CHAPTER 208

An Ling immediately arranged to suppress the hot search as soon as possible, and the ranking kept dropping. However, it couldn't stop the spread of that long article among the enthusiastic onlookers.

The article was initially published in a highly popular gossip group, claiming to be an anonymous disclosure from an insider. Here's the content:

"There's a female celebrity in the industry, let's call her Miss T. Miss T is young and has been in the spotlight for the past few years. She has won two awards and has been continuously receiving resources. She gets endorsements, advertisements, magazine covers—anything she doesn't want, she doesn't get, and there's nothing she can't obtain. What's most astonishing is that she hardly has any scandals. Recently, news of her marriage was exposed, and she is impeccably clean, like a pure lotus flower rising from the mud.

It's strange to think about it. Miss T comes from an ordinary background and is signed to a small company that isn't well-known. The only presence she has is being criticized by fans. How did she become such a big star? That's when we have to mention another person, let's call her Miss Q. Miss Q is a household name, winning awards left and right, truly the number one person in the film industry. Now let the story begin.

Five years ago, Miss T was just a university student who signed with a not-so-impressive talent agency. However, she defeated numerous top actresses and veteran actors to secure the coveted role of the female lead in director Zhao Jianghan's film. The movie won the Best Picture award at the Golden Rose Awards that year, and Miss T also won the Best Newcomer award, becoming the brightest rising star in the film industry. How did she stand out among so many talented actresses? It wasn't solely due to her skills; it was because at that time, she was already being kept by Miss Q. After that, Miss T's career took off. Just look at the endorsements she received. Are they the kind that a newcomer can get?

To be honest, it's no secret in the industry that Miss T has a sponsor. Starting from her sophomore year, she never stayed at the university on weekends. Instead, she lived in a luxurious mansion purchased by Miss Q, with luxury cars picking her up and dropping her off. Miss Q doted on Miss T, showering her with extravagant gifts and using her connections to help her rise in the industry. Miss T's studio worked tirelessly for her. The reason Miss T has had no scandals all these years is because Miss Q is possessive and suppresses any news about her.

The casting process for the movie 'True Colors' was also rigorous. Why was Tang Ruoyao chosen? First, there was Lin Guoan, then Han Yuping. One movie after another, not just newcomers but even established actors who achieved fame and success—how many of them received such treatment? Why did Qin Yinong choose to film a domestically-unreleased same-sex movie instead of the numerous other projects available? As the two leads, portraying a same-sex couple, it was premeditated. You might think they developed feelings for each other during the filming, but no, it was the 'relationship' that gave birth to the movie.

The small details analyzed by netizens are mostly true, but I advise everyone not to invest too much in this celebrity couple. It will only hurt your feelings. This year, to be precise, starting from last year, Miss T has done things that angered Miss Q. Miss T seems to be straightforward. Once she gained some influence, she got herself a boyfriend, a younger man. But Miss Q still doted on her, even buying her a villa in W City for her to sleep in after work. Miss Q frequently traveled between the capital and W City, spending a lot of time with her, all to make Miss T change her mind.

Later, you all knew the result. Miss T and the young toyboy got their marriage license and even distributed wedding candies on set. Could Miss Q endure this? She immediately flew into a rage and kicked her. If you don't believe it, just look at those exposed airport photos of Miss Q. They are mostly concentrated in February, March, and April. After that, there are hardly any. Miss Q doesn't go to W City anymore. The relationship between the two is practically estranged.

Miss T isn't really that great of a person. It's only outsiders who think she's a lofty, unattainable beauty. Those within the industry know that her character is rotten, always pretending and being melodramatic.

How many people struggle in the entertainment industry to find a way out? Why should others bear unfounded criticism while she climbs to the top by selling herself, all while maintaining a pristine reputation? Is that fair to others?

I've said my piece. Believe it or not, just take it as entertainment. In any case, this post will definitely be deleted soon."

As expected, just as the original poster predicted, this exposé post didn't survive for more than ten minutes. Clicking on it showed that the page didn't exist, further confirming that the original poster's claims might not be unfounded. Marketing accounts lurking in the gossip group had already taken screenshots and reposted them on Weibo.

Public opinion immediately exploded.

Netizens quickly grabbed their popcorn, peanuts, and soft drinks, rushing to the frontlines to enjoy the show.

"Oh, my God!" (64,214 likes)

"This shocks my entire family!" (42,341 likes)

"I seriously rubbed my eyes three times. Does it say 'sponsorship' in there?" (23,441 likes)

"Huh? What's this? What's this? What's this?" (22,222 likes)

"Lost the ability to think, just random thoughts..." (11,111 likes)

This earth-shattering news obviously had a tremendous impact on the "innocent souls" of netizens.

The hot search quickly dropped to around thirty-something, and netizens slowly regained their senses.

[Oh, I feel like I just read a Jinjiang Yuri novel. How did it turn into a feast of gossip? I wish it had a happy ending. Sigh...]

[Who doesn't want a rich and gentle sugar mommy to take care of them? Sugar mommy, I'm all for it! If it's Qin Yinong, I'd even throw myself at her!]

[Based on this leak, did Tang Ruoyao start chaos and then abandon Qin Yinong? (⊙o⊙) ]

[Straight girls selling themselves, may they be struck by lightning. [Cursing gif]]

[You shouldn't say that, the Tang Ruoyao didn't sell herself or create a fake relationship. On the contrary, she always pretended to have no connection with others. At most, it was a mutually agreed arrangement. She pitied Qin Yinong for three seconds.]

[The whole world knows that Qin Huang was cuckolded by a man. No wonder Tang Ruoyao didn't reveal that man. Was it to protect the young toyboy?]

[Poor Qin Yinong, I'm becoming a fan now. I think Qin Yinong truly loved her; otherwise, why would she treat her so well? She even accepted her having a boyfriend and bought a house for her in W City. She kept seeking reconciliation, but in the end, this is what she got. How pitiful.]

[Enough, I might start crying if you keep talking.]

[I never expected someone like Qin Yinong to be just an ordinary person. Sister, listen to me, we shouldn't go back to being licking dogs for Tang Ruoyao. There will be someone better in the future. We won't be licking dogs anymore, wuwuwu.]

[Why is everyone gossiping about who loved who and who didn't love who? Isn't the main point that Tang Ruoyao relied on unspoken rules to climb up and even created a fake image as a high and unattainable beauty? She's disgusting.]

[Tang Ruoyao is a true villain! She deserves to be punished!]

[You can know a person's face, but you can't know their heart!]

Tang Ruoyao's fans were furious. In their eyes, their idol was perfect, a pride of heaven, and extremely laid-back. Since they couldn't find any flaws in her acting skills, they started spreading rumors that she was being financially supported. They were just jealous of their sister, using all kinds of dirty tricks to bring her down!

The fans rushed to Tang Ruoyao's company's official social media account and commented: [Tang Ruoyao is your artist, right? Stop pretending to be dead! Come out and send a lawyer's letter or a court summons, do it quickly!]

[You're always dragging your feet. Can't you be more efficient at crucial times? If the news spreads too late, it will be too late! Can you afford to compensate for my sister's future?]

Star Media.

Manager Mu Qingwu's office.

Not to mention, Mu Qingwu was completely clueless, not much more than the netizens who knew about it. She made a call to Tang Ruoyao and, after hearing the connection on the other end, took a deep breath and asked, "I have a bold question, and you only need to answer yes or no."

Tang Ruoyao replied, "Are you asking about the sponsorship?"

Mu Qingwu: "..."

Tang Ruoyao continued, "Yes."

Mu Qingwu nearly ran out of breath. She raised her hand and touched her chest, took a sip of the iced coffee on her side, and said coldly, "You sure admitted it readily." There was a hint of mockery in her words.

As mentioned earlier, Mu Qingwu is a motherly type of manager and a clean stream in Star Sharp Media. She never gets involved in all sorts of messy affairs with her artists. Tang Ruoyao chose Mu Qingwu initially because she valued this aspect of her, as opposed to Tang Ruoyao's previous manager, Ruan Qin, who was enthusiastic about engaging in illicit activities.

Mu Qingwu despised the use of unspoken rules to climb up the ladder, let alone Tang Ruoyao's other offense: concealing the truth.

If it weren't for Tang Ruoyao consistently delivering excellent performances and Mu Qingwu even attending her wedding last time, she would have hung up the call and severed their relationship.

Tang Ruoyao sincerely said, "I'm sorry, Sister Mu. Can you let me explain?"

Mu Qingwu replied, "Go ahead."

Tang Ruoyao explained the whole story.

Mu Qingwu's expression eased slightly, and she raised an eyebrow, saying, "So you two found true love through a sponsorship?"

Tang Ruoyao replied, "...You can say that."

Mu Qingwu: "Hmph."

Tang Ruoyao sensed that she wasn't angry anymore and acted cute, saying, "I haven't kept anything else from you. It's just an old story from a long time ago, that's why I didn't tell you."

Mu Qingwu pretended to be angry, saying, "Did you forget that when you were on the set of 'True Colors,' you had a fight with me because of Qin Yinong and even asked me to investigate her? At that time, you weren't together yet, right? How come it's an old story now and still fresh? Also, I asked you not to follow her example and keep a bunch of toyboys, and you solemnly promised, but it turns out you're her toyboy yourself. It must be amusing for you to see me being kept in the dark, right?"

Tang Ruoyao said, "Sister Mu, you have such a good memory. You love me too much. You remember all these trivial matters."

No matter how many layers of disguise, flattery never gets old.

Since Tang Ruoyao started dating, her skills in sweet-talking and flattery had grown rapidly. In no time, Mu Qingwu was charmed and couldn't help but laugh. She interrupted, saying, "Alright, you've praised me to the heavens. Enough."

Tang Ruoyao said, "But you're really an angel."

Mu Qingwu couldn't take it anymore. She shivered, getting goosebumps, and said, "Let's get back on track."

Tang Ruoyao immediately turned serious, saying, "Yes, please go ahead."

Mu Qingwu asked, "Regarding this matter, how are you planning to handle it? Will you make a public statement? I need to arrange the PR strategy accordingly."

Tang Ruoyao said, "Wait a moment."

Mu Qingwu: "???"

Tang Ruoyao, who had already finished filming and returned to her home in the capital, walked back from the balcony and stood in front of Qin Yinong, who was sitting on the sofa reading a book. She quietly explained Mu Qingwu's question.

Qin Yinong reached out, and Tang Ruoyao obediently handed over her phone.

Qin Yinong remained calm and composed. "Xiao Mu, it's me."

Mu Qingwu was petrified. Was Tang Ruoyao trying to harm her?

Mu Qingwu stumbled and said, "Miss Qin."

Qin Yinong gave concise instructions. "Have your company issue an official statement with the company seal, stating that the online rumors are baseless and unfounded, and that legal action will be taken against those who spread false information."

Mu Qingwu respectfully responded, "We are already working on drafting that statement, what about the rest?" Their company might not excel in other areas, but issuing statements was their specialty, especially when it came to Tang Ruoyao. They were afraid of being too slow in dispelling rumors and provoking Qin Yinong's anger.

Qin Yinong said indifferently, "The rest will be taken care of by An Ling. You don't need to worry about it."

Mu Qingwu replied, "Alright, I understand."

Qin Yinong said, "There's nothing else."

Mu Qingwu felt relieved. "Then I won't disturb you. Have a great weekend."

Qin Yinong's voice sounded lazy. "Hmm."

Mu Qingwu hung up the phone and rubbed her face with both hands.

Officially, she was Tang Ruoyao's manager, but in reality, she only accounted for one-third of the work. The other two-thirds were all handled by An Ling. An Ling managed the business resources and handled the public relations...

Mu Qingwu deeply felt that she had no place to exert her abilities.

Tang Ruoyao's contract still had one year left. She was not an easy person to handle, and when the time came, she would definitely not stay in Star Sharp Media, this relatively unknown small company. Whether she signed with Qin Yinong's company or started her own independent studio, she should start planning ahead.

With Qin Yinong around, Tang Ruoyao wouldn't necessarily be lost, but Mu Qingwu didn't know where to go. She was highly valued in Star Sharp, and the current Artist Management Department even said she was carrying the weight, and she did have some skills. She had brought out two popular TV drama actresses, but was this as far as she could go? Through her communication with An Ling about Tang Ruoyao's matters, she became more aware of the gap between herself and An Ling. It wasn't about her lack of experience or intelligence, but rather about connections and strategies. The higher one stands, the broader their vision becomes, and the more diverse methods they can employ.

She also wanted to climb higher. An Ling had Qin Yinong, and she had Tang Ruoyao. This was an extremely rare opportunity.

With a hint of curiosity, Mu Qingwu sent a message to Tang Ruoyao.

[Your contract will expire next year. Have you thought about your plans for the future?]

Tang Ruoyao read the message aloud to Qin Yinong, then tilted her face up, her eyes shining as she looked at her.

Qin Yinong smiled and asked, "Have you thought about it?"

Tang Ruoyao approached her and rubbed against her, behaving like a good girl. "I'll go with whatever you say."

She had just returned to the capital, and they hadn't been apart for long, so it was a clingy time. Qin Yinong casually patted her head and extended her arm to embrace her, saying, "I want to hear your own plans."

Tang Ruoyao glanced at her and said, "I want to start my own studio. Is that okay?"

Qin Yinong squinted her eyes, revealing a hint of danger, and said, "You've already thought about it, haven't you?"

Tang Ruoyao could tell that she was pretending to be angry and said, "I haven't thought about it for long, just recently." The contract was binding, so even if she had thought about it earlier, it wouldn't have made a difference.

Qin Yinong said, "Okay."

Tang Ruoyao fell silent for a moment and asked, "Why don't you ask me why?"

Qin Yinong straightened her back, changed her posture to hold her, and smiled as she asked, "Why?"

Tang Ruoyao hesitated again, bit her lip, and said, "Or maybe I should just sign with your studio. We can go to the company together sometimes."

However, Qin Yinong said, "No."

Tang Ruoyao asked, "Why?"

Qin Yinong said, "There are a lot of fanboys in my studio. They would definitely salute you whenever they see you, and I would get jealous."

She said the words "I would get jealous" with a serious expression, causing Tang Ruoyao's heart to flutter. She glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then quickly leaned over and pecked Qin Yinong on the lips.

Qin Yinong said, "But I have one condition."

Tang Ruoyao blinked.

Qin Yinong said, "Next year, my studio, including the company, will move to a new office building. I will free up two floors for you to use rent-free."

Tang Ruoyao's mind twisted for a moment before she understood the meaning of "rent-free use." Her expression softened involuntarily as she held Qin Yinong's hand and pressed her face against her palm. She was moved and said, "Baby, you don't have to be so good to me."

Tang Ruoyao still wanted to soar. She didn't want to be forever under Qin Yinong's wings, so she instinctively didn't want to sign with her company. She wanted to go solo. Qin Yinong obviously understood her thoughts, which was why she came up with this solution to fulfill her wishes while maintaining their closeness to the maximum extent.

Qin Yinong smiled and gently stroked Tang Ruoyao's cheek with the pad of her thumb. She looked at her and said, "I want to be good to you, to never let you leave me."

Tang Ruoyao, without thinking, said, "Even if you're not good to me, I won't leave you."

Qin Yinong clicked her tongue.

Tang Ruoyao realized she had said something foolish and quickly corrected herself, saying, "I will also be good to you."

...That wasn't a particularly clever response.

Lovers in the midst of passionate love were just a pair of fools, blissfully enjoying themselves.

Tang Ruoyao replied to Mu Qingwu: [I plan to open a studio. Are you willing to join me?]

The latter sentence was added by Qin Yinong, and Tang Ruoyao naturally guessed that Mu Qingwu might have a slight intention to cooperate with her. However, she was always cautious, preferring to plan before taking action. She wasn't as astute as Qin Yinong in reading people's intentions, so Qin Yinong firmly stated, "She definitely wants to climb your high branch. Just say it straightforwardly, instead of beating around the bush and wasting time."

Tang Ruoyao found the phrase "climbing your high branch" a bit unpleasant and corrected Qin Yinong. An unhappy expression appeared on Qin Yinong's face as she said, "If she gets close to you, she's getting close to me. How is that not climbing the high branch? Are you speaking up for her now and not for me?"

Tang Ruoyao: "..."

All the employee salutes earlier were fake jealousy, but when Qin Yinong truly got jealous, she went overboard. Tang Ruoyao immediately switched sides and said, "How is that possible? I love you, my heart belongs only to you, and I speak up for you alone."

Qin Yinong snorted and said, "You were just cozying up to Mu Qingwu on the balcony. Do you think I didn't see?"

Tang Ruoyao: "I was wrong."

Some things shouldn't be dwelled upon. The more Qin Yinong thought about it, the angrier she became. She said, "Didn't I tell you not to talk to others like that?"

Tang Ruoyao: "I..."

Their phones buzzed, and Mu Qingwu's message came through. Tang Ruoyao's phone was still on the chat screen, and both of them looked at it simultaneously.

[Of course, I'm willing.]

[Love you. 💋]

Qin Yinong's face darkened, and she abruptly stood up.

Tang Ruoyao tossed her phone aside and chased after her. "Baby!"

Even couples in passionate love are bound to have fireworks, sparking at the slightest provocation.

After entering the bedroom, Tang Ruoyao applied her tried-and-true seductive tactics, successfully coaxing Qin Yinong.

Qin Yinong sat by the window, enjoying the cool air conditioning while scrolling through the so-called explosive revelations. The topic had already been completely removed from the trending list, and now the top ranking was occupied by: [Tang Ruoyao's statement.]

The statement was released by StarSharp Media, and its wording was naturally meant to debunk the rumors surrounding Tang Ruoyao.

To outsiders who were unaware of the inside story, the leaked information seemed absurd. The entertainment industry often had a paradoxical situation where fabricated stories garnered widespread attention while actual events went unnoticed.

This mostly true, partially false rumor provided entertainment value to the audience. Just the names Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao alone were enough to captivate people's interest, even if the storyline was a clichéd reconciliation after a bitter breakup. If you were to ask how many people actually believed it, there probably wouldn't be many. An Ling's swift and appropriate response also played a significant role in handling the situation. She wouldn't allow anyone with ill intentions to manipulate the narrative.

Tang Ruoyao had an impeccable reputation, with no scandals and excellent public relations skills. Once the clarification statement was released, public opinion quickly turned around.

[Spreading rumors is effortless, but debunking them can be a real struggle.]

[I still believe in Tang Ruoyao. Those claims of her causing chaos and abandoning others are just the delusional work of a third-rate writer.]

Later on, Qin Yinong's studio also released a statement debunking the rumors.

The "Imperial Concubines" fan club declared, [Don't listen to those rotten melons. Qin Emperor's new movie XXXX is coming soon. Let's all meet at the cinema on XX date.]

Public opinion settled down after that. It was evident that someone behind the scenes had been trying to take advantage of the situation, launching a major attack on Tang Ruoyao. Unfortunately, An Ling firmly suppressed their efforts, making sure no ripples surfaced.

However, it didn't mean that the matter was completely over. Not to mention the current Qin Yinong, even the past Qin Yinong never turned a blind eye to Tang Ruoyao's affairs but sought revenge whenever necessary.

The leaked information mentioned that since her sophomore year, Tang Ruoyao never stayed in the school on weekends. Such detailed information couldn't be known by just anyone, so the scope immediately narrowed down.

During university days, there was enmity, and it was known that Tang Ruoyao was being kept by someone. That someone was none other than Hua Yuke, who had previously snatched the female lead role from Tang Ruoyao in "Under the Southern Mountain" but was later reclaimed by Qin Yinong.

It had been two years since their university graduation, and Hua Yuke was a ruthless person. With the backing of her benefactor, Liu Yayu, she had obtained several good resources. Although she was slightly inferior to Tang Ruoyao, she had surpassed her peers by a significant margin. This year, she won the Best Actress award at the Capital University Film Festival, and last year she received a nomination for Best Actress, one of the "Three Golden" awards.

But in comparing people, someone would always die, and in comparing goods, someone would always be discarded. She was outstanding, but whether it was within or outside the school, she was always overshadowed by Tang Ruoyao. When it came to the most outstanding young actresses, it was Tang Ruoyao, not Hua Yuke. It was like the eternal overshadowing of Qin Yinong by Haomei Hua.

Seeing Haomei Hua's current situation was like seeing her own future.

She was unwilling.

Huo Yuke had just wrapped up filming, a few days ahead of Tang Ruoyao. Diligently and earnestly, she continued auditioning for a new film. On the day of the audition, she could sense that the director was satisfied with her performance and complimented her acting. Huo Yuke left her bag inside and when she returned, the door was slightly ajar. She overheard the director talking to the assistant director, saying, "Is Tang Ruoyao almost done filming? Ask her about her schedule. I think her temperament suits this role."

Huo Yuke clenched her fists tightly, resentfully thinking to herself: Tang Ruoyao, why do you always linger like an evil spirit?

Clearly, she was not inferior to Tang Ruoyao at all. Was it just because the backer she found was stronger than her own? Why? The Qin family's Qin Yinong, she only found out later that the person she climbed up to was Qin Yinong.

Liu Yayu was very capable, but compared to Qin Yinong, he was far behind. Her psychological balance was not that she couldn't surpass Tang Ruoyao, but that Liu Yayu couldn't surpass Qin Yinong.

Huo Yuke gritted her teeth and pretended everything was fine, politely knocked on the door, picked up her bag, and left.

Ten days later, her agent informed her that she didn't pass the audition. Huo Yuke almost jumped up in anger and shouted, "Is it because of Tang Ruoyao?"

The agent was taken aback and said, "No." She mentioned the name of another actress.

At that time, Tang Ruoyao had just returned to Beijing and was deeply in love with Qin Yinong. She didn't have the leisure to take on a new film. At least for the next three months, she had no intention of accepting any new projects. If anyone had to do it, she would let Qin Yinong take it, and she would become a human accessory.

Little did Huo Yuke know that whenever she thought of Tang Ruoyao, her eyes turned bloodshot. Regardless of whether it was her or not, she held Tang Ruoyao responsible for this account.

She regarded Tang Ruoyao as an eyesore, a thorn in her flesh, and she desired to eliminate her for her own satisfaction. However, she wasn't completely foolish. Tang Ruoyao had Qin Yinong backing her up, and only a fool would throw eggs at a stone.

But that day, she received a call from an unfamiliar number. On the other end of the line was a lazy male voice saying, "I know what you want. Let's work together."

.......

Both Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao quickly dispelled the rumors, wishing they had no connection whatsoever, pouring a bucket of cold water on the shipper fans who were going crazy shipping them. Of course, the die-hard shipper fans on the internet wouldn't be deterred. They could always find ways to indulge in their fantasies, even without any explicit confirmation.

The Qin-Tang ship became official for only a few days before it started feeling somewhat fake. The most obvious evidence was their complete lack of interaction. No joint appearances, no online presence together, not even a mutual follow on Weibo. The ship had hit a roadblock.

On August 18th, a shocking piece of news exploded on the internet and even offline, capturing everyone's attention.

@MovieMaster:

[Directed by Han Yuping, starring Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao, the same-sex themed film "True Colors" will be released nationwide on August 25th, coinciding with the Chinese Valentine's Day. Stay tuned!]

Netizen: [I've read it several times. Am I seeing things, or did the editor make a mistake? Isn't this a same-sex film???]

Official account reply: [You didn't misread. It will indeed have a nationwide release. Please pay attention to local theaters' screening schedules. Let's meet at the cinema on August 25th to witness a beautiful love story. Don't miss it.]

Netizen: "!!!"

[F*ck! A same-sex film can have a nationwide release now! Ahhhhhh!!!]

The vast majority of casual shippers of Qin and Tang performed on the spot as if they had recovered from a near-death illness: [The weather has cleared, the rain has stopped, and I feel like I'm back on my feet!]

That night, Qin Yinong and Tang Ruoyao followed each other on Weibo.

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