Chapter 55: It’s Absolutely Absurd

Gan Wen was still feeling a bit disgruntled. He thought Director Zhao was being too partial to Mu Ruo.

Mu Ruo swayed back to the hotel, her eyes fixed on her phone.

So they’re deliberately scheming against her?

Talking behind her back?

In all these days, Mu Ruo hadn’t used any of those tactics to bully the female lead.

Looking back, Xia Wanwan truly seemed like she was born to be troublesome.

Even though Mu Ruo hadn’t provoked her, Xia Wanwan insisted on stirring trouble.

Did she really think Mu Ruo was an easy target to mess with?

If she wants to bully her… she should first offer two million like Fu Jianzhi.

Mu Ruo sent a photo to Lu Beichen.

In the photo, Xia Wanwan was seen with Gan Wen’s arm around her shoulders, their posture looking very intimate, like a couple.

The original Mu Ruo often did similar things in the past.

Mu Ruo felt that as her current persona developed, it was becoming more like the original Mu Ruo.

After doing this, Mu Ruo sent a message to the director, asking him to inform Gan Wen to come by and review tomorrow’s scenes with her.

Since Director Zhao learned that Mu Ruo was Fu Jianzhi’s wife, his opinion of her had greatly improved.

It wasn’t because of her high status or background but because this young woman, despite having such a powerful background, was working diligently in his production and didn’t get upset when scolded. It was rare and showed she was genuinely passionate about acting.

Director Zhao valued passion and love for the profession, which he found rare.

Of course, Director Zhao didn’t know that Mu Ruo’s real intention was to earn more and escape her current situation.

Gan Wen was dissatisfied and arrived at Mu Ruo’s room, just as he was about to knock on the door, he received a text from Mu Ruo: “I’m out for dinner, don’t want to rehearse tonight.”

Gan Wen had never encountered such an impolite newcomer; he was furious.

At that moment, he heard arguing from the next room.

“What do you mean with Gan Wen? Are you interested in him? Or does he have a thing for you? Otherwise, why are you two so close?”

Gan Wen heard his name and stopped in his tracks, confused as to why this stranger was mentioning him.

Xia Wanwan sobbed, covering her eyes: “We were just filming. My acting is poor, and I wanted his help. Beichen, what are you thinking?”

Lu Beichen was seething: “This isn’t the time for filming. He had his hand on your shoulder, didn’t you push him away?”

Gan Wen hadn’t even noticed if he had put his arm on Xia Wanwan’s shoulder today.

Due to Xia Wanwan’s warm and kind demeanor, he had a high regard for her, seeing her as a naïve young girl without ulterior motives.

Now, thinking back, perhaps he had indeed put his arm around her out of his protective instincts when she sought his advice on acting.

It wasn’t good if it led to misunderstandings with her boyfriend.

Gan Wen was about to knock on the door to explain.

“He’s the movie king, a senior in the industry. What could I do when he put his hand on me?”

The term “sticky hands” made Gan Wen’s face stiffen instantly.

In all these years, he had been called “husband,” “idol,” “brother,” but this was the first time he had been referred to as “sticky hands.”

Xia Wanwan continued to sob pitifully: “Clearly, Mu Ruo’s acting is also poor, and no one criticizes her. The director doesn’t like me, other colleagues isolate me, and the movie king is harassing me. They all favor Mu Ruo and bully me with her. What can I do?”

Xia Wanwan’s words made Gan Wen’s face turn very stiff.

It was true that Gan Wen disliked Mu Ruo.

But poor acting? Mu Ruo’s acting was beyond that of a newcomer; she could handle roles that even he, as a seasoned actor, would play. Among actors of the same age group, there was almost no one who could compare.

As for everyone teaming up to bully Xia Wanwan or isolate her…

That was sheer nonsense.

From Gan Wen’s perspective, it seemed like Mu Ruo was the one being isolated.

There had always been talk in the crew that Mu Ruo was a capital side investment, and some even said she liked to steal other people’s boyfriends.

Although there was no evidence for these claims, people loved such baseless gossip and believed it.

Lu Beichen, hearing Xia Wanwan’s words, felt a bit distressed: “Wanwan, why didn’t you tell me earlier? If you had, I’d have helped you. Next time I see that sticky-handed movie king, I’ll beat him up for you.”

Xia Wanwan, crying pitifully, looked extremely forlorn: “No need, I’ll endure it. The more you help me, the worse they bully me.”

Hearing this, Gan Wen’s face looked as if he had eaten a thousand flies.

What more could Gan Wen not understand at this point?

He had been used as a learning tool by a newcomer and was even labeled as a “sticky hand.”

Gan Wen glanced at the message Mu Ruo had sent him the previous day.

“Sorry, Mr. Gan. Xia Wanwan told you to review tomorrow’s scenes tonight, so I asked if you would be available. I’m sorry for the misunderstanding.”

Now, looking back, Mu Ruo’s apology seemed very formal.

But Gan Wen, blinded by prejudice last night, thought Mu Ruo was shifting the blame after an unsuccessful flirtation, and his dislike for her had intensified.

He even carried his emotions into today’s filming.

The more he thought about it, the more he regretted it.

After Xia Wanwan and Lu Beichen had clarified things, the couple resumed their affectionate behavior.

Fuming, Gan Wen kicked the door hard and walked away.

Downstairs, Gan Wen ran into Mu Ruo.

Mu Ruo was holding a bag of desserts and playing with her phone as she walked.

Gan Wen couldn’t bring himself to apologize.

Mu Ruo looked up and said, “Oh, Mr. Gan.”

Gan Wen’s face reddened, and he turned and left.

The next day, Mu Ruo did not go to the set; she took a day off.

Fu Jianzhi’s grandfather was ill, and Mu Ruo had to accompany Fu Jianzhi to visit him.

The Fu family preferred elegant and proper attire, so Mu Ruo wore a wisteria-colored silk qipao. Her black hair was all pinned up with a blackwood hairpin. Although she wore no jewelry, she exuded natural elegance.

Butler Li, seeing Mu Ruo in this outfit, couldn’t help but praise her: “Madam, you are becoming more and more beautiful.”

Butler Li had been indifferent to Mu Ruo before.

Now that he was more familiar with her, he found everything about her very agreeable.

… Well, except for her strained relationship with Mr. Fu, making their marriage seem more like a formality.

Fu Jianzhi was a bit cold throughout the journey. Mu Ruo guessed it was because of his grandfather’s illness, so she didn’t disturb him.

The driver took Fu Jianzhi and Mu Ruo to the hospital.

The hospital was very serene, much more beautiful than some parks, and the road was mostly devoid of pedestrians. It was the Fu family’s private hospital.