Although Yu Jing and Xiao Lan’s relationship couldn’t be considered good, they were both part of Yunlai Entertainment after all. They had colluded for a long time, holding each other’s secrets, so Yu Jing naturally wouldn’t refuse.

She contacted a familiar paparazzi and spent a large sum of money to buy photos of Jiang Lianqin and CEO Zhang being intimate.

Seeing the photos on her phone, Xiao Lan’s eyes gleamed with strong malice. She hadn’t originally intended to be so ruthless, but since Jiang Lianqin had brought this upon herself, insisting on dragging her down, Xiao Lan felt justified in being merciless.

After Xiao Lan got hold of the photos, that very evening, a marketing account posted them online. They even generously bought the fifth spot on the trending list.

When netizens saw the words #Jiang Lianqin’s Love Affair, they were all taken aback. If they remembered correctly, the idol surnamed Jiang had just been bitten by a dog not long ago. She should be recuperating in the hospital. How could news of a love affair suddenly explode like this?

Clicking into the entry, they discovered that a well-known marketing account had posted nine pictures, all showing Jiang Lianqin being intimate with a man. There were photos of kissing, hugging, and even strolling together, their gestures incredibly affectionate.

【Didn’t the studio say Jiang Lianqin has been single since birth? She had always portrayed the image of a pure and innocent girl. Now, what’s the deal with this man? @Jiang Lianqin’s studio, please explain quickly. It’s okay for idols to date, but lying is a matter of character.】

【Didn’t you recognize the male lead in this? He’s none other than the famous CEO Zhang from the medical field. He used to be a doctoral student at Q University and established a medical equipment company with the support of his wife’s family. Now, he’s somehow entangled with a small star. Looks like things are about to get interesting.】

【Oh my goodness, so he’s a married man? Does that mean Jiang Lianqin is a mistress? Earlier, fans were saying she’s the most innocent and kind-hearted female artist in the whole country. Now, after this gossip for two days straight, Jiang Lianqin’s entire image is completely shattered.】

At this point, Jiang Lianqin’s fans were utterly unable to refute the situation. After all, those photos hadn’t been photoshopped, clearly showing Jiang Lianqin’s features. There was no way to deny it. Many rational fans had already sensed that something was wrong. They now knew that their idol had a habit of lying, would do anything for fame, and had become involved as a third party in someone else’s family.

But more hardcore fans didn’t care about these details. In their eyes, Jiang Lianqin could do no wrong. They were convinced that she must have been forced into a relationship with CEO Zhang. It was all his fault. It had nothing to do with their Qinqin!

Based on this mindset, they relentlessly attacked anyone with differing opinions online. If anyone dared to criticize Jiang Lianqin even slightly, they would send private messages to insult them. They even exposed users’ personal information in fan groups, bombarding them with a barrage of text messages and phone calls.

With this series of actions, Jiang Lianqin’s reputation was completely tarnished.

Feeling unwilling to let Xiao Lan destroy her future, Jiang Lianqin felt as though a venomous creature was gnawing at her heart. At this moment, she dialed CEO Zhang’s number, pleading tearfully for his help.

CEO Zhang still harbored some feelings for Jiang Lianqin. He generously gave her a sum of money and hired a private detective to uncover a lot of Xiao Lan’s scandals, which were then directly posted online. Among them was a video showing Xiao Lan intentionally harming Meng Zhen during the filming of 《The Icon’s New Clothes》.

The two female celebrities were fiercely tearing each other apart online. Everyone knew that Jiang Lianqin and Xiao Lan had teamed up to plot against Meng Zhen. Not only did netizens label them as poisonous women, but even fans with normal values couldn’t help but unfollow them.

After this farce concluded, Jiang Lianqin could no longer secure any work opportunities and had to announce her retirement from the industry. Xiao Lan, who had once been a top-tier female star, plummeted to a much lower tier. Advertisers and sponsors canceled their contracts with her, and there were demands for compensation from Yunlai Entertainment due to breach of contract.

For Xiao Lan, the most terrifying consequence wasn’t about money or endorsements, it was her reputation. Now completely ruined, she had no future prospects left to speak of.

Meng Zhen had been closely monitoring the online developments. During this time, Fei Yun also made a copy of the audio recording in her possession, which was then released through Anmei Entertainment’s official account.

Unable to quibble further, Xiao Lan could only grit her teeth and draft a formal apology.

Upon reading the contents of the other party’s statement, Meng Zhen couldn’t help but scoff coldly.

Someone like Xiao Lan, utterly selfish and self-serving, had reached the pinnacle of egoism. She hadn’t truly acknowledged her mistakes and wouldn’t have apologized if not pushed to the brink by public opinion. Meng Zhen had no intention of responding to Xiao Lan. Instead, she directly shared the latest post about the upcoming drama 《Investiture》.

It’s about to start broadcasting.

The drama had already completed post-production and entered the promotional phase. Otherwise, the production team wouldn’t have collaborated with 《Flavor》 to invite the main actors to participate in the variety show recording.

As a renowned movie star, Gu Ting hadn’t filmed a TV drama in several years. Now, he’s making a guest appearance as Bo Yikao in the show. His fans were eagerly anticipating the premiere of 《Investiture》, excited beyond measure and ready to promote it for their idol.

Compared to him, Meng Zhen didn’t have many fans, but they were loyal enough. They check in under the official account of 《Investiture》 every day, hoping to catch more news related to their idol.

On that day, the official account posted a new update, 【At the beginning of spring, 《Investiture》 invites you all to watch together.】 It was accompanied by a complete trailer.

Netizens have a lot of trust in Qian Xubing’s skills. This drama was a major production with an investment of over a hundred million. Under the guidance of its director and screenwriters, the final product’s quality was bound to be impressive.

With anticipation, they clicked on the video. The first scene that greeted them was a sea of emerald green bamboo forest, where leaves rustled down gently, accompanied by faint sounds of the wind.

Following that was the theme song sung by Luo Yang.

A handsome man dressed in black was practicing martial arts in the bamboo forest. His movements were agile, his expression solemn, and his eyes resolute. Who else could it be but Lin Yu, portraying Ji Fa? The scene swiftly transitioned to Ji Fa, and next appeared the veteran actor portraying King Zhou, showcasing his cruelty and tyranny to perfection, leaving viewers stunned.

Since Gu Ting had a guest role, he appeared after the two main actors. The unparalleled handsome nobleman walked gracefully into the palace, his demeanor calm, his robes flowing elegantly. The aura surrounding him captivated everyone’s hearts.

【Wuuwuuuwuuwuu, my husband is so handsome! He seems like someone who should only exist in heaven. It’s rare to see such a person on earth.】

【Movie King Gu hasn’t acted in TV dramas for so many years, but his appearance in 《Investiture》 is just too good-looking! I think Bo Yikao should look like this. Otherwise, how could he captivate the nine-tailed fox from Xuanyuan Tomb?】

【I heard that the scenes between Movie King Gu and Meng Zhen are quite ambiguous. They both look so good-looking that just imagining it makes me drool.】

Soon, it was Meng Zhen’s turn to appear. She wore a brightly colored quju, reclining on a couch. Despite her light makeup, her demeanor seemed transformed. From a just-of-age girl, she had become a bewitching and enchanting fox spirit. Every smile and frown exuded charm and allure.

Fans were left speechless the moment they saw their idol’s face. Even though the production team had previously released still photos, which were beautiful in their own right, they couldn’t compare to the vibrant, lifelike quality of the video. The vividness of the scene made hearts race, and viewers couldn’t tear their eyes away from the screen.

【Oh my heavens, Zhenzhen is as beautiful as a fairy! I want to marry her!】

【Upstairs, don’t even think about it. Sister is right next to me. Kiss~】

The trailer for 《Investiture》 gained extremely high popularity online. Within just half an hour, it had surpassed a million views. After watching the video, the president of Meng Zhen’s fan club felt an itch in her hands. She picked up her drawing board and began sketching a chibi version of Meng Zhen again. This time, the idol was dressed not in a qipao but in a bright red quju, with hair as dark as ink and lips red as blood. The soft and tender figure exuded a hint of allure, reminiscent of Daji’s charm.

The fan club president worked tirelessly throughout the night to finish the chibi drawing. She promptly posted it on the super topic, where it was immediately shared and liked by Hazelnuts. Many even used the image as their profile pictures, inadvertently promoting the drama.

【When will 《Investiture》 finally start airing? My hands are itching to clip it!】

【Sister is too low-key. She rarely participates in activities. Last time, the recording of 《Flavor》 was also canceled because of Xiao Lan and Jiang Lianqin. When will I see Sister again?】

【Don’t worry, Upstairs. I heard that particular episode of 《Flavor》 can’t air on national TV, but Yellow Peach plans to release it on their website. It’s estimated to be uploaded in the next few days. By then we must help our sister boost the views. Although we, Hazelnuts, are few in number, we must show up in force!】

As the weekend arrived, the episode of 《Flavor》 featuring Meng Zhen was uploaded to the video website. Viewers watched the handsome and refined Gu Ting, then looked at the charming Meng Zhen, feeling a strong sense of chemistry between the two when they stood together.

However, Meng Zhen’s popularity and Gu Ting’s were worlds apart, and the fan base for their CP pairing simply didn’t gather momentum. It remained limited to a small group of fans who adored them individually.

This episode invited celebrities who were currently very popular, and even though it couldn’t be broadcast on television, it still garnered impressive viewership online. The three delicacies showcased made viewers’ mouths water incessantly, especially Lanting’s Chicken Tofu Pudding dish, which was prepared with such exquisite detail that even watching the video was a delight in itself.

Before the netizens could recover from the impact of the show’s delicious food, the day for the drama to air finally arrived.

Starting from half past seven, the president of Meng Zhen’s fan club, Late Autumn, sat in front of the television, tuning into the CCTV channel and watching the advertisements absentmindedly.

Her mother, sitting in front of the coffee table and eating melon seeds couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you young people don’t like watching TV? Why aren’t you playing on your computer?”

“CCTV is airing 《Investiture》 directed by Director Qian Xubing today. I think the quality is pretty good.” Late Autumn replied without batting an eye.

“Oh, come on. Your Mom isn’t that old yet. Isn’t that girl posted on the wall of your room playing Daji in that drama? They’ve been showing the trailer these days, and that girl looks really pretty and lively. I liked her when I saw her.” Late Autumn’s mother snorted.

As the mother and daughter were talking, the melodious opening theme suddenly played. Late Autumn involuntarily clenched her fist, feeling a bit nervous. After all, this was her idol’s first drama to be aired on national television, and she wasn’t sure how it would be received.