Chapter 36

After the variety show ended, Yang Yuze and Jiang Manrou returned to the old Jiang family villa. Jiang’s father and mother warmly embraced Jiang Manrou, but their attitude toward Yang Yuze was much colder.

Yang Yuze wasn’t their ideal choice for a son-in-law. The boy was poor and sly, not a good match for their daughter at all.

They had already chosen a good husband for her, the son of a family friend. The two families had a good relationship, and the children had grown up together, so they thought they would be a perfect match. They never expected their daughter to be taken away by Yang Yuze.

They didn’t know what kind of charm he used to influence their daughter, but she was adamant about marrying him. For the first time, she defied them, ignored their advice, and deeply hurt their hearts.

But what was the use of being heartbroken? Their daughter had made up her mind to marry him, and they couldn’t stop her, so they reluctantly agreed.

However, they made Yang Yuze sign an agreement to forgo inheriting any family fortune before the wedding, in case anything went wrong later.

Their daughter had been upset about this, but they stood firm on the matter.

Yang Yuze, too, had said something to their daughter that made her stop insisting on this issue.

Still, Jiang’s parents were uneasy. Sure enough, after the wedding, they saw that their daughter pampered Yang Yuze to an extreme degree. She almost always met his every request and even opened an entertainment company for him, just to make him famous.

The couple didn’t agree with their daughter’s actions, but they couldn’t bear to blame their beloved daughter.

They could only secretly keep an eye on Yang Yuze, but he was too sly, and over the years, he hadn’t shown any signs of being dishonest.

Even so, Jiang’s father didn’t like him.

Yang Yuze didn’t mind Jiang’s parents’ cold attitude at all. He gently asked them, “Dad, Mom, how is your health?”

“Mm, quite well.”

Jiang’s father replied indifferently.

Jiang’s mother, on the other hand, linked arms with her daughter and sat down on the sofa. “You’ve had a weak body since you were young, and now you’ve gone to the Hahu Grassland. The wind there is strong, and the temperature is low. What if you catch a cold?”

“Mom, I’m fine. I’m not a little child anymore, and my immune system is good,” Jiang Manrou said helplessly. “I’ve never been to a grassland before, so I just wanted to go and see it.”

She spread her arms and said, “See? I’m perfectly fine. Nothing happened.”

“It’s because I’m worried about you, afraid you’ll get sick,” Jiang’s mother said with concern. “Every time you get sick, it takes so long to recover. Your little face gets so thin, and it breaks my heart.”

Jiang’s mother only had one daughter, and she had worked hard to raise her. She put all her energy into her, hoping for nothing but the best for her. Her love and concern for her daughter were doubled.

Since childhood, Jiang Manrou’s health had been fragile, so she hadn’t had much exposure to the outside world. It wasn’t until she was twenty-five, when her body was stronger, that Jiang’s mother allowed her father to take her to the company for some training.

After all, she was the only daughter in the Jiang family, and the family business would eventually be passed down to her. As much as they didn’t want her to go through hardships, they had to teach her the workings of the company so that she wouldn’t let others take advantage of it in the future.

Jiang Manrou rested her head on her mother’s shoulder. “Mom, I’m sorry to make you worry. I won’t do it again.”

Her words didn’t just refer to her health but also hinted at other matters.

Just before dinner, Jiang Manwen and Tong Zhichen arrived just in time for the meal.

“Big sis, I knew you were coming back today, so Ah Chen and I specially came to see you.”

Jiang Manwen also brought a large gift.

Jiang’s mother warmly welcomed them, saying, “Come, sit down and eat.”

Then she added, “Xiao Wen and Xiachen should sit together. They look so perfect together. It’s a relationship that has been built since childhood, and it makes people happy just to see it.”

Her words were pointed, referring to the childhood friend who had grown up with Jiang Manrou, but after her marriage, he went abroad and had never returned.

Yang Yuze had heard about this, and he was very concerned. Every time, he would complain to Jiang Manrou about it, and she would carefully comfort him, giving him many expensive gifts.

But this time, when Yang Yuze looked at Jiang Manrou with a sorrowful expression, she paused in the middle of picking up her food. However, she didn’t stop or refute her mother’s words. Instead, she nodded and said, “Mom is right. They are a very good match.”

Jiang’s mother was slightly surprised. Every time she mentioned this topic, her daughter would change the subject unhappily. Why was she agreeing with her now?

She wondered if there was something wrong between her and Yang Yuze.

Yang Yuze was also surprised, but he didn’t think too much about it. Jiang Manrou was still under his control, she wouldn’t run away.

—

After the meal.

Jiang Manwen took Jiang Manrou to the rooftop to get some fresh air. Then she asked, “Big sis, did you have fun on the variety show? Did anything special happen?”

“It was fun, very relaxing. It was an experience I’ve never had before,” Jiang Manrou thought for a moment before answering. “There were some special things… I heard a lot about Yuze. I never thought he would hide so many things from me.”

As soon as Jiang Manwen heard this, she felt that the words from Qiao Chuchu had influenced her. She immediately asked, “What did he do?”

“Many things…” Jiang Manrou closed her eyes and still chose to tell Jiang Manwen everything. Then she asked, “Xiao Wen, what do you think I should do?”

She had made up her mind to give Yang Yuze a taste of his own medicine, but the fact that this was the man she had loved for so many years made her feel heartbroken.

Jiang Manwen was furious. Her whole body was trembling with anger. She had thought Yang Yuze’s bad intentions were just about making rumors with female celebrities, but she never expected him to have an affair with someone else!

What was worse than an affair? He had been married and had a child with his first love before even joining the Jiang family! This was definitely a marriage scam—criminal behavior!

Damn it! She was so furious she could explode. How could Big Sis endure this? How dare he deceive the Jiang family! Did he think the family had no one to fight back?

A man who cheated, changed his heart, and deceived her in such a way—could she still tolerate it? Of course not!

“What should you do? Of course, you should kick him out!”

“But don’t just let him go so easily. That would be too cheap for him.”

“Everything he has now was given to him by you. Before it turns into a tragedy, you must take everything back!”

“Since he’s being dishonest, let’s do him a favor. Let’s make sure he can never have a foothold in the entertainment industry again. He needs to taste every bit of the consequences he deserves.”

At the end of her speech, Jiang Manwen suddenly asked, “Big Sis, you’re not going to soften your heart again, are you?”

If she hadn’t received the final outcome from Qiao Chuchu, Jiang Manrou might have softened. But now, she wouldn’t. She couldn’t keep being foolish and harm her loving parents for a manipulative man.

“No, I won’t.”

Jiang Manwen felt relieved and said seriously, “Big Sis, leave this matter to us. Don’t worry, we won’t let you suffer in vain!”

“Count me in,” Jiang Manrou said. “But before that, I want to find a mother and daughter pair.”

Yang Yuze noticed that everything at home was calm and Jiang Manrou hadn’t shown any unusual behavior. So, he felt reassured and began preparing to leave for work.

“Wife, I originally planned to spend more time with you these few days, but I’m really busy. My manager has scheduled my work so tightly. Once I’m free, I’ll stay home and spend quality time with you, take you out to have fun.”

“I hope you can understand my work. I love you.”

He lowered his head and kissed Jiang Manrou on the forehead, showing a deeply affectionate look.

Jiang Manrou held back her discomfort and said, “I understand. Go ahead and work.”

“Wait for me at home,” Yang Yuze left without any hesitation.

Not long after he left, Jiang Manrou and Jiang Manwen, along with some other people, also went out. They arrived at Nianxing Restaurant, went up to the fifth floor, and told the waiter, “Please bring the person here now.”

The waiter nodded, “Okay, please wait a moment.”

It wasn’t long before there was a knock at the door.

“They’re here.”

Jiang Manwen opened the door, and the waiter brought in a woman who worked as a dishwasher. The woman stood outside, and the waiter said, “Miss, the person has arrived. You can go in.”

The woman entered the room and asked nervously, “Did you need something from me?”

“Are you Hua Zhihan? Please sit down.”

Yes, the mother and daughter Jiang Manrou wanted to find were Hua Zhihan, Yang Yuze’s first love whom he had abandoned before marrying into the Jiang family. She was very beautiful, though not made up, dressed simply like an honest rural girl.

Hua Zhihan was surprised and asked, “How do you know my name?”

When she looked at Jiang Manrou, her expression suddenly changed, “It’s you! You’re the one who stole my Brother Yang!”

She had been living in the countryside and didn’t know what Yang Yuze had been up to until this year when the harvest wasn’t good, and she was forced to go out and work. Only then did she find out that Yang Yuze, who had disappeared for several years, had transformed into a famous star and married a beautiful wife.

A few days ago, she even saw him on a variety show. She had wanted to find Yang Yuze to ask about things, but he was always surrounded by people, and she couldn’t get close. Once, she was even mistaken for an obsessive fan and was detained.

“Stop shouting,” Jiang Manwen said sternly, “My sister was also deceived by Yang Yuze. He’s nothing but a scumbag!”

“This is a long story. Sit down, and we’ll explain everything to you.”

Then, Jiang Manwen angrily told Hua Zhihan everything about Yang Yuze’s actions.

“If you’re going to hate and seek revenge, your target should be Yang Yuze. He’s the one who abandoned you and your daughter.”

Hua Zhihan looked deeply shocked, muttering to herself, “How could he do this? How could he?”

She had always thought he had no choice, that it was Jiang Manrou, a wealthy young lady, who had forced him into a marriage, breaking up their relationship. She never expected that it was Yang Yuze, who calculated for money and status, who heartlessly abandoned her and their daughter.

Jiang Manrou also said, “I never thought he would do such a thing. If I had known he was already married to you and had a daughter, I would never have married him and made him the son-in-law of the Jiang family.”

She added, “Not only did he deceive me into marriage, but while we weren’t even divorced, he was also having affairs with other women—and not just one.”

After saying this, her heart began to hurt again, and she let out a deep breath.

“Men like Yang Yuze are terrifying.”

Hua Zhihan was even more shocked, “How could he do something like this? He’s changed so much, I don’t even recognize him anymore. Is he still the Yang Yuze I knew?”

“Of course he is,” Jiang Manrou said. “It’s just that the nightmare he hides inside hasn’t been revealed to us.”

Hua Zhihan, defeated, leaned against the chair, her head down in silence for a long time, and no one knew what she was thinking. Then, as if having come to some realization, she asked them, “You didn’t call me here just to chat, did you? Is there something you need me to do?”

“Miss Hua is very smart,” Jiang Manwen smiled. “We do have something we’d like to cooperate with you on, and if it succeeds, we’ll ensure that you and your daughter will live comfortably for the rest of your lives.”

Hua Zhihan had been abandoned by Yang Yuze for many years, and the love she once had for him had long since disappeared. The effort she had made to uncover the truth of what Yang Yuze had done was now known, and she no longer had any attachment to him.

She no longer cared for a man who would abandon his wife and daughter.

“I agree.”

—

After Yang Yuze finished shooting the commercial and returned to the resting area, his assistant thoughtfully wiped the sweat from his forehead, handed him water, and draped a coat over his shoulders, whispering softly as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Brother Yang, you looked so handsome in the commercial just now. I’m totally in love with you.”

“Really?” Yang Yuze wrapped his arms around her slim waist, gently squeezing. “What do you mean by ‘in love’?”

“Like this.” The pretty assistant leaned her cheek against his, her warm lips giving off a fragrant scent, and then she moved in closer, “And like this, Brother Yang, do you like it?”

“Little temptress.” Yang Yuze pulled her closer. “Come on, tell me, what gift do you want?”

“I’ve had my eye on a handbag recently, the latest model, very beautiful,” the assistant paused, then added, “Although it’s a bit expensive, it’s nothing for you, Brother Yang.”

“Heh, you sure know how to flatter me.” Yang Yuze was pleased by her words. “Alright, I’ll buy it, whatever you want.”

“Thank you, Brother Yang, you’re the best!” The assistant kissed him more passionately. “I love you the most, Brother Yang.”

Knock knock—

“Ahem—” The manager knocked and walked in. Upon seeing the scene, he cleared his throat a few times. “This is someone else’s venue, so be more careful.”

“Go outside for a moment,” Yang Yuze pushed the assistant away. She pouted but still left.

The manager then spoke, “Yuze, your success wasn’t easy to come by. You need to be more careful at times.”

Yang Yuze didn’t like hearing this. He had achieved his current success through hard work, and he would continue to control it.

“Brother Zhou, is there something you need?”

“Take a look at this.”

The manager handed him a script for a major movie, with an impressive director, producer, crew, and actors involved.

Yang Yuze nodded. “Not bad. I’ll take this role.”

“Great. Just remember to attend the cocktail party tonight,” the manager said. “All the key people from this film should be there, and I’ll go with you.”

—

Hotel, Room 309.

The key people from the movie were all present. When Yang Yuze arrived, everyone warmly welcomed him, and the discussion about the film began.

There were many beautiful actresses involved in this film, one of whom was a girl he had recently set his sights on but hadn’t yet won over.

The girl was very beautiful, her eyes full of life, the kind of captivating beauty that immediately drew attention.

When she noticed his gaze, she playfully twirled a lock of her hair, flashing a perfect smile, full of youth and charm.

Yang Yuze’s smile deepened in response.

At the dinner table, someone casually mentioned, “He Ya, pour a drink for everyone.”

He Ya was the girl Yang Yuze had just been eyeing. She stood up with a smile, holding the wine bottle, and walked over to the person seated at the main spot—Yang Yuze.

“Mr. Yang, let me pour you a drink.”

“Mm,” Yang Yuze nodded, but didn’t move or extend his hand to pass her the glass. Instead, he continued chatting with the person beside him.

He Ya stood there for a moment, her smile starting to stiffen. With no other option, she reached out for the glass herself, her body inevitably brushing against Yang Yuze.

As if by design, when she reached for the glass, Yang Yuze also extended his hand to grab it, and his hand accidentally brushed against hers.

It was delicate, smooth, and soft.

Just as he had imagined. Yang Yuze felt the tension in her body and didn’t dare to go too far. He quickly let go of her hand. After she poured the drink, he politely thanked her.

“You’re welcome.” He Ya stepped away from him, but when she returned after serving the others, she found her spot had been taken. The person sitting there didn’t budge, and she almost considered leaving.

At that moment, someone said, “Isn’t there still a seat next to Mr. Yang? Go sit over there.”

He Ya was surprised. “Is that okay?”

She said this, but her eyes revealed a glimmer of excitement.

“Why not? We’re all from the same crew, no one cares,” the person said, looking to Yang Yuze for confirmation. “Right, Mr. Yang?”

Yang Yuze smiled gently. “It’s up to you.”

He Ya suppressed her excitement and sat next to him. “I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time, Mr. Yang. Finally, I have the chance.”

She intentionally brushed her foot against his leg, but he made no move to stop her. Instead, he reached down and grabbed her foot, gently massaging it.

Neither of them looked at each other, but the smiles on their faces hinted at everything.

In this kind of setting, with so many people around, they ignored everyone and engaged in private actions under the table.

People nearby glanced in their direction, as if they understood something, but chose not to pay attention to their behavior. The two of them grew more and more bold.

He Ya’s hands didn’t stay idle, continuously refilling Yang Yuze’s glass. She found that this man had an unbelievable capacity for alcohol, but even he couldn’t keep up with her relentless pouring.

When the event ended, Yang Yuze was slightly drunk and decided to stay at the hotel.

He Ya’s manager was waiting for her in the car and handed her a room key with a bright smile. “Xiao Ya, your chance has come. You need to seize it.”

This key card had been handed to her by Yang Yuze’s manager. After being in the entertainment industry for so long, she knew exactly what this meant.

He Ya accepted the key with a joyful expression. “Sister Li, I’ll make the most of this opportunity. Thank you for giving me this chance.”

“No need to thank me. We’re in this together. When you make it big, don’t forget about me.”

He Ya happily entered the hotel again and headed for the presidential suite on the top floor.

The manager was inside taking care of Yang Yuze. When she arrived, he wasn’t at all surprised — after all, many girls like her had tried to get close to Yang Yuze in the same way.

But in the end…

He didn’t continue his thoughts and simply told her, “Yuze is in your care now.”

After the manager left, he closed the door behind him.

Yang Yuze was half-lying on the bed, carefully observing He Ya from a distance. He waved at her, “Come here.”

He Ya had been waiting for this moment. She walked toward him gracefully.

“Mr. Yang, I’m here.”

—

What they didn’t know was that every move they made inside the room was being monitored.

After they fell asleep, a report came in to the duty officer about someone engaging in prostitution. Immediately, a team was organized to head to the hotel to arrest them.

The door to the presidential suite was open, as if someone had been waiting for them to arrive.

When the police saw who was in the bed, they were shocked.

“Yang Yuze?!”

—

Qiao Chuchu woke up to find that the internet had exploded with news about Yang Yuze.

The headline, in bold, black letters, was sensational:

#Actor Yang Yuze Arrested for Prostitution#

The topic was trending with billions of views.

The comment section quickly filled with reactions.

【What the hell?! Is this real? Yang Yuze actually engaged in prostitution?!】

【Isn’t Yang Yuze the actor who won three Golden Rooster Awards for Best Actor in three consecutive years? With his looks, acting skills, and fame, how could he do something like this?】

【I don’t understand. Someone like Yang Yuze could easily get a new wife if he wanted to. Why would he be messing around with other women while still married? I really don’t get what these celebrities are thinking.】

【What’s there to not understand? The grass is always greener on the other side. In the end, men are all the same. No matter how good their wives are, they like messing around outside.】

【Shocked the whole family. I can’t believe Yang Yuze messed up too!】

【Did you notice? This year, a lot of celebrities have been exposed, and many of them are somehow connected to Dear Us variety show.】

【What does the Dear Us variety show have to do with this? It’s their own fault for having bad conduct. They deserve to be exposed. Stop dragging other people into this!】

—

The impact of this event was enormous, and almost the entire internet was filled with news about Yang Yuze.

Yang Yuze’s fans couldn’t believe it and rushed to defend him.

【What the heck??? What are you talking about??? How could my Brother Ze possibly be involved in this??? Who is spreading these fake rumors???】

【Damn it, who’s causing trouble? Are they jealous of my Brother Ze’s popularity? We won’t let you get away with this!】

【I feel like I’m watching a huge joke. Anyone in the world could be accused of this, but my Brother Ze would never do it!】

【I’ll never believe that Brother Ze would do something like this. He loves his wife so much. Just a few days ago, he was on a variety show with his wife, showing off their love. I was so envious!】

【No matter what you all say, I won’t believe that my Brother Ze would do something like this. If I see any accounts posting defamatory works about my idol, I’ll report them one by one!】

—

Yang Yuze’s fans were still desperately trying to clear his name, but before the matter could be understood, another huge scandal broke.

It turned out that before Yang Yuze married Jiang Manrou, he was already married, with a wife and daughter whom he had abandoned. The mother and daughter were now live-streaming to accuse him of being heartless and cold, presenting a lot of evidence.

【I am Hua Zhihan, Yang Yuze’s first love and wife. We married when we were twenty, and a year later, I gave birth to a daughter for him. But to my surprise, he lied to me saying he was going to work, when in reality, he was deceiving me to marry another woman, fooling a good young girl.】

【A person like him is not worthy of being an idol! Don’t let him fool you all!】

When this information came out, netizens were even more shocked.

The topic of Yang Yuze’s involvement in prostitution was already trending, with many people discussing it. This new scandal quickly rose to the top of the trending list.

#YangYuzeAbandonedWifeandDaughter

#YangYuzeDeceivedIntoMarriage

#YangYuzeCommittedBigamy

【What the hell! Yang Yuze has another wife!】

【No, it’s not “another” wife. He was already married and had a child when he married Jiang Manrou. This is marriage fraud!】

【Where did this crazy woman come from? She’s probably desperate for attention, daring to latch onto this!】

【Yang Yuze’s fans are still trying to defend him? Your idol’s career is ruined.】

【Damn, is this real? That poor wife must have suffered for so long, being deceived by him!】

【The wife and daughter abandoned by Yang Yuze are the real victims, dealing with such a heartless person.】

【I just want to know, with all these mistakes Yang Yuze made, what will happen to him? Will he end up in prison for a long time?】

—

Qiao Chuchu read through the trending topic and hot comments on Weibo, and wasn’t surprised at all, because three days ago, she had already seen what was coming for Yang Yuze.

“I said it before, once someone becomes too popular, they can’t get too arrogant, or they’ll end up falling. Yang Yuze definitely deserved this. He should’ve treated his wife better instead of looking for other women.”

“His wife and his first love wife must have reported him. People like him who lack conscience always end up like this.”

“Yang Yuze can’t fight this. He has no chance of making a comeback.”

“Jiang Manrou and Hua Zhihan are the real victims. They’ve been deceived by Yang Yuze for so many years, and they’ll be trapped in this emotional turmoil for a long time.”

This scandal was so hot that, as someone who loved to gossip, Shen Yinyin naturally wouldn’t let it slip by. She came to Qiao Chuchu to discuss the matter and angrily exclaimed.

“Yang Yuze is truly scum. How could he do something like this?!”

“All men are the same, none of them are any good!”

Qiao Chuchu, knowing that she was thinking of the scumbag Zhang Wenhao, comforted her, “Don’t get angry, getting upset won’t help. Let go of the bad, and you’ll meet good people in the future.”

“Yeah, you’re right!” Shen Yinyin nodded heavily.

The two of them chatted for a while longer. As Qiao Chuchu was about to get up for breakfast, she saw Qiao Cen excitedly coming over with a phone in hand.

“Sis, have you seen Weibo? Yang Yuze got arrested, and his wife accused him. Is he completely done for this time?”

Qiao Chuchu replied, “I’ve seen it.”

【Indeed, it’s a complete downfall, with no chance of a comeback. The Jiang family dotes on their daughter so much, they definitely won’t let Yang Yuze, this scumbag, off easily.】

Qiao Cen, upon hearing about Yang Yuze’s downfall, felt he got what he deserved. He brought this upon himself, failing to be a decent person. Serves him right, and may the heavens take him away.

From now on, he’ll definitely have to live with some integrity.

—

It was the weekend, and Qiao Chuchu and Qiao Cen were on vacation, while Qiao Bo and their parents had to go to the company to handle business.

So, the house was left with just the two of them. As Qiao Cen was thinking about where to go for fun, he received a call from his good buddy.

Not long after, he eagerly looked at Qiao Chuchu.

“Sis, do you remember the guy I told you about last time? The one who’s really good at gaming? He’s my best friend, and he’s back today. His flight landed at 10 o’clock in the morning. How about we go pick him up and have lunch together afterward?”

Qiao Chuchu thought for a moment. She vaguely remembered Qiao Cen mentioning this person before. He would often ask him to team up in games, and once, when Qiao Cen had to leave, she helped him out in a game. She exchanged a few words with the guy but didn’t know him well.

“Okay.”

Qiao Chuchu had finished her homework yesterday, so she had nothing planned for today.

Qiao Cen was so happy he almost jumped up. “Great! I’ll drive! Let him see my driving skills!”

Qiao Chuchu raised an eyebrow. “…Are you sure you can drive?”

“Sis, don’t worry, I have a driver’s license.”

In the end, Qiao Cen drove. They waited for a while at the airport, and finally, Qiao Cen’s best friend arrived a bit late.