Chapter 35- The National Goddess Raised by the Best Actor(14)

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Chapter 35

The paparazzi not only broke the shocking news but also provided video evidence, making it appear “ironclad.”

Several video clips were posted online, all timestamped. Between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM each evening, Xu Ruier could be seen leaving her room, only to return between 6:00 AM and 7:00 AM the following morning.

This wasn’t just a one-time occurrence—it happened for multiple consecutive days.

The timing of this revelation couldn’t have been worse. Under normal circumstances, someone as unknown as Xu Ruier might have been ridiculed briefly and then forgotten. But the current situation was different.

Ji Yang’s fans, desperate for a distraction, latched onto this scandal to divert attention away from their idol. They pushed Xu Ruier to the top of the trending topics, redirecting public ire onto her to shield their beloved “big brother.”

As a result, Xu Ruier became the scapegoat. Without waiting for verification, netizens hurled insults and slurs at her, tarnishing her reputation overnight.

Meanwhile, Xu Wan became an indirect beneficiary. Her popularity saw a boost as Ji Yang’s fans downplayed her involvement while throwing Xu Ruier under the bus.

“No need for a PR campaign,” Xu Wan said as she lounged on a sofa, glancing at her manager. Her tone was calm. “Let it blow over naturally. No need to get involved further.”

“That could work, but about the bracelet—this could still be used to stir up a little more attention. This is a golden opportunity for you,” the manager suggested.

“No need.” Xu Wan shook her head. “I don’t want to make things difficult for Ji Yang. I’ll keep the bracelet—it’s not worth creating an awkward situation over.”

The manager considered this, nodding after a moment. “You’re right. That makes sense. By the way, has Ji Yang been in touch with you recently?”

Resources had been pouring in before, and the manager had assumed Xu Wan was on the fast track to superstardom. With Ji Yang backing her, becoming a household name seemed inevitable.

Xu Wan’s expression didn’t falter, but her gaze darkened slightly. “We’re both busy filming, and we need to avoid any unnecessary speculation while on set.”

She couldn’t understand why Ji Yang and Xu Ruier seemed so close, as if nothing had happened before. Her pride wouldn’t let her fawn over him, and she didn’t want to appear desperate. Yet she was aware that Ji Yang’s influence had significantly bolstered the resources her agency allocated to her.

“That makes sense.” The manager nodded again, interpreting it as mutual respect between two professionals. She added, “What do you make of this Xu Ruier situation? Do you think it’s true?”

“I’m not sure,” Xu Wan replied evenly.

“If this scandal hadn’t happened, her career prospects looked promising,” the manager said candidly. “That girl certainly knows how to play her cards.”

Xu Wan remained silent.

“Get some rest.”

After the manager left, Xu Wan’s expression darkened. She opened Weibo and scanned the comments slandering Xu Ruier, her gaze sharpening as she noticed the escalating outrage. A sinister smile crept onto her lips.

She opened her banking app and transferred money to an account, marking the payment as “Final Installment.”

Once the recipient confirmed the transaction, she deleted the records, leaned back, and began to mull over her manager’s words.

Ji Yang and Xu Ruier were working in the same production. It wasn’t unusual for such proximity to lead to some level of intimacy. If Ji Yang was indulging in her for now, it didn’t matter much.

However, Xu Wan wasn’t willing to replace Xu Ruier under these circumstances. Ji Yang might have his own studio and considerable fame, but compared to the truly elite heirs of wealthy families, he fell short.

Her goal was to marry into a top-tier aristocratic family, a prestigious household, and become a noblewoman. At most, she would offer Ji Yang a little sweetness, but sleeping with him? Absolutely not.

In truth, she viewed him as nothing more than a stepping stone. But Ji Yang hadn’t contacted her for some time now, which left her feeling unsettled and vaguely uneasy.

Xu Wan squinted slightly, grabbed her script, and headed straight to Ji Yang’s room.

“You need to be honest with me. What’s going on here?” Ding Hai was already at his wit’s end. “Do you know how big this has blown up? It’s impacting Director Xu Yuan’s movie! You could be replaced at any moment and slapped with a breach of contract fine. This could ruin you!”

“I didn’t do it,” Xu Ruier said, her tone steady despite her unease. “None of it is true.”

“As long as that’s the case.” Ding Hai let out a sigh of relief. “If the video is fake, we can clear things up. I’ll contact the hotel and retrieve the footage.”

“I…”

Xu Ruier hesitated, unable to bring herself to say the words. The videos were real.

Ding Hai noticed her silence, his right eyelid twitching furiously. He felt like pounding his chest—he was so enraged he could practically spit blood. “I don’t care what you do privately, but can’t you be more discreet?!”

The repercussions were enormous—huge!

“Are you in a relationship with someone on the crew? Who is it?” Ding Hai asked, scanning through the online comments. He couldn’t believe the mess he’d walked into.

Xu Ruier: “…”

Was she in a relationship? She wasn’t sure.

Ji Yang had never explicitly said anything, but wasn’t the ring he gave her earlier akin to a proposal?

Lowering her head, she touched the diamond necklace around her neck. Just as she was about to explain, her phone was snatched from her hand.

Ji Yang’s voice came through, calm yet commanding: “Utilize all resources from the studio to minimize the damage to her reputation.”

“!!!” Ding Hai’s eyes widened, and his jaw practically dropped.

Ji Yang?

He glanced at his watch. It was 9 PM.

9 PM, and Ji Yang was with Xu Ruier?!

It felt like he’d uncovered some earth-shattering secret.

“Understood?” Ji Yang asked again.

“Understood, understood.” Ding Hai nodded hurriedly. The revelation that Xu Ruier and his boss were romantically involved was enough to make his heart race. No wonder she was signed so effortlessly—turns out she had serious backing!

Suddenly, it felt less like he was handling a disaster and more like managing a gold mine. Everything seemed worth the effort now.

Ji Yang hung up the phone. Just as he was about to speak, the doorbell rang.

At the sound, Xu Ruier flinched visibly, clearly startled, which amused Ji Yang. Without a word, she scurried off to the suite and closed the door behind her.

“Go check who it is!” she whispered urgently, clearly nervous.

Ji Yang chuckled to himself, shaking his head as he walked to the door.

Opening it, he found Xu Wan standing there in a light blue nightgown, her hair still damp from a shower, a faint fragrance wafting from her.

Though her attire was modest, her late-night visit to a man’s room in such clothing carried a clear implication.

“Ji Qianbei, do you have a moment?” Xu Wan smiled, raising the script in her hand. “I hate to bother you at this hour, but could you rehearse with me? Otherwise, I’m afraid the director will scold me again tomorrow.”

Her tone carried a hint of playfulness, her pink lips forming a slight pout.

Xu Wan was a clever woman. She knew how to subtly leverage her charm to gain advantages, sprinkling small “sweet rewards” to those who pursued her.

“I’m about to go to bed,” Ji Yang replied apologetically.

Xu Wan’s gaze flickered past him into the room but found no sign of Xu Ruier. She was certain, however, that Xu Ruier was hiding inside. Her tone turned slightly wistful. “So early? Not even thirty minutes? Ji Qianbei, what if I end up holding you back tomorrow?”

She aimed to create a wedge between Xu Ruier and Ji Yang. After all, Xu Ruier couldn’t exactly show herself, so this was the perfect opportunity to make her presence known.

But just as she was formulating her plan, the suite door suddenly opened.

Xu Ruier stepped out, wearing a bathrobe. She froze momentarily upon seeing Xu Wan, her face flushing red as she opened her mouth to call out “Sister,” but Xu Wan shot her a sharp look, silencing her.

In Xu Wan’s eyes, Xu Ruier’s awkward stance and flushed face were downright pathetic.

Feigning shock, Xu Wan widened her eyes and looked at Ji Yang. “Ji Qianbei, why is Ruier here?”

“Hmm, we were rehearsing,” Ji Yang answered nonchalantly, his expression unchanging. “That’s why I don’t have time to rehearse with you.”

His response seemed like an explanation, an attempt to prevent her from misunderstanding. Playing along, Xu Wan feigned ignorance, nodding as if enlightened. “Ruier has improved a lot lately. I see now—it’s because Ji Qianbei has been helping her rehearse. Were you scheduled for today? How about I book tomorrow?”

“I rehearse with her every day,” Ji Yang replied flatly. “She’s new to the industry, so naturally, she needs more guidance. You’ve been in this field longer and are already experienced.”

Xu Wan’s smile stiffened. What did he mean?

Was he rejecting her?

What was Ji Yang playing at?

Only a short while ago, he had been showering her with attention. Now, what was this? Was he using reverse psychology? Or deliberately trying to provoke her?

“Is there anything else? If not, you should head back,” Ji Yang said, his tone devoid of emotion.

Before Xu Wan could respond, the door was shut in her face.

Her face darkened, and her lips turned pale. This was a blatant dismissal—a humiliation. Xu Wan had never failed to capture a man’s interest before. Ji Yang was playing a game of hard-to-get, wasn’t he?

He was trying to provoke her using Xu Ruier, wasn’t he?

Just as she was seething, she heard faint voices from inside the room.

“Didn’t you say we wouldn’t rehearse today?”

“I’m not in the mood. I just…”

“Then we won’t rehearse. Go to bed early.”

“Ah? But there’s no hot water.”

“I’ll boil some for you. Put your slippers on.”

…

Xu Wan’s face contorted as she stood outside. Her lips trembled slightly, and her chest felt heavy.

Ji Yang had never been so gentle and considerate with her. His aloof and masculine demeanor had always been his charm. Yet here he was, treating Xu Ruier like she was made of glass.

This was something she simply couldn’t accept. Something was very wrong.