Chapter 56 p1
Waking up in Xu Jingyu’s bed, Xin Yao stretched languidly in the warm sunlight, rubbing her sleep-tousled hair before getting out of bed.
As she stood up, her pale gray pajama pants, much too large for her, pooled around her ankles.
She was wearing her girlfriend’s clothes.
Xu Jingyu was much taller than Xin Yao, and everything of hers seemed oversized: her hugs, her clothes, even her hands, her fingers a full knuckle longer than Xin Yao’s.
A single touch, a gentle caress, was enough to make Xin Yao cry.
Having successfully resolved a major issue the previous day, Xin Yao had been in a good mood, her initial resistance crumbling as she surrendered to Xu Jingyu’s passionate embrace, their lovemaking lasting late into the night, Xin Yao’s tears a mixture of pleasure and exhaustion.
She had slept in late, finally waking up when the sun was already high in the sky.
Padding across the floor in her oversized slippers, she opened the bedroom door and looked at the living room.
At first glance, it looked like Xu Jingyu’s old apartment, its minimalist decor, the black, white, and gray color scheme, the only splash of color being the wall of candy, a stark contrast to the cold, impersonal atmosphere.
But Xin Yao had been here last night.
Unlike the aloof and almost robotic Xu Jingyu, Xin Yao was more carefree and spontaneous.
She had tossed her bag onto the table, her coat onto the sofa, the warm air from the heating making her shed her outer layers.
Then, amidst laughter, tears, and whispered moans, their lovemaking had begun on the sofa, her pale green lace bra now discarded on the coffee table, the expensive rug still bearing the marks of their passion.
Xu Jingyu’s usually pristine apartment, now slightly disheveled, felt more lived-in, more like a home.
Xin Yao stood in the doorway, looking towards the kitchen.
Xu Jingyu, wearing a simple white T-shirt, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing her slender arms and elegant hands, was cooking.
It was almost lunchtime, and she was making Xin Yao’s favorite dish: braised beef with tomatoes.
The morning sunlight illuminated her face, her long, dark hair cascading down her back, her appearance both elegant and gentle.
President Xu, the aloof movie queen, was now simply Xin Yao’s girlfriend.
Hearing Xin Yao approach, Xu Jingyu looked up, her eyes lighting up as she saw her.
She set down her utensils, wiped her hands, and walked towards Xin Yao.
Xin Yao, however, raised her hand, stopping her.
“Stay there! Don’t move!”
Xu Jingyu, slightly puzzled, obeyed, her movements stilling.
Xin Yao stretched, then, taking a deep breath, bent down slightly, as if preparing to run.
The next moment, she was running towards Xu Jingyu, a bright smile on her face, her arms outstretched, her legs kicking out playfully as she jumped into Xu Jingyu’s arms.
“Catch me!” she exclaimed, her legs wrapping around Xu Jingyu’s waist.
Xu Jingyu caught her effortlessly, her strong arms holding her securely, her body not even swaying from the impact.
Waking up to see her lover’s face, to hold her close, it was a perfect start to the day.
Xu Jingyu felt like she was melting, her heart overflowing with warmth and affection.
She wanted every morning to be like this, to wake up with Xin Yao in her arms.
Her hand gently caressing Xin Yao’s waist, her head buried in her neck, she murmured, “Yaoyao, let’s get married.”
Wow.
Xu Jingyu was truly obsessed with marriage.
Seeing Xin Yao’s stunned silence, she shifted her grip, one hand cupping Xin Yao’s bottom, the other gently stroking her neck, her lips brushing against her skin, her voice a soft, seductive murmur.
“Marry me?”
Xin Yao giggled, her body squirming playfully in Xu Jingyu’s embrace, the touch ticklish against her sensitive skin.
“No way! Why are you so eager to get married?”
Xu Jingyu’s touch became more insistent, her fingers tracing Xin Yao’s skin.
As they flirted and laughed, the world outside was in chaos.
The news from the previous day had been the biggest scandal of the year, no, of the decade, perhaps even the century.
Countless people, their minds still reeling from the shocking revelations, had stayed up all night, glued to their phones and computers, refreshing their social media feeds, poring over the evidence.
Even the next morning, their eyes dark and sunken from lack of sleep, they continued to discuss the scandal, their voices filled with outrage.
Li Xu was a scumbag!
His reputation was in tatters.
And how could it not be? He had been arrested on live television!
His remaining fans, however, were still in denial, claiming that he had simply been taken in for questioning, that the truth was yet to be revealed.
Perhaps Xin Yao and Ying Xi had made false accusations.
And some, huddled together in online forums, were crying, urging each other to stay calm and wait for the official results of the investigation, their faith in their idol unwavering.
Their delusional posts, however, had been quickly screenshotted and shared online, becoming the laughingstock of the internet.
As time passed, the initial shock and excitement subsided, replaced by a cold, hard reality.
Li Xu’s actions, his years of manipulation and deceit, were far more sinister than they had initially imagined.
And then, people who knew him personally started coming forward.
A former classmate and neighbor of Li Xu’s posted online:
[I was Li Xu and Xin Yao’s neighbor. We were all poor back then, barely making ends meet.
I was in the same class as Li Xu in middle school, but we weren’t close. Honestly, when he became famous, I was happy for him.
I thought he had finally escaped poverty, that he wouldn’t have to suffer anymore. But it turned out he was the only one who escaped. After becoming famous, he never visited his parents again. He even cut ties with them.
I don’t understand why. His parents were so good to him. They gave him everything he wanted. I was so envious.
But two years ago, when his mother died, his father called him, crying, begging him to come home. He just said he understood and hung up. He didn’t even come back for the funeral.]
[What the hell? He abandoned his own parents?]
[I also live nearby. I’ve heard them arguing. Basically, he was ashamed of his family’s poverty and resented them.]
[He’s even worse than I thought.]
[Those three women are so unlucky.]
[Mo Yuwei is fortunate. I feel the worst for Xin Yao.
Mo Yuwei slapped her in public, and she was slandered by that scumbag.
The online hate she endured was horrific.]
[Shouldn’t those people apologize to Xin Yao?]
[I’m raising my hand! I’m guilty! I’m so sorry, Xin Yao! I believed those reports. I was so stupid!]
But some people refused to admit they were wrong.
[So what? Xin Yao is fine. She even went to his engagement party to cause trouble. It’s not a big deal.]
Qian Yu, a crew member who had been glued to her phone since the scandal broke, couldn’t take it anymore.
[Not a big deal?! It’s easy for you to say!
I work with Xin Yao. That “not a big deal” was a mountain of online hate, a constant barrage of insults and accusations.
It’s easy for you to dismiss it when it’s not happening to you. No one knows how close she came to breaking down!]
[What do you mean, “breaking down”?]
[You mean suicide?!]
[Holy shit! And Ying Xi, the other woman, has reportedly suffered a mental breakdown! How could Xin Yao be fine after experiencing the same abuse and pressure?]
[I’m crying! This is so sad!]
Qian Yu wasn’t the only one on the “Unseen Spring” set who was following the news.
The entire crew, even the director, was glued to their phones.
Inspired by Qian Yu’s post, other crew members started speaking up for Xin Yao.
[I also work on the set. I always knew Ms. Xin was a kind person, but I never realized how much she had suffered.
And you know what’s even more ridiculous? She’s the one who’s always taking care of us!
When I had a family emergency, she was the only one who noticed, coming over to comfort me, even though she was going through her own difficult time.]
[While the director is frantically trying to call Ms. Xu, who’s probably yelling at her, let me just say that Xin Yao is truly an amazing person. Everyone who meets her loves her.]
[Go, Xu Jingyu!]
[I’m an extra on the zombie movie set next door, and I’m officially a Xin Yao fan!]
[Another zombie here! Yaoyao often buys us food! She’s so nice!]
With so many crew members vouching for Xin Yao’s character, public opinion began to shift.
And just then, a new post appeared on Xin Yao’s social media page.
[OMG, look at this! //@GetWellSoonXiaoJian: I have to say something. Xin Yao is a truly wonderful person, not just as a celebrity, but as a human being. She’s the kindest person I’ve ever met. I’m just an ordinary father, and my daughter is seriously ill…]
[And this! //@XiaoJianLovesYaoyao: Long story short, my name is Jian Ru’yin, and I’m terminally ill. I was in so much pain that I wanted to give up. Until one day, my favorite celebrity brought me a taste of spring…]
Jian Ru’yin and her father had shared their story online, detailing Xin Yao’s kindness, her unexpected act of compassion.
Having learned about Xin Yao’s own struggles, they felt compelled to speak up for her.
Their posts, heartfelt and detailed, quickly gained traction, trending on social media.
[OMG, I was there! It was the park near my house!
My parents and I ran outside when we saw it! The entire park was filled with flowers! We thought it was some rich kid’s romantic gesture! It was Xin Yao, trying to cheer up a fan?! Here are some photos I took! [Photos] [Photos]]
[Wasn’t that the “One Night Spring” story that went viral a while ago? Everyone thought it was a romantic gesture, but it was actually an act of kindness!]
[Xin Yao is so romantic!]
[I was feeling down this morning, and this story gave me hope. Not just for that girl, but for myself. It’s so inspiring.]
[I’m crying! This is so beautiful!]
[Are you Xin Yao fans keeping secrets from us? I’ve never seen such a dedicated celebrity!]
[You were arguing with me just the other day because I’m a Xin Yao fan!]
[I’m officially a fan!]
Xin Yao, however, oblivious to the online frenzy, was sitting on the sofa, watching as Xu Jingyu, her expression slightly annoyed, hung up the phone.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice soft.
Xu Jingyu tossed her phone onto the sofa and sat down beside Xin Yao.
“Director Gao was asking where I was, why I wasn’t on set. She wants me there now.”
Xin Yao had taken a few days off to deal with the Li Xu situation, and Director Gao, understanding, had readily agreed, saying they would focus on filming Xu Jingyu’s scenes in the meantime.
She hadn’t expected Xu Jingyu to be unavailable.
Xin Yao, hearing this, couldn’t help but laugh.
“Wow, is she really that oblivious? I think we’re being pretty obvious. Even the crew has noticed.”
Xu Jingyu, surprisingly, sighed.
“She’s incredibly dense.”
“Then let’s just get married,” Xin Yao leaned closer, kissing Xu Jingyu on the cheek. “That’ll definitely shock her.”
Xu Jingyu, easily swayed by any mention of marriage, her eyes lighting up, replied, “Today, then. Or tomorrow, if that’s too soon.”
Xin Yao, amused by her eagerness, playfully dodged her embrace.
“Xu Jingyu, you’re ridiculous! Tomorrow isn’t any less ‘soon’!”
Having spent a few days recovering in the comfort of her girlfriend’s embrace, Xin Yao, the workaholic, was eager to return to work.
Neither the Li Xu situation nor the online discussions had affected her as much as everyone had feared.
But Xu Jingyu, worried about her, had insisted she take a few more days off.
Five days later, Xin Yao finally returned to the set, her energy restored, her mood bright, arriving with Xu Jingyu.
As they entered the set, the crew, seeing her, fell silent, their gazes fixed on her.
Xin Yao, slightly intimidated by their stares, smiled, about to greet them as usual.
Just then, one of the crew members walked towards her and, without a word, placed a flower in her hand.
“Huh?” Xin Yao took the flower, confused, about to ask what it meant, when the person turned and walked away.
And then, as if triggered by her action, other crew members approached her, each one placing a flower in her arms.
Xin Yao, her questions unanswered, could only accept the flowers, her arms soon filled with a bouquet of red roses, so large that she could barely hold them.
She opened her mouth to speak, but looking at the roses, at the concerned faces around her, she didn’t know what to say.
Her eyes reddened slightly, her voice a soft murmur.
“What’s all this about?”
Xu Jingyu, standing beside her, her gaze soft, replied, “They probably saw the ‘One Night Spring’ video and thought you liked flowers.”
“Just accept them, Yaoyao. You brought spring to someone else, and now they want to return the favor.”
Then, she pulled a single red rose from somewhere, a rose she had clearly chosen and prepared carefully, its stem wrapped in a delicate glass tube, tied with a ribbon, unlike the others.
Her long, slender fingers gently placed the rose among the others in Xin Yao’s arms, her eyes soft and warm.
“This one is my spring for you.”
The roses, their vibrant red color a stark contrast to the gray winter sky, their beauty a symbol of hope and renewal, warmed Xin Yao’s heart, her eyes filling with tears.
She looked at the single, perfect rose among the others, a symbol of Xu Jingyu’s love, her possessiveness, her desire to be the only one in Xin Yao’s eyes.
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