Chapter 23: Science Research Tycoon × Alluring Film Empress (Part 3)

[Gu Yin: First, Xi Nian—@Xi Nian—is my girlfriend. We’ve been together for three years. Our relationship is stable. Also, Mr. Zheng is actually 175 cm tall. Please stop misidentifying photos or girlfriends. Evidence is in image P1.
Second, Jiang Lu behaved inappropriately and tried to coerce a female celebrity. Later, he framed someone else. We’ve already reported it to the police.
Third, Mr. Zheng and Miss Jiang maliciously defamed my girlfriend and colluded with paparazzi to slander others. Legal letters have been sent.
Finally, I urge everyone online not to be misled or deceived by malicious people.]

P1 showed Zheng Xiao’s true height from a medical check-up. Gu Yin also released a video of Jiang Lu reaching out to grope Xi Nian and then getting beaten up by him, footage of Zheng Xiao and Jiang Nan plotting together, and chat logs later discovered between Jiang Nan and the paparazzi.

[Whoa, Zheng Xiao is so shameless. He’s actually 175 cm and still dares to pretend otherwise?]

[So what? In the entertainment industry, all the ones who are 175 cm say they’re 180.]

[I wouldn’t have noticed if Gu Yin hadn’t pointed it out. When Zheng Xiao and Xi Nian stood together, they looked the same height, but the guy in the photo was clearly much taller.]

[Didn’t Big Boss Gu already say it? These villains were all manipulating our emotions.]

[It’s like one essay after another, and each time it smacks someone right in the face.]

[I knew it! Xi Nian would never fall for that kind of man. Finally, the truth is out. Gu Yin is awesome.]

[Even though I hate to admit it, we approve of this brother-in-law.]

[I can’t believe someone could go as far as misidentifying their own girlfriend. What a lesson.]

[All this for a little clout. Look at how every sentence in that essay tries to frame Xi Nian and Jiang Lu. If it were true love, how could anyone act like that?]

[We owe Xi Nian an apology. We scolded her without knowing the full story.]

[Sorry, Xi Nian. Thank goodness Gu Yin opened our eyes.]

[Can’t believe I used to be a fan of Jiang Nan. I’m done.]

[That woman is disgusting. She has no resources of her own, so she just messes with others.]

[Do you think those who terminated contracts with Xi Nian regret it now?]

[Of course they do. Rumor has it many of the terminated resources were given to Jiang Nan.]

Jiang Nan stared at the trending topics: [Gu Yin’s Girlfriend], [Zheng Xiao and Xi Nian’s Comeback], [Jiang Nan and Zheng Xiao Get Out of the Entertainment Industry], [Apologize to Xi Nian]—her hands were trembling uncontrollably.

It was over. Everything was over.

Her phone rang again. It was Zheng Xiao. Jiang Nan hung up without even thinking.

Ignoring the staff whispering and pointing at her, she stormed out of the set wearing the costume she had on for the commercial shoot.

“Hey! Where are you going?” the assistant director called after her.

“Don’t bother calling her. She’s done for. Get ready to reshoot. What bad luck,” someone muttered.

The director, however, sounded rather pleased. He had originally wanted Xi Nian for the commercial, but that idiot investor insisted on replacing her, thinking she was finished. And now look—Jiang Nan was not only unattractive but a total diva. Her eyes looked like she was having a seizure, and she kept adding unnecessary drama to every shot.

“Brother Ming, you have to help me!”

Jiang Nan ran to the apartment Li Ming had bought her, only to find him already tossing her things out. She clung to his sleeve, pleading coquettishly.

“Help you? I’m already homeless thanks to you, you know that? Damn it. How did I end up with someone like you? Get lost! Take all your stuff and get out!”

Li Ming pushed her out impatiently and slammed the door shut. Jiang Nan was left standing outside, staring blankly at her luggage.

…

Xi Nian had been incredibly busy lately, and with Gu Yin making sure she ate and slept regularly these past few days, any time she showed the slightest hint of wanting to play on her phone or watch TV, he’d drag her straight to bed. The result? She had lived in a daze for days.

When she finally woke up properly, the world had changed. Her phone had been blowing up with calls—thankfully muted by Gu Yin—or she would have been woken much earlier.

Just then, a call from Wu Mei came in. Xi Nian answered immediately. “Hello, Sister Wu? What’s going on?”

Her voice was still a bit hoarse. Wu Mei instantly understood. Her eyes widened—was she seriously still doing that despite everything going on?

“You haven’t looked at the trending searches?” Wu Mei asked, but instantly realized it was a dumb question. Clearly, she hadn’t had time.

“Gu Yin already resolved everything. The companies that terminated their contracts earlier have all sent over new ones. But I don’t want you working with them anymore. What do you think?”

“He resolved it?” Xi Nian suddenly became fully alert. She had just slept a few days, and everything was solved?

“I’ll go with your judgment. If they could terminate the contract when I needed them most, there’s no need to work with them again.”

“Good. Ask your boyfriend for more details. A bunch of scripts and variety shows just came in. I’ll pick a few for you to review later.”

“Okay!” Xi Nian hung up and immediately logged into her Weibo. As soon as she saw the trending search, she jumped up. Gu Yin publicly acknowledged their relationship?! Hadn’t he said no one was supposed to know?

She didn’t even bother putting on shoes and ran straight to the study.

Gu Yin was on the phone with a lawyer. When he saw her, he walked over and picked her up with one arm while still speaking into the phone. As he carried her to the sofa, he said, “Thank you. Let me know when there’s an update. Goodbye.”

He looked down at Xi Nian, who was examining him closely. “What’s wrong? You ran over without shoes on. Aren’t you afraid of catching a cold?”

“Tell me: where did we first meet? What’s our anniversary? What food do I like? What am I allergic to?” Xi Nian rattled off the questions, convinced that Gu Yin had been possessed.

“Zeming Hotel; May 16th; oranges and cherries; silkworm pupae. Want to ask anything else?”

“Alright then!” Xi Nian softened her tone as she sat on his lap. “Why’d you suddenly announce our relationship? Didn’t you say it had to stay private?”

“You’re not happy?” Gu Yin countered, pretending to be hurt. “I get it. You’re a big star with tons of fanboys. I must be holding you back!”

“Rubbish! Look at you playing innocent! You’re the one who wouldn’t let me go public all along, and now you’re flipping the script!”

“I just didn’t want your career to be affected!”

“Who knows what you were really thinking? Maybe you were afraid I’d embarrass you!” Xi Nian huffed.

“Alright, it’s clear now that your agency is unreliable. Wu Mei said they were even considering shelving you. How about switching companies?”

Gu Yin recalled how in the original storyline, Chengming Entertainment had dealt a fatal blow to Xi Nian. The thought annoyed him.

“But Sister Wu has always treated me really well.” Xi Nian pouted. Gu Yin was moved, leaning in to kiss her gently. She responded with a playful punch.

“She can come with you. Your contract’s ending soon. When it does, join Xingyue Entertainment, alright?”

“Xingyue? Isn’t that Jiang Nan’s company?” Xi Nian hadn’t finished catching up with the drama and didn’t know they’d terminated Jiang Nan.

“They’ve ended her contract. It’s my childhood friend’s company. I’ll feel better with you there.”

“Your childhood friend?” The original host had never introduced any of Gu Yin’s friends to Xi Nian, so she hesitated.

“Mhm. I’ll introduce you tonight.” Gu Yin stroked her curls. “They’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

“Ah?” Xi Nian jumped up. “I need to dress up properly!” She ran off, but Gu Yin scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom.

Getting ready wasn’t simple. An hour and a half later, Gu Yin looked at the dazzling Xi Nian and frowned—he’d have to keep an eye on his wife more closely. Definitely.

“Brother Gu!” Wang Mian and Mu Yu greeted him, then looked at the stunning Xi Nian. They quickly bowed their heads and shouted, “Hello, Sister-in-law!”

Xi Nian was startled. “H-hello!”

“Alright, let’s eat and chat.”

…

“Brother Gu, don’t worry. If Sister-in-law joins my company, she’ll get the best treatment,” Wang Mian assured him—Gu Yin had already spoken to him beforehand.

“What do you think, Niannian?” Gu Yin wanted to hear her thoughts. He had mentioned it before, but she hadn’t really listened. Would she be satisfied with the arrangement?

“Mhm,” Xi Nian had thought about it in the car. “I want to start my own studio. Wu Mei and I have already been discussing it.”

“That’s actually a great opportunity.” Gu Yin nodded and looked at Wang Mian.

Wang Mian immediately caught on. “Don’t worry, Sister-in-law. Xingyue will fully support you!”

“Thank you!” Xi Nian smiled.

“I heard you guys went through a lot for me this time. Thank you so much!” Xi Nian raised her glass and clinked it with Wang Mian and Mu Yu.

“Anything for Brother Gu is our business too, Sister-in-law. No need to be polite,” Mu Yu replied immediately.

“Yeah, Sister-in-law. Actually, this mess started because of my useless cousin. But don’t worry—I’ve already dealt with him.”

Back home, Xi Nian couldn’t stop grinning like an idiot. Gu Yin looked at his lightweight girlfriend helplessly. She’d passed out after one drink—his friends’ terrified reactions still made him laugh internally.

“Wow, who are you?” Xi Nian touched Gu Yin’s face, pinching and slapping it lightly.

“Guess.”

“Are you my little brother?” Xi Nian leaned in close, squinting. Suddenly, she slapped him. “Don’t move, I can’t see clearly!”

Gu Yin was speechless. He watched her fake anger and tried to coax her, “Okay, I won’t move, alright?”

“Hmph! Still trying to fool me? Are you a spy from the neighboring kingdom, here to seduce me with your beauty?”

“…”

“Oh!” Xi Nian wobbled to her feet. “I get it now. You’re Er Niu, the village idiot from the mountain’s base, here to bring me pickled vegetables, right? Where are they? Hand them over!”

What the heck was she even saying? Gu Yin thought it was best to put her to bed. But just as he got up to carry her, Xi Nian bolted.

“Where are my children? Come protect your king! There’s a villain trying to harm me! AHH, stop shaking me! Help!”

…

The next morning, Xi Nian woke up to Gu Yin’s stern expression. She jumped. “What’s with the face?”

“What do you think, Your Majesty? Don’t remember?”

The memories hit her all at once. Gu Yin had tried to carry her, but Queen Xi had confronted him. The villainous Yin defeated her. She clutched her chest dramatically, fell over, then leapt onto his back and shouted, “Giddyup! Ride, my steed! The villain is chasing us!”

Xi Nian buried her face in her hands. So humiliating. She regretted everything. Wu Mei had warned her not to drink. She should’ve listened. Boohoo…

“So? Remember now, Your Majesty?”

“I was wrong…” Xi Nian immediately clung to him, kissing his lips to appease him.

“You!” Gu Yin was about to say more when her phone rang.

“Sister Wu!” Xi Nian felt saved. She grabbed her phone and, while sneaking a glance at Gu Yin, ran into the bathroom. “Sister Wu, what’s up?”

“I sent you a movie script. Take a look. Since your contract only has three months left, and TV dramas take longer to film…”

“Got it. I’ll read it soon.”

“By the way, did you see Zheng Xiao’s new post?”

“He’s writing long-winded essays again?”

“Yeah, this time it’s targeting Jiang Nan.”