Duan Xiubo casually tossed the “Entertainment Weekly” back onto the table. The front page displayed a full-color photo of a café scene. Duan Xiubo and Yan Jingjing sat facing each other, while Yan Jingjing’s manager was laughing loudly, saying something. Because of the tilted angle of the photo, Mi Rui, who was originally sitting next to Duan Xiubo, wasn’t captured in the shot.
The headline read: “Duan Xiubo and Yan Jingjing Meeting in Private, Sharing Intimate Laughter.”
Damn it.
Duan Xiubo wanted to curse. Were the editors blind? The only one laughing in the photo was Yan Jingjing’s manager! Both he and Yan Jingjing were wearing sunglasses with expressionless faces. This wasn’t a private meeting at all; it was a work meeting arranged after Yu Shaotian had taken it upon himself to invite Yan Jingjing to accompany Duan Xiubo on the red carpet. Worried about a lack of chemistry during the event, they held this meeting to ensure nothing would go wrong. To avoid misunderstandings, Duan Xiubo specifically requested that both their managers or assistants be present to keep a record of the discussion. The café by the window was Yan Jingjing’s choice—a small request from the lady, and he didn’t see a reason to refuse.
“Call Yu Shaotian.”
On the other end, Yu Shaotian was also overwhelmed, and as soon as he answered, he kept apologizing: “I didn’t know. I picked her because I thought she had a good reputation. Turns out people aren’t always what they seem.”
Yan Jingjing, after being involved in a scandal with Cao Dingkun years ago, had always maintained a gentle public image. As she gained more fame, she became more low-key, and her public statements were practical. She always claimed she wanted her work to speak for itself, and though her husband wasn’t particularly famous, she often mentioned him. Honestly, all of this made her more likable. That’s why, when it turned out that Huo Lianshan couldn’t accompany her on the red carpet due to filming commitments, Yu Shaotian naturally thought to pair her up with Duan Xiubo, who also hadn’t finalized a female companion.
One careless decision nearly caused a huge problem, and now Duan Xiubo was dragged into it. Yu Shaotian felt deeply guilty.
“Forget it.” With Yu Shaotian’s attitude, Duan Xiubo couldn’t really blame him. Fortunately, throughout their interactions, Duan Xiubo had consciously kept his distance from Yan Jingjing. He’d maintained only a polite, surface-level relationship, careful not to give off any improper signals.
And now, his consistent caution had saved him again. Though Yan Jingjing wasn’t as famous or influential as him, she was a married woman. If such rumors were deliberately twisted, it could severely damage both of their reputations.
Just thinking of Yan Jingjing filled Duan Xiubo with disgust.
At first, he hadn’t suspected her at all. After all, it’s usually the woman who gets a worse reputation in cases of infidelity. If Yan Jingjing really tried to stir up a scandal about cheating, she would be out of her mind.
However, as the reports continued, they increasingly tried to spin their relationship, making it seem like Duan Xiubo was the one pushing the narrative. In the various media reports, his name appeared far more frequently than Yan Jingjing’s.
When Yan Jingjing was interviewed after walking the red carpet, her responses now seemed much more deliberate.
A reporter asked her, “Why did you walk the red carpet with Duan Xiubo? Are you two close?”
She didn’t hide her delight: “Duan has always looked out for me. I had planned to walk the red carpet with Lao Huo, but he had to stay on set last minute, and I was really disappointed. But the next day, Duan sent me an invitation, and I was so happy to collaborate with him.”
At the time, this sounded perfectly reasonable. Yan Jingjing’s words were flawless. The reporter’s question carried some negative connotations, but she brought up Huo Lianshan, subtly implying her husband was aware of the situation. Just like that, any ambiguity about the collaboration was cleared up, or rather, her reputation was cleared.
However, she didn’t explain anything for Duan Xiubo, not even mentioning that he didn’t have a female companion and that it was a purely professional decision.
Now, paired with the rumors, her statement seemed to paint the picture of Duan Xiubo actively pursuing a married woman, unrequitedly.
Even after putting the newspaper down, Duan Xiubo still couldn’t remember what Yan Jingjing looked like. How could they say he was infatuated with her? Fortunately, thanks to his efforts to maintain a distance, the so-called intimate photos the media used were limited to just the beginning of the red carpet, with Yan Jingjing holding Duan’s arm at an angle that made it look like she was leaning on him. As a result, the public wasn’t taking these reports seriously. No one had yet realized this was a publicity stunt, and people were already joking about how unreliable the media could be.
The entire red carpet was broadcast live, and since Duan Xiubo was a big name, the camera focused on him almost the whole time.
Anyone who had seen that video and still claimed that Duan Xiubo and Yan Jingjing were walking intimately had to be lying through their teeth!
Was this intimacy?
People laughed uncontrollably at the sight of the physical distance between them.
At the beginning of the red carpet, it was Yan Jingjing who was more flirtatious, holding Duan’s arm, her lips in a painted smile, trying her best to hide her excitement and satisfaction while posing for the cameras. In comparison, Duan Xiubo was far more natural. His arm was bent at such a wide angle that even though Yan Jingjing held onto him, she still couldn’t stand too close.
There was even a moment the event organizers didn’t cut out, perhaps intentionally, perhaps by accident.
Duan Xiubo saw Luo Ding walking ahead and sped up to catch up. But Yan Jingjing refused, stubbornly holding her ground to pose for more pictures. The two didn’t exchange any words, and their only contact was the hand holding his arm, creating a visual where Duan was pulling, and Yan was resisting. Yan Jingjing’s body swayed, but she kept trying to stay and pose, making Duan look helpless.
In the end, Duan won, because in the next shot, he was already by Luo Ding’s side.
The eye contact between Luo Ding, Duan Xiubo, and Yuan Bing made the scene look less awkward, though Yan Jingjing kept her head facing the cameras. Soon, Duan Xiubo let go of her arm and began chatting with Luo Ding. Over on Luo Ding’s side, Yuan Bing had also released her hold on his arm, so Duan’s actions didn’t appear too abrupt.
But when Yan Jingjing realized that Duan had let go of her, her attempts to get close again were downright laughable.
Most people didn’t criticize her too harshly. They merely teased, saying that she was trying to “cling to a big name.” But in the entertainment industry, trying to hitch a ride with someone famous isn’t even that scandalous. There wasn’t enough drama to make this story go viral.
Still, Yan Jingjing wasn’t really trying to blow this out of proportion. She was just using Duan Xiubo’s name to maintain her level of attention.
After all, as a married woman, stirring up rumors about infidelity would definitely backfire. This, however, was just right. Public opinion on her was mixed, with some people joking about it, but the ambiguity was kept in check. Over time, she would be left with the image of being good friends with Duan Xiubo. In China, where relationships and connections are highly valued, being friends with a top-tier actor essentially elevated her status.
Her contract with Universal was coming to an end, and with the company’s strict control over its artists, she had no intention of staying. However, compared to Universal, other domestic entertainment companies were not much better. So, instead of signing with another company, she planned to start her own studio.
With her current fame and income, starting a studio wouldn’t be difficult. Over the years at Universal, she had built relationships with the publicity firms working with the company. The current media stunt was entirely her own doing, without any involvement from Universal. And so far, it seemed to be working.
Her next move would be to expose Huo Lianshan’s scandals—whether cheating or being arrogant on set—casting him as an unsupportive and uncaring husband. Then, she would announce that her contract with Universal was expiring and subtly reveal her plans to start her own studio. Finally, after running into difficulties with the new studio, she would divorce Huo Lianshan.
If everything went smoothly, her image would transform from that of a sweet rising star to a strong, career-driven woman. The public would feel sorry for her, abandoned by her husband during difficult times, which would significantly boost her popularity and positive public perception. These points of favor would be invaluable for her future career in the entertainment industry.
Why did she choose Duan Xiubo as the first stepping stone in her plan? Mainly because, after spending time with him, as well as encountering him before and gathering feedback from others in the industry, she realized that Duan Xiubo was one of the few big stars with a good temper.
It was like her past with Cao Dingkun—when rumors had spread more aggressively than this, all Cao did was briefly clarify that they were just working together, without even holding a press conference. He never directly confronted the rumors, and like many top celebrities, he avoided escalating the situation. Celebrities in his position simply couldn’t afford to react strongly to these minor scandals. Doing so would make it seem like they were blowing things out of proportion, and in the end, they could only suffer in silence.
Having tasted success with that approach, Yan Jingjing felt emboldened.
After all, Duan Xiubo had nothing to lose. In the entertainment industry, friendships were often about mutual exploitation. If Duan Xiubo got upset over something this minor, it would just mean he was petty.
***
Is Duan Xiubo big-hearted? Hell no! His patience was about as thin as a chicken’s intestine. Yan Jingjing, misled by false impressions, was digging herself into trouble.
Duan Xiubo absolutely hated people who tried to use him, especially those who wanted to ride on his fame. At events, when fellow celebrities asked for his contact information, he would always appear generous and friendly, exchanging Facebook, MSN, WeChat, and even phone numbers, giving the impression that he wasn’t arrogant at all. But all those contact details? They were managed by Mi Rui.
Once people got them, they were essentially useless, aside from receiving the occasional official update.
What he despised most was being exploited for no reason. Did he earn his fame through scandals? Was it handed to him for free? Why should those who take shortcuts and play dirty get to take advantage of him?
The more people tried to cozy up to him, the less he valued them. Yan Jingjing, who initially showed respect and maintained an appropriate distance, had once been treated cordially by Duan Xiubo. But now?
He didn’t care about “overreacting” or “underreacting.” He just wanted to clear his name. His patience was limited, and he wasn’t going to let this slide.
The entertainment companies were, as always, full of gossip. They closely monitored industry trends, and as soon as something stirred, they were the first to know.
At the company, where the air buzzed with whispers about the rumors between Duan Xiubo and Yan Jingjing, Luo Ding retreated to his company-assigned rest area, hoping for some peace. However, Wu Fangyuan, who had an unstoppable habit of chatting, was still there.
Wu Fangyuan abandoned the sofa and sat cross-legged on the carpet, typing away on his laptop while actively sharing his personal thoughts with Luo Ding.
“I think Sister Yuan Bing is prettier than Yan Jingjing. Was Duan-ge blind when he chose Yan Jingjing?”
“But you know, maybe Duan-ge prefers someone weaker. Yan Jingjing is definitely weaker compared to Sister Yuan.”
“Actually, Yan Jingjing isn’t that bad. Her husband’s the real jerk. Why do you think she married him?”
“Look at Yan Jingjing’s nose—it’s so high. She must have had work done. Do you think Duan-ge knows? Probably not, right?”
“What do you think their relationship really is, huh? You’re close with Duan-ge. Got any insider info? I swear I won’t tell anyone if you do.”
“I swear…” Luo Ding got up, leaning against a pillow, wrapped in a gray blanket. His face, framed by the dark furniture around him, was pale, almost translucent, with no trace of color. His expression, however, was full of irritation. “I’m trying to sleep. Could you either be quiet or go back to your office? That press conference wore me out.”
Normally, Luo Ding was so tolerant and kind toward him that Wu Fangyuan immediately sensed that his mood was off. He quickly shut his mouth. After a moment, he couldn’t resist asking again, worried, “Are you upset about something? Having trouble with work? Tell me about it.”
“Shut up!” Luo Ding turned his head, glaring at him. The sharp look made Wu Fangyuan instinctively shrink back. Then Luo Ding added, “I’m not angry! Get out!”
Wu Fangyuan scrambled out of the room, terrified. Luo Ding was really scary when he was mad, with that intense, oppressive aura…
Once the door closed, Luo Ding lay back down, staring blankly at the ceiling. His expression softened, and after a while, he sighed deeply.
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