Yan Junyi kept his eyes fixed on the screen for another half minute, recalling how Sister Wu, his agent, had rushed into the lounge with a panicked look on her face. She had grabbed his arm, urging him to clarify the situation on Weibo immediately. It was as if someone had held a knife to her throat, and she seemed terrified that if she hesitated even for a second, they’d both be doomed.

It became clear to him that someone had pressured Sister Wu into getting him to post that clarification on Weibo.

Seeing Yan Junyi lost in thought, Sister Wu approached and asked, “Did you post the clarification?”

He nodded. “Yeah, I did.”

“Good,” she said, visibly relieved, the worry and tension easing from her face.

Yan Junyi frowned slightly. “Sister Wu, what’s really going on?”

With a forced smile, Sister Wu explained, “The people backing Su Yaya approached me. They want you to post that clarification. They’re not the kind of people we can afford to offend. It’s best to cut ties with her as quickly as possible.”

Yan Junyi stared blankly into space, his mind drifting back to the white Cayenne Su Yaya had gotten into that day. It was an expensive car, far beyond what someone like her—a newcomer with little fame and an average family background—could afford. There was no way her company would provide her with such a luxury vehicle either. There was only one explanation, and it matched what he had suspected at the time: the car had been given to her by the person backing her.

But who was that person? Yan Junyi frowned, deep in thought.

The Yongrong Food Company had also released an official statement on their Weibo, clarifying the relationship between their CEO, Wang, and Su Yaya. Like him, it was clear they had been pressured to post a clarification by the same party.

Among the men rumored to be involved with Su Yaya, besides himself, were CEO Wang and President Shen of the ShenGroup. The first two rumors had already been cleared up. As for the scandal involving Su Yaya and President Shen, it seemed dubious at best. Even though there were photos of them together, the images were blurry, likely taken from an angle to create an ambiguous scene. Neither the internet, the media, nor anyone in the entertainment circle had taken the rumors seriously. It was widely believed to be a stunt Su Yaya pulled early in her career to grab attention.

As he considered all this, a sudden realization struck Yan Junyi. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. Given President Shen’s influence, it would be easy for him to give Su Yaya a Cayenne, or to instruct both him and Yongrong Food Company to issue clarification statements.

So, the person behind Su Yaya was really President Shen.

Yan Junyi quickly lifted his head and looked at Sister Wu. His lips moved before he finally managed to speak. “Sister Wu, is the person backing her President Shen of the Shen Group?”

When Sister Wu heard his question, a flicker of surprise crossed her face. “How did you know?”

Yan Junyi replied, “It was pretty obvious. Yet, no one from his side bothered to clarify anything.”

Of course, there was no need for clarification. Even if he didn’t address it, no one would dare challenge him!

Sister Wu patted Yan Junyi’s shoulder and said earnestly, “I’m glad you understand. She has someone powerful backing her. You’ll be shooting an ad with her in a few days, so it’s best to keep your distance.”

Yan Junyi had felt particularly excited when he met Su Yaya at the audition that day. Normally, he was cautious and kept a safe distance from others. For one, he didn’t want anyone using him to boost their fame, and for another, he worried about the media creating a scandal if he got too close to a female celebrity.

But that day, he acted completely out of character. First, he took the initiative to talk to Su Yaya. During the audition, he paired up with her, helping her land the female lead role in K Group’s couple watch advertisement. In the end, he even offered to drive her home. But when she declined, his mood plummeted.

—