Chapter 49

PDF: The Gossip Stage of the Study Abroad Circle

Every day, there are PDFs hammering away at scandalous men, exposing infidelities, academic misconducts, and everything from someone stealing a second-hand rice cooker to “it turns out my roommate of three years was a spy,” exploding like “a certain idol turns out to be a dual plug,” or as mundane as “someone taking credit in a group project without doing any work,” as well as cases of sexual bribery, extramarital affairs, professors stealing students’ girlfriends, and love triangles… Constantly being mass-shared and updated with new sensational content.

These revelations are often a mix of truth and exaggeration, turning a small matter into something massive, and as they spread by word of mouth, they become increasingly dramatic, creating a public spectacle of voyeurism.

Just a few days after the winter break ended, when people were feeling bored and disheartened, a sensational PDF involving domestic entertainment stars quickly began circulating.

Upon opening it, the text avoids naming names, preventing legal repercussions, but the language and details are strongly indicative, making it easy for insiders to identify the people involved.

The content alleges that a certain “fake socialite” from New York University, Ms. S, pretends to be a high-profile socialite by using the surname of a top Hong Kong family, selling herself as someone with a significant background and wealth, creating an illusion of being a billion-dollar heiress.

However, the fakery doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. A careful look at her Instagram reveals she lacks substantial luxury items, hardly ever showing off items from Hermes.

“But we must admit, you can’t pretend to be a wealthy socialite in New York without some money. It’s just that her self-inflated persona is something we look down upon. After all, even a real princess with that surname wouldn’t demean herself by confronting her.”

“Interestingly, she actually fooled a big spender, a certain 1.5-line male film star who was all over the domestic hot searches recently (now deceased).”

In the following hundreds of words, the PDF details every aspect of the fake socialite’s interactions with the male film star, such as flying back to the country to meet him, gifting him limited-edition sneakers, and dedicating herself to accompany him to dinners with high-profile figures. “Such deep feelings that listeners are moved to tears, and onlookers are heartbroken.”

At the end of the expose, the writer summarizes with “Everyone in this story is a villain,” “Ms. S tried to catch a big fish with a fake high-status identity,” and melodramatically paints Ms. S’s pain and downfall after realizing she was deceived.

The entire PDF contains no images or chat logs, only text. However, the writer is clearly adept at insinuation, using a derogatory tone to engage readers’ voyeuristic instincts: “Although Ms. S’s pretense of being a high-society figure is low-class, her sincere but misplaced affection for the male star is noteworthy. I hope this tragic love story, with its aesthetics of failure, becomes a timeless classic (heart emoji).”

Liao Yunuo was the first to see the PDF and, after reading it, couldn’t help but curse “idiot” and forwarded it to Shang Mingbao.

Shang Mingbao was interviewing photographers, reviewing their footage and editing. When she received the message, she didn’t pay much attention. It wasn’t until after they finished discussing the work format and salary structure that she opened her phone.

She couldn’t finish reading it the first time because the malice in the text was so intense it made her feel nauseous.

On the second read, Shang Mingbao forced herself to go through it carefully from start to finish.

There was no doubt that it was a comprehensive version of all the gossip and rumors about her. What was written could either be something that had already been speculated or pure fabrication by the writer.

Of course, her and Zhong Ping’s affair was not kept entirely secret; for example, the limited-edition signed sneakers could be traced back to the buyer. She had spent a lot of time following his schedule, supporting his endorsed brands, and even a short video of her picking him up at the airport had briefly circulated among fans.

With these two events so closely related, Shang Mingbao couldn’t help but think of Alice. She found it a bit amusing that such a big fuss had been made over just 120,000 yuan.

Liao Yunuo called right after: “Do you want me to take care of it?”

Shang Mingbao didn’t understand.

“I can step forward and say not to spread rumors about me,” Liao Yunuo said nonchalantly. “I’m also from a Hong Kong wealthy family, aren’t I? I’m also a fan, right? I have enough scandals of my own; more debt doesn’t hurt. I can shift the attention for you.”

Shang Mingbao sat on the sofa, calming her buzzing temples. “No, don’t pay attention to such trivial matters.”

“Yeah, I know you’re calm and don’t get riled up, but right now, the whole New York study abroad circle is gossiping about this.”

Liao Yunuo knew that Shang Mingbao’s family was low-key and her identity had its constraints, and these issues were difficult to clarify. If Shang Mingbao was indeed upset, she didn’t mind taking some heat for her.

Shang Mingbao’s attention was on the latter part: “What do you mean… the entire New York study abroad circle?”

“Do you think it’s just our school gossiping? Fake socialites, gold-diggers, celebrity affairs, dual plugs,” Liao Yunuo listed the key terms: “Isn’t this exactly what people love? Every group on my phone is talking about it.”

Shang Mingbao’s heart skipped a beat, and she opened her eyes: “…What about Columbia?” she asked quietly.

“Of course.” Liao Yunuo scrolled down her screen: “My friends are all asking who the PDF’s protagonist is, if I know them, saying it’s so tragic, and…”

She paused, noticing a message flashing quickly across the group chat:

【Suggest the person involved go to the hospital for a check-up hahaha】

Liao Yunuo didn’t read this out, exited the group, and said to Shang Mingbao, “Don’t look at group messages anymore, don’t check any group.”

Fang Suining also saw the PDF in her professional group.

The male lead in the scandal was easy to guess, and since he had been softly blacklisted, the discussions were even more reckless and gloating. As a former avid fan, Fang Suining immediately recognized Zhong Ping. After reading, she forwarded it to Xiang Feiran with a message: 【So tragic, babe’s house has collapsed again】

She remembered that Shang Mingbao had liked this star since she was sixteen. Though not a top-tier star, he had significant status.

Xiang Feiran opened the PDF file in his lab office.

He didn’t care about gossip and never read it. Initially, he thought the PDF might be an important document, and after quickly scanning it, he learned to avoid opening any documents from study abroad groups.

Today, he opened it purely because of Fang Suining’s “babe” comment.

Xiang Feiran opened the file with the intention of at least being available to talk if Shang Mingbao was upset.

His nerves were much more sensitive than Fang Suining’s. He noticed the details that she missed.

After reading every word, Xiang Feiran closed the file and went to get a glass of water.

He was left with only these two words on his mind, without any additional reactions. Listening to the sound of water filling the cup, his thoughts turned over.

Should he acknowledge that he knew about the situation?

If he did, he could at least offer her support.

But what if she didn’t want him to know?

If he pretended not to know and it came out later, would she misunderstand?

For instance, would she think he believed the whole thing?

If it were true, would she think his lack of verification showed he didn’t care?

If it were false, would she think his lack of verification was a form of tacit approval, showing a lack of basic trust?

…

“Xiang Bo, the water is full.”

A cautious voice brought him back to reality. Xiang Feiran noticed that the water in the thermos had overflowed.

He took the cup and thanked Lin Xi.

It seemed more complicated than the vast differences in support rates presented by three algorithms on the same node in a system tree.

Lin Xi observed him for a moment and couldn’t help but ask, “Is something wrong? You look unwell. Should you go rest?”

Xiang Feiran was momentarily stunned. Did he look unwell? It was impossible; he felt no emotion inside.

He nodded slightly to Lin Xi, saying, “I’m fine.”

As he walked back to his desk, he paused and asked, “Any gossip today?”

“Huh?” Lin Xi was surprised and half-smiling. “Who are you? Get out of Xiang Bo’s body.”

Xiang Feiran subtly curved his lips. “I saw in the chat that it seems to be a star my cousin likes.”

“Zhong Ping,” Lin Xi raised an eyebrow. “The female lead is unknown. It’s normal to fake being rich, but being deceived in love is so tragic.”

Xiang Feiran felt a subtle, almost imperceptible pang in his heart, like being cut by a fine, sharp thread. It caused him to frown slightly, but he still raised his lips to thank Lin Xi.

He stayed in the office as usual until eleven, then packed up his laptop. Before heading home, he sent Shang Mingbao a message, as he did every day, letting her know he was off work.

Because he was so busy, it was hard to find uninterrupted time to be with her, so the evening’s “off work” was their unspoken signal, meaning all his time after work belonged to her.

Shang Mingbao didn’t reply, and Xiang Feiran thought it might be a phone setting issue or that he missed it because the vibration was too weak.

He stopped five times along the way to confirm that Shang Mingbao really hadn’t responded.

When he got home, his girlfriend was there with Simon, and they were cuddled on the sofa watching a movie. Xiang Feiran greeted them, dropped his bag, and poured himself half a glass of whiskey from the bar.

He lifted his head and noticed that Simon and his girlfriend were both looking at him with strange expressions.

Xiang Feiran turned around, naturally leaning against the edge of the dining cabinet, and calmly asked, “What’s wrong? Is there something on my face?”

“No,” Simon replied, “Are you feeling unwell?”

Xiang Feiran paused, drank the wine in his glass in one gulp, and said, “No.”

“Really no?” Simon asked, a bit naggingly. “If you’re not feeling well, you should drink less and rest early.”

His girlfriend nodded in agreement.

Xiang Feiran remained expressionless. “Really, I’m fine.”

Simon wanted him to check himself in the mirror, but Xiang Feiran put down his glass and went back to his room.

Simon quietly asked his girlfriend, “Have you ever seen him like this before?”

His girlfriend shook her head. They both turned to look at the closed door for a while, feeling puzzled and unsure how to advise him. Simon thought to himself that, knowing Xiang Feiran, he probably didn’t need anyone’s comfort.

Xiang Feiran opened his computer, sat down, and didn’t immediately unlock it. Instead, he read the PDF from beginning to end, word by word.

He had never heard Shang Mingbao mention this name before.

Zhong… Ping.

He seemed to realize that he was a celebrity and his information was public. Xiang Feiran unlocked his computer and searched his name in the search engine.

The screen displayed news releases, resumes, and photo galleries about him.

It was clear enough without needing to click further.

After all, he was once a popular star. Xiang Feiran idly scrolled through the pages, unable to move past the current one.

He had been suppressing emotions all night, and now he understood what it was.

Jealousy.

Many things mentioned in the exposé became more tangible with this face. The terms like “misplaced sincerity,” “deep love,” and “passionate romance” took on specific impacts.

He knew that Shang Mingbao had been in poor condition for a few months, with infrequent updates on Instagram, no smiles, only bottles of alcohol, often late at night.

He had asked her, using the account that told her orchid stories, through a private message, if she was unhappy recently.

As a stranger, Shang Mingbao had naturally not replied to him.

The dialogue box still only had the lonely line “Are you unhappy recently?” followed by a whole page of blank space.

Xiang Feiran went to the window, smoked two cigarettes, and then sent a message to Shang Mingbao asking: [Still not done with work?]

This time, Shang Mingbao called him.

It was unexpected, and Xiang Feiran was momentarily taken aback, as if unprepared. After a pause, he swiped right to answer.

The voice from the start was natural, thanks to the two cigarettes.

He held the third cigarette between his fingers and asked casually, “Still busy this late?”

Shang Mingbao’s hands and feet were cold, wrapped tightly in a blanket: “Why didn’t you ask me?”

Xiang Feiran tightened his grip on the phone, his ear feeling the pressure.

“You saw it; it was sent to you by Suining personally. Why didn’t you ask?” Shang Mingbao blinked, and a tear fell into the dense fibers of the blanket.

Fang Suining didn’t understand the gossip and forwarded the file to her, asking her who the protagonist was. Shang Mingbao didn’t tell her, and Fang Suining jokingly said: Even I don’t understand it; I sent it to Brother Feiran, and he probably thinks it’s more complicated than his thesis.

Shang Mingbao’s question was within what Xiang Feiran had prepared for in the past few hours, but all his prepared responses failed in the face of her voice.

“Because it doesn’t matter,” Xiang Feiran said clearly.

“Why doesn’t it matter?” Shang Mingbao swallowed. “Don’t you want to know if it’s true?”

“I know it’s not true.”

“What if I say it is true?”

Xiang Feiran’s hand tightened on the chair back for a moment, then he laughed first, using that laugh to exhale a short breath—if not, it seemed he temporarily forgot how to breathe.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s true,” he said, smiling. “Your past is your past; it has nothing to do with now.”

He was only clearly informed that the fleeting infatuation that summer, and the longing over a thousand days, was all one-sided.

That’s all.

And he had known this for a long time, hadn’t he?

If not, she wouldn’t have clearly shown that there was no chance or interest in interacting with him in their later lives, despite having been sent his business card but not adding him on WeChat.

He now just had a clearer understanding of this and knew the reason—she had been ardently loving someone else during those three years, never thinking of him.

“Babe,” Xiang Feiran took a sip of his cigarette and waited in silence, “If I had met you earlier, maybe it would have helped you move on from your sadness faster. Tell me, are you at least happier now than you were three months ago?”

Shang Mingbao opened her mouth, her heart feeling like it was pierced through in an instant. She gasped a few times, almost crying out loud, but she couldn’t find her voice—she just pressed her hand to her chest, letting the tears stream down her face without making any sound.

Her throat was blocked along with her chest.

Xiang Feiran heard her heavy sobbing, remained silent for a while, and quietly stayed with her.

“It’s not true,” Shang Mingbao finally managed to say after a deep breath. “It’s not true. I didn’t… I just… Brother Feiran, I just… I was about to have surgery at that time, I was so scared, I…”

Her thoughts and her gaze were as unfocused as if looking for an exit in a tunnel.

“I… I think he’s very inspirational. I only see him as an idol. I didn’t want to… I gave him a pair of sneakers, but I bought them for my younger brother, and I mixed up his shoe size because they were limited edition, so… At that time, I never thought about contacting him! It was him who sent me a message, I…”

After all, he is her idol; she projected all the beautiful, brave, and strong qualities onto this self-made fantasy figure.

Xiang Feiran, noticing her labored breathing, called out to her, saying slowly and clearly, “Babe, listen to me.”

“Is there anyone around you? Is Sophie there?”

Shang Mingbao could only reply with a “yes.” She was in her bedroom, and Sophie was in the room next door.

Xiang Feiran was relieved: “There’s no need to explain. Why you like him or how you interact doesn’t matter; it’s not your fault, and it’s not a mistake. Okay? Don’t write a self-reflection.”

“It’s not—”

“There’s nothing ‘not,’” Xiang Feiran interrupted her. “Go take a hot bath now. Don’t think about it anymore. Put down your phone and get a good night’s sleep.”

“I’m not… I’m not explaining these things to you. I’m…”

Xiang Feiran listened quietly.

“I like you.” Shang Mingbao found the exit from the tunnel.

She found the exit and became calm, transparent, and smooth.

“I want to say that I’ve liked you since I was sixteen. I was just too scared…”

Xiang Feiran smiled silently. Regardless of whether it was true or not, he listened to whatever she said.

“You don’t believe me.” Shang Mingbao finished speaking, feeling uneasy inside.

“I do believe you,” Xiang Feiran said firmly.

Without asking about the authenticity of her feelings or why she had never contacted him before, he said, “Do you really believe it?” Shang Mingbao asked hesitantly, wiping her tears.

“Really.”

She was urged to take a bath again. She did go, but before she left, she chatted with him for a while longer, telling him that the leak didn’t matter and to not worry. He advised her to rest early and go to school refreshed in the morning.

Shang Mingbao hung up, took a bath, did her skincare routine, and went to bed.

At three in the morning, she was awakened by a nightmare, as if she had fallen off a cliff.

Woken by a call at three a.m., Xiang Feiran showed no impatience and answered gently, “Can’t sleep?”

“I had a nightmare.”

“What was the dream about?”

Shang Mingbao, choking with grievance, said, “In the dream, no matter how much I told you, you didn’t believe that I liked you.”

In the dream, she was parched and swore oaths, but Xiang Feiran always smiled at her with a gentle yet distant smile, as if saying, “You can make up anything. I’ll listen, whether you’re trying to deceive me or not, I both believe and don’t believe.”

Recalling this, Shang Mingbao felt her chest tighten even more: “I had a nightmare and wanted to hit you.”

Xiang Feiran paused for a while, took a deep breath, and helplessly asked, “Are you going to be reasonable?”

“You don’t believe me. There must be issues in your heart, but you’re too lazy to ask.”

If Xiang Feiran were in front of her, he would push her back to bed, pull off her eye mask, and distract her from being so sensitive. But since he wasn’t there, he could only comfort her with words, assuring her that he really believed her.

“I completely believe that you’ve liked me since you were sixteen,” he repeated sincerely.

Shang Mingbao felt like she wanted to do a set of calisthenics: “You seem to be mocking me.”

“…”

He spent ten minutes calming her down with every possible method until she obediently hung up and went to bed.

Another ten minutes were spent calming himself down, trying not to think about whether she would toss and turn all night and show up at school with dark circles under her eyes, revealing weakness in front of her adversaries.

After ten minutes, he failed to calm down, dressed, went downstairs, and called a cab.

In the middle of the night, the taxi arrived in the Upper East Side and stopped in front of Shang Mingbao’s villa, not in the neighboring street where they usually met.

Before approaching the door, he called Shang Mingbao.

She was indeed still awake, picking up quickly, and heard Xiang Feiran ask, “Does Sophie know about your relationship?”

“Yes…”

She often disappeared in the middle of the night, smiled foolishly at her phone, and made hour-long calls late at night. Sophie wasn’t a fool; a fool couldn’t be her housekeeper.

Xiang Feiran hung up the phone, took a deep breath, climbed the steps, and rang the doorbell.

The late-night ringing was quite startling. The servant, startled, saw an unfamiliar Asian face through the peephole and went to inform Sophie.

Sophie looked at the video call for a while, feeling a sense of familiarity but unable to recall immediately.

Xiang Feiran faced the camera calmly, his voice steady and calm: “Sophie, I’m Xiang Feiran, Fang Suining’s cousin, and Shang Mingbao’s boyfriend. We met in Ningshi during the summer camp three years ago. Please open the door.”