Chapter 131

Xiyan, actually, I really envy you.

Envious of what? Her current status? Her place in the entertainment industry? Or the person she married?

Kong Xiyan instinctively felt that Chai Yin's words had something to do with Chi Wanzhao. But she never got a chance to ask on set. The question lingered.

The commercial shoot went smoothly, mostly one-take wonders. What was scheduled for three days was unexpectedly wrapped in a single day. In the evening, Director Yu wanted to treat everyone to dinner to celebrate the rare smoothness of the shoot.

Both Kong Xiyan and Chai Yin declined without prior consultation. Chai Yin said she had company matters, and Kong Xiyan had a slight headache. Seeing this, Director Yu didn't press and let them leave early.

Outside the studio, many crew members were packing up. Kong Xiyan and Chai Yin stood side by side, each with an assistant in tow. Kong Xiyan turned and said, "Miss Chai..."

"Call me Yinyin."

"That's what friends call me."

Kong Xiyan pursed her lips. She wanted to ask if Chi Wanzhao, as her friend, also used that name. But that childish question she couldn't bring herself to ask.

In front of Chi Wanzhao, she had spoken so sweetly, saying she didn't mind—but forget it. Now she was bothered over a mere form of address. Kong Xiyan rolled her eyes at herself. Enough! Always spouting this jealous vinegar.

Chai Yin turned her head, smiled, and said, "Xiyan, what's wrong?"

Kong Xiyan composed her expression and smiled warmly. "Nothing."

Soon Chai Yin's car arrived. Before getting in, she said, "Xiyan, see you the day after tomorrow."

Kong Xiyan looked at her. "See you the day after tomorrow."

She watched Chai Yin's car leave the set, then tilted her head and asked Fu Qiu behind her, "What do you make of Miss Chai?"

Fu Qiu followed her gaze. "Professionally, Miss Chai is indeed good, but personally, I don't like her." After all, she had been entangled in rumors with President Chi. How could she like her? However, the fact that she hadn't poured fuel on the fire when Wei Haoran confronted her yesterday made it hard for her to dislike her outright.

Kong Xiyan nodded at Fu Qiu's words. Not long after, Tong Yue came out of the studio, and the car arrived. The three got in together.

Once in the car, Tong Yue said to Kong Xiyan, "Xiyan, the news has been released."

Kong Xiyan: "Mm."

Tong Yue glanced at her expression. "Your Weibo..."

Kong Xiyan looked out the window. "Better let Sister Tong manage it for now."

"When the time is ripe, I'll hand it over to Fu Qiu."

Fu Qiu was stunned, then thrilled. Did she hear that right? Sister Kong wanted her to manage the Weibo?! She felt a bit giddy. Fu Qiu swallowed and said, "Sister Kong, I..."

Kong Xiyan interrupted her. "Alright, save the loyal pledges. Focus more on learning from Sister Tong."

Fu Qiu nodded enthusiastically, looking at Tong Yue with hopeful eyes. Tong Yue, feeling her stare, suddenly sensed a headache coming on.

The van quickly arrived at the apartment. It wasn't too late, but after Kong Xiyan got out, Fu Qiu watched her back and muttered, "Sister Kong is really something."

Tong Yue, also gazing at Kong Xiyan's slender back, nodded. "Indeed. Otherwise, someone like you would have been thrown out of the industry long ago."

Fu Qiu smiled sheepishly. Seeing Tong Yue still serious-faced, she tried to look solemn and asked, "Sister Tong, what should I do next?"

Tong Yue glanced at her, thought for a moment, and took a notebook from her bag.

Fu Qiu took the blank notebook, frowning, while Tong Yue said nonchalantly, "Write this down."

"From now on, don't accept any HG advertisements."

Fu Qiu: "Huh???"

She stared at the blank paper in silence. Tong Yue didn't explain. She believed that once Fu Qiu grew up, she would understand the meaning of that sentence.

Time passed lightly, the sky darkening at the horizon.

After returning to the apartment, Chi Wanzhao hadn't come home from work yet. Kong Xiyan first put the soup on to simmer, then went upstairs to shower. Yanyan followed her every step, all the way to the bathroom door. After running the water, she reached out and scooped the cat in.

Perhaps she was used to it. Yanyan loved baths. She stood by the tub, letting Kong Xiyan lather her with shampoo, then lowered her head to sniff, meowing loudly. Kong Xiyan teased her by dabbing a bit on her nose, and Yanyan immediately rubbed it off with her paws.

When Chi Wanzhao returned to the apartment, she heard laughter from the second floor. She set down her bag and went upstairs. The door wasn't locked, but the bathroom door was. Chi Wanzhao stood outside and called, "Xiyan."

Kong Xiyan released Yanyan and called out to the door, "I'm taking a shower!"

Chi Wanzhao stopped knocking. She took off her trench coat and laid it on the bed, then lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling and the crystal chandelier. The bright light made her narrow her eyes.

Not long after, Kong Xiyan came out. Wrapped in a towel and carrying a drenched Yanyan, she saw Chi Wanzhao lying on the bed and pursed her lips. "Even President Chi gets tired."

Chi Wanzhao opened her eyes at this and looked at her. Kong Xiyan had just stepped out of the bath, her skin flushed pink, with red marks on her neck from vigorous drying. Her wet black hair hung down her back, her eyes shimmering with moisture.

Chi Wanzhao sat up on the bed, placed her fingers before her eyes to admire them, then tilted her head and said, "Seeing my wife, I'm not tired anymore."

Kong Xiyan caught sight of her pose and blushed. She gave her a flirtatious glare, then sat at the vanity.

She dried Yanyan's white fur with a hairdryer, her expression serious, fingers combing through the fur, her features gentle. Chi Wanzhao watched this scene and suddenly said, "Xiyan."

Kong Xiyan answered with a noncommittal "Mm."

Chi Wanzhao lowered her eyes. "Let's..."

"Let's have a child."

Kong Xiyan's movements paused, and the hairdryer aimed at a spot on Yanyan, causing her to meow in pain and leap out of her arms. Kong Xiyan quickly recovered, picked up Yanyan, and comforted her softly.

Chi Wanzhao's gaze was fixed on her.

Kong Xiyan held Yanyan and comforted her for a while before lifting her eyes. "Xiao Wan, I'm not planning on it for now."

Chi Wanzhao curved her lips. "I was just saying."

"Dry your hair and come down to eat."

Kong Xiyan nodded and watched her leave.

The room was quiet. Yanyan, knowing better, lay quietly in her arms, not even purring. Kong Xiyan picked up the hairdryer again, Chi Wanzhao's words circling in her mind.

Xiyan, let's have a child. Let's have a child.

She placed one hand on her belly. Then closed her eyes and shook her head. Not now. She wasn't ready yet.

When Kong Xiyan came downstairs, Chi Wanzhao was just cooking, not yet done. She sat on the sofa with Yanyan, watching the news for a while, then thought of Tong Yue's matter and pulled out her phone to check Weibo.

To her surprise, Wei Haoran's name was all over the trending topics.

#WeiHaoranInDrag#

#WeiHaoranTerminatesContractWithHG#

#WeiHaoran'sRumorGirlfriend#

Three trending topics in a row. Kong Xiyan knew these were all Tong Yue's doing, to catch her off guard. Wei Haoran probably never dreamed she'd hit the trending topics this way.

In fact, Kong Xiyan knew well that if they didn't release the news first, when the ad aired, Wei Haoran would bite back, saying she was throwing her weight around, using her status as the president's wife to replace the director. They struck first to catch her unprepared. As for how Wei Haoran and Wei Tiancheng would react, she had already anticipated.

At this thought, she called toward the kitchen, "Xiao Wan."

Chi Wanzhao's busy hands paused briefly. Hearing Kong Xiyan's call, her eyes held a hint of expectation. She quickly turned off the fire, walked over, sat beside Kong Xiyan, and said, "What's wrong?"

Kong Xiyan showed her phone to Chi Wanzhao. The three hot topics were all about Wei Haoran. Chi Wanzhao's eyes dimmed slightly, then she understood. "Tong Yue did this?"

Kong Xiyan nodded. "Yes. I'm worried Wei Haoran will cause trouble when the ad airs."

"That's very much in line with the entertainment industry's ways."

Kong Xiyan looked at her. "Xiao Wan, do you have a different opinion?"

Chi Wanzhao looked at her thoughtfully. "Yes. In this matter, you were too hasty."

Kong Xiyan frowned.

Chi Wanzhao sat beside her, set down the phone, and put an arm around Kong Xiyan's shoulder. "Taking the initiative is good, but the timing is wrong. Xinhui is still a pillar of the industry right now. Such trending topics can only show the tip of the iceberg."

"The news will be suppressed soon."

"Wei Haoran has so many scandals; it's just one more piece of gossip. It won't blow up."

Kong Xiyan shook her head. "Xiao Wan, I don't understand."

Chi Wanzhao kneaded her shoulder. "Some things, we're not afraid of her exposing; we're afraid she won't."

"Think about it: if this were exposed by Guan Xiaoying, what reason would she use?"

Kong Xiyan thought seriously. "Saying I'm throwing my weight around, refusing to cooperate, forcing a change of director."

Chi Wanzhao: "Right. She'd first stoke the heat, then use the opportunity to release Wei Haoran's drag photos, saying you used your status to force the director to wear women's clothing, humiliating him publicly. They'd also play the sympathy card, buy some bots to muddy the waters, and keep the topic boiling."

Kong Xiyan hesitated. "But now I've caught her off guard, haven't I?"

Chi Wanzhao chuckled. "Xiyan, do you remember the press conference?"

"In this circle, remember: using someone else's hand to slap someone else's face is the most painful and the most effective."

Kong Xiyan suddenly understood. People love watching twists in dramas, let alone in reality. If they bluntly blew up Wei Haoran's matter, it wouldn't have much effect. If they let Guan Xiaoying do it, it would surely be the focus of public attention. Then a twist would not only clarify the truth but also build a persona to attract fans. This trick, she had learned.

Kong Xiyan turned to Chi Wanzhao. "Xiao Wan, it's really good to have you."

Chi Wanzhao stroked her head, kissed her on top of it, her taut face now full of tenderness, curving into a smile. "Is my wife praising me?"

Kong Xiyan: "Of course..."

Then, remembering what Chi Wanzhao had said, she cupped Chi Wanzhao's face and kissed her firmly. "I've brought a reward."

Chi Wanzhao's lips were left red and glossy from the kiss. She licked her lips and pressed them against Kong Xiyan's. "Your reward is too small. I'll take it myself."

Kong Xiyan was stunned. "Dinner..."

Chi Wanzhao: "I'll eat you first."

Kong Xiyan: ...