The fan meeting had concluded, and reporters were gathered at the entrance, waiting for the lead actors to emerge. Perhaps to avoid encountering Ye Fan, Tang Jin had already left.

Ye Fan remained backstage, intending to change out of her gown before heading home.

Before she reached the dressing room, a deep voice suddenly called out behind her: “Ye Fan.”

She stopped in her tracks and tilted her head slightly to glance back.

He Han stood there, his tall and imposing figure exuding a cool and unapproachable aura.

His expression was calm, his face impassive, yet it seemed to carry a faint layer of frost.

His jet-black eyes were deep and unfathomable as if concealing a thousand secrets.

A few strands of dark hair fell against her face, curving slightly. Ye Fan’s skin was as fair as snow, her perfectly sculpted profile partially obscured by the dim lighting, giving her an almost ethereal presence.

He Han’s gaze darkened slightly, the chill in his eyes somewhat softening. “That dress suits you,” he said, his eyes lingering on her for a moment before shifting away.

His gaze lowered slightly, his fingertip brushing lightly against his thumb in a subtle motion that went unnoticed by others.

Few people knew that this gown had been chosen by He Han himself. They had kept it a secret from everyone, including Ye Fan.

Ye Fan assumed He Han’s comment was nothing more than a polite remark, the kind one casually makes in passing.

Her thoughts were simple: they were just colleagues, nothing more.

She curved her lips into a small smile. “Thank you.”

This was the first time they had spoken since the film wrapped.

Except for the final intimate scene, which had left her overly tense, she and He Han had barely exchanged words on set.

Out of the corner of his eye, He Han caught sight of Ye Fan’s face.

She tilted her head to look up at him, her neck graceful and fair while the slight curve of her lips exuding an understated elegance.

He Han’s eyes were unreadable, their depths obscured. Leaning casually against the wall, his crisp, clean scent lingered in the air. “You did well tonight.”

His tone was neutral, devoid of any discernible emotion, as if he were merely offering professional feedback to a rookie actor.

What Ye Fan didn’t know was that for someone like He Han—naturally distant and reserved, with minimal interaction even within the industry—such words were unusual. Let alone directed at someone he’d only worked with once.

They stood in the hallway, having exchanged only a few words, when He Han’s manager, Dai Jinshan, arrived.

Dai Jinshan greeted He Han with a polite nod. “He Han.”

He Han’s lips curved slightly, and he responded with a soft “Mm.”

“Ye Fan, you and He Han seem to get along well,” Dai Jinshan chimed in, clearly trying to fan the flames. “Why not exchange contact information?”

Coming from the manager, the suggestion almost sounded like it was Ye Fan’s own idea.

Ye Fan was about to decline, but after hesitating for a moment and giving it some thought, she spoke up. “I think… it’s not really necessary.”

He Han caught the subtle shift in her expression, his eyes narrowing slightly, their depth unreadable.

Before Ye Fan could finish her sentence, a calm, slightly cool voice interrupted. “That’s fine.”

Ye Fan froze for a moment, looking up at He Han in surprise.

He Han glanced at her indifferently.

Their gazes met, locking for a brief moment in the stillness of the hallway.

He Han’s eyes were deep, unwavering as he fixed them on Ye Fan. Slowly, he recited a string of numbers.

Ye Fan averted her gaze, avoiding He Han’s eyes. Taking out her phone, she saved his number.

He Han’s lips curved again, and a barely audible chuckle escaped into the air.

He said nothing more, turning on his heel and walking away.

….

In the following days, Ye Fan’s schedule was relatively light.

After leaving Hua Rui Film Company, she quickly got into her car.

Since signing with Hua Rui, the company had assigned her both an assistant and a driver. They were discreet and well aware of Ye Fan’s personal circumstances, but they never spoke of it.

Ye Fan hadn’t seen Dudu all day, and as soon as she got in the car, she called Aunt Li. The call connected quickly.

Ye Fan’s voice softened with longing. “Aunt Li, how’s Dudu doing?”

On the other end of the line, it seemed Aunt Li and Dudu weren’t at home. The background noise was a bit chaotic. Aunt Li’s voice came through clearly: “I took Dudu out to play. We’re at the supermarket now.”

This supermarket wasn’t near Ye Fan’s home, so Aunt Li must have taken Dudu to a farther spot for a day out.

Ye Fan said, “I’ll be there soon. Just wait for me at the supermarket.” Aunt Li’s voice sounded a bit strained, likely from carrying Dudu around all day.

After hanging up, Ye Fan turned to the driver, who was focused on the road. “Please stop at the Walmart ahead.”

The driver acknowledged with a nod and turned the steering wheel. Before long, the car was parked near the supermarket.

Ye Fan opened the door and stepped out.

To avoid being recognized, Ye Fan had disguised herself with a mask and sunglasses. This ensured no one took notice of her. Spotting Aunt Li and Dudu in the fresh produce section, Ye Fan walked straight toward them without pausing.

Dudu was resting his head on Aunt Li’s shoulder, his eyes half-closed and his little head bobbing up and down, as though he were about to fall asleep. Ye Fan couldn’t help but smile at the sight. She approached quietly, careful not to wake him.

Noticing how tired Aunt Li looked, Ye Fan took the shopping basket from her hands.

Aunt Li had a long shopping list filled with items they needed. Ye Fan gestured toward the list, signaling that she would pick the items while Aunt Li kept an eye on Dudu.

Ye Fan began gathering everything listed, moving quickly through the aisles. Meanwhile, Aunt Li stayed put, holding Dudu.

After carrying Dudu for some time, Aunt Li’s arms grew weary. Gently, she shifted his position, trying not to disturb him. However, Dudu wasn’t a sound sleeper and soon woke up.

Yawning and rubbing his eyes with his tiny hands, Dudu’s soft, sleepy voice called out. “Where’s Mommy?”

Moments earlier, in his drowsy, half-asleep state, Dudu thought he had seen his mother but now, she was nowhere to be found.

Noticing that Dudu’s sleepiness had faded, Aunt Li gently set him down on the ground. She wiped the tears that had formed at the corners of his eyes from yawning and explained softly. “Mommy went to get some things. We’ll wait for her here.”

After reassuring him, Aunt Li stood up and held Dudu’s hand, her gaze scanning the shelves to ensure she hadn’t missed anything on the list.

Suddenly, Dudu let go of her hand and dashed toward the other end of the aisle. Aunt Li reacted quickly, hurrying after him.

A few shelves away, He Han was standing alone.

Living by himself, He Han preferred to handle his own errands even though he had several assistants.

This supermarket was close to his home, and as the evening darkened, he had stepped out wearing a cap and mask to keep a low profile.

The area was relatively quiet, and He Han was browsing items with his head slightly lowered. His cool, distant demeanor made him seem unapproachable.

The next moment, He Han felt something soft and small collide with his leg. He glanced down to find a chubby little boy, his face round and fair, clearly very young.

The boy, unsteady on his feet, must have stumbled into him. He Han scanned the surrounding area but didn’t see any adults who appeared to be the boy’s parents.

He Han frowned slightly and crouched down, bringing himself to eye level with Dudu.

“Where’s your mom?” he asked in a calm, measured tone.

Dudu immediately covered his mouth with his small hands, clearly deciding not to answer.

Ye Fan had taught him never to speak to strangers when outside. At first, Dudu hadn’t understood the importance, but after Ye Fan repeated it numerous times, the lesson had stuck.

Dudu’s wide, round eyes stared directly at He Han, his chubby little hands firmly covering his mouth.

Although He Han wasn’t particularly fond of children, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity with the little boy in front of him.

For a brief moment, He Han’s usually cold expression softened. He glanced at Dudu and let out a low chuckle.

He hadn’t expected such a young child to be so cautious.

As Dudu kept his hands over his mouth, a small tag slipped from his sleeve. It bore a name and a string of numbers.

He Han reached out and gently pinched Dudu’s cheek.

His voice, usually distant and cool, now carried a surprising warmth. “Your name is Ye Duo?”

If He Han’s manager had been present, they would have been utterly shocked, after all, warmth wasn’t a word anyone associated with He Han.

Hearing He Han speak, Dudu finally reacted. He couldn’t help but correct him. “I’m not Ye Duo. My name is Dudu.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Dudu seemed to realize his mistake. He quickly clamped his hands back over his mouth, as if he had done something terribly wrong.

He Han was about to ask more questions when Aunt Li spotted Dudu. With a sigh of relief, she hurried over from the other end of the aisle.

“Dudu, don’t run off like that. You’ll worry your mom.” Aunt Li scolded lightly, picking Dudu up and holding him tightly in her arms.

“I’m so sorry.” Aunt Li apologized to He Han. “Our little one was looking for his mom.”

Dudu finally relaxed when he saw someone familiar. He lowered his hands and spoke in his soft, sweet voice. “I’ve been very good.”

Aunt Li coaxed him gently for a while before carrying him away.

As Dudu rested on Aunt Li’s shoulder, his gaze naturally fell on He Han. He stared at him intently, his big, round eyes unblinking, his little teeth nibbling on his thumb.

He Han didn’t leave immediately. He stood there, watching silently until Dudu’s small figure disappeared at the end of the aisle. Only then did he turn and walk away.

…..

That same day, a well-known Weibo influencer with a massive following posted a provocative statement:

“Recently, Jin Tan from Undercover on the Bund gained quite a bit of attention. The actress Ye Fan seems to have overshadowed the show’s lead, Tang Jin.”

“But have you ever considered that this so-called popularity was part of a calculated scheme? It’s a deliberate attempt to ride on Tang Jin’s fame and take her down, all to climb the ladder of stardom…”

Though brief, the post was laced with accusations, painting Ye Fan as someone cunning and ruthless, willing to do anything for fame.

This influencer was affiliated with Tang Jin’s studio for a long time, at the studio’s direction, he posted this statement specifically to tarnish Ye Fan.

Ye Fan’s rising popularity had long been a thorn in their side, and they had been looking for an opportunity to bring her down. The studio had even hired a fleet of internet trolls to post malicious analyses on forums and manipulate public opinion under the influencer’s post.

With over a million followers, the influencer’s words immediately sparked heated discussions among netizens.

“I’ve always felt something was off. How could a character as minor as a dancer catapult Ye Fan to fame so quickly? She must have planned this long ago, and there’s probably a major company pulling the strings behind her.”

“Exactly. The entertainment industry is a shark tank. No matter how beautiful Ye Fan is, making it big is incredibly tough. I’m convinced all those compliments about her are just paid bots.”

“Not to mention, she’s been trending on Weibo nonstop recently. A newcomer causing this much buzz? And now my idol Tang Jin’s name is being dragged into it. It’s infuriating!”

Following the show’s release, Ye Fan had gained a modest fanbase. However, Tang Jin’s fans were aggressive and hostile, and soon the two sides erupted into an online feud.

“I don’t get it. Ye Fan has just been quietly acting—who did she offend to get smeared like this?”

“We all see Ye Fan’s beauty and talent with our own eyes. Whether it’s hype or genuine skill, you’ll see soon enough. Just don’t come crying when you’re proven wrong.”

Although some doubted the influencer’s claims, Tang Jin’s enormous fanbase drowned out the voices defending Ye Fan. Public opinion swiftly shifted in favor of Tang Jin.

Ye Fan found herself at the center of controversy. Those envious of her success eagerly sought to pull her down, especially since her recent rise had drawn a lot of attention. Jealousy ran deep.

Before long, a user on a popular video app stumbled upon a short clip. The video, dated during the filming of Undercover on the Bund, sparked even more discussion.

The uploader was a background actor who had been filming a casual vlog. In the background of his clip, an unintended cameo caught everyone’s attention—it was none other than Ye Fan.

In the video, Ye Fan was dressed in her costume, sliding down a sloped surface. When she hits the ground, she points a gun at someone across from her.

She repeatedly messes up the scene, each time sliding down the slope again to retry.

Undercover on the Bund had been a hot topic for some time, and as soon as the video surfaced, it quickly sparked intense discussions online.

Sharp-eyed netizens who watched the clip soon noticed something strange.

The drama had already aired, and viewers had seen all of Ye Fan’s scenes. However, the scene shown in the video was not one that Ye Fan had ever performed in the show.

Interestingly, the lead actress, Tang Jin, had been part of a similar scene.

Netizens flooded the comment section, expressing their confusion and raising questions.

“I’ve watched Undercover on the Bund multiple times, and I’m sure this scene was never aired on TV.”

“Why is Ye Fan wearing Tang Jin’s costume? Even her hair, outfit, and movements are exactly the same as Tang Jin’s. This is so strange.”

“Wasn’t this supposed to be Tang Jin’s scene? Where is she? Why isn’t she in the video?”

The video quickly reached over a million likes in just one day, and the number kept growing at an astonishing pace. More and more people were watching it, posting their opinions and questioning what they saw.

It made no sense for Ye Fan to wear Tang Jin’s costume, with the same hairstyle, the same movements, and everything else identical to what Tang Jin had portrayed on screen.

The mounting comments seemed to be pointing toward an undeniable conclusion.

Could it be that Ye Fan was actually Tang Jin’s stunt double?

Just a few days ago, Tang Jin had mentioned how tough the action scenes were for her. But now, it seemed like those scenes might have actually been filmed by Ye Fan in her place.

=^_^=