!”
“So why would Mu Nan release the video?” The director, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. He was just a puppet in the production, holding the title of director but having zero real authority.
After asking, the director went quiet again. But everyone silently answered the question in their hearts—
They were the ones who drove Mu Nan away.
And the reason they drove Mu Nan away…
“Right! It’s because of Xi Qing!” Xu Shang suddenly realized. “If he hadn’t framed Mu Nan, we wouldn’t have canceled his contract!”
The producer agreed: “Exactly, it was him. He wanted to snatch the role. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have had to pay damages!”
“What time is this? Can you all stop and think for a second?” The director slammed the table. “Is this the time for blaming people? We don’t even know if this project can continue!”
The producer glanced at Qiu Yun. She was the “key figure” of the entire production.
But Qiu Yun ignored him and instead turned to Xu Shang. “What do you mean by that?” She asked.
“What….. what do I mean?” Xu Shang forced an uneasy smile.
“What do you mean, ‘fake’? Are you saying our relationship can’t go public?”
Xu Shang’s smile faltered. “No…… it’s not like that. It’s just, you know, my career’s on the rise right now. If news of our relationship breaks out, I’ll lose fans.”
“So that’s why you’ve been hiding? I always feel like we’re sneaking around like criminals. I’ve given so much for you, but what about you? With fans, it’s all love and adoration, with co-stars, it’s just work. But with me? Being with me is a crime?”
The more Qiu Yun spoke, the more emotional she became. By the end, her eyes were filled with tears.
She had thought Xu Shang was different, that he really cared about her. Because of that, she’d given him everything—helping him climb from an unknown, bottom-18th-tier actor to where he was now—even doing things that went against her own values.
But this was how he repaid her.
“I must’ve been blind to trust you.” Her gaze as she looked at Xu Shang was cold, as if her heart had shattered completely.
“Xiao Yun.” Xu Shang called her name awkwardly, reaching for her hand, but she jerked away. “Xu Shang, I’ll just consider these past years as having been wasted on a dog. Don’t ever appear in front of me again—get as far away as you can!”
After saying this, Qiu Yun stormed out of the room, with Xu Shang chasing after her.
Su Ling, her task completed, got up from her chair lazily. “I’m heading out. Call me when we’re back to work.”
It was left with just the director and the producer in the room staring at each other.
“I don’t think I can keep directing this. You’d better find someone else.” The director slapped his badge onto the table and walked out.
The producer was left alone, drowning in regret.
*
“Nan Ge, have you seen how Xu Shang’s fans are unfollowing him in droves?”
“What?” Mu Nan was getting his makeup done, eyes closed, listening to Xiao Jin.
Xiao Jin said: “Xu Shang’s fans can’t accept that he’s dating Qiu Yun. A lot of his top fans have unfollowed him, and some fan pages have also shut down.”
“That’s normal.” Mu Nan said. “His whole appeal is the boyfriend vibe. He’s always interacting closely with fans and offering them perks, so now that he’s dating, of course his fans can’t handle it.”
“I wonder if this drama can even keep going.” Xiao Jin said with a sigh.
“It will, it has to. Xi Qing worked so hard to secure this resource. If it stops now, wouldn’t all his efforts be wasted?”
*