Scandal

Tian Chuxi ate hotpot and chatted with Zhang Yang about everyday things, and before they knew it, half an hour had passed.

"I haven't had such a satisfying meal in ages," she said, her face beaming with contentment.

"If you like to eat here, come often. Public figures are people too. What's wrong with eating hot pot? Even if you get recognized, will it cause a traffic jam?" Zhang Yang laughed.

"You think I'm making a mountain out of a molehill?" Tian Chuxi rolled her eyes at Zhang Yang. "If it were you, would you rather eat your meal quietly by An An, or be surrounded and disturbed, unable to even have a peaceful meal?"

"Okay, I guess I wasn't empathetic enough." Zhang Yang smiled, his gaze falling on Tian Chuxi. "Where are you going later? Want to come over to my place for a bit?"

"No, you should take me back instead." Tian Chuxi seemed to have seen through Zhang Yang's plan at a glance.

Zhang Yang smiled, not taking it to heart.

"Sure, where do you live?"

"I have an apartment at the Fanyue Hotel," Tian Chuxi said, gently putting on her mask.

The Fanyue Banyue 108 that Tian Chuxi mentioned is located in the CBD of China World Trade Center. Its location is absolutely superb, facing the CITIC Tower, a landmark in China World Trade Center, with a straight-line distance of only 500 meters.

It's said that many celebrities live here.

The two quietly left the Soup King Hotpot restaurant and went directly to the underground parking garage.

To avoid attracting attention, Tian Chuxi didn't drive herself, but instead got into Zhang Yang's Ghost. The two quietly left and headed straight for Banyue 108.

As night fell, Ghost quietly stopped outside the gates of the Fanyue Palace.

In such a prime location, the residential complex is naturally small, consisting of only two buildings. In the distance, the towering CITIC Tower stands majestically against the night sky.

"Thank you for bringing me back." Tian Chuxi took off her mask and kissed Zhang Yang on the cheek in the blink of an eye.

"It was too fast, I didn't even feel it." Zhang Yang touched his cheek and smiled. "Won't you invite me up for a seat?"

"It's too late." Tian Chuxi gently turned her head away.

Zhang Yang could see her fair and beautiful chin, her pert nose, and a fleeting glimpse of her profile.

Under the hazy night sky, there was indeed a captivating beauty.

He chuckled and casually covered her legs with his hand, feeling their warmth. "Not even the face of a cup of water?"

"You're up to no good." Tian Chuxi lightly patted Zhang Yang's hand. "Let's make it clear first, I'll just have a glass of water and then I'll leave."

"It's a deal, I'll leave after I finish drinking," Zhang Yang vowed, his eyes sincere.

"Then let's go." Tian Chuxi put her mask back on. "I must be crazy. Who knows if there are paparazzi waiting here? We'd be in big trouble if we got caught."

Tian Chuxi's apartment in the Fanyue is a two-bedroom unit of over 200 square meters. It is said that she bought it for more than 20 million yuan, and now it is worth 30 million yuan, which is quite expensive. However, considering Tian Chuxi's endorsements and various incomes in a year, it is not surprising that she lives here.

"A cleaning lady just cleaned the place a while ago, please come in." Tian Chuxi turned on the light, bent down and picked up brand new slippers. "We don't have men's slippers, these are a bit more unisex, you don't mind, do you?"

"It's okay." Zhang Yang changed into the clothes casually, while also taking a look at the furnishings of the house.

The space is over 200 square meters, and the interior decoration is simple yet stylish, showing considerable taste. Most importantly, although there are no obvious signs of habitation, there is still a sense of life here.

For example, the sofa cushions, the green plants everywhere, the neatly stored tea sets, and the yoga mat in front of the TV wall.

"Please sit wherever you like, I'll go get you some tea." Tian Chuxi also changed into slippers, took off her sunglasses and mask, and immediately relaxed, just like a young woman living alone.

Zhang Yang sat on the sofa, casually playing with the small porcelain doll of Tian Chuxi's character from the drama on the coffee table, and then watched Tian Chuxi busy in the kitchen.

A short while later, she brought over a fruit platter and served hot tea.

Zhang Yang touched the teacup.

Yes, it's scalding hot; it's absolutely impossible to put it in your mouth.

"So hot?" he asked in surprise.

"Let it cool down a bit before you drink it, okay? I'm going to take a shower. You should finish your drink quickly and leave soon," Tian Chuxi said calmly.

A moment later, she took the clothes and headed straight for the bathroom in the distance.

Then, Zhang Yang ate fruit while listening to the faint sound of running water coming from the bathroom.

The grapes in the fruit platter were very sweet, and Zhang Yang ate them one after another.

As the sound of running water in the bathroom gradually stopped, Zhang Yang touched the water glass, which seemed to have cooled down a bit, stood up, poured out the water, and replaced it with boiling hot water.

He sat down again.

In the distance, Tian Chuxi walked out.

Fresh from her bath, she wore a very casual nightgown, her skin was fair and rosy, her figure was graceful and charming, and she was full of energy, looking like an eighteen-year-old girl.

"Huh? You didn't drink tea?" She suddenly stopped, staring at the rising steam from the teacup, lost in thought.

"It's so hot, how can I drink it?" Zhang Yang said, amused.

He scrutinized the figure before him, his gaze never leaving it.

The atmosphere between the two suddenly became quiet.

In fact, in such a private setting, for a girl living alone to take a shower in front of a boy represents a certain lack of reservation.

"How about you help me blow-dry my hair?" Tian Chuxi suddenly said with a smile.

"Good."

A moment later, amidst the sound of the hairdryer, Tian Chuxi's hair became smoother and more lustrous, carrying a refreshing shampoo scent.

After an unknown amount of time, her long hair was as smooth as ever.

"The water's cooled down, you can drink it now." Tian Chuxi gently touched the water glass, turned around, and said with a half-smile.

Zhang Yang smiled and pulled Tian Chuxi, and with almost no resistance, her figure gently fell into his arms.

As night falls, the skyline of Beijing is brightly lit, making the night sky as bright as day.

Although Zhang Yang had only had a cameo role in a film, he was still a newcomer in terms of acting skills. Fortunately, he never gave up and always strived to reach new heights. That night, he had a great exchange of acting skills with Tian Chuxi, and his inspiration struck several times. As a newcomer to acting, he taught Tian Chuxi a lot.

Tian Chuxi naturally gained a lot and was quite satisfied.

··

Zhang Yang woke up refreshed after a long dream in the early morning.

At first, he stared blankly at the unfamiliar ceiling for a moment before remembering that he had spent the night at Tian Chuxi's house last night.

There was a slight movement beside me.

Zhang Yang turned his head and saw that Tian Chuxi was sitting up with her back to him, her black hair falling over her shoulders, and the faint morning light shining on her smooth, white back.

"Good morning," Zhang Yang greeted.

"You're awake." Tian Chuxi turned around and smiled gently, put on the long nightgown beside her, and then naturally lay down in Zhang Yang's arms.

It was still early; the sky had just begun to brighten.

Zhang Yang hugged a small flower beside her, and recalled the roles she had played in various works.

In the past, when watching TV dramas, the key scenes were usually only shown at the beginning and end, with no details about the process. I never imagined that today, my expectations would be met in such a way, and that I would experience it firsthand as the protagonist.

For a moment, the feeling was quite peculiar.

"I have a feeling you're thinking about something bad," Tian Chuxi said abruptly, staring at Zhang Yang.

Zhang Yang gave a slightly embarrassed smile, realizing his thoughts had been read.

"Um... there's a role in one of your shows that I really like, could you recreate it?"

Tian Chuxi froze for a few seconds, then suddenly realized what she was doing. She grabbed a pillow from the side and threw it at Zhang Yang, scolding him playfully, "Don't even think about it! What a twisted sense of humor!"

Zhang Yang was hit twice by the soft pillow, then laughed and grabbed Tian Chuxi's hand.

"You're finished." He smiled wickedly.

Before long, Tian Chuxi began to beg for mercy in a low voice, and agreed to let Zhang Yang have his way a little.

Thus, a scene in one of Tian Chuxi's dramas, where the upright and incorruptible female lead delivers a passionate speech to the villain, was transformed by Zhang Yang into a vivid and engaging piece, allowing him to thoroughly enjoy the role.

Around nine o'clock, the two of them finally finished washing up and had a simple breakfast.

The two planned to leave at different times.

"Then I'll head out in a bit," Zhang Yang said. "Be careful when you go out, and call me if anything happens."

"Yes, I know." Tian Chuxi tiptoed and hooked her arm around Zhang Yang's neck.

The two were just getting intimate when Tian Chuxi's phone suddenly rang.

She released her arms from Zhang Yang's neck and answered the phone first.

Unexpectedly, after only a few words on the phone, Tian Chuxi's expression changed.

"Okay, I understand."

She put down her phone.

"Are you alright?" Zhang Yang asked, glancing at Tian Chuxi's expression.

"I told you, paparazzi are impossible to guard against, and we got photographed." Tian Chuxi's expression was somewhat helpless. "So now you know why I didn't let you come up last night, right? You really can't take chances."

"So... it's been leaked?" Zhang Yang asked again.

"Not yet." Tian Chuxi shook her head. "You'll see for yourself."

She took out her phone and searched for it.

Surprisingly, a well-known entertainment reporter, commonly known as a paparazzi, posted a new update on his social media account today.

[Breaking news! A popular young actress born in the 2000s returned to her residence with a male friend, and it's suspected she didn't come home overnight.]

No pictures, no names mentioned, just this simple sentence.

The comments section was filled with various opinions and endless speculations.

Various young female celebrities in the industry were guessed.

Among the various speculations, some pointed to Tian Chuxi, but this didn't attract much attention, since most people's guesses covered almost all the post-2000s actresses.

This speculation was lost in the sea of comments and went unnoticed, but instead, many people responded with their own criticisms.

After all, Tian Chuxi has always had an excellent reputation, and her public image is that of someone pure and refined.

[You're overthinking it. It couldn't possibly be Tian Chuxi.]

[Exactly, she's the only one who hasn't been criticized. Have you seen any scandals about her since her debut?]

However, Zhang Yang, upon seeing these comments, knew that the more they were said, the greater the damage would be when they were exposed. After all, the consequences of a persona collapsing could be disastrous, potentially ruining one's future.

"He released this news to put pressure on us and give us time to do public relations. If we can smooth things over, he'll naturally release some trivial information about someone else and find an unlucky scapegoat," Tian Chuxi said from the side.

"If public relations can't salvage the situation, then we can only wait..."

Zhang Yang could already imagine the scene: it would undoubtedly be the front page of the entertainment section, practically a guaranteed trending topic.

"Waiting for you to contact me... naturally, that will cost money." Zhang Yang asked, "How much does he want?"

"The team is in contact, but the details are still unclear..." Tian Chuxi shook her head, "But this paparazzi is notoriously insatiable."

"Sorry, I'll cover the PR expenses..." Zhang Yang said somewhat apologetically.

While it takes two to tango, he bears the main responsibility for this matter... but as for regret, he certainly doesn't.

It's just money; as long as the problem can be solved.

Tian Chuxi stared at Zhang Yang, then suddenly smiled and hugged him.

"Forget it, I can handle it myself. Don't take it to heart. It's related to you, but it's mainly my fault," Tian Chuxi comforted Zhang Yang. "Besides, it's no big deal if it gets out. I've already made a lot of money. Like you said, I can always retire from the entertainment industry."

Zhang Yang knew that these words were purely self-comforting.

Reaching this point is incredibly difficult; how could one possibly just quit the industry like that?

Zhang Yang didn't say much in front of Tian Chuxi, but privately he called Li Xingyu to ask about it.

"So you see, these paparazzi are everywhere these days. I just went to visit a friend, and they started spreading rumors about me. Do you have any connections you can help me with this? I don't care about myself, the main thing is to clear their name."

Of course, he wouldn't reveal Tian Chuxi's private matters; he only said that he was visiting a friend's house when he was photographed.

That's basically the gist of it. What Li Xingyu thinks about it isn't important; what matters is whether this matter can be resolved.

"Haha, I get it. I didn't expect Tian Chuxi to be your friend, Young Master Zhang. We definitely can't let anyone smear us like this!" Li Xingyu readily agreed. "I'll have someone ask around."

Zhang Yang hung up the phone and looked back at Tian Chuxi was still on the balcony taking the call.

After a while, Tian Chuxi came over.

"He's insane, he actually wants fifty million."

"Fifty million? Is he out of his mind? How dare he ask for that?" Zhang Yang frowned.

It's not that we can't afford it, but everything has a price. To ask for 50 million based on just one photo—who's really crazy?

Is he unafraid of a lose-lose situation, or is he just gambling?

"This guy is a lone wolf, a real tough nut to crack, like someone with nothing to lose. We don't have any good tricks up our sleeves, and putting pressure on him won't work," Tian Chuxi said out of the blue.

"A tough nut to crack, fighting alone?" Zhang Yang felt a bit uneasy upon hearing these words.

It seems that Li Xingyu's side may not have any good solutions either.

If, as Tian Chuxi described, someone is the kind of tough, lone wolf type, then applying pressure is indeed useless. Forget applying pressure, it won't work no matter who you approach. Such people are reckless and won't act until they see a clear benefit.

As expected, Zhang Yang received a reply later that evening.

"Brother, I asked around for you, and this guy... he's completely unyielding, no one can reason with him." Li Xingyu's tone was a little embarrassed. "If he were operating within the rules, I have plenty of ways to handle him, but this guy is still single, his studio disbanded a long time ago, and he has almost nothing to hold him back."

"And I also heard that he seems to be planning to emigrate, and he's already sold off his house."

"If you want to teach him a lesson, that's fine, but what if things escalate to the point of no return, and he suddenly loses his mind and throws everything he has at once?"

Zhang Yang listened quietly without saying anything.

"By the way, bro, if it really doesn't work out, just give him some money. It's not worth wasting time on this kind of person... By the way, did he offer a price?" Li Xingyu asked.

"It's open, it costs fifty million."

"Holy crap! He's offended too many people and is trying to make a killing before running away!" Li Xingyu cursed. "Give him a damn thing! If it were me, I'd ruin my reputation and still take him down!"

Zhang Yang blinked, realizing that this was where the problem lay.

For Li Xingyu, and even for Zhang Yang, reputation is a completely irrelevant thing. Anyone who tries to use it to blackmail them is simply crazy.

But Tian Chuxi isn't suitable.

She couldn't bear the consequences of the house collapsing.