Chapter 32: I, Ling Qiong, Send Money! (32)

Father Su had no way to handle Lu Wenci, so what could he do?
Heh.
There was nothing he could do.
But he could increase Ling Qiong’s workload.
Ling Qiong: “……”
Her resolve to seize power only grew stronger.

……

Ling Qiong had just finished a meeting that day. As she stepped out, she noticed the odd looks everyone was giving her.
She turned to the glass to check her reflection but found nothing amiss.
She returned to her office and pulled her little assistant aside. “What’s going on out there? Why is everyone looking at me so strangely?”
The assistant, caught off guard, braced herself and said, “Miss Su, you don’t know?”
“Know what?”
The assistant hesitated. “Um… Have you checked the trending topics?”
Trending topics?
What did those have to do with her?
Had her beauty finally gone viral?
Clearly not. Among the trending searches, one stood out.
#LuWenciRelationship#
Hmm?
Ling Qiong frowned in confusion and tapped the link.
Inside, there was a grid of nine photos—blurry, but Lu Wenci was easily recognizable.
In those photos, apart from Lu Wenci, there was another main figure—herself.
She was even more recognizable; her flamboyant style made it impossible for anyone to capture her discreetly, even if they tried.
Most of the pictures were candid shots of her and Lu Wenci out together: dining, shopping, and some taken on set.
The on-set photos were the clearest; one even appeared as though they were kissing.
Ling Qiong had always drawn attention when visiting film sets, so being photographed was nothing new.
But she hadn’t done anything special before, and there had never been any buzz online.
Who would have expected everything to be exposed all at once now?
Ling Qiong scrolled down and opened the comment section.
There were three main types of people commenting.
One group didn’t believe it, claiming the media was making up rumors to leech off their idol’s fame; another group was devastated, wailing as if they’d just suffered heartbreak; and the last group were bystanders, simply enjoying the gossip.
[Who is that woman? How dare she defile my darling.]
[So is he really in a relationship? Crying.jpg]
[That’s Su Miaomiao, the one who called off her engagement with Shen Qinchuan.] Someone attached previous news photos.
[Wow, I remember her. But honestly, she’s so beautiful. The paparazzi got such clear shots—who were they really trying to photograph?]
[Didn’t he say he wouldn’t date anyone?]
[Wow…]
……

When Lu Wenci saw the trending topic, he was in the middle of filming a show.
During a break, his assistant rushed over and showed it to him.

“Bro, are you really dating her?” the assistant asked timidly.
“…Yes.”
Lu Wenci saw no reason to deny it.
So when Chen Fangchuan stormed to the set and demanded an explanation, he admitted it openly.
Chen Fangchuan wanted him to immediately issue a statement clarifying the situation.
But Lu Wenci wanted to go public.
The two couldn’t agree.
Finally, Lu Wenci compromised. “Let’s not respond.”
How is not responding any different from tacitly admitting?
Chen Fangchuan objected on the spot. “That won’t do! You’re just starting out—if this gets out now, how will your career progress? Haven’t you seen what happens in the entertainment industry? Anyone whose relationship gets exposed at the peak of their fame sees their popularity nosedive.”
Lu Wenci replied, “But it’s the truth. I don’t want to deny it.”
Chen Fangchuan paced, pulling at his hair in frustration. “I told you before, if anything changed between you two, you had to tell me. Did you? I wanted you to keep some distance! And look at you!”
Lu Wenci: “……”
It hadn’t even been that long.
“Your opportunities are already scarce, and now you stir up trouble like this. What will you do next? Don’t you realize most of your fans are girlfriend fans?”
Chen Fangchuan had no control over the projects that came Lu Wenci’s way.
The ones he fought for never came through, while offers he hadn’t considered dropped into their laps—always specifying Lu Wenci.
Chen Fangchuan had figured out the pattern: if it came to them unsolicited, it was bound to be a hit; if he fought for it, it would flop.
As a manager unable to control his artist’s resources, what could he do?
Lu Wenci said, “Let’s just let things take their course.”
“……” Chen Fangchuan took a deep breath. “What about Miss Su?”
“I’ll talk to her.”
Chen Fangchuan couldn’t do anything about Lu Wenci, but he respected his client’s wishes.

……

When Lu Wenci called, Ling Qiong had just hit the ‘send’ button.
“Did you see the trending topic?” Lu Wenci’s side was quiet; only his breathing could be heard.
“I saw it.”
“I… I wanted to go public, but Brother Chen wouldn’t allow it. So I won’t respond on my end, and you shouldn’t either. This will blow over soon.”
“……”
After speaking, Lu Wenci waited for her reply.
But there was only silence.
Lu Wenci asked, “Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you mad?”
Dating but not being able to go public—knowing her temper, Lu Wenci thought she had every reason to be angry.
“It’s not that…” Ling Qiong finally spoke, her voice weak. “Before you called, I just posted something on Weibo.”
“……”

Lu Wenci switched apps—no need to search, people had already started reposting her content.
[Miaomiao Without End: You control the heavens and the earth, but now you want to control who I date?]
She was quite bold.
“Should I delete it?” her soft voice came through the phone.
Lu Wenci: “……”
People had already taken screenshots—what was the point of deleting it now?
“No need,” Lu Wenci replied. “It’s fine. Don’t look at the online chatter; I’ll handle the rest.”
He comforted her as if she were a child, then hung up.

[Dearie, clearing negative press also earns you a draw~] At this moment, Shanshan appeared unusually quickly.
Ling Qiong: “……”
Why was her relationship with Lu Wenci considered negative press?
[…It’s not great for the target characters, so it counts as negative.] Shanshan explained earnestly.
“Nonsense. Aren’t we just dating?”
[…Yes.]
“So it’s the truth. How is that negative?”
[…] That’s not the point. [So, do you want a card draw?]
“No! Go away!”
[…] Apparently out of funds, Shanshan made a hasty exit.

……

Lu Wenci had gone behind Chen Fangchuan’s back and made a big move. By the time Chen tried to make him delete it, it was already too late—it was trending.

#LuWenciAdmitsRelationship#
#LuWenciSuMiaomiao#
Chen Fangchuan: “……”
What happened to not responding?!
Usually so obedient and agreeable, doing whatever was arranged, never fussing over gain or loss. Unless his bottom line was crossed, he was a model of serenity. But today he’d become utterly rebellious.
How was he supposed to do PR now?
He was losing his hair!

“I can’t let a girl face this alone.”
Chen Fangchuan lost all composure, shouting, “Didn’t you say you’d talk to her?”
Lu Wenci replied, “Even if I don’t respond, it’s not fair. She’ll be cursed at and harassed.”
Chen Fangchuan stomped his foot in exasperation. “She has the Su family behind her—she doesn’t need your protection! Worry about yourself!!”
“But she’s my girlfriend, isn’t it my duty to stand up for her?”
“……”
Chen Fangchuan glanced at Lu Wenci, lips moving as if to speak, but in the end, he said nothing.
In this industry, relationships were always kept in the shadows. How many people dared to say something like that from the very beginning?