Married in a Daze - Chapter 144
Chapter 144
A night passed, and no clarifying post appeared online. Jian Mu, who usually had no black marks against him, also maintained a silent stance this time, letting the situation ferment, showing signs of getting out of hand.
Netizens who hadn't taken sides before were now also at a loss.
Logically, Jian Mu, who rarely had scandals, should have handled this matter proactively. Yet, from yesterday morning when this erupted until now, there hadn't been a single peep, completely contrary to his usual persona.
Therefore, netizens began to speculate that the authenticity of this leak might be quite high. Besides the haters and trolls having a field day on Weibo, countless netizens also held skeptical attitudes.
By the time Qin Zhenzhen received Qin Ye's call, it was already the afternoon of the next day. Lu Ruyun had gone out to meet with Meng Xin, and she was curled up at home alone watching TV. From yesterday until now, she had already taken several calls like this.
Song He, Sun Qin, Hu Jing, and actors she had worked with before were all very concerned about her current situation.
But Qin Zhenzhen couldn't say anything. Before the entire incident became clear, she dared not leak even a hint of information.
The fermentation of public opinion takes time.
And the two days and one night of complete silence from her and Jian Mu allowed the cheating scandal to fully erupt. The online discussion entered a white-hot stage, like a raging fire rapidly spreading, which also burned its way to the Qin family.
Of course, Qin Ye didn't believe his daughter was that kind of person, but he couldn't figure out what was really going on, hence his call to Qin Zhenzhen.
Qin Zhenzhen sat on the sofa and whispered, "It's really nothing, Dad. Don't worry about me."
Qin Ye sat on his sofa for a moment, his voice grave. "Zhenzhen, Dad knows your industry is complicated. Usually, your mom and I turn a blind eye to those things, pretending not to see. But this time is different. You're not alone now. How miserable must Ruyun feel with you acting like this?"
"Even if it's fake, with everyone online spreading rumors now, how would she feel seeing it?"
Qin Zhenzhen listened to Qin Ye's scolding unusually quietly, not refuting. She thought for a long moment before saying, "Dad, I know."
Qin Ye's voice lowered a notch. "Then tell me, what exactly is your relationship with Jian Mu? Do you know people have been sending messages to your mom these past two days? Your mom was so angry she smashed her phone."
Qin Zhenzhen fell silent for a moment. No wonder it was Qin Ye calling her today; she had wondered why her mom hadn't called. Turned out her phone was smashed.
She pressed her lips together. "Dad, Jian Mu and I are just ordinary friends. Please try to persuade Mom not to be angry."
Qin Ye's tone was somewhat sharp. "How am I supposed to persuade her?"
Even he felt like smashing his phone, let alone persuading. Qin Zhenzhen detected the anger in his voice and soothed, "Okay, Dad, it really won't be an issue. Trust me."
"At most three days."
"In three days, I can handle it. You and Mom, don't go out these two days, and don't answer any calls."
"Okay, Dad? Please?"
Qin Ye, originally full of anger, quieted down upon hearing Qin Zhenzhen's cajoling. He asked, still worried, "Really no problem?"
Qin Zhenzhen was almost ready to swear. "Really."
Hearing her assurance, Qin Ye sighed. "Zhenzhen, your mom and I are getting old. We don't seek great wealth or status, only for you and Ruyun to have a stable life together."
"We will, Dad." Once she crossed this hurdle, things would be fine.
Qin Ye didn't know what else to say upon hearing this. Qin Zhenzhen instructed him again to pay attention to Yin Lanfang's health, not to let her touch her phone, not to let her watch the news, and not to let her get angry.
"I know. You and Ruyun too, communicate well and solve problems together."
Qin Zhenzhen agreed. "Okay."
After hanging up, Qin Zhenzhen sent a message to Lu Ruyun.
—Ruyun, where are you?
Lu Ruyun had just finished talking with Meng Xin. Her phone rang during Meng Xin's bathroom break; it was a message from Qin Zhenzhen.
Seeing the familiar profile picture, she instinctively curved her lips and replied: At a cafe. Still a while longer. Bored?
Qin Zhenzhen replied quickly: No, not bored.
Lu Ruyun could almost see her face saying one thing but meaning another through the screen. Before she could send another message, she saw the next sentence Qin Zhenzhen sent: Just... miss you a little.
When Meng Xin returned to her seat, she saw the faint smile on Lu Ruyun's usually calm face, her phone not yet put away. She walked over and asked, "Is it Zhenzhen?"
"Yes." A touch of gentleness colored Lu Ruyun's clear, light voice. Meng Xin couldn't help but glance at her a few times until Lu Ruyun resumed her usual expression, then she averted her gaze.
Lu Ruyun tapped her thumb on the screen, sent a sticker in reply to Qin Zhenzhen, then put her phone away and looked up at Meng Xin. "Has Jingrui contacted you?"
Meng Xin shook her head, taking a sip of coffee. "Not yet."
Lu Ruyun nodded and looked out the window.
They were sitting by the window in the cafe. They could see outside, but outsiders couldn't see in. Lu Ruyun's sharp eyes spotted several paparazzi with cameras hanging around their necks lurking downstairs.
From last night until today, the paparazzi at the apartment entrance hadn't diminished. She believed there were even more at Jian Mu's side. When she came out, she deliberately used the back door, so these paparazzi hadn't noticed. They were still waiting for Zhenzhen to come down.
Meng Xin followed her gaze, thoughtful. "Will this plan work?"
"What if Jingrui doesn't contact me..."
After all, Jingrui had always taken a laissez-faire approach with Zhenzhen before, rarely proactively contacting her over scandals. So Meng Xin was somewhat uncertain.
Lu Ruyun withdrew her gaze from the window and looked up at Meng Xin, her red lips parting. "They will."
After saying this, she smiled slightly. "Sister Meng, thank you for everything regarding Zhenzhen's matter this time."
Meng Xin waved her hand. "What's there to thank? The internet is a mess right now, and I can't even help with anything."
The company didn't need her intervention. Lu Ruyun was handling matters with Jian Mu. Her current tasks were just maintaining contact with Lanyi and SP. All major decisions had been arranged by Lu Ruyun.
So she really hadn't been of much help.
But Lu Ruyun shook her head. "Sister Meng standing by Zhenzhen's side is the greatest help to us."
If Meng Xin had sided with the company, things would have been far less smooth. Meng Xin smiled upon hearing this. "Zhenzhen is my artist, of course I stand by her."
Not only was she her artist, but she had also raised her herself. From when Zhenzhen first entered the entertainment industry, naive and clueless, to now being savvy and polished in all aspects, saying she wasn't proud would be a lie.
Zhenzhen's achievements made her happier than anyone. This was someone she had personally cultivated, from a tiny seedling growing into today's towering tree.
But now, someone wanted to uproot this tree to make money.
How could she possibly stand by and watch?
Although she knew she was still technically a Jingrui employee and doing this was undoubtedly a betrayal, if the company showed no benevolence, she could only respond in kind.
Lu Ruyun looked at Meng Xin's profile, her lips moving slightly as if she had something to say. Before she could speak, a rapid phone ringtone sounded. Meng Xin quickly picked up her phone. Seeing Director Shen's name on the screen, her pretty face froze momentarily. She looked up at Lu Ruyun, they exchanged a smile, and Meng Xin answered the call.
Director Shen called Meng Xin right after leaving President He's office. He still couldn't figure out how this scandal had blown up so much.
Initially, when Qin Zhenzhen had the scandal, he didn't pay much attention. Jingrui had so many artists; scandals were a dime a dozen every day. If he worried about each one, he'd be swamped to death. Besides, Qin Zhenzhen's scandals had hardly stopped since her debut. This time, even though it was with Jian Mu, he didn't take it seriously.
Even in the afternoon, he joked with others that another wave of free traffic had arrived.
And with Heavenly King Jian Mu, no less—ordinary artists didn't get this treatment.
Right when the incident broke, his assistant asked if he should contact Xun to suppress it. He refused. What kind of presence was Jian Mu? He knew perfectly well. Since this matter involved him, how could his top-tier team stand idly by? If he had no relation to Qin Zhenzhen, he would clarify quickly. If he was involved with Qin Zhenzhen, even better—he definitely wouldn't sit back and do nothing.
All he had to do was wait for this wave of heat to pass, then raise Qin Zhenzhen's market value.
He waited and waited. A night passed, and Jian Mu's clarification didn't appear as expected. In fact, there was no movement at all. He began to feel uneasy and had his assistant probe for news, only to learn that Jian Mu wasn't clarifying because he was currently holed up writing songs. During his songwriting periods, his work team was not allowed to issue any statements without authorization.
Thus, the online incident grew bigger and bigger. Jian Mu remained silent. Even Meng Xin hadn't made a sound.
He had just been severely criticized in President He's office. Freshly emerged, he wanted to vent his anger on someone.
Meng Xin could still feel his fury through the phone. Compared to his firecracker-like voice, Meng Xin appeared much calmer. She glanced at Lu Ruyun and lowered her voice slightly. "Director Shen, I can't reach Zhenzhen right now."
Shen Hao thundered, "I don't care! I want you to find a way to suppress this matter for me! Meng Xin, the company didn't hire you to freeload!"
Meng Xin lowered her eyes, listening to his angry voice. "Director Shen."
Shen Hao grunted. "Speak!"
Meng Xin looked straight ahead, her attitude neither subservient nor arrogant. "I'm worried that Zhenzhen refusing to appear now might actually be because there's some truth to it with Jian Mu? She's not usually like this."
Prompted by her, Shen Hao recalled when Zheng Shaoyuan had framed Qin Zhenzhen before—she actively fought for Yu Changlin's resources then, staying in the public eye without retreating an inch.
But now, with this matter blowing up so much, she dared not show her face. Could it really be because of something with Jian Mu, a guilty conscience?
And Jian Mu's silence, could it be tacit acknowledgment?
What the hell were these two playing at! Shen Hao gripped his phone, suppressing his anger. "Meng Xin, even if there is something, you have to handle it so there isn't!"
With that, he hung up with a snap. Meng Xin stared at the disconnected phone. Lu Ruyun's light voice asked, "Hung up?"
Meng Xin nodded. "Hung up."
"He's very angry."
Lu Ruyun's expression remained unchanged. She parted her lips and said, "You've worked hard, Sister Meng."
Meng Xin shook her head. "I'm not hardworking. I just think Director Shen is quite hardworking."
After all, this was just the beginning.
Lu Ruyun caught her underlying meaning and slightly curved her lips, taking a sip of coffee.
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