Xu Gui's assistant cleaned up the stall under the overpass. She, Fu Xia, and the photographer had dinner at the orphanage, then sat down to play with the children for a while before preparing to go back.
"Director, I'll have to trouble you to take care of Wang Xingxing from now on..."
Xu Gui glanced at Wang Xingxing, who was surrounded by other children, and whispered to the director, "He's sick, so you might need to put in a lot of effort these next few days."
She had already called Wang Xingxing's grandmother, who was so worried about him that she wanted to come immediately. Xu Gui persuaded her not to rush and asked her to call her nephews and nieces.
The final communication was between Xu Gui and her grandmother's nephew. She asked him to accompany her grandmother to City A, as the old lady was getting on in years and there was a risk of something happening to her if she came to City A alone.
In short, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Wang Xingxing would only stay at the orphanage for two or three days at most, and during that time, she would have to trouble the director and the others in the orphanage to look after him.
The director glanced at Wang Lingxing and said, "I think this child has a very gentle personality and a good temper. However, we don't know much about his illness. What should we do if he has an attack?" This
was the director's only worry. After all, there were quite a few children in their orphanage. If Wang Lingxing had an attack, it wouldn't be a big deal, but he was afraid that the other children in the orphanage would get hurt.
Xu Gui comforted him, "Don't worry, his second personality isn't extreme. Even if it appears, nothing will happen. The only thing is that his second personality is female, and his behavior is like a woman's. Don't be too surprised or afraid when you see her. Just treat her normally."
Hearing this, the director felt relieved and nodded, "Then there's no problem. Don't worry, we will take good care of him."
To be honest, their orphanage was just a little poor in terms of conditions, but over the years, the people in the orphanage had always taken good care of the children and had never neglected or treated them coldly.
Moreover, despite the poor conditions, thanks to the money Xu Gui gave them, many of the things the orphanage was lacking were replaced, and the children's meals have improved significantly; recently, the children's complexions have even looked better.
It was only because Xu Gui knew the orphanage's situation that she dared to place the "abducted" children there, knowing they would receive excellent care.
Then again, Wang Xingxing was already seventeen; he didn't really need much care from the adults anymore.
After their conversation, Xu Gui prepared to leave.
Wang Lingxing looked at her; she was 1.8 meters tall, very thin because she didn't like to eat, standing there like a skinny stick.
"Are you leaving?" he asked.
Xu Gui nodded, saying, "Everyone at the orphanage is very nice. If you need anything, just ask them; don't be shy."
Wang Lingxing nodded, head down, his feet unconsciously drawing circles on the ground.
Xu Gui suddenly reached out and patted his head, smiling, "Get along well with everyone!"
Wang Lingxing looked at her, suddenly reaching out to hug her, saying, "Sister, thank you."
He also started calling her "sister," just like Zhao Di and the others.
Xu Gui was startled when he hugged her, then gently patted his back—she felt incredibly grown-up!
"Remember to keep that gold pig safe," she whispered. "If I'm not mistaken, it's made of real gold, right?"
Wang Lingxing smiled—this was the only genuine smile he'd given all day.
"You really can't hide anything from your sister, sister. Aren't I clever?" he said.
Xu Gui nodded: "You are indeed quite clever." Knowing she should take valuables with her when leaving home, that gold pig looked heavy and very valuable.
"Alright, I'm leaving!" Xu Gui gestured for him to let go.
Wang Lingxing silently released her, watching her get into the car.
This time, Xu Gui and the others didn't take a taxi home, but hitched a ride with Fu Xia's car. She had called her family's driver to pick her up, so Xu Gui and the paparazzi were essentially hitching a ride in a luxury car.
As their car drove away, Wang Lingxing couldn't help but take a few steps forward, staring at them until their car disappeared into the sea of cars, still standing there in a daze.
"Go back!" the dean called to him.
Wang Lingxing: "...Okay."
He glanced deeply in the direction Xu Gui and the others had left before reluctantly turning back.
*
Inside the car, Xu Gui, who was riding in a luxury car for the first time, was also quite curious and touched the car, influenced by the paparazzi.
—Although he didn't understand what was so good about this car, he figured that it must be good because it was expensive.
However, it was quite comfortable to sit in, and the space was also very large.
"How much did this car cost?" the paparazzi asked Fu Xia excitedly.
Fu Xia said nonchalantly, "I don't know, maybe ten or twenty million, anyway, my dad bought it."
The paparazzi's eyes revealed a look of envy and jealousy: I'll compete with you rich people!
Fu Xia opened the storage box next to her and took out three drinks. These three drinks were still ice-cold, emitting steam.
Only then did Xu Gui and the others realize that the "storage box" was actually a small refrigerator.
Fu Xia said, "This is a drink made by my chef, all-natural and additive-free, it's so delicious!"
So she wanted to share it with Xu Gui and the others, after all, good things are meant to be shared with good friends. There were also snacks in the car, which she also brought out for them. The three of them drank their drinks, ate snacks, and played on their phones.
"Huh!"
Suddenly, Fu Xia, who was looking down at her phone, exclaimed in surprise, having seen some news.
She looked up, glanced at Xu Gui, and said, "Qiu Nai and Tang Xu are trending again."
Xu Gui, noticing her gaze: Those two are trending, why are you looking at me?
Thinking this, she suddenly felt her eyelid twitch uncontrollably.
Xu Gui touched her twitching eyelid, a bad feeling creeping in: Oh no, I feel like I'm about to have some bad luck.
Meanwhile, the paparazzi, having heard Fu Xia's words, had already taken out his phone to check, and after seeing the trending topic, his gaze silently fell on Xu Gui.
Silence spoke volumes.
Now Xu Gui was certain that this trending topic was definitely related to her. She didn't say anything, just picked up her phone and went straight to Weibo.
Upon entering Weibo's trending topics, she saw several topics at the top:
[Xu Gui photographed again harassing Qiu Nai late at night]
[Qiu Nai says he and Xu Gui have no relationship beyond colleagues, and he has no special feelings for Xu Gui!]
[Tang Xu says she absolutely believes Qiu Nai and their relationship]
…
Looking at these three topics trending, with the top one even having the word "Explosive" after it, Xu Gui's lips twitched slightly.
Seeing this, the paparazzi swallowed hard, carefully shifting to the side, his large body curled up like a pitiful bundle—Teacher Xu looked so scary.
Xu Gui, expressionless, clicked on one of the trending topics. A glance revealed that almost all the comments were insults directed at her, quite harsh ones, especially from the fans of the Tang Xu and Qiu Nai couple, who were particularly agitated and their attitudes were extremely vehement.
Aside from that, there were comments from netizens expressing their admiration for the deep and unwavering love between Qiu Nai and Tang Xu.
Interspersed among these comments were rebuttals from Xu Gui's fans, but their voices were too few and too weak to cause any real impact; they were completely suppressed, making her look rather pathetic.
Xu Gui sneered when he saw one of his fans being attacked by Tang Xu and Qiu Nai's CP fans for speaking up for him.
Fu Xia shifted her body and moved to the side, whispering, "These trending topics came on strong, without any warning, they just suddenly appeared out of nowhere. There are also signs of paid commenters, it's very likely that Qiu Nai and Tang Xu deliberately bought them."
She looked at Xu Gui and said, "I have an older sister in the industry, if she's willing to speak up, these trending topics can definitely be taken down quickly."
The implication was that she could help Xu Gui if he needed it.
"But why did they buy these trending topics? What benefit do they get from them?" the paparazzi wondered. "Haven't they always been promoting their good relationship? Aren't they afraid of upsetting the CP fans if they release news like this?" He was confused: "
Is it just because they don't like Teacher Xu? But isn't this going too far?"
Although the paparazzi had been in the industry for several years, he wasn't very perceptive about these kinds of things, after all, he was just a behind-the-scenes staff member responsible for filming.
"Heh, who said it's not good for them?" Fu Xia glanced at him and explained, "They're just manipulating their fanbase to purify their image, which is also a way to generate buzz. You know, no matter what the topic, once it loses its buzz, it loses its value."
Fu Xia saw things very clearly.
Tang Xu and Qiu Nai don't actually have any particularly outstanding works. Their current popularity is entirely due to the hype surrounding their on-screen couple.
The two played supporting roles in a wildly popular fantasy drama. Because they were a good-looking and compatible couple, and their on-screen chemistry was so appealing, they were jokingly called the "golden couple" by netizens, and they were the most popular on-screen couple that year.
After that, they naturally announced that they were "boyfriend and girlfriend," and started marketing themselves as a couple. They attracted a large number of on-screen couple fans by leveraging the drama's popularity, which led to a significant overlap in their fan base, with most of them being on-screen couple fans.
Their current problem is that the drama that made their on-screen couple a hit was three years ago. In those three years, although they've filmed many dramas, none of them have been hits, and many have even flopped. This means that even after three years, they can only rely on promoting their on-screen couple status to maintain their popularity.
However, in those three years, they've lost a significant number of their on-screen fans.
Seeing new faces constantly emerging in the industry, and the prospect of them becoming the forgotten relics, they naturally need to find a solution.
"...I heard that they're going to collaborate on a new drama soon," Fu Xia, well-informed, even knew about this: "Although it hasn't been officially announced, both sides have an understanding and are already preparing for it."
"I think what they're doing now is very likely for this collaboration."
After three years, this once-popular on-screen couple is collaborating again, which will inevitably attract a lot of attention from netizens. They're currently building hype for their on-screen couple and their upcoming drama.
The paparazzi still didn't quite understand: "...Then what does this have to do with Teacher Xu?"
Fu Xia's eyes clearly said those two words: "Useless! "
"This is all about generating buzz! What could be more eye-catching than 'a mistress interfering in a relationship, yet their love remains unwavering'?"
Those in their line of work aren't afraid of topics, they're afraid of having none.
Xu Gui's "interference" only highlights the depth of their relationship, while also generating a lot of buzz. After all, Chinese people despise mistresses the most, yet are particularly enthusiastic about such stories of mistresses interfering in relationships. This way, the buzz is there.
As for the CP fans, seeing someone interfere in their favorite CP's relationship naturally ignites their passion and raises their blood pressure—the goal of tormenting the fans has been achieved.
The paparazzi, after hearing this, understood, but couldn't help but sigh, "...Why are people so cunning?" No wonder his uncle said he couldn't outmaneuver the people in this industry.
Fu Xia chuckled lightly and said, "Wherever there are people, there are schemes and backstabbing; it's just that the entertainment industry is more blatant."
This place truly embodies the saying, "Everyone's bustling about for profit," everyone is doing this for resources and benefits.
"What about Teacher Xu?" The cameraman suddenly thought of Xu Gui and secretly glanced at her. "What will Teacher Xu gain from this?"
Fu Xia: "Uh... gain, insults from a mistress?"
Her voice also lowered, and she glanced at Xu Gui cautiously.
Xu Gui sneered.
"..."
Fu Xia and the other woman suddenly dared not look into Xu Gui's eyes.
However, although Xu Gui sneered, she was actually in a good mood at the moment, not as bad as Fu Xia and the other woman had imagined.
She was just thinking: she had been wondering why, even though she had shared her luck, apart from getting bird droppings on her head, she hadn't had much bad luck afterward.
Now it seemed that it wasn't that she wasn't unlucky, but that the bad luck had stayed here—she had been humiliated by a mistress, how could that not be bad luck?
She suddenly looked at the cameraman and asked, "Is your equipment still working?"
The cameraman immediately sat up straight when she looked at him, even the bones in his back seemed to straighten.
"Of course it works!" he answered immediately.
Xu Gui smiled: "Then help me turn on the live stream. Don't they want to create hype and manipulate fans? Then I'll give them a boost and make this CP truly hot!"
She's so kind; she's practically the best tortoise in the world, knowing what others want and fulfilling their wishes.
For some reason, looking at her smiling expression, Fu Xia suddenly shivered.
At that moment, she suddenly felt a pang of pity for Qiu Nai and Tang Xu.
Tell me, of all people to mess with, you had to mess with Master Xu Gui! Don't you know she's a diviner? If you offend her, aren't you afraid she'll expose you completely?
Meanwhile, in a room at the hotel where Xu Gui and her group were staying...
Qiu Nai felt his eyelids twitching uncontrollably. He looked at the others in the room, frowned, and asked, "Is this really okay? Xu Gui hasn't agreed to this yet, and we're already trending on social media. If she finds out and makes a scene, I'm afraid we'll both lose face."
Besides him and his manager, there were a few other people in the room: Tang Xu, her manager and assistant, and Xu Gui's manager.
Xu Gui's manager's surname was Rong, and his name was Rong Yi. As a long-time employee of Xinghai Entertainment, he managed four artists. One was Xu Gui, and the other three were a newcomer like Xu Gui, and two others named Shu Yuan and Zhang Kang.
Shu Yuan is thirty-two years old. At this age, while she's not exactly a top-tier actress, she's still quite well-known, a capable actress with a good reputation in the industry, and she doesn't lack acting opportunities. Zhang Kang, on the other hand, has been working under him for seven or eight years, but he's remained relatively unknown. Viewers might see him on TV and think he looks familiar, but they wouldn't recognize him.
In short, he doesn't have a single artist
under his management who can truly shine. Without any capable artists, he can't make much money, which led Rong Yi to consider other ways to earn money. His collaboration with Qiu and Tang's parties came about in this way.
He signed contracts with them, whereby Xu Gui would cooperate with Tang and Qiu's publicity stunts, and they would pay him a certain amount.
Xu Gui's wishes weren't that important; none of the three parties cared. After all, according to Rong Yi before, "Xu Gui is very honest. She does whatever I say and never argues or goes against my wishes. She's the best candidate."
However, now, this honest person seems to be becoming somewhat dishonest.
That day, after Xu Gui warned Rong Yi, he was indeed intimidated by Xu Gui's words. However, the more he thought about it, the more resentful he became. Therefore, when Tang and Qiu approached him again for cooperation, he agreed without hesitation.
Hearing Qiu Nai say this, he smiled and said confidently, "Don't worry, I know this girl very well. She's honest and gentle, to put it bluntly, a bit naive. So, even if she sees the trending topics, she won't dare to do anything."
He concluded with a very convincing statement: "Last time, didn't she do nothing?"
This convinced Qiu Nai, as there was precedent.
They had done a similar publicity stunt before, and it was precisely because they had tasted success that they wanted to do it again. Especially now that Xu Gui was no longer a newcomer, but had gained some popularity through the program "360 Trades," the effect this time would definitely be better than last time.
And last time, Xu Gui was indeed very honest; even when she saw people online calling her a mistress, she didn't do anything.
Only Rong Yi knew that Xu Gui had come to him, tearfully explaining that she hadn't been a mistress. Rong Yi had assured her he believed her, managing to fool her.
But little did "Xu Gui" know that this was a collaboration between Rong Yi and Qiu and Tang; they knew the truth better than anyone, so why would they offer an explanation for her?
Tang Xu thought, feeling quite disdainful of Xu Gui.
"Don't worry," she said confidently, "Even if she explains, someone has to believe her. The photos aren't photoshopped; they're real. How can she explain it?"
Qiu Nai, hearing this, couldn't help but feel uncertain. After all, Tang Xu was a member of the Tang family; could Xu Gui, an unknown nobody, possibly outmaneuver her?
Tang Xu's agent smiled and said, "This wave should bring a lot of buzz to your CP (couple pairing) and solidify your CP fans. This will be a great advantage for you two in landing the male and female leads in 'A Little Celebration'."
Fu Xia could only tell half the story. Tang Xu and Qiu Nai did indeed want to collaborate on their next drama, but the casting for this drama hadn't been finalized yet.
"A Little Celebration" is a romance novel by a veteran author in the online literature circle. Several of this author's novels have been adapted into dramas, and apart from one or two that were flops, the others were all huge hits after airing, bringing corresponding popularity to the characters in the dramas. Therefore, the adaptation of this author's novels into film and television has always been very popular, and her novels' film and television adaptations are considered "good projects."
This time, the film and television adaptation of "A Little Celebration" is still in the preparation stage. As soon as the news spread, the young actresses and actors in the industry were already slightly agitated. Tang Xu and Qiu Nai naturally also had their eyes on this project.
The two of them had been languishing in the entertainment industry for a long time, stuck in a rut, and desperately needed a drama to boost their status. The appearance of "A Little Celebration" at this time was undoubtedly the most suitable.
Therefore, both sides were determined
to get the role. Everything they were doing was to secure the part and increase their respective chances.
Rong Yi knew their intentions. He looked at the two of them and flattered them, saying, "Miss Tang and Mr. Qiu are already very famous. If you can get the role in 'A Little Celebration,' your fame will definitely soar again after the drama airs, making you a top-tier star..."
His words were very appealing, and Tang Xu and Qiu Nai couldn't help but show happy expressions. Just as everyone in the room was fantasizing about their bright future, Tang Xu's assistant suddenly exclaimed,
"Xu Gui has started a live stream!"
At this time, at this opportune moment, Xu Gui suddenly started a live stream... Everyone present couldn't help but exchange glances.
Tang Xu said with a stern face, "Screen her live stream!"
Her room had a screen mirroring system, and her assistant quickly projected Xu Gui's live stream from her phone onto the big screen. Instantly, Xu Gui's snow-white face, like a handful of snow, appeared before them, along with a barrage of comments.
Besides Xu Gui's fans, the comments included countless fans of the Tang Xu and Qiu Nai couple, who were bombarded with insults and the word "mistress." Xu Gui glanced at the camera
; her round face gave her a gentle, harmless appearance, but her gaze towards the camera held an unexpected chill.
She seemed to be in a cramped space, leaning back in her chair, her expression and body relaxed.
"...I'm doing a live stream today mainly to talk about Mr. Qiu Nai and Ms. Tang Xu," she said with a light laugh, her tone casual. "Oh, and my manager, Mr. Rong Yi."
"After all, I'm trending right now, and it's all related to those three."
Hearing her words, Qiu Nai's scalp tightened, and he had an inexplicable feeling of being called out by the King of Hell—he occasionally had a very keen intuition, and at this moment, his intuition had a bad feeling, making him somewhat uneasy. "
Could I have made a bad move...?" His already twitching eyelids twitched even more violently.
His unease and anxiety were even noticeable to those around him. Tang Xu couldn't help but glance at him, then looked at Rong Yi and said, "Manager Rong, didn't you say you were sure Xu Gui wouldn't say anything inappropriate on the live stream?"
Wasn't this person supposed to be very obedient and compliant? But why does she seem so aggressive now?
Ultimately, the reason they dared to use Xu Gui as a scapegoat was simply because they thought she was a piece of dough they could mold, and they had Rong Yi as her agent to guarantee her safety.
But now it seems the situation has changed.
Rong Yi said with a calm expression, "She was indeed very obedient before, but this time, I don't know why."
Tang Xu frowned.
"Otherwise, Miss Tang, why don't you contact the program director?" Rong Yi suggested, perhaps this was his ultimate goal. He said, "Xu Gui's live stream is currently controlled by the program team. As long as the director gives the order, her live stream can be shut down immediately. That way, she won't be able to spread any messages, right?"
Now that the internet is so developed, it's easy for people to speak out, but it's also easy to silence someone.
Hearing this, Tang Xu gave him a deep look and said meaningfully, "It seems Agent Rong, you thought of this all along?"
Rong Yi chuckled awkwardly, saying, "Please don't misunderstand. I'm not a fortune teller; how could I have foreseen this? I'm just trying my best to figure out how to resolve this."
He looked at the projected screen and said, "At this point, we can't let her say anything reckless."
Tang Xu wasn't stupid; she knew perfectly well that Rong Yi had fooled her. He had told her that Xu Gui was easy to manipulate and control, and that even if something happened, Xu Gui wouldn't dare to do anything. But now, it was clear that wasn't the case.
Obviously, he wanted to use her to deal with this artist under his management.
Tang Xu felt a surge of displeasure at being schemed against, but now she had no choice but to find a way to suppress the matter, as her relationship with Qiu Nai was indeed at a critical juncture.
Tang Xu got up and went to the side to make a phone call for help.
Seeing this, Rong Yi breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that his gamble had paid off.
The words Xu Gui had threatened him that day kept echoing in his mind, fueling his growing hatred. However, even if he wanted to do something to Xu Gui, he couldn't. Tang Xu, on the other hand, was different.
As the eldest daughter of the Tang family, she could easily blacklist Xu Gui, making it impossible for her to survive in the industry.
A sinister smile appeared on Rong Yi's face. He thought to himself: "Xu Gui, this isn't my fault. Who told you to become so disobedient?"
*
At this moment, the director was in the program's central control room.
There was a large screen in the control room displaying the live streams of various guests. Besides Xu Gui, other guests were also live streaming. After all, to win first place, guests had to work hard to earn money, and most streamed until bedtime.
As for someone like Xu Gui, whose live streams were like clocking in for work, that was truly a minority.
When the phone rang, the director glanced at the caller ID and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow—why was this big shot suddenly calling him?
The director walked aside to answer the phone, his attitude seemingly polite yet casual (polite in words, casual in expression). After a brief exchange, he glanced at the large screen.
"...Ah, this matter...but I'm not at the filming location right now." Despite being at the filming location, the director, who maintained a nonchalant demeanor, nodded and earnestly said, "Don't worry, since you've asked, I have to agree!"
He confidently declared, "I'll go to the filming location right now and shut down Xu Gui's live stream!"
After a few more words, the director hung up and walked to the large screen, instructing a staff member, "Bring up Xu Gui's live stream."
The staff member replied, "Okay!"
He located Xu Gui's live stream, and once it was opened, Xu Gui's voice instantly filled the entire control room.
"...Let's talk about Tang Xu first. Her online persona is that of the eldest daughter of the Tang family, right? That's not entirely wrong, except for one thing: her surname isn't actually Tang, but Lin, and her name isn't Tang Xu, but Lin Xu."
"The 'Xu' in her name comes from her birth mother's lament about being as helpless as a willow catkin."
"Oh, so you might ask, why would the Tang family's daughter's birth mother lament being as helpless as a willow catkin? Well, that's because her mother wasn't her father's legal wife, but his mistress."
Xu Gui dropped a bombshell in the live stream with a nonchalant tone.
"Hiss!" The director gasped, "Goodness, this girl always says something astonishing!"
While saying this, his face was full of excitement, practically screaming "Let's fight! Let's fight!" He was clearly enjoying the spectacle.
The assistant director reminded him, "Didn't someone just call you and ask you to turn off Xu Gui's live stream? And you agreed." So why are you still here watching the show?
The director replied, "I'm still on my way."
The assistant director was speechless.
The director said, "These are all hot topics, all trending topics! Look at how much this girl has done today! Every single thing she's done is going to trend on social media!"
Whether it's the Mao family, the Wang family, or the live stream now, every single thing Xu Gui has encountered is bound to become a hot topic and generate huge discussion. Every single one of them is worth watching.
As the director of the show, the director was happy to see this, because this was all part of his performance record. The higher the show's popularity, the more benefits he would receive.
"Well, I need time to get there!" He lied through his teeth.
Clearly, he had never intended to do what the person on the phone said from the beginning.
Assistant Director: "What if they call again later?"
The director, without looking up, replied, "Just say I was in a car accident and am in the hospital being resuscitated. It won't be long before I get out of the emergency room!"
Assistant Director: ??!
Looking at the director's composed demeanor, the assistant director couldn't help but sigh: No wonder he's a director, while I'm still just an assistant director. His perspective is incomparable, incomparable.
The director was excited, thrilled by the gossip Xu Gui had revealed, while Tang Xu was furious.
Due to some kind of arrogance, Tang Xu hadn't watched Xu Gui's live stream. Although she had heard others say Xu Gui was good at fortune telling, she assumed it was just a scripted performance to attract attention and didn't take it seriously—she forgot that Xu Gui had an agent like that; who would "write a script" for her?
Ultimately, she was too arrogant, and now she was paying the price for her arrogance.
As Xu Gui recounted Tang Xu's background, Tang Xu could no longer sit still. She grabbed her phone and made another call. At this point, the people in the room looked at her with a strange expression.
Since Tang Xu entered the entertainment industry, she had always been marketed as the eldest daughter of the Tang family. No one knew that she was actually an illegitimate child, and a live-in son-in-law
at that. Xu Gui continued with Tang Xu's story.
"...Tang Xu, no, it should be called Lin Xu. Her father married into the Tang family, so after she was brought to the Tang family, she changed her surname to Tang."