Chapter 2
Zhao Xiaotong, a university student, deeply admired Su Jue, watching every one of her works.
“Shadow Queen Su is still so elegant and graceful, her acting is always top-notch, unlike that Qi woman, a mere vase, a white lotus, shameless. No wonder she ended up with that Zhong scumbag; they’re a perfect match.”
Zhao Xiaotong watched Celebrity Love on her laptop.
“Why would Shadow Queen Su participate in this idiotic variety show?!”
“Why else? It’s for that Zhong guy. They’re engaged; how could Su Jue not participate?” one of Zhao Xiaotong’s roommates said.
“Wow, what’s wrong with Shadow Queen Su? Zhong is blind to have fallen for Qi An.”
“He even forced Su Jue to break off the engagement! If he really wanted to break it off, he should do it himself! This is live television! He has no respect for Shadow Queen Su at all! That white lotus is still playing the victim!”
Zhao Xiaotong was furious. Her roommates were enjoying the gossip, but when they saw the next scene, they were stunned, their minds struggling to keep up.
“That’s right, I like Su Jue. I got close to you because of Su Jue. You’re a scumbag, I’ve had enough of you, get lost!”
Zhao Xiaotong stared at the screen, stunned. “Is this still that Qi white lotus? She seems like a completely different person.”
“I guess so.”
Zhao Xiaotong and her roommates exchanged bewildered glances.
Online, the internet exploded with discussions.
“Oh my god, I always felt awkward seeing Qi An with that innocent face. It was all an act! I didn’t expect her personality to be so violent; she kicked that scumbag without hesitation. I’m a fan now.”
“Me too! Just for kicking that scum, I’m a fan!”
“This is the biggest scoop of the year! Zhong Haoli worked so hard to promote Qi An, and in the end, he got nothing. His fiancée is being pursued by another woman. Poor guy.”
“Poor guy.”
“Poor guy.”
Netizens flooded the comments section.
“This is probably a real-life version of ‘The woman I love and the woman who loves me are together.’”
“That’s right. But Shadow Queen Su never said she loved Zhong Haoli. Zhong Haoli has cheated so many times, and Su Jue never got angry.”
“That’s true. Maybe it was her family forcing her. Shadow Queen Su had no choice but to marry Zhong. What kind of parents are they? They don’t care about their daughter’s happiness for the sake of profit.”
“Trash parents.”
“Trash parents.”
Public opinion shifted, criticizing Su Jue’s parents and demanding they break off the engagement.
After seeing the online comments, Su’s mother and father were pale with anger.
“They don’t understand anything! I raised my daughter with all my heart; how could I harm her?!” Su’s father roared.
“Old Su, calm down. Take care of your health. But Haoli really went too far this time. He showed no respect for Jue at all.”
Su’s father calmed down after hearing this.
“Let’s ask Jue when she gets back. We should just break off the engagement. With the situation as it is, their future will definitely be difficult.”
Su’s mother looked at him in surprise. “Have you thought it through? You’re not going to marry your daughter off to pay back a debt anymore?”
“What are you saying? It’s like I sold my daughter!”
“It’s because the Zhong family is good to us and treats our daughter like their own. And Haoli is talented and handsome, that’s why I agreed to this marriage. I never knew Haoli would become like this. Jue should have spoken up if she didn’t like him; I wouldn’t force her.”
“How could she speak up? You don’t know your own temper. You never changed your mind on anything you’ve decided! Jue has been strictly controlled since childhood. Even her entry into the entertainment industry was your decision. You never asked if she even wanted to go,” Su’s mother said dismissively.
After hearing his wife’s words, Su’s father fell silent, thinking: Maybe I was wrong.
“You knew, why didn’t you remind me?”
“It’s too late. You raised your daughter to be emotionless. I regretted it a long time ago. I agreed with you hoping our daughter would resist. But she doesn’t care at all. I think she should become a nun with her temperament.”
Su’s mother looked at her remorseful husband, “You did one good thing though. Our daughter loves acting; I can see she’s happy when she’s acting.”
“I’ve already repaid the debt. From now on, let Jue do whatever she wants,” Su’s father sighed.
But later, when Su Jue brought Qi An to see him, he regretted those words—but that’s another story.
When Su Jue returned, it was very late, but her parents were still sitting on the sofa, not asleep.
“Dad, Mom, it’s so late, why aren’t you sleeping?”
“Jue, your dad and I want to discuss something with you,” Su’s mother said, smiling and pulling Su Jue over.
“What is it?” Su Jue asked curiously.
“We decided to break off your engagement with Haoli.”
Su Jue was stunned, looking at Su’s father in surprise.
“Dad, Mom, do as you wish. I have no objections. I’m tired; I’m going to sleep. You should go to bed early too.”
“Okay, get some rest.” Su’s mother said, smiling.
Su’s mother glared at Su’s father, “Look at what you’ve done! Our daughter doesn’t like Haoli at all. It’s all because of what you said. Didn’t you see the surprised look on her face just now?”
“Okay, I know. I’ll go talk to Old Zhong tomorrow. I’ll definitely break off this engagement,” Su’s father said.
Su Jue returned to her room, sitting on the bed, thinking about what had happened.
Did my parents change their minds because of today’s show? There’s no other reason.
Qi An, do you really like me?
Su Jue slowly lay down on the bed, thinking about everything that had happened. Today’s drama was beyond her comprehension.
Many people probably couldn’t sleep tonight, except for the carefree Qi An.
“Bang, bang, bang!”
The urgent and intense knocking revealed the impatience of the person outside.
“Who is it? It’s so early.”
Qi An groggily got up, rubbed her hair, and lazily walked to the door.
“Who is it?” Qi An yawned.
“It’s me! Open the door quickly!” the person outside urged anxiously.
Qi An opened the door and saw a very anxious woman, her manager. She recognized her after a second.
“Manager Li, so early?”
“Early? It’s almost noon! You just woke up? You haven’t even washed your face?”
Manager Li was furious at Qi An’s relaxed demeanor.
“Ha, I’ll go wash up now,” Qi An said with a chuckle.
Qi An knew Manager Li was here because of what she said at the show, but she would face it head-on.
“Manager Li, what’s up?”
Qi An had put on casual clothes before opening the door.
“You ask what’s up?! You caused a huge mess, don’t you know?!” Manager Li shouted.
“The company wants to shelve me. I don’t mind,” Qi An said indifferently.
Seeing Qi An’s indifferent attitude, Manager Li forcibly suppressed her anger, sat down, and stared at Qi An.
“I really believe you now. You were acting all along. At first, I thought it was a different person.”
The Qi An of the past wasn’t like this; she was very artificial. She clearly clung to Zhong Haoli for more resources, but pretended to be aloof. As her manager, she couldn’t stand it. She never expected this reversal. She’d been her manager for so long, yet she had misjudged her.
Qi An was startled; her manager was very perceptive; she couldn’t let her suspect her.
“What’s wrong with acting like a white lotus? Those who can’t act will act. Just act nice. Now that I’m disgusted by that Zhong scumbag, I don’t want to act anymore. The company wants to shelve me; I don’t mind. I never liked acting in the first place. If Su Jue didn’t like acting, I wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble.”
Qi An glanced at Manager Li and saw no abnormalities.
Manager Li looked at Qi An thoughtfully. “It seems you really like Su Jue. You even noticed that she likes acting. Everyone thinks Su Jue entered the entertainment industry because of the engagement; few people know she genuinely loves acting.”
“Su Jue is very serious about acting. Among her peers, no one can compare to her attitude. That’s why she won Best Actress at only 25.”
Seeing Manager Li seem to believe her, Qi An breathed a sigh of relief.
She knew Su Jue liked acting; she had read the script.
“Qi An, you know, given your status, you’ll definitely end up with Su Jue regardless of your approach. Especially since you’re a woman.”
After hearing this, Qi An pretended to be dejected.
“I know, so I hope she can be happy.”
She would have to bear the consequences of her lies.
“That Zhong Haoli, Su Jue absolutely cannot marry him. He’s a scumbag, a menace.”
When saying this, Qi An was genuinely emotional.
Manager Li looked at Qi An’s passionate reaction, somewhat stunned. How much did Qi An really like Su Jue?
“That depends on Su Jue. With things as they are, the engagement is almost over.”
“Really?” Qi An said excitedly.
She was happy to be able to help Su Jue.
Qi An leaned closer to Manager Li, wanting more details.
“Manager Li, do you have any inside information? When will they announce the engagement breakup? Where?”
Manager Li twitched her eyes. “That’s just my guess. How could I know? Don’t even think about going to watch the fun. No one would invite you anyway.”
“I’ve been sidetracked. You made a big mess. Many reporters are gathered outside. If this place didn’t have good security, they would’ve broken in already.”
“Wait, come with me. Attend a press conference. Don’t talk nonsense then.”
“What press conference?”
“A press conference to address your slander of Mr. Zhong yesterday. You need to admit that you spoke impulsively and that Mr. Zhong did not engage in any improper relationships.”
“When did I slander him? It’s the truth!” Qi An said angrily.
Why should she apologize to that scumbag?
“Even if it’s true, you can’t say it. You’re still under Mr. Zhong’s company.”
“The contract doesn’t say I can’t speak the truth.”
“But the contract says you can’t damage the company’s interests. Do you have evidence? You don’t. Just apologize honestly; no one will believe you anyway,” Manager Li advised.
Qi An looked at Manager Li in surprise; she had a point.
“Okay, I’ll apologize.”
No, she wouldn’t apologize. She would lie again. She was being forced; before she transmigrated, she was a hacker. Don’t provoke her.
“Really?” Manager Li looked suspiciously at Qi An, who had suddenly agreed.
She had been completely against it just now.
“Didn’t you say so? No one will believe it anyway,” Qi An said flatly.
“Qi An, don’t jeopardize your future.”
“Okay, I understand. I’ll go prepare.”
“Go ahead.”
Manager Li thought Qi An was going to put on makeup.
【Author’s Note】
Know my heart, it worries me. 10 bottles;