CHAPTER 24 (PART 2)

Chang Yan moved fast. The moment the post hit the real-time trending chart, the team noticed it. They quickly launched an anti-rumor campaign, reported the account, requested Weibo to verify the post’s authenticity, and mobilized fans to counter the water army.

[LMAO, chat logs are considered proof these days? I’ll go Photoshop one of me dating Gu Sheng!]
[Didn’t say anything when she wasn’t famous, but pops up now that she is—if that’s not clout-chasing, what is?]
[My girl is truly popular now. Thank you, haters, for confirming it.]

Gu Sheng herself was the last to find out.

She wracked her brain for a bit and finally dug up Chen Yijun from the original host’s memories—he wasn’t even a real ex. Just a pretty-faced D-list celeb the original host had added on WeChat.

In the novel, the original host was written as being madly in love with Wen Heng, with no other romantic interests. This was clearly someone trying to smear Gu Sheng’s name, dragging out a random nobody to act as their pawn.

Chang Yan, worried that she might not be able to handle the pressure as a newcomer, called her to reassure her: “Shengsheng, don’t worry. Small matter. Easy to deal with. You two don’t even need to show your faces.”

Of course Gu Sheng wasn’t worried. She’d been in the industry long enough—she’d seen far dirtier tactics. Her gut told her that whoever released this half-baked gossip wasn’t really trying to destroy her. It felt more like a test. She just wasn’t sure which side was behind it yet, so the motive remained unclear.

Gu Sheng: Heh. Scandal? Nice. Means I’m actually famous.

NotWen Studio quickly released a statement, demanding that @ChenYijun stop spreading rumors or face legal consequences.

With that, fans felt reassured and fought back even harder.

Chen Yijun was already struggling in the industry. Watching Gu Sheng’s career rise, he was bitter but didn’t dare go up against her directly. This time, someone had given him a lot of money and promised to take care of any legal issues. To him, it was a risk-free deal.

He now sat behind his screen, waiting for further instructions from the other side.

Soon, they told him: That’s enough for now. Tomorrow, attend a banquet.

Chen Yijun obeyed completely: [Got it.]

This scandal didn’t blow up too badly, just as Li Muze had expected.

He never thought a single blow would split up Wen Heng and Gu Sheng. This was only the beginning.

As someone who didn’t believe in loyalty or true love, he never trusted in that “meant for each other” crap. What he wanted was to plant a seed of doubt in Wen Heng’s heart.

As long as public opinion on Gu Sheng declined, and Wen Heng started to question her—then his money was well spent.

And sure enough, Wen Heng still hadn’t made any response, had he?

No reaction is a kind of reaction.

Li Muze smiled with full confidence.

This emotionless brother-in-law of his—better stay that way.

…

Wen Heng was indeed starting to have doubts about Gu Sheng.

He stared at the photo of Chen Yijun for a long time. After returning home, he asked Gu Sheng, “Did you ever have any issues with your eyes?”

Gu Sheng: “?” Who are you calling blind?

She immediately shot back, “Probably. How else would I have fallen for you?”

The original Gu Sheng had been a total face-chaser, blindly devoted and ignoring the guy’s awful personality.

Wen Heng paused.

Then, the gloomy cloud that had been hanging over him ever since he saw Gu Sheng’s “ex-boyfriend” suddenly dissipated. The corners of his lips lifted slightly—he actually smiled.

Gu Sheng: “?” What’s wrong with this guy?

Does he enjoy being insulted??

Wen Heng asked, “So, he’s not your ex?”

Gu Sheng: “Mm.”

Wen Heng didn’t press further. He lowered his head and opened his phone, entering the “Wensheng Couple” supertopic.

Ever since reading fanfiction, he’d learned about this space—and had to admit, it was full of… remarkable talent.

At this moment, the supertopic was inevitably in turmoil, and some fans were clearly unsettled. This was, after all, the first storm the Wensheng CP fandom had ever experienced.

@ComingForWensheng: Uwu Wen-ge wouldn’t blame Sheng-jie over some dumb rumor, right?? 😭😭

@ClearSkiesNow: LMAO here to witness a major CP collapse live.

@SweetAddict: Some CP fans really have no shame? Sneaking into other fandoms to throw shade? Can’t stomach your fake sugar anymore?

@FromSoundIntoHeart: My CP better stay intact! Waiting for Wen-ge and Sheng-jie to reunite T_T

Everyone was waiting for Wen Heng’s response.

—Everyone except Gu Sheng herself, maybe.

She was still calmly reading the Backtrack script. The audition was coming up soon, and online drama had zero effect on her career focus.

Wen Heng put away his phone and looked at Gu Sheng. “The fans are really worried. So… come with me to the banquet.”

Gu Sheng looked up. “Hm?”

The CP system: “OMG OMG he’s killing me! He’s going to prove in person that your relationship isn’t broken—!”

Gu Sheng: “…?”

There wasn’t much of a relationship to begin with though? (scratches head)

…

The next day.

The Wen Group banquet.

This was an internal Wen Group event—not just any minor celebrity could attend. Jiang Luwei had her family elders bring her along, secretly delighted—she knew Wen Heng and Gu Sheng’s relationship couldn’t be that solid. With no emotional foundation to begin with, how could Wen Heng suddenly change his mind about divorce?

She kept glancing around from her seat, trying to spot whether Wen Heng had arrived.

She didn’t expect that—he really had come.

But he came with Gu Sheng.

The very next day after the scandal, the two showed up together in public, both with perfectly composed expressions. As soon as their stunning faces appeared, they easily outshone every other color in the banquet hall.

Jiang Luwei’s hand clenched tightly on her thigh, her face going pale again.

—Why! What was so special about Gu Sheng that she could actually win over Wen Heng!

Across the room, Li Muze was mingling with a smile, but his eyes darkened when he saw this scene.

Wen Heng was really serious about Gu Sheng…?

There were media present at the scene. No one had expected that a business banquet could come with top-tier celebrity exposure! The flashes exploded instantly—cameras all aimed at Wen Heng and Gu Sheng, frantically snapping photos.

Their looks effortlessly held up under all the high-def lenses, and the pictures were quickly posted online.

[Aaaahhh! This is a total slap in the face!]

[Who still dares to say Wensheng isn’t real?]

[Wen-ge really spoils his wife, omg. Reunited in public the very next day 😭]

While the internet buzzed, Li Muze stood among the crowd and gave a signal to his assistant. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. Perfect timing—he could use this opportunity to completely ruin Gu Sheng’s reputation.

Soon, the assistant waved over Chen Yijun, who was dressed in waiter’s clothes.

“T-this will really work…?” Chen Yijun accepted a small packet of powder.

“You just need to drop the drug. We’ll take care of the rest,” the assistant said businesslike. “The pay will satisfy you.”

Chen Yijun thought of the amount he was paid last time, swallowed hard, then steeled himself.

After all, Gu Sheng was just a naïve rich girl with her head full of love and romance—how could she possibly see through these tricks?

Suppressing his anxiety, Chen Yijun sprinkled the powder into a wine glass, then lowered his head and maneuvered through the crowd. When Gu Sheng turned away for a moment, the server quietly swapped the wineglass next to her.

As she turned back and picked it up, just about to take a sip—

She paused. Swirled the glass. Then noticed an odd string of bubbles.

“……”

Did these book-world villains seriously think she was an idiot?

Did they take her for a fool??

This was Wen family territory.

Gu Sheng waved her hand and directly called over the eldest young master of the Wen family.

Wen Heng took one look at the glass and understood immediately.

Even if he had no interest in outside gossip, he’d been in this circle long enough to recognize these low-life tactics.

His face darkened as he set the glass aside and began weighing a few possible countermeasures.

Just then, the system suddenly chimed:

“Alert. Alert.”

“You will experience your 24th pain episode in ten seconds. High pain level. Please prepare.”

—Perfect timing.

Wen Heng already had a plan. Hearing the system’s voice, he made a swift decision: “Transfer it.”

The system seemed to expect this: “Understood. Who would you like to transfer it to?”

Wen Heng’s gaze swept across the banquet hall, then said clearly, “Transfer it to the mastermind behind this incident.”

He had a few suspects in mind but no definitive answer yet—so this reply couldn’t go wrong.

The system: “……”

You’ve really figured out how to use this system.

“Alright, system successfully received. Transferring pain now.”

On the other side, Gu Sheng also heard the “ding ding” sound. She had been waiting for the prompt, but unexpectedly, the system froze.

“What’s going on?” Gu Sheng asked.

The system hesitated: “It seems the male lead used some kind of bug.”

Gu Sheng was surprised. “Another bug? Is he cheating or what?”

The system continued, still hesitating: “But according to system monitoring, the operation rules haven’t changed. The male lead still needs to touch you to relieve the pain.”

Gu Sheng: Fine.

Male lead things. Can take it. Knows how to play the game.

…She just didn’t know where this round’s random pain point would land.

Wen Heng stood still, without a change in expression, listening to the system’s notification:

“According to our observation, your random pain sometimes shows a kind of symmetrical distribution. This time’s randomly assigned pain point is the same as the last childbirth pain.”

Wen Heng had a bad feeling and asked cautiously, “What?”

—“Pain of testicular torsion.”
—“Pain level: 11.”

Wen Heng: “……”

Thanks.

—

In the banquet hall.

Everything appeared normal on the surface—soft piano music, clinking glasses, people toasting and chatting. Wen Heng poured Gu Sheng another glass of red wine.

But hidden in the corner, Li Muze’s face suddenly turned sheet white. He dropped to his knees on the floor. “F*ck—!!”

Wen Heng took Gu Sheng’s hand.

Li Muze returned to normal.

Wen Heng let go of Gu Sheng’s hand.

Li Muze was in so much pain it felt like his soul was tearing apart—he nearly collapsed to the ground.

Wen Heng held her hand again. Let go. Held it. Let go.

Finally, Gu Sheng smacked him with a palm: “What are you doing?!”

Wen Heng actually laughed.

Gu Sheng hit him, but he didn’t feel a thing.

Gu Sheng: ?? Are you insane??

Meanwhile—

Li Muze was in so much pain his tears and snot ran down together. He looked up to the sky and screamed silently—

“Who is it! Who the hell is doing this to me!!!”

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