Chapter 36

Six young people were having a great time, suddenly, a series of knocks echoed on the door. Startled, they stopped their game and turned to look at the main door.

Song Haowen hurriedly went to open the door, and instantly, a gust of cold wind carrying snowflakes blew into the room, making everyone shiver. Amidst their confusions, a stylish beauty, wearing coffee-colored deer-skin boots, a snow-white fur-lined coat, a red and yellow dual-color woolen scarf, frog-eye glasses, and a White Snow Princess hat, with rosy cheeks, entered without a word.

Everyone burst into laughter upon seeing the guest.

“Oh, it’s the big star! Come warm your hands,” Zhu Hongyu shouted as she stood up.

Tian Yuxi, with a hint of confusion, asked, “Nana, didn’t you say you had a performance today? Why didn’t you go?”

Tian Nana shook off the snowflakes from her coat, explained, “Originally, I was supposed to perform at the Workers’ Stadium tonight, but due to this heavy snow, the event was canceled at the last minute. So, I have some free time and thought I’d come here to join in the fun.”

Ren Hua sighed, “Nana, you’re so busy now; we haven’t seen each other for a long time.”

Song Haowen chuckled and said, “Nana, you should envy my current state. Being an actor is quite tough, especially when you lack freedom.”

Tian Nana, with a furrowed brow, scolded, “No pain, no gain. How can you, a lazy person without ambition, say such things?”

Tian Yuxi helped defend Song Haowen, saying, “Everyone has their own aspirations. As long as you feel comfortable, that’s what matters. Not everyone wants to be a star.”

“Sis, are you also taking his side?” Tian Nana complained, “Do you guys keep up with the gossip? He hasn’t appeared in public for just a few days, and rumors are already flying everywhere.”

Tian Yuxi, surprised, asked, “What rumors?” She turned to look at Song Haowen. “Is what Nana said true?”

“What’s true or not? As long as it’s gossip, it’s just nonsense. Why bother with that stuff?” Song Haowen dismissed it.

Tian Nana sneered, “You really don’t care? Do you even know what people are saying about you outside?”

“What could they say about me? Rumors pass by and eventually disappear…”

“You spend all your time in an ivory tower; how would you know the dark side of society? If a celebrity doesn’t show up for a while, people will find it unusual, and then all sorts of speculations will arise.”

“I’m a bit curious now. What kind of speculations are there?”

“You really seem not to care at all. Well, let me share some Goldbach conjectures about you circulating in society. I hope you can still be this calm and indifferent after hearing them. First, they say you drove drunk, had a car accident, lying in the hospital with an uncertain fate, and even if you survive, there’s a high chance you’ll become a vegetable.”

Song Haowen chuckled. “I don’t even have a driver’s license yet. Drunk driving and speeding? This lie is poorly crafted.” He thought, from now on, whether driving or being in a car, he would be extra cautious, not wanting to end up like the unlucky characters in his past life.

“Don’t be in such a hurry. Second, they say you’re morally corrupt, involved in illicit relationships, frequenting adult entertainment clubs, dating multiple women simultaneously, committing hooliganism, and now you’re being held in jail, awaiting a court sentence.”

Except for Tian Nana, the girls present turned pale at the words. Song Haowen was furious, “Who’s the scoundrel spreading these lies? I curse his ancestors.” He was confident that he would never make the same mistakes as the regretful Zhang and Chihua in his previous life.

“And what else? Third, they say you worship foreign cultures, collude with foreign countries, got recruited by foreign spy beauties, willingly became their puppet, contracted an incurable STD, and secretly went abroad for treatment.”

Song Haowen laughed angrily. He recalled how in his past life, dedicated entertainers like Wei and Jiao were suspected just because they took a break from the public eye. Although it was eventually proven to be baseless slander, the negative impact lingered. As for the supposedly incurable STD, it referred to HIV/AIDS, which was relatively unknown at the time it was rumored, but in a few years, it became well-known.

“Don’t laugh too soon. There’s more. Fourth, they say you’re a pleasure seeker, lack ambition, enjoy being a gigolo, revel in being a third party in relationships, and even have a sugar mommy, hiding in the realm of indulgence and self-intoxication.”

“Ha, I’d love that. I’m not some dog-meat young idol, let alone Tang Monk’s flesh. Which seductive demon would be interested in me?”

“You don’t need to be modest. As long as you agree, plenty of seductive women and sugar mommies will chase after you.” Ren Hua mocked.

“Fifth, they say you’re engaging in same-sex relationships with someone.”

“Screw this rainbow fart!” Song Haowen was furious.

“This isn’t the end yet… Later, your same-sex partner finds out you’re also in love with a female celebrity, playing both sides, and there’s a heated argument during a dinner party. You two end up fighting, and he stabs you with a fruit knife. In the end, you end up in the hospital, and he commits suicide…”

“Stop, I can’t take it anymore. Why the heck are they dragging me into all sorts of things? I’m innocent, more innocent than Dou E.” Song Haowen sighed.

“Also, you attend a celebrity masquerade ball, get caught in debauchery, and caught by fans…”