Author Archives: sandy

【？？？？】

【Hahahahaha I can see Young Master Mu’s determination to take the midnight high-speed train just to escape Qin Leyi】

【Isn’t Mu Xing a bit too lacking in grace? She was sincerely offering blessings—no need to be so blunt】

【Yeah, I didn’t see Qin Leyi doing anything wrong here. If anything, Mu Xing, as a man, seems a bit too narrow-minded】

【? What demons snuck into the comments? Okay then, I wish you all get cheated on by your partner—and remember to keep your grace, stay friends with them afterwards】

【Let’s all get rich together, drop me the group number and I’ll join the PR wash effort too】

【I love this kind of personality. For clingy pests you don’t want to deal with, being straightforwardly cold and ruthless is the only way】

【So satisfying. Qin Leyi must be completely dumbfounded right now】

【Serves her right! Why should the victim have to be magnanimous and forgiving?】

Qin Leyi really was dumbfounded.

Mu Xing seemed completely different from before.

In the past, even if she had wronged him, Mu Xing would never have openly given her no face like this on a public platform.

The worst she had expected was for him to ignore her entirely.

That would’ve been enough.

As long as she was willing to spend money on PR, public opinion could gradually be turned. After a couple of years, everything would fade into the past.

But Mu Xing’s reply—no forgiveness, no interest, don’t stick to me again—instantly painted her actions as pathetic, one-sided clinging. It also cut off her chances of ever using their past for hype again.

She had become a laughingstock and reminded everyone all over again of her cheating.

Qin Leyi felt wronged.

The source of that grievance was his coldness.

She knew she was wrong, knew Mu Xing would never forgive her. But perhaps because deep down she always counted on his feelings for her, she never imagined there would come a day when he’d be this utterly heartless.

Her first impulse was to reach out and ask why he was treating her this way. But then she remembered: a year ago, Mu Xing had already blocked her on every account.

He had even sold off the two apartments whose addresses she knew.

The clean break was ruthless—and foresighted.

At that very moment, the far-sighted Mu Xing was being given a thumbs up by his younger brother.

“Bro, why didn’t I ever realize your personality is this likable?” Mu Shao grinned.

Mu Xing raised his teacup and shot back, “What do you mean? I wasn’t likable before?”

“That’s not it.” Mu Shao scratched his hair. “It’s just… before, you felt kind of distant. I didn’t dare bother you over nothing.”

Watching his brother carefully, he only relaxed when he saw Mu Xing wasn’t annoyed.

Then he blinked and exclaimed, “Huh? Bro, your skin looks amazing! With the sunlight on your face, it’s literally glowing.”

Mu Xing was well aware of that.

Over the past year, he had never stopped practicing the internal cultivation techniques of the Carefree Sect. His body had been cleansed inside and out, impurities flushed away. Better skin was the least of it.

In truth, his whole body was in peak condition.

“Got any skincare secrets, bro?” Mu Shao asked eagerly.

“Why?” Mu Xing looked puzzled.

Scratching his face in embarrassment, Mu Shao muttered, “I’m chasing a girl lately… gotta pay attention to my looks, right?”

Mu Xing sipped from his thermos, eyeing his brother’s faint dark circles. He said lazily, “Sleep early, wake early, exercise, eat healthy. You’ll be fine.”

Mu Shao thought about it, then shook his head. “Forget it. Men don’t need to be that delicate.”

After the banter, his expression turned serious. “Bro, now that you’re healthy again, about the company…”

Mu Xing froze.

He clutched his teacup, staring steadily at Mu Shao. “From what I see, you’ve been doing pretty well this past year.”

Being praised by the brother he’d admired since childhood, Mu Shao lit up. “You think so too?”

Mu Xing nodded. “Very good. Dad’s praised you a lot too. Keep it up.”

Mu Shao was about to nod when he suddenly realized something was off. “…Huh?”

He looked at Mu Xing in confusion. “Me? Keep it up?”

Dad’s meaning was clear—he wanted big brother to return to the company. Mom had even sulked about it for days.

So what did big brother mean by this?

Not one for subtlety, Mu Shao said it outright: “I only took over because your legs were injured. Now that you’ve recovered, Dad wants you back. I’ll switch roles.”

Though a little unwilling, he knew it was rightfully Mu Xing’s.

Years ago, when the Mu family faced a major crisis, it was Mu Xing’s mother’s family who saved them. When Mu Yuanjing divorced Zhu Lanjun, they signed an agreement too: most of the family inheritance would go to Mu Xing.

So fairness wasn’t really in question.

Besides, Mu Xing had always been outstanding and capable. Even in a fair competition, Mu Shao would accept losing to him.

He just needed to coax his mom afterwards.

But Mu Xing wasn’t interested.

He remembered the original owner’s memories: thirty days in a month, half spent flying around, the other half stuck in endless meetings and overtime.

On the outside, it all looked glamorous—but who would know that CEO Mu, so young, already had neck problems?

Mu Xing still held the same thoughts he had when speaking with Mu Yuanjing earlier: the Mu family had money, he lacked nothing, and he had no ambition.

Truly, he had no ambition. Even the original Mu Xing didn’t.

What Mu Xing saw from inside this body was more responsibility than desire.

He was Zhu Lanjun’s son, Mu Yuanjing’s eldest child, the heir decided from birth. So he had to be excellent, had to perform better than everyone else. He couldn’t allow the Mu family to decline.

If Mu Xing had been the only child of the Mu family, even if he disliked it, he would have played the role of family head properly and managed the company well.

But over the past year, watching Mu Shao’s performance, Mu Xing thought—this younger brother wasn’t bad at all.

Yes, his temper was a little hot, but he was humble and capable. A bit inexperienced, sure, but with the senior management team guiding him, in a couple more years he would be well-seasoned.

Even Mu Yuanjing had praised Mu Shao more than once.

The old man, beaming with pride: at his age, what could be more satisfying than having two successful sons?

With that in mind, Mu Xing made his decision.

Sitting in his cushioned lounge chair, clutching his thermos cup, he put on a troubled expression. “I may have recovered my legs, but my spirit isn’t good. I think I’ve been left with some aftereffects.”

Mu Shao: ?

Worried, he said, “But didn’t Dr. Leland say before leaving that you’d recovered well? Later checkups showed nothing wrong either.”

Mu Xing sighed. “Yes, the tests say nothing’s wrong. But I just feel drained, exhausted after sitting for a while.”

Alarmed, Mu Shao said, “Then go get checked again. What if they missed something?”

Mu Xing spoke slowly. “I already went a few days ago. The doctor said my body’s excellent, that I just need more rest.”

Looking intently at his brother, he added sincerely, “So the company will still need you to shoulder it. I really don’t have the energy.”

Mu Shao: ?

For a fleeting moment, he couldn’t help but suspect: could big brother just not want to work?

But the thought lasted only a second before he dismissed it—how could big brother ever do something so childish?

Uneasy, he went to their father.

Mu Yuanjing stormed in angrily to confront his eldest son.

The moment Mu Xing saw him, he repeated the same explanation.

Unfortunately, his father wasn’t as easy to fool as his silly younger brother.

“Spare me,” Mu Yuanjing snorted. “That kid may be gullible, but do you think I am?”

He glared at Mu Xing. “Why won’t you go back to the company? Are you worried about affecting your relationship with your brother? If that’s it, I’ll talk to your Aunt Shao and Mu Shao—I won’t let them resent you.”

When Mu Xing stayed silent, his father softened his tone. “I’ve already explained this to them. I also promised your mother—if the company is yours, it’s yours. I won’t shortchange Mu Shao either. He’ll get part of my shares, and my personal assets are already arranged.”

Seeing his father couldn’t be deceived, Mu Xing sighed. “That’s not the reason, Dad. I truly think managing the company is too tiring. I want a more leisurely life.”

“The things I told you before—I meant them.”

He elaborated, “Back then, Mu Shao was too young. I was afraid he couldn’t handle it. But Dad, you’ve seen it yourself—he’s very capable. He can support the Mu family in my place. That means I can relax a little.”

Mu Yuanjing fell silent.

After a long pause, he finally said, “I’m afraid you’ll regret it later.”

“You know very well what your current position means.” He fixed his son with a sharp gaze. “Such vast wealth and social standing—and you’d give it up just like that?”

“And,” he added calmly, “look at Zhaoxing Group. For outsiders, when they say ‘Chairman Mu,’ they mean me. Your uncles and aunts have made plenty of snide remarks.

“In the past, you were the glamorous CEO Mu. But if Mu Shao takes over, he’ll be the one people praise.”

He stared hard at Mu Xing. “Can you accept that fall in status?”

Blunt words, not very pleasant—but Mu Xing understood this was his father speaking from the heart.

He shook his head and didn’t explain much, only said, “Dad, I feel tired. I want to rest.”

He wanted to be a salted fish, and Mu Shao just happened to want the role.

Why not?

Mu Yuanjing said no more. “Since that’s the case—if you regret it later, that’ll depend on your brother.”

Mu Xing coughed lightly. “I don’t think I’ll regret it.”

“Hmph.” Mu Yuanjing grunted. “As for your mother, you’ll tell her yourself.”

He, for one, wasn’t going to answer Zhu Lanjun’s calls in the next few days. That woman might not scold her son, but she certainly wouldn’t spare him!

Recalling the memories of their interactions, Mu Xing suppressed a laugh. “Okay.”

❣╰(⸝⸝⸝꒳⸝⸝⸝)╯❣

This talk show was quite famous—not because it was particularly entertaining, but because the host dared to ask.

Compared with ordinary variety shows, the questions here were sharp, sometimes even ruthless.

For many guests, a careless answer could mean instant disaster.

The program had offended plenty of people, yet the host hadn’t been replaced in ten years.

Many netizens joked that the show survived this long mainly because the host was a genuine rich socialite with a background even harder than money itself.

She wasn’t afraid of threats, had no ambitions of climbing higher, and lived like a salted fish—so really, no one could do much about her.

For Qin Leyi to land a spot on this show, she had paid no small price.

---

An Beibei was just an ordinary office worker. Her biggest joy after work was taking a shower, sprawling on the couch, scrolling through makeup videos, and catching up on gossip.

Weekends, when she didn’t have to work, were even better.

That night, she was lounging on the couch like a salted fish, smugly waiting for her midnight snack—decadent, unhealthy, but absolutely delicious.

While scrolling on her phone, she remembered it was Saturday. Checking the time, she switched on the TV to watch her favorite talk show, Heart to Heart.

A familiar face filled the screen unexpectedly.

Compared with the host’s polished makeup, Qin Leyi looked almost barefaced—light brows, faint lipstick, simple and delicate.

She looked pitiful, the very image of a fragile little white flower.

“Ugh!” An Beibei froze, then frowned. “Why is she the guest tonight?”

She really didn’t want to see this woman.

But her eyes betrayed her; she kept staring at the screen.

Host Jiayi was famous for her sharp tongue. Beibei couldn’t help but wonder: what kind of cutting questions would Jiayi throw at this cheating starlet?

She wasn’t the only one thinking that way. Many tuned in with the same curiosity.

Jiayi didn’t disappoint.

“As everyone knows, last year your love life became a huge scandal. Afterward, you also parted ways with your company, leaving the spotlight at the peak of your career…” Jiayi’s voice was crisp, her eyes sharp. “Do you regret it?”

Faced with such a question, Qin Leyi remained calm.

Those who knew her well noticed the difference—gone was the youthful arrogance of a star who’d risen too easily. Now she seemed tranquil, composed, unruffled.

She bowed her head slightly, sorrow flickering in her brows. “I’ve regretted it. And I regret it every moment of every day.”

A bitter smile curved her lips, then softened into resignation. “My love, my career—I ruined them with my own hands. I deserved it.”

Jiayi couldn’t help but acknowledge her inwardly: well played.

She personally had no fondness for Qin Leyi—anyone with normal values wouldn’t.

When she’d learned who the guest was, she’d even been annoyed.

But the station had given her almost complete freedom with her show, so she didn’t need to fight over small matters.

Her pointed question had been deliberate: good for ratings, and she’d wanted to watch the train wreck herself.

She hadn’t expected Qin Leyi to own up so bluntly.

No dodging, no deflection—she admitted it was entirely her fault.

That honesty actually softened many viewers’ feelings toward her.

Jiayi herself wasn’t so easily moved—she simply acknowledged the skill.

With her smile unchanged, she continued: “I think you’ve changed a lot. I’m sure the audience here and at home sees it too. Over the past year, you’ve rarely appeared in public. Could you share with us your journey and what you went through?”

Surprised, Qin Leyi glanced at her. The host seemed unusually accommodating, almost as if working from a prepared script.

Was the money spent well? she wondered.

Sitting gracefully in her chair, Qin Leyi spoke softly: “At first, I was terrified of going online. I couldn’t face what was being said about me, nor the fans I had hurt. My mental health deteriorated badly.”

“Later, it was my childhood friend who helped me. She dragged me to see a therapist, took me traveling, encouraged me to volunteer at shelters and help children in need…”

Her eyes shimmered with tears. “She saved me from the edge of collapse.”

Catching herself, she took a deep breath. “Forgive me.”

Once composed, she continued gently: “After half a year, I was much better. I began working out, learning a new style of dance. These things filled my days with meaning and joy.”

She smiled faintly, serene and unshadowed.

Watching online, many viewers were struck:

【Qin Leyi looks even prettier than before.】
【She’s so inspiring.】
【Not everyone has the courage to climb back from rock bottom.】
【Wait, are you guys serious? This is just a cheating star whitewashing herself.】
【Everyone makes mistakes. Owning up and changing is what matters.】

Jiayi’s gaze shifted. Impressive, she thought.

Meanwhile, Qin Leyi kept speaking: “There isn’t much to say about my journey. From guilt, regret, and fear… to now, when I still regret—but can face my mistakes calmly.”

She playfully winked at Jiayi. “I guess I’ve grown up.”

But Jiayi wasn’t fooled.

Her professional smile stayed in place. “I’m glad to see a transformed you. Since you can face your past so calmly now, then forgive me for being blunt. It’s a question both I and the audience are curious about: from what we’ve seen, in looks and in affection, your ex-boyfriend was clearly far superior to the man you cheated with. So why did you cheat? Was it just boredom after too long in a relationship?”

Qin Leyi: “…”

An Beibei, who had unknowingly sat up straighter on her couch: “…”

Whoaaa！ So direct! Sister Jiayi is amazing!

Qin Leyi’s perfect smile nearly cracked. She knew Jiayi had a sharp tongue, but she hadn’t expected this.

Did she have no EQ at all?

Struggling to stay calm, Qin Leyi lowered her head. “That… that is something I’ll regret all my life. It’s a scar that can never heal. I don’t want to speak of it in front of the public.”

Jiayi knew when to pull back. “I see. My apologies. It’s only because you said you could face everything calmly that I asked. I didn’t realize…”

Her face was full of regret. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault for not being more sensitive.”

Qin Leyi: “…”

Didn’t anyone smell the tea brewing in here?

The audience, however, smelled nothing—only found it exciting. Some even called out, demanding Qin Leyi’s answer.

And viewers watching at home started to catch on too:

【Wait a minute. Didn’t Qin Leyi just say she’d moved on? So why clam up now?】
【Because what she says and what she does are two different things.】
【LMAO, this is why I’ve stanned Jiayi for six years. Absolute queen.】
【The Tea Master never fails.】

From that point on, the interview unraveled for Qin Leyi.

Jiayi’s gentle tone was gone. Every question was sharp as a knife:

“Have you contacted Mu Xing? Did he accept your apology?”

“It’s said that while you were with Glory Entertainment, you monopolized the company’s best resources. Yet this year, Jiang Zhi won Best Actress with A Woman’s Story, and newcomer Lin Dingdang blew up on variety shows. Many netizens say your two years at Glory delayed your colleagues’ development. What’s your response?”

“Do you still have contact with Cheng Qian?”

Qin Leyi: “…”

Meanwhile, An Beibei gnawed happily on skewers, watching Qin Leyi’s smile falter and nearly collapse.

By the time the program ended, Beibei still wasn’t satisfied. She grabbed her phone, ready to share the joy with her friends—only to see the group chat already buzzing:

【Quick! Watch tonight’s Heart to Heart. I’m living for this. [link]】

She hopped onto Weibo.

The topic had already hit fifty million views—and the show had just ended.

Comments poured in:

【Jiayi’s combat power is as strong as ever.】
【I swear I saw Qin Leyi’s face fall at the end.】
【Jiayi is targeting her on purpose. So gross!】
【Gross? Please. That’s Jiayi’s style. Don’t like it, don’t watch.】
【Honestly, Qin Leyi looked fake. Her calm, elegant persona didn’t match her reaction at all.】
【Who in their right mind would go on Jiayi’s show? She’s a walking lie detector.】

【Wait—Qin Leyi just posted on Weibo!】

The gossip-hungry Beibei rushed to check.

Qin Leyi didn’t mention the show at all.

Actor Qin Leyi: Today I heard the best news of the year. Congratulations on your recovery. It eases my guilt, even just a little.

She had reposted a trending article: Zhaoxing Group founder Mu Yuanjing’s birthday banquet—his eldest son Mu Xing made a grand appearance. Most importantly: he walked.

Mu Xing’s legs had recovered.

【Aaaaah, he’s standing again!】
【So handsome. Men in suits are lethal. I’m buying my husband one.】
【Wake up! That’s bespoke haute couture. And let’s be real—the suit isn’t what makes him handsome, he already is. The man could wear a sack and still stand out.】
【Daily reminder that Qin Leyi’s blind.】
【She does seem open about her mistakes, though.】
【More like staging it.】

…

Mu Xing was once again interrupted by his little brother.

“Bro, look at Weibo! That woman’s clinging onto you again!” Mu Shao was fuming.

Mu Xing frowned and opened Weibo.

Three minutes later, he logged into his verified account.

Zhaoxing – Mu Xing: Thank you for your concern, but it’s unnecessary. As long as we never appear in the same place again, I think I’ll stay healthy.

❣╰(⸝⸝⸝꒳⸝⸝⸝)╯❣

Thanks to the “blessing” of the Qin Leyi scandal, the Mu family’s internal affairs—which the public had never really cared about before—suddenly became a hot topic for many reporters.

So when news broke that Mu Xing was temporarily stepping back from the Mu Group’s core operations, it hit the trending searches once again.

Now everyone knew: the handsome young master of the Mu family, betrayed by both his ex-girlfriend and his former brother, and crippled in a car accident, had also lost his corporate position due to his health.

Word spread that the current Madam Mu wasn’t his biological mother, and the one stepping into his former role was his half-brother.

Nothing more needed to be said—the internet had already spun out an 80-episode family feud drama in their heads.

And in that drama, it was obvious: Mu Xing was the pitiful loser.

【Tragic. Truly tragic.】
【Honestly, this kind of wretched storyline—I’ve only seen it in novels.】
【From years of reading, I can say this setup only leads two ways: either the cannon fodder who falls and never rises, or the beautiful-yet-tragic powerhouse who stages a glorious comeback. I’m a face-connoisseur, so I hope Young Master Mu will be the latter.】
【It’s just too hard for such a handsome guy.】

Right at this time, another “insider” dropped a bomb: Mu Xing’s car accident had something to do with Qin Leyi.

Not a conspiracy theory—someone had dug up a side account belonging to Cheng Qian, who was now abroad.

That account had posted on the night of the 27th: he’d done something that betrayed his brother, got caught, and the brother ended up in an accident. He said he felt guilty.

And Mu Xing’s car accident? It had happened on the 27th.

【??? So you’re telling me Mu Xing’s accident was tied to those two scumbags?!】
【Looks like it was an accident, but I checked—Mu Xing was driving himself. Based on this post, he must have just found out about the cheating then. Probably… wasn’t calm.】
【Of course he wouldn’t be calm! If I caught my boyfriend cheating right in front of me, I’d want to chop someone up.】
【So reasonably guessing, the accident happened because Young Master Mu was too shaken up emotionally?】
【If I were him, I’d have hacked those two to pieces on the spot.】
【And there’s this on top of everything? How did Qin Leyi even have the face to @Mu Xing with her apology?】
【No wonder Mu Xing was so cold and resolute in that interview. Those two are practically his personal disasters.】
【Heh. Qin Leyi still thinks she deserves forgiveness? Where does she get the face for that?】

Once this broke, Qin Leyi—who had just barely managed to avoid the spotlight and was preparing to slowly clean her image—was dragged back out and scolded all over again.

“…”

She was suffocating with frustration.

These days she could only stay home. Going back to her hometown was out of the question.

She used to be a big star. Her whole family was proud of her; her parents held their heads high among relatives and neighbors.

But after all this, her parents told her not to come home—not because they despised her, but because of the endless gossip.

The housekeeper she’d hired also quit, after Qin Leyi discovered she’d been gossiping outside, saying she was Qin Leyi’s maid and revealing little tidbits about her.

She’d moved to a new place, went out with a mask and cap just to buy groceries, and lived in hiding.

Friends in the industry had all cut ties. The few who hadn’t might help her in private, but no one dared risk showing public support.

Compared to her, Cheng Qian’s life was much easier.

He wasn’t in the entertainment circle, didn’t need to show his face. Now he was abroad, beyond anyone’s reach. Aside from getting regular scolding calls from his father, he was unaffected.

Sometimes when he saw news about Qin Leyi, he just skimmed and moved on, not caring at all.

For him, Qin Leyi was already the past, no different from all his other “girlfriends.”

---

At the Mu household.

Mu Xing had long since tossed those two irrelevant people from his mind.

He was busy every day.

He had to undergo rehabilitation training with his expert team, and he secretly practiced the internal cultivation methods from his previous life to strengthen his meridians.

Just those two things alone took up 90% of his energy.

The rest of his time was for relaxation: reading fairy tales or making a few investments with the money in his account.

“Mu, does it hurt?” asked a blond, blue-eyed man.

Sweat had formed on Mu Xing’s forehead, but he still smiled. “It’s fine. I can endure it.”

The man jotted down a string of numbers in his notebook.

He was Leland, the lead specialist on Mu Xing’s rehabilitation team.

After finishing, Leland’s stern, aristocratic face eased slightly. “Your progress surprises me. I’ve had to revise your program again and again.”

He looked down at Mu Xing’s legs. “Feeling pain is a good sign.”

“Yes.” Mu Xing smiled too, running his hand over his legs, cherishing even the discomfort. “For the first time, I’ve come to love the feeling of pain.”

That day’s training was done, and he leaned back in his chair, lazily saying, “Dr. Leland, before you leave, could you hand me the green-covered book on the shelf?”

He wasn’t shy about asking.

Leland walked over, picked up the thick green-covered book, and handed it to him.

The Chinese characters on the cover meant nothing to him, but there was a picture of a beautiful flower fairy and a charming little mushroom cottage.

He glanced at it curiously, then passed it to Mu Xing.

Mu Xing took it lazily. “Thanks.”

Leland inclined his head. “Then, Mr. Mu, I’ll take my leave. If you need anything, please contact me.”

Mu Xing waved his hand, signaling he understood.

After finishing one short story and drinking a cup of herbal tea, he felt rested enough and closed his eyes to meditate.

To an outsider, it looked like he was simply dozing in his chair.

But in Mu Xing’s perception, tiny warm currents were slowly rising inside his body. Under the guidance of his will, they flowed along his meridians in a mysterious rhythm, nourishing and repairing his injuries.

This was the real reason why he was so confident he would one day stand again.

After cycling like this for over an hour, he opened his eyes.

He exhaled deeply, steadied.

Leland’s evaluation had been that even in the most optimistic scenario, it would take at least two years of treatment before he might stand again.

But Mu Xing already knew: that timeline could be cut in half.

And he hadn’t really been idle in his “spare time.”

As heir of the Mu family, aside from the Mu Group, he personally held a considerable fortune, invested in various industries and companies.

He reviewed those investments—didn’t overhaul them, only made slight adjustments.

He added a stake in a gaming company and an AI research institute.

By coincidence, he also received a quarterly report from the CEO of Glory Entertainment. Mu Xing casually threw in funding for two films and one drama—one in his personal name, the other under the Glory banner.

He wasn’t an expert investor; he went by mood, actors, and a kind of uncanny intuition.

If something looked promising, he’d bet on it. If it hit big, great. If it tanked, well—it wasn’t enough to hurt him anyway.

Not a big problem.

---

Ten months later.

With someone steadying him, Mu Xing cautiously stood and tried lifting his leg—

A wave of weakness surged, and he nearly collapsed, caught in time by a strong, solid body.

“Careful!”

Thankfully, Leland was tall and sturdy; otherwise, catching Mu Xing’s 182 cm frame would’ve been difficult.

Seated again, Mu Xing listened as Leland frowned. “Your legs have been unused too long. Their function has atrophied.”

Mu Xing said lightly, “It’s fine. More practice will fix it.”

Ten months—faster than he had even hoped.

And the reason he seemed so relaxed was because he knew. His injuries were no longer an issue.

If he wished, he could have healed without a trace. But then medical tests would raise suspicion. So he left behind a few “aftereffects” to explain.

Leland flipped through notes and reports, his usual stern face breaking into barely-contained delight. “This is a miracle. If I hadn’t witnessed it myself, I’d hardly believe it.”

Mu Xing smiled, matching his excitement. “Maybe I just have good constitution. Easier to heal.”

“It’s possible.” Leland mused. “Mr. Mu, I may need to use your case as a classic study. Don’t worry—if you’re uncomfortable, I’ll anonymize all your details.”

Mu Xing didn’t mind. Only…

He thought helplessly: But no one else in this world can quietly use cultivated inner force to mend their body day after day. Study all you want—you’ll never find the real reason.

By the time autumn leaves began to fall, Mu Xing was able to walk a few steps on his own.

His stride was still awkward from disuse, but time would smooth that out.

Leland ran him through a battery of tests. The results were excellent.

With his data, research notes, and a hefty payout from the Mu family, Leland happily flew home to continue his studies.

Because of the miracle brought by his eldest son, the usually low-key Mu Yuanjing held a grand birthday banquet.

Reporters and media swarmed the hotel. And there, in a tailored suit, legs once again steady, Mu Xing reappeared in flawless form before the world.

The trending searches exploded.

And Qin Leyi—finally—saw her chance.

She had been utterly quiet for a year, almost invisible. The internet was forgetful: a week was enough to erase a scandal, a month made any gossip old news.

After a year?

That whole mess last year—unless brought up—most people wouldn’t even remember.

And the hate, boycott, disgust… all had faded too.

She pulled strings to land a spot on a well-known talk show about relationships.

And right before the program, she learned of Mu Xing’s recovery.

Nothing could be more perfect. This, she thought, was her best opportunity.

❣╰(⸝⸝⸝꒳⸝⸝⸝)╯❣

But whether Qin Leyi regretted it or not no longer had anything to do with Mu Xing.

He returned home and began receiving professional rehabilitation training.

Because of his legs, he didn’t go back to the place where he had been living alone, but was brought back to the family home.

That meant living together with Mu Yuanjing and his wife Shao Jiayan, along with Mu Shao.

Mu Xing’s relationship with his stepmother Shao Jiayan was decent—not close, but not tense either. The kind where he’d greet her as “Auntie” when they met and prepare gifts on holidays, neither distant nor intimate.

On his first day back, Shao Jiayan had the housekeeper prepare a full table of his favorite dishes. Her attitude was very warm.

The Mu family had no rule against talking at the dinner table. Mu Yuanjing occasionally asked his elder son a few questions, and Mu Xing answered calmly.

Shao Jiayan studied her stepson quietly, noting how calm and collected he looked, as though the car accident hadn’t shaken him at all.

Then, just as the meal was almost finished, Mu Xing suddenly dropped a topic:

“Dad, the doctor says that even in the best case, it’ll take at least two years of treatment before I have hope of standing again. During those two years, most of my energy will have to go into recovery. I may not be able to manage the company’s affairs.”

Mu Yuanjing froze.

Shao Jiayan was just as startled, staring at Mu Xing.

She hadn’t expected him to bring this up on his own, and from the sound of it, he was implying he wanted to hand over his power.

After the shock came joy: for years now, Mu Yuanjing had been showing signs of wanting to step back and retire.

He had married and had children late; when Mu Xing was born, he was nearly forty. A few years ago, he’d had heart surgery, and his energy was no longer what it used to be. He was now much more willing to relax in his later years.

If Mu Xing was thinking of giving up control because of this accident…

Mu Shao would be the most suitable candidate to shoulder the burden.

Mu Shao clearly realized this too; he looked at his father with excitement.

Mu Yuanjing had considered this before.

But with Mu Xing just having had the accident, he’d worried that bringing it up too soon would make his eldest son suspicious.

He hadn’t expected Mu Xing to propose it himself.

After a moment’s thought, he nodded. “Indeed, your health is more important.”

Then he turned to Mu Shao: “You’ll follow your brother and temporarily take over his work. If you run into anything you don’t understand or can’t decide, ask me or your brother.”

Mu Shao answered excitedly.

After lunch, Mu Xing returned to his room.

Not long after, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” Mu Xing called.

The door opened—it was Mu Yuanjing.

When he entered, he saw his son sitting on the balcony, a book resting on his knees as he gazed outside.

The Mu family estate was in a high-end residential area of standalone villas, with excellent surroundings. Mu Xing’s balcony, for instance, looked out over an elegant Suzhou-style garden.

Mu Yuanjing stepped closer, intending to tell him to rest after the meal instead of straining his eyes with a book. But then he caught sight of the pale pink cover, with several cutesy characters printed on it—

“The Flower Fairy and the Little Crocodile.”

Mu Yuanjing: “……”

Well, he didn’t know what on earth the book was about, but it definitely wasn’t the kind of demanding, brain-draining professional reading he had imagined.

Thinking that, he couldn’t help glancing once more at the cover before pulling his eyes away.

“Dad, what is it?” Mu Xing asked, his expression open and unbothered, making no move to put the fairy-tale book away.

Remembering his purpose, Mu Yuanjing composed himself. “I was very glad to hear you take the initiative to step back from company matters today.”

Realizing how that might sound, he quickly added, “What I mean is, to me, your health matters more. You’ve always been the heir of the Mu family in my eyes. Letting your brother gain some experience is good too—he can better assist you in the future.”

His words were clear, his meaning unmistakable: as long as Mu Xing recovered, the Mu family would still be entrusted to him.

He had come to reassure his son—but instead, Mu Xing actually smiled:

“If Mu Shao does better than me, it’s fine to hand the Mu family over to him.”

Mu Yuanjing blinked, studying his elder son with a probing look. Softly, he said, “You seem… a little different from before.”

Mu Xing answered naturally, “Probably because I brushed past death once. My outlook has changed.”

“Oh?”

Looking at his father’s graying hair, Mu Xing said earnestly, “I think my mindset now is the same as yours, Dad.”

Mu Yuanjing: ?

He then heard his most accomplished son say, “A whole lifetime—what’s the point of struggling and fighting so hard? As a Mu family member, am I ever going to lack food or clothing? Even if I fight my way to becoming the richest man in the country, I still won’t live a day longer.”

Sitting quietly in his wheelchair, he spoke with a calm, righteous “salted-fish” tone: “So why not take good care of yourself, eat well, drink well, and make your limited years as happy and comfortable as possible?”

Mu Yuanjing: “……”

“Nonsense!” he couldn’t help but rebuke. “You’re not even thirty! And you’re already thinking like this?”

Mu Xing’s reply was to curve his eyes in an innocent smile.

The lecture that Mu Yuanjing had been about to deliver stuck in his throat.

From a young age, this eldest son had been exceptional—and with excellence came early maturity.

He was smart, polite, graceful in all he did, the very embodiment of what everyone expected from a great family’s heir.

Satisfaction was real, but so was regret.

Ever since Mu Xing grew older, Mu Yuanjing had almost never seen any expressions on his son’s face that could be described as naïve, soft, or coquettish.

Perhaps because of this regret, he was clearly more indulgent toward his younger son Mu Shao, which was how that little leopard-like temper of Mu Shao’s had been raised.

Now, when Mu Xing tilted his head back and showed him a bright, unshadowed smile, it struck directly at the heart of Mu Yuanjing the father.

Suppressing the impulse to reach out and ruffle his eldest son’s hair, Mu Yuanjing coughed lightly, already tossing aside his earlier displeasure.

“If you want to take things easier, that’s a good thing too. Focus on your rehab. If there’s anything you don’t want to say to this old man, go find that kid Mu Shao.” Without hesitation, he sold out his younger son.

“Got it. Thanks, Dad,” Mu Xing said cheerfully.

In high spirits, Mu Yuanjing went downstairs.

Seeing the smile on his face that couldn’t quite be hidden, Shao Jiayan glanced in the direction he had come from and casually asked, “You just went to see Mu Xing? What’s got you so happy?”

Mu Yuanjing chuckled. “That kid—after going through all this, his personality’s become much more likable.”

For a brief moment, Shao Jiayan’s gaze turned complicated, but she quickly smiled. “I see. People always grow. Just look at Mu Shao—he used to be like a restless little monkey, but now he’s taken the initiative to run off to the study and read documents.”

Hearing that, Mu Yuanjing felt deeply gratified. “Mu Shao’s becoming sensible too.”

Having achieved her aim, Shao Jiayan smiled gently and said nothing more.

In the upstairs room, Mu Xing listened to their conversation.

His sharpened senses had carried over with him, and without meaning to, he caught Shao Jiayan’s “little thoughts.”

This stepmother of his didn’t harbor any great malice, but she always had a competitive streak. She would never let Mu Yuanjing miss even the smallest bit of the younger son’s merits.

It was, in its own way, a little bit endearing.

❣╰(⸝⸝⸝꒳⸝⸝⸝)╯❣

This video spread widely online.

To be honest, few of the gossip-loving netizens were fools. Apart from Qin Leyi’s remaining loyal fans, who sincerely believed her apology video and spread it everywhere, most people didn’t really take it seriously.

But people always have respect for life.

At this point, aside from a small group who truly hated Qin Leyi to the bone, the vast majority chose silence.

【If everything you said is true, if you’re sincerely remorseful, then I won’t say more. But if you’re just using depression and suicide as a PR stunt, then may every flag you set come true.】

【Heh, how come you weren’t depressed or anxious back when you were riding high? A scandal breaks and suddenly you’re remorseful to the point of suicide? Who are you trying to fool?】

【I’m disgusted. I’ve never been this sickened by anyone. Even if you cheated, it didn’t matter much to me—it’s your business. But using your life as a tool to whitewash yourself, I just can’t stomach that.】

【Can some people have a little compassion? Yiyi is already like this, she admitted her mistake, she even used suicide as atonement. What more do you want? Are you really going to hound her to death before you’re satisfied?】

【Double standards much? So many male stars cheat and still thrive, but when it’s Qin Leyi, everyone screams for blood, driving her to suicide and still not letting go.】

【This thread reeks of paid bots. Nice job twisting the narrative. But cheating is the same whether it’s male or female. And I don’t recall any male star cheating on his girlfriend with her best friend, while also taking her resources and finally throwing mud at her company.】

Thanks to his hotheaded little brother, Mu Xing learned about Qin Leyi’s suicide attempt right away.

Mu Shao asked, “Bro, what do you think?”

Mu Xing looked puzzled: “Think about what?”

Mu Shao said, “About Qin Leyi’s depression and suicide attempt! Do you think it’s real or fake?”

Before Mu Xing could answer, Mu Shao answered himself: “I think it’s fake! That woman is so cunning and shameless—it’s obviously a whitewashing tactic.”

Mu Xing said casually, “Whether it’s real or fake, what does it have to do with me?”

Hearing that, Mu Shao lifted his head and saw his brother’s calm, detached expression. Clearly, he truly hadn’t taken it to heart.

Mu Shao couldn’t help giving him a thumbs-up: “Bro, you’re the boss. Letting go means letting go. I thought you loved Qin Leyi so much it would take ages for you to get over her.”

Mu Xing pointed at his legs and said seriously: “What is love worth? All my energy now goes to more important things—like getting my legs to recover as soon as possible.”

---

No matter how discreet the Mu family tried to be, because of the uproar over Qin Leyi, Mu Xing’s hospital was still tracked down.

Fortunately, this private hospital had very strict security, and his ward number was never leaked, so no one could get in.

Until the day Mu Xing was discharged.

As his family pushed his wheelchair out of the hospital doors, he was immediately surrounded by reporters who had been staking out the place for days.

“Mr. Mu, is it true your legs can never stand again?”

“Do you still have contact with Miss Qin Leyi?”

“What do you think about Qin Leyi’s suicide and apology?”

“Have you forgiven her?”

Mu Shao, like a little leopard ready to fight, glared fiercely at the reporters and snapped impatiently: “What are you doing? Move aside! Don’t bother my brother.”

The hospital’s security staff also came to help clear the crowd, but battle-hardened reporters weren’t about to give up so easily.

Several microphones still managed to push right up in front of Mu Xing.

Mu Xing lifted his head.

The reporters were instantly struck.

The young head of the Mu family had an extraordinary appearance. His complexion was pale from illness, but his features were refined and striking—so much so that he evoked images of gothic vampires from dark castle legends.

Even in an industry full of handsome men, his looks stood out.

The cameras in the reporters’ hands did not lie, faithfully capturing him. Their eyes drifted downward, landing on his legs draped with a thin blanket.

The regret in their gaze was obvious.

Mu Shao immediately exploded: “What the hell are you looking at?”

Mu Xing patted his excitable little brother’s hand. “Don’t be so worked up. Something this small isn’t worth your anger.”

He looked calmly at the reporters around him. Even sitting in a wheelchair, physically lower than everyone standing, his aura was composed and noble. It made certain ill-intentioned reporters feel guilty.

He hadn’t done anything, yet he carried an unspoken presence that made people hesitate to offend him.

Mu Xing thought with amusement: So this is the aura that came from being spoiled by Ah Yue in his past life, raised to live in comfort all his life. It’s actually pretty intimidating.

He spoke lightly: “My legs are only temporarily immobile. I’ve already contacted a specialist team to tailor a recovery plan. I believe one day I’ll be able to stand again.”

“As for Miss Qin’s suicide, I only just found out. I have no opinion. But because of my own experience, I still want to urge everyone—cherish life.”

“As for forgiveness…” Mu Xing met the reporters’ eager eyes, lips curved faintly, “What’s done is done, it can’t be erased. Miss Qin and I have broken up, and because the breakup was not decent, we can never even be friends. Not seeing each other and not disturbing each other is the best result for us. So whether I forgive or not—what meaning would my answer have?”

He nodded slightly to the reporters. “That’s all the questions I’ll be answering. Could you please move aside now?”

The reporters stirred for a moment, but then really did part to either side, watching as Mu Shao pushed Mu Xing away.

A long while later, one reporter muttered, “What was Qin Leyi even thinking? With a boyfriend like that, she still cheated?”

A female reporter’s eyes were still shining as she stared after Mu Xing’s back. At the comment, she pouted. “She must’ve been blind.”

The reporters exchanged glances, then without another word rushed off with their equipment.

They had to hurry to edit the interview content and photos into a news article and publish it.

The fastest ones had it online within half an hour.

Just as Mu Xing got home, Mu Shao shouted excitedly for him to check Weibo.

“Bro, you’re trending again—on multiple hot searches!”

Mu Xing opened his phone.

#MuXingDischargedFromHospital#

#MuXingRespondsToQinLeyi’sSuicideApology: WhetherIForgiveHerOrNotDoesn’tMatter!#

Those two seemed fairly normal.

What puzzled him was the hashtag that had overtaken both, shooting to number one on the trending list:

#WithThisFace, QinLeyiReallyDidn’tKnowWhatSheHad#

Clicking in, it was a nine-photo grid of Mu Xing.

The background was just the hospital entrance, photos taken from all angles of him sitting in his wheelchair.

20,000 reposts, 29,000 comments.

And the tone of the comment section was strikingly unanimous:

【Fragile beauty!】
【Wow, how can someone have this mix of frailty and sharp-edged beauty? Absolutely stunning. From now on, every wheelchair-bound novel male lead has a face.】
【This is Qin Leyi’s ex? Qin Leyi???? Yeah, she really didn’t know what she had.】
【If I had a boyfriend like this, I’d stare at him 24/7. How could Qin Leyi bear to betray such a beauty!】
【So handsome, so handsome, so handsome. Sorry An Yang darling, I’m cheating on you for a bit.】
【I always thought real-life CEOs were balding, middle-aged men with beer bellies. But this high-born, handsome, novel-male-lead type actually exists?】
【Suddenly remembered the news—he even founded a whole entertainment company just to promote Qin Leyi. With such a handsome, rich, devoted man, what more did she want?】
【Unless… things didn’t work out in that area? A powerful boss but weak in private? (jk)】
【Look at that nose—tall and sharp. Look at those fingers—slender and elegant. Obviously he can’t be useless. (serious face)】
【???? Looking up at the sky—guys, it’s not even dark yet, tone it down.】
【Anyway, Qin Leyi’s ungrateful and blind.】
【Don’t just scold her. Take a look at the “good brother” Cheng Qian, the young master. Scumbag man and woman deserve each other [pic][pic].】
【This guy looks pretty average. Compared to Mu Xing he’s miles behind. Don’t get Qin Leyi’s thought process at all.】

……

Meanwhile, Cheng Qian wasn’t having a great time either.

Sleeping with someone else’s girlfriend was nothing new to him—but this time the boyfriend was Mu Xing, and that made it serious.

Worse, Mu Xing had gotten into a car accident, and the Mu family’s heir apparent might never stand again.

Now that was huge trouble.

The day the news broke, Cheng Qian’s father immediately called to demand answers. After hearing the whole story, the old man drove to Cheng Qian’s villa and whipped him with a belt.

Then he dragged him to the Mu family’s house to apologize.

But the Mus didn’t even let them through the door.

And at the hospital, there was no way they’d allow Cheng Qian to disturb Mu Xing’s mood.

The Mu Group cut off all business deals they had in progress with the Chengs. The two families were officially enemies now.

And that wasn’t the end of it.

As the Qin Leyi scandal kept spreading, Cheng Qian’s past got dug up too.

A notorious playboy, dating multiple girlfriends at the same time as Qin Leyi. A record of drunk driving. Once verbally abused staff at a high-end club…

Wanfuxiang’s stock price instantly hit limit down.

The shareholders made their dissatisfaction clear. Cheng Qian’s father kicked him out of the house, telling him to beg Mu Xing’s forgiveness.

But Cheng Qian knew himself well. Putting himself in Mu Xing’s shoes, thinking of his character—going to him would only get him cursed out. What man could swallow that humiliation?

So he decisively fled abroad to crash with a friend.

Before leaving, of course, he blocked all of Qin Leyi’s contact info.

So when Qin Leyi tried to reach him, all she got was the cold “beep beep” of a dead line.

“Bastard!” Qin Leyi cursed under her breath.

She stared blankly at the trending gossip.

Mu Xing had said whether he forgave her or not was irrelevant, that they no longer had any ties.

She knew him.

When he loved, he loved deeper than anyone. But once he let go, there was truly no room left for turning back.

In truth, from the moment her affair with Cheng Qian was discovered, she and Mu Xing had been finished.

She lowered her head, burying her face in her palms, as if that could block out the suffocating panic until even her breathing turned difficult.

She regretted it.

❣╰(⸝⸝⸝꒳⸝⸝⸝)╯❣

Nurse Xiao Yu was one of the many bystanders following the gossip.

She had seen Qin Leyi at the hospital before, but at the time she had no idea what her relationship with Mu Xing was.

She was half a casual fan of Qin Leyi, and had even regretted not asking for an autograph.

But now—after learning the truth—Xiao Yu was furious!

Mr. Mu was such a good person!

The hospital where she worked was a well-known private institution, with excellent facilities and top specialists. Naturally, the fees were extremely high.

The floor Mu Xing stayed on was VIP among VIPs—patients admitted there usually had very complicated or serious conditions.

As a result, most were short-tempered, and it wasn’t unusual for medical staff to suffer grievances.

Xiao Yu and her colleagues often joked privately that this was just the price of their high salaries.

But she could honestly say that Mu Xing was the most good-tempered patient she had ever met.

Aside from the first day he woke up from the accident—when he couldn’t accept reality and lost his temper—he quickly adjusted his state of mind.

Even after being told he might never walk again, he never took it out on anyone.

He fully cooperated with the doctors’ work, and every day greeted the staff with a relaxed, cheerful smile.

All the nurses adored him.

For someone this kind, Qin Leyi not only failed to cherish him but even turned the blame on him.

Xiao Yu was livid.

So that afternoon, just after Mu Xing woke from his nap, someone knocked at the door.

Xiao Yu walked in with a fresh bouquet of narcissus.

Mu Xing, surprised: “What’s this?”

Xiao Yu placed the flowers in the vase on his table and said a little shyly: “A few of my girlfriends and I chipped in to buy these for you.”

Her cheeks were red, but her bright eyes looked at him seriously: “Mr. Mu, you’re a really good person. That Qin Leyi didn’t deserve you. Please don’t be sad.

I hope your legs recover soon.”

Mu Xing smiled: “Thank you.”

After a moment of hesitation, Xiao Yu asked cautiously: “I’ve seen a lot of false rumors online about you. Mr. Mu, can I refute them? As a nurse who knows your condition?”

Mu Xing didn’t mind: “Go ahead. Just don’t post my photo, and don’t reveal the hospital’s address—so it doesn’t cause trouble.”

Xiao Yu quickly agreed.

That evening, she posted a short article on Weibo.

@XiaoYuLovesCandy V:

[ I work at the hospital where Mr. Mu Xing is staying. He’s a truly good person. Life has given him hardship and accidents, but he’s strong and optimistic. Every day he greets us with a smile, he works closely with the doctors to report his condition, and I’ve never once seen him lose his temper.

Please don’t worry about him, and don’t pity him either. He treats life with seriousness and is always searching for ways to recover. I think instead of sympathy, he’d prefer smiles and encouragement.

By the way—Mr. Mu is really handsome, the most handsome man I’ve ever seen in real life!

And he’s super cute too. Here are some photos of his daily life: [pic][pic][pic] ]

Before posting, she even showed it to Mu Xing.

He read it happily and asked, “Am I really that good in your eyes? You’re praising me too much, aren’t you?”

Xiao Yu’s face turned even redder—round and rosy like a ripe apple, very cute.

She whispered quickly, “I wasn’t exaggerating. And it’s not just me who thinks so.”

Then, looking up at him with hope: “So… can I post it?”

Mu Xing chuckled: “Of course. How could I complain about being praised?”

Xiao Yu replied with a gleeful heart-hand emoji.

With the ongoing buzz, her post was soon picked up and reposted by big V accounts.

And Mu Shao, who was closely following everything, immediately confirmed the post’s authenticity.

Onlookers flocked in, surprised at how different the reality was from what they imagined:

【Wow, just from the way this is written, Mr. Mu sounds like such a gentle person.】

【These pics—one’s a bookshelf full of fairy tales, one’s a Candy Crush screen, and one’s… a cup of goji berry tea? What’s going on? Is this big boss actually adorable?】

【If this is true, I really admire him. Two years ago I lost my lower leg in a car accident at 20, and even with a prosthetic it took me over a year to accept reality.】

【??? I thought Mu Xing was some stern workaholic type? Damn, aside from the goji tea not being too surprising, this is the first time I’ve seen a CEO reading fairy tales.】

【So nice. I hope Mu Xing recovers soon.】

【Just from these descriptions I’m a little smitten. How on earth could Qin Leyi feel nothing for a man like this?】

【Because she was greedy! No matter how handsome or gentle a man is, some people just get tired and go looking for “excitement.” Cheating is disgusting no matter who does it.】

【Gross. Qin Leyi is disgusting!】

In the end, the discussion still circled back to Qin Leyi’s infidelity.

Meanwhile, Qin Leyi had locked herself at home for two days.

She received countless calls and texts—but aside from a quick check-in from her parents, she ignored them all.

For two days, she forced herself to calm down, trying to think of a way out of this mess.

But she couldn’t find one.

She had cheated, and there was a recording—ironclad proof.

If there was any way to turn things around, it could only be by finding flaws on the other side.

Unless Mu Xing had a darker scandal—like if he had cheated first, been abusive, or was some paranoid control freak—something big enough to overshadow her own mistake and make her look better by comparison.

But she couldn’t find anything.

One after another, notifications from partners terminating contracts flooded in, leaving her agitated and frantic.

Even the two endorsements she still held—both brands had contacted her to end the contracts, and because of her tarnished reputation, she might also have to pay additional penalty fees.

Qin Leyi stayed at home, thinking for a long time.

On the third night, just before dawn, she called a close friend.

By the time her friend, panicked, rushed over to her apartment, the place reeked of blood.

Qin Leyi had slit her wrists in the bathroom.

Luckily, her friend had sensed something was wrong from her tone on the phone and arrived in time—otherwise, she might not have been saved.

Qin Leyi was rushed to the hospital for treatment and later underwent a psychological evaluation. The results showed she had severe anxiety and depressive tendencies which, if left unchecked, could very likely develop into full depression.

Nothing is more important than life and death.

Once this news broke, the online abuse against her immediately dropped by half.

Of course, some remained unconvinced and continued to attack her, but at least it was no longer a one-sided boycott.

Lying in the hospital, Qin Leyi agreed to an interview.

In the video, she appeared pale and frail, her voice choked with tears as she faced the camera:

“I was wrong. I deeply regret the hurt I caused Mu Xing, and I regret not being able to resist outside temptations. I failed Mu Xing, I failed the company, and I failed the fans who have always liked and supported me.”

She bowed her head deeply.

“I’m sorry!”

❣╰(⸝⸝⸝꒳⸝⸝⸝)╯❣

The interview was published as a written transcript. Probably because they had never done an entertainment gossip interview before, the editor—more used to writing in dense financial jargon—chose to simply convert the key exchanges between the two into text.

Reporter: You’re saying that you and the well-known actress Qin Leyi are in a relationship?
Mu Xing: Let me correct that—we were in a relationship. She’s my ex.
Reporter: Understood. Right now the internet is abuzz with news that Qin Leyi terminated her contract with Glory Entertainment. As everyone knows, Glory Entertainment is a subsidiary of Zhaoxing Group. Does this have anything to do with your personal relationship?
Mu Xing: Yes. That’s also why I contacted you to do this interview.
Mu Xing: Qin Leyi and I were together for two years. She wanted to be a big star, so I founded Glory Entertainment for her. She had no sugar daddy, but yes, she was a “connections baby”—at my instruction, the company gave her resources far beyond even top-tier stars. But all of this, at the beginning, was voluntary on my part.
Reporter: And now the situation is?
Mu Xing: We broke up.
Mu Xing: Because she cheated.
Mu Xing: The company will never again give her resources. Ending the contract was her own proposal.
Mu Xing: I’ve seen some of the online chatter recently. Yes, Qin Leyi is currently one of Glory’s hottest artists. But people don’t need to exaggerate about how much money she earned for Glory. If you look at the return-on-investment numbers for what Glory spent on her, you’d see the company hasn’t even recouped its costs.
Mu Xing: And as for rumors about Glory Entertainment coercing its artists into casting-couch deals—those are baseless lies.

…

The Q\&A was actually rather stiff.

Mainly because the reporter wasn’t skilled at this type of interview—throughout, it was mechanical question and answer, the air heavy with awkwardness.

Still, it concluded smoothly.

At the end, they included a recording and a document.

The recording, made in Mu Xing’s hospital room, captured the moment he confronted Qin Leyi about her cheating.

The document was part of Qin Leyi’s original contract with Glory.

There was no doubt—once published, this interview blew the internet wide open.

Stunned were not only Qin Leyi’s fans and gossip-hungry netizens, but also Qin Leyi herself.

She had never imagined Mu Xing would actually dare say it out loud.

For what? To salvage Glory Entertainment’s reputation?

Yet Glory’s entire yearly performance couldn’t even match one order from Zhaoxing headquarters.

Did he really hate her that much? Hate her enough to throw away face just to grind her into the dust?

Her face stiff, Qin Leyi finished the text and clicked on the recording, her hand trembling.

“…Why did you cheat? Was I not good enough to you?”

“Being with you made me feel like I had no self.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you break up with me first?”

“…”

It was over.

Coldness surged up from the soles of her feet, freezing her whole body.

Cheating, even among ordinary people, was unforgivable. For a celebrity—a public figure, the idealized goddess in her fans’ hearts—it was even more damning.

Yes, everyone said the entertainment industry was messy, rumors flying everywhere. But most had no proof.

When there was proof, those careers sank without a trace.

Especially as a female star—public opinion was always harsher. And Glory had built Qin Leyi’s brand around purity and defiant innocence.

All gone.

Her hand shaking, she scrolled down to the comments.

【Holy crap, this is the scandal of the year! I actually pitied Qin Leyi a few days ago. I’m deleting my old comments immediately.】
【Secretly dating, and cheating on top of that. This is your “pure, authentic, iron-willed” goddess?】
【??? Damn, my whole office is talking about this after lunch break.】
【…As a finance major, I feel complicated. Mu Xing is like a campus god to half our school—Qin Leyi, how high were your sights?】
【Wow, this contract. Can we all agree it’s the fairest deal in the whole industry?】
【Isn’t the real issue that Qin Leyi had the audacity to cheat on the very top boss?】
【Call it dating if you want—but bluntly, wasn’t it just being kept? With the “girlfriend” label slapped on. No need to paint the guy as lovestruck. Rich heirs like him lack women? He just got cheated on and lashed out.】
【Whatever the spin, the cheating is confirmed.】

…

WeChat kept buzzing.

Opening it, Qin Leyi saw message after message.

Most were people prying for gossip. Through the words, she could almost see their gloating faces.

Her agent Amy also messaged.

Amy: …
Amy: [smile emoji]Amy: Count your blessings when you have them.

Meanwhile, a few brands—who’d been eyeing her massive trending heat after the contract split—had been reaching out.

But as soon as this dropped, they cut ties unilaterally.

Hype was valuable, but a spokesperson’s reputation mattered more.

Qin Leyi had foreseen some of this.

Expressionless, she opened a fan group she’d joined with a burner account, and checked the supertopic.

Sure enough—chaos. Abuse, mockery, gossip, and a small handful of fans still struggling to whitewash her image.

【The recording was released by the man, of course he’d only include the parts that favor him.】

【I don’t believe Yiyi would do such a thing. I’ve heard the rich circle is messy—maybe that Mu Xing himself had several girlfriends at the same time. If a man can cheat, why can’t a woman?】

【LOL. Everyone knows how popular Yiyi has been these past two years, and he’s saying she lost money? And he supposedly founded a company just for his girlfriend—does he think he’s in a drama?】

These “damage-control” comments didn’t get much traction. Onlookers mostly thought her fans were brainwashed to the point of losing all common sense.

But the sheer stupidity of some posts still managed to piss off people.

For example, Mu Shao, who had just read the expose and was completely stunned.

He immediately called Mu Xing.

“Bro, was that interview real?”

Mu Xing: “Mm.”

Mu Shao, furious: “So you got cheated on by Qin Leyi and that scumbag Cheng Qian, and then they still tried to twist public opinion against you?”

Mu Xing: “Mm.”

Mu Shao, fuming: “Disgusting! Shameless! And that bastard Cheng Qian—next time I see him, I’ll beat him to a pulp!”

He worriedly asked, “Bro, you’re really okay?”

Mu Xing, flipping through his storybook, casually replied: “What could happen to me? Next time you come over, bring me some pastries from Yuzhen Ji.”

Hearing that his brother still cared about snacks, Mu Shao finally relaxed.

The call ended. Without hesitation, he logged into his main Weibo account and started blasting.

@ErShaoyeBuEr V:
[Just learned certain things, I’m furious and heartbroken. My brother deserved better. We all knew about Qin Leyi. My dad never approved of her, father and son argued over it, but my brother insisted, so the family let him be. I used to wonder why, when he loved her so much—talking about marriage and the future—he never brought her home. Now I know, turns out the girl thought our family wasn’t “good enough” for her.
Don’t give me that crap about the circle being messy. Anyone who knows my brother knows he’s a workaholic. He’s dead serious about relationships. Qin Leyi just wasn’t worthy.]

After posting, Second Young Master immediately paid to pin his post to the homepage.

He wanted everyone to see his cursing.

The account didn’t have many fans—mostly mutual follows with other wealthy kids.

But seeing him speak up, plenty of people reposted, adding things they personally knew.

@ShuaiZhangYing V: Not to mention, everyone in our circle knew Brother Mu Xing had a girlfriend he cherished. Just a fling? No way.
@SkiOrSurf V: Not to mention, buying a company to support your girlfriend’s career—it’s not that hard if you’ve got the means.
@CangShanFuXue V: Not to mention, Cheng Qian’s kneecaps still intact?

…

Clicking into these accounts showed rows of golden verified badges—blinding the onlookers.

【Damn, are all these verified accounts legit…】

【So his friends knew, his family knew, everyone knew. That says it all.】

【Wow, founding a company just to support your girlfriend—this is straight out of a drama. I believe Mu Xing really loved Qin Leyi.】

【And Qin Leyi still cheated on him? Guessing wildly—maybe Mu Xing is ugly?】

【Here, I just found pics from the financial site interview. Judge for yourselves. [pics][pics][pics]】

【Holy sht?】 【Holy sht this man is Mu Xing?】
【Even in unflattering candids with no filters, he’s ridiculously handsome. I suddenly believe those romance novel CEOs exist.】

【This is the Mu Xing from the interview? If I had a boyfriend like this, I could stare at him twelve hours a day and never get tired! Qin Leyi’s standards must be astronomical.】

【Just caught a new tidbit—the guy she cheated with is Cheng Qian. Everyone knows Wanjiaxiang Jewelry, right? He’s their heir. This woman’s got guts.】

【Unreal! So Qin Leyi dared to break her contract with Glory and smear her ex’s company because her new boyfriend was backing her?】

【Rumor: Mu Xing and Cheng Qian were close friends. So the real tragedy is Mu Xing’s—betrayed by both girlfriend and brother-in-arms. Double pain.】

【Another rumor: Cheng Qian is the real playboy. He’s had tons of girlfriends, and his current one isn’t even Qin Leyi.】

【Oh? So Qin Leyi cheated with Cheng Qian and didn’t even end up as his girlfriend—she just lost a man who truly loved her.】

【I still don’t think it’s that simple. If Mu Xing’s really this perfect, why would Qin Leyi cheat? He must have some problem.】

【Seriously? Victim-blaming at a time like this? If you were standing in front of me right now, I’d slap you twice. “It must be your fault or I wouldn’t hit you”—does that logic sound familiar?】

【Wait—do you guys even know… Mu Xing was in a car accident recently. [screenshot][screenshot]】

Someone posted a news screenshot dated last month: Zhaoxing’s CEO Mu Xing was in a car accident, leaving his legs paralyzed, unlikely to walk again.

【Oh my god!】
【I just checked his profile—he’s not even 30 yet. Betrayed by his girlfriend, crippled by a car accident… this is like a real-life tragedy.】
【If I were him—falling from golden boy to this—I don’t think I’d even have the will to live.】

❣╰(⸝⸝⸝꒳⸝⸝⸝)╯❣

She couldn’t help but say, “Yiyi, maybe you should…”

Go apologize to that person?

No one understood better than Amy how extraordinary Qin Leyi’s resources had been these past two years.

And precisely because she understood, she couldn’t believe the relationship between Qin Leyi and that man had been just a simple sugar-daddy arrangement.

She didn’t know why Qin Leyi had offended him, but since he had once genuinely cared, if Qin Leyi bowed her head and apologized, surely he wouldn’t go so far as to cut her off completely?

Unfortunately, Amy didn’t know what Qin Leyi had actually done. If she had known that Qin Leyi had betrayed the very top figure behind Glory, she would never have thought of advising her to apologize.

She would’ve packed her bags that very night, making it crystal clear she and Qin Leyi had nothing beyond a work relationship.

Qin Leyi cut her off.
“Sister Amy, don’t say anything else. Prepare the termination paperwork for me.”

Amy was startled. “Terminate your contract?”

Her heart raced as she searched Qin Leyi’s face for a trace of joking.
“Don’t be crazy. Do you even realize how much your penalty fee is?”

Qin Leyi’s tone was low.
“Of course I know. But I have no future left at Glory. Even if I have to sell everything I own, I must leave.”

She looked at Amy, her expression apologetic.
“Sister Amy, I’m sorry for all the effort you’ve put into me.”

Amy’s chest tightened.

As her agent, she had benefited greatly from Qin Leyi’s rise these past two years.

Besides, while Qin Leyi sometimes had a temper, she was generous and easy to get along with. They had genuine rapport.

She asked softly, “There’s really no other way?”

Remembering that hospital room, that indifferent face and merciless words, Qin Leyi’s expression cooled.
“No need to say more. Just prepare the termination.”

Amy sighed and turned to gather the paperwork.

Meanwhile, in another ward, Mu Xing received a message from Glory Entertainment’s manager.

“Terminate her contract?” Mu Xing nodded. “Good.”

The manager knew about their relationship, and knew how much Mu always used to like his girlfriend. But he had no idea why the two had fallen out.

He asked, “Then, President Mu, should we make things…difficult in the process?”

Glory’s legal team was the same one under Zhaoxing Group—among the best in the industry. If they wanted to, they could skin Qin Leyi alive.

Mu Xing shook his head.
“No need. Just follow the normal procedure. Handle it as you see fit.”

He didn’t want to see that woman again. Since Qin Leyi herself wanted to terminate and was willing to pay, there was no point dragging it out.

And so the process went unusually smoothly.

Qin Leyi’s fans kept waiting for an explanation from the company—or for her to come forward to fight back.

But what they got instead was a bombshell from well-known paparazzo Huahuazi:

#Top rising star Qin Leyi terminated her contract with Glory Entertainment the other day, paying a penalty in the tens of millions!#

The report connected this with her recent string of canceled appearances, hinting that she must have offended the higher-ups at Glory.

The scoop immediately shot to the top of the hot search.

No one knew Huahuazi’s true identity, but he always managed to be one step ahead, exposing secrets no one else knew.

He had once insinuated that Qin Leyi had powerful backing, and was viciously attacked by her fans for it.

Back then, Mu Xing had suppressed it.

But this time, no one did PR for her.

Fans swarmed her Weibo, demanding answers. Glory Entertainment’s official account was flooded with comments. Even the company’s phone lines were jammed.

Finally, Qin Leyi spoke:

@QinLeyiV: I have now terminated my contract with Glory Entertainment. The past two years were the most brilliant of my life, and I don’t regret them.

This confirmed Huahuazi’s report.

She didn’t even deny that she had personally paid the astronomical penalty.

Glory followed up with a statement: the cooperation between Glory Entertainment and Miss Qin Leyi had ended.

Compared with Qin Leyi’s polite farewell, Glory’s announcement was cold and formulaic.

First her roles and appearances were taken away.

Then she terminated her contract, paying a sky-high penalty.

Then Huahuazi’s explosive scoop.

No one doubted it anymore—Qin Leyi had offended someone.

And that someone had to be high up in Glory Entertainment.

How could her fans swallow such an injustice?

They flooded all of Glory’s social media accounts, and started digging into the dirt of the company’s executives.

They even uncovered some: a deputy GM’s affair, a director’s questionable orientation, and so on.

None of it had anything to do with Qin Leyi.

But it was enough to make many nervous. For a while, the higher-ups at Glory all felt on edge.

And this was only the beginning.

Her fans, convinced their idol had been wronged, turned their attacks on Glory’s other artists when they found no more dirt on the executives.

Among them, the worst hit was Jiang Zhi—the actress who had “stolen” Qin Leyi’s lead role.

She was viciously harassed online. Even her home address was leaked. One night, someone knocked on her door and left a bloody dead rat outside.

And yet those extreme fans still felt they were the ones wronged—fighting for their Yiyi’s injustice.

[For two years Yiyi has worked so hard—how much money did she earn for Glory? Paying tens of millions in penalty fees—Glory, you’re heartless!]

[I looked it up. This lousy company has only been around for two years, right? Yiyi’s the only real top star there. They sucked her dry for two years and now kicked her to the curb. Glory, I curse you to go bankrupt tomorrow!]

[So who exactly did Yiyi offend? Don’t tell me she refused some sleazy old man’s casting couch and got retaliated against?]

[Glory is doomed to flop—may every artist under Glory flop straight to the earth’s core!]

While cursing Glory, these fans also went everywhere promoting Qin Leyi, telling everyone how miserably she’d been bullied.

…

The situation escalated so much that hot-tempered people like Jiang Zhi had already called the police, sent lawyer’s letters, and were preparing to sue.

A few lesser-known small artists were tormented to the point of utter misery.

From start to finish, Qin Leyi didn’t say a word—in fact, she was pleased to see it happen.

How could she not harbor some resentment toward Mu Xing for being so heartless?

And after this wave of fan-driven ferment, the story became: she was maliciously targeted by the company, refused the casting couch, couldn’t fight the powers that be, and had to pay an astronomical penalty with tears in her eyes…

A textbook “beautiful, strong, tragic” figure, winning over who knows how many casual onlookers as fans.

In this story, Glory Entertainment naturally became the ultimate vicious villain.

Glory, which had been preparing for an IPO, suffered a heavy blow. Forget listing—many partners hinted they wanted to terminate collaborations with its artists.

Mu Xing originally knew nothing about this.

In the hospital, his shelves held a dozen-odd sets of children’s literature that Mu Shao had bought him. Each day he read a bit, sipped his health tea; aside from his immobile legs, the rest of his injuries were mostly fine.

He wasn’t the type to follow entertainment gossip, and now he had every reason to focus on recuperating, setting aside company matters—let alone a Qin Leyi he’d already pushed from his mind.

It was Mu Shao who called him.

Mu Shao knew Qin Leyi was his brother’s girlfriend, but not what had happened between them. Seeing the gossip, he sent Mu Xing the link with three question marks:

【What’s going on, bro—you broke up? Even if you did, it didn’t have to get this ugly, right?】

He didn’t particularly care about Glory Entertainment—this small company his brother had built for a girlfriend was nothing compared to the vast Zhaoxing Group.

He was curious about his brother’s love life.

Mu Xing didn’t reply. He clicked into the link and finally understood what had been happening.

He called the general manager of Glory Entertainment.

The other party spoke with a forced smile:
“You’re recuperating—we didn’t want to bother you with a small matter like this.”

Mostly, they were afraid of being scolded and wanted to handle it themselves.

Mu Xing sighed.

He had no idea why Qin Leyi could stir up so much trouble.

He hadn’t planned to get involved at all—who would’ve thought her fans would go this crazy?

As for this big farce, if anyone said it didn’t have her tacit approval—or even her fanning the flames—Mu Xing would never believe it.

He couldn’t understand: was Qin Leyi so certain that, for the sake of pride, he would hide the fact he’d been cheated on?

Well… thinking about the original him, he might indeed have swallowed it for the sake of face.

As for Qin Leyi’s thinking, he could guess: since she’d already fallen out with Mu Xing and wouldn’t get anything good from him, she might as well fish some benefits out of it.

What she hadn’t accounted for was that her ex-boyfriend had been replaced by someone else.

Mu Xing couldn’t fathom the original Qin Leyi’s mindset.

She was the one who had actually cheated, yet she acted so fearless.

Mu Xing was clearly the victim—yet he still had to cover up her secret?

Why?

Mu Xing picked up his phone and messaged a news site the original him contacted frequently.

The reporter arrived at the hospital dressed very formally, with an equally proper team in tow.

A little over an hour later, they left looking somewhat shell-shocked.

That night at 8 p.m., prime time when netizens are most active—

A piece of news dropped out of nowhere.

A highly authoritative yet niche financial news website published an entertainment-gossip article.

The site’s traffic wasn’t large, because its content was usually sober, abstruse coverage of economic and current affairs—mostly read by business magnates and students in related fields.

But that day, on the right side of the homepage, they placed a story tied to the hottest topic of the moment.

Many people clicked in.

Ten seconds later, they clicked out in confusion, double-checked the URL to make sure they hadn’t gone to the wrong site, then, curiosity piqued, clicked back in again.

And of course, they shared it.

Once the interview hit the public eye, it inevitably—

Blew up.

“Did rising actress Qin Leyi get suppressed for refusing the casting couch? No—the truth is here!”

The title sounded like clickbait from a sketchy marketing account.

But once you clicked in—

The content was rigorous, well-argued, with evidence piled up like a mountain. Most importantly…

The interviewee was the other true principal in this entire affair.

❣╰(⸝⸝⸝꒳⸝⸝⸝)╯❣

Qin Leyi was one of the hottest female stars of the past two years, with a huge fanbase.

Her fans were convinced she had been wronged.

In no time, the official social media accounts of both the program and the drama crew were flooded with comments from Qin Leyi’s fans.

They didn’t outright curse anyone. Many even pretended to be neutral bystanders, asking why the casting was different from earlier leaks and demanding a reasonable explanation.

But Jiang Zhi’s side wasn’t so lucky.

Her comment section was completely swarmed.

Unflattering pictures, old interview “black history,” and plenty of fresh “scandals” were all being dug up.

Many new accounts claimed with certainty that Jiang Zhi had found a new backer—otherwise, how could she possibly have landed such a role?

【I don’t get it. In terms of looks, popularity, or fit for the role, how is Qin Leyi worse than Jiang Zhi?】
【Jiang Zhi’s been in the industry for years, always a lukewarm supporting actress. Suddenly she gets such a great role—nobody thinks that’s suspicious?】
【Ha, Jiang Zhi always claimed a “professional and Buddhist” persona, but she’s better than anyone at stealing roles.】
【Shameless role-stealer!】

Jiang Zhi might not have been very popular, but she still had a small loyal fanbase. Seeing this, of course they couldn’t sit still.

【Certain fans shouldn’t act all sarcastic. Before you accuse others of having sugar daddies, maybe check if your own idol’s slate is clean. The industry’s biggest “connections baby” has the nerve to mock others?】
【What do you mean, ‘stealing roles’? The crew never announced any cast list. Your idol’s fans bragged by themselves, and now they’ve been slapped in the face—whose fault is that?】
【Not suitable? In terms of skill and acting, our Zhi is definitely stronger than some resource-fed starlet.】

…

When Qin Leyi saw the mess online, she immediately turned to her agent.
“You hired water armies?”

The agent denied it. “No.”

She still didn’t know which higher-up Qin Leyi had offended, nor what their attitude toward her really was. How could she dare step in to clean things up?

Amy, seeing how anxious Qin Leyi looked, couldn’t help asking,
“What’s going on with you? From the way you sound, you don’t want this to blow up?”

She hesitated, then added,
“If we guide public opinion a bit, it could work in your favor.”

After all, Qin Leyi was the victim. At most they’d gain some sympathy. But the other side had already secured real benefits.

Qin Leyi only shook her head.

Irritated, she walked into another room and called Cheng Qian.

Because of Mu Xing, the two had been deliberately keeping their distance and hadn’t met for days.

As soon as he picked up, Qin Leyi said,
“Cheng Qian, you’ve seen the news online, right? Mu Xing’s out for revenge on me. I can’t stay at Glory anymore.”

Of course Cheng Qian had seen it. He was out drinking with friends, but after gesturing to them, he stepped outside and leaned against a wall.
“Then leave.”

Qin Leyi snorted.
“Easy for you to say. I have a contract with Glory—the penalty fee is in the tens of millions.”

Cheng Qian was silent for a moment, then cautiously suggested,
“Then maybe you should endure it for now?”

Qin Leyi raised her voice.
“You want me to endure it? If I don’t leave Glory, my career will be ruined! Whose fault do you think this is? Are you even a man?”

Their relationship wasn’t yet as deep as in the “original storyline.” They weren’t even an official couple.

That kind of tone was not pleasant for Cheng Qian to hear.

His face darkened.
“It takes two to tango, Leyi. Don’t put all the blame on me.”

Hearing the displeasure in his tone, Qin Leyi almost lashed out again, but thought better of it.

She had already completely offended Mu Xing—she couldn’t afford to offend Cheng Qian too.

At least she still had some kind of fling with him. If she didn’t find someone to protect her, how would she survive Mu Xing’s revenge?

She said pitifully,
“But Cheng Qian, you can’t just abandon me. I like you so much, I’ve given you everything. If you don’t help me, Mu Xing really will drive me to death!”

Cheng Qian was doubtful.
“Mu Xing wouldn’t go that far, would he?”

Qin Leyi said,
“He told me to my face he can’t stand the sight of me. He’s already blacklisted me. This is just the beginning.”

Cheng Qian still had some feelings for her.
“So what do you want?”

Qin Leyi said,
“You pay my penalty fee. Then, doesn’t your family have stakes in entertainment companies? I’ll sign with yours. Then Mu Xing can’t touch me.”

Cheng Qian shook his head.
“No.”

Qin Leyi said matter-of-factly,
“Then buy one. With your family’s money, that’s easy.”

Cheng Qian stared at the phone in disbelief.
“Are you crazy, Qin Leyi?”

Qin Leyi froze. “What?”

Cheng Qian found it laughable.
“You think acquiring a company is as easy as saying it? You want us to buy an entire company just to keep you?”

Qin Leyi shot back,
“What do you mean ‘keep me’? With my popularity, it’d be a win-win for the company and me—”

“Win-win?” Cheng Qian sneered.

Suddenly he remembered why he had been attracted to her in the first place.

That day, he’d seen her standing at a street corner. Though her body was petite and delicate, her features fine and fragile, there had been a proud, cold defiance in her bearing.

Like a delicate yet unyielding flower—irresistibly drawing him in, making him want to pluck it, to taste it.

But now, looking back, that fragility was probably fake. That toughness too.

Beneath that flower were countless twisted roots, waiting for a chance to coil around a target, strangling tightly, draining away its life.

There was mockery in his eyes, and his expression gradually turned careless.
“I’ll transfer the money to you later. As for anything else—don’t come to me again.”

Qin Leyi frowned. “What do you mean?”

Cheng Qian said meaningfully,
“Fools like Mu Xing—I won’t say there’s only one in the world, but Qin Leyi, in your whole life, you’ll probably only ever meet one like him.”

For some reason, he suddenly felt a wave of boredom.

Ignoring Qin Leyi’s questioning words, he ended the call listlessly, then contacted his assistant to transfer money into Qin Leyi’s account.

Before Qin Leyi could even get angry over being hung up on, there was a knock at the door.

Her agent Amy stood outside, expression unreadable.
“Jiang Zhi just posted on Weibo.”

A bad feeling rose in Qin Leyi’s chest. She quickly opened Weibo.

@JiangZhiV: Been focused on studying my script lately. Don’t bother cueing your Sister Zhi for no reason. I can swear on my conscience that every role I’ve gotten has been earned by myself. Can certain rumor-mongers dare say the same for their idol? [smile]
Oh, and I’ve never been ‘Buddhist.’ I just can’t be bothered to respond.

This post had been up for less than ten minutes, yet it already had thousands of comments. It was now trending, its heat rising at an astonishing speed.

At this time, with these words—everyone knew Jiang Zhi was throwing shade. It was practically an open slap, accusing Qin Leyi of having a sugar daddy.

The comment section below was already a battlefield.

Amy thought back to what had just happened.

Jiang Zhi was also signed to Glory. Amy had just reached out to a deputy general manager she had a good relationship with, but the other party flatly told her: don’t get involved in this matter.

The meaning was crystal clear.

The company had abandoned Qin Leyi.

❣╰(⸝⸝⸝꒳⸝⸝⸝)╯❣

His brother’s expression was so strange that Mu Xing couldn’t ignore it.

He asked, “Do I look that frightening?”

Mu Shao quickly shook his head.

Mu Xing asked again, “So what are you here for?”

Mu Shao coughed lightly. “Just came to see you.”

Seeing how calm Mu Xing looked, he carefully organized his words before saying cautiously,
“Brother, there’s a saying… uh… when heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person… no, that’s not it—sharp swords are forged by grinding. Hardship is only temporary. The obstacle in front of you will also pass. If you’re feeling upset, you don’t need to hold it in. You can tell me…”

Mu Xing listened to the ramble, but couldn’t find any point in it.

He interrupted, “What exactly are you trying to say? Speak human words!”

Mu Shao shut his mouth, then blurted quickly,
“I just mean—it’s okay. We’ll treat this properly. If it heals, great. If it doesn’t, I’ll still take care of you. Don’t be too sad.”

Mu Xing was a little surprised to hear such words from him. He studied his expression before asking uncertainly,
“You’re… comforting me?”

Mu Shao gave an awkward snort.
“You’ve been the person I’ve aimed to surpass since childhood. If you were defeated by something like this, wouldn’t that make my judgment seem really poor?”

Rather tsundere.

Not long ago he’d had to face Cheng Qian and Qin Leyi, two disgusting people. Now, seeing his clumsy but kindhearted younger brother, Mu Xing felt his mood improve considerably.

Cheerfully, he said, “Don’t worry. I’m not sad. And my legs will definitely recover.”

Mu Shao looked at him suspiciously for a long time. Seeing no sign of pretense, he finally relaxed.

He sat down beside him and said,
“Then make sure you do recover quickly. Otherwise, by the time your legs are healed, the company will already be mine.”

Mu Shao didn’t bother to hide his ambition for the family business. In the past, it was only because Mu Xing was too outstanding that he hadn’t seemed like a threat.

But Mu Xing didn’t care much about the company’s ownership. He smiled.
“If you’ve got the ability, then what’s yours will be yours.”

The moment he said this, Mu Shao’s expression shifted again, tangled, as though he wanted to speak but didn’t dare.

“Just say whatever you want.”

Mu Shao shook his head.

Mu Xing didn’t press. He casually said,
“Then hand me my cup of water. The thermos right next to you.”

Mu Shao did as asked, unscrewing the lid and handing it over. But when his eyes swept the surface of the steaming water, he froze.

He thought he saw floating on top a few bright red… goji berries?

In disbelief, he asked,
“You’re drinking goji tea?”

Wasn’t that something only their father’s age drank?

Mu Xing looked puzzled.
“Yes. What’s the problem?”

In his past life, because of his body, he had been very health-conscious. And since the Mu family, his Master, and Ah Yue had also been strict about his health, Mu Xing had grown up into something of a “health freak.”

Many habits carried over into this life, impossible to change.

To Mu Shao, though, this was a big problem.

What kind of man was his brother?

A workaholic demon, who relied on his youth to work overtime, sometimes traveling nonstop for half a month. He had once even kept working through a fever.

And this person was now drinking health teas?

Seeing his expression, Mu Xing recalled the original body’s character and knew exactly what this brother was thinking.

He sighed, then said solemnly,
“This accident has made me think a lot.”

Mu Shao looked at him intently.

Mu Xing gave another sigh, looking like someone who had seen through life.
“Nothing matters more than health. My old lifestyle wasn’t good. Why push myself so hard?”

He tapped the book by his side and smiled.
“Sitting here reading a fairy tale and sipping hot tea—that’s a pretty comfortable life.”

Mu Shao and Yuan Rui looked at each other, dumbfounded.

After a long silence, Mu Shao finally let out a breath, stood, and said,
“Then you keep reading. I’ll go buy you some more books later. I’ll head back now.”

Yuan Rui quickly added,
“Goodbye, Brother Mu.”

“Mm. Goodbye.” Mu Xing waved at them with a smile, so kind and gentle that Mu Shao almost wondered if his memories of his domineering big brother had been a dream.

But once outside the hospital, he exhaled and said with relief,
“Even though he’s acting different from what I expected, I feel reassured now.”

Yuan Rui, not knowing Mu Xing well, didn’t think much of it. He asked,
“Reassured about what?”

Mu Shao said,
“You don’t understand. When I heard him just now say he doesn’t even care about the company, I was terrified.”

He shuddered.
“He’s always valued career above everything. If he’s saying things like that, I was afraid he’d been hit so hard he was planning to give up on life.”

Yuan Rui was startled.
“No way, right?”

“Luckily, since he’s drinking goji tea now, it must just be me overthinking.” Mu Shao patted his chest in relief.

He seemed in a good mood, humming a tune as he drove, even planning to go to a bookstore and buy some children’s literature for Mu Xing.

His big brother’s new hobby might be strange, but as a younger brother, he should support it.

*

While the Mu brothers were bonding and their relationship seemed to improve, on the other side, Qin Leyi’s days were becoming difficult.

She had always been known inside Glory Entertainment as a “connections girl.”

Back when she and Mu Xing were dating, he had wanted to make their relationship public, but Qin Leyi had refused. So it remained secret. Nobody ever knew exactly who was backing her.

All sorts of rumors had circulated before, but none were ever confirmed, so people only gossiped about her in private.

Inside the company, she didn’t have many real friends either—after all, others felt it was unfair.

And now, things had taken a turn.

Her resources were being visibly cut back, even projects already finalized and awaiting announcement were suddenly reassigned. Many people whispered behind her back, wondering if the person supporting her had abandoned her.

But the entertainment circle was full of shrewd people. Working under the same company, and with no direct enmity, no one would mock her to her face.

Still, the veiled remarks, the sarcastic jabs—those were endless.

Her agent repeatedly asked her what was going on.

But what could Qin Leyi say?

She couldn’t say, and she didn’t dare to.

While she kept silent, her fans couldn’t.

Originally, she had been scheduled to record a highly popular variety show over the weekend. She had already received the script, and all kinds of leaks had spread. Many fans on her super-topic already knew about it. They were only waiting for the official announcement.

But when the program list was announced today, Qin Leyi’s name was nowhere to be found among the guests.

Had the earlier information been fake?

Not at all. A fan claiming to work at the TV station confirmed: Qin Leyi was the original invitee, but Glory Entertainment’s contact suddenly changed their stance and recommended a more established senior artist instead.

That senior rarely appeared on variety shows and had far greater name recognition. The TV station wasn’t running a charity—of course they agreed.

It looked exactly like Qin Leyi had been replaced.

Before fans could even organize a protest, it happened again.

Two months ago, a big gossip account had revealed that a major production—a workplace drama centered on a powerful female lead—was in talks with Qin Leyi, and both sides were interested.

Today, the casting was officially announced.

The heroine was not Qin Leyi, but Jiang Zhi—another artist from Glory Entertainment, who had been steadily acting for years, with good reviews but without ever becoming popular.

This time, the fans exploded.

They had no doubt at all—their beloved Yiyi was being targeted!

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