Li Qiuchi knew she was trending. Honestly, she’d long been prepared for Li Guangliang’s scandal to break—it was only a matter of time before someone dug it up. So when the news hit, she didn’t feel much of anything.
After so many years in showbiz, she had nerves of steel. Even when she saw the harsh insults hurled at her online, she simply scrolled past without a reaction.
She skimmed the comment section. Naturally, she also saw the post that Ruan An’an had liked.
Soon after, her agency put out a second clarification.
"Regarding Miss Li’s rumored sugar daddy, it’s not as described online. That’s President Shen from the Shen Group, and he and Miss Li are currently dating. Furthermore, the video circulating of Miss Li allegedly slapping Miss Ruan was taken on set while filming. The director will provide further explanation later. As for certain rumor-mongering accounts, our company has sent legal notices. We advise everyone to remain calm and avoid following the herd."
Around the same time, the Shen Group’s official account posted their own response, confirming her relationship with Bryce Shaw.
The production team also issued a statement about the so-called 'Ruan An’an slapped' video: Ruan An’an struggled to get into character, and it took numerous takes to get a pass. You couldn’t blame Li Qiuchi; if you’re an actor, your acting should speak for itself.
The haters were instantly silenced. Seeing the tables turn, Ruan An’an rushed to make her own statement.
"Qiuchi-jie treats me really well. We were just acting, so please don’t read too much into it, everyone."
Anyone with a sharp eye could see this entire spectacle was staged. Li Qiuchi’s fans flocked to her comments to speak up.
"Come on, if you can’t act, don’t drag others down with you. You made it look like someone bullied you and our Qiuchi-jie gets dragged through the mud."
"You stayed silent when the scandal first broke out, and only speak up after our Qiuchi-jie’s been viciously attacked. Are you doing this on purpose?"
"It’s hard not to suspect you’re just trying to hitch a ride on all this hype."
When the drama first exploded, Li Qiuchi’s fandom hadn’t dared say a word for fear of being attacked. Now, finally able to vent, they weren’t going to let it go easily.
Ruan An’an’s fans weren’t about to back down—they fired right back, and soon a fierce online battle flared up between the two camps.
Even though this mess had mostly been cleared up, Li Guangliang’s situation still hung unresolved; he was linked to a suspected murder case, after all.
But that was another matter entirely.
Li Qiuchi knew that Ruan An’an had been the one to leak those videos and photos. Without hesitation, she called her agent, Le Rong.
"Rong-jie, do you still have those photos of Ruan An’an and the director of her last project going to the hotel together?"
The last time she’d happened to see them entering a hotel together, she’d snapped pictures—never expecting they’d come in handy someday.
Le Rong understood her intent immediately, voice gleaming with excitement. "Of course I do. What do you want to do with them?"
"Release the photos. And then hire some publicity accounts to fan the flames." If Ruan An’an could do it, so could she.
Le Rong responded, "Turnabout is fair play, Qiuchi. I’ll send those pictures to the media right away."
As soon as she hung up, Lauren Shaw called.
Lauren Shaw worried she’d be upset—being publicly vilified was never pleasant, and Lauren Shaw knew the feeling all too well. Even though Yancy Shaw had assured her that Qiuchi’s issue would be taken care of, she couldn’t help but check in.
"Qiuchi-jie, are... are you alright?"
Hearing her tentative question, Li Qiuchi gave a light laugh. "Don’t worry about me. This is nothing—I’ve long grown used to being insulted. This is child’s play."
Back when she’d first debuted, the insults had been a hundred times worse, but she’d survived.
The difference was, she wasn’t alone anymore.
Hearing her calm tone, Lauren Shaw finally relaxed. After she hung up, Yancy Shaw, sitting beside her, watched her with a casual, confident gaze.
"Like I said, your Qiuchi-jie is much tougher than you think."
"How do you know?" Lauren Shaw asked, looking at him curiously. Qiuchi’s news had just been trending, and now it had dropped off the list; public sentiment had shifted.
"If they can buy fake commenters to stir things up, so can we." The internet was a hall of mirrors—money made all the difference. Or as the saying went, "Money makes the mare go."
It seemed her worrying had been unnecessary after all.
"You’re never a burden, my dear," Yancy Shaw teased, eyes brimming with affection. "I love how you always care so much about the people around you."
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it.
Yuan Ran, their driver and bodyguard, kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead, professional to the core. No matter what happened in the backseat, he was effectively invisible to them.
Lauren Shaw couldn’t help blushing under Yancy Shaw’s gaze—it was far too intense, like a whirlpool threatening to pull her in.
She shyly pulled her hand away. "Stop looking at me like that. You’re making me embarrassed."
Seriously, after all this time being married, how could she still get flustered so easily?
Seeing her blush, Yancy Shaw decided to tease her. Leaning in close, he murmured into her ear, "My dear Mrs. Shen, you’ve been perfect tonight. As a reward, I’ll grant you one wish this evening."
A wish? Her mind instantly darted to her recent New Year’s resolution: To have a baby.
Her smile froze. "That wish can wait, for now."
He already pestered her almost every night, endlessly insatiable. How could her petite frame possibly keep up? Whenever she refused, he’d bring up the topic to sweet-talk her.
That scoundrel—he really was too much! Annoyed, she lunged forward and bit his neck, leaving a deep crimson mark.
Yancy Shaw brushed her lips with slender fingers, and then leaned in for a kiss. Lauren Shaw never expected he’d kiss her right here in the car, especially with someone else present.
She pummelled his chest with small, indignant fists, gritting her teeth and mumbling in protest.
After finally releasing her, Lauren Shaw muttered under her breath, "Jerk."
Normally, when it was just them in the car, she didn’t mind his kisses. But with Yuan Ran there, she just couldn’t let go of her embarrassment.
Yancy Shaw licked his lips with lingering desire. No matter how much time they spent together, he could never get enough of her. As long as she was near, he was helplessly drawn closer.
It was as if she had an irresistible magic that held him captive.
Meanwhile, at the Zhu household—
Zhu Yurou watched as the online buzz faded, her whole demeanor dark and tense.
Shang Min was still bubbling with excitement. "Yurou, do you really think the Shen family would still want someone like Li Qiuchi as their daughter-in-law after this?"
Of course the answer was no. Families like the Shen’s cared enormously about background—and the Shen family was positively elite.
Seeing Zhu Yurou silent, Shang Min continued on, "In the end, I just know the Shen family will choose to ally with us Zhu’s instead. That Second Young Master Shen is only temporarily infatuated. Give it time, he’ll definitely cast that actress aside."