Chapter 69

Gu Qing arrived at the ski resort and saw Cheng Nian still secretly training. She was furious: “You promised me you would never touch a snowboard again, but you've gone back on your word, Cheng Nian!”

Cheng Nian was caught red-handed by her, also feeling a bit resentful. He muttered: “I love skiing, it's my dream. I really don't understand why you insist that I give it up.”

“You simply don't know, you don't understand, what you’ll lose for this passion in the future!”

“I don't care. Gu Qing, I just want to win the world championship and make my dream come true. Please try to understand me.”

Gu Qing stepped back two steps, shaking her head. There was shock, loss, and exasperation in her eyes: “You want me to understand you, but who will understand me? I can't bear to lose you again.”

“I’ve explained it to you many times. I'll be careful. Don't you believe in my ability?”

“It’ll be too late if an accident happens!”

“Gu Qing, why are you so sure?”

“I... I said you wouldn't believe me anyway.”

“How do you know if you don't try?”

“I just know!”

“Skiing is my lifelong passion, and I'll never regret it.”

“Skiing is your lifelong passion. Then what about me?”

“...”

The director looked at the scene of their argument through the camera and sighed: “The way Chairman Chen and Bai Yin are arguing is just like a married couple.”

The producer also nodded: “Yes, they have such strong chemistry.”

“Look at how Chairman Chen gazes at Gu Qing, his eyes and brows are full of emotion. This shows how deeply he loves her and is reluctant to part with her.”

“These two will definitely bring sweetness overload to the internet.”

Cheng Nian and Gu Qing looked deeply into each other's eyes: “You are my choice I'll never regret.”

Crystal snowflakes drifted down from the sky. They embraced and kissed passionately amidst the swirling snow.

Director Xu kept praying silently: “Please don't NG, please don't NG, one take, one take, please, please...”

At the last second before the director could call cut, Chen Huaixiao suddenly raised his hand and said: “Sorry, let's do it again. I don't feel right.”

Director Xu: “...”

Chairman Chen's acting skills were indeed explosive. His skiing and action scenes were basically done in one take, flawless.

The only shortcoming was that he could never get the kissing scenes right.

*

In the afternoon, Bai Yin went to the practice room with the script to go over the next scenes with several supporting roles.

When she was at the door, she heard the supporting roles chatting about some so-called gossip:

“Are those things online real or fake?”

“Of course they're real. There are photos and videos as solid evidence.”

“That's so disgusting.”

“Seducing people for status is one thing, but being a third party when everyone knows he's married? I feel sick.”

“I really want to vomit.” Bai Yin didn't think too much and walked into the practice room.

Seeing Bai Yin come in, the supporting roles immediately stopped talking, looking awkward.

During the run-through, Bai Yin noticed their tone was lazy and lackadaisical. Several actors were leaning against the wall, just going through the motions perfunctorily.

Bai Yin was a little dissatisfied, but didn't say much. Everyone had off days.

“Let's take a break then.” She went to the hot water dispenser and poured herself a cup of hot water.

But as soon as she turned around, the supporting roles started whispering again. As she came back with the hot water, they stopped talking immediately.

Bai Yin sensed something wrong. Their attitude and behavior were clearly targeting her.

Bai Yin was not someone to swallow insults silently. Sipping her hot water, she sat back down: “If you're unhappy with me, say it directly.”

The supporting roles exchanged glances, communicating silently.

A third female lead said sarcastically: “Who dares to disrespect you, Miss Bai?”

With someone taking the lead, they got bolder: “That's right, you're Chairman Chen's favorite.

“We wouldn't dare offend you, or we'd be kicked off set like those other actresses, or even blacklisted. We can't afford that.”

Hearing them say this, Bai Yin roughly understood what was going on.

It seemed that the matter between her and Chen Huaixiao... had been exposed.

Bai Yin left the practice room and went into the hallway. She took out her Weibo account that she hadn't checked in a long time.

As soon as she logged in, a tidal wave of @ mentions, comments and private messages surged in.

“Disgusting!”

“Bai Yin get out of the entertainment industry!”

“Climbing the ranks using such dirty means, Bai Yin you’re sickening! I’m about to vomit!”

Bai Yin exited private messages and clicked on the hot search trends. The #BaiYinChenHuaixiao# topic was ranked first, with an eye-catching “exposed” tag in red.

She was not someone with a robust psychological defense. This avalanche of verbal abuse sent her heart plummeting straight down into an abyss.

With a trembling hand, Bai Yin clicked into the top trending topic. She saw marketing accounts had posted a set of photos, which were screenshots from the hotel elevator video.

The video showed Bai Yin entering the elevator Chen Huaixiao was in. They chatted for a bit, then she hugged him from behind. Chen Huaixiao struggled for a while but didn't break free. Finally he pressed her against the elevator wall and kissed her forcefully.

This was the scene from a couple days ago... when Bai Yin had teased Chen Huaixiao.

Without sound, just the images, this footage was extremely prone to being interpreted as Bai Yin deliberately seducing Chen Huaixiao. She did in fact...

Make seductive moves and give seductive looks.

Bai Yin saw this video was only posted five hours ago.

“Being a third party, where's your shame??”

“I genuinely admired this cheap girl. Now I’m desperately holding back the urge to vomit.”

“The collapse came so suddenly.”

“Get lost, get lost, get lost.”

“A woman like this deserves to be hit by a car when she goes out.”

“What creature is this, so shamelessly making advances at a married man? How cheap can you be?”

“Why is everyone berating Bai Yin and no one scolding that scumbag Chen Huaixiao?”

“They both should be berated, but Bai Yin's seduction was just too obvious. Look at this vixen's behavior.”

“Feel so bad for Qin Yao, truly heartbreaking.”

“@Heavenly Fairy Qin Yao, hugs to you girl, we all stand by you.”

“Chen Huaixiao didn't say his wife is Qin Yao though.”

... Soon, Qin Yao reposted with no words, just a [Sigh] emoji.

This made netizens even more convinced that Bai Yin was a confirmed third party, and the verbal abuse intensified.

While Bai Yin was continuously scrolling through comments, Sun Lili also anxiously called: “How could you be so careless! If you're not announcing your relationship, don't get intimate in public places. Everyone knows Chen Huaixiao is married. Now look what’s happened, you’ve become a third party! I have several endorsements asking to terminate contracts and demand compensation! We need to clarify this immediately.”

“Calm down first.” Hearing Sun Lili’s voice choked with tears, Bai Yin said: “Take a deep breath.”

“How can I calm down! Look at how they're insulting you!”

It was also Bai Yin's first time being surrounded by such overwhelming cyberbullying. She almost felt swallowed up, unable to keep her voice from trembling: “The elevator isn't a public space. Someone deliberately leaked the video to sabotage me.”

“No matter who it is, this has too huge an impact on you. It'll directly ruin your future prospects. We must clarify it right away.”

“Wait.”

“What are you still waiting for?”

“Let it brew a while longer.” Bai Yin quickly calmed herself and said in a low voice: “To get more attention.”

“Bai Yin, don't tell me you want to use this for some mega reversal?” Sun Lili cried. “The curses are so vicious!”

“The damage has already been done anyway, scolded as I've been scolded. If I gain nothing from this, it’ll just be needless insults.”

Sun Lili knew Bai Yin's temperament - any tool she could use, even a straw, she wouldn't discard lightly.

Sometimes, she really admired this woman's resilient mentality.

Such a barrage of verbal abuse online would cause a mental breakdown in most people. She could actually still keep her cool.

Fortunately, she was in the closed environment of the hotel for now, her safety at least assured, no need to worry about being pelted by rotten eggs from rabid fans.

Bai Yin stood at the window, blowing cold air for a good while, finally calming down. She returned to the practice room.

“Sorry to have kept everyone waiting, let’s continue with the rehearsal.”

Everyone around saw that her expression remained unchanged, still calm and composed, and felt even more that she was shameless.

The newly emerging supporting actress Qiao Xi directly gave up and threw away the script: "With such a scandal breaking out, what else is there to film? It will only get scolded if released."

Everyone whispered in agreement: "Right."

Bai Yin glanced at them and said indifferently: "You are an actor, an actor's responsibility is to act well. If my personal affairs have affected your emotions, I hope you can adjust yourself and not affect the work."

Qiao Xi laughed in frustration: "Bai Yin, can you have some shame? I used to think you were arrogant because you had ability, but now I see you just rely on Chen Huaixiao to have such confidence. I really find it hard to work with you."

Just then, the half-closed door of the practice room was kicked open, and Chen Huaixiao strode in with a gloomy expression—

"You find it hard to work with her, then don't work with her. Leave the crew now, I believe many people are willing to take your place."

As soon as Chen Huaixiao came in, the atmosphere instantly froze to subzero temperatures. Qiao Xi, who had been arrogant just now, felt her legs go soft when she heard him say this.

She instinctively looked around at the supporting actors, hoping they would stand up for her like when they had just ganged up on Bai Yin.

However, the crowd fell into a deathly silence, and no one stood up to speak for her.

Qiao Xi had just graduated from the acting department of the media university. This was the first drama she had taken part in, and she got the role of the second female lead right off the bat, which was a very good start.

But because she was young and impatient, and liked to go along with the crowd and claim to be "righteous".

She was the first to step up self-righteously, but when she herself was put on the grill, no one was willing to stand up for "righteousness" for her.

Who would dare?

Chen Huaixiao had made it clear he was going to protect Bai Yin. He had already cleared away so many obstacles for her, so what was one or two more of them to him?

A girl stood up with a smile to Bai Yin, "Sis Yin, we were wrong just now. We will adjust our emotions properly and not affect the shooting. We will definitely cooperate with you to finish filming the drama."

Qiao Xi looked at her in disbelief, suddenly realizing that with her gone, the position of second female lead would fall into their hands.

These so-called "good sisters" of the past...were probably hoping for her to leave!

Qiao Xi knew Chen Huaixiao was not one to bluff. She gritted her teeth, her eyes already red around the rims.

"Hold on, don't cry no matter what." Bai Yin looked at her and smiled, "You have to follow through on what you said."